Casey Handmer is the founder of Terraform Industries, a company that is turning CO2 into natural gas through solar electricity. He's an astrophysicist with a PhD from Caltech who has worked on frontier technologies at NASA and Hyperloop. He's also a husband and the father of three kids. Including a newborn! In today's conversation we discussed: Productivity and priorities How to make it work without a support structure How to work on having optimism be the default so you can build a better future How he and his wife (also an astrophysicist and engineering leader) manage a busy household and three under the age of five The importance of long-term projects, both professionally and personally The worst parenting advice he's ever given and received His kids and their relationship with technology — Where to find Casey Handmer - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/casey-handmer-60183262/ - Twitter / X: https://twitter.com/CJHandmer - Casey's Blog: https://caseyhandmer.wordpress.com/ - Casey and Christine's Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/re-productivity/id1387757655   Where to find Adam Fishman - Newsletter: https://startupdadpod.substack.com/ - Newsletter: https://www.fishmanafnewsletter.com - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/ - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupdadpod/ — In this episode, we cover: [1:46] Welcome [2:01] Caesy’s Professional background [7:04] Casey’s wife & kids [10:28] How did you meet your wife? [14:26] Support structures (or not having any!) [17:21] Getting joy vs. minimizing work [20:51] Most surprising thing about being a dad [24:13] Worst parenting advice Casey has ever given and received [30:37] Optimism as a default [36:00] Where do you not align with your wife? [38:46] Kids relationship to technology [42:19] How to follow along with Casey’s journey [43:21] Rapid fire round [53:39] Thank you — Show references: Snoo: https://www.amazon.com/SNOO-Smart-Sleeper-Happiest-Baby/dp/B0716KN18Z Terraform Industries: https://terraformindustries.com/ NASA: https://www.nasa.gov/ Hyperloop: https://www.hyperlooptt.com/ CalTech: https://www.caltech.edu/ JPL: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/ Kip Thorne: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kip_Thorne Planet: https://www.planet.com/ LARP: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_action_role-playing_game Rubik's cube: https://rubiks.com/en-US/ Lego: https://www.lego.com/en-us Kid-safe knives: https://www.amazon.com/Tovla-Knives-3-Piece-Nylon-Baking/dp/B0711QYPJD/ Tesla Model Y: https://www.tesla.com/modely Tesla Cybertruck: https://www.tesla.com/cybertruck — For sponsorship inquiries email: [email protected]. For Startup Dad Merch: www.startupdadshop.com  Production support for Startup Dad is provided by Tommy Harron at http://www.armaziproductions.com/