Today we sit down with a young man by the name of David Andrade, currently a student earning his Bachelor's in Social Work and applying for Masters in Social Work programs. David himself never knew his father. Together, we break down the struggles of growing up fatherless, the topics of abuse and trauma and pain, and more.

Imagine getting that call and having a caseworker come into your home and tell you what you need to do to get your children back, or for them to leave you alone. Let us assure you, the world does not end at that moment. Let's talk about it. Navigating child welfare can be difficult, and we are here to talk it through.  Conrad Robinson, a child welfare worker and fatherhood practitioner himself, joins us to provide some tips on how to navigate this daunting scenario.

Charles sat down with Joseph to discuss fatherhood in Indian Country. Joseph isn’t a father himself. However, pulling on the memories of his grandfather and father, he shares his thoughts about fatherhood in Indian Country from his experience as a member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe. Together, we explore father absenteeism in Indian Country, as well as other problems that ensue within the family. We walked away from the conversation with a realization that we are different and yet similar. Tune in to hear his thoughts about fatherhood, as well as culture, and the power we have to create our own.  Joseph is a member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, Obama Fellow, & an Architect.

Today we're talking to another gifted, black, young man, Jakhari. Jakhari is a young teen who has participated in our programming for over one year now and he has some words of wisdom to share, including his thoughts on the struggles currently facing young black men in America. Listen in to hear what Jakhari has to say, and also some of how we struggled with race ourselves in our youth.

In this episode, we had an honest conversation about police brutality, COVID-19, and what it means to be Black in America with two amazing Black boys, Kadin and Jayce. Kadin is 12 years old and Jace is 8 years old. They shared their honest opinions, from the lens of black youth, about what is happening today, as well as how they’ve been feeling. Tune in to hear their journey navigating these situations as young, gifted, and Black boys in America.

Today we're continuing to discuss forgiveness, but also how to forgive wisely. It can be difficult to navigate forgiveness in light of fears about being taken advantage of or opening oneself up in a foolish manner. Let's talk through wise forgiveness.

The hardest thing for a man to do is forgive himself. Why is this the case?  In this episode, Charles and Leonard have a frank and honest conversation about what prevents a man from forgiving himself. A lot of us are stuck. It's time to get unstuck so that we can be free. Strategies that promote healing and self-love will be shared.

We continued this conversation from last week, this time with another special guest, Ms. Edwards, a single mother who is raising her son alone. Her son's father is behind bars, and she has some insightful information for our listeners. We can't assume that it's easy to let a father back into his child's life after being disengaged for years.  Tune in to hear some of the concerns and struggles that single mothers face. Another single mother and dynamic therapist, Lakisha Austin, joined us to provide guidance and insight for our dads and mothers.

In households across the country where the father isn't physically present, there is one universal question: Why don't you call your father? Alternatively, for men who have not seen their children for a long time, it is difficult to pick up the phone and call them.   In this episode, we explored the following question, “Who picks up the phone first? The father or child?” Dad, Sean Pinnick, had some wise words for us all. It's difficult for both parties, fathers, and children (young and old). Tune in to hear why.

In this episode, we explore the importance of healthy creation and how fathers could use their voice as a tool for healing while navigating difficulty.  Our guest, Ms. Young, also known as Distinctly Unique is a choreo-poet, ghost writer, voice actor, performing artist, spoken word artist, story teller, private ESL instructor, and Creator/Manager of Dunique LLC. from East Chicago and Gary Indiana. She is a Creative Writing graduate from Purdue University, with minors in African-American Studies, Communication, Dance, Spanish, & Theater.  A powerful artist, she is the voice behind the Fathers’ Uplift poem outro on the podcast. She shares her experience working with black boys who are experiencing fatherlessness and how dads can find their creative voice. Guest Info: Facebook: Latrice P Young, Business Page: Distinctly Unique Instagram: @Duniqueconnects Twitter: @Duniquellc Snapchat: @Duniquellc Email: [email protected]