I Am Dad: Recent Episodes

Kenneth Braswell

The I AM DAD. Podcast is an exploration of insight, information, and inspiration for dads, their families, the people who love, and those that support them.

In this episode of I Am Dad Podcast, Kenneth Braswell sits down with Dr. Matisa Wilbon at the 2026 National Fatherhood Summit for a thoughtful conversation on human flourishing, fatherhood, co-parenting, and emotional wellness.

The conversation begins with the idea of human flourishing, drawing from the framework of happiness and life satisfaction, mental and physical health, meaning and purpose, character and virtue, and close social relationships. Kenneth and Dr. Wilbon then place that concept inside the developing framework of Co-Parenting Maturity™, asking what it looks like when fathers and co-parents are not only functioning, but truly flourishing.

Together, they explore how fathers often enter fatherhood programs carrying barriers connected to child support, custody, parenting time, legal issues, relationship strain, grief, fear, shame, and systems that may not always see them as whole human beings. But this conversation does not stay in the deficit. It pushes toward hope, joy, maturity, resilience, mindfulness, steadiness, covenant, partnership, and the emotional health required to keep children at the center.

This episode explores:

• What human flourishing means in the context of fatherhood
• How Co-Parenting Maturity™ connects to resilience, mindfulness, and steadiness
• Why co-parenting must remain child-centered
• How communication can either block or build understanding
• Why fathers need to be honored as whole human beings
• The difference between happiness and joy
• How systems can disrupt fathers’ ability to flourish
• Why maturity includes learning to find joy beyond barriers
• How gratitude, perspective, and emotional wellness can shift fatherhood practice
• What “co-parenting flourishing” might mean for fathers, mothers, children, and families

Kenneth and Dr. Wilbon also reflect on the importance of language. Words like repair, recovery, rebuilding, maturity, joy, and flourishing matter because they shape how fathers see themselves and how programs support them. Rather than treating fathers as broken, the conversation invites us to see fathers as worthy, resilient, capable, and still becoming.

One of the central ideas in this episode is that fathers are not simply program participants. They are human beings with feelings, fears, hopes, dignity, relationships, and children who need the best of them. When fathers flourish, families are strengthened. When co-parents mature, children benefit. When joy becomes part of the work, the conversation moves beyond crisis and toward transformation.

This episode is for fathers, mothers, co-parents, practitioners, researchers, faith leaders, family-serving organizations, and anyone interested in the future of fatherhood, family wellbeing, and healthy co-parenting.

In this episode of Sideline Dad, powered by the I Am Dad Podcast Network, host Javin Foreman welcomes Tom Henske, founder of Total Cents and Total Cents University.

Tom is a certified financial planner, University of Virginia professor, former two-time All-American soccer player, three-time NCAA champion, author, and financial education leader helping young people, athletes, parents, and universities build stronger financial habits.

This conversation connects the world of sports to the world of money. Just like athletes do not wait until game day to prepare, young people should not wait until their first paycheck, NIL deal, endorsement, or career opportunity to learn how money works.

Javin and Tom discuss how parents can use ordinary moments such as car rides, dinner conversations, sports fees, shoe purchases, and youth athletics to teach children discipline, decision-making, saving, stewardship, responsibility, and gratitude.

In this episode of I Am Dad Podcast, host Kenneth Braswell interviews Christopher Emanuel, co-founder of Sky Is the Limit Foundation, during the National Shared Parenting Summit in Washington, D.C.

Christopher’s story is one of faith, fatherhood, pain, purpose, and perseverance. After his biological daughter became involved in what he describes as human trafficking through adoption, Christopher fought for her, gained full custody, and transformed that experience into a larger mission to serve families, youth, and fathers.

In this conversation, Christopher talks about his daughter Skylar, the power of a child’s voice, and the importance of helping young people discover their gifts, talents, and calling. He explains how Sky Is the Limit Foundation began as a community response to truancy, gang involvement, and the lack of father presence, and how it has grown into a safe, gender-specific, trauma-responsive space for youth and families.

Kenneth and Christopher also discuss the shared parenting movement, responsible fatherhood, the Responsible Father Registry, adoption trafficking, community healing, and the need to create spaces where fathers feel seen, heard, supported, and equipped.

This episode explores:

• Christopher Emanuel’s fatherhood journey
• How pain can become passion and purpose
• The story of Skylar and the power of a child’s voice
• Why fathers need safe spaces to be heard and seen
• How Sky Is the Limit Foundation supports youth and families
• The Responsible Father Registry and adoption trafficking concerns
• Why shared parenting advocacy must reach more communities
• How fathers can model healing, leadership, and purpose
• Why awareness is one of the biggest challenges in shared parenting
• The importance of bringing responsible fatherhood and shared parenting work together

At the heart of Christopher’s message is a powerful truth: fathers are not asking to replace mothers. Fathers are asking to be recognized, respected, and included in the lives of their children.

This conversation is for fathers, mothers, advocates, practitioners, policymakers, youth leaders, and anyone committed to protecting children, strengthening families, and building communities where fathers are fully seen.

In this episode of I Am Dad Podcast, host Kenneth Braswell interviews Mark Ludwig, President of the National Council on Equal Shared Parenting, during the Shared Parenting Summit in Washington, D.C.

Mark shares the deeply personal story that brought him into this work: a custody experience that left him separated from his son for 204 days and forced him to confront the emotional reality many fathers face when trying to remain present in their children’s lives. What began as one father’s fight became a national mission to educate policymakers, build coalitions, support parents, and advance shared parenting reform across the country.

Kenneth and Mark explore the evolution of the fatherhood and shared parenting movement, including the challenges of moving beyond anger, trauma, and old “father’s rights” narratives toward mature, strategic, policy-focused advocacy. They discuss how legislative change requires relationships, trust, language, credibility, and the ability to meet lawmakers where they are.

The conversation also touches on:

• Mark’s personal custody journey and why he wrote letters to his son every night
• The importance of protecting children from feeling unwanted or abandoned
• How the shared parenting movement has matured over time
• Why advocacy must be strategic, not reactive
• The role of women, veterans, military families, child welfare, child support, and domestic violence voices in shared parenting conversations
• Why child support and Title IV-D reform are central to the shared parenting debate
• How federal funding structures influence family court systems
• The importance of training advocates to work effectively with legislators
• Mark’s book, The Parental Alienation Playbook
• Kenneth’s emerging concept of Co-Parenting Maturity
• Why responsible fatherhood and shared parenting advocates must collaborate

This episode is not simply about custody. It is about children, systems, family stability, and the urgent need to create policies that do not force parents into unnecessary conflict.

At the center of the conversation is a shared belief: fathers should not have to prove that they matter after the fact. Systems should begin with the understanding that children need meaningful relationships with both parents whenever it is safe and appropriate.

In this episode of Sideline Dad, powered by the I Am Dad Podcast Network, host Javin Foreman welcomes John Damon, former Division I football player at Boston College, performance coach, gym designer, and founder of The Cave in Charlotte, North Carolina.

For more than 30 years, John Damon has trained and advised Hollywood talent, Fortune 500 executives, professional athletes, coaches, and high performers. His work has shaped elite training spaces from The Sports Club/LA to Equinox, Active Fitness, IRON, and now The Cave, a private training and recovery sanctuary built around discipline, detail, recovery, and intentional excellence.

But this conversation goes far beyond fitness.

John and Javin explore what it means to build “The Standard” in sports, parenting, leadership, and fatherhood. They discuss how young athletes are shaped by environment, expectations, love, habits, recovery, and the people around them. John challenges parents to think deeply about the culture they create for their children, the standards they model, and the importance of giving kids both love and good information.

In this episode of I Am Dad Podcast, host Kenneth Braswell travels to East New York, Brooklyn, for an on-location conversation with Bishop Ferguson, board chair of Fathers Incorporated and program director at the Liberty Avenue Men’s Shelter.

This conversation asks a question we do not ask often enough:

What does housing instability mean for men and fathers?

Too often, conversations about homelessness focus on women and children, while men, especially fathers, are treated as an afterthought. But many unhoused men are fathers. Many are sons, grandfathers, uncles, veterans, returning citizens, men living with mental health challenges, and men trying to hold on to dignity in systems that often see them only as cases, beds, risks, or numbers.

Bishop Ferguson offers a deeply honest look inside a men’s shelter serving 150 men in East New York. He explains the realities of working with men who are unhoused, men returning from incarceration, men with mental health needs, men who have been couch surfing, men who have lost relationships or caregivers, and men who are trying to rebuild their lives one step at a time.

This episode explores:

• The difference between being unhoused and being homeless
• Why many men in shelters are also fathers
• How housing systems often fail to account for fatherhood
• Why some fathers refuse studio apartments because they need space for their children
• The importance of dignity, respect, and agency for men in shelter settings
• How mental health, reentry, aging, and housing instability intersect
• Why some men have been in shelters for 10, 15, or even 17 years
• The need for case management, medical care, psychiatric care, housing specialists, and follow-up support
• Why men’s shelters are often underfunded and misunderstood
• How staff safety, compassion, and structure all matter in shelter environments
• Why housing men is also fatherhood work

One of the most powerful moments in the conversation comes when Bishop Ferguson describes a father who refused to leave shelter until he could secure a one-bedroom apartment because he wanted a place where his children could visit. That story reminds us that housing is not just about having a roof. It is about belonging, dignity, family, identity, and the possibility of being a father in a real and present way.

Kenneth and Bishop Ferguson also explore how society responds differently to women’s homelessness than men’s homelessness. They challenge listeners to remember that every unhoused man is also someone’s son, someone’s father, someone’s uncle, someone’s brother, and someone whose humanity deserves to be seen.

This episode is a necessary conversation for fatherhood practitioners, housing advocates, faith leaders, policymakers, social service providers, reentry programs, and anyone committed to strengthening families by addressing the full reality of men’s lives.

In this episode of I Am Dad Podcast, host Kenneth Braswell welcomes Dr. Tova Walsh, Associate Professor at the Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, for a deep and timely conversation about the evolving field of fatherhood research and the systems that still struggle to fully include fathers.

Dr. Walsh began her career as a home visitor working with families during pregnancy and early childhood. In that role, she quickly noticed something many systems still overlook today: programs often use words like “family” and “parent,” but in practice, they are designed around mothers and babies while fathers are left out.

This conversation explores how far fatherhood research has come, how far it still needs to go, and what it will take to build systems that treat fathers as essential to child and family wellbeing.

Kenneth and Dr. Walsh discuss:

• Why fatherhood research has grown dramatically over the last few decades
• Why we no longer need to prove that fathers matter
• How social work education still needs to better prepare practitioners to engage fathers
• Why researchers must build real partnerships with fatherhood organizations and compensate fathers for their expertise
• The need for stronger, more reliable fatherhood data
• Why fatherhood needs a stronger national representative body or organizing infrastructure
• How maternal and child health systems often leave fathers out by design
• Why fathers should be included in prenatal care, pediatric care, and early childhood guidance
• The importance of co-parenting support during the first year of a child’s life
• How child support policy can harm low-income fathers and families when it is built around stereotypes
• Why paternal mental health needs greater attention, especially during the transition to fatherhood
• The emotional toll of child support debt, incarceration, unemployment, and relationship disruption
• Whether father absence should be understood as an adverse childhood experience

Dr. Walsh also reflects on her own family story, including how her father’s history and family trauma shaped her understanding of parenting, fatherhood, and the need to support men as whole people.

This episode is a must-watch for fatherhood practitioners, researchers, social workers, policymakers, maternal and child health professionals, early childhood providers, child support leaders, family service organizations, and anyone committed to building stronger families by fully including fathers.

In this powerful Part 2 conversation on I Am Dad Podcast, host Kenneth Braswell welcomes back longtime friend, brother, faith leader, and community advocate Greg Owens for a deeper discussion on Black fatherhood, race, culture, leadership, and the work required to move from narrative to impact.

After Part 1 explored fatherhood, faith, and the Black church, this episode shifts into a broader and more critical conversation: what happens when the phrase “Black fathers” becomes more visible in research, policy, media, philanthropy, and public discourse?

Kenneth and Greg unpack the importance of naming Black fathers without reducing them to a stereotype or treating them as a monolithic group. They explore how conversations about race can either open doors to understanding or chase people out of the room when not handled with wisdom, precision, and care.

This episode examines:

• What it means to talk about Black fathers without flattening their experiences
• Why race matters, but cannot be the only entry point into the conversation
• How universal values such as safety, health, access, family, and dignity keep more people in the room
• Why philanthropy after George Floyd often invested in ideas without building infrastructure
• The difference between outputs, outcomes, and real community impact
• Why Black men and Black women must resist being pushed into a “victimization war”
• How leadership must move beyond transactions and toward transformation
• What it means to raise Black children with culture, agency, faith, resilience, and discernment

Greg also reflects on raising his daughter and helping her develop confidence, agency, and cultural grounding while allowing her faith walk and identity to become her own. Kenneth adds powerful reflections on parenting through pain, watching children endure hardship, and understanding that some lessons cannot be rescued away.

This episode is a call to think more deeply about language, leadership, race, family, and impact. It asks us to move beyond slogans and toward strategy. Beyond visibility and toward infrastructure. Beyond representation and toward transformation.

This episode of I Am Dad Podcast opens a powerful conversation about fatherhood, faith, leadership, and the responsibility of the Black church to speak more intentionally to men and families.

Host Kenneth Braswell sits down with longtime friend, brother, faith leader, and community advocate Greg Owens inside Macedonia Baptist Church in Albany, New York. Their relationship crosses many spaces: community work, music, radio, church, fatherhood, family advocacy, and the shared commitment to strengthening Black families.

Together, Kenneth and Greg move beyond a simple “church conversation” and into something deeper: a conversation about faith, trust, leadership, justice, and how men experience spiritual spaces.

This episode of I Am Dad Podcast features a timely and important conversation from the Moynihan Institute for Fatherhood Research and Policy on how Black fathers are portrayed in television commercials and popular media.

Guest host Dr. David Miller sits down with Dr. Jeffrey Shears and Dr. Janice Kelly to discuss their research study on the portrayal of Black fathers in TV commercials. The conversation explores how Black fathers are often made invisible, reduced to background roles, or narrowly depicted in ways that do not reflect the lived experiences of many Black families.

The episode opens with a discussion of well-known advertising moments, including the public response to ads where Black fathers were absent from family-centered images. From there, the conversation moves into a deeper analysis of why representation matters, how advertising shapes public perception, and what Black fathers themselves said when asked to respond to commercials featuring fathers and families.

This episode explores:

• Why Black fathers are often missing or minimized in advertising
• How TV commercials shape cultural narratives about family
• Why authentic portrayals of Black fatherhood matter
• What Black fathers said about how they want to be represented
• The importance of showing fathers as nurturing, loving, funny, and present
• Why intergenerational images of Black fathers, sons, and grandfathers matter
• How advertisers can do better by listening to Black fathers directly
• The need for more research on Black fathers in television, cable, faith communities, and grandparenthood

The discussion also highlights a critical truth: Black fathers are not asking for perfect portrayals. They are asking for full portrayals.

They want to be seen as caregivers, protectors, workers, nurturers, disciplinarians, partners, sons, grandsons, fathers, and grandfathers. They want commercials and media images that reflect the complexity, tenderness, humor, responsibility, and generational strength that exist in Black family life.

This episode is essential viewing for advertisers, media professionals, researchers, practitioners, fathers, families, and anyone who cares about reshaping the narrative around Black fatherhood.

This episode of I Am Dad Podcast is part of the Moynihan Institute Takeover, featuring a powerful conversation between Dr. Jeff Shears and Dr. Conial Caldwell on Black fathers, daughters, identity, beauty, and racial socialization.

Dr. Caldwell, an assistant professor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County School of Social Work and a proud girl dad, discusses his study, Preparing and Protecting: Black Fathers’ Racial Socialization Practices with Their Daughters. His research explores how Black fathers talk with their daughters about race, appearance, self-esteem, beauty standards, hair, skin tone, education, and navigating the world as Black girls and women.

This conversation challenges the assumption that mothers are the only parents shaping daughters’ understanding of beauty and identity. Dr. Caldwell explains how fathers reinforce positive messages about Black beauty, affirm their daughters’ natural hair and complexion, and prepare them for the social, academic, and professional spaces they will enter.

The episode explores:

• How Black fathers help shape daughters’ self-worth
• Why conversations about race must begin early
• The role fathers play in affirming Black beauty
• How media and social media influence girls’ identity
• Why daughters need protection and preparation
• How “the talk” looks different with daughters than with sons
• The importance of fathers learning about the world Black girls navigate
• Why girl dads need language, awareness, and intentionality

Dr. Caldwell also reflects on how being a father of daughters informs his scholarship and helps him ask deeper questions about fatherhood, family, and Black girls’ development.

This episode is a must-watch for fathers, mothers, practitioners, educators, researchers, and anyone committed to strengthening Black families and helping daughters grow with confidence, dignity, and pride.

This episode of Sideline Dad, part of the I Am Dad Podcast Network, takes a powerful and refreshing turn by bringing a mother’s perspective into the conversation around youth sports, parenting, identity, and family.

Host Javin Foreman welcomes Crystal Garrett, a storyteller, producer, former Division I track athlete, and mother of elite young athletes navigating the modern sports landscape.

From growing up in Seattle surrounded by athletes to raising children competing at high levels in baseball, tennis, basketball, and track, Crystal shares the emotional realities of parenting in today’s youth sports culture.

This conversation explores:

• The unique role mothers play in youth sports
• Raising confident athletes without overwhelming them
• Why sports teach life skills far beyond the game
• Navigating injury, disappointment, and identity
• The business of travel sports and youth athletics
• Why today’s sports culture can rob children of joy
• The emotional impact of recruiting, rankings, and expectations
• The importance of balancing sports, academics, faith, and family

Crystal also discusses her acclaimed documentary Black to the Bigs, which examines the declining presence of Black athletes in Major League Baseball and the systemic barriers impacting Black youth participation in the sport.

Throughout the episode, one truth remains clear:

Sports are never just about sports.

They are about confidence. Identity. Discipline. Community. Family. Pressure. Dreams. And the people standing beside our children while they chase them.

This episode is a must-watch for parents, coaches, athletes, and anyone trying to raise children with purpose in a competitive world.

This episode of I Am Dad Podcast tackles one of the most urgent public health issues facing Black families today: the Black maternal health crisis.

Hosted by Dr. David Miller, this important conversation features Dr. Jeffrey Shears, a nationally respected researcher focused on Black fathers, family systems, and community wellbeing.

Together, they examine a question too often ignored in maternal health conversations:

What role can Black fathers play in helping reduce maternal stress, improve pregnancy outcomes, and support healthier families?

Drawing from new research conducted through the Moynihan Institute for Fatherhood Research and Policy, Dr. Shears explains why fathers should be viewed not as risks—but as resources.

The conversation explores:

• The alarming disparities in Black maternal and infant mortality
• Why stress is a major factor in maternal health outcomes
• The overlooked role of fathers during pregnancy and childbirth
• How healthcare systems often ignore or dismiss fathers
• The importance of communication between mothers and fathers
• Why fathers need education and support during pregnancy too
• The impact of generational parenting and lived experiences
• How community-based fatherhood programming can strengthen maternal health outcomes

Dr. Shears also discusses why the Moynihan Institute chose to reclaim the controversial legacy of the Moynihan Report as a framework for advancing modern fatherhood research and policy conversations.

This episode is both a research discussion and a call to action.

Because if we are serious about saving Black mothers, we must also become serious about supporting Black fathers.

This special Mother’s Day episode of I Am Dad Podcast brings together humor, wisdom, fatherhood, motherhood, and the kind of seasoned truth only Griff can deliver.

Host Kenneth Braswell welcomes back Arlen “Griff” Griffin, co-host of the nationally syndicated gospel radio show Get Up Mornings with Erica Campbell, comedian, husband, father, and author of the new book Cats and Puppies: This Is Not a Book About Animals.

Written as a bold, funny, and deeply honest love letter to mothers raising sons, Griff’s book uses the metaphor of cats and puppies to explore the emotional, developmental, and relational differences between mothers and sons, especially when a father is not present in the home.

Together, Kenneth and Griff discuss:

• Why mothers need both grace and support
• The moment a boy begins shifting into manhood
• Why moms should not have to be “mother and father”
• How men can honor mothers while still telling the truth
• Griff’s relationship with his mother and how it shaped him
• Marriage, fatherhood, comedy, and purpose
• Why sons need language for loving and respecting their mothers
• The power of laughter, wisdom, and lived experience

This conversation is not just about a book. It is about honoring mothers, strengthening sons, and helping families better understand the emotional journey from boyhood to manhood.

If you are a mother raising a son, a father who loves his mother, a husband learning how to honor the women in his life, or a son still trying to understand the woman who raised him, this episode is for you.

This episode of the I Am Dad Podcast offers a rare and honest look at what it means to build a life, a family, and a creative career—all at the same time.

Guest host Javin Foreman sits down with rising artist Ashton Stevens for a conversation that goes beyond music and into the heart of manhood.

Originally from Florida and now building his career in Atlanta, Ashton shares his journey as a creative shaped by faith, family, and responsibility. But more importantly, he opens up about becoming a father in real time—navigating a growing family, supporting a pregnant wife, raising a toddler, and balancing it all while pursuing his purpose as an artist.

This is not just a story about music. It is a story about identity.

In this episode, Ashton and Javin explore:

• The reality of becoming a young father and husband
• How fatherhood reshapes ambition and focus
• Balancing creativity with responsibility
• Emotional regulation and mental health for men
• The pressure of providing while pursuing purpose
• Why authenticity matters more than trends in music and life
• The responsibility of influence as an artist

Ashton also shares the inspiration behind his single “Edge,” a raw and reflective track that explores pressure, emotion, and the internal battles many men face but rarely speak about.

At its core, this conversation asks a deeper question:

Who are you becoming while you are chasing what you want?

Because for Ashton Stevens, success is not just about the spotlight—it is about the legacy he is building at home.

This episode of Sideline Dad, part of the I Am Dad Podcast network, delivers a powerful conversation about fatherhood, sports, discipline, and the real meaning of going pro.

Host Javin Foreman is joined by former professional basketball player and elite trainer Derrek Hamilton, a father who has successfully raised two high-achieving sons—one an Ivy League athlete and scholar, the other an NFL Pro Bowl player.

From growing up in Mobile, Alabama, to playing professionally overseas, to training NBA-level talent, D. Ham shares a journey defined by discipline, pivots, and purpose. But more importantly, he reveals what it truly takes to raise children who succeed both on and off the field.

This conversation explores:

• The difference between raising athletes and raising people
• Why parents must get out of their child’s way to allow growth
• How to balance sports, academics, and character development
• Navigating divorce while still raising successful children
• Recognizing when your child’s path is different than yours
• The importance of exposure, mentorship, and global perspective
• Why “going pro” in life matters more than going pro in sports

D. Ham also reflects on parenting through adversity, including injury, pressure, and expectations—and how letting go of timelines can unlock a child’s true potential.

This episode is a masterclass in intentional fatherhood, reminding us that the sidelines are not just where we watch games—they are where we shape futures.

This episode of Sideline Dad, part of the I Am Dad Podcast network, is a powerful conversation about how sports shape character, leadership, and fatherhood.

Host Javin Foreman sits down with Kevin Jones, a father, mentor, and author of Game Ready: Leadership, Legacy, and Winning the Game of Life, to explore how the lessons learned through sports extend far beyond the field.

From becoming a father at 19 to coaching and mentoring young men across North Carolina, Coach Jones shares a journey rooted in resilience, consistency, and intentional growth. His experiences as a son, father, and coach reveal a deeper truth: sports are not just about competition—they are about preparation for life.

This episode explores:

• How sports teach discipline, resilience, and accountability
• The importance of father presence in shaping young men
• Why consistency and vulnerability matter in mentorship
• The challenges young athletes face in today’s environment
• The role of coaches as father figures and life mentors
• Navigating relationships, pressure, and identity as a young man
• How lessons from sports translate into success in life and family

Coach Jones also reflects on writing his book and why young men need guidance that speaks directly to their real-life challenges—not just their athletic performance.

This conversation is a reminder that the sidelines are not just where games are watched—they are where futures are shaped.

This episode of Sideline Dad, a featured series within the I Am Dad Podcast network, brings a real and necessary conversation about fatherhood, youth sports, and the responsibility of raising not just athletes—but whole people.

Hosted by Javin Foreman, this episode features Rodney Kellam, a father of three navigating the journey of raising children through sports, life lessons, and intentional parenting.

From California playgrounds to Georgia gyms, Rodney shares how basketball shaped his identity—and how fatherhood reshaped his purpose.

This conversation goes beyond the game. It explores:

• The difference between developing an athlete and developing a person
• Why parents must get out of the way of their child’s growth
• The emotional weight fathers carry on the sidelines
• The role of patience, especially when raising children with different needs
• The impact of sports on discipline, identity, and resilience
• How fear and ego can unintentionally harm a child’s development
• Why fatherhood is ultimately about legacy, not performance

Rodney also shares powerful reflections on raising a special needs daughter, supporting a high-level athlete son through injury, and learning how to remove timelines and expectations in favor of growth and love.

Throughout the episode, one theme remains clear:
The sidelines are not just where we watch the game—they are where fatherhood is revealed.

Whether your child is playing basketball, baseball, or any sport at all, this episode challenges parents to ask a critical question:

Are we helping our children become who they are meant to be—or trying to make them who we want them to be?

This week on I Am Dad Podcast, host Kenneth Braswell welcomes scholar, author, and longtime advocate Dr. David Miller for a powerful conversation about mentorship, memory, and manhood.

At the center of this episode is Dr. Miller’s new national writing project, Letters to My 13-Year-Old Self, an intergenerational reflection inviting Black men across the country to write a message to the boy they once were. The letters explore wisdom, wounds, and wins—the lessons learned through decades of life experience.

The conversation digs deeper than nostalgia. Braswell and Miller explore why age 13 represents a critical turning point in the development of boys and young men. They reflect on the awkward transition from childhood to adolescence, peer pressure, masculinity, identity formation, and the deep emotional experiences that shape a young man’s future.

Throughout the episode, they examine:

Why age 13 is a pivotal moment in Black male development
The power of intergenerational mentorship between Black men
The importance of community affirmation for young boys
What today’s generation of boys face in a hyper-digital world
The lasting impact of childhood trauma and early experiences
Why older Black men must intentionally pass wisdom to younger generations

Dr. Miller also shares how letters submitted by men across the country—from young adults to elders in their eighties—reveal common themes of resilience, healing, identity, and self-worth.

The episode closes with a reflection on the importance of slowing down, turning off the phone, and rediscovering the beauty of youth before adulthood arrives too quickly.

This conversation is a reminder that every man carries the voice of the boy he once was—and that speaking to that younger self can help guide the next generation.

In this episode of I Am Dad Podcast, host Kenneth Braswell welcomes Mark Ludwig for a powerful conversation about fatherhood, family courts, and the legislative battle to keep children connected to both parents.

Mark Ludwig shares his deeply personal story of going 204 days without seeing his son, a painful experience that ultimately led him into the world of fatherhood advocacy and policy reform. What began as a personal struggle evolved into a national mission to educate advocates and legislators on shared parenting and family law reform.

Together, Braswell and Ludwig unpack the realities many fathers face after separation or divorce, including parental alienation, legal barriers, and the adversarial nature of family courts. They also explore why legislative reform has become one of the most important tools for addressing systemic obstacles that prevent fathers from being meaningfully involved in their children’s lives.

The conversation covers:

What shared parenting actually means
Why the current family court system often creates “winners and losers”
The emotional toll of parental separation on fathers and children
The role of legislation in protecting father–child relationships
Why messaging and language matter in fatherhood advocacy
The growing national movement toward equal parenting laws

Mark also discusses his new book, The Parental Alienation Playbook, which identifies common tactics used to disrupt parent–child relationships and provides strategies for fathers navigating difficult co-parenting environments.

This episode is both a personal testimony and a strategic conversation about how fathers, advocates, and policymakers can work together to strengthen families and create healthier environments for children.

This week on I Am Dad Podcast, guest host Dr. Matisa Wilbon of the Moynihan Institute for Fatherhood Research and Policy takes the host chair for a powerful conversation with fellow institute colleague Dr. David Miller, a researcher focused on the mental health and social development of Black men, fathers, and families.

Drawing from his academic research and personal experience as a father of two daughters and a son, Dr. Miller explores a topic that has received far too little scholarly attention: the sacred bond between Black fathers and daughters.

Their conversation examines the emotional, psychological, and cultural importance of father involvement in daughters’ lives—even when fathers do not live in the same household. Dr. Miller shares findings from interviews with non-residential fathers and daughters that reveal an important truth: daughters continue to need affirmation, guidance, and presence from their fathers well into adulthood.

Together, Wilbon and Miller discuss:

Why the father–daughter relationship is critical to girls’ mental health
• The myth of the “absent father” narrative
• The emotional toll on fathers who are separated from their children
• How fathers shape daughters’ self-esteem and identity
• Why dads must talk to daughters about relationships, race, and beauty
• The importance of racial pride and positive affirmations from fathers
• Co-parenting challenges and policy barriers affecting father involvement
• Why mental health support for fathers matters just as much as for children

The episode also addresses the uncomfortable but necessary conversations fathers must have with daughters about relationships, sexuality, safety, and self-worth. Dr. Miller argues that when fathers provide affirming messages about identity, beauty, and resilience, they help counter the harmful stereotypes Black girls face in society.

This conversation is not only about research—it is about healing, growth, and creating stronger relationships between fathers and daughters across generations.

This week on I Am Dad Podcast, host Kenneth Braswell welcomes Javin Foreman, father of three and youth basketball dad living in the real-time rhythm of competitive sports parenting.

From Chicago courts to suburban gyms, this conversation dives into what really happens on the sidelines—where love, fear, ego, and expectation often collide. Drawing from his own playing background and now coaching and parenting two sons in organized basketball, Javin shares candid reflections on:

Living vicariously through our children
Managing emotional reactions during games
The ride home conversation
When competitiveness crosses into control
Parenting differently based on each child’s personality
The pressure of youth sports culture, AAU systems, and NIL aspirations
Co-parenting dynamics and sideline behavior

Kenneth and Javin explore how sports expose fatherhood in its rawest form. The gym becomes a mirror—revealing not just a child’s skills, but a parent’s fears, expectations, and growth areas. This episode challenges dads to ask: Are we building character—or projecting our own unfinished business?

If you have a child in youth sports, this conversation will feel familiar—and necessary.

Season 5 of I Am Dad Podcast continues its deep dive into the systems shaping modern fatherhood—and this conversation is one for policymakers, practitioners, and advocates alike.

Host Kenneth Braswell welcomes Christopher Brown, longtime leader in the national fatherhood movement and president of National Fatherhood Initiative.

Together, they discuss the groundbreaking report The $154 Billion Man, which reframes father absence not only as a moral and social issue, but as an economic one. The report conservatively estimates that the federal government spends over $154 billion annually supporting single-mother households across 14 major assistance programs—a figure that has risen more than 50 percent (inflation-adjusted) since 2008.

This episode goes beyond the numbers. Brown and Braswell examine:

Why capacity building—not just programming—is essential
How culture change within agencies determines sustainability
The role of marriage and relationship stability in child outcomes
Why younger generations of fathers are redefining fatherhood identity
The urgent need for national convening and preservation of institutional knowledge in the fatherhood field

If you care about strengthening families, influencing public policy, or building sustainable fatherhood programming, this conversation offers both data and direction.

This episode of the I Am Dad Podcast is a powerful and necessary conversation about love, loss, and responsibility.

Host Kenneth Braswell welcomes Charles Johnson, founder and CEO of 4Kira4Moms, for an unflinching discussion about fatherhood in the face of tragedy and purpose born from grief.

Charles shares his deeply personal daddy story, including the loss of his wife Kira just days after the birth of their second son due to preventable medical failures. What followed was not only heartbreak, but a reckoning—one that exposed systemic bias in maternal healthcare and propelled Charles into national advocacy to ensure no family experiences what his did.

Together, Braswell and Johnson examine how racism, delayed care, and dismissal of Black women’s pain continue to drive maternal mortality in the United States. The conversation expands into the critical role fathers play—not only in parenting, but in advocating for their partners, navigating healthcare systems, and reshaping narratives around family, partnership, and accountability.

This episode also explores the intersection of fatherhood and maternal health, why empowering dads improves outcomes for mothers and babies, and how partnership—not performative allyship—is required to create real change.

This is not just a story about loss. It is a call to action for fathers, families, policymakers, and communities to show up, speak up, and do better.

Fatherhood rarely arrives with a manual—and for many men, the earliest season is the most overwhelming.

In this episode of the I Am Dad Podcast, host Kenneth Braswell welcomes Joe Carr, creator of the Dadicated Joe platform and co-founder of Serenity Kids, for an honest, wide-ranging conversation about modern fatherhood.

Joe shares his daddy story, the collision of launching a national baby food company on the same day his daughter was born, and the emotional reality of early parenting that no class, book, or preparation truly covers. Together, Braswell and Carr explore how fear of judgment, relationship dynamics, and unspoken expectations shape how men show up as husbands and fathers.

The conversation also dives into marriage, boundaries, household equity, emotional validation, and the evolving role of dads—along with practical insights on nutrition, shared parenting, and why today’s fathers are redefining masculinity through presence, care, and partnership.

This episode speaks directly to new dads, expecting fathers, and men navigating the balance between ambition, love, responsibility, and self-worth.

This episode of the I Am Dad Podcast is a masterclass in perseverance, policy change, and purpose-driven fatherhood.

Host Kenneth Braswell welcomes Bernard W.H. Jennings, Florida Supreme Court–certified mediator, public servant, and architect of the Good Dad Act, for an extraordinary conversation about how one father’s fight for access to his son reshaped state law.

Dr. Jennings shares his deeply personal daddy story—how, despite being listed on his son’s birth certificate and actively parenting, he was told by a judge that he had no rights under Florida law. Rather than surrender, he studied the system, drafted legislation, built bipartisan support, and helped pass the Good Dad Act, establishing equal parental rights for fathers who step up.

The conversation explores the realities of paternity, legitimation, custody, and child support across states, the hidden barriers fathers face in family court, and why policy reform must be strategic, patient, and informed. Braswell and Jennings also discuss the emotional toll of prolonged separation, the importance of father involvement in child outcomes, and the role mothers, partners, and communities play in sustaining healthy families.

This is not just a legal story—it is a roadmap for fathers, advocates, and civic leaders seeking justice, equity, and lasting change for children and families nationwide.

Fatherhood is not a role a man steps into when it is easy. It is a calling that demands clarity, responsibility, and presence.

In this episode of the I Am Dad Podcast, host Kenneth Braswell welcomes Jesse Anderson, a fatherhood coach, court-appointed monitor, and ministry leader whose work focuses on helping men lead their families with strength, faith, and emotional integrity.

Jesse shares his deeply personal daddy story, growing up without a biological father and learning how to become a dad through mentors, faith, and lived experience. The conversation explores why many fathers disengage after separation or divorce, how leadership breaks down inside families, and why vulnerability, forgiveness, and consistency are essential to raising healthy children.

Together, Braswell and Anderson examine the role of faith in shaping masculine leadership, the difference between being present and being accountable, and how fathers influence both sons and daughters through modeling, structure, and love. From courtrooms to kitchens, the discussion centers on one core truth: children thrive when fathers rise.

This episode is a grounded, faith-centered conversation for fathers, mentors, and anyone committed to breaking generational cycles and building purpose-driven families.

This episode of the I Am Dad Podcast is a masterclass in perspective, memory, and meaning.

Host Kenneth Braswell welcomes longtime friend and respected fatherhood practitioner Scott Leach for an expansive conversation rooted in New York City’s five boroughs and shaped by decades of work with fathers and families.

Scott shares his personal daddy story, reflecting on early separation, childhood anger, sports as an outlet, and the moment his understanding of fatherhood shifted through evidence, accountability, and love. From there, the conversation widens into the complexities of doing fatherhood work in New York—where geography, culture, transportation, and community identity all shape how fathers show up.

Together, Braswell and Leach unpack masculinity, marriage, toxic narratives, community mentorship, faith, and the generational impact of the 1980s on today’s fathers. They explore why children need to see healing, why community men still matter, and why fatherhood work is ultimately about supporting healthy children—not choosing sides.

This is not a theoretical discussion. It is lived experience, honest reflection, and practical wisdom for anyone committed to strengthening families in real-world conditions.

This episode of the I Am Dad Podcast is a powerful reminder that fatherhood is shaped not only by biology, but by community, responsibility, and purpose.

Host Kenneth Braswell welcomes Greg Harris, Outreach Lead with Fathers Incorporated, for an honest, deeply reflective conversation rooted in Brooklyn streets and Atlanta impact.

Greg shares his daddy’s story—marked by loss, trauma, and resilience—and reflects on growing up in Brooklyn surrounded by coaches, elders, and community men who stepped in when fathers were absent. Together, Braswell and Harris explore how trust is built with fathers, why outreach is sacred “first contact,” and how heart work—not just hard work—drives transformation.

The conversation also examines the realities fathers face today, from apprehension and distrust to redemption and accountability. Through stories of loss and success, the episode underscores the power of relationship, navigation, and purpose in helping men stay present for their children.

This is not a conversation about programs alone—it is a conversation about people, pain, healing, and the men who choose to stand in the gap.

Five seasons in, the I Am Dad Podcast continues to examine the foundations of responsible fatherhood—and this episode goes straight to the core question too few ask: So what?

Host Kenneth Braswell, CEO of Fathers Incorporated, welcomes national thought leader Matthew Shepherd, founder of Midwest Evaluation and Research, for a wide-ranging and deeply reflective discussion on fatherhood, research integrity, program evaluation, and systems change.

Shepherd shares his personal fatherhood journey, including lessons learned from his own dad and the transformative experience of adoption. From there, the conversation expands into the realities of Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood programs, the challenges of sustainability, the role of policy, and why data without meaning fails to move systems forward.

Together, Braswell and Shepherd unpack how programs can use research not as a compliance exercise, but as a tool for continuous improvement, storytelling, and long-term impact. The episode challenges practitioners, funders, and policymakers alike to rethink how success is measured—and why fatherhood remains one of the most powerful, bipartisan investments society can make.

If you care about fathers, families, research, or the future of social impact work, this conversation will stretch how you think about all four.

2025 was not a year of isolated wins — it was a year of alignment.

In this Fathers Incorporated 2025 Year in Review, we reflect on how fatherhood moved beyond conversation and into infrastructure, systems change, and national influence. Across programs, policy, media, and community engagement, Fathers Incorporated strengthened its role as a trusted leader in responsible fatherhood and family well-being.

This review highlights the organization’s national stewardship of the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse, expanded public education through fatherhood.gov, and large-scale behavior change driven by national media partnerships. It also captures the growth and outcomes of the Gentle Warriors Academy, including record-setting graduations, independent evaluation findings, and expanded reach into communities and correctional facilities.

Viewers will also see how Fathers Incorporated elevated fatherhood through civic engagement, including the 20th Anniversary of the Million Fathers March, policy leadership on legitimation reform, and sustained narrative change through media appearances and op-eds. Together, these efforts reflect a clear commitment: treating fatherhood not as a side issue, but as a foundational strategy for strengthening families and communities.

This video is both a reflection on what was accomplished in 2025 and a statement of where the work is going next. It affirms a simple truth backed by data and experience alike: when fathers are supported, families stabilize, children thrive, and communities grow stronger.

In this powerful and reflective episode of the I Am Dad Podcast, host Kenneth Braswell welcomes Coach Wayne Dawson—certified life and mindset coach, father of seven, and a man whose journey through family, faith, and leadership exemplifies what it means to live with legacy in mind.

Wayne shares a deeply personal story about growing up with a strong, present father and how that foundation shaped his approach to parenting and leading a blended family. From his early days as a social worker and youth advocate in Harlem, to his rise as a Fortune 50 executive and now as the VIP Coach, Wayne opens up about the defining moments that taught him resilience, authenticity, and the sacred responsibility of guiding Black men to live with clarity, confidence, and certainty.

This conversation explores co-parenting dynamics, healing from divorce, honoring the wisdom of our elders, and redefining masculinity in ways that liberate—not limit—our boys and men. A must-listen for fathers, leaders, and anyone seeking purpose in the seasoned stage of life.

Timestamps00:00 – Intro to I Am Dad Podcast
01:00 – Meet Coach Wayne Dawson
03:00 – Wayne’s fatherhood origin story
06:00 – Blended families and owning your past
12:00 – Childhood influences and cultural identity
16:30 – Harlem roots and youth mentorship
19:00 – The generational impact of absent fathers
23:00 – Leaving nonprofit for corporate leadership
27:00 – The power of seasoning and wisdom
30:00 – Coaching Black men through transformation
34:00 – Why Black men often feel unworthy
38:00 – Strength, masculinity, and healthy sensitivity
42:00 – Teaching boys the difference between hurt and injury
45:00 – Boundaries, expectations, and legacy
50:00 – The missing blueprint for modern manhood
55:00 – Writing your story and leaving a legacy
60:00 – Closing reflections and ways to connect

About the Guest: Wayne DawsonWayne Dawson is a certified life and mindset coach, speaker, and founder of VIP Transformative Living. With decades of experience in social work, corporate leadership, and coaching, Wayne helps Black men live aligned with their values, identity, and purpose. He is a devoted father of seven and a passionate advocate for legacy-driven living.

Website: iamdadpodcast.com
Website: fathersincorporated.com

Hashtags#Fatherhood #BlackFathers #SeasonedMen #WayneDawson #KennethBraswell #Manhood #LegacyLiving #BlendedFamilies #BlackMenMatter #PurposeDrivenLife #VIPCoach #IAmDadPodcast

In this eye-opening episode of the I Am Dad Podcast, host Kenneth Braswell welcomes Tom Garber, the Berlin-based founder of Hope for Men—a global platform dedicated to male mental health and the host of the groundbreaking podcast What Happened to Me. Through his own experience as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and his journey toward healing, Tom has become a powerful advocate for men navigating trauma, shame, and emotional suppression.

Together, Kenneth and Tom examine the reasons why men—even those surrounded by family and friends—often feel invisible, unsupported, and alone. From the structural failure of therapy models to society’s reluctance to acknowledge male vulnerability, they dissect the barriers to healing and explore why storytelling, safe spaces, and community matter. Tom also discusses why his platform was forced to shift away from its original vision and how resistance to male-focused wellness underscores a larger cultural denial.

Whether you're a father, a mentor, a survivor, or simply someone who believes in the importance of men's well-being, this conversation is a call to action. When men are well, families heal. Communities thrive. And silence finally breaks.

In this compelling episode of I Am Dad Podcast, Kenneth Braswell sits down with Dwayne Roberts, U.S. Army veteran and founder of Men of Vision Colorado, to explore the intersection of faith, failure, and transformation in the lives of men and fathers. From 15 years in the military to serving time in county lockup, Dwayne's path was anything but linear—but it was divinely orchestrated.

Kenneth and Dwayne unpack how faith became the foundation for a second act in life, leading to a ministry dedicated to empowering formerly incarcerated men. They talk about the power of mentorship, the emotional toll of shame and unworthiness, and how spiritual growth plays a critical role in reshaping a man’s identity. Dwayne introduces his “Vision. Plan. Execute.” framework and offers insight into how churches and leaders can more effectively engage and support men on their journey toward healing and leadership.

This episode is a masterclass in spiritual fathering, character building, and building environments where men can grow beyond their past into their full potential.

In this deeply moving episode of the I Am Dad Podcast, Michelle Lockhart, a cornerstone of the Fathers Incorporated team, sits down with host Kenneth Braswell for a powerful conversation about family, history, and the fatherhood journey. Sharing her own story of growing up without her father—who was tragically murdered before she was born—Michelle reflects on how that loss shaped her commitment to supporting dads and communities across Atlanta.

Together, they unpack the cultural richness of Atlanta, the consequences of generational trauma, and the importance of creating spaces where men feel seen, supported, and equipped. They highlight the life-changing power of grace, accountability, and emotional safety for men navigating fatherhood, legitimation, and community expectations. Michelle's insight is rooted in love, lived experience, and a fierce determination to ensure that no child grows up without a sense of protection and presence.

Whether you're a dad, an advocate, or someone committed to building stronger communities, this episode will move you to reflect, act, and lead with intention.

On this episode of the I Am Dad Podcast, Kenneth Braswell sits down with Matt Stevens, a nationally recognized mentor, educator, and leader in youth development and fatherhood engagement. A former Army veteran turned mentoring visionary, Matt shares how his life journey—from struggling student to founder of transformative programs—has shaped his passion for guiding young men toward purpose, education, and community contribution.

They explore the evolution of mentoring, the impact of Omega Psi Phi’s leadership in the fatherhood space, and how Zoom and digital mentoring changed the game during the pandemic. Matt emphasizes the urgency of teaching perseverance, reading literacy, and AI adaptability to the next generation while also exploring the legacy of service, stewardship, and creating systems of sustainability in our communities.

Whether you're a mentor, father, educator, or someone passionate about young Black men's futures, this conversation will leave you moved and motivated to take action.

In this thought-provoking episode of the I Am Dad Podcast, Kenneth Braswell sits down with Dr. Darren Moore, a nationally recognized expert in men’s mental health, fatherhood, and family therapy. As a Clinical Professor and Associate Director of Training and Supervision at Northwestern University, Dr. Moore brings academic brilliance and lived experience to the table.

The conversation begins with a deeply personal "daddy story" that reveals how institutional bias shaped Dr. Moore’s early journey into fatherhood and continues into a rich dialogue on why men—and especially Black men—need to be seen, heard, and supported in medical and mental health systems. Together, they explore the challenges of fatherhood, the stigma surrounding therapy, the power of reflective manhood, and the need for research rooted in strength, not deficit.

If you’ve ever felt unseen in fatherhood spaces or wondered how to bridge your personal experiences with systemic change, this episode will speak directly to your heart. Dr. Moore also previews his upcoming book on Black fatherhood and discusses why the research pipeline must be filled with practitioners who live the experience they’re studying. This is a critical conversation that reframes the narratives around fatherhood, mental health, and legacy.

In this powerful episode of the I Am Dad Podcast, host Kenneth Braswell welcomes Chris James, a nationally recognized spoken word artist, TEDx speaker, mental health educator, and founder of Creative Connections. As a father of seven and the visionary behind the “Black Boys Better” program, Chris shares how art, advocacy, and emotional intelligence are reshaping the conversation around fatherhood and mental wellness.

The two dive deep into fatherhood, the danger of emotional suppression, and how men often carry unacknowledged pain in silence. Chris opens up about becoming a father at 16, dropping his oldest son off at college while raising an 18-month-old, and how his own healing journey allows him to serve boys and men with greater empathy and truth. He and Braswell challenge the myth that men don’t express emotions, arguing instead that men communicate constantly—we just need to listen differently.

This episode is rich with lived experience, critical insight, and practical frameworks for healing, mentoring, and creating culturally relevant support systems for Black boys and their fathers.

In this profound episode of the I Am Dad Podcast, host Kenneth Braswell sits down with David Mandel, internationally recognized expert on domestic violence and child safety, and author of Stop Blaming Mothers and Ignoring Fathers. As the founder of the Safe & Together Institute, Mandel challenges the systems that fail to hold men accountable and overburden women—while offering real tools for change.

The two discuss the power of lived experience, unpack generational trauma, and call for the elevation of the "father fullness" narrative. Mandel shares how fatherhood shaped his life and how growing up with a decent, emotionally present father informed his approach to transforming child welfare and domestic violence systems.

From confronting the myth of the “absent father” to reimagining accountability, this episode is a vital listen for practitioners, advocates, and parents working toward healing and justice. Mandel’s insight is not just theoretical—it's global, practical, and grounded in compassion.

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of the I Am Dad Podcast, host Kenneth Braswell sits down with Dr. Dominick Shattuck, a community psychologist, researcher, and thought leader in men's health and masculinities. From recounting a terrifying incident where his daughter was bitten by a copperhead to unpacking the structural failures of our health systems, Dr. Shattuck opens up about fatherhood, masculinity, and the urgent need to prioritize men's health as a public health issue.

They talk about why men often don't seek care, the stigma around vulnerability, and how being emotionally and physically available is the most important trait a father can model. With honesty and insight, this episode challenges traditional narratives and offers a new vision for what it means to be a healthy, engaged father. Whether you’re a dad, a public health advocate, or someone interested in reshaping community health from the ground up, this conversation will leave you thinking differently about manhood and legacy.

In this powerful and wide-ranging episode of the I Am Dad Podcast, host Kenneth Braswell, CEO of Fathers Incorporated, welcomes Dr. Charles R. Rogers—award-winning behavioral scientist, founder of the Colorectal Cancer Equity Foundation, and passionate advocate for Black men’s health.

Together, they explore the layered reality of fatherhood, from Dr. Rogers' personal story of losing his father to suicide at age four, to his work combating health disparities in colorectal cancer. The conversation cuts deep into the undervalued role of fathers in family health, why “picking someone’s brain” without compensation is problematic, and how boundaries, service, and legacy must co-exist for Black men doing impactful work.

Dr. Rogers also discusses the rise in early-onset colorectal cancer, the barriers Black men face in screening and treatment, and the critical need to reframe conversations around masculinity and preventive care. Whether you're a father, health advocate, or community leader, this episode is a call to elevate the health and worth of Black men—for themselves and the families who depend on them.

About the GuestDr. Charles R. Rogers is a nationally recognized behavioral scientist, public health expert, and the Founding Director of the Men’s Health Inequities Research Lab. With over 20 years of experience addressing health disparities, Dr. Rogers is especially known for his groundbreaking work to eliminate racial gaps in colorectal cancer outcomes, particularly among African-American men. He is the founder of the Colorectal Cancer Equity Foundation, a husband, and a devoted father. Learn more: crcequity.org

About the HostKenneth Braswell is the CEO of Fathers Incorporated and host of the I Am Dad Podcast. A national leader in fatherhood engagement, Kenneth brings over 20 years of experience creating media, policy, and programming that support fathers and strengthen families. He is the author of multiple books, producer of documentaries and PSA campaigns, and a passionate advocate for Black men and boys.

In this heartfelt and eye-opening episode of I Am Dad Podcast, host Kenneth Braswell sits down with Keith Holmes, fatherhood outreach specialist and advocate at Fathers Incorporated. Keith opens up about being raised by a stepfather who modeled manhood through action, and how his own biological father's struggles with addiction gave him a deeper understanding of trauma and redemption.

Through candid dialogue, Keith shares the transformative experiences that led him from working in juvenile justice to becoming a vital part of Atlanta’s fatherhood movement. From counseling dads in crisis to mentoring youth in underserved communities, Keith’s insights speak to the importance of empathy, cultural understanding, and showing up—even when it's hard.

The conversation also touches on sports culture, Black fatherhood in Atlanta, systemic barriers, and the future of generational impact through father-focused programs. It’s more than a conversation—it’s a reflection on what it truly means to prepare our boys for the world and ourselves for the journey of fatherhood.

In this deeply moving episode of the I Am Dad Podcast, host Kenneth Braswell sits down with Juan Baxter, a relationship therapist, youth mentor, and co-founder of the media and training duo Those Baxters. Juan shares his story of growing up without a present father, raising his own son at 19, and transforming generational cycles through intentional fatherhood, community service, and spiritual calling.

Juan reflects on his decision to put himself on child support, become a single father in his teens, and walk away from street life for the sake of his children. With equal parts vulnerability and wisdom, he explains how faith led him into social work, radio, theater, and fatherhood programming—culminating in his role as a Gentle Warriors Academy facilitator with Fathers Incorporated.

Together, Juan and Kenneth dive into the realities of parenting while healing, the importance of availability over perfection, the needs of men reentering community life, and how brotherhood among fathers can help men thrive where systems once failed them.

In this thought-provoking episode of the I Am Dad Podcast, host Kenneth Braswell welcomes Dena Barnwell, a Doctor of Public Health candidate, health educator, and former doula, whose work focuses on making fatherhood visible in systems that often leave men out. Dena’s journey into fatherhood advocacy began with her own personal story—a deep bond with her father, followed by a decade-long absence that challenged everything she believed about paternal relationships.

Her work explores how mental health, systems involvement, and social stigma impact fathers during the perinatal period, and why public health must treat men as more than “accessory parents.” Kenneth and Dena unpack the often-overlooked role of dads in maternal health, the emotional complexity of co-parenting, and the critical importance of storytelling in reshaping narratives about Black fathers. From her powerful research in Baltimore to her reflections as a mother, Dena makes a compelling case for family-centered—not mother-only—models of care.

In this gripping episode of the I Am Dad Podcast, host Kenneth Braswell welcomes back author, speaker, and reentry advocate Sharmain Harris. From growing up in the streets of Racine, Wisconsin, to serving time in prison, Sharmain’s story is a raw and redemptive testament to the transformative power of second chances. Now a husband, father of three, and community leader, Sharmain returns to share the deeper truths behind his new memoir, Rising Above the Odds: My Journey from Pain and Prison to Power and Purpose.

With honesty and humility, Sharmain reflects on childhood trauma, the heartbreak of family separation, his time in prison, and the pivotal moments that changed his mindset. The conversation explores fatherhood as both an identity and a responsibility, how trauma impacts Black boys and men, and the systems that too often fail them. Sharmain also shares how becoming a stepfather, reconnecting with his faith, and facing his past led to a gubernatorial pardon and a renewed purpose to serve others.

This episode is not just a story—it’s a blueprint for healing, hope, and generational transformation.

In this moving episode of the I Am Dad Podcast, Beau Gaudreau—veteran, educator, actor, former firefighter, and dedicated father—opens up about his transformative journey through adversity, identity, and intentional parenting. Host Kenneth Braswell, CEO of Fathers Incorporated, takes Beau through a heartfelt and unfiltered reflection on fatherhood, including growing up without his own father present, navigating the trauma of abandonment, and breaking generational cycles of emotional suppression.

Together, they explore Beau’s military service during the Gulf War era, his personal battles with fear and faith, and his decision to leave behind stability for purpose-driven work that centers Black fathers and children. Through stories of loss, growth, and redemption, Beau emphasizes how men must be willing to go deep, organize the emotional “closets” of their lives, and evolve into the fathers their children truly need.

This is a conversation about presence, intentionality, second chances—and the sacred call to manhood.

In this special episode of the I Am Dad Podcast, host Kenneth Braswell, CEO of Fathers Incorporated, is joined by researcher and sociologist Dr. Matisa Wilbon to discuss the often-overlooked issue of legitimation in the state of Georgia—a legal process that determines a father's right to custody and decision-making for his child if he is not married to the mother.

Through a detailed presentation and moving personal testimonies, the episode sheds light on how Georgia remains the only state that separates paternity from legal fatherhood, leaving countless fathers without any legal standing in their children's lives—even if they are on the birth certificate or paying child support.

Dr. Wilbon presents findings from her research brief on the link between legitimation, father engagement, and youth academic outcomes, while the video features fathers sharing the emotional toll, legal confusion, and financial barriers they’ve faced. This episode is a critical call to action for policymakers, practitioners, and communities to support legal reform and greater access for fathers striving to be present in their children’s lives.

Learn more at: https://fathersincorporated.com
Visit: https://iamdadpodcast.com

In this special episode of the I Am Dad Podcast, Kenneth Braswell, CEO of Fathers Incorporated, joins Dr. David Miller for a raw and eye-opening conversation on a topic rarely discussed in men’s health: dental care.

Sharing his own painful journey through full dental reconstruction, Kenneth reflects on how cultural silence around health—especially among Black men—has led many to neglect the very care that sustains life, connection, and legacy. From emergency extractions to permanent dentures, the experience reshaped his relationship to food, fitness, family, and self-care.

Kenneth and Dr. Miller explore how early messages around toughness, survival, and masculinity leave men unprepared to prioritize prevention. They also discuss the systemic failures of the health insurance system, the cultural need to redefine what it means to be strong, and why modeling healthy behaviors for our children starts with taking care of ourselves first.

This episode is a call to action for fathers: your health is not just about you. It’s about the story your children will tell and the moments you might miss if you don’t take care of yourself now.

Explore more from Fathers Incorporated: https://fathersincorporated.com
Visit I Am Dad Podcast: https://iamdadpodcast.com

In this episode of the I Am Dad Podcast, Kenneth Braswell, CEO of Fathers Incorporated, speaks with Danielle Shears, founder of Better Choice Health LLC, about how chronic illness and unresolved fatigue are reshaping how men—especially fathers—approach wellness in their 40s and beyond.

Drawing from her 30+ years in nursing and her own journey through chronic illness, Danielle explains why the traditional medical system often overlooks root causes and how lifestyle change, functional nutrition, and stress management offer a new path toward healing. With practical strategies and powerful affirmations, she encourages fathers to lead themselves and their families from a place of strength, clarity, and purpose.

Learn more about Danielle Shears: https://danielleshearscoach.com
Download her free guide: https://bit.ly/44O2fia
Book a free strategy session: https://l.bttr.to/4hCBc
Learn more about Fathers Incorporated: https://fathersincorporated.com

How do we use research to better support fathers? Dina Israel shares how evidence and action come together to improve real lives.

In this episode of the I Am Dad Podcast, host Kenneth Braswell speaks with Dina Israel, senior associate at MDRC, a national nonprofit research organization committed to improving the lives of low-income families. For over 20 years, Dina has worked with agencies across the country to design and evaluate programs that support family stability and father engagement.

She shares insights on what it means to bridge the gap between data and daily life, and how fatherhood programs are most effective when they reflect both rigorous research and real human experience. Dina explains how MDRC is shaping national conversations around parenting, policy, and the power of showing up for fathers.

Learn more about MDRC: https://www.mdrc.org
Explore more from Fathers Incorporated: https://fathersincorporated.com

Kenneth Braswell reflects on fatherhood, gratitude, and the impact every dad has on the story their children will tell about them.

In this Father’s Day episode of the I Am Dad Podcast, Kenneth Braswell, CEO of Fathers Incorporated, offers a heartfelt reflection—not just in celebration of fatherhood, but in recognition of its deeper impact.

This message is a thank you to all the men who continue to show up in the lives of their children—whether perfectly or imperfectly—and a powerful reminder that every moment contributes to the narrative our children are building about who we are, what we value, and how we love.

Kenneth challenges fathers to reflect on the story their children will tell about them—and encourages them to keep shaping that story with intention, compassion, and presence.

Jeff Nelligan reveals the four key lessons that helped raise his sons into disciplined, driven, and resilient young men.

In this episode of the I Am Dad Podcast, host Kenneth Braswell speaks with Jeff Nelligan, author of Four Lessons from My Three Sons – How You Can Raise Resilient Kids, about the core principles that shaped his parenting journey and helped his sons thrive—from childhood through to the U.S. Naval Academy, Williams College, and West Point.

A seasoned public affairs executive, Army veteran, and father of three, Jeff combines humor, structure, and real-world wisdom in his approach to fatherhood. He discusses the importance of high expectations, presence, and building habits that prepare children for independence and leadership.

Whether you're a new father or raising teens, this episode is packed with timeless insights and encouragement for raising boys with backbone and character.

Learn more about Jeff Nelligan and his book: https://www.nelliganbooks.com
Explore more from Fathers Incorporated: https://fathersincorporated.com

Kenneth Reddick III shares his powerful story of recovery and resilience and how Brothers Brunch is helping Black men heal.

On this episode of the I Am Dad Podcast, host Kenneth Braswell welcomes Kenneth Reddick III—a three-time suicide survivor, former alcoholic, and now a leading voice in mental health advocacy. As a Certified Peer Specialist and founder of the Brothers Brunch Foundation, Reddick brings raw honesty and inspiration to a much-needed conversation on Black men's mental and emotional wellness.

He opens up about his decades-long battle with alcohol addiction, his path to recovery, and the healing spaces he’s building for Black men to gather, reflect, and grow. Through initiatives like Brothers Brunch, TNT Tuesday Talks, and Men’s Holiday Relaxation, Kenneth is creating a community that empowers men to break generational cycles, share their truths, and prioritize self-care.

Learn more about Brothers Brunch Foundation: https://brothersbrunchfoundation.com/
Explore more from Fathers Incorporated: https://fathersincorporated.com

KennethReddick #BrothersBrunch #BlackMenHealing #FatherhoodMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #SuicidePrevention #SobrietyJourney #IAmDadPodcast

Dr. George James breaks down what it takes to thrive in fatherhood, love, and life through emotional growth, intentional presence, and relational insight.

In this episode of the I Am Dad Podcast, host Kenneth Braswell speaks with Dr. George James, licensed marriage and family therapist, media personality, and founder of George Talks, LLC. A 13-time guest on The TODAY Show, Dr. James shares practical tools and personal reflections to help men grow in emotional intelligence, strengthen their relationships, and embrace the challenges and rewards of fatherhood.

With extensive experience counseling professional athletes, entertainers, and everyday families, Dr. James brings clarity and encouragement to men navigating love, leadership, parenting, and healing. He speaks candidly about his own journey as a husband and father, and how presence and vulnerability are game-changers in building legacy and connection.

Learn more about Dr. George James: https://www.georgetalks.com
Explore more from Fathers Incorporated: https://fathersincorporated.com

Today on the I Am Dad Podcast, we are honored to welcome Albert M. Pooley, a visionary leader and the Founder and President of the Native American Fatherhood & Families Association (NAFFA). A proud member of the Hopi and Navajo nations, Mr. Pooley has devoted his life to strengthening families and communities through culturally grounded education, advocacy, and healing.

With a background in social work and public administration, and as a marriage and family counselor, Mr. Pooley brings deep professional and personal insight to the conversation on responsible fatherhood. He and his wife Julia have raised six children and are grandparents to sixteen—living examples of the legacy he is working to build.

Under his leadership, NAFFA’s transformative curricula—Fatherhood Is Sacred®, Motherhood Is Sacred®, Linking Generations By Strengthening Relationships®, Addressing Family Violence & Abuse©, and Suicide Prevention©—have reached 60,000 parents and trained over 2,500 facilitators across North America.

Today, we’ll explore how Albert Pooley’s passion for cultural preservation and healthy parenting has become a national movement, and why the values of sacred fatherhood and motherhood resonate far beyond Native communities.

In this episode of the I Am Dad Podcast, host Kenneth Braswell sits down with Chris White, Executive Director of Father Movement and CFO of Fathers Matter ATL, to discuss how his personal fatherhood experiences have driven him to create impactful, father-focused programs in Georgia and beyond. From co-parenting advice to system-level reform, Chris breaks down how to meet fathers where they are—and how showing up consistently can change lives.

Through collaborations with Morehouse School of Medicine and Georgia DFCS, and initiatives like Fatherly Love, Chris is proving that empowered fathers build stronger families.

Parenting a child with autism challenges every part of your heart—and strengthens it. Dr. Robert Naseef shares real-world insights about resilience, acceptance, and the unique role of fathers in raising children with autism.

In this powerful episode of I Am Dad Podcast, Kenneth Braswell and Dr. Robert Naseef explore how autism impacts family life, what fathers uniquely bring to the parenting journey, and how acceptance and resilience grow hand-in-hand.

Drawing from decades of personal and professional experience—as both a psychologist and the father of an adult son with autism—Dr. Naseef offers hard-won advice and emotional wisdom for families walking this path.

The conversation is honest, hopeful, and deeply human, providing critical tools for any father, mother, or professional supporting a child with autism.

Black men, toxic jobs may be killing us. We may not want to hear it, but the best way to care for our kids and wives isn’t working ourselves into the ground — it’s prioritizing our health and doing everything within our power to maximize our longevity and happiness. This includes going to the doctor, checking in with our mental health, and, if necessary, removing ourselves from unhealthy corporate environments.

In this episode of I Am Dad podcast, Kenneth Braswell and Justin Grant discuss how job stress, systemic challenges, and workplace culture can harm Black men’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. These negative impacts — and what to do about them — are the subject of Company Men: A Wellness Guide for Black Men in Corporate America, a new book researched and written by Grant, who saw many Black men in high-pressure jobs succumb to serious health issues. While the stress of climbing the corporate ladder challenges many executives, he says the culture can be especially repressive for Black men.

As part of this conversation, Braswell and Grant offer career and health insights from their perspectives as Black men and confess past failures to listen to their bodies, go to the doctor, and tend to their mental health. A common thread in their story is what motivated them to stop neglecting their health: Black fatherhood… and wanting to be around as long as possible for their loved ones.

Today on the I Am Dad Podcast, we are honored to welcome a true champion of fatherhood and men’s ministry, Brian Doyle. As the Founder and President of Iron Sharpens Iron, Brian has spent decades equipping men to be the spiritual leaders of their homes, churches, and communities. His leadership has impacted over 500,000 men through the Iron Sharpens Iron Conferences, which provide men with the tools to grow in faith, character, and leadership.

Brian’s journey has been shaped by his deep faith and a commitment to strengthening men’s ministries nationwide. From his time with The Navigators to serving as New England Area Manager for Promise Keepers, he has been at the forefront of inspiring men to step into their God-given roles as fathers and leaders. He is also a founding board member of the Fatherhood Commission and has dedicated his life to helping fathers navigate the challenges and blessings of raising children in faith.

A widower and devoted father of five, Brian’s personal journey of faith, fatherhood, and perseverance serves as a powerful testimony to the impact of strong, engaged fathers. Join us as we dive into his story, his work, and the wisdom he has gained through decades of ministry.

Today on the I Am Dad Podcast, we are honored to welcome three phenomenal scholars and thought leaders who have dedicated their careers to reshaping the narratives of fatherhood: Dr. Brianna P. Lemmons, Dr. Tasha Alston, and Dr. Latrice Rollins. Collectively, these trailblazing researchers have transformed the way we understand Black fatherhood, family dynamics, and father-inclusive policies.

Dr. Brianna P. Lemmons is an assistant professor at Baylor University and the Founder and President of the Black Female Fatherhood Scholars Network, where she uplifts Black fathers through research, education, and training. Her work explores the predictors of non-resident African American father involvement and the impact of fatherhood on child well-being.

Dr. Tasha Alston is an assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and a leading voice in fatherhood research. With expertise in social work and educational psychology, she has spent over 25 years uncovering how fathers influence child development, maternal health, and family well-being. She is the author of African American Fathers’ Involvement in Their Children’s Education and co-editor of Health, Parenting, and Community Perspectives on Black Fatherhood.

Dr. Latrice Rollins is an assistant professor at Morehouse School of Medicine and the director of the National African American Child and Family Research Center. A Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Leader, her work focuses on father engagement in health and human services. As the editor of Engaging and Working with African American Fathers and Health, Parenting, and Community Perspectives on Black Fatherhood, she is at the forefront of advocating for policies that strengthen father-inclusive practices.

These three powerhouse scholars are not only shifting research but also influencing policy and practice to ensure that Black fathers are recognized as vital contributors to their families and communities. In this conversation, we’ll explore their research, their personal insights, and how we can collectively work to challenge stereotypes and empower fathers everywhere.

Today on the I Am Dad Podcast, we are honored to welcome Dr. Maretta McDonald, an award-winning teacher, sociologist, and one of the leading voices in the study of fatherhood and the criminal justice system. As an affiliate faculty member at Virginia Tech and adjunct assistant professor at St. John’s University, Dr. McDonald has created groundbreaking courses like Fatherhood and the Criminal Justice System, Sociology of the Family, and Anti-Blackness Across the Globe. She is also a member of the Black Female Fatherhood Scholars Network and has published extensively on the historical and contemporary challenges of fatherhood.

Before entering academia, Dr. McDonald worked as a child support enforcement officer and unit supervisor, giving her a rare and valuable perspective on how policies impact fathers and families firsthand. Most importantly, she is the proud mother of three fathers and a loving grandmother to nine grandchildren. Her deep knowledge, personal experience, and commitment to rethinking fatherhood make her an essential voice in today’s conversation. Join us as we dive into her research, her upcoming Fatherhood and the Criminal Justice System course, and the critical ways we can reshape narratives around fatherhood and justice.

Today on the I Am Dad Podcast, we are honored to welcome Dr. Clinton Boyd, Jr., a visionary leader and powerful advocate for Black fathers and families. As the Executive Director of Fathers, Families, & Healthy Communities (FFHC) and a researcher at Chapin Hall, Dr. Boyd is at the forefront of shaping policies and programs that uplift Black fathers, strengthen families, and address systemic inequities. His groundbreaking work bridges research, advocacy, and community action, driving meaningful change in juvenile justice, early childhood development, and family resilience.

A Prevent Child Abuse America National Board Member, ZERO TO THREE Academy Fellow, and 2024 Aspen Institute Ascend Fellow, Dr. Boyd is recognized nationally for his transformative leadership. Beyond his accolades, he is a proud father of two, embodying the very principles he advocates for. Join us as we discuss his work, his journey, and his unwavering belief that Black fathers are essential assets to their families and communities.

Today on the I Am Dad Podcast, we are honored to welcome the extraordinary Janice Robinson-Celeste—a powerhouse in early childhood education, media, and parenting advocacy. As the founder and publisher of Successful Black Parenting Magazine, the executive producer of Ethnic Animations, and the host of the syndicated podcast BACKTALK, Janice has dedicated her career to uplifting Black families and empowering parents with resources and support to help their children thrive.

With an impressive background as an educator, entrepreneur, and nonprofit leader, Janice brings a wealth of experience and insight to every conversation. Her work, from award-winning children’s books to groundbreaking initiatives like the National Black Parenting Conference, continues to leave a lasting impact on families and communities. Let’s dive into an inspiring discussion about her journey, her mission, and her vision for the future of Black parenting.

Today on the I Am Dad Podcast, we are honored to welcome Acamea, a gifted memoirist, essayist, and author of the deeply moving memoir Daddy’s Little Stranger. Through her work, Acamea masterfully explores the complex emotions of family, identity, and reconciliation, resonating with readers worldwide.

Her essays have appeared in esteemed publications like the Bellevue Literary Review, North American Review, and Beyond Words Literary Magazine, and she’s been featured by major media outlets such as the New York Post, Cosmopolitan, and Lit Hub. Acamea is also a TEDx speaker, offering profound insights on connection and personal growth. An Indiana native now residing in Nevada, Acamea holds an MFA from Randolph College, where she earned the distinction of being a Blackburn Fellow.

Join us as we dive into her creative journey, her reflections on fatherhood and family, and the stories that continue to inspire her work.

Today on the I Am Dad Podcast, we are honored to welcome Dr. Azaliah B. Israel, a leading scholar and advocate in the field of Black fatherhood. Dr. Israel has dedicated her career to deconstructing and transforming narratives surrounding Black fathers through innovative narrative interventions. With a Doctorate in Public Policy from the University of Arkansas, post-doctoral experience as a Congressional Policy Fellow at Penn State University, and her current role with the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse, Dr. Israel is at the forefront of advancing family policy and fatherhood initiatives.

As a wife and mother of two sons, she brings a deeply personal perspective to her work. Join us as we explore her groundbreaking research, her thoughts on parenting, and how doulas and midwives can play a pivotal role in supporting fathers during the transformative journey of parenthood.

Today on the I Am Dad Podcast, we are honored to welcome Calvin T. Mann, a true champion for fatherhood, mentorship, and community transformation. Known as the National Encourager, Calvin has dedicated his life to shaping the destinies of boys and men, guiding them toward purpose, fulfillment, and success. As a father of five, mentor, coach, podcast host, and community activist, he brings a wealth of experience and wisdom to the conversation.

Through initiatives like EMIY (Encouraging Me, I’m Young) and his powerful interventions in schools, detention centers, and communities, Calvin is actively changing lives—one word of encouragement at a time. His work has earned him prestigious honors, including 'The Spirit of Detroit' award and the establishment of EMIY National Respect Day in Michigan. Today, we’ll explore his journey, his passion for fatherhood, and the lasting impact of his mission to uplift families and communities.

Welcome to another impactful episode of the "I Am Dad" podcast! Today, we are honored to have Dr. Anashay Wright, a dynamic mother, wife, educator, speaker, and founder of Authentic Disruption and Disruptive Partners. For over two decades, Anashay has been a force for “good disruption,” partnering with leaders, policymakers, and communities to dismantle systemic inequities and empower people to create real change.

From her pioneering leadership development programs to her groundbreaking work disrupting the school-to-prison pipeline in her hometown of Dekalb County, Anashay’s passion for uplifting others is matched only by her commitment to authenticity and connection. Her accolades include national recognition from NPR, Good Day Atlanta, and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, among many others.

Today, we’ll explore Anashay’s inspiring journey, her groundbreaking work in education and equity, and her mission to help others harness their power to influence change. Please join me in welcoming the authentic and transformative Anashay Wright to the "I Am Dad" podcast.

Welcome to another enlightening episode of the "I Am Dad" podcast! Today, we are honored to have with us Dr. David J. Pate Jr., a distinguished Associate Professor of Consumer Science and Human Development & Family Studies and the Dean’s Fathers and Fathering Faculty Fellow. With over 16 years as a practicing social worker and a rich academic career, David has dedicated his life to uplifting Black men and families, challenging stereotypes, and advocating for systemic change.

David’s groundbreaking research examines the intersection of race, class, and gender, focusing on how social welfare policies impact African American men and their families. Through qualitative methods, he amplifies the voices of marginalized fathers, exploring their relationships with their children, the child support system, and the challenges of reentry after incarceration.

Today, we’ll delve into David’s inspiring journey, his impactful work, and his vision for a more equitable future for families and communities. Please join me in welcoming the insightful and transformative David J. Pate Jr. to the "I Am Dad" podcast.

Darryl C. Green is a transformative voice in the realms of healing, reconciliation, and forgiveness. As the President and Principal Consultant of Deep Forgiveness, a nonprofit dedicated to restoring families and empowering disenfranchised communities, Green combines his profound personal experiences with professional expertise to create meaningful change.

His journey, inspired by the tragic loss of his brother, has made him a sought-after speaker, author, and motivator, touching lives across the United States and beyond. With advanced degrees in Criminal Justice and Social Work, Green is also a dedicated educator, shaping the next generation of changemakers as a professor at Morgan State University.

A devoted husband and father to two daughters, Green’s commitment to forgiveness and healing extends deeply into his personal and professional life. Today, we have the privilege of exploring his work, his perspective on fatherhood, and his vision for a world transformed by reconciliation.

Dorsey Levens is a name etched in football history, celebrated as a Green Bay Packers legend, Super Bowl champion, and Pro Bowl running back. A Syracuse native, Levens carved out a stellar career with resilience and determination, overcoming injuries to shine on the biggest stages in the NFL.

Beyond the gridiron, Levens has embraced life after football as a mentor, motivator, and advocate for the importance of perseverance, mindfulness and fatherhood. With roots in Notre Dame and Georgia Tech football, his journey is a testament to hard work, adaptability, and leaving a legacy both on and off the field. Today, we delve into his remarkable career, his reflections on family and fatherhood, and his thoughts on life after football.

Jerry Craft is an award-winning author, illustrator, and pioneer in children’s literature who has brought humor, heart, and a unique perspective to the world of storytelling. Best known for New Kid, the first graphic novel to win the prestigious Newbery Medal, Craft has dedicated his career to creating authentic stories that resonate with children and families alike. From his beloved comic strip Mama’s Boyz to his groundbreaking graphic novels, Craft’s work often draws from his own experiences, blending humor with poignant themes of identity, community, and resilience. As a father, storyteller, and trailblazer, Craft has left an indelible mark on literature and continues to inspire readers of all ages. Today, we are thrilled to dive into his creative journey, his reflections on fatherhood, and his vision for the future of inclusive storytelling.

Thaddeus Bullard, known to millions as WWE Superstar Titus O’Neil, is not only a celebrated athlete and global entertainer but also a devoted father, philanthropist, and community advocate. From the football fields of the University of Florida to the bright lights of the WWE, Titus has carried a deep commitment to creating change and empowering others.

As a father to three children, a champion of charitable initiatives, and the author of Wrestling with Fatherhood: My Championship Journey to My Greatest Title: Dad, Titus O’Neil has embraced his role as a leader both in and out of the ring. His inspiring journey from a challenging childhood to a life of purpose and impact offers lessons on resilience, fatherhood, and the power of giving back. Today, we’re thrilled to explore his story and hear firsthand how he has turned his challenges into championship moments for himself and others.

Welcome to the Season 4 premiere of the I Am Dad Podcast! I’m Kenneth Braswell, your host and the CEO of Fathers Incorporated. Over the years, this podcast has been a space for sharing powerful stories, insightful conversations, and practical tools to empower fathers and transform families. As we step into this new season, our theme—Empowering Fathers, Transforming Families—reminds us of the critical role fathers play in shaping the future. Today, I’m kicking off Season 4 with a heartfelt, one-on-one conversation about the challenges and triumphs of fatherhood, the journey of personal transformation, and what’s to come for this podcast and the broader fatherhood movement. Let’s begin this season with intention, purpose, and the drive to make a difference in the lives of our families and communities.

Join Kenneth Braswell, CEO of Fathers Incorporated, in this powerful Close-Out Podcast as he reflects on the milestones achieved from 2021-2023 and the groundbreaking accomplishments of 2024. Highlights include the launch of Poppa University, advancements in legitimation efforts, and transformative research led by the Moynihan Institute for Fatherhood Research and Policy. This special episode also features a heartfelt tribute to Lawrence Wilbon, a beloved friend, colleague, and cornerstone of the Fathers Incorporated family. Celebrate progress, honor legacy, and look ahead to 2025 in this emotional and inspiring podcast. Don’t miss this meaningful conclusion to an extraordinary year.

Welcome to another powerful episode of the "I Am Dad" podcast! Today, we’re joined by Kevin Shird, a three-time published author, activist, and public speaker whose life story is a profound testament to resilience, redemption, and the power of transformation. Kevin’s latest book, A Life for a Life, delves into a gripping and deeply personal narrative that explores trauma, mental health, and the complexities of human behavior.

In A Life for a Life, Kevin recounts his time in federal prison, where he met Damion Neal, a fellow inmate whose life was marked by instability and struggle. While Kevin worked to heal his own trauma and guide Damion toward a better path, their journeys ultimately diverged in unexpected and tragic ways. Years later, Kevin would discover that Damion had been arrested for a heinous crime, leading him on a powerful quest to understand the factors that shaped his former cellmate’s fate.

Through this deeply moving story, Kevin not only confronts his own past but sheds light on the intersection of violence, mental health, and societal failure. Join us as we explore Kevin’s journey, his groundbreaking new book, and his enduring mission to inspire hope and change. Please welcome the remarkable Kevin Shird to the "I Am Dad" podcast.

Welcome to a groundbreaking episode of the "I Am Dad" podcast! Today, we are honored to have Ludo Gabriele, a global authority on masculinity and gender equity, join us. As the founder of Humen Leaders and the mind behind the influential pre-#MeToo blog WokeDaddy.com, Ludo has dedicated over a decade to transforming how we understand masculinity and engage men in creating a more equitable world.

Through his work with leading initiatives like Men Advocating Real Change (MARC) and his advisory practice, Ludo has helped organizations worldwide bridge the empathy gap and redefine the relationship between men and diversity, equity, and inclusion. His insights have been featured on platforms such as Forbes, BBC, and Vice, making him a trusted voice on building healthier, more inclusive narratives for boys and men.

Today, we’ll explore Ludo’s journey, his work in promoting healthy masculinity, and the critical role of fathers in shaping the next generation. Please join me in welcoming the insightful and inspiring Ludo Gabriele to the "I Am Dad" podcast.

Welcome to another impactful episode of the "I Am Dad" podcast! Today, we’re honored to have with us Dwayne E. Meeks, a transformative leader in fatherhood advocacy and community engagement. As the Manager of the Colorado Fatherhood Network and Founder of Urban Colors Arts and Mentoring, Dwayne has spent over 25 years empowering fathers, men, boys, and their families by bridging gaps and inspiring meaningful change.

Dwayne’s work has touched countless lives through his keynotes, workshops, and trainings, equipping organizations and communities with the tools to better engage and support fathers. He is also the co-author of Pieces Never Missing Required in A Child's Life, a powerful exploration of parenting, education, and fatherhood engagement. As a dedicated father of six and a father figure to many, Dwayne brings personal passion and professional expertise to his mission.

Today, we’ll dive into Dwayne’s journey, his innovative work with the Colorado Fatherhood Network, and his vision for a world where fathers are empowered to lead and thrive. Please join me in welcoming the inspiring Dwayne E. Meeks to the "I Am Dad" podcast.

Welcome to a very special episode of the "I Am Dad" podcast! Today, we are honored to have two pioneers in the field of fatherhood research and education joining us—Dr. Jay Fagan and Dr. Glen Palm. Together, these esteemed scholars have dedicated their careers to advancing our understanding of fatherhood and empowering fathers to play active, nurturing roles in their children’s lives.

Dr. Fagan, Professor Emeritus at Temple University and co-founder of the Fatherhood Research and Practice Network, has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles and co-authored multiple books, including the upcoming Fathers and Children Together: A Guide to Developing a Parenting Identity and Supporting your Child. His work has revolutionized how we approach father-child relationships, coparenting, and fatherhood programs, especially in low-income communities.

Dr. Palm, Professor Emeritus of Child and Family Studies at St. Cloud State University, has spent decades shaping the field of parent education and supporting fathers through programs like the Dads Project. He has co-authored landmark books, including Fathers and Early Childhood Programs and Parent Education: Working with Groups and Individuals, bringing invaluable insights to educators and families alike.

Together, they offer a wealth of knowledge and experience on fatherhood, parenting, and the critical role of fathers in early childhood development. Please join me in welcoming the incredible Dr. Jay Fagan and Dr. Glen Palm to the "I Am Dad" podcast.

Welcome to another enlightening episode of the "I Am Dad" podcast! Today, we are thrilled to have Elisabeth (SCALE-LA-KINS) Schellekens, the visionary founder of Elle’s Corner, join us. Elisabeth is a passionate Motherhood and Mental Health Counselor dedicated to revolutionizing the way we approach postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, and maternal mental health as a whole.

Drawing from her own personal journey with a difficult pregnancy and severe postpartum depression, Elisabeth has created a supportive community and powerful resources that help mothers build resilience and thrive. As an advocate for dismantling the taboos around mental health, she is leading the charge to make mental health care as accessible and routine as a dental checkup, starting as early as high school.

Today, we’ll explore Elisabeth’s journey, her groundbreaking work with Elle’s Corner, and her mission to ensure no mother feels alone in her postpartum experience. Please join me in welcoming the inspiring Elisabeth Schellekens to the "I Am Dad" podcast.

Welcome to another inspiring episode of the "I Am Dad" podcast! Today, we have the honor of speaking with Kwame Johnson, a dynamic leader, passionate advocate, and award-winning author. As the President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta, Kwame has transformed the organization into the largest and most impactful youth mentoring agency in Georgia. His journey from overcoming personal challenges as a youth to becoming a nationally recognized leader in mentorship and advocacy is nothing short of remarkable.

Kwame’s personal story, including his groundbreaking decision to take the SATs while incarcerated, fueled his mission to empower young people and create opportunities for others to break through barriers. He is also the author of The Hope Inside: Harnessing the Power of Mentorship in Life and Career, a powerful testament to the importance of mentorship in shaping lives and building communities.

Welcome to another inspiring episode of the "I Am Dad" podcast! Today, we are excited to have with us a true sports legend and dedicated father, David Tyree. David is best known for his iconic "Helmet Catch" in Super Bowl XLII (42), a moment that forever changed the course of football history and secured a stunning victory for the New York Giants. Beyond the field, David is a purpose-driven leader, husband, and father of seven, who uses his platform to inspire others and champion faith, family, and resilience.

From overcoming personal challenges to achieving greatness in the NFL, David’s journey is a testament to the power of perseverance and belief. He now channels his experiences into his work as a speaker, mentor, and advocate, helping individuals "catch their moment" and unlock their own potential.

Today, we’re honored to dive into David’s journey as a father, his dedication to family, and the values that drive his work off the field. Please join me in welcoming the incredible David Tyree to the "I Am Dad" podcast.

Welcome to another inspiring episode of the "I Am Dad" podcast! Today, we are honored to have with us Dion Chavis, a renowned media professional, accomplished author, and passionate fatherhood advocate. As the founder of The Glad Dad, LLC, Dion has dedicated his life to promoting responsible parenting, mentoring today’s youth, and engaging fathers in meaningful ways.

With over 500 trainings and workshops delivered across 10 states, Dion’s voice has become a trusted guide for fathers seeking to deepen their connection with their children and strengthen their role as parents. His impactful work has been featured on platforms like The Huffington Post, fatherhood.gov, and The Good Men Project, and his powerful message continues to inspire fathers, youth, and communities alike.

Today, we are excited to dive into Dion’s journey, hear his insights on fatherhood, and explore the incredible work he’s doing through The Glad Dad, LLC. Please join me in welcoming the extraordinary Dion Chavis to the "I Am Dad" podcast.

Welcome to another insightful episode of the "I Am Dad" podcast! Today, we are honored to have with us Dr. Alan-Michael S. Graves, a dedicated advocate for fatherhood engagement and a leader in the field of human services. As the Senior Director of Teaching and Capacity Building with the Good Plus Foundation, Dr. Graves is at the forefront of developing programs and advocating for policy changes that support fathers and strengthen families.

With over 20 years of experience in both public and private sectors, Dr. Graves has brought his expertise in program development, family partnerships, and interagency systems of care to his work with organizations across the country. His commitment to addressing disparities within systems and his passion for fatherhood engagement have made him a key figure in driving meaningful change.

As a parent himself, Dr. Graves draws from both his personal and professional experiences to positively impact children, families, and communities. We are thrilled to dive into his journey and hear his insights on the importance of fatherhood.

Welcome to another enriching episode of the "I Am Dad" podcast! Today, we are honored to have Sundjata Aya, a dedicated father, community servant, and social policy/public health researcher, joining us. Sundjata’s passion lies in improving family and health outcomes, particularly for disadvantaged communities, and promoting equity in all areas of his work.

With expertise in family and fatherhood initiatives, Sundjata leads research, technical assistance, and the development of tools that empower programs to make a real difference in the lives of fathers and families. His background in community-based participatory research and public health reflects his deep commitment to reducing disparities and supporting healthier communities.

Outside of his impactful professional life, Sundjata enjoys spending time with his family, working with youth, deejaying, and connecting with nature. We’re thrilled to explore his insights and experiences today.

Welcome to another inspiring episode of the "I Am Dad" podcast! Today, we are honored to have with us a true trailblazer in the field of fatherhood advocacy, Kelly R. Little. Kelly is a dynamic speaker and fatherhood expert who has dedicated his life to empowering fathers and transforming communities through emotional intelligence and holistic healing.

As the founder of Fatherhood University365 and a certified leader in father engagement, Kelly’s innovative approach has bridged the gap between young people and mature male role models, helping fathers across the U.S. and abroad to reconnect with their families. Named the 2023 Fatherhood Trailblazer of the Year and now a 2024 International Fatherhood Legacy Leader Mentor, Kelly’s work continues to inspire positive change, one father at a time.

Welcome to another enlightening episode of the "I Am Dad" podcast! Today, we are honored to have with us Kimberly A. Dent, the Executive Director of the Ohio Commission on Fatherhood (OCF). With over 26 years of experience serving fathers, children, and families in Ohio, Kim has dedicated her career to making a positive impact on the lives of countless families across the state.

Through her leadership at OCF, Kim oversees the funding of fatherhood programs, makes crucial policy recommendations, and works tirelessly to train professionals and engage the community on the vital role that fathers play in their children’s lives. Her extensive background in child support programs and public policy has equipped her with the expertise and passion to drive meaningful change.

Welcome to another insightful episode of the "I Am Dad" podcast! Today, we are honored to have with us Ron, a seasoned leader with over 25 years of experience in guiding and empowering leaders across government, nonprofit, and business sectors. Ron’s passion for building the capacity of others shines through in his work as a coach, consultant, and workshop presenter, where he has made a significant impact on organizations like the Virginia Department of Health, the National Fatherhood Initiative, and many more.

With a strong belief that great leadership begins with great self-leadership, Ron has dedicated his career to helping leaders excel, whether through his role in the VA Governor’s COVID-19 Response Center or as a Statewide Health Promotions Coordinator. His commitment to fostering excellence in leadership is truly inspiring.

Today, we’re excited to dive into Ron’s experiences, his insights on leadership, and how his work connects to fatherhood and family dynamics. Please join me in welcoming the incredible Ron to the "I Am Dad" podcast.

Welcome to a heartfelt episode of the "I Am Dad" podcast. Today, we are joined by a remarkable father, Jason Tuttle, who has turned his deep personal loss into a powerful way to help others. Jason is a former stay-at-home dad and the father of two children with multiple physical and cognitive disabilities. Tragically, Jason lost his 15-year-old son, Zachary, in January 2022. In the midst of his grief, Jason chose to channel his pain into something meaningful by creating "Letters To Zachary"—a raw and honest exploration of his emotions, shared openly to help others understand the grieving process, especially from a father's perspective.

We are honored to have Jason with us today to share his journey, his memories of Zachary, and how he is finding healing through helping others. Please join me in welcoming the courageous and compassionate Jason Tuttle to the "I Am Dad" podcast.

Welcome to another inspiring episode of the "I Am Dad" podcast! Today, we are honored to have a dedicated and passionate advocate for fatherhood and family services, Lamar Henderson, join us.

Lamar is the Family Services Supervisor for Merced County Human Service Agency’s All Dads Matter Program, where he has spent the past 20 years empowering men on their journey through fatherhood. His unwavering commitment to supporting fathers has made a significant impact in his community and beyond. Through his work, Lamar has helped countless men gain access to vital resources and knowledge, ensuring they have the tools they need to be the best fathers they can be.

In addition to his role at All Dads Matter, Lamar is a seasoned parenting educator, facilitating programs such as Nurturing Parenting, Positive Discipline, and Boot Camp for New Dads. He’s also a certified trainer in trauma-informed approaches, including the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Overcomers program and Helping Men Recover. His expertise has been invaluable in supporting men who have experienced trauma, guiding them toward healing and recovery.

Lamar’s influence extends beyond his local community. As a trainer for UC Davis School for Human Services and Fresno State University’s Central California Training Academy, he has led workshops on working with fathers in child welfare, employee development, and anti-racist practices. His contributions to fatherhood research have been recognized at local, state, and national levels, and his work has been published in respected journals.

Lamar has shared his insights on numerous platforms, including as a featured panelist for the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse and as a keynote speaker at various fatherhood and family conferences. His dedication has earned him well-deserved recognition, including the inaugural “Hands on Hero” award and the President’s Award for Service.

Welcome to another uplifting episode of the "I Am Dad" podcast! Today, we are thrilled to have with us a visionary leader and social innovator who has made a profound impact on the lives of Black men and boys—Brandon Frame.

Brandon is the Chief Visionary Officer of TheBlackManCan FOUNDATION., an award-winning and internationally recognized non-profit and digital media platform dedicated to celebrating, educating, and inspiring boys and men of color. Through TheBlackManCan, Brandon has worked tirelessly to challenge stereotypes and amplify the authentic stories of Black men, creating a powerful shift in perception and empowering individuals to redefine their narratives.

In addition to his work with TheBlackManCan, Brandon serves as the Deputy Director of Social-Emotional Learning at The Urban Assembly, where he helps integrate crucial life skills into education for young people. He is also the co-founder of the award-winning Twitter chat #hiphoped, and the author of Define Yourself, Redefine the World: A Guided Journal for Boys and Men of Color and the children’s book My First Tie.

Brandon’s dedication to uplifting his community has earned him numerous accolades, including the Martin Luther King, Jr. Drum Major Award and the title of Change Maker of the Year. Despite these achievements, what stands out most is his humility and commitment to servant leadership, always striving to make a positive difference in the lives of others.

Welcome to another impactful episode of the "I Am Dad" podcast! Today, we are honored to have with us a truly remarkable guest, Dr. Robin L. Smith—a #1 bestselling author, sought-after speaker, experienced media personality, and ordained minister who has touched countless lives with her fearless truth-telling and healing wisdom.

Many of you may recognize Dr. Robin from her years as the on-air therapist for The Oprah Winfrey Show, where she captivated audiences around the world with her insightful and compassionate approach to life’s challenges. Today, she continues to make a profound impact through her work with major corporations, non-profit organizations, and high-profile individuals, helping them overcome adversity and achieve personal and professional breakthroughs.

Dr. Robin is the author of the New York Times #1 bestseller Lies at the Altar: The Truth About Great Marriages, as well as her soulful memoir Hungry: The Truth About Being Full and Inspirational Vitamins: A Guide to Personal Empowerment. Her latest book, The Invisible Ache: Black Men Identifying Their Pain and Reclaiming Their Power, co-written with the talented Courtney B. Vance, was published in November 2023 and has already sparked vital conversations about mental health and empowerment within the Black community.

With a PhD in counseling psychology from Temple University and a master’s degree from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Dr. Robin brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her work. But beyond her impressive credentials, it is her genuine compassion, wisdom, and commitment to truth that make her such a powerful and inspiring voice.

Welcome to another enlightening episode of the "I Am Dad" podcast! Today, we are honored to have a truly inspiring guest, Erin Frisch (she/they), who has been a transformative leader in the field of child support and family services.

Erin has been serving as the Director of the Office of Child Support at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) since 2012. Erin’s dedication to improving the lives of families through equitable and inclusive child support services has made a significant impact across Michigan and beyond. Erin’s leadership extends to the national stage, where they serve as president of the National Child Support Engagement Association and have previously led the National Council of Child Support Directors.

Throughout her illustrious career, Erin has been a champion for integrating public assistance programs to reduce poverty and enhance community well-being. Their efforts in co-leading the MDHHS Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council have successfully advocated for the establishment of an office of Race, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, further demonstrating Erin’s commitment to fostering an inclusive environment for all.

With a background in IT management consulting and a deep passion for public service, Erin brings a unique perspective to child support policy and practice. They have also been a driving force behind pioneering evidence-based programs that support fathers and families, ensuring that child support services meet the evolving needs of today’s society.

Erin’s commitment to her work is matched by her dedication to her family, as a proud parent of two teenagers who keep her on her toes.

Today, we are thrilled to delve into Erin’s insights on fatherhood, child support, and the importance of equity and inclusion in family services. Please join me in welcoming the remarkable Erin Frisch to the "I Am Dad" podcast.

Welcome to another heartfelt episode of the "I Am Dad" podcast! Today, we are honored to have a truly inspirational guest, Marvin Charles, the co-founder and CEO of Divine Alternatives for Dads Services (DADS). For over 25 years, Marvin has dedicated his life to helping men reclaim their roles as loving, responsible fathers and to building stronger, healthier families.

Marvin's own journey is one of incredible resilience and transformation. Growing up in foster care and facing numerous challenges, including incarceration, Marvin has used his personal experiences to fuel his passion for fatherhood and community service. Alongside his wife Jeanett, he founded DADS, a faith-guided organization based in Seattle and Tacoma, Washington, which has positively impacted the lives of countless fathers and their children.

Through programs like the 13-week parenting class, DADS provides crucial support to men coming out of addiction, incarceration, and other difficult circumstances. Marvin’s work has not only helped fathers rebuild their lives but has also created a ripple effect of positive change within their families and communities.

Marvin is also an accomplished author and speaker. His book, "Becoming Dads," chronicles his life and the beginnings of DADS, and he continues to share his story and insights across the country. Together with Jeanett, he hosts the "Color Him Dads" podcast, further extending his reach and impact.

Welcome to another enlightening episode of the "I Am Dad" podcast! Today, we have the honor of hosting a truly remarkable guest, John Badalament, Ed.M. John is a proud father of two young adults and a renowned speaker, author, educator, coach, consultant, and documentary filmmaker.

John is the author of the acclaimed book "The Modern Dad’s Dilemma: How To Stay Connected With Your Kids In A Rapidly Changing World" and the director/producer of impactful documentaries such as "All Men Are Sons: Exploring The Legacy of Fatherhood" and "Gender Traps: How Marriage Problems Start In Kindergarten."

For over three decades, John has been a guiding light in the field of fatherhood, speaking and consulting internationally across schools, government agencies, and organizations. As the Director of Programs at The Fatherhood Project at Massachusetts General Hospital for the past 11 years, John has pioneered groundbreaking programs and studies, including the Dads/Moms In Recovery curriculum and the largest study on fathers' prenatal experiences.

John’s work has been featured in prominent media outlets such as ABC News, CBS Sunday Morning, and National Public Radio, and he has been recognized by esteemed organizations for his dedication to ending violence against women and children. His commitment to fostering healthier family dynamics and his contributions to men's health have even earned him invitations to the White House under President Obama’s administration.

Today, we are excited to delve into John’s vast experiences, insights on fatherhood, and his ongoing efforts to support and empower dads everywhere. Please join me in welcoming the inspirational John Badalament to the "I Am Dad" podcast.

Welcome to another inspiring episode of the "I Am Dad" podcast! Today, we are honored to have with us a distinguished guest, Ron Walker, a pioneer in the field of education with over 45 years of experience. Ron is the Executive Director and a founding member of the Coalition of Schools Educating Boys of Color (COSEBOC), an organization dedicated to the social, emotional, and academic development of boys and young men of color.

Under Ron’s visionary leadership, COSEBOC has positively impacted over 600 schools and more than 300,000 students across the nation, changing the narrative around boys and young men of color by highlighting their gifts, talents, and potential. His work has garnered recognition from prestigious institutions such as the U.S. Department of Education, Harvard University, and the American Public Health Association, among many others.

In addition to his professional achievements, Ron is a devoted father and grandfather who credits his success to his faith, the lessons from his parents, and the support of his family. His unwavering commitment to high-quality education and his passion for uplifting underserved populations make him a true beacon of hope and inspiration.

Welcome to another enlightening episode of the "I Am Dad" podcast! Today, we are honored to have a very special guest, David Pizarro, the CEO of Dads Law School. With over 24 years of experience, David has been a guiding light for thousands of fathers navigating the complexities of family court, helping them fight for their rights and maintain meaningful relationships with their children.

David is not only an expert in father’s rights and children’s rights but also a prolific multimedia content creator. His engaging TikTok videos have garnered over 48,000 followers, while his "Men's Family Law" podcast on iTunes, with over 70 episodes, has been a beacon of support for dads everywhere. On YouTube, his DADs Law School channel is filled with informative videos addressing the concerns of fathers going through the child custody process.

In addition to his digital presence, David is the author of the "A Man's Guide..." series, covering essential topics like child custody, divorce, and domestic violence. His expertise and dedication have seen him featured on numerous podcasts, in movies, on television, and as an international speaker.

David's work is fueled by a deep commitment to advocating for children’s rights, father's rights, and the importance of integrating new relationships into family dynamics. His practical advice and heartfelt insights make him an invaluable resource for fathers seeking to navigate their legal and emotional journeys.

Welcome to another episode of the "I Am Dad" podcast! Today, we are thrilled to have with us an extraordinary guest, Tim Gittens. Growing up in Harlem, Tim faced significant hardships, but he defied the odds and used basketball as a vehicle to rise above and achieve greatness.

Tim has become one of the most influential figures in basketball over the last 20 years. He has had an impressive professional career, playing in the NBA and internationally, including with the Harlem Globetrotters and as a founding member of the renowned And 1 Streetball Team. His talents have taken him around the globe, and he’s left an indelible mark on the world of streetball.

Beyond his accomplishments on the court, Tim has dedicated his life to giving back. He created the Headache 13 Foundation to improve the lives of inner-city youth through education, social, and cultural enrichment. As a teacher, coach, and mentor, Tim instills values of hard work, dedication, and making good choices in everyone he meets.

Tim is also a proud husband and father, proving what the fight for success looks like. He’s earned two college degrees, starred in films and television, and become an influential voice in the community.

Welcome to another inspiring episode of the "I Am Dad" podcast, where we explore the dynamic world of fatherhood, parenting, and family well-being. I’m your host, Kenneth Braswell, and today we have an extraordinary guest who has dedicated her career to supporting families and fostering strong communities.

Joining us is Sandy Cloer, the Division Director for The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) Tribal Child Support, TANF, and Representative Payee Programs. Sandy’s remarkable journey began with a degree in Business from Winsalm College, which paved the way for her 18-year tenure in Child Support with The State of North Carolina. In 2009, she brought her extensive experience and deep understanding of the EBCI community to her role with the EBCI, helping to develop their child support program and subsequently launching their Tribal TANF Program in 2012 and the Representative Payee Program in 2015.

Sandy’s leadership extends beyond her immediate responsibilities. She oversees a dedicated team of 17 employees, including a process server and court clerk to the Cherokee Tribal Court. Her contributions to the field are widely recognized, serving six years on the Board of Directors for the NC Child Support Council, acting as Secretary for the National Tribal Child Support Directors Association, and currently presiding as President of the National Tribal Child Support Association.

Beyond her professional achievements, Sandy is also a proud mother of two children, Michelle and James. Her commitment to family and community is truly inspiring, and we are thrilled to have her share her insights and experiences with us today.

Welcome to the "I Am Dad" podcast, the haven for exploring the depths and breadths of fatherhood in all its forms. Today's episode is a tapestry woven with threads of resilience, love, and wisdom, as we sit down with Tammy and Jay S. Daughtry.

From the heart of Nashville, Tennessee, Tammy and Jay step into our space bringing with them the lived experience of marriage and family therapists, and more intimately, as individuals who have navigated the turbulent waters of divorce and the tranquil harbors of remarriage. Their journey is a testament to the strength found in vulnerability, the clarity born of complexity, and the unyielding commitment to fostering healthy family dynamics.

Join us as we unfold the chapters of their story — from the solitary paths of single parenthood to the united front of a blended family. Through their work with Co-Parenting International and The Center for Modern Family Dynamics, they've illuminated paths for countless families wrestling with the realities of divided homes. With Tammy's coparenting journey and Jay's recovery from loss, they stand as beacons of hope and exemplars of perseverance.

As we delve into their insights and anecdotes, prepare to be moved, educated, and inspired. This is not just a conversation; it's a shared experience with the power to change the narrative of coparenting and blended family life. So, wherever you are, settle in and let's welcome the voices of Tammy and Jay S. Daughtry to "I Am Dad."

Welcome to the "I Am Dad" podcast! Today, we are thrilled to have Marcus Meneese with us. Marcus is the Founder and Executive Director of Stronger Than My Father, Inc., a Christian organization dedicated to inspiring and transforming today’s youth.

For over 21 years, Marcus has been a passionate youth mentor, committed to helping young people become responsible adults and great parents. In 2016, he launched the Hope Leadership Academy, an afterschool program that supports over 70 students in Antioch, TN, with academic assistance, character development, and spiritual growth.

In 2022, Marcus introduced the Stronger Sons mentoring program, focusing on personal responsibility, dream building, and physical fitness, all while surrounding young men with positive male role models.

A Nashville native, Marcus holds degrees in Psychology and Organizational Leadership. He and his wife LaToya are proud parents of two sons. Marcus’s dedication to youth and family shines through in all he does.

Please join me in welcoming Marcus Meneese to the "I Am Dad" podcast.

Welcome to another exciting episode of the "I Am Dad" podcast! Today, we are thrilled to have with us the incredibly talented and versatile Jason LOUDER; an actor, teacher, coach, mentor, and true lover of life. Jason's career is a testament to his dedication and passion for storytelling, both on and off the screen.

A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Jason has graced the stage in over 30 productions since 2009, collaborating with some of the most esteemed directors and playhouses in the region. His journey as a storyteller extends beyond the stage, having worked on more than 40 independent projects, including full-length features, shorts, and web series.

Jason’s talent has led him to notable roles on television, including guest appearances on the CW’s "Black Lightning" as Frank “2-BITS” Tanner and on Hulu’s "Wu-Tang: An American Saga" as Jamaican Drug Lord “CRESSY.” Most recently, you can catch Jason on "NCIS L.A." (CBS) and "The Wonder Years" (ABC), and he will be appeared in Season 2 of "BMF" (STARZ) as REMI RANSOM.

Beyond his on-screen accomplishments, Jason has inspired thousands as ‘Babatunde The Griot,’ captivating audiences with his storytelling. His commitment to nurturing young talent is evident in his roles as an acting coach at Nova House and a youth acting instructor with AGI Entertainment.

Jason's desire to tell compelling stories through a revolutionary lens continues to drive him, and his work is set to touch, move, and inspire. This year alone, you can look forward to seeing him in several films on streaming platforms, including “The Pass” (ALLBLK), “SCHEME QUEENS” (BET+), “Gerald’s Hands” (Tubi), “ABIDING,” “P.I.G.S.,” “Preaching Lies” (Tubi), “Pretty For a Big Girl S2,” “VICE SQUAD,” and “Sinister Minister.”

Please join me in welcoming the multifaceted and inspiring Jason to the "I Am Dad" podcast.

Welcome to a very special Fathers Day episode of the "I Am Dad" podcast. Today, we are honored to host an extraordinary guest, Tracy Martin, a man who has turned profound personal loss into a catalyst for national conversation and change. Tracy is not only a devoted father but also an influential advocate for justice and community healing.

In February 2012, the world was shaken by the tragic death of Trayvon Martin, Tracy’s son and best friend, in a violent confrontation that highlighted deep-seated issues within our society. From the depths of unimaginable grief, Tracy, alongside Sybrina Fulton, authored "Rest in Power: The Enduring Life of Trayvon Martin," a poignant narrative that chronicles Trayvon’s life and the movement ignited by his passing.

Tracy Martin has since dedicated his life to ensuring that no other child suffers as his son did. He travels across the country, engaging with men young and old, urging them to communicate to our youth—their sons, daughters, and the children of our communities—that they are invaluable, regardless of societal depictions. Through his impactful speeches and advocacy, Tracy fosters essential dialogues about race, justice, and the right to safety in our own neighborhoods.

Today, we delve into these powerful themes with Tracy, exploring how his journey has influenced his views on fatherhood, community leadership, and the ongoing fight for a safer, more just society. We’ll also discuss practical tools and insights for handling confrontations and fostering resolution, aiming to equip our listeners with the knowledge to drive positive change.

Join us in this compelling conversation, as we learn from Tracy Martin’s resilience and unwavering commitment to transform tragedy into a legacy of empowerment and advocacy.

Welcome to another inspiring episode of the "I Am Dad" podcast. Today, we have the privilege of hosting two remarkable individuals who have made significant contributions to the realms of family mediation, parenting education, and responsible fatherhood.

First, let me introduce Mark Perlman, MA. With an impressive 35 years of experience working with parents, children, and families, Mark has dedicated his career to strengthening family bonds. He is the esteemed author of "The Nurturing Father’s Program," a transformative 13-week parenting curriculum for men that has been widely adopted by organizations such as Prevent Child Abuse, Head Start, the Milwaukee Fatherhood Initiative, and various state departments across the nation. In addition, Mark developed the "Marriage & Parenting Program (MA&PA)," which aids couples in successful co-parenting. His extensive leadership roles include serving as the past Executive Director of the Family Counseling Center, The Child Protection Center, and Fathers United Network (FUN) of Sarasota, Florida. Mark's expertise has also been recognized by his appointments to the Florida Commission on Responsible Fatherhood and the Governor’s Child Abuse Prevention and Permanency Council. Above all, Mark is a proud father of two grown sons.

Joining Mark is his son, Corey Perlman. Corey is a nationally recognized marketing expert, speaker, and consultant who recently celebrated the success of his third book, "Authentically Social!" which quickly became an Amazon bestseller in 2024. Despite his professional achievements, Corey's true passion lies in fatherhood. He has facilitated over ten Nurturing Father’s programs, six of which were conducted within the walls of the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary. Corey co-hosts the Nurturing Father’s podcast with his father and cherishes the moments spent with his beautiful wife and two amazing children.

Together, Mark and Corey Perlman embody the essence of dedication, compassion, and commitment to nurturing responsible fatherhood and strong family connections. Their combined experiences and insights promise to make this an enlightening and enriching conversation.

Please join me in welcoming Mark and Corey Perlman to the "I Am Dad" podcast.

Today, we’re honored to have Jason B. Allen, a trailblazer in education and advocacy, joining us. As the National Director of Partnerships for the National Parents Union, Jason has been at the forefront of empowering parents to take an active role in shaping the educational landscape. His work doesn’t stop there; through his company, educational entities, LLC, he harnesses the power of digital storytelling to amplify voices that are often unheard.

Today, we'll explore Jason’s journey, his passionate advocacy for male engagement, and the profound impact of his family's foundation, Lillie’s Foundation, on communities. We’ll also delve into his insights from his book, Suits, Swagg, and Success, discussing strategies for engaging and uplifting Black males.

Get ready for a conversation full of inspiration, strategies, and real-life stories that celebrate the role of fathers and male figures in nurturing and leading change. Join us as we dive deep with Jason B. Allen.

Welcome to another thought-provoking episode of the "I Am Dad" podcast, where we delve into the intricacies of fatherhood, parenting, and family well-being. I’m your host, Kenneth Braswell, and today we are honored to have with us Dr. Cassandra Bolar, a distinguished researcher, educator, and clinical expert whose work has significantly impacted the African American community and beyond.

Dr. Bolar’s research employs an ecological approach to understand how contextual factors influence father involvement, intimate relationships, and familial functioning within the African American community. She currently serves as a Co-Investigator for the National African American Child and Family Research Center and an Assistant Professor at the University of West Georgia.

With a robust clinical passion for serving couples, Dr. Bolar has created the Marriage Head Start premarital curriculum, designed to foster healthy and strong relationships. Her journey also includes pivotal work at Morehouse School of Medicine’s Satcher Health Leadership Institute, where she directed three large NIMHD research grants. These grants focused on reducing health disparities among children and families through the Smart and Secure Children program, a quality parenting curriculum.

Dr. Bolar holds a bachelor’s degree in Child and Family Development from the University of Georgia, as well as master’s and doctoral degrees in Human Development and Family Studies from Auburn University. Additionally, she is a Certified Family Life Educator, a credential bestowed by the National Council on Family Relations.

In today’s episode, we’ll explore Dr. Bolar’s groundbreaking research, her dedication to relationship education, and the public health implications of her work. We are thrilled to have her share her wealth of knowledge and insights with us.

So, sit back and prepare for an enlightening conversation with Dr. Cassandra Bolar on the "I Am Dad" podcast. Welcome, Dr. Bolar!

TODAY we ARE going to explore the intricacies of fatherhood, masculinity, and the societal challenges that shape them. We're honored to have Dr. Nazsa S. Baker with us to delve into her groundbreaking research, "Protect and Provide: Perceptions of Manhood and Masculinities Among Disabled Violently Injured Black Men in a Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program." Dr. Baker, a distinguished scholar at the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center and an Assistant Professor at Gwynedd Mercy University, brings a wealth of knowledge from her extensive work on urban health disparities, violence and injury prevention, and, notably, the support needs of Black men navigating the aftermath of firearm violence. Through her lens, we'll explore the transformative journeys of Black men as they redefine manhood amidst the challenges of disability and societal expectations. Join us as we uncover the layers of resilience, identity, and the pressing need for empathetic support in the wake of violence.

In this special episode of the "I Am Dad Podcast," we have the privilege of sitting down with the remarkable Avis Denise Files, a trailblazer in the field of responsible fatherhood and family strengthening. Join us as we delve into the inspiring journey of this dedicated Program Director, Facilitator, and Entrepreneur, whose unwavering commitment to empowering fathers and building healthy families has earned her widespread recognition and admiration.

Through candid conversation and heartfelt anecdotes, Avis shares insights gleaned from her extensive experience working in areas such as domestic violence, homelessness, and drug addiction services. From her early days as a Program Coordinator for OFA grant-funded healthy marriage programs to her current role as Director of Family Supportive Services, Avis's passion for creating positive change shines through in every word.

Discover the pivotal moments that shaped Avis's career, including her historic recognition as the first woman to receive The Vicky Turetsky Women In Responsible Leadership Award. Hear firsthand how she navigates the complexities of blending professional and personal life alongside her husband, Michael Allen Files, as they work together to empower families through their programs at Pathway Inc.

Throughout the interview, Avis offers valuable insights into the transformative power of fatherhood, the importance of community support, and the role of faith in guiding her work. From her motto, "Change A Father, Change a Family, Create a Future," to her dedication to fostering meaningful dialogue and action, Avis exemplifies the spirit of compassionate leadership and unwavering determination.

Join us as we embark on a journey of inspiration, wisdom, and hope with Avis Denise Files, and discover what it truly means to say, "I am Dad."

Join us on the "I AM DAD" Podcast where we have the honor of introducing Anna Tarrant, a Professor of Sociology and an esteemed voice in the field of fatherhood research. As the Director of the 'Following Young Fathers Further' study and head of the new Centre for Innovation in Fatherhood and Family Research at the University of Lincoln, Anna is at the forefront of shaping the discourse around young fatherhood. With a keen focus on the parenting journeys and support needs of young fathers, particularly in low-income families, her work is pivotal in driving policy and practice to better support these men and their children. Today, we'll explore the transformation of societal perspectives on young fathers, discuss Anna's influential research, and uncover insights into nurturing the potential of these young families. Prepare to delve into the complex dynamics of young fatherhood with a true advocate for change. Welcome, Anna Tarrant, to a conversation that promises to be as enlightening as it is essential.

In this episode of the I Am Dad podcast, host Kenneth Braswell interviews Jordan Holmes, also known as Dexter Spitz, talks about his work as a scientist, musician, spoken word artist, and entrepreneur. They discuss Jordan's journey and his recent How Men Cry Movement, which aims to reshape conversations around masculinity, vulnerability, and mental health. Jordan emphasizes the importance of creating safe spaces for men to express their emotions and shares his own experiences with therapy and healing. He also highlights the value of nature and motion in promoting mental well-being. The conversation concludes with Jordan sharing a stanza from one of his spoken word pieces, highlighting the need for men to let down their guard and allow love and new experiences into their lives.

In this episode of the I Am Dad podcast, host Kenneth Braswell interviews Shaneen Moore, a PhD student and advocate for policy reform in the child support system. Moore's research focuses on the racial implications of Minnesota's child support program and how it affects families on a systematic level. She emphasizes the need for greater empathy and understanding in the mechanisms that shape the lives of countless families. The conversation delves into the complexities of fatherhood, particularly for black fathers and black daughters, and the need for policy changes to better serve families. Moore also discusses the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the child support system and the need for more representation of men, especially men of color, in health and human services. The episode concludes with a discussion on the impact of research and the need for more studies on the experiences of black families in the child support system.

Rob Kenney, the creator of the YouTube channel "Dad, How Do I?" shares his personal story and the inspiration behind his channel in an interview with Kenneth Braswell on the I Am Dad podcast. Rob grew up without a father and made a promise to himself to be a devoted father to his own children. He extended his fatherly guidance to the world through his YouTube channel, providing essential life skills and lessons to those who were missing a father figure in their lives. The channel went viral during the pandemic and now has millions of subscribers. Rob discusses the impact of his work, the challenges he faces, and his desire to bring fatherhood back into the spotlight as a positive and important role. He also emphasizes the importance of forgiveness and his faith in guiding his actions.

YouTube.com/dadhowdoi
Instagram.com/dadhowdoi
Facebook.com/dadhowdoi
TikTok.com/therealdadhowdoi

In this episode of the I Am Dad podcast, host Kenneth Braswell interviews Lawrence Wilbon, the Director of Business and Program Development at Fathers Incorporated. Wilbon shares his personal journey of growing up without a father and reconnecting with him later in life. He also discusses the impact of his mother and wife on his life, as well as his experience as an adoptive father. Wilbon emphasizes the importance of supporting fathers and families, and the challenges of advocating for fatherhood programs. He also discusses the future of fatherhood work, including strengthening families and addressing systemic issues through policy and advocacy. The episode concludes with Braswell expressing his appreciation for Wilbon's contributions to Fathers Incorporated and the fatherhood space.

In this episode of the I Am Dad podcast, host Kenneth Braswell interviews Dr. Alvin Thomas, a clinical psychologist and assistant professor of Human Development and Family Studies. Dr. Thomas discusses his work at the intersection of positive child and youth development and father involvement, with a focus on black children and black fathers. He explains the importance of challenging the negative narratives surrounding black fathers and highlighting their positive contributions to their families and communities. Dr. Thomas also emphasizes the need to address the mental health of black men and fathers, as well as the impact of their environment on their well-being. He advocates for a holistic approach to fatherhood that takes into account the various social, cultural, and institutional factors that shape the experiences of black fathers.

In this episode of the I Am Dad podcast, host Kenneth Braswell interviews Richard Barr, a fatherhood advocate and pastor. They discuss the importance of storytelling and the power of hearing personal stories to understand the why behind people's experiences. Richard shares his own story of growing up with a strong father figure and how it shaped his appreciation for fatherhood. They also discuss the challenges of doing fatherhood work in different communities, including urban and rural areas, and the need to understand the cultural nuances of each community. They emphasize the importance of trust and purpose in fatherhood work, as well as the need to address relational poverty at the root of many issues. They also touch on the role of faith in fatherhood work and the need to involve faith communities in programmatic efforts. Finally, they discuss the need to invest in the development of fatherhood programs and the importance of valuing men and fathers in society.

Dive deep into a compelling discussion on the "I AM DAD" Podcast with Janks Morton, an acclaimed filmmaker and advocate for authentic representation of African-American experiences. As he converses with Kenneth Braswell, we peel back the layers of societal narratives surrounding Black fathers, families, and the crucial role of media in shaping public perception. Morton's passionate approach to storytelling challenges and rectifies misconceptions, inspiring a shift toward positive and truthful portrayals. Tune in for a transformative dialogue that redefines the essence of fatherhood and the power of film.

On this episode of the "I AM DAD" Podcast, we have the pleasure of welcoming James Worthy, a man whose name resonates with the impact and dedication he’s brought to the field of human services. With almost three decades of enriching experience, James stands as a towering figure in the advocacy for responsible fatherhood and family strengthening. His innovative curricula and development programs have touched nearly ten thousand lives, changing narratives and shaping futures. As a National Consultant and Family Advocate, James’s voice is one of wisdom and passion, driving forward initiatives that champion the well-being of fathers and children alike. Today, we're set to unravel his journey, his vision, and his transformative work that continues to leave indelible marks on communities nationwide.

Coach Charles Sharper has dedicated his life to serving children and their families as a Non-Profit Executive Director, mentor, teacher, coach. He is now widely recognized as one of Atlanta’s most prominent voices in youth development.

Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Charles grew up with parents who fostered children for 30 years. It was there that Coach Sharper learned and developed his craft of managing and developing children. His father, Norwood Sharper, taught him the art of being firm but fair, while his mother, Gladys Sharper, taught him compassion and grace. Combining those characteristics with his passion for youth sports and recreation, The Healthy Youth USA Foundation was born.

Coach Sharper obtained a Secondary Education degree from Owens Community College in Ohio. He joined the Eastern Michigan University Men’s Basketball Team and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in marketing & communications. After EMU, Charles joined the coaching staff of the Hampton University Men’s Basketball program and became a vital hand in preparing the team to win the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship, moving forward to defeat Iowa State University (then ranked 9th) in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

For nearly three decades, David has been a father and family advocate, a community organizer, a minister, and an influential leader. He has successfully guided and grown a local direct service program for 11 years. Over time, he has coordinated multiple events, activities, and programs aimed at the acknowledgement, enhancement, appreciation, and promotion of the institution of fatherhood and raising awareness of the challenges related to father absence. This most notably includes the 2021-established Commonwealth Center for Fathers and Families (CCFF), which is poised to enhance positive fatherhood engagement and programming across Kentucky and beyond. As Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of CCFF, David leads statewide efforts and beyond. He has been widely recognized for his contributions to the field and was most recently appointed to The National Fatherhood Initiative Board of Directors.

David is widely called upon for his work around fatherhood and its correlated issues, including educational performance, violence prevention and intervention, implicit bias, black male achievement, strengthening families and communities, child maltreatment reduction, and other related matters. His work and efforts have impacted policies, procedures, and practices and served thousands of fathers, children, and families. He is the recent recipient of the Governor's Annual Services Awards, receiving the honor of the Lifetime Achievement Award.

A Husband and Father's Journey

Hey there, I'm Dontaye Carter. My story is one of love, family, and a quest to make the world a better place.

Eight years ago, I set out on an incredible journey, leaving behind Valdosta, Georgia, to follow my heart to Atlanta. My only mission was to marry the woman who had stolen my heart at a Valentine's Day party years earlier. At that time, I was working as a reporter in Valdosta, and she had just completed her residency, preparing for an interview with Women's Health Associates.

Our love story began with a dance, and it's been a dance to our own beat ever since. When I asked her to dance, she hesitated, saying, "You don't understand, I have two left feet." But I replied, "I have two right feet. Let's see if we can find our own rhythm." And from that magical night, we've been finding our way together.

Karen got the job, we got married, and together, we've poured our hearts into building a loving home for our beautiful daughter in Atlanta.

I wear many hats - I'm a husband, a father, a business owner, an author, and an activist. But my greatest joy comes from being a husband and a father, cherishing every moment with my family.

As the Founder and Lead Communication Strategist at Carter Media Group (CMG), I've harnessed my professional skills to make a difference. My journey has taken me from small-town stories to big-time recognition in Public Relations and Communications. I'm proud to have given a voice to survivors and their families in high-profile cases, like R. Kelly and Ahmaud Arbery, earning three prestigious awards from the 26th Annual Communicators Awards.

In the "I Am Dad" podcast, host Kenneth Braswell engages in a profound dialogue with Dr. Jeffery Shears and Dr. Matisa Wilbon about the "Dynamics of Atlanta Black Dads" report. They delve into the transformative role of Black fathers in Fulton County, challenging stereotypes and underscoring their indispensable role in family and community. Dr. Shears and Dr. Wilbon shed light on the internal and external challenges fathers face, emphasizing their capability and resourcefulness despite societal narratives that often overshadow their desire and efforts to be involved parents.

They highlight the necessity for community support and policy changes that address barriers such as legitimation policies and lack of social services, advocating for a holistic approach to fatherhood support. Personal reflections reveal the emotional depth and commitment of these fathers, with poignant acknowledgments of their own paternal relationships shaping their views. The conversation concludes with a call to action for more research and community engagement to better support Black fathers, with a hopeful look towards the initiatives planned for 2024.

Allan Shedlin has devoted his life's work to improving the odds for children and families. He has three daughters, five grandchildren, as well as numerous "bonus" sons/daughters and grandchildren. Trained as an educator, Allan has alternated between classroom service, school leadership, parenting coaching, policy development, and advising at the local, state, and national levels. After eight years as an elementary school principal, Allan founded and headed the National Elementary School Center for 10 years. In the 1980s, he began writing about education and parenting for major news outlets and education trade publications, as well as appearing on radio and TV. In 2008, he was honored as a "Living Treasure" by Mothering Magazine and founded REEL Fathers in Santa Fe, NM, where he now serves as president emeritus. In 2017, he founded the DADvocacy Consulting Group.

In 2018, he launched the DADDY Wishes Fund and Daddy Appleseed Fund. In 2019, he co-created and began co-facilitating the Armor Down/Daddy Up! and Mommy Up! programs. He has conducted daddying workshops in such diverse settings as Native American pueblos, veterans groups, nursery schools, penitentiaries, Head Start centers, corporate boardrooms, and various elementary schools, signifying the widespread interest in men in becoming the best possible dad. In 2022, Allan founded and co-directed the Daddying Film Festival & Forum to enable students, dads, and other indie filmmakers to use film as a vehicle to communicate the importance of fathers or father figures in each others' lives.

Allan earned his elementary and high school diplomas from NYC’s Ethical Culture Schools, BA at Colgate University, MA at Columbia University’s Teachers College, and an ABD at Fordham University. But he considers his D-A-D and GRAND D-A-D the most important “degrees” of all.

In this inspiring episode of "I AM DAD," we welcome Jermaine Wong, a storyteller whose life and work transcend the boundaries of art and activism. An award-winning filmmaker and Artistic Director, Jermaine's passion lies in crafting narratives that celebrate and challenge the human spirit.

As a dedicated Learn To Live activist, he channels his personal journey of loss into empowering others, particularly through his work in conflict management. Hear Jermaine discuss the power of storytelling in shaping the identities of fathers and sons, and the importance of creative expression in overcoming adversity.

His multifaceted approach to healing and growth offers a unique perspective on fatherhood—a role he believes is central to fostering harmony and understanding in diverse communities. Tune in for a conversation full of heart, art, and transformative wisdom with Jermaine Wong on "I AM DAD.

Embark on a journey into the heart of fatherhood with Shawn Dove on the "I AM DAD" Podcast. Shawn, a titan in community-building and advocacy, shares his seasoned insights on nurturing leadership within ourselves and our children. As the founder of the Corporation for Black Male Achievement and a leading figure at New Profit, Shawn champions transformative change and highlights the critical role fathers play in society. In this episode, he unfolds the layers of his leadership mission mantra, discussing the powerful intersection of personal legacy and community impact. Listen in as Shawn Dove articulates a vision where fathers are the vanguard of change, curating a brighter future for Black men and boys. This is a conversation that ignites the spirit and calls all dads to rise as the iconic leaders they are meant to be.

Join us on the "I AM DAD" Podcast for an enriching dialogue with Dr. David C. Miller, a visionary at the vanguard of redefining Black fatherhood. Dr. Miller merges academic expertise with real-world experience to empower generations through literature and life lessons. His poignant children's books offer vibrant portraits of Black fathers, filling a crucial gap in contemporary storytelling and providing rich cultural narratives for young minds.

In this episode, we delve into Dr. Miller's groundbreaking "Dare To Be King" curriculum, designed to inspire young Black males to lead lives marked by thoughtful decision-making and emotional resilience. As a strategist with Fathers Incorporated, Dr. Miller's voice is a clarion call for fathers to embrace their role with courage and authenticity.

Tune in to uncover the transformative potential of fatherhood as Dr. Miller shares strategies for nurturing strong, compassionate, and engaged fathers for today's challenging world. This is an episode for anyone invested in the heart and soul of parenting.

In this episode of the I Am Dad podcast, host Kenneth Braswell interviews Dr. Ronald L. Mincy, a professor of social policy and social work practice at Columbia University. Dr. Mincy discusses his journey into the field of fatherhood research and his work on the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the challenges faced by low-income fathers, particularly black men, and the impact on their children. Dr. Mincy also highlights the need for more resources and funding in the field of fatherhood research and practice, as well as the importance of integrating community-based practice with research. He concludes by expressing his hope for the field to become more institutionalized and for more collaboration between researchers, policymakers, and practitioners.

As a new year dawns, it brings with it a horizon of hope and a path of potential. The New Year is our canvas to paint with courage, growth, and deeper connections in our journey of fatherhood. I invite you to join me for an inspiring New Year's message on the 'I Am Dad Podcast'

Join us on a profound journey with Tracy Braswell, the seasoned Chief Operating Officer at Fathers Incorporated, as we delve into the transformative world of fatherhood and financial literacy. In this podcast series, Tracy unveils her inspiring story of overcoming adversity and harnessing her financial expertise to empower fathers and strengthen families. Discover how Tracy's strategic vision and innovative approach have revolutionized the organization, driving unprecedented growth and setting new standards in the industry. Each episode is a mosaic of wisdom, packed with actionable insights on parenting, financial management, and personal development.

Tracy's commitment to excellence and integrity shines through as she shares invaluable lessons on breaking generational cycles and fostering responsible fatherhood. Whether you're a new dad seeking guidance, a seasoned parent looking to connect deeper with your children, or simply interested in financial empowerment, this podcast is your gateway to a wealth of knowledge.

Tune in to be motivated, educated, and uplifted as we explore the keys to a fulfilling and prosperous life as a parent. Embrace the challenge of fatherhood with the expertise and passion of Tracy Braswell guiding you every step of the way.

Delve into the heart of healing with our transformative podcast, a beacon for anyone navigating the complex journey of grief and loss. With each episode, we explore the multi-faceted nature of mourning and the path to recovery, offering solace, understanding, and actionable insights.

Our candid conversations shine a light on the silent struggles many face and provide a roadmap to resilience and emotional well-being. We tackle the often overlooked impact of historical and cultural trauma, offering a unique perspective on the grief experience within the community. Whether you're grappling with personal loss or seeking to support others, our expert-guided discussions aim to empower, uplift, and inspire.

Join us as we unpack the layers of grief, learn to embrace the healing process, and discover hope amidst sorrow. This podcast is an essential companion for anyone looking to find meaning, connection, and comfort in the aftermath of loss.

Join host Kenneth Braswell on the 'I Am Dad Podcast' as he engages in a powerful dialogue with Rodney Kellum, a man who wears many hats - a father, a husband, a former Division I athlete, and an impassioned advocate for fathers everywhere. In this deeply moving episode, Rodney shares his transformative journey of fatherhood, including the challenges and triumphs of raising a special needs child and how his experiences reshaped his life's priorities. Discover the concept of 'Fatherpreneurship' where Rodney melds the essence of fatherhood into his entrepreneurial endeavors, promoting a balance of family life with professional aspirations.

This episode is not just a narrative but an inspiration, offering wisdom, encouragement, and a call to action for fathers to embrace their role with dedication and love. Perfect for parents, educators, and anyone interested in the profound impact of engaged fatherhood, this podcast promises to enlighten and empower. Tune in and be part of the conversation that redefines what it means to be a dad in today's world.

Explore the depths of black fatherhood, male empowerment, and personal growth with Kenneth Braswell and special guest Donald Morton on the 'I Am Dad' podcast. This episode delves into the transformative journey from male to manhood, the importance of character building, and the unique challenges faced by black fathers today. Join us as Donald Morton, founder of Remanned and author of 'The Remanned Book', shares his profound insights on laying a strong foundation for leadership in life and legacy. Tune in to ignite your drive, refine your purpose, and connect with a community committed to the elevation of black male excellence. #Fatherhood #Manhood #BlackMaleEmpowerment #Leadership #PersonalGrowth #IAMDADPodcast

Meet J. Michael Hall on the I Am Dad Podcast – a man whose professional journey as an educator has seamlessly transitioned into becoming a trailblazer in the realm of father engagement. With a lifetime of experience ranging from special education to school administration, Michael, father to two sons who have followed in his pedagogical footsteps, has left an indelible mark on educational communities.

Through his creation of Strong Fathers-Strong Families, Michael has touched the lives of over a quarter-million fathers and parents, igniting a generational cycle of positive fatherhood. As his initiative celebrates over two decades of influence, the profound impact is evident – today's young dads were once participants in his groundbreaking programs.

In addition to leading these transformative fatherhood initiatives, Michael lends his expertise as the co-host of the Intentional Partnerships podcast, adding synergy to the conversation on parent engagement alongside Lindsey Shah and the National Center for Parents as Teachers.

An accomplished author, Michael has contributed to the esteemed fatherhood anthology "Why Fathers Count" and has developed five fatherhood curricula, with his sixth in the works. His insights and innovations have earned him national recognition, including the prestigious honor as a White House Champion of Change in 2012.

Join us on the I Am Dad Podcast as we explore Michael Hall's inspiring contributions to fatherhood and education, and discover the difference one person can make in the lives of many.

From the halls of academia to the heart of community service, Jim Walters brings a legacy of involvement and advocacy to the I Am Dad Podcast. As a mainstay in the WATCH D.O.G.S. initiative since May 2022, Jim's commitment has extended far beyond his own three daughters' school years, embodying the spirit of a volunteer whose impact resonates daily across campus life.

His accolades as a volunteer coordinator and community builder are district-renowned, yet it's his grassroots work that speaks volumes. With an inclusive vision that "Y'all means All," Jim has been instrumental in leading community organizations towards unity and service for the collective good, regardless of individual differences.

Beyond organizational leadership, Jim champions the cause of male camaraderie and emotional support. He stands as an advocate for open dialogue among men, fostering an environment where healing and growth happen together. This philosophy translates into tangible community action, inspiring men to support the upcoming generation by empowering students and backing educators.

Join us on the I Am Dad Podcast as we delve into Jim Walters' journey of fostering inclusive communities and nurturing fatherly engagement in education.

Get ready for a fascinating episode, as we welcome Eric Snow to the I AM Dad Podcast!

A pioneer in championing father involvement in schools, Eric embarked on a mission back in 1998. Driven by the vision of a school environment rich with positive male role models, bolstered safety, and active support for educators, he established the WATCH D.O.G.S. program at his children's school. Since then, this groundbreaking initiative has shaped the way fathers and father figures participate in the educational journey of their young ones.

With an extensive speaking repertoire, Eric has graced the stages of countless educational conferences nationwide. He's shared insights, strategies, and his infectious passion for setting up flourishing WATCH D.O.G.S. programs. Beyond the world of education, his impactful message has been broadcasted on global platforms such as NBC World News, BBC Radio, NPR Radio, and even the TODAY show. Numerous print and digital publications have featured his insights.

Eric's dedication doesn't stop there. He's been an instrumental figure in various national and state boards and committees, including significant roles in the National PTA. His journey prior to dedicating himself fully to WATCH D.O.G.S. in 2008 is also noteworthy. He successfully steered New South Directory Company, Inc as its President and owner and held a pivotal position at K.W Brock Directories Inc.

An alumnus of the University of Arkansas, where he majored in Political Science, Eric's life is a testament to dedication and passion. Married to Valerie since 1982, Eric's family has grown, now boasting two wonderful children, their incredible partners, and adorable granddaughters. And the Snow family has another reason to celebrate with a new addition arriving this October.

Join us as we delve into Eric's remarkable journey, the essence of WATCH D.O.G.S., and his vision for fathers in the educational landscape. Don't miss this inspiring conversation!

Over the past 15 years, Keith Schumacher has become recognized as one of the leading voices in father engagement in American schools. Keith did not enter the educational arena as a teacher or principal, he came in as a dad. The husband of a teacher and the father of two adopted daughters, he quickly recognized the absence of other dads participating in the local school. He also noticed that there were few if any male role models even among school staff members for the students.

After initially being turned away from the PTA, he learned about the Watch D.O.G.S. program and proposed it to the principal of his local school. In addition to his role as a senior captain with the Atlanta Fire-Rescue Department, he quickly became a leader in father engagement at the local, and then state and national level. He served for ten years as a National Family and Community Engagement Coordinator with the Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) organization.

Upon his retirement from Atlanta Fire-Rescue in 2019, he began serving full-time with the national All Pro Dad Chapters program and has done so for four and a half years. In these roles, Keith has spoken at hundreds of state and national conferences including the American Association of School Administrators, National PTA, American School Counselors Association and the National Association for Family, School and Community Engagement. Keith has literally worked with hundreds of local schools and school districts in overcoming the traditional stereotypes of fathers and perceived their lack of engagement in local schools.

Keith is working to create a culture and environment in which schools provide a welcoming and inclusive environment where fathers regularly engage and participate in the daily activities in local schools. This includes supporting students who do not have an easily recognizable father figure in their life for whatever reason.

As a national leader, Keith’s goal is to give every child an opportunity to have strong positive role models leading them to the greatest success possible.

Janice E. Stevenson Ph.D. has been a licensed psychologist in Maryland since 1984. She received her Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate in Psychology from the University of Maryland at College Park. She has been in private practice since 1984, first in Baltimore city. For over 30 years, she has worked with trauma recovery. Her clients have included foster and delinquent youth, persons facing criminal charges, abuse victims of various types (abandonment, physical, emotional, sexual, and sexual), and persons facing life-changing and life-altering circumstances (divorce, marriage, job changes, and other changes in their circumstances). Her work is client-centered, evidence-based, and spiritually grounded. She incorporates expressive and art therapies along with therapeutic recreational strategies in the work. Therapy is a growth-enhancing experience for both her and her client.

Mia Wenjen blogs at PragmaticMom.com. She is also the co-creator and president of Read Your World, celebrating Multicultural Children’s Book Day. Her debut picture book, Sumo Joe (Lee and Low, 2019) was selected as a Bank Street College Best Children’s Book of the Year. Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World releases spring of 2023 through Barefoot Books and is a Junior Library Guild selection. The Slants (Red Comet Press) and Boxer Baby (Eifrig Publishing) releases in 2024. Follow her @pragmaticmom on social media.

Tommy Maloney is the Executive producer and host of the podcast Blending The Family, where you can find Apple Podcasts, Iheart Radio, Spotify, and Stitcher Radio.

Tommy has spoken at TEDx, Ignite Fort Collins and was a Keynote Speaker at Everything Dad Convention. He even has won speaking awards through Toastmasters International.

The author of the book "25 Tips For Divorced Dads." "Why not you, Why Not Me" and "My Dad's Advice At 5:04 AM,". He has written for magazines: The Good Men Project, Modern Gladiator, and Nurture Magazine. Plus, he contributed as a writer to other books, “The Expert’s Guide to Teenagers” and Father-Daughter Conversations.”

Tommy enjoys a glass of red blend while writing or hiding from the family. A dad to Betsy, Becca, Connor, and dogs Duke (RIP) and Otis. A husband to Ann, where they live (when Tommy is home) in Greeley, Colorado.

Delve into ‘I Am Dad’ podcast, a wholesome amalgamation of candid conversations, parenting insights, and diverse perspectives, aimed at unraveling the intricate fabric of fatherhood. Explore a spectrum of topics with our esteemed guests, ranging from building healthy family dynamics, fostering positive mental health, to nurturing life skills and values in our children. Whether it’s sharing poignant fatherhood experiences, discussing societal impacts on parenting, or offering practical advice on navigating challenges, each episode is a treasure trove of knowledge and inspiration designed to support fathers and families in their continual growth journey. Tune in to be a part of this enlightening journey and embrace the essence of fatherhood in its myriad shades.

Unlock the secrets to Black business success as we explore empowering narratives with Lamar Tyler, renowned entrepreneur and founder of Traffic Sales & Profit. Dive into enlightening discussions on leveraging Artificial Intelligence to foster innovation, build generational wealth, and elevate Black entrepreneurship. This podcast episode uncovers effective strategies, practical advice, and insightful lessons to ignite your entrepreneurial journey and navigate the business world. Tune in for transformative conversations and gain invaluable insights to excel in the evolving business landscape. Discover the pathways to building enduring legacies and achieving sustainable growth in the world of entrepreneurship.

Navigate the complexities of fatherhood with the 'I Am Dad Podcast,' where we dive deep into topics that matter to dads today. From equity and mental health to legacy building, we host candid conversations with experts, advocates, and everyday dads. Whether you're a new father or a seasoned veteran, tune in to gain valuable insights and join a community that understands the triumphs and trials of being a dad. Available now on all major podcast platforms, YouTube, and at www.iamdadpodcast.com."

In the latest episode of the I Am Dad Podcast, we delve into a transformative conversation on Empowering Fathers, featuring an exclusive interview with James Worthy. With a focus on emotional vulnerability and responsible fatherhood, Worthy shares personal stories and invaluable insights that are sure to resonate with dads everywhere. This episode serves as a poignant reminder that strength and vulnerability can coexist, and that being a present father is one of the most impactful roles a man can play. Available now at www.iamdadpodcast.com, on YouTube, and most other podcast platforms. Tune in to explore the multi-faceted nature of fatherhood and discover tools and resources to become the best dad you can be.

Discover the powerful journey of navigating the complex terrains of family law and emotional well-being in our latest I Am Dad Podcast episode. Join us as we talk with Jeffery Leving, a renowned family law attorney and father's rights advocate, who delves deep into the legal and emotional challenges many fathers face. From custody battles to co-parenting tips, Jeffery provides valuable insights and practical advice to empower you in your role as a dad. This eye-opening episode offers a wealth of knowledge that you won't want to miss. Available now at www.iamdadpodcast.com, on YouTube, and most other podcast platforms. Tune in and take the first step toward becoming a more empowered father today.

In this episode, Heidi Murkoff and Kenneth Braswell delve into the complex and often overlooked aspects of parenting from both maternal and paternal perspectives. Heidi shares her eye-opening experience at Rikers Prison, where she realized that no matter the circumstances, all parents want the best for their children. This epiphany led to the initiation of her 'What to Expect' project, aimed at nurturing the nurturers, and eliminating health disparities among marginalized communities.

Kenneth adds depth to the conversation by emphasizing the evolving role of fathers in today’s society. He talks about the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearing House and stresses that fathers need services as well. He also mentions the Million Fathers March, a campaign aiming to mobilize dads across the U.S., discussing its rebirth after a Covid-induced hiatus.

Both agree that in the United States, there is still a long way to go in supporting parents. From tackling racial disparities in healthcare to implementing effective family policies, this episode explores how collective action can lead to happier, healthier families.

Join Heidi and Kenneth as they unite their advocacy efforts, realizing that it truly takes a village to raise a child and nurture the nurturers. Whether you're a mom, a dad, or anyone who cares about the future of families, this episode offers valuable insights and inspiration for all.

In a deeply personal and inspiring episode of the "I Am Dad Podcast," host Kenneth Braswell converses with Dr. Frank Malone about his transformative journey in life and his profound impact on fatherhood and community development.

Personal Journey Frank Malone opens up about a crucial turning point in his life where he was suffering from Gion Beret syndrome, brought on in part by personal issues including drug use. He describes a near-death experience where he was in a coma for three days. He attributes his recovery to spiritual intervention, saying he saw a light and felt the need to confess his sins to turn his life around.

Career in Community Service Frank went from paralysis to a state of proactive change. With a 20-year background in government service, he took a job in the city of Alexandria, working with underprivileged families and focusing particularly on children whose fathers were incarcerated or absent. Frank was instrumental in the Family Resource Learning Center, where these children were provided with a fatherly figure that contributed to their personal growth. This connection and support even led these kids to excel in the Standard of Learning exams.

Advancements in Fatherhood Advocacy Frank's success drew attention and support from various sectors including government and corporations. He founded the Virginia Regional Coalition for Fathers and later initiated the "100 Fathers" project in Washington, D.C. He has been recognized with the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award and has played a role in enacting important legislation like the Custody Relocation Act.

Global Impact Frank also talked about his involvement in The Million Fathers Project and his partnership with the Apostle, a religious leader with a massive following. Through these platforms, they're taking the mission of responsible and present fatherhood to an international level.

Future Goals With the recognition of an honorary doctoral degree from Godsu University, Frank remains dedicated to the cause, emphasizing that the journey is ongoing but the work so far has been profoundly rewarding.

This episode delivers a strong message on the power of transformation and the critical importance of fatherly roles in community and personal development. Frank Malone serves as an exemplification of how one can turn personal trials into a triumphant mission to serve others.

A native of Baton Rouge and member of Capitol Senior High school class of 1995. In 1996, after working at K&B Drug Store for a short time, with supportive enforcement from his mother Levar joined the U.S. Navy. He spent 6 years as a nuclear Submarine Machinist Mate on 2 nuclear submarines and a submarine repair ship. This is where he grew his love for traveling and watersports. After the Navy, Levar held positions of employment with Northrop Grumman, Dow Chemical Company, and ExxonMobil for a combination of 17 years. Meanwhile in 2008 Levar started mentoring in church with the youth, young adults and prison ministries and volunteered in the community with Big Buddy, 100 Black Men and Volunteers in Public Schools. In 2017 determined to do more with misguided youth and along with supporting fathers he established the 501c3 nonprofit Fathers On A Mission (FOAM) while working shift work for DOW. Levar launched FOAM with the mission of supporting Fathers, Father Figures and mentoring misguided youth. Levar is also a father of 6 and a father figure to hundreds.

On any given day you can find him in schools and the community empowering youth through open dialogue on Enhancing Your Greatness or providing social services intervention to Fathers and Father Figures.

Because of his consistent, effective, and impactful work Levar has been recognized by some of the best organizations and companies in the city and state. He is the recipient of the 2018 Emerge Center Baton Rouge Area Volunteer Activist Award, 2018 Louisiana Association of Non-Profits (LANO) Community Leaders Alumni, 2019 ExxonMobil Responsible Care Award, 2020 Business Report Executive Leadership Academy Alumni, the 2020 NAACP Trailblazer Award, a 2020 BlueCross BlueShield Foundation Angel Award Honoree, 2022 New Orleans Saints and Community Coffee Military and Community Volunteer Honoree, and 2023 Baton Rouge Area Foundation (BRAF) John W. Barton Sr. Excellence in Nonprofit Management Rising Star Award.

Gary Barker, PhD, has been a global voice in engaging men and boys in advancing gender equality, gender justice and positive masculinities for three decades. He is the CEO and co-founder of Equimundo Center for Masculinities and Social Justice (formerly Promundo-US), a major contributor to international activism on male allyship in gender equality. He was the first Executive Director of Instituto Promundo in Brazil and led its pioneering work on healthy masculinities.

He is co-founder of MenCare, a global campaign in more than 50 countries to promote men’s involvement as caregivers, and co-founder of MenEngage, a global alliance of more than 700 NGOs. He co-created the International Men and Gender Equality Survey (IMAGES), the largest survey of men’s attitudes and behaviors related to violence, fatherhood, and gender equality.

He leads Equimundo’s State of the World’s Fathers reports, which has become a major advocacy platform for the global care economy. He has coordinated Equimundo’s partnerships in conflict-affected settings including work on community-based trauma support and restorative justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Balkans, the US and Brazil. He advises the UN, the World Bank, national governments, international foundations and corporations on strategies to engage men and boys in promoting gender equality. In 2017 he was named by Apolitical as one of the 20 most influential people in gender policy worldwide. He is an Ashoka Fellow and received the Voices of Solidarity Award from Vital Voices for his work to engage men for gender equality. He holds a PhD in Developmental Psychology and a Research Affiliate position at the Center for Social Sciences, University of Coimbra, Portugal. He lived nearly 20 years in Latin America and is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese.

Congressman Jimmy Gomez proudly represents California’s 34th Congressional District, one of the most diverse and culturally rich districts in the country. In the 118th Congress, Congressman Gomez sits on the Committee on Oversight and Accountability and serves as an Assistant Whip of the Democratic Caucus and Deputy Whip for the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC). Congressman Gomez is the Founder and Chair of the Congressional Dads Caucus and is also a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), and Future Forum.

Prior to his election to Congress in June of 2017, Congressman Gomez served four and a half years in the California State Assembly where he served as Chair of the Assembly Appropriations Committee. In the Assembly, Congressman Gomez distinguished himself as a proven national champion of paid family leave and combatting climate change. He became a key figure in authoring landmark legislation to address public health, environmental justice, water conservation, access to education, civic engagement, campaign finance disclosure, LGBTQ rights, and affordable housing.

Congressman Gomez attended Riverside Community College before receiving a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and a M.A. in Public Policy from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. He lives in Eagle Rock with his wife Mary, baby son Hodge, and rescue dog Austin. He is a lifelong fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Joseph R. Stiltner is a native of Pittsburgh, PA but has called Loris, SC, home for the last 20 years. Joseph is happily married and has four children ranging in age from three to 15. Joseph overcame the struggles of childhood trauma, long-term substance abuse, and gang life and now works as an Intervention Specialist at a local fatherhood initiative. Joseph also has an entrepreneurial spirit that’s on fire inside of him, and he’s in the process of launching his third business

John currently serves as Assistant Deputy Commissioner / IV-D Director for the Georgia Department of Human Services, Division of Child Support Services (DCSS). With more than 31 years of professional experience, John began his career with DCSS as a case manager in the Atlanta office. His experience in leadership roles in both the public and private sector has provided a strong foundation in operations, administration, and strategic management. John is a member of the National Child Support Engagement Association (NCSEA) and Eastern Regional Interstate Child Support Association (ERICSA) Board of Directors, and he serves on the National Council of Child Support Directors (NCCSD) Executive Committee.

John Ginwright has been with the Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) since 1992, and has worked with all aspects of the child support program. Mr. Ginwright has served as the Family Support Division Deputy Director (IV-D Director) since 2014. In this role, he manages the Child Support program for the state of Missouri.

In 2015 Mr. Ginwright created the Child Support Outreach Unit to develop and coordinate child support services with community agencies. The Outreach Unit engages the public with six driving pillars (employment, parenthood, pre-parenthood & young adults, corrections, diversion programs and community engagement). This unit focuses its effort to meet its child support goals, thinking beyond normal child support actions and procedures, while meeting problems before they manifest. The Child Support Outreach Unit has collaborated and established partnerships with over 100 organizations in Missouri, and has a budget in excess of thirteen million dollars.

In 2023 Mr. Ginwright received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Partnership for Community Leadership, for his outstanding contributions to the fatherhood community. Mr. Ginwright also serves as a member on various boards and committees, including the Missouri Reentry Program Steering Team and the Government Contact Center Council. He is a sought out speaker on various topics nationwide.

This is an enlightening podcast that delves into the pivotal role judges can play in supporting families. It explores how adopting a 'father-friendly' approach and leveraging trauma-informed strategies can transform courtrooms into platforms for positive change, ultimately fostering healthier families and communities. This podcast offers a unique perspective on judicial practice, demonstrating the profound impact judges can have in reshaping the family dynamics and contributing to societal wellbeing.

Konitra Jack is a passionate advocate for family support and the success of every family. With a wealth of experience and expertise in the field, she brings a unique perspective to discussions on these important topics. Currently serving as the Louisiana CSE Director, Konitra directs the programmatic operations for the child support enforcement section in the state. She joined the Child Support Enforcement team in 2008 as a caseworker in Baton Rouge, LA, and has since made significant contributions to the field.

Hailing from Baker, LA, Konitra is not only a professional leader but also a devoted wife and proud mother of two children, aged 11 and 12. Her personal experiences as a mother further fuel her passion for supporting and empowering fathers in their roles. With a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics, a Master's in Business Administration, and a Juris Doctorate from the esteemed Southern University Law Center, Konitra possesses a comprehensive understanding of the complexities surrounding family dynamics.

Beyond her role as Louisiana CSE Director, Konitra actively contributes to several organizations in the field. She serves on the Louisiana Support Enforcement Association (LSEA) Board of Directors, where she plays a pivotal role in shaping policies and driving positive change. Konitra also holds significant roles in national organizations such as the National Child Support Engagement Association (NCSEA) Policy & Governmental Relations, NCSEA U, and the Child Support Quarterly Committee as an Editor. Additionally, she co-chairs the National Council of Child Support Directors (NCCSD) Employer Collaboration Committee, which focuses on bridging the gap between employers and child support initiatives, fostering a more supportive environment for parents who pay support.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Konitra is deeply engaged in her community. She serves as a Children's Church teacher at Jubilee Christian Center Church, imparting valuable lessons to children aged 6 to 12. This role allows her to contribute to the growth and development of young minds within a spiritual setting. Additionally, she is the Co-Leader of Girl Scout Troop 10995 in Baton Rouge, where she guides and empowers young girls, helping them develop into confident, resourceful, and compassionate individuals.

With her extensive experience, educational achievements, and unwavering commitment to family support, Konitra Jack is a valuable voice in the field. Her insights and perspectives contribute to meaningful discussions and help shape a more supportive environment for families to thrive.

JOEL AUSTIN is the Founder, President & Chief Executive Officer for Daddy University Inc. and the Executive Director of The School of Parent Education a 501©3. In this role he serves as a strong, undeniable force in propelling males and responsible parenting to the forefront of the family and community agenda.

Fueled by his role as a father of four, Mr. Austin is personally and professionally committed to educating and re-educating people about the importance of fatherhood. Through his leadership, Daddy University Inc. has grown into a recognized authority on fatherhood information, support, and training. As a national speaker and skilled facilitator, Mr. Austin presents to thousands across the nation; infusing his passion through audiences and empowering individuals and groups to positively impact the lives of others.

Mr. Austin is a proud graduate of Cheyney University in Pennsylvania and obtained real-life skills training as a veteran of the U.S. Army. He measures his success by each parent he inspires and attributes his children and family with keeping him focused. He is recognized by his peers as a trailblazer in the field of fatherhood and appreciated by young and more seasoned fathers for his authentic advice, compassionate wisdom, and contagious passion.

Among his many accomplishments; Mr. Austin is the founder of the National Fatherhood and Young Men’s Conference whose message has reached over 58,500 individuals and groups since its inception in 2006. From just a vision the National Fatherhood Conference has become the Largest Fathers Conference on the East Coast and maybe the world. Mr. Austin founded the conference, as he says, with a dollar and a dream. In 2009 He also founded the Tri-State Daddy Daughter Dance, which has become a tradition that changes the lives of girls everywhere. Mr. Austin is also the chief facilitator and program developer for the Fathers Club; a free weekly fatherhood training group at three locations in Philadelphia; he services fathers from all backgrounds and ages.

Tanguler Gray serves as the commissioner of the Office of Child Support Services at the Administration for Children and Families within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Prior to her appointment in the Biden Administration in December 2021, Gray was a deputy commissioner in the Georgia Department of Human Services. She previously served as the director for the division of child support services in Georgia, with over 26 years of leadership and child support experience there. Gray has served as a member of the board for the National Child Support Enforcement Association, including president and secretary, and is serving a second term as a board member of the Eastern Regional Interstate Child Support Association.

She graduated from Valdosta State University and has a daughter and a son.

Omari is a Brooklyn born artist. His use of color, dimension, and texture exhibits true raw, and natural talent. The evolution of artistry is evident in his work. His pieces tell stories that are thought provoking, intellectually inspiring, and technically sound.

Omari's life partner, Shamony Gibson, transitioned in 2019 due to medical malpractice after giving birth to their second child. In response, Omari co-founded The ARIAH Foundation. ARIAH utilizes art, education, AND advocacy to mitigate the long-lasting impact of systemic racism and oppression on the sexual, reproductive health and birth outcomes within BIPOC communities.

Sharmain is a National Speaker, Author, and Trainer in areas of fatherhood and prison reentry. After serving time in prison, Sharmain reentered society with a plan, a passion, and a purpose. Despite the challenges of a felony conviction, Sharmain worked hard to overcome the barriers to a successful entry into society. The birth of his first child in 2014 gave him a deeper reason to achieve success after prison.

In 2015, Sharmain attended a heavily promoted fatherhood event in which he was the only father to show. Seeing an opportunity, he volunteered to host a fatherhood workshop himself. His event was successful and he eventually landed a full-time job as a Father Involvement Coordinator at WIC (Women, Infants & Children). In the first year, he successfully recruited and completed over 100 fathers. During his time at WIC, Sharmain would travel the country to other WIC and Family service organizations to inspire them to focus on fatherhood. His success with the WIC Fathers program was his launching pad to his current success as a speaker and trainer.

In 2020, Sharmain graduated with degrees in Business Management and Marketing at Carthage College. In 2021, he completed his Master’s in Business Design and Innovation at Carthage College.

His turnaround story has led to many awards including the NAACP positive impact and the 20 under 40 award. His story has inspired so many that even the district attorney and his original sentencing judge worked together to release Sharmain from parole 4 years earlier than anticipated. All of his work led to one of the most honorable accomplishments that can be given to someone who turns their life around after prison.

In 2022, Sharmain had all of his legal rights restored after receiving a FULL PARDON from Governor Tony Evers in Wisconsin. He now has a mission to help hundreds of justice-impacted people to be granted a pardon.

Sharon Pizzuti is an Executive Director at Courtland Consulting – a child support consulting firm in East Lansing, Michigan. She has more than 35 years of combined government and consulting leadership in child support. Her career includes roles as a public servant for the two largest Michigan child support offices, consulting for the Federal and State of Michigan Department of Health & Human Services, Federal Department of Labor/Bureau of Labor Statistics, and for the Michigan Supreme Court, State Court Administrative Office. She’s spent the last 19 years focused on court and human service improvement programs including Fatherhood, Mediation, and Equal Access to Justice work. She is an ERICSA (Eastern Regional Interstate Child Support Association) Executive Board Member, VP of Conference Operations, Chair of the Onsite Committee and serves on finance, exhibitor and sponsor, conference planning, and communications committees. She is a member of the WICSEC (Western Intergovernmental Child Support Engagement Council) Communication and DEI committees. She also serves on the NTCSA (National Tribal Child Support Association) conference planning and advisory committee. Sharon serves as an Executive Board Member and Treasurer for NCSEA (National Child Support Engagement Association) and is an active committee member dedicated to improving court & human services. Her experience, research, and online presence highlights her passion for creating partnerships and intersections for fatherhood programs, community partners and child support agencies. She understands the impact of trauma, barriers, and biases as well as how to connect the right people and agencies to promote equity and inclusion in child support programs and focus on the best interests of children and their families.

Why Fathers Cry at Night is an intimate and non-traditional (or "new-fashioned") memoir, Kwame Alexander shares snapshots of a man learning how to love. He takes us through stories of his parents: from being awkward newlyweds in the sticky Chicago summer of 1967, to the sometimes-confusing ways they showed their love to each other, and for him. He explores his own relationships—his difficulties as a newly wedded, 22-year-old father, and the precariousness of his early marriage working in a jazz club with his second wife. Alexander attempts to deal with the unravelling of his marriage and the grief of his mother's recent passing while sharing the solace he found in learning how to perfect her famous fried chicken dish. With an open heart, Alexander weaves together memories of his past to try and understand his greatest love: his daughters. Full of heartfelt reminisces, family recipes, love poems, and personal letters, Why Fathers Cry at Night inspires bravery and vulnerability in every reader who has experienced the reckless passion, heartbreak, failure, and joy that define the whirlwind woes and wonders of love.

Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator, producer, and #1 New York Times Bestselling author of 36 books, including THE DOOR OF NO RETURN, AN AMERICAN STORY, BECOMING MUHAMMAD ALI, co-authored with James Patterson, REBOUND, which was shortlisted for prestigious UK Carnegie Medal, The Caldecott Medal and Newbery Honor-winning picture book, THE UNDEFEATED, illustrated by Kadir Nelson, and his NEWBERY medal-winning middle grade novel, THE CROSSOVER. A regular contributor to NPR's Morning Edition, Kwame is the recipient of numerous awards, including The Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, The Coretta Scott King Author Honor, Three NAACP Image Award Nominations, and the 2017 Inaugural Pat Conroy Legacy Award. In 2018, he opened the Barbara E. Alexander Memorial Library and Health Clinic in Ghana, as a part of LEAP for Ghana, an international literacy program he co-founded. He is the writer and executive producer of THE CROSSOVER TV series on Disney+.

Vito J. Borrello is the first Executive Director for the National Association for Family, School, and Community Engagement (NAFSCE), appointed in September 2014. Since its founding, NAFSCE has addressed systemic issues to advance family, school and community engagement as a strategy for child development, student achievement and school improvement. Initiatives include Reframing the Family Engagement Conversation and the establishment of the National Alliance for Family Engagement; the 18-state State Consortium on Family Engagement in partnership with the Council for Chief State School Officers; and its Family Engagement Consortium on Pre-service Educator Preparation. Prior to his current position, Mr. Borrello served as the 19-year president of Every Person Influences Children, a New York-based organization providing parenting education, and family engagement in education programs. Current National Advisory Board Member roles include Scholastic, and the Center for Education Equity. Recent previous national roles include membership on the National Family, School and Community Engagement Working Group; and two completed terms as both an Appointed and At-Large Board Member for National PTA, where he also served on committees for finance, legislation, resource development, strategic planning and leadership recruitment. He is co-founder and Chairman Emeritus for the NY State Family Engagement Coalition. Prior to his NAFSCE appointment, Mr. Borrello was Chairman of the NY State PTA Urban Initiatives Task Force, Steering Committee member of the NY State Parenting Education Partnership, and a past appointee to NY State Education Department workgroups for Teacher Standards, Striving Readers, and Safe Schools. In his home community of Western New York, Mr. Borrello is a past Board Member for the State University of NY at Buffalo's Alberti Center for Bullying Abuse Prevention; past Chairman for the Care Management Coalition of Western New York, and past Board member for Buffalo's Read to Succeed literacy initiative. He is a graduate of the Health Foundation for Western and Central New York Fellowship program and a 1998 graduate of Leadership Buffalo. Mr. Borrello has a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Wittenberg University and resides in East Amherst, New York with his wife, Maria, and has two daughters, Marisa and Samantha. He commutes to the NAFSCE offices located in Alexandria, Virginia.

As the CEO of Fathers Incorporated, I am honored to support the White House’s proclamation for Second Chance Month. This significant initiative recognizes the potential for change and growth in every individual, regardless of their past. In our work to empower fathers and strengthen families, we understand the importance of providing opportunities for redemption and transformation.

In the spirit of Second Chance Month, we want to acknowledge the graduates of our Gentle Warriors Academy. These dedicated fathers have come to understand the crucial role they play in the lives of their children, even after making mistakes. They have embraced their journey towards self-improvement and have become a shining example of the power of second chances.

Fathers Incorporated introducing an "new" podcast called "SIDELINE DAD"

The podcast that's all about promoting positive father involvement in youth sports. This podcast is designed to help dads navigate the world of youth sports, providing tips, advice, and inspiration to help them support their children and make the most of their sports experience.

As a sideline dad, you have an important role to play in your child's sports journey. This podcast is dedicated to helping you fulfill that role to the best of your ability, by sharing stories and insights from experts, coaches, and other dads who have been there before.

In each episode, we'll explore a different topic related to youth sports, from strategies for staying positive in the face of setbacks, to tips for helping your child develop good sportsmanship and teamwork skills. We'll also tackle some of the challenges that can arise in the world of youth sports, such as dealing with overly competitive parents or navigating the complexities of sports travel.

Whether you're a seasoned sports dad or just starting out on this journey, "Sideline Dad" is the podcast for you. So grab a seat on the sideline, put on your headphones, and join us as we explore the world of youth sports and help you become the best sideline dad you can be!

You can subscribe to learn more about the podcast launch in September 2023. You can subscribe and follow the up-to-date news at www.sidelinedad.com

In 2018, Dr. J. L. Adolph completed his Ph.D. in English/African Diaspora Studies at the University of Missouri-Columbia; his dissertation centered on Fatherhood Narratives in Hip-hop Lyricism. He received an MA from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2009 and a BA in English with a minor in Africana Studies from Central Missouri State University, May 2005.

Dr. JL Adolph has a professional background in utilizing hip-hop culture as a tool to teach at-promise youth and families with histories of trauma successfully. The English professor employs innovative communication methods furnishing an educational space to discuss urban male parenting in Contemporary America. His keynote speeches and interactive online series Dad Cypher: A Hip-hop Guide to Fatherhood challenges critics' skepticism of hip-hop culture and the mythology of African American fatherhood. As a media literacy specialist and researcher, Adolph utilizes his expertise to empower inner-city marginalized dads. Hence, his works seek to alter or “remix” the mainstream narrative of African-American fatherhood.

Dr. Jeffery M. Johnson is President and CEO of the National Partnership for Community Leadership (NPCL)whose mission is to strengthen the service capacity of public/private agencies to empower low-income parents and youth through innovative training techniques, practical program management tools and evidence-based practices.

As president of NPCL, Dr. Johnson has overseen the planning and implementation of two of the nation's most significant social welfare research projects involving low-income men and fathers.

Since 1997, under Dr. Johnson leadership, NPCL has convened an annual international fatherhood conference that attracts policymakers, family practitioners, and parents worldwide.

He was also the visionary and national planning committee chair for the 100th anniversary of Father’s Day. Dr. Johnson also presided over the National Youth Development Practitioner’s Institute for the Department of Labor’s Youth Opportunities Unlimited Program. Additionally, Dr. Johnson currently serves as Dean of the Fatherhood Learning Academy for the Healthy Start Technical Assistance and Support Center.

The Fatherhood Research and Practice Network (FRPN) is a five-year initiative funded by Office of Planning Research and Evaluation to build the evidence base for fatherhood programming. Co-directed by Jessica Pearson of CPR and Jay Fagan, professor of social work, Temple University, FRPN funds teams of researchers and practitioners to conduct rigorous research; provides technical assistance to grantees to improve the quality of the research they conduct; builds the capacity of researchers and fatherhood practitioners by conducting webinars, training programs, preparing written materials, and conducting original research on fatherhood; and disseminates new research and best practices through a comprehensive website, www.frpn.org.

Pearson founded CPR in 1981. Her research includes some of the first national studies of mediation in custody and visitation disputes, parent education, and supervised visitation. She has also completed leading evaluations of new initiatives in child support programs including hospital-based paternity, family-centered services, collaborations with workforce agencies, early intervention strategies, methods of avoiding and addressing child support debt, and addressing parenting time orders and access and visitation problems.

Dr. Pearson served as co-principal investigator of a seven-state demonstration project that resulted in the creation of the State Access and Visitation Grant Program that now awards $10 million annually for programs to support parenting time. Pearson provides technical assistance, research, and facilitation services to federal, state and local agencies, and service delivery programs. Her areas of expertise include improving access to public benefit programs, developing effective work programs for low-income parents and mentoring and literacy programs for disadvantaged learners.

Dr. Pearson is currently the Director of the national Fatherhood Research and Practice Network where she oversees grants distributed to projects to rigorously evaluate fatherhood programs, and provides training to improve practice and evaluation in the fatherhood field.

Jackie Brewton is a highly sought-after youth speaker, author and teen relationship expert. She is a graduate of Furman University. In 2001, she walked away from a successful career in corporate America in 2001 to establish, MotivationN3D, Inc. a motivational speaking company. She can be found speaking to classrooms of thirty or delivering keynotes before large assemblies of thousands. Over the past 20 years, Jackie has spoken to hundreds of thousands of teens across the country and abroad, and has amassed more than 17,000 letters from students. These letters, along with her “real talk” classroom discussions, have given her a window into the hearts and minds of teen girls and guys, few adults ever get to experience.

Dr. Janice Kelly is a Full Professor, the Chair of Interdisciplinary Studies, and the Program Director of Professional Communications at Molloy University. She was a guest editor for Fathering: Theory, Research, and Practice about Men as Fathers. She produced a documentary on “Perceptions of Fathers in the Media: In search of the Ideal Father.” She co-edited “Deconstructing Dads: Changing Images of Fathers in Popular Culture.”

She holds memberships and leadership in several local and national professional organizations and community-based initiatives. She recently published Sistas in Action: Hearing the call leading the way in the book Black Female leaders in Academia: Eliminating the Glass Ceiling with Efficacy, Exuberance, and Excellence. And co-authored an article, “From Silver Streak to Black Panther: The shifting landscape of Black masculinity in film.” Her recent project examines the evolving images and perceptions of Black fathers in TV commercials between 2018-2022. Her research interests include organizational communication, media literacy, media representation of the black family, and gender and leadership styles.

THOMAS JOINER grew up in Georgia, went to college at Princeton, and received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin. He is The Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor in the Department of Psychology at Florida State University (FSU), Tallahassee, Florida. Dr. Joiner’s work is on the psychology, neurobiology, and treatment of suicidal behavior and related conditions. Author of over 795 peer-reviewed publications, Dr. Joiner is the Editor-in-Chief of the journal Suicide & Life-Threatening Behavior, and was awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship and the Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Residency Fellowship for work on suicidal behavior.

Shenandoah Chefalo is a graduate of Michigan State University, holding a Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Interdisciplinary Studies in Social Science, a Core Essentials Graduate from Coach U, and a member of the Foster Leaders Movement. She is a sought after speaker on topics surrounding youth in foster care, and has been featured as a guest locally, nationally and internationally. A survivor and alumni of the foster care system, Shenandoah Chefalo is also the co-founder of the Good Harbor Institute, which translates evidence-based research on trauma into skills that can be used immediately and everyday. At Good Harbor Institute they believe that knowing is not enough. Skills + Action = Healing. In additional to her book, Garbage Bag Suitcase, she also wrote an e-book entitled Setting Your Vision and Defining Your Goals, and is also working on her next manuscript, Hiking for Stillness.

Patrick J. Patterson is President of Global Partners for Fathers and Families Consulting, LLC, a national consulting firm that equips schools, hospitals, Head Start, Healthy Start, public and private sector agencies with the tools to authentically serve fathers, men, boys, and their families.

Patrick has launched and managed community, statewide, and national fatherhood programs during his 20-year career, including serving as contract manager for the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse during President George W. Bush, President Barack H. Obama, President Donald J. Trump, and President Joseph R. Biden Administrations. As an expert working with fathers, men, and boys, Patrick has been a featured fatherhood keynote, workshop leader or trainer in 46 states, the US Virgin Islands and 7 different countries.

He is married to his high school sweetheart, Sherani Ashford Patterson, and they have 2 beautiful daughters, Peyton (16) and Lorin (14), with whom Patrick has co-authored two children’s books entitled “I Love When Daddy Reads to Me” and “Unplugged – A Day of Family Fun without Devices” which are sold on Wal-Mart, Target, Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, and Books a Million websites.

Patrick earned a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Benedict College (an HBCU) and dual Master’s degrees in Social Work and Public Health from the University of South Carolina.

The purpose of Justin's life is to connect and he's on a mission to connect the hearts of fathers to their children and children back to their fathers.

Justin is passionate about reigniting and restoring fatherhood around the world and changing the next generation. He's an active father who's taken a bold approach by building a fatherhood platform on four core areas: faith, family, fitness and finances. He believes that if you win at work, but don't win at home then you haven't won. His goal is to provide fathers with events, experiences, education and technology to unleash the unlimited potential inside of their kids and raise resilient kids who go out and change the world. He's created a for-profit and a non-profit that will impact 10 million fathers in the next 10 years and end fatherlessness. He's worked with the NFL, Pro Football Hall of Fame, NASCAR, Fortune 500 and INC 5000 corporations, provides executive 1-1 coaching, completed a TEDx on fatherhood and built a fatherhood media ecosystem that continues to expand. Justin believes that far more is caught than taught and is an intentional and active father with his four kids and serves as a father figure to countless young men in his community.

Justin is also deeply passionate about helping people tell their stories to the world. As the author of the best selling book Daddy Saturday, he created a field manual for fathers on how to be intentional with their kids. In his career as a publisher, he has the honor of helping business leaders, athletes, celebrities, entrepreneurs and thought leaders become professionally published authors.

Justin wears many hats and is an avid Spartan obstacle course racer. He believes in doing hard things daily and becoming comfortable being uncomfortable. His kids participate in Spartan Kids races and he's integrated the "earned not given" mantra into his home. He's also a farmer and raises highland cows to sell to hobby farms and breeders. Each sale creates the purchase of a cow for a family in Daddy Saturday Kenya. He manages True South Farm, the families personal residence and retreat that hosts weddings, masterminds and corporate events and has a barn Airbnb on site.

His wife Heather Batt is an incredible entrepreneur and he's supported her women-owned businesses for the last 15 years. In fact, that's how Daddy Saturday started as he found himself at home all day on Saturdays with four kids while she ran her bridal business.

He has a B.S. in Sports Marketing from Clemson University.

He and Heather raise their four children (Hayden 15, Blane 13, Mason 10, Easton 8), 15 highland cows, miniature pony and run their modern working farm "True South Farm" outside Nashville, TN.

Mr. Eugene Schneeberg, President of Fathers Forward and author of “I Never Met My Father: My Journey from Fatherless to Fatherhood” is an award winning and sought after speaker and trainer. Eugene is an expert at providing trainings in the fields of fatherhood, prisoner reentry, youth violence prevention & faith based partnerships. Eugene provided strategic advice to the White House Office and the U.S. Department of Justice after being appointed by President Barack Obama as the Director of Faith Based Partnerships for the Justice Department.

Eugene led DOJ’s efforts as part of the President Obama’s Responsible Fatherhood Initiative, and the My Brother’s Keeper Initiative. This resulted in over $30 million dollars in new grants for Juvenile Justice Involved Young Fathers and an increased focus on Empowering Parents within the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Eugene co-chaired the Obama Administration’s efforts to support and improve outcomes for Children of Incarcerated Parents. He helped lead the Attorney General Eric Holder’s Federal Reentry Council. He helped expand DOJ’s Youth Violence Prevention efforts helping to build the capacity of more than 30 major US Cities to combat youth violence.

Eugene has received numerous awards, authored several articles and has addressed hundreds of audiences. He has appeared on ABC, CBS and has been quoted and referenced in the Washington Post, Boston Globe, Huffington Post, Christian Broadcast Network and many other news outlets.

Dr. Bouchet is a Senior Consultant for Fathers Incorporated. She is

the co-author (with Kenneth Braswell) of Fathers Incorporated's

training curriculum, What About Dad, that equips health and human

service providers to more effectively engage fathers. Dr. Bouchet is

also the Principal Consultant for Bouchet and Associates--Strategic

Consulting for Social Change--where she provides expertise in public

relations and communications, outreach, coalition building, research,

evaluation, policy, practice, and program management. She has provided

technical assistance and training to individuals, non-profits,

government entities, philanthropic and mission-driven organizations.

Dr. Bouchet is the former Executive Director of Women In Fatherhood

where she advocated for the removal of structural barriers faced by

low-income fathers and developed the Voices of Women and Men Matter

media campaigns to increase positive images of low-income fathers and

men of color and raise the awareness of the importance of fathers from

the vantage point of women. She was honored as a Champion of Change

for low-income men and fathers by the White House for her work with

Women In Fatherhood. Dr. Bouchet was also the Project Director for

the Hispanic Healthy Marriage Initiative (HHMI) Grantee Implementation

Evaluation, which was a joint effort between the ACF Office of

Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE) and the Office of the

Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE). Dr. Bouchet

brings over 10 years of research-based advocacy on issues related to

vulnerable youth and disadvantaged, minority populations. She is also

a trained behavioral therapist who worked with children with Autism

Spectrum Disorders and provided support for their families. Dr.

Bouchet is also the proud mother of her 16 year old daughter, Chloe.

Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator, producer, and #1 New York Times Bestselling author of 36 books, including THE DOOR OF NO RETURN, AN AMERICAN STORY, BECOMING MUHAMMAD ALI, co-authored with James Patterson, REBOUND, which was shortlisted for prestigious UK Carnegie Medal, The Caldecott Medal and Newbery Honor-winning picture book, THE UNDEFEATED, illustrated by Kadir Nelson, and his NEWBERY medal-winning middle grade novel, THE CROSSOVER.

A regular contributor to NPR's Morning Edition, Kwame is the recipient of numerous awards, including The Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, The Coretta Scott King Author Honor, Three NAACP Image Award Nominations, and the 2017 Inaugural Pat Conroy Legacy Award. In 2018, he opened the Barbara E. Alexander Memorial Library and Health Clinic in Ghana, as a part of LEAP for Ghana, an international literacy program he co-founded. He is the writer and executive producer of THE CROSSOVER TV series on Disney+.

Shari Doherty works for Child Find of America, Inc., where she serves as the Parent Help Program Director and Lead Trainer. She supervises a case work team addressing missing child matters, location efforts, legal options, family conflict, parenting skills and parenting apart.

She is a seasoned mediator and certified NYS Victim Advocate and Paralegal with expertise in child abuse, exploitation and sex trafficking, divorce, parenting apart, interpersonal violence and mediation methodologies.

Along with direct services, Ms. Doherty conducts trainings for family service providers, legal and mental health professionals, parents, edu-carers and school staff, child welfare agencies, NGO grantees and others on issues related to family conflict, denied access and missing children, parenting skill building, domestic violence and fatherhood related issues. She specializes in crafting experiential and engaging workshops on often difficult subjects.

She has served her community as a volunteer mediator, recreation commission chair, and member of parent-teacher and youth dance theatre boards. She and her husband have raised three lovely, wise-cracking daughters and therefore both appreciate and lament their now empty nest.

Co-Host of Get Up Mornings with Erica Campbell

This husband and father of five has forged his career at the intersection of faith and humor. With an infectious energy and an unmistakable voice, GRIFF contributes laughter, sincerity, and a real world approach to living inspiration out loud.

Bweela Steptoe is a literacy advocate and workshop presenter. Her mission is to educate and share the legacy of her father, John Lewis Steptoe, the award-winning children’s books author and illustrator, with the world

About Bweela

Steptoe Bweela Steptoe enjoys creating the fabric as well as the garments of her self-named label “Bweela Steptoe”. Her one-of-kind designs are her own interpretation of deconstruction called, “Couture Deconstruction”. You can spot a deconstructed look by its defining characteristics, which include raw edges, fraying, revealed linings, exposed zippers, and unusually sewn seams. Garments that appear unfinished, recycled, or give the illusion that they’re coming apart. Bweela uses her artistic background and family art influences as an inspiration for her fabric and clothing designs.

In addition to Bweela Steptoe the Fashion Designer. Bweela Steptoe is the mother of twin daughters who are currently attending private colleges out of state. Bweela Steptoe became a contributing author for an anthology in 2016 with 19 other authors; Delay But Not Denied, 20 Inspirational Stories About Life And Resiliency, A Mother’s Love And Fight For Her Daughters; dealing with life and resiliency. In her chapter, she talks about the struggle and hardships she went through having two daughters that were faced with different learning styles that are viewed as learning disabilities. Bweela Steptoe is a literacy advocate and workshop presenter.

Chris is an internationally known sports analyst and commentator for the FOX Sports 1 television network and FOX Sports Radio. Today, he serves as the daily Co-Host of “First Things First” on FS1, and can also be seen regularly on FS1’s “Undisputed,’’ “The Herd,’’ and “Lock It In.” He also serves as co-host, along with Rob Parker, of one of the country's most popular daily national radio shows, "The Odd Couple." Before joining FOX Sports in the Fall of 2016, Chris worked for 12 years as an NBA analyst and reporter at ESPN, ESPN The Magazine, and ESPN.com. Chris wrote for The New York Times from 1998-2004 and graduated from Oberlin College.

He is the Founder and President of a National Christian Men's organization called The K.I.N.G. Movement. K.I.N.G. stands for Knowledge, Inspiration and Nurture through God, and seeks to help boys and men reach their God-given potential in every realm of life.

Happily married for more than 25 years, Chris has twin daughters and lives with his wife Dr. Crystal Broussard in New Jersey.

As we embark on a new year; it has been the annual tradition of New Years to take a moment to reflect on the lessons of the past. Part of that tradition is also to make resolutions that are both reflective of the things we’ve learned in the previous year — and affirming to the expectations of things we hope to accomplish in the future.

Happy New Year and welcome to 2023.

Do me a favor this year — Don’t just watch us work — find ways to engage or encourage to stay in the fight. — Your engagement and support matters.

I’m Kenneth Braswell, CEO of Fathers Incorporated and Host of I Am Dad Podcast. — Subscribe, follows, engage by leaving comments. — it help our algorithms and more importantly — its affirming! So, Always be kind to others, as you are kind to yourself — or you might find yourself — by yourself. — Always shoot high for your goals — because even if you miss — you’ll be among the stars — and as my good friend Art Mitchell and John Harris would say, - It’s nice to be important — but much more important to be nice.

Culture Queen is an award-winning teaching artist, children’s musician, author and arts manager, who creates empowering entertainment for children! She is the founder of Culture Kingdom Kids, LLC, where since 2010, Culture Queen has produced innovative Black History-themed children’s performances, festivals, and professional development programs at schools, libraries, restaurants, malls, theaters and museums across the country including the Smithsonian National Museum of African-American History and Culture and the Reginald Lewis Museum of African American History and Culture. Her children's album, I Like the Me I See!, released in 2016 along with her 2019 children’s book by the same title, hits all the right notes for families and educators bringing up confident, culturally aware, and curious children.

Official Website

https://www.culturekingdomkids.com/

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/imculturequeen

Nigel Vann, Product Development Lead, National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse

Nigel has worked as manager, trainer, and consultant with fatherhood programs since 1988, including major projects in the US and UK. He has been with the NRFC since 2008 and Fathers Incorporated as an independent consultant since 2016.

He oversees development of NRFC products and webinars and is the main author of the Responsible Fatherhood Toolkit (www.fatherhood.gov/toolkit) and a series of tip cards for practitioners and fathers. He has visited and provided assistance to fatherhood programs in 45 states; facilitated more than 80 staff training workshops; presented at numerous conferences; worked on four major responsible fatherhood demonstration projects and four international fatherhood projects; and written 12 published articles.

Prior to his work with the NRFC, he managed Maryland's Absent Parents Employment Program (1988-90); served as Program Officer for Public/Private Ventures' Young Unwed Fathers Pilot Project (1991-95); was Director of Partnership Development and Training for NPCL (1996 - 2004); managed a Healthy Marriage project in Florida (2004 - 2006); and served as adviser to the PAIRS Foundation Healthy Marriage project in South Florida (2006 – 2008).

Tamu Lewis, MBA, Author, Speaker is the Co-Founder and Board President of the LTY Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to mental health education. She is also a Human Resources Leader with over 24 years of experience in corporate and consulting positions. She founded the LTY Foundation as a living legacy to her brother, actor Lee Thompson Young, whom she lost to suicide in 2013. Knowing that her brother struggled with bipolar disorder and suffered in silence, Tamu is passionate about promoting mental wellness in schools, communities, and organizations. Her personal experience in helping families cope with mental illness includes her relationship with her mother-in-law and her oldest daughter, both of whom live with diagnosed mental illnesses. Tamu is excited to share invaluable life lessons and practical solutions to help others cultivate emotional well-being.

Tamu is the author of “Surviving the Mental Health Tank” 5 Keys to cultivating emotional well-being for yourself and your love ones.

With a background of 24 years in human resources consulting and corporate positions, she understands the importance of mental health in our work and personal lives. Tamu is sharing her experience to help others.

Tamu earned a BS in Finance from the University of South Carolina and a MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has earned the following certifications: Mental Health First Aider, Positive Discipline Parent Educator, Life Coach, Crisis Text Line Counselor, Breath Worker, Compensation Professional (CCP), Benefits Professional (CBP), and Professional in Human Resources

Jerry Tello is a father, grandfather, son, brother and relative of many. He is from a family of Mexican, Texan and Coahuiltecan roots, and was raised in the South Central/Compton areas of Los Angeles.

Over the last 40 years, he has dedicated himself to the service of individuals, families, communities. He has done so by speaking to over half of a million people, and training thousands of service providers across the nation.

Mr. Tello is considered an international expert in the areas of: transformational healing, men and boys of color, racial justice, and community peace and mobilization.

He is co-founder of the National Compadres Network and is currently Director of Training and Capacity Building. He has authored numerous articles, videos, and curricula addressing fatherhood, youth “rites of passage,” culturally-based family strengthening, and healing the healer. He is the author of Recovering Your Sacredness, A Father’s Love, a series of children’s books, co-editor of Family Violence and Men of Color, has served as a principal consultant for Scholastic Books on International Bilingual Literacy curriculum, and has published a series of motivational health and healing CDs.

For almost 30 years, known as America’s Psychologist, Dr. Jeff Gardere has been one of the most widely sought-after experts in the field of mental health. In addition to having a private practice in Manhattan, he has garnered a reputation as being a top motivational and keynote speaker, relationship expert, and empowerment and media coach.

Dr. Gardere is an Assistant Professor and Course Director at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in New York City, and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Touro Graduate School of Psychology, NYC.

In addition to appearing as a frequent contributor to MSNBC, NBC Today Show, CNN, FOX, CBS and ABC World News; he has guest starred on the 8th season of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta," the first season of “For My Man,” and the 6th season of “Love and Hip Hop New York.”

Dr. Jeff is the author of three books Smart Parenting For African Americans, Practical Parenting (which he co-authored with Montel Williams) and Love Prescription Ending the War Between Black Men and Women.

Armin Brott - The Expectant Father

A former Marine, Armin Brott has devoted the last 15 years to providing men with the tools, support, and knowledge to help them become the fathers they want to be——and their families need them to be. His seven critically acclaimed books for fathers have sold well over a million copies. Titles include The Expectant Father: Facts, Tips, and Advice for Dads-to-Be and The New Father: A Dad’s Guide to the First Year. He has written on fatherhood for hundreds of newspapers and magazines and is a frequent guest on such television programs as the Today Show. He also writes a nationally syndicated newspaper column (Ask Mr. Dad), and hosts a syndicated radio show (Positive Parenting). He lives with his family in Oakland, California.

Dr. Kathryn Edin - Working with Low Income Dads

Edin is one of the nation’s leading poverty researchers, working in the domains of welfare and low-wage work, family life, and neighborhood contexts, through direct, in-depth observations of the lives of low-income populations. The hallmark of her research is her direct, in-depth observations of the lives of low-income women, men, and children. Dr. Edin is the William Church Osborn Professor of Sociology and Public Affairs, at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, Director of the Center for Research on Child Wellbeing, Princeton University, Co-Director of the Joint Degree Program in Social Policy and a Principal Investigator on the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study at Princeton University, The American Voices Project and Deepening our Understanding of Amercia's Most Vulnerable.

Author of Doing the Best I Can: Fatherhood in the Inner City and co author of It's Not Like I'm Poor: How Working Families Make Ends Meet in a Post-Welfare World

Derrex Brady is one of the stars of the critically acclaimed Bounce TV series, Johnson (Executive Producer: Cedric the Entertainer), Derrex who plays Jarvis is now just closing its 2nd season. The series chronicles the trials and tribulations of four life-long friends, all with the last name of "Johnson". The men, all at different places in life find their friendships tested after 25 years, threatening the unity that had always been so strong.

They are forced to confront and find humor in the most controversial issues from the black man's perspective ranging from love, marriage, business, politics and religion. Drawing from real life, Brady who is married with sons knows that family is everything. This led him to build a genuine brotherhood on and off screen with his fellow cast mates. In the first season, Bounce spoke to audiences, debuting as the highest rated half-hour dramedy in Bounce TV's history.

Born and raised in the village of Harlem and in the Bronx, NY, Bishop Darren A. Ferguson is known as a leader for this generation – a preacher, teacher, singer, motivational speaker and social activist. Rev. Darren A. Ferguson has been called a “rising star in the ministry” by the Rev. Al Sharpton. During his nearly 2 decade career in NYC, he has served in the Fatherhood program at the Osborne Association, Coordinated Reentry Services for the Interfaith Center of New York, served as Assistant Dean of Students at SUNY College at Old Westbury and Youth Minister at the Abyssinian Baptist Church. Now studying toward his Doctor of Ministry at New York Theological Seminary, Rev. Ferguson has had a dynamic and involved career.

Tina Naidoo, Executive Director, Texas Offenders Reentry Initiative, Dallas, TX

https://www.medc-tori.org/

Tina Naidoo has served under the leadership of Bishop T.D. Jakes for over 25 years. Among her many other accolades, Ms. Naidoo has been recognized as a White House Champion of Change in 2016. In 2021, Ms. Naidoo was asked to testify to the Canadian Parliament on behalf of a Bill that was inspired by the T.O.R.I. program, and her tireless work to forward second chance legislation. Ms. Naidoo continues to lead T.O.R.I. with a culture that emphasizes the dignity and worth of every participant, employee, and partner by forwarding the vision of a reformed criminal justice system. In the 15+ years since inception, T.O.R.I. has witnessed the rehabilitation of over 30,000 returning citizens.

The Million Man March was a large gathering of African-American men in Washington, D.C., on October 16, 1995. Called by Louis Farrakhan, it was held on and around the National Mall.

For 12 years, Shawn served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Campaign for Black Male Achievement (CBMA), a national membership organization committed to improving the life outcomes for Black men and boys. Under his leadership, CBMA has leveraged more than $212 million in national and local funds for Black Male Achievement and grew to include nearly 6,000 individuals and 3,000 organizational members across the U.S. Now he is the CEO of the Corporation for Black Male Achievement—Continuing the work of youth development motivating professionals, community-building, and advocating for children and families. He is also the author of the recently released book I TOO AM AMERICA. Learn more about his work at https://dovesoars.com/

Baltimore native, David Miller, has received international acclaim for Dare to Be King: What If the Prince Lives. A Survival Workbook for African American Males, a thought-provoking, 52-week curriculum teaching adolescent males how to survive and thrive in toxic environments. Currently, a Ph.D. student in the School of Social Work at Morgan State University with a concentration on Black fathers, Miller has written several children’s books, including Khalil’s Way, The Green Family Farm, Gabe & His Green Thumb & They Look Like Me (coloring book). http://daretobeking.net/

Latrice Rollins is an Assistant Professor at Morehouse School of Medicine in the Department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine and Prevention Research Center. She is also the director of the National African American Child and Family Research Center. Dr. Rollins is a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Leader, whose work is focused on father engagement and father-inclusive practices in health and human services. She is the principal investigator for several community-based participatory research studies focused on father engagement in maternal and child health and violence prevention. She is the editor of the book, Engaging and Working with African American Fathers: Strategies and Lessons Learned.

Armon R. Perry, Ph.D., MSW is a Professor and Director of the BSW Program at the University of Louisville’s Kent School of Social Work. Dr. Perry teaches Introduction to Social Work. Dr. Perry’s research interests include fathers’ involvement in the lives of their children, leading him to co-edit, Fatherhood in America: Social Work Perspectives in a Changing Society, a comprehensive edited volume addressing the micro and macro factors shaping paternal involvement.

Currently, Dr. Perry serves as the Principal Investigator of the 4 Your Child Program, a federally funded multi-site project that aims to increase non-resident fathers’ capacity for paternal involvement. In addition to his teaching and research, Dr. Perry has professional experience in the areas of child protective services and as a parent education curriculum facilitator.

Jeffery Shears - The Importance of Research and Fatherhood

Chair; Moynihan Institute for Fatherhood Research and Policy

Jeffrey Shears is a Professor in the School of Social Work Departments at UNC Charlotte, where he is also the Director of the Joint Masters Social Work Program (JMSW). Dr. Shears earned his BSW and Masters in Education Administration from North Carolina A&T State University and his PhD in Social Work from the University of Denver. His research interest is men (fathering, multicultural issues, HIV and AIDS) and quantitative research with an emphasis on data sharing among social service agencies. In addition, Dr. Shears has an extensive list of academic publications on fathering featured in national and internationally refereed journals. He is co-author of the acclaimed “What all Dads Should Know” (Createaspace Publishers, 2011).

Ron Tijerina is the co-founder and co-executive director of The RIDGE Project, Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides services through partnerships with churches, schools, and state and national agencies to serve the youth and families of Ohio. The organization also strives to inform individuals, communities, the media, and local and national policymakers of the importance of strong families. Together with his wife Catherine, Mr. Tijerina co-created the award-winning TYRO curriculum, which attacks the cultures of entitlement, incarceration, and generational cycles of poverty that fragment families and destroy legacies. His work in the Ohio prison system and across the nation has strengthened tens of thousands of families and garnered national attention.

As a nationally syndicated radio personality, actor, social media influencer, activist, musician, husband and father of four awesome children, Willie Moore Jr. has proven that innate charisma, abundant creativity, and a passion for empowerment can translate in the faith-based community and the general market.

Established in 2004, FI has a unique seat at the national table, working with leaders in the White House, Congress, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Family Law, Business, Faith-Based and the Responsible Fatherhood Movement. FI works collaboratively with organizations around the country to identify and advocate for social and legislative changes that lead to healthy father involvement with children, regardless of the father’s marital or economic status, or geographic location.

Our guest, Malik Yoba was born in the Bronx and is an actor, youth and fatherhood advocate, singer and has many other accomplished talents. For the the older school he is known for his starring role as NYPD Detective J. C. Williams on the Fox police drama New York Undercover and as Yul Brenner in the film Cool Runnings. For the newer school, He appeared as Gavin in the 2007 Tyler Perry film Why Did I Get Married? and its 2010 sequel Why Did I Get Married Too?. In 2015, he joined the cast of Lee Daniels’ Empire as Vernon Turner.

Malik is the father of 3 children.

Nzinga Braswell is the youngest daughter of the Fathers Incorporated's CEO, Kenneth Braswell. She is the owner of HerFace Beauty. Today's conversation tackles the nuances of Fatherhood and Girls.

The need for a conversation on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the field of Responsible Fatherhood is much overdue. Today's guest is Dr. Matisa Wilbon, co-owner of Wibon Enterprises and Lead Researcher for Fathers Incorporated

It is no secret that policies and laws related to parenting have not served Georgia Dads with the best of intentions. One of the biggest policy barriers in the State of Georgia for non-married dads is this issue of LEGITIMATION. Fathers Incorporated believes that this is not only a critical issue for Georgia Dads, but for our families and children as well. Finally there is someone who cares — and we have figured out a way to help dads through the process of LEGITIMATION.

Are you interested in hearing and learning about the journey of fatherhood? Maybe you are just curious about the mind of a man. Are you in the proximity of a husband, boyfriend, dad, son, uncle, nephew, grandfather, or any other kind of male you just can’t seem to understand? Welcome. You have found the perfect podcast.

I AM Dad is a one-of-a-kind brand that celebrates the beauty of fatherhood and the important essence of manhood. Our intention is to give voice and relevance to the masculine side of love and life. In today’s society where so many voices are looking to be heard, the voices of dad, too, cry out. This forum is just one way to express the unique position of the voice of dad.