Better Call Daddy

What does it mean to balance old school values with the rapid advancements of technology?

In this episode of Better Call Daddy, host Reena Friedman Watts welcomes tech expert Oshri Cohen, who delves into the importance of maintaining traditional values in a world increasingly dominated by AI and digital innovation.

Oshri shares his journey from a young coder to a fractional CTO, discussing how his unconventional beginnings shaped his approach to technology and business. He emphasizes the significance of creativity in an age where AI is often seen as a replacement for human ingenuity.

The conversation touches on the challenges of parenting in the digital age, particularly when it comes to navigating platforms like YouTube, and how his new product, Watchly Player, aims to create a safer viewing experience for children.

Reena and Oshri explore the evolving role of a CTO, the pitfalls of corporate culture, and the necessity of kindness in leadership. Oshri’s insights challenge listeners to rethink their relationship with technology and the impact of family dynamics on personal and professional growth.

 

Oshri Cohen is an AI-native Chief Product & Technology Officer who helps companies build software the way modern teams actually should. Over 25 years in software — 20 of them in technology leadership — he has made AI-native transformation his focus: rewiring how engineering organizations plan, build, and ship, not just bolting AI features onto old workflows. He leans on cloud-native architecture, DORA metrics, and GitOps to turn slow, siloed teams into fast, measurable product engines.

His range is unusually broad. Since 2018 he has served as fractional and interim CTO to more than 30 companies, almost all US-based, and at his peak directed 12 engineering teams across seven countries. He has shipped more than ten digital products across healthtech, e-commerce, manufacturing, logistics, and finance. A McGill business grad who taught himself to code at 13, Oshri leads business-first — every technical decision starts at the P&L, never the other way around.

🎙️ WHAT'S IN THIS EPISODE:
- The importance of old school values in modern society
- Oshri's unconventional path to becoming a fractional CTO
- The role of AI in creativity and problem-solving
- Parenting in the age of YouTube and the creation of Watchly Player
- Insights on corporate culture vs. startup mentality
- The significance of kindness and respect in leadership

💭 MEMORABLE QUOTES FROM OSHRI:
"Don’t lose old school values because if you do, your society can run amok."
"Be kind to the person who seems unimportant, because that's the most important person."

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Introduction to Oshri Cohen
(05:15) Balancing old school values with modern technology
(15:30) Understanding the role of a fractional CTO
(25:00) The challenges of parenting in the digital age
(35:45) Insights on corporate culture vs. startup mentality
(45:00) The significance of kindness in leadership

🔗 CONNECT WITH OSHRI COHEN:
Website | LinkedIn

🔗 CONNECT WITH REENA FRIEDMAN WATTS:
Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube
Join us for this thought-provoking conversation that bridges the gap between tradition and innovation, highlighting the essential lessons we can pass on to future generations.

What does it really take to break the cycles you were handed and build something better for the next generation?

In this episode of Better Call Daddy, host Reena Friedman Watts sits down with Kelby Green, purpose-driven entrepreneur and proud girl dad, for a conversation that moves between boardrooms and bedrooms the business of building a life with intention.

Kelby opens up about leaving the corporate world behind, what pushed him toward entrepreneurship, and the hard lessons that came with the leap.

Reena and Kelby get into the real work of validating ideas before falling in love with them, why investing in yourself is non-negotiable, and how to network in a way that actually feels human. They also tackle the trickier stuff when to work for free, when to walk away from a partnership, and how to build community around what you create.

And woven throughout it all: fatherhood. Kelby reflects on how raising daughters shapes the way he thinks about business, legacy, and what it means to give kids room to figure out who they are.

🎙️ WHAT'S IN THIS EPISODE:
- Kelby's leap from corporate life to entrepreneurship
- How to validate a business idea before going all in
- Building community spaces for content creators
- The real rules of networking and when free work makes sense
- Navigating partnerships and knowing when to walk away
- Raising daughters to be curious, confident, and free from the box

💭 MEMORABLE QUOTES FROM KELBY:
"Everything is figureoutable."
"I want to encourage them to try things and see what they're interested in without feeling pressured to fit into any box."

🗣️ QUOTES FROM WAYNE FRIEDMAN:
"I think there is a solution. You can figure it out."
"You want to be able to share ideas, share people where everybody can get a common good out of it."

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Meet Kelby Green
(05:15) From corporate employee to entrepreneur
(15:30) Building community spaces for content creation
(25:00) Validating business ideas through client engagement
(35:45) Networking, partnerships, and the free work question
(45:00) Raising daughters with intention

 

🔗 CONNECT WITH KELBY GREEN:
Instagram | Website

🔗 CONNECT WITH REENA FRIEDMAN WATTS:
Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube
Join us for this engaging conversation that highlights the power of community, the importance of authentic connections, and the journey of parenting in the entrepreneurial world.

In this heartfelt episode of Better Call Daddy, host Reena Friedman Watts reunites with her childhood friend Carre Gordon to talk about loss, connection, and healing. The two reminisce about their carefree days growing up together in Kentucky before Carre shares her journey through grief after the sudden loss of her son, Grant, during what began as an ordinary birthday celebration.

Carre opens up about the unexpected signs and messages she's received from Grant, and how they've shown her that her bond with her son didn't end it just changed shape. The conversation moves through the role of spirituality, the healing power of community, and the lessons trauma can teach us about strength and vulnerability.

Together, Reena and Carre explore mediumship, the idea of soul contracts, and what it means to stay connected to someone you've lost. Carre's story is a gentle, grounded reminder that grief isn't linear and that love doesn't disappear, it just finds new ways to reach us.

If you or someone you love is navigating loss, this episode offers comfort, honesty, and the reassurance that you're not walking through it alone.

🎙️ What's in This Episode

Carre's journey through grief and healing after losing her son

Signs and messages from loved ones beyond the veil

Why community and support matter so much in navigating loss

Grief as a personal journey there's no "right" way to do it

Soul contracts and the idea of a pre-written path

Finding comfort and connection in the face of loss

💭 Memorable Quotes from Carre

"Life happens for us, not to us."

"We can still have an energetic relationship with our loved ones."

⏱️ Timestamps
(00:00) Introduction to Carre Gordon
(05:15) Reminiscing about childhood memories in Kentucky
(15:30) The impact of losing a child and navigating grief
(25:00) Signs and messages from Grant
(35:45) The role of community in healing
(45:00) Spiritual connections and the concept of soul contracts

 

Resources mentioned

https://www.helpingparentsheal.org/

 

🔗 Connect with Reena Friedman Watts
Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube

Join us for this enlightening conversation about love, loss, and the connections that keep shaping our lives even after death. If you or someone you know is struggling, remember that support is available and healing is possible.

What happens when personal trauma intersects with a mission to advocate for justice?

In this powerful episode of Better Call Daddy, host Reena Friedman Watts sits down with Ariella Goldberg-Kay, a survivor liaison for Zaakah, an organization dedicated to supporting survivors of sexual violence within the Jewish community.

Ariella Kay opens up about her deeply personal connection to this work, rooted in her aunt's tragic story of sexual assault and suicide  a loss that has profoundly shaped her life and advocacy.

Reena and Ariella explore the complexities of trauma recovery, the stigma surrounding mental health in religious communities, and the fight for justice for survivors of sexual abuse.

Ariella shares how her own experiences fueled her passion for advocacy, helping other survivors find their voice and pursue legal action against their abusers.

The conversation also unpacks the unique challenges Jewish survivors face from barriers to reporting abuse to inadequate institutional responses. Ariella explains how Zaakah is changing the landscape for survivors by empowering them to seek justice without needing rabbinical approval, and why a trauma-informed approach is essential to real healing.

If you or someone you know needs support, Zaakah's confidential hotline is available at 1-888-492-2524, or visit www.zaakah.org.

🎙️ What's in This Episode:

Ariella's personal connection to sexual violence advocacy

The impact of silence and stigma on mental health

Navigating the justice system as a sexual abuse survivor

Why community support is critical for healing

How Zaakah is transforming survivor support in the Jewish community

The power of sharing personal stories to build connection and understanding

💭 Memorable Quotes from Ariella:
"I don't want people to have to live with the aftermath of suicide or sexual abuse."

"Your relationship with God is between you and God, and no one else should dictate that."

"If an institution can't afford to pay restitution for the abuse that happened there, it doesn't deserve to exist anymore."

⏱️ Timestamps:
(00:00) Introduction to Ariella K. and Zaakah
(05:15) The personal story behind Ariella's advocacy
(15:30) Challenges faced by survivors in the Jewish community
(25:00) The role of Zaakah in supporting legal justice
(35:45) Navigating trauma and mental health stigma
(45:00) Ariella's insights on community and healing

🔗 Connect with Zaakah:
Website: www.zaakah.org | Instagram
📞 Hotline: 1-888-492-2524

Outcry Podcast 

https://www.facebook.com/zaakah

🔗 Connect with Reena Friedman Watts:
Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube

If you've ever wondered how trauma shapes our lives — and why advocacy and community support matter for survivors of sexual abuse — this episode of Better Call Daddy is a must-listen.

Need support? Zaakah's hotline: 1-888-492-2524 | www.zaakah.org

What draws us to true crime and what does it say about us?

In this episode of Better Call Daddy, host Reena Friedman Watts sits down with Jerry Matz, the mind behind the hit Instagram account ID Crime Vault, for an honest conversation about true crime, storytelling, and the family moments that shape who we become.

Jerry traces his love of true crime back to childhood watching shows like Joe Kenda and Hollywood Demons with family, and slowly realizing he didn't just want to consume these stories. He wanted to tell them.

Reena and Jerry dig into what makes crime narratives so compelling, how he built a loyal community one consistent post at a time, and why patience might be the most underrated skill in content creation.

The conversation also gets real about the darker side of the industry — the psychological toll reality TV takes on its participants, and the responsibility creators and media have to portray crime with accuracy and empathy.

🎙️ WHAT'S IN THIS EPISODE:
- Jerry's origin story in the true crime world
- How family shapes the interests we carry into adulthood
- The psychology behind why crime stories grip us
- Empathy as a storytelling superpower
- Reality TV's hidden cost on its participants
- Growing a community around a shared passion

💭 MEMORABLE QUOTES FROM JERRY:
"Sometimes people like suspense. They like the mystery. It's like a mystery book."
"You never know what you're going to get out of it. Just try it and don't quit."

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Meet Jerry Matz true crime storyteller
(05:15) The family influences behind his passion
(15:30) The psychology of crime media
(25:00) Reality TV's darker realities
(35:45) Building community through shared obsession
(45:00) Grandpa's take on crime, media & responsibility

🔗 CONNECT WITH JERRY:
Instagram

🔗 CONNECT WITH REENA FRIEDMAN WATTS:
Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube

If you've ever found yourself three hours deep in a true crime rabbit hole and wondered why — this episode is for you.