Diversity Dad podcast - Helping dads to "buck conventionally" and celebrate doing fatherhood differently.

"Welcome to Diversity Dad where we highlight the unique stories of Dads and embrace their daily struggle in becoming a great father"

Today we will learn a bit more about Eric Alper's journey as a public relations guy working in the music industry while raising his daughter Hannah which is a very active environmental blogger and speaker together with his wife.

"I think because it never bothered me (being hearing impaired and wearing hearing aids while working on the music industry) or it didn't change how I saw things or how I heard things or how I acted around people I know that has affected Hannah, because her being small in size. Me working in the music industry is proof that you really can do anything if you wanted to and if you set your mind to it and if you have a goal."

We will get inspired by the amazing way he inspired his daughter to be brave and face her fears through his own experience. Teaching by example and not by a rulebook or his own words.

"I like to say that it is the environment around you that mold what your child is. And I firmly believe that more and more. The power and influence that parents have over their kids."

He will also share his very deep view on how the environment we as parents and family create around our children will have a very big impact on what they will come to be in the future. Something we should always have present and always be careful about. Specially because that is not the first time our Diversity Dads have mentioned it during the show.

"Work is work and work can be fun and work is business and work is really, really stressful, we are all just trying to make it, survive and be a breadwinner or be that protector, but at the end of the day the family, no matter how big or how small it is, is still one of the biggest, if not the biggest influence that they will ever have in your kids life. How you treat strangers, how you talk to the waiter at the restaurant when your food is cold. How you treat the bus driver or the taxi driver, who is just trying to make a living just the same as you are. How you treat the librarian, how you treat people has a real big effect on your kid and sometimes it is too late for you to realize that."

Still on the wisdom and on the "things we didn't hear for the first time on the show" train we will also get a very important piece of advice that I believe every dad and every parent and everyone that is responsible for the process of raising a child (including teachers and doctors and everyone else around the child) should take to heart:

"Just be there. Be in the present, be in the moment. Dads sometimes may not get as much love in relation to the mom, when they scrape their knee they may go to mom first and that is okay. You just have to be there and be present."

Let's enjoy this episode and be proud together with Eric for how many amazing things his daughter was able to do coming from her experience at home following her passion and not being afraid of the challenge ahead just like her parents even at such a young age. Let's learn from his experience and guide our children to their own greatest achievements, during their childhood and through their whole lives.

MORE QUOTES:

"Hannah is now 13 and from the moment that she could walk I always took her to shows. She was always the one that was with me with the giant headphones on and the ear muffs and I took her to everything I was doing PR for that was applicable for her. It is kinda like taking your child to workday."

"When she was 9 she went to a blogging conference in Philadelphia and she learned how to start a wordpress blog and we told her that she could start a blog but we didn't want it to be about like pop music, we didn't want it to be about what everyone was writing about."

"She started getting noticed in the media and in the environmental groups because there weren't a lot of kids that were blogging about. Certainly there were a lot of kids that were doing their part but not necessarily blogging. She got asked to speak at WE day which is a huge event across North America that is organized by Free the Children."

"Her blog has grown to over a million hits and she does keynotes all around North America and she has done a couple of TedX as well. The blog is called callmehannah.ca. I think that her growing up in the environment that I was in, being around the entertainment industry really helped her know that this is a way of life for people. It may not be normal or average to your friends or family but all of it has happened to her because of her hard work and her efforts and her energy that she puts into her blog and into reading and her writing."

"Diversity dad's out there, it is all about being a champion at your child's interest."

"Everybody has their gift, maybe they are painters, maybe they are drawers, maybe they are great writing stories, maybe they are great with their hands working and building things or maybe it is just your time that you have to give."

"Issue plus your gift equals change. That is what Hannah likes to talk about. You find your issue, you find your gift and boom, you've suddenly changed the world. And as parents it feels good to encourage them. We all love our kids and for them to care about the environment, for them to care about other people, for them to have empathy for people is one of the greatest things to experience as a parent."

"I think just watching Hannah grow and realising that when I look at videos of her being on stage when she was 9 and 10 and then watching her do a 45 minute keynote now blows me away. I mean, at 9 I was still playing in mud you know. There is just something really special about watching your child love to do something and continually try to get better at it. Whether it is math homework or reading or writing or sports or just being a better brother or sister."

"We are both awful singers. But it doesn't stop us from singing."

"I guess my answer should be actually seeing her being born and saying "oh uow, that really is amazing". I would really take a bullet for her."

"It is about facing fears. Whether you are facing your fears as a father or whether you are performing in front of 18 thousand people. Facing your fears to be a champion, again, be a champion for your son or daughter."

"It is the art form. The very fact that you have created this podcast is success enough. Sarah Silverman, the comedian, has a great line. She says: "You know, whenever someone comes up to me and says I'm thinking about doing… she interrupts and says "You are not doing it". Just do it."

"My struggle as a new dad, there is times where I don't even know what I am doing but I am just going to it and doing it and I am sure a lot of dads feel that way whether they are a new dad or have other sons and daughters."

"Dads see parenting and children and babies much different than they do when it comes to moms and women. My wife would probably never let me do half the things I did with Hannah. But that is okay. I didn't break her, I didn't kill her. You will always be the protector. Dads can do things that moms can't do."

ERIC'S LINKS:

@thatericalper

https://twitter.com/ThatEricAlper

https://www.facebook.com/EricAlperPR

https://plus.google.com/+EricAlper

That Eric Alper page:

http://www.thatericalper.com/

Call me Hannah page:

http://callmehannah.ca/

"Let's learn together. Let's grow together. Let's be dads together. Peace."

Today we will learn from the story of Dan Buri an attorney by day living in the pacific northwest with his wife and two kids. He is the writer of "Pieces Like Pottery" a collection of short fiction stories about heartbreak and redemption and the creator of Nothing Any Good.com an indie author community helping other writers to become published authors.

His favorite quote is "nothing any good isn't hard" and he takes it to heart on everything he does as we will be able to testify from today's interview. From his own experience growing up and learning from his father how to be a dad to learning how to overcome mental illness through his own experience as a father we will be amazed by his story.

"My father grew up in a broken home, his mother had extreme obsessive compulsive disorder. His father was an alcoholic and actually passed away from the disease. My dad vowed that he would be a different father than he was taught how to be a father and I am one of six children and my parents are wonderful."

His story will remind us that we can overcome our own past and be better for the ones we love and have close to us. And that even though being a father is a huge challenge in itself it is also a catalyst to change for the better.

"A lot of our society actually has mental illness and I think it would be good for more people, more dads, more families to be able to understand what that means and that it really is something that is quite ordinary and something that can be lived with and managed daily."

We also had the opportunity to talk about mental illness and how being a father changed Dan's life also on this matter.

"Even more than myself my dad would be a diversity dad. Someone who really stepped out of where he came from to be an amazing father."

Get ready for great inspiration (as always!) coming from someone that had his own struggles the same as his dad before him had his own struggles but somehow through the great experience of having a family and having children found a catalyst for change and redemption not only for themselves but for the ones that came before them.

OTHER QUOTES:

"My father was a wonderful father growing up. I remember as I started to get older he was never prepared to be a father. Never understood what it meant. It was the hardest job he ever had and the most fruitful job that he ever had."

"I think it has been a benefit for me to really understand my mental illness and really come to terms with what they mean and learn about myself."

"Diversity dads this will be the 150th that we said this in this show and if we say it 151 times and you get it then you have done your job. Be present (…) just show up and be your best, and if your best is 75% on that day then give them 75%."

LINKS:

Instagram & Twitter:

@danburi777

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDanBuri

Resources:

http://www.nothinganygood.com/

https://www.amazon.com/Pieces-Like-Pottery-Dan-Buri-ebook/dp/B0163NLWDQ

Danburi777 (at) gmail.com

"Let's learn together. Let's grow together. Let's be dads together. Peace."

Today we are going to interview Jeffrey Jackson, husband, daddy to two twins (8 years old at the time of recording), salesman and the proud owner of one of the top 50 fatherhood blogs out there called Daddy is Best (dot) com.

His entire blog concept and most of the content comes from a very interesting story that we are sure many parents out there will relate to even if you do not have twin children.

Coming from his very rare experience of being father of twins and being older than usual for a first time dad (we are not telling his age, you can find it on the show!), having a bi-cultural household and dealing with many different people from many different backgrounds as a salesman we will get a very different and mature perspective on being a dad from Jeffrey.

"Discipline is always probably the trickiest thing about being a parent these days, you never know what the right thing to do is."

We will learn from his experience as he shares some interesting key moments in which some disciplining was needed to make sure the kids understand the message and keep it while learning about responsibility and accountability as well.

"You never know how you are going to be as a father, it is not like you are doing a job and you can see results immediately."

We will also learn from him that even as an older dad with a lot more experience in life there are still moments when insecurity and uncertainty sets in. But at the same time we will learn that there are better ways to go about being a dad and it is only a matter of trying things out and being wise and patient (remember when we interviewed Ted Hecks?).

"To modify their behavior they have to be involved in the process and the way to get them involved is to make that connection."

Fasten your seatbelts and prepare to have your minds filled with a very mature, interesting and exciting take on being a dad. There is a lot of knowledge to take from this episode, we sure did get a lot from it recording and getting it ready for you.

OTHER QUOTES:

"The way I have evolved into disciplining is really just talking to my boys. Talking to them like an adult rather than like a child."

"Kids know what the right thing to do is. That is okay if they make mistakes, but it is important to allow them to make those mistakes."

"I thought I could come home and yell at them which would be the easy thing to do and definitely satisfy me but it wouldn't get the point across to them about what they needed to do."

"Diversity dads you have to connect before you correct."

"If I am in traffic I have to remember that they are in the backseat so I can't the first word that comes on my mind. I have two audience members looking at me that I am preparing for the world."

"It's the constant vigilance of being a dad is probably the biggest obstacle."

"I always try to give them space so they can do what they want to do and make their own mistakes without getting hurt of course."

"Just enjoy the kids and let them be kids. Let them grow up and just enjoy the process without trying to be too heavy handed in manipulating their growth."

"We are all running into the same problems and we all have the same issues. And as dads we don't get a lot of support from the rest of the world. So for dads to connect with each other I think it is important to know that there are other dads out there that will support you. Don't be scared to reach out. You never know how somebody else can help you with what you are dealing with."

LINKS:

@daddyisbest

Daddy is Best Blog

http://daddyisbest.com/

https://www.facebook.com/DaddyisBest/

"Let's learn together. Let's grow together. Let's be dads together. Peace."

Today we will meet John Walsh the Communications Director at an IT company and father of one boy and one girl with another baby on the way (one month away at the time of recording). He also has a background in education and on this episode we will have the pleasure to listen to his awesome (and very cute) testimony as a dad going for the mission of changing the world by helping other dads be more engaged and brave when raising and teaching their kids.

"There is a lot of dads doing great things out there, when I was actually thinking about going into blogging and telling my story I was trying to find how I could fit in to the already diverse landscape of dads and what they have to say."

Coming from his background in education and his faith John decided to start "A Father's Instruction" which awarded him the "Top Dad Blogger of 2016" title from "The Baby Spot". His catalyst beings his own experience as a father trying to teach and raise his own children and doing so from a different, from a biblical perspective, showing to the dads out there that it is possible to help their kids grow also from that perspective.

"It is actually Proverbs. When I was looking into being a father and instructions and looking into my mission, I was looking through the Bible to see what really spoke to me and what I wanted to tell other people.

"We will also get to hear amazing little stories about his kids and certainly be inspired by them and by John's snippets of very simple but very effective and deep knowledge and wisdom when it comes to being a dad and also a husband.

"What makes me a Diversity Dad is my view and how I treat fatherhood. Maybe differently than culture has shown us in the past"

We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did recording and preparing it for you. Sadly it is very short but we do hope it will bring this special and very inspired taste to your ears and heart.

MORE QUOTES:

"Growing up the impression of fatherhood I always got was that you needn't be involved as a dad in raising your children (…) I like to think that a Dad is an equal partner in parenting"

"What scares me about being a dad is not knowing how to be a dad"

"It's those moments when I ride home from work and the kids are at the door and they sing this new song that they wrote themselves and it is called "Daddy is home". It is a great song, it has two lyrics, "Daddy is home. Yiippy" over and over again."

"You do things and you may say things and you may think that they don't hear and that they might not be watching but they are. Isn't it amazing?"

"In addition to that obstacle of finding the time to spend with them, wanting to spend more time with them but not being able to because of life's obligations the other big obstacle of being a father is accepting the type of father I want to be despite the view of society."

"I also like to challenge them to be more involved with their kids or to look at things differently, look at things from a biblical perspective, look at things from a different perspective to see if there is a way that they could be a better dad to their kids"

"My advice to dads would be to be the dad your kid needs you to be. Enjoy the moments with your kids."

JOHN'S LINKS:

@fatherinstructs

https://twitter.com/fatherinstructs

A Father's Instruction blog

http://afathersinstruction.com/

"Let's learn together. Let's grow together. Let's be dads together. Peace."

Khalid White – Diversity Dad show notes

On today's episode of the Diversity Dad podcast we will get to know Khalid White, the proud father of the 9 years old Kahlea an aspiring gymnast and chef. He is professor at the San Jose City College where he teaches african-american ethnics studies. He is also known for founding the brand, company and movement called blkmpwr as in black empower. He is also a writer (check out his up and coming book "Black Fatherhood: Trials and Tribulations, Testimony and Triumph").

"Having a daughter young, at 26. I mean it is not the youngest in the world, but I was still young in the mind still. Just having those experiences. Having my child as I was in a kind of transition period. It helped me understand just how many diverse man has put themselves in my corner over the course of my life. So my experiences have been diverse in terms of the man who shaped and molded me."

Today we will be inspired by a man who knew how to embrace maturity when faced with unexpected changes and news in his young life. Learning how to grow out of his own 26 years old self into a mature and responsible dad, role model and diverse person.

"In America regardless if you are an athlete a lawyer a politician what have you, you are always classifies by your race first."

We will get in touch with the motivation behind blkmpwr and how the killings of Michael Brown and Freddie Gray inspired Kahlid to create and spread a powerful message through clothing.

"Diversity dads out there, we are the role models for our children (...) we want to make sure that our children do that same deal as far as whatever they believe in. Just hold firm and stand for what you believe in."

He will help us understand how being a diversity dad comes from not only ourselves but from the people that have shaped and molded us, making us not only diversity dads but diversity persons. And how even the experience of being a dad in itself makes you a diversity dad when done right.

"Being a father all of these last 9 years and me learning on the go and learning how girls and young women work because that's in and on itself a diverse experience for me because I have all brothers and there weren't too many girls."

He will inspire us to be better dads and better persons and to keep growing and keep learning as life throws new challenges and new trials on our path. He will inspire us to be wiser when handling with difficult situations.

"It is not perfect, I am not perfect but at the same time it is about growth and it is about maturing and it is about getting better."

Get ready for a very inspiring and dad love filled episode filled with beautiful and inspiring stories that can only make us smile and feel strong and determined to take the next step and to keep moving forward and growing and making ourselves better.

"Let's learn together. Let's grow together. Let's be dad's together. Peace"

OTHER QUOTES:

"I think more and more you are going to start seeing athletes speak up and speak out. Particularly those high profile athletes."

"Getting the news that I was going to be a dad and my daughter being born that made me kind of grow up and start trying to plan different moves for myself and for her future and just for my long term future to be in her life."

"Communication is key. Even though we are not together we still have to have a relationship for the sake of our daughter and for the sake of our daughter being healthy mentally and emotionally. Communication is important. Positive communication is important."

"It is hard to pinpoint one thing that has me the most excited about being a dad but the fact that I get a chance to really carve a real relationship with my daughter."

"There is one moment I will never forget, that is the first time that my daughter called me daddy. That was a very proud moment. I teared up."

"The biggest obstacle that I have overcome is understanding that time spent is more important than money spent. (…) Money can never take the place of time. Money can never take the time of youth."

"Take on the challenges of being a father head on. Embrace that and continue to be that male role model, that influential person in your son's or daughter's life."

LINKS:

http://www.blkmpwr.com/

Twitter - @brother_white

https://twitter.com/brother_white

Facebook - @blkmpwr

https://www.facebook.com/blkmpwr

On today's episode we have something special for all dads out there that listen to us. We had the pleasure to interview Brandie Weikle, single mother of two and the long-time parenting editor, writer and spokesperson creator of thenewfamily.com from Toronto, Canada. Dads from the perspective of a mom.

Brandie took her passion for writing and interest for the family subject to the next level by creating the blog thenewfamily.com and the 1000 families project podcast. At episode 200+ we are sure there is a ton of inspiring stories to listen to.

"We are showcasing the first person stories of people telling what family means to them until we get to 1000"

We will talk about how she started noticing the changes in the way families are portrayed on parenting media coming from her own experiences from the changes on her own family and how all of those factors made her and many other families and individuals feel badly about how different their families were from that mold.

"I could see that mainstream parenting media would cover families in this way with this sort of default voice that assumes that every family is a mom and a dad, two kids and maybe that golden retriever."

She will shed some light on how the dad role on the family is perceived on times we live in starting from how our ancestors raised their kids up to now where we have so much variety but not so much acceptance.

"Family could look like a lot of different things. My site is about allowing people, giving them permission to celebrate their family and to believe that their family can look any way that they want to. That is up to them."

We will once again learn the importance of being there for our kids (remember when we interviewed Ted Hicks on Episode # 37?) and family and how that is made difficult for dads because of the way most of the society still see the dad's role on the family.

"Men have to do more pioneering in the workplace in order to take that break when they have a baby, get a little bit of parental leave. That is na issue for sure."

For all the dads out there that are part of a man and woman kind of family we will get a great start on something called "maternal gatekeeping" and learn how we should stand up to it while also keeping up with the partner's expectations for the family and the kids.

"I think this (maternal gatekeeping) is something that can go on that dads need to be aware of. Sometimes, just like men have their programming "you should be a breadwinner" despite it being 2016 now, women also have a lot of guilt around being the primary caregiver."

Mainly we will learn that we should be confident as dads, helping out also as the primary caregiver and not just as a occasional babysitter that brings home the money to pay for the bills.

"They (the families) are allowed to define their family any old way that they want."

And don't fight about it, just be smart and cooperative to make the family work peacefully and beautifully.

Fasten your seatbelts for another amazing interview full of insight from a different point of view and perspective. Full of advice, tips and tricks and things to put in practice right now!

"I just want dads to feel encouraged to hang in there for it. Because it is worth it in the long run"

MORE QUOTES:

B - "Some of the richest connections are the ones that can be formed outside of the expected. My wish for dads is for them to feel confident in their role and in their importance because they are very important and no matter what your circumstances are (…) your role is important and being there in a consistent way is important."

J - "Just keep fighting. Just because your family needs you (…) they need you."

B - "Make sure that you are there for every possible special thin that you can be there for. Show up. Make it to the soccer game, make it to the birthday party, the Christmas concert (…) Whatever it is (…) It sucks to disappoint kids"

B - "Today we can take a bit at heart that technology can help to connect us. So if you don't have as much time with you children as you like, skype, facetime, cell phone. Send them messages in instagram direct. Wherever they are make sure you are there and utilising those ways to connect because they really can help bridge the distance."

J - "Keep it about the kids and do your best to overcome obstacles."

B - "Wherever you are, look around. Go to meetup.com and see if there is a single parent group or a dads group. Something you can tap in to. There are very often parenting courses available near you and a little online research can cap you into some really great stuff both virtual and in person."

"Let's learn together. Let's grow together. Let's be dads together. Peace"

RESOURCES:

1000 Families Project - http://thenewfamily.com/tag/1000-families-project/

The New Family Blog - http://thenewfamily.com

Diversity Dad Podcast (Website coming soon and yes, that is us !) - https://www.facebook.com/diversitydad/

The Good Men Project - https://goodmenproject.com/

LINKS:

Brandie's Instagram (@bran_weikle) - https://www.instagram.com/bran_weikle/

Hello Diversity Dad Community! Just wanted to thank you all for the support and love that I've been receiving for this podcast. Please leave a rating and review on iTunes or Stitcher radio to help the show to get noticed. What a ride it's been sharing with you all out there. I have been receiving a lot of love on the direction of the podcast, but I want to hear from you all on what things you like or maybe things you want to change with the podcast.

Please send me an e-mail at [email protected] to let me know your thoughts or if you want to be a guest on the show you can email me and we can figure out how to get you on the podcast.

Interact with me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diversitydad/

Interact with me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DiversityDad

Excited to hear what you all have to say.

Let's learn together. Let's grow together. Let's be DADS together.

We are all Diversity Dads!

Ted Hicks, the IT guy and father of two kids. A 9 years old boy and a 14 years old girl. He is a fellow podcaster, hosting the Late Night Parents show in the oldest Long Island's NYC radio station and the Baseball, Beer and Barbecue podcast. Besides those passions he dedicates his time to gaming, blogging and Fantasy Football (according to his own words he is an expert in his own mind such as we all are!)

It is amazing to learn how he uses his passion about sports, games and technology which are some of his kids' passions as well, to interact with his son and daughter in an amazing way. Creating an improbable but very open and strong channel of communication.

"You think about the old school dad. I think about my dad. He is old school. He would come in; he will work his shift. He's gonna speak a few words of wisdom to us. And either go to sleep or handle his business, do what he needs to do leading the family. And it worked for us back then. But that was a different era."

In this episode we will learn a lot from his experience keeping himself up to date with the current trends and the trends his kids follow to connect to them on their own level. Dealing with bullying when one of his own kids gets to be the bully. How he keeps up with his family activities and how important those are to him (why it should be important to us as well). We will be inspired by his passion for his family and the challenges of being a good dad (and husband) at every opportunity.

"You gotta watch some of the shows that they are watching. You focus on being hip, being in the know while also parenting with them. Because then you are not speaking two different languages."

"Playing video games with them they open up to so many different other topics"

It is very interesting to see his perspective on parenthood. He understands very well the huge gap from his generation in terms of the role of the parents in a child's upbringing and it is amazing to listen how he takes this understanding to the next level on the ways he interacts and teach life lessons to his kids. We will learn how he teaches his kids how to be humble and know how to fail and be the loser using gaming and his own lie stories.

"In defeat you need to know how to be just as graceful as when you are winning"

Throughout the whole interview we will also learn about his perspective of the different roles of moms and dads and how the gaps can be filled in. The huge difference between father's day and mother's day and how those are portrayed in the media and out there in advertisements and on the news and the effect it has on people.

Fasten your seat belts for a awesome interview with an awesome dad and person. A very inspiring conversation filled with passion and insight. Useful for any kind of parent out there looking to raise their kids the best way possible.

"Enjoy fatherhood. Enjoy every part of it because when you blink your eyes your child is going off to college or they are getting married and you know, they are grown."

QUOTES:

"The dads in general should write a book and everyone should get a chapter for themselves"

"Everything nowadays is more headed towards the moms. And it has always been like that"

"Take that time out. Making every last minute count ... not that the job doesn't matter ... But I have been blessed in a situation where I have flex time and I am in a flexible environment."

"Be there. Have your eye on the pulse. Know what is happening. Be involved. Be hip. Be in the know."

LINKS:

@realtedhicks

@latenightparents

https://www.facebook.com/latenightparents

http://latenightparents.com/

Baseball Beer BBQ podcast & blog

https://twitter.com/baseballbeerbbq

https://baseballbeerbbq.com/

"Let's learn together. Let's grow together. Let's be dads together. Peace."

Jonathan Seeber, most commonly known as John is the single dad of Tristan his teenage boy. John is also a musician, cook and accountant. He is one of the members of Post Rapture Party, an Alternative-Indie-Melodic-Dark Rock band and 6 Minutes to Midnight a band with an Alternative-Reggae-Rockabilly sound (check them out on facebook) both from the Seattle area.

From growing up on a bicultural environment to living abroad he brings a different perspective to the table from his life experience, specially by raising his son that has Autism. On his own words "Autism is a really broad term" and he takes it to heart shedding some light into what it really means and the challenges that it entails.

In this episode he will share some tips and tricks for tax paying parents (aren't we all…) and share some of his experience with raising a kid that has any kind of autism. We will learn about his roots and the native American customs of passing down their heritage to their sons and daughters making sure that they live through their heritage and experience part of their culture.

We will learn the importance of being patient with our kids and the importance of knowing how and which battles to pick. Dealing with children is not easy and John is not short of challenges yet he gives us an amazing perspective:

"Jamal: What is the one thing that has you the most excited about being a dad?

John: Just the adventure. Seeing all the daily accomplishments and trials and tribulations. Going from being this tiny baby in my arms all the way up to a teenager almost the same size as I am."

Words that he holds true to heart during this interview showing us the amazing and unconditional love he shares with his son.

"John: Your children, all of them are going to be different. They may agree with you on certain things, they might not agree with you on other things. But be patient. It is definitely about patience."

Stay tuned for yet another amazing Diversity Dad episode filled with great stories, advice and inspiration.

"Autism is a really broad term."

"I have been to Juneau and Anchorage, the climate specially during spring and summer is very similar to western Washington except that the mosquitos are huge."

"You had lots of adventures with your son educating him on his culture."

"What is the one thing that has you the most excited about being a dad?

Just the adventure. Seeing all the daily accomplishments and trials and tribulations. Going from being this tiny baby in my arms all the way up to a teenager almost the same size as I am."

"As the parent of any teenager out there I think (the challenge) is really learning how to pick your battles. Especially when you have a child on the autistic spectrum."

"My grandmother looks at my mom: You know what? One kid takes 24 hours a day. 5 kids take 24 hours a day."

"Just be patient."

"As Tristan moved into being a teenager I can see some of the family rebellious traits popping out. Just be patient, learn, pick the battles."

"Your children, all of them are going to be different. They may agree with you on certain things, they might not agree with you on other things. But be patient. It is definitely about patience."

INTERVIEW LINKS:

POST RAPTURE PARTY

https://www.facebook.com/PostRaptureParty

http://postraptureparty.moonfruit.com/

6 MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT

https://www.facebook.com/6MinutesToMidnight

Ayesha Scott (Director) and Segilola Ogidan (Producer) are currently working together on an emotional drama called ABSENT, which showcases the struggles and long-term effects of absent fathers on single mothers and the trials and tribulations faced.

"Nothing is weaker than a man who hurts his child or children by his actions and words."

Ayesha and Segilola were asked what the motivation was for this film. Ayesha says after she had her second son and the son's father abandoned his responsibilities to his son that is when she realized what being a single mom really was.

"It was really difficult; it was a massive struggle. I wanted to bring this subject matter to the forefront of main stream media."

Segilola says most of the screenwriting in the industry is done by men and they wanted it to be addressed women, using their own stories and experiences.

"I am sick and tired of this stigma that is surrounding the angry black woman. A lot of people don't give black women the opportunity to explain or to tell their story, they just have a five minute chat with them and then make up their own idea about why they are angry."

Segilola says it is the responsibility of African American women to change the stigma they face in parenting roles.

"It's down to us to tell our stories and I know there are already situations in place to squash that, to stop or discourage us from telling our stories but we have got to fight through those barriers. Nothing is impossible."

"We can influence people; we can influence the world if we work together."

When asked what they hope fathers can take away from this movie, Ayesha said she wants fathers to understand the struggle and hardship that single mothers have to go through when the fathers become absent.

"…also the financial burden and the emotional and physical strain of raising a child where essentially it's something that God has intended two people to do."

She says where most cases it is 'out of sight, out of mind' maybe this film will help some dads really see the struggle.

Segilola says her hope is for absent fathers to realize this is not the normal.

"It takes two to make the babies so it takes two people to be responsible for that life."

Segilola says the biggest struggles while still shooting the film is raising funds and getting financed. She says the obstacles around finance are because they are two black women and the financers want an action or horror movies, not dramas.

They believe women and mothers can encourage men to break the cycle and be there for their children.

"Moms need to encourage men to be involved in every aspect of their children's lives and their upbringing; why not get them involved in their health and well being and schooling."

Women should put away their anger and bitterness. They say it's difficult when you go through certain situations, but sometimes it is a two ways street.

INTERVIEW LINKS:

www.AbsentMovieUK.com

www.ascottproductions.com

www.OKPProductions.com