Dudes Without Dads Podcast

What does a boy do with what he discovers when no father is there to explain it? In this raw and honest roundtable, Joshua Brown sits down with five men — Caleb, Gabriel, Antoine, Cody, and Jason — to answer a question most men have never said out loud: where were you the first time you were exposed to pornography, and who did you go to afterward? From the projects to the woods of Tennessee, from late-night HBO to a father's hidden tape — every story is different, but the wound is the same. No guide. No father. Just a secret that slowly shaped everything.

This episode traces the direct line between fatherlessness, early exposure to pornography, and the deformation of a man's identity — how boys who had no one to run to built their understanding of women, sex, and self-worth from what they found in the dark. But it doesn't stop at the wound. These men also talk about what it looks like to bring secrets into the light, how confession and community changed their marriages and their minds, and why healing starts not with becoming a better father — but with learning to be a son of the Most High first.

If you grew up without a dad to guide you, if you have carried shame in silence, or if you are trying to break a cycle for your own kids — this conversation was made for you.

In this episode:

• Why fatherless boys rarely told anyone what they found
• How early pornography exposure deforms identity, self-worth, and the way men see women
• The moment one man told his wife everything — and what she said back
• Why isolation is the enemy of healing
• What it means to kill sin before sin kills you
• How to become the dad you never had by first becoming a son of the Most High

Resources mentioned:

• James 5:16 — Confess your sins to one another and you will be healed
• Dallas Willard — The Divine Conspiracy
• Jonathan Edwards — Be killing sin or sin will be killing you
• dudeswithoutdadspodcast.com — Apply to be a guest

Connect with Dudes Without Dads: 🎙️ New episodes every Thursday 🌐 dudeswithoutdadspodcast.com 📲 Follow on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok & Facebook

Dudes Without Dads is the podcast that trains men to become the dads they never had. If this episode added value to your life, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a man who needs it.

fatherhood, father wound, sonship, men's ministry, christian men, healing, identity, intentional fatherhood, dudes without dads, joshua brown, eric manly, the intentional dad, generational curses, masculinity, christian podcast, faith and fatherhood, becoming a better dad, father absence

Brandon Petty grew up in a home most men would never recover from. Born to a teenage mother who was married six times by the age of 25, Brandon cycled through apartments, motel rooms, and relatives' couches throughout his childhood. He was raised primarily by women while the men in his life rotated in and out — most of them carrying their own unhealed wounds of addiction and abuse.

Between the ages of 8 and 11, Brandon was sexually abused by three different people, including a stepfather who was also a cocaine dealer and violently abusive toward his mother. The one stepfather who felt like a real dad — a man who took him fishing, taught him basketball, and loved him like his own — eventually lost his battle with alcoholism and walked away without warning, never to be seen again. Brandon's mother, exhausted by decades of trauma, eventually turned to drugs and ended up in prison. He finished high school living with his aunt and uncle. He met his biological father for the first time at 15, only to lose him to a sudden heart attack just as their relationship was beginning to heal.

By 18, Brandon was the first person in his family to graduate high school and go to college. On a sick Sunday morning when his aunt gave him permission to stay home, he chose instead to walk into a tiny country church with bullet holes in the wall — and fell on his face at the altar. God radically saved him. But as Brandon describes it, he got out of Egypt and spent years still circling the desert. He became a pastor, planted a church, built a ministry — and was doing all of it out of a broken place, trying to earn love he'd never received.

In 2015, the man who had sexually abused him at age 10 showed up as a volunteer at his own church. What followed was two months of nightmares, depression, and hiding in plain sight — until Brandon finally broke down in the shower and told his wife everything. That moment of confession became the beginning of his deepest healing. Counseling, spiritual formation, solitude sabbaticals, and the community of men he built around him helped him discover what it actually meant to be a disciple — not just a leader.

Today, Brandon leads Generation Church in Portland, Tennessee, is writing a book about his journey toward wholeness, and is helping men find freedom through confession, community, and the teachings of Jesus. His closing words in this episode may be the most powerful thing you'll hear this year.

Books mentioned: The Body Keeps the Score, An Invitation to a Journey, The Leader's Journey, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, The Wounded Healer, The Wounded Heart

Connect with Brandon: generationchurch.me | YouTube: Generation Church Portland Tennessee

fatherhood, father wound, sonship, men's ministry, christian men, healing, identity, intentional fatherhood, dudes without dads, joshua brown, eric manly, the intentional dad, generational curses, masculinity, christian podcast, faith and fatherhood, becoming a better dad, father absence

Dustin Lundy grew up faster than any kid should have to.

His father — a former stockbroker born in 1934 — was financially brilliant and emotionally absent. His mother had affairs, abandoned the family for drugs, and left behind a household that 13-year-old Dustin quietly began running on his own. By the time his dad was dying of stage four colon cancer, Dustin was the one cleaning, caregiving, and holding things together — while quietly drowning in his own alcoholism and unprocessed trauma.

He never told his dad he loved him before the ICU. Until the morning he sat beside him in a coma, and saw a single tear roll down his father's face.

In this brutally honest conversation, Dustin unpacks:

• A childhood of financial ruin, IRS audits, and emotional distance
• How he unknowingly triggered his father's relapse at age 13
• Raising his 12-year-old sister after his father's death
• A 10-year separation from God after losing the two father figures in his life
• The marriage crisis 18 months ago that broke him open
• A prayer walk, a forgiveness letter, and a 9-year-old son who asked to be baptized

This episode is for every man who thinks he "turned out fine" — and every son who still has time to say what matters.

Resources:

• Dudes Without Dads: https://www.dudeswithoutdadspodcast.com (update URL)
• Apply to be a guest: https://www.dudeswithoutdadspodcast.com/guests/intake/ (update URL)
• Through the Word App: https://www.throughtheword.org

New episodes every Friday. Subscribe, share with a brother, and join the mission.

fatherhood, father wound, sonship, men's ministry, christian men, healing, identity, intentional fatherhood, dudes without dads, joshua brown, eric manly, the intentional dad, generational curses, masculinity, christian podcast, faith and fatherhood, becoming a better dad, father absence

What does it actually mean to be a godly father — especially if you never had one?

In this episode, host Joshua sits down with Kris Langham, co-founder of the Through the Word Bible app, to explore what Scripture teaches about godly fatherhood, father wounds, and how God specializes in breaking generational cycles.

Kris challenges listeners to find a truly "perfect dad" in the Bible (spoiler: there isn't one), points to God as the only model of perfect fatherhood, and walks through the stunning story of Hosea — where children named "Not Loved" and "Not My People" are renamed by God to "Beloved" and "My People." That's the gospel. That's your story too.

In this episode:

• The biblical definition of godly fatherhood
• Why brokenness is the starting point, not the disqualifier
• The full gospel: resurrection power, not just a second chance
• 4 practical steps to become a godly father this week
• How to use the Through the Word app with your kids
• The "Manhood Talks" plan built specifically for dads without dads

Resources:

• Through the Word App: https://www.throughtheword.org
• Dudes Without Dads: https://www.dudeswithoutdadspodcast.com (update URL)
• Apply to be a guest: https://www.dudeswithoutdadspodcast.com/apply (update URL)

New episodes every Thursday. Subscribe, share with a friend, and join the mission — training men to become the dads they never had.

fatherhood, father wound, sonship, men's ministry, christian men, healing, identity, intentional fatherhood, dudes without dads, joshua brown, eric manly, the intentional dad, generational curses, masculinity, christian podcast, faith and fatherhood, becoming a better dad, father absence

Most men don’t struggle with discipline.

They struggle with prayer.

In this episode of Dudes Without Dads, Joshua sits down with pastor and church planter Ralph Moore to talk about why prayer feels forced, awkward, or unnecessary for many men — and what it’s quietly costing us in our marriages, leadership, identity, and fatherhood.

If you grew up without a father, you probably learned how to survive.

But you may have never learned how to pray.

This conversation unpacks:

• Why prayer isn’t begging — it’s agreement
• The missing ingredient in most men’s spiritual lives
• How performance and control block intimacy with God
• Real stories of answered prayer and divine appointments
• Whether speaking in tongues is biblical — and what it actually means
• Why what you manufacture, you have to maintain

Ralph shares stories from decades of ministry, including moments of healing, calling, and surrender — and how prayer shaped his life from childhood.

This isn’t about religious performance.

It’s about relationship.

If you’re trying harder but still feel disconnected…
 Prayer may be the thing you’ve been missing.

Who This Episode Is For:

• Men who feel spiritually numb
• Fathers who want to lead but feel overwhelmed
• Men struggling with father wounds
• Christian men who don’t know how to pray
• Leaders trying to manufacture outcomes
• Anyone asking: “Why doesn’t God answer me?”

Questions This Episode Answers:

• Why don’t most men pray?
• What is prayer according to the Bible?
• Is prayer about saying the right words?
• What does it mean that prayer is agreement?
• How do I pray if I didn’t grow up in church?
• Is speaking in tongues biblical?
• Can prayer actually change things?

About Ralph Moore

Ralph Moore has spent decades planting churches around the world and mentoring leaders. His perspective on prayer comes not from theory — but from lived experience, answered prayers, and surrendered leadership.

Key Takeaway

If you have to force it… it’s probably not prayer.

Prayer is not control.

It’s surrender.

And for fatherless men trying to carry everything alone, that changes everything.

Keywords:

prayer for men
 why men don’t pray
 how to pray as a man
 Christian men and prayer
 father wounds and faith
 speaking in tongues explained
 answered prayer stories
 spiritual formation for men
 biblical prayer teaching
 men’s discipleship podcast

fatherhood, father wound, sonship, men's ministry, christian men, healing, identity, intentional fatherhood, dudes without dads, joshua brown, eric manly, the intentional dad, generational curses, masculinity, christian podcast, faith and fatherhood, becoming a better dad, father absence

What happens when a boy grows up believing he has no value?

In this episode of Dudes Without Dads, Cliff Branham shares his journey from childhood abuse, anger, and addiction to forgiveness, healing, and becoming the father he never had.

Cliff grew up with an abusive and absent father. That pain shaped his identity, led to rebellion, and fueled years of destructive behavior. But through surrender, discipleship, and understanding his identity in Christ, he broke the generational cycle.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• The long-term impact of father wounds
• Why anger often masks shame
• How generational trauma spreads
• What forgiveness really means
• How to heal from childhood abuse
• The role of faith and community in transformation

If you’ve struggled with father wounds, resentment, or identity confusion, this episode offers clarity and hope.

father wounds healing, abusive father recovery, christian testimony, forgiving abusive parent, breaking generational curses, men’s discipleship, identity in Christ, healing childhood trauma, dudes without dads, christian men podcast

Chapters / Timestamps

00:00 Intro
 01:07 The childhood memory that shaped everything
 01:12 “I had no value” — the core lie
 01:14 Shaking his fist at God for 10 years
 01:16 The turning point at 29
 01:19 Double imputation explained simply
 01:22 Before Jesus vs after Jesus
 01:24 What to do if you feel worthless
 01:26 Why community is essential
 01:29 Message to abusive men
 01:32 How his father’s story ended
 01:36 “I forgive you… trust Jesus”
 01:37 Final encouragement

fatherhood, father wound, sonship, men's ministry, christian men, healing, identity, intentional fatherhood, dudes without dads, joshua brown, eric manly, the intentional dad, generational curses, masculinity, christian podcast, faith and fatherhood, becoming a better dad, father absence

Alcoholism doesn’t start with you—but it can end with you.

In this episode of Dudes Without Dads, Fred Sebring shares his raw story of growing up without a father, being surrounded by normalized drinking, and realizing later in life that alcohol had quietly become his coping mechanism. What followed was a breaking point—and a decision to end generational alcoholism for the sake of his wife, his kids, and his faith.

This conversation is for any man asking:

• Why do I drink when life gets hard?
• Is alcohol affecting my marriage or kids?
• How do I stop repeating what I grew up around?
• Is it possible to break generational cycles of addiction?

Fred opens up about:

• Growing up fatherless in a culture where alcohol was “normal”
• How drinking became a learned escape, not a choice
• The moment he realized his kids were watching everything
• Why white-knuckling sobriety didn’t work for him
• How prayer and fasting led to real, lasting freedom
• Why forgiveness plays a critical role in healing addiction
• What it means to be a man of integrity when no one taught you how

This episode is not about shame, labels, or pretending alcohol isn’t a problem. It’s about honest self-examination, personal responsibility, and choosing a different legacy.

If alcohol has been passed down in your family, this conversation will challenge you—and give you hope that change is possible.

🔑 Key Topics & Keywords (for YouTube + Buzzsprout SEO)

• breaking generational alcoholism
• men struggling with alcohol
• fatherless men and addiction
• Christian recovery from alcohol
• faith-based sobriety
• prayer and fasting testimony
• healing father wounds
• becoming the dad you never had
• alcohol and masculinity

👉 Take the Next Step

If you have a story of overcoming addiction, father wounds, or breaking destructive family cycles, apply to be a guest:
 https://dudeswithoutdadspodcast.com

Subscribe for weekly conversations helping men become the dads they never had.
 Share this episode with a man who needs to hear it.

#AlcoholRecovery #BreakingGenerationalCycles #ChristianMen

fatherhood, father wound, sonship, men's ministry, christian men, healing, identity, intentional fatherhood, dudes without dads, joshua brown, eric manly, the intentional dad, generational curses, masculinity, christian podcast, faith and fatherhood, becoming a better dad, father absence

In this episode of Dudes Without Dads, Joshua interviews Brian (Iron Sharpens Iron) about father wounds, discipleship, and becoming a godly father by first getting connected to the Perfect Father—God. You’ll learn why you can’t disciple your kids into a walk with Jesus if you’re not walking with Him yourself—and how affirmation, brotherhood, and intentional leadership change a home.

What You’ll Learn

• Why you can’t give away what you don’t have spiritually
• The difference between teaching what you know vs. reproducing who you are
• How father wounds affect identity, addiction, and discipleship
• The power of hearing: “You are my son… I love you… I’m pleased”
• Why church programs can’t replace a dad’s role in spiritual formation
• How to build brotherhood (iron sharpens iron) that actually changes men
• Practical “daily/weekly” rhythms for leading your home with intention🔗 LINKS / CTAs
  • Website / Guest Application: dudeswithoutdadspodcast.com
  • Learn more about Brian / Iron Sharpens Iron: ironsharpensiron.net
  • Subscribe for weekly episodes (every Thursday)
  • Share this with a friend who’s carrying father wounds
• #fatherhood #discipleship 

Chapters / Timestamps
00:00 Intro: The point of being a dad (discipleship)
 00:35 “You can’t give away what you don’t have”
 01:10 Dads reproduce who they are (not just what they know)
 02:05 Why dad is pivotal in God’s design
 03:25 Common father wounds + the “Promise Keepers” moment
 05:55 The Perfect Father: healing starts with God
 07:10 Why everyone wins when men go from wounded to healthy
 08:30 Churches miss men (and why it’s not working)
 10:15 Healing + forgiveness: is it only “get right with God”?
 11:10 God’s affirmation: “You are my son… I love you…”
 13:05 Iron Sharpens Iron: how men are trained (not a content dump)
 14:45 Brotherhood: the missing fuel for men’s growth
 16:15 Practical call to action: invite men personally
 18:00 Fathering rhythms: dates with kids + leading the home
 20:10 Sabbath + controlling the rhythm of your household
 22:10 “First things first”: wife, kids, walking with God
 24:00 Recommended resources + where to find Iron Sharpens Iron
 25:00 Closing: forgiveness brings peace

fatherhood, father wound, sonship, men's ministry, christian men, healing, identity, intentional fatherhood, dudes without dads, joshua brown, eric manly, the intentional dad, generational curses, masculinity, christian podcast, faith and fatherhood, becoming a better dad, father absence

The most insidious lies are the ones about your identity.

Are you a man who knows God exists but feels completely intimidated by the Bible? Maybe you have one on your nightstand, but it’s essentially a "good luck charm" or a paperweight. You want to be the dad you never had, but you don't know how to access the "manual."

In this Roundtable episode of Dudes Without Dads, we sit down with Kris Langham to dismantle the myth that the Bible is just an "answer book" or a religious checklist. We share raw stories—from finding the Gospel of John in a prison cell to realizing that God’s Word is actually a "Love Letter" from the Father you never had.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The "Math Book" Mistake: Why looking for quick answers is keeping you from real transformation.
• Where to Start: Why the Gospel of John is the ultimate starting point for men with father wounds.
• Identity Rewiring: How to replace the "old man" narrative with the truth of who God says you are.
• The Battle for the Mind: Why what has your mind has your "becoming."

"Talking about the past heals your present." It’s time to stop hiding behind tradition and start meeting the Dad you never had.

CHAPTERS: 00:00 - The Dad You Never Had 02:15 - Meeting the Father through the Word 04:30 - Why your Bible is a "Good Luck Charm" 07:10 - Gabriel’s Story: The Bible in a Prison Cell 10:45 - Why the Bible isn’t an "Answer Key" 14:20 - How to start your renewal process today

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• The Gospel of John
• Dudes Without Dads Community:
• The "Become the Dad You Never Had" Guide: 

CONNECT WITH US: Instagram: @DudesWithoutDads Website: www.DudesWithoutDadsPodcast.com

#FatherWounds #ChristianIdentity #HowToReadTheBible #DudesWithoutDads #GenerationalTrauma #MensMinistry #Faith

fatherhood, father wound, sonship, men's ministry, christian men, healing, identity, intentional fatherhood, dudes without dads, joshua brown, eric manly, the intentional dad, generational curses, masculinity, christian podcast, faith and fatherhood, becoming a better dad, father absence

What does fatherlessness do to a man’s heart, identity, and future?

In this deeply moving episode of Dudes Without Dads, Randy Floyd shares his story of growing up without a father, navigating trauma, identity confusion, addiction, and emotional pain—until a life-changing encounter with Jesus at 16 redefined everything.

This conversation explores the long-term effects of father absence, the orphan mindset many men live with, and how God heals father wounds by stepping in as the Father we never had. Randy’s testimony speaks directly to men who feel lost, unseen, or unsure of who they are—and to parents who wonder if their mistakes define their children’s future.

This episode covers:

• Growing up without a dad and its impact on masculinity
• How father wounds lead to addiction, pride, and broken relationships
• Identity struggles in men raised without fathers
• God’s heart for the fatherless
• Healing emotional trauma through faith
• Why presence is more powerful than perfection in parenting

Dudes Without Dads is a podcast dedicated to helping men become the fathers they never had—through honesty, healing, and hope.

👉 Apply to share your story: https://dudeswithoutdadspodcast.com

👉 New episodes released weekly

fatherhood, father wound, sonship, men's ministry, christian men, healing, identity, intentional fatherhood, dudes without dads, joshua brown, eric manly, the intentional dad, generational curses, masculinity, christian podcast, faith and fatherhood, becoming a better dad, father absence