Two Dads in Tech

• Laid Off by Tech, Building My Own Dream Instead

  Troy Munson – https://www.linkedin.com/in/troymunson and Daniel Berk –  https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielberk return for a fast-paced, idea-filled episode of Two Dads in Tech.From mass layoffs at Amazon to side projects going viral, this conversation captures the modern tech dad experience — trying to build something real while the world keeps changing. Troy shares how his new project Eat with Troy blew up to 200 K views and free restaurant deals in a week, while Daniel accidentally created a 10,000-member running community in 24 hours.They dig into:Why tech layoffs might actually spark the next wave of creators.How to launch a viral side project in under a minute.What most founders get wrong about content and authenticity.Building family rhythms around work, hobbies, and travel.It’s the perfect blend of startup energy, dad banter, and creator mindset — a reminder that you don’t need permission to build something great.—🕒 Show Notes(0:00) Audio chaos and Amazon layoffs(2:00) At-will employment and why it’s brutal in America(5:00) Starting Eat with Troy — best wings in Wisconsin (7:00) AI tools and comment scraping for restaurant ratings(8:00) Going viral overnight — 200 K views in 4 days(10:00) How founders lose their voice on the internet(12:30) Why being “uncomfortable” online is a good sign(14:00) Creating Runners of ECS — 1,000 members in 24 hours(16:00) Merch, branding, and why good swag matters(18:00) Parent moments — snow, skiing, and dad adventures(20:00) Running half marathons & training through sickness(24:00) Marathon plans and consistency as a mindset(26:00) Trips, vacations, and family balance (32:00) Daniel’s brother — professional poker player (38:00) Fatherhood, travel, and supportive partners(40:00) Palmetto Parents growth and newsletter tactics(42:00) Closing thoughts and big plans for 2026—🔗 Links• Daniel Berk’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielberk• Troy Munson’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/troymunson• Two Dads in Tech Newsletter – https://twodadsintech.com• Shop Two Dads in Tech – https://shop.twodadsintech.com• Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/30GQP8FPJoKpLGpYBahlFP• Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/two-dads-in-tech/id1785662964• Check out Dimmo – https://www.dimmo.ai#twodadsintech #fatherhood #tech #entrepreneurship #layoffs #creator #startups #viralcontent #parenting #business #sidehustle #podcast #founderstory #dadlife

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• Losing My Bestfriend at 17 - How It Shaped Me

  Troy Munson https://www.linkedin.com/in/troymunson and Daniel Berk –https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielberk return with one of the most vulnerable and powerful conversations yet on Two Dads in Tech.For the first time, Troy opens up about the night he lost his best friend in a tragic drunk driving accident at 17 — a story that changed his life forever. From growing up without a father to becoming one himself, Troy reflects on grief, guilt, and how loss shaped the way he sees love, fatherhood, and the value of time.Daniel guides him through memories of a rough childhood, abusive stepfathers, disconnection, resilience, and healing, leading to a brutally honest reflection on fear of death, PTSD, and parenting with empathy.This isn’t just a story about tragedy — it’s about what comes after. How one moment can redefine how you show up as a husband, a father, and a human.If you’ve ever lost someone, struggled with guilt, or wondered how to turn pain into perspective, this episode will stay with you long after it ends.—🕒 Show Notes(0:00) Cold open – new background & office talk(4:30) Daniel’s Co-working dream & podcast studio idea(5:30) Anthony’s episode recap & framing this conversation(6:00) Childhood: no father, tough stepdad, and early struggles(8:00) Family, addiction, and growing up around trauma(10:00) Escaping chaos and learning resilience(14:00) Finding out his biological dad died — 6 months later(17:00) Moving to Connecticut, quitting sports, becoming shy(21:00) Teenage years, first love, rebellion, and risky choices(22:00) The night everything changed — “He died on my lap.”(25:00) Processing trauma, loss, and survivor’s guilt(27:00) PTSD, fear, and learning to trust again(31:00) Premonition — “Don’t get into a black car.”(33:00) Fear of death, parenting, and finding purpose(36:00) College, marriage, and moving forward(41:00) Lessons for his kids — honesty, safety, empathy(44:00) Final reflections — what really matters as a parent—🔗 Links• Daniel Berk’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielberk• Troy Munson’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/troymunson• Two Dads in Tech Newsletter – https://twodadsintech.com• Shop Two Dads in Tech – https://shop.twodadsintech.com• Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/30GQP8FPJoKpLGpYBahlFP• Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/two-dads-in-tech/id1785662964• Check out Dimmo – https://www.dimmo.ai

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• The Silent Breakup (When Kids Take Over Your Relationship)

  Troy Munson – https://www.linkedin.com/in/troymunson and Daniel Berk –https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielberk dive deep into one of the most real conversations any parent can have: are we parenting in fear?From the growing backlash against gentle parenting to the pressure of raising resilient kids in a chaotic world, this episode pulls zero punches. They talk about toddler meltdowns, regret, comparison culture, and why so many millennial parents secretly feel like they’re failing — even when they’re not.The dads open up about burnout, guilt, and mental health, tackling questions like:Are modern parents too afraid to let their kids fail?Is social media making us worse moms and dads?Why do most fathers struggle to ask for help?They also share raw stories about sleepless nights, career regrets, feeling disconnected, and the loneliness of modern parenthood — with some needed humor on Love Is Blind, Costco rage, and irrational pet peeves to keep things real.This episode is equal parts gut punch and therapy session, a reminder that every parent is figuring it out — and that talking about it might be the most important step.—🕒 Show Notes(0:00) Intro, banter & Donald Duck impressions 🦆(0:30) The end of “gentle parenting”?(1:20) Gen Z parents and the return of discipline(3:00) Why every dad loses it sometimes (and how to step away)(7:00) Toddler sleep PTSD & newborn chaos(10:00) Parenting guilt and the “I got this” trap(13:00) Love Is Blind, physical attraction & modern relationships(20:00) Building your utopia: bonfires, lakes, and no mosquitoes(24:00) Irrational anger: Costco, liberals & slow walkers(27:00) Biggest regrets: career, parenting, and lost time(34:00) Tech distractions, viral moments & being present(36:00) Fear-driven parenting & comparison culture(40:00) Advice for struggling parents: just tell someone(44:00) Dad support groups, mental health, and real connection(46:00) Closing thoughts & partnership invites—🔗 Links• Daniel Berk’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielberk• Troy Munson’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/troymunson• Two Dads in Tech Newsletter – https://twodadsintech.com• Shop Two Dads in Tech – https://shop.twodadsintech.com• Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/30GQP8FPJoKpLGpYBahlFP• Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/two-dads-in-tech/id1785662964• Check out Dimmo – https://www.dimmo.ai#twodadsintech #parenting #fatherhood #mentalhealth #parenting2025 #parentingadvice #gentleparenting #burnout #comparisonculture #dadlife #techdads #modernfatherhood #family #relationships #marriage #parentingtips

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• A Midlife Crisis Before 40 - Are We Doing Life Wrong?

  Episode 46: Troy Munson – https://www.linkedin.com/in/troymunson and Daniel Berk – https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielberk open up about midlife shifts, burnout, and finding meaning beyond work. From Troy’s recent Dimmo pivot to raw conversations about mental health, selfishness vs. self-care, and why life behind a screen can feel empty, this episode hits deep. The dads get vulnerable about identity, parenting, and the quiet weight many people carry but never voice. What starts as a business update turns into an unfiltered look at purpose, loss, and what really matters when the noise stops.—Show Notes: (0:00) Launch day: Troy breaks down Dimmo’s pivot and new focus (0:45) The grind of startup life without big marketing budgets (1:30) What’s actually working in outbound today (3:30) Social algorithms, LinkedIn reach, and why virality can feel fake (5:00) Beehive’s story and how email is being reinvented (6:30) The power of organic impressions and building real audiences (7:00) Do audiences matter outside of tech? (Reddit, Quora, X) (8:00) The attention economy—are we leaving it or just renaming it? (9:30) Why “eyeballs = revenue” still rules every platform (11:00) Reddit as the last honest corner of the internet (12:00) Coffee, burnout, and managing ADHD during the grind (13:00) Troy’s routine change that killed his afternoon crash (14:00) Running, training, and the mental game of staying disciplined (16:00) Moab 240, ultras, and the insanity of endurance athletes (19:00) Why some pain is chosen—and some isn’t worth it (20:00) The case for being “selfishly healthy” as a parent and partner (21:00) Putting mental health first so you can show up for others (22:00) The fine line between balance and burnout (24:00) Marriage, faith, and where selfishness crosses into neglect (26:00) Early mornings, exhaustion, and the cost of self-discipline (27:00) TikTok tears: the story that broke Troy (28:00) Midlife reflections: am I living the right way? (29:00) Escaping screens, chasing sunsets, and booking spontaneous trips (31:00) Grief, loss, and remembering people are hurting silently (33:00) Teaching empathy to your kids through small actions (34:00) Why gratitude hits harder after you cry (35:00) A new podcast idea: talking to random people about what they’re going through (36:00) Suicide awareness and how often “the signs” don’t show (38:00) Why men need more spaces to talk about what’s real (39:00) Reconsidering what Two Dads in Tech could become (40:00) Closing reflections: impact, purpose, and what comes next— Links: • Daniel Berk's LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielberk • Troy Munson's LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/troymunson • Two Dads in Tech Newsletter – https://twodadsintech.com • Shop Two Dads in Tech – https://shop.twodadsintech.com • Listen on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/30GQP8FPJoKpLGpYBahlFP • Listen on Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/two-dads-in-tech/id1785662964 • Check out Dimmo – https://www.dimmo.ai

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• Gen Z Parents are Ditching Gentle Parenting

  Episode 45: Troy Munson – https://www.linkedin.com/in/troymunson and Daniel Berk – https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielberk – get brutally honest about parenting, burnout, and the fine line between patience and losing it. From gentle parenting and “aggressive dad moments” to marriage dynamics, comparison culture, and raising kids in a world of fear, this episode is raw, funny, and deeply relatable. They open up about moments they’re not proud of, what keeps them grounded, and how to stay sane while raising tiny humans in the chaos of tech and modern life.— Show Notes: (0:00) Welcome back! Gentle parenting vs. real-world parenting (0:55) The new survey: 54% of Gen Z parents say “no” to gentle parenting (2:10) Defining “gentle,” “aggressive,” and everything in between (5:00) Boiling points: when you have to step away before losing it (7:00) Sleepless nights, toddler chaos, and the mental toll on parents (10:00) The car scream test: surviving newborn cries while driving (12:15) Why people without kids will never really get it (13:00) Love Is Blind, attraction, and the psychology of relationships (17:00) Can emotional connection create physical attraction? (20:30) Building your “utopia” – what stays, what goes, and what drives you nuts (24:00) Irrational anger: Costco aisle people, liberals, and slow walkers (27:00) Stubborn people and the danger of being “always right” (28:00) Biggest career regrets – leaving too early, chasing salary, starting too late (29:30) Parenting regrets – being present vs. just being there (34:00) Why tech and distraction are stealing parenting moments (36:00) Is fear driving modern parenting? (37:00) Comparison culture and social media’s impact on raising kids (39:00) Helicopter parents and kids facing the real world (40:00) Advice for struggling parents: tell someone (43:00) Dad support groups, community, and finding people who get it (44:00) Why men need to talk more about mental health (45:00) Building community without burning out (46:00) Closing thoughts: empathy, honesty, and what’s next— Links: • Daniel Berk's LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielberk • Troy Munson's LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/troymunson • Two Dads in Tech Newsletter – https://twodadsintech.com • Shop Two Dads in Tech – https://shop.twodadsintech.com • Listen on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/30GQP8FPJoKpLGpYBahlFP • Listen on Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/two-dads-in-tech/id1785662964 • Check out Dimmo – https://www.dimmo.ai

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