Confronting Chronic Disease as a Stay at Home Parent with David Apple | Dad of 2

Jun 5, 2025 · Summarized Jun 5, 2025

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Key takeaways

Being an advocate for your child's health is vital; parents should not hesitate to challenge experts to ensure their child's needs are met.
Parenting a child with a rare disease can redefine one's perspective on strength, patience, and what it means to be a parent.
Setting structured 'me time' can help parents recharge and maintain a healthy relationship with their partner.
Launching a purpose-driven business, such as Shark Tooth Biotech, can be fueled by personal experiences and the need to address significant gaps in support or research.
Focusing on the present and cultivating a love for one's children is more important than the anxiety over legacies or being remembered.

Summary

Navigating Parenthood Amidst Rare Disease

In this episode, Adam Fischmann speaks with David Apple, the founder of Shark Tooth Biotech, who shares his deeply personal journey as a father of two whose oldest son was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease called CMT1A. This illness has greatly impacted David's life and parenting style, as he balances being a full-time advocate for his son while managing the challenges that come with the diagnosis and navigating the medical system.

The Role of Advocacy in Parent's Journey

David discusses the significant transition from being a tech executive to a full-time advocate after diagnosing his son. He emphasizes the importance of not solely relying on medical professionals but instead taking a proactive approach in seeking answers and understanding his child’s condition better. David encourages parents to view themselves as advocates for their children rather than just being passive recipients of expert information.

Life Lessons and Frameworks Learned

Throughout the conversation, David shares valuable perspectives he gained during his parenting journey. This includes frameworks that prioritize mental health and familial relationships. He highlights concepts such as structured 'me time' for both parents, recognizing the changing landscape of fatherhood, and seeking help through therapy for better communication within the marriage.

Building a Purpose-Driven Company

The podcast also delves into David's motivation behind launching Shark Tooth Biotech, which is focused on developing treatments for CMT1A. He recognizes the gap in research and funding in the biotech industry for this disease and aims to make a real difference not only for his son but for many others affected by similar conditions. His advocacy and entrepreneurial pursuits are intertwined with a deeply personal mission.

Reframing Perspectives on Life and Legacy

David reflects on his thoughts surrounding legacy, admitting that worrying about how one is remembered can be burdensome. He believes in focusing on present experiences and valuing relationships over societal expectations, echoing a theme that life's obstacles can serve as opportunities for personal growth.

Show notes

David Apple is the Founder of Shark Tooth Biotech, a company focused on developing treatments for CMT 1A, a rare genetic disease affecting his oldest son. Previously an executive at Typeform, Notion, and Zingtree, David stepped away from startup life to become his son’s full-time advocate.

He’s also a father of two, a board member of the CMTA, and a first-time children’s book author. We talked about:

Leaving tech to prioritize advocacy: Why David chose to walk away from a successful career to support his son through a difficult diagnostic journey.
Facing resistance in the medical system: What it took to push past early dismissals from doctors and finally get answers through genetic testing.
Shifting expectations of fatherhood: How caring for a child with CMT changed David’s perception of strength, patience, and what it means to be a parent.
Building a purpose-led biotech company: What inspired David to launch Shark Tooth and how he’s working to fill a critical research gap for CMT 1A.
Protecting presence over legacy: Why David believes being present with his kids outweighs any long-term pursuit of recognition or success.
Frameworks for family and marriage: From structured “me time” to clear communication tools, David shares the systems that help him stay grounded.

Where to find David Apple

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/appledavid/
X: https://x.com/davidcapple
Shark Tooth Biotech: https://www.sharktooth.bio/

Where to find Adam Fishman

FishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/
Instagram:https://ww.instagram.com/startupdadpod/

In this episode, we cover:
(00:00) Introducing David Apple
(03:58) Leaving a CRO role to advocate full-time
(06:13) Getting real answers through genetic testing
(11:20) Misconceptions about being a stay-at-home parent
(14:27) How CMT shaped Ari’s creative side
(16:39) Using AI tools and finding support
(22:50) Why CMT research remains underfunded today
(27:12) Creating Shark Tooth Biotech with real purpose
(32:14) Advocacy matters more than expert opinions
(39:55) Letting go of legacy, focusing now
(44:04) Turning life’s obstacles into personal growth

(46:35) Lightning round

Show references:

CMT 1A: https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/1245/charcot-marie-tooth-disease-type-1a

Typeform: https://www.typeform.com/

Notion: https://www.notion.com/

Zing Tree: https://zingtree.com/

UCSF: https://www.ucsf.edu/

Stanford: https://www.stanford.edu/

https://chatgpt.com/

CMTA: https://www.cmtausa.org/

Animal Yoga by Flowerpot Press, Brian Fitzgerald (Illustrator): https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/animal-yoga-flowerpot-press/1143842943

Cystic Fibrosis: https://www.cff.org/