Dear Son,

I lost my dad and found me. Loss is hard. Multiple losses at a young age is even harder. Can you imagine holding a loved one in your arms as life leaves their body? Now, can you imagine taking on this life altering responsibility at the age of 12? Deborah was introduced to heartbreak at a very young age, and the thread continued throughout her early adulthood. 

In this episode we discuss the process of losing her father, and how that reshaped how she saw the world and herself in it. Deb's relationship with her father was somewhat complicated. As a Vietnam vet, he struggled with various vices due to PTSD. She vividly recalled a time when her father would lock himself in the closet with guns and struggles with alcohol. In addition to the loss of her younger sister (referenced above), her parents experienced the lost of Deb's older sister before Deb was born. I cannot imagine that level of pain as a father or a sibling. 

Deb's father was diagnosed with cancer and later passed away in 2016. She had 18 months with him from the time he was diagnosed and shares how their relationship transformed during that period. They connected on a deeper level and Deb found purpose in the process. There's so much more to the story, and this episode fills in the blanks. I am grateful for her transparency, honesty, and courage to reveal some of her past and present traumas, and her continued passion to help others heal.

#teenagemom #abuse #overcomer

Be sure to follow Deb via the social media platforms below:

IG: https://instagram.com/faith100578

IG: https://instagram.com/theXchangeplace

YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCF6oWbPe4uc3E3WJq2wbcIA

The DSP: https://thedearsonpodcast.com

Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors: 

https://tatewhalun.com -- Discount Code: THEDSP

Johns & Co Apparel: https://johnsandcompany.co 

Love Kisha J Studios: https://etsy.com/shop/LoveKishaJStudios 

Let’s connect socially: 

https://instagram.com/thedearsonpodcast 

https://twitter.com/dearsonpodcast 

https://facebook.com/thedearsonpodcast

The Three Foundational Pillars of the DSP Community

1. Reveal trauma 

2. Heal from trauma

3. Help through telling stories of it all

“Better Man. Better Father.”

Dear Dad, you hurt me. For some, being hurt is just a natural part of life. We've all experienced hurt, and likely, have been the source of others' pain. One thing for certain is that none of us can tell another person how to process their pain, grief, or trauma. As a 17-year-old mother to be, Cleo had seen and experienced a lifetime of traumatic events. She vividly recalls a story of police drawing guns on her, her mother and sister, and how she couldn't understand why it was happening in the moment, yet it also seemed to be the norm for her underserved neighborhood in Nashville, TN. 

Her relationship with her father has been strained for most of her life. There were brief glimmers of hope that he would show up for one important life event or another, but ultimately, she had to accept that the relationship she longed for would never be. The void he created impacted how she would see and interact with men throughout her life. Guarded. 

Cleo's story; however, is one of triumph, success, and incredible joy, primarily derived from the relationship she has developed with her daughter. She is an incredible mom, business owner, speaker, and overcomer. She looks nothing like what she has been through. There's so much more to say about this phenomenal woman, and that's what this episode is for. Open your mind and heart as you consume this one, and I'm sure you'll come out of it blessed. 

#teenagemom #abuse #overcomer

Be sure to follow Cleo on the social media:

IG: https://instagram.com/cleoyogfinance

TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZTdPKLMxf/

YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/CleoYogaFinance

The DSP: https://thedearsonpodcast.com

Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors: 

https://tatewhalun.com -- Discount Code: THEDSP

Johns & Co Apparel: https://johnsandcompany.co 

Love Kisha J Studios: https://etsy.com/shop/LoveKishaJStudios 

Let’s connect socially: 

https://instagram.com/thedearsonpodcast 

https://twitter.com/dearsonpodcast 

https://facebook.com/thedearsonpodcast

The Three Foundational Pillars of the DSP Community

1. Reveal trauma 

2. Heal from trauma

3. Help through telling stories of it all

“Better Man. Better Father.”

My dad chose me. This is a perspective that many of us never had to consider. However, many men decide to fill a biological gap for one reason or another. Sometimes it is due to the intentional absence of the birth father, the intentional actions of the birth mother, and a host of other reasons that aren’t germane to this episode. Instead, we celebrate the courage and commitment of my wife’s father to ensure she had a present and accountable father throughout her life.

LaKisha (Kisha) is the oldest of three children and grew up in a modest household with both parents in Hampton, VA. Her fatherhood story begins just a couple years after birth. Her mother and father knew each other from high school, but their love story began years after, also after Kisha was born. While it isn’t clear exactly why her birth father wasn’t around, she made it abundantly clear who her father is. He saw enough in her and her mother to make the investment beyond marriage and adopted Kisha at a very young age. She recalls with fondness the quirky things that her father did to create meaningful experiences for the family, and also touches on how she didn’t always feel like she fit in.

Kisha and her father share the bond of adoption as he was adopted at an early age as well. This gave him a unique, personalized insight on what is important to a child that didn’t have a biological parent in their life. He was her protector, advisor, counselor, and pastor at various stages of her life. As life often does for most of us, Kisha’s firstborn (our oldest) entered the world in somewhat similar circumstances. We discussed those challenges and how they impacted our family along the way. This conversation gave me a new perspective of my life partner, and I’m beyond proud and honored to share a portion of her story with the world. I hope this blesses you. 

#daddysgirl #herodad #adoption

Be sure to follow Kisha on social media and YouTube: 

IG: https://instagram.com/love_kishaj

The DSP: https://thedearsonpodcast.com

Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors: 

https://tatewhalun.com -- Discount Code: THEDSP

Johns & Co Apparel: https://johnsandcompany.co 

Love Kisha J Studios: https://etsy.com/shop/LoveKishaJStudios 

Let’s connect socially: 

https://instagram.com/thedearsonpodcast 

https://twitter.com/dearsonpodcast 

https://facebook.com/thedearsonpodcast

The Three Foundational Pillars of the DSP Community

1. Reveal trauma 

2. Heal from trauma

3. Help through telling stories of it all

“Better Man. Better Father.”

My dad is my hero. Those four words bring so much joy to my heart, not only as a father, but as a man that admires strong father-daughter relationships. This is the bond that sets the tone for how women value the relationship with a man, and also teaches men way more about themselves than they may expect. In part two of this series focusing on the woman's perspective of fatherhood, Gia Jordan graciously relives many fond moments of her fatherhood journey.

Gia's father was her superhero as she grew up, and she still sees him through that lens today. She recalls the challenges he faced growing up in Panama as a child with learning disabilities that the educational community of that time wasn't prepared to support or manage. They simply called him dumb. Throughout his life he was told no and discouraged from achieving anything great. Gia also struggled with a learning challenge as a child, and luckily, she had the benefit of her father's triumph as a reference on how to overcome it. He condensed the years of his painful experiences into sound guidance, encouragement, and motivation, which propelled Gia to become successful in school and life.

These are the stories that we need to see and hear about regularly. There is no substitute for a great father-daughter relationship. I truly hope this conversation empowers men to be or stay present in their daughters' lives, and encourages women to treasure and protect these relationships where possible. 

#daddysgirl #herodad #Panama

Be sure to follow Gia on social media and YouTube: 

IG: https://instagram.com/kaizenmindpodcast

YT: https://youtube.com/channel/UC_pmyiYX7f0m7Dbt96hkbYw

The DSP: https://thedearsonpodcast.com

Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors: 

https://tatewhalun.com -- Discount Code: THEDSP

Johns & Co Apparel: https://johnsandcompany.co 

Love Kisha J Studios: https://etsy.com/shop/LoveKishaJStudios 

Let’s connect socially: 

https://instagram.com/thedearsonpodcast 

https://twitter.com/dearsonpodcast 

https://facebook.com/thedearsonpodcast

The Three Foundational Pillars of the DSP Community

1. Reveal trauma 

2. Heal from trauma

3. Help through telling stories of it all

“Better Man. Better Father.”

A woman's perspective on fatherhood is oftentimes dismissed because 'they can't be fathers.' I understand the sentiment, but the value is misplaced. This 5-part series will explore how the fatherhood journey impacts women. We have to acknowledge the cycle; the woman has a father, some choose men to partner with in life, and a subset of that population may birth a baby boy at some point. That boy will grow into manhood and he may choose a woman to partner with in life. Of course, there are many off-ramps and differing scenarios that impact the story, but I think the point is clear.

This is part one of a 5-part series, and my first conversation counterpart did not disappoint. Sade Benson is a loving mother, wife, podcaster, entrepreneur, and owner of a couple successful businesses. SHOP HER KOLLECTION BELOW. Accolades aside, she is a woman with a traumatic story. She is human. Humans hurt. We walked through some of the bitter parts of her past, and how therapy assisted in the overcoming process. The odds were stacked against her, but you wouldn't know it, not at face value anyway.

She lost her mother tragically, became a pseudo caregiver for her younger siblings, and has spent most of her life trying to navigate the relationship with her father after finding out that he wasn't biologically responsible for her existence. This description cannot not do this conversation justice, let alone convey the incredible person that she is. Luckily, you can press play to dive deeper. I pray that you do so and receive this dialogue with an open heart and mind. I hear to help.

Grab a snack and mentally prepare for this one. I’ll meet you in the comments.

#childabuse #molestation #overcoming #blackmenheal #howtoheal #seektherapy

Be sure to follow Sade on social media: 

IG: https://instagram.com/the_storybehindtheceo_podcast

IG: https://instagram.com/KrownMeKollections

Shop the Kollection: https://krownmekollections.com

The DSP: https://thedearsonpodcast.com

Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors: 

https://tatewhalun.com -- Discount Code: THEDSP

Johns & Co Apparel: https://johnsandcompany.co 

Love Kisha J Studios: https://etsy.com/shop/LoveKishaJStudios 

Let’s connect socially: 

https://instagram.com/thedearsonpodcast 

https://twitter.com/dearsonpodcast 

https://facebook.com/thedearsonpodcast

The Three Foundational Pillars of the DSP Community

1. Reveal trauma 

2. Heal from trauma

3. Help through telling stories of it all

“Better Man. Better Father.”

Dear Son, I work hard to create options for you. It is a common theme for many parents to work hard in hopes of providing a better life for their children. For the few radicals, entrepreneurs, that journey can be extremely difficult, frustrating, and unrewarding most of the time. In this episode, I sat down with Joshua (Josh) Wilson to understand how journeys of ‘husbandhood,’ fatherhood, and business builder is intersected, and how he manages through it all when times get rough. 

Josh's story is one of humble beginnings. His biological father was around for the first several years, but that relationship left a lot to be desired. His parents divorced while he was a young boy, and he vividly remembers the pain it caused the family. His mother later remarried and experienced a much more fulfilling relationship, but there was still a void that only a father (or father figure) could fill. He shares some of the painful memories of those times and credits his mother with providing him the unconditional love he needed to get through life. 

Some are frustrated by the pains of the past; others are fueled by those experiences. Josh has developed a rare degree of grit and determination that have propelled him into successful entrepreneurship and, more importantly, business ownership. There's a difference. He credits his wife, Devin, with believing in him (and them) when times got rough, and maintaining order in the home when the tables turned. There's a theme of a woman always being key to his success in life. Of course, there is way more to this story, and you'll get your attention's worth out of this episode.   

Grab a snack and get into this one. I’ll meet you in the comments.

#daddyissues #entrepreneurship #overcoming #fatherhood #howtoheal #seektherapy #offleash #dogtrainer #k9 #doglover #bigdogpodcast

Be sure to follow Josh on social media: 

IG: https://instagram.com/that_dog_trainer

FB: https://www.facebook.com/joshuawilson

The DSP: https://thedearsonpodcast.com

Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors: 

https://tatewhalun.com -- Discount Code: THEDSP

Johns & Co Apparel: https://johnsandcompany.co 

Love Kisha J Studios: https://etsy.com/shop/LoveKishaJStudios 

Let’s connect socially: 

https://instagram.com/thedearsonpodcast 

https://twitter.com/dearsonpodcast 

https://facebook.com/thedearsonpodcast

The Three Foundational Pillars of the DSP Community

1. Reveal trauma 

2. Heal from trauma

3. Help through telling stories of it all

“Better Man. Better Father.”

Dear Son, you can tell me anything, but that! Many fathers and generally 'good' parents across the world live in a fantasy world believing that their children can talk to them about anything. Oftentimes that definition of anything excludes very real topics like rape, molestation, or sexual promiscuity. See, it's much easier to adopt the 'not my child' mentality because it makes us feel good about where we've failed as parents. 

In this episode, Joevan Palmer braves the elements and helps us understand what life was like as a child dealing with molestation, and as an adult that decided to do the work to overcome his childhood traumas. Most importantly, Joevan has dedicated his life to helping others avoid and/or overcome the pain that he has endured. This is truly a redemptive and cinematic story. The more compelling part of the conversation is the expression of how Joevan will impact the world. I'm a believer, and I'd love to hear your feedback once you've watched. This is the first installment of many, and I look forward to watching and contributing to his growth. 

Grab a snack and mentally prepare for this one. I’ll meet you in the comments.

Be sure to follow Joevan on social media: 

IG: https://instagram.com/joevanjpalmer

FB: https://www.facebook.com/joevanjpalmer

Twitter: https://twitter.com/joevanjpalmer

The DSP: https://thedearsonpodcast.com

Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors: 

https://tatewhalun.com -- Discount Code: THEDSP

Johns & Co Apparel: https://johnsandcompany.co 

Love Kisha J Studios: https://etsy.com/shop/LoveKishaJStudios 

Let’s connect socially: 

https://instagram.com/thedearsonpodcast 

https://twitter.com/dearsonpodcast 

https://facebook.com/thedearsonpodcast

The Three Foundational Pillars of the DSP Community

1. Reveal trauma 

2. Heal from trauma

3. Help through telling stories of it all

“Better Man. Better Father.”

Dear Son, listen to your elders. There's such a wealth of information housed in prior generations that, too often, goes unsought. Sure, the world's perspective has and is ever evolving, but sound guidance from an era you never experienced is invaluable. Tim Allston brings decades of experience as a published author, public relations expert, educator, and public speaking professional to this week's show, and this conversation will not disappoint. 

We discussed the lows of the high. In Tim's case, the 'drug' was the command of the room as a public speaker. He references a quote from Johnny Carson, "I am impressive in front of 10 million, but I am horrible in front of 10." What is the real value of the world knowing your name when your family can't stand you? Now, I'm not suggesting that Tim's family wanted to kick him to the curb at times, but I know what it is like to have all of the confidence to communicate to a room full of strangers, and yet struggle to put a coherent string of sentences together at home. I'm willing to bet that several of you can relate. As usual, there's layers to the conversation that you'll only understand through consumption. I'd love to hear your perspective after digesting the whole episode. 

This is a good one. Grab a snack. Meet me in the comments.

The DSP: https://thedearsonpodcast.com

Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors: 

https://tatewhalun.com -- Discount Code: THEDSP

Johns & Co Apparel: https://johnsandcompany.co 

Love Kisha J Studios: https://etsy.com/shop/LoveKishaJStudios 

Let’s connect socially: 

https://instagram.com/thedearsonpodcast 

https://twitter.com/dearsonpodcast 

https://facebook.com/thedearsonpodcast

The Three Foundational Pillars of the DSP Community

1. Reveal trauma 

2. Heal from trauma

3. Help through telling stories of it all

“Better Man. Better Father.”

Dear Son, I am not your father. I’m sure most of us have witnessed this conclusion being sensationalized on a late 90s midday talk show, but can you really put yourself in the shoes of a son hearing this for the first time at the age of 27? I’ve tried, but my imagination doesn’t roam that freely. Unfortunately, this was (and is) the reality for my conversation counterpart, Lamont Moore, on this episode. Several thoughts immediately ran through my head while trying to process the information in real time, but I simply couldn’t imagine what kind of man I’d be today if this were my truth.

Growing up in Shreveport, LA, Lamont was the default role model for his two younger brothers. He resented the role at times but understood the value of setting the right example later in life. He valued the relationship he had with his father growing up, even though they didn’t reside in the same home. Lamont gives us a peak into a few very pivotal moments in his life; his mother’s passing, learning that the man he knew as his dad most of his life really wasn’t his father, and becoming himself. The story about his father’s identity unfolded almost as if it was a movie script. See, it all started when he met this girl in high school…

Grab a snack and mentally prepare for this one. Tag the podcast when you share your thoughts on social media!

Be sure to follow Lamont on social media: 

IG: https://instagram.com/castredale?utm_medium=copy_link

FB: https://www.facebook.com/lamont.moore.50

The DSP: https://thedearsonpodcast.com

Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors: 

https://tatewhalun.com -- Discount Code: THEDSP

Johns & Co Apparel: https://johnsandcompany.co 

Love Kisha J Studios: https://etsy.com/shop/LoveKishaJStudios 

Let’s connect socially: 

https://instagram.com/thedearsonpodcast 

https://twitter.com/dearsonpodcast 

https://facebook.com/thedearsonpodcast

The Three Foundational Pillars of the DSP Community

1. Reveal trauma 

2. Heal from trauma

3. Help through telling stories of it all

“Better Man. Better Father.”

Dear Son, build a business for your family. We live in a world where the rich get richer, and the poor continuously get the short end of the stick. For some, apathy is the hurdle, and others just can't seem to connect with the right information that can change their lives. The pressure of maintaining adequate finances can be debilitating for some men. On this episode, Chris Williams lets us in on his fatherhood journey that pushed him to overcome the dark shadows of his past and create multiple successful side businesses that have helped position his family to live the life that they desire. 

Though rewarding, the road traveled wasn't all glitz and glamour. He recalls early life in Gainesville, FL and a pivotal tragedy when his brother and Chris' best friend were involved in a car accident that resulted in his brother's death. Chris' best friend was physically injured as well, but the mental trauma far exceeded any of the physical pain. Chris was the youngest of six boys and credits his vantage point as a benefit to see what behaviors he did not want to mimic. 

His life changed when the family relocated to Atlanta, GA. This was the restart he needed, as he navigated his teenage years through sports, entertainment, and a new circle of friends. Today he is a loving husband to one wife, and the proud father of two teenage boys. He has a passion for helping men gain control of their finances through building side businesses. There are so many more layers to Chris, and that's exactly what the full episode reveals. Grab a snack and enjoy this one. If you're inspired to learn more about building a successful side business of your own, contact Chris via the information immediately below. I'll meet you in the comments.

Be sure to visit The World According to Chris: https://twac.live/podcast and follow him on IG: https://instagram.com/thechristopherwilliams

The DSP: https://thedearsonpodcast.com

Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors: 

https://tatewhalun.com -- Discount Code: THEDSP

Johns & Co Apparel: https://johnsandcompany.co 

Love Kisha J Studios: https://etsy.com/shop/LoveKishaJStudios 

Let’s connect socially:

https://instagram.com/thedearsonpodcast 

https://twitter.com/dearsonpodcast 

https://facebook.com/thedearsonpodcast

The Three Foundational Pillars of the DSP Community

1. Reveal trauma 

2. Heal from trauma

3. Help through telling stories of it all

“Better Man. Better Father.”