Description
Michael Goodbody is the former Global Head of Marketing & Communications at Robinhood , CMO at Dave, and VP Marketing at Credit Karma. A year ago, he resigned from his executive job at Robinhood to homeschool his children while traveling to 21 countries in just nine months. Michael, a British expat married to a German partner, shares what it was like stepping away from a demanding executive career to prioritize global experiences with his family and a deep connection with his kids. We discussed: Ditching routine for the unknown: What drove Michael and his wife to finally say yes to a long-held dream of traveling the world with their kids. Homeschooling while abroad: How they navigated state regulations, picked a suitable curriculum, and stayed on track academically from Tanzania to China. Teaching math in paradise: Michael shares what it was like to turn a beach in French Polynesia into a classroom and how he helped his daughter jump two grade levels in math. Genetic testing and pregnancy stress: The emotional rollercoaster of discovering a rare genetic match mid-pregnancy and what they learned from it. Redefining success: Why Michael believes happiness matters more than grades or accolades, and how he’s shaping his parenting philosophy around presence over pressure. Parenting far from family: The pros and cons of raising kids without extended family nearby and why Michael and his wife chose to stay in the US. Where to find Michael Goodbody LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelgoodbody/ Twitter: https://x.com/mcgunome Where to find Adam Fishman FishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupdadpod/ In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Introducing Michael Goodbody, former Global Head of Marketing & Communications at Robinhood (01:06) Leaving a top exec job to homeschool and travel (02:36) Quitting Robinhood and chasing a dream (05:04) Homeschooling logistics across 21 countries (07:35) How they planned financially for a year off (09:46) Learning through travel: science, history, and volcanoes (22:50) Safari in Tanzania and chasing pandas in China (26:28) What it’s like coming home after the journey (29:28) A genetic testing scare during pregnancy (33:50) Why fatherhood surprised Michael in a good way (36:42) What he’d tell his pre-dad self (40:05) Two principles that guide Michael’s parenting (44:31) A/B testing parenting styles with two kids (47:57) Redefining success for your kids (52:02) Using AI to win parenting arguments (58:20) Lightning round: parenting quirks, travel hacks, and dad skills Resources From This Episode: Robinhood: https://robinhood.com/ Generation Genius: https://www.generationgenius.com/ Waldorf Education: https://www.waldorfeducation.org/ Alexa: https://alexa.amazon.com/ Curious Kid (Podcast): https://www.curiouskidpodcast.com/ Greeking Out (Podcast): https://www.nationalgeographic.com/podcasts/greeking-out Million Bazillion (Podcast): https://www.marketplace.org/shows/million-bazillion Crystal Palace F.C.: https://www.cpfc.co.uk/ Short Circuit (Film): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091949/ Raiders of the Lost Ark (Film): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082971/ — Support Startup Dad For sponsorship inquiries email: podcast@fishmana.com . For Startup Dad Merch: www.startupdadshop.com