Navigating Divorce and Co-parenting Relationships | Sol Kennedy (Dad of 2, founder BestInterest)

Startup Dad

Sol Kennedyi is the founder of BestInterest which helps co-parents navigate the messiness of that complex relationship. He is a serial founder who has built and sold multiple companies and has been the head of product at Dropcam, a PM at Google and an angel investor in companies like Coinbase, Gitlab and Instacart. In addition to being a serial entrepreneur he’s also a single, half-time dad of two kids and a co-parent. We discussed:

* Navigating divorce and co-parenting

* Important lessons he’s learned from his co-parenting role

* The adversarial system that exists in family court and treats parents like criminals

* The emotional rollercoaster of half-time parenting as a single Dad

* His experience taking an extended time off to be a full-time Dad when his daughter was young

* Mistakes he’s made as a parent that have helped him grow into the Dad he is today.

* How your kids help you heal your own relationship with your parents

* The importance of patience and slowness when raising kids

Where to find Sal Kennedy

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/solkennedy/

* BestInterest App: bestinterestapp.com

* Sol’s Podcast: https://podcast.coparentingbeyondconflict.com/

Where to find Adam Fishman

* FishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/

* Instagram: https://ww.instagram.com/startupdadpod/

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In this episode, we cover:

[1:55] Welcome

[2:11] Professional background

[3:53] Kids & divorce

[6:17] Co-parenting

[10:34] Advice for those going though this/co- parenting

[13:26] Being a half-time dad

[17:35] Strategies for setting boundaries with kids

[20:33] Decision to be a full-time dad and then back into work-force

[25:49] Does his own family use Best Interest?

[26:07] Most surprising things you’ve discovered as a dad?

[29:04] how having kids helped heal his relationship with his own parents

[32:08] Advice to younger Sol

[34:10] Transition from 1 to 2 kids

[36:48] Frameworks for parenting

[40:22] Kid’s relationship with tech

[44:48] Mistake as a dad

[49:05] Follow along

[49:59] Lightning round

[1:00:07] Thank you

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Show references:

Coinbase: https://www.coinbase.com/

GitLab: https://about.gitlab.com/

Instacart: https://www.instacart.com/

Bug catcher: https://www.amazon.com/toys-Battat-Bungalow-Insect-Catching/dp/B01M0V474Y

Baby sock monitor (Owlet): https://owletcare.com/products/owlet-dream-sock

Pixar: https://www.pixar.com/

Star Wars: https://www.starwars.com/

Mini Cooper: https://www.miniusa.com/

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http://www.armaziproductions.com/

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