Dr. Alifano radiates genuine warmth and compassion. He moves through life with a deep, unwavering desire to truly understand others—and he’s spent decades honing the art of listening to do just that. As someone who has spent much of my own life refining how I listen, I was surprised—and deeply moved—by the powerful insights he shared. There were key elements I had completely missed, yet they make all the difference when it comes to truly connecting with others.

This is a rich and meaningful episode for anyone who wants to strengthen their relationships, deepen their empathy, and better understand what’s really in the hearts and minds of the people they care about. Have a listen—you’ll see.

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Feeling motivated? Here's a short, powerful coaching experience to help you tune in, connect, and understand your son—one tiny step at a time.

Join my free 1:1 Tiny Challenge™: 3 Days to a Stronger Connection With Your Son

✨ In just 3 days, you’ll take one small step each day to understand, connect, and affirm your son—no overwhelm, no pressure, just powerful parenting in action.

Here’s how it works:

✔️ I’ll send you one simple action + reflection each day

✔️ You’ll message me back with your experience

✔️ I’ll support you personally with insights, encouragement, and next steps

👉 Ready to get started? You can just send me a note at [email protected] and say “I’m in!” and I’ll take care of the rest.

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GUEST BIO

Dr. Alifano has a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and is an Ordained Minister with over 40 years of experience integrating psychology and spirituality in his private practice. He has worked with thousands of people at various stages of their lives, listening to their dreams and aspirations, traumas and confusions, and their desire to live life more attuned to their inner wisdom. And he has loved doing it his entire career. Over the decades, he has studied numerous theories and methodologies—both psychological and spiritual—and they have all filtered down to inform who he is and how he works. His book, Listening in the Raw, teaches how to listen from our unadulterated curiosity and beyond the commonly taught listening techniques, which ironically can inhibit deeper listening. Our sole intention and desire is to understand the speaker at an intimate level where our intentions do not get in the way of hearing so that the separation between self and other momentarily disappears. This not only serves the speaker but expands the listener's perspective beyond the confines of their filtered presumptions. This penetrates the shell of our collective isolation, eases the whirlpool of our emotional turmoil, and has a profound impact on any relationship.

What We Cover in This Episode:

Presence > Procedure – Checklists can keep us in our heads; true listening starts in the body with felt curiosity.

Name the Filter, Loosen Its Grip – Notice the inner flinch (judgment, fear, low self-esteem). Label it, breathe, re-open.

Curiosity Is Connection – A single genuine question—“What’s it like to be you right now?”—outperforms any ready-made advice.

Humor Heals – Light, respectful laughter can puncture shame and invite receptivity.

Self-Care Fuels Listening – Parents who pause to regulate their own stress buy the extra three minutes of presence that can change everything.

Dr. Randal Alifani’s book:

Listening in the Raw: Coming Home to Receptivity

Randall Alifano PhD, OM: Psycho-Spiritual Counseling

Earl Of Dad Jokes(Randal'son,Lucas)

Season 3 Is Different

Too many boys today feel lost, alone, and misunderstood. And far too often, the same is true for their parents.

Behind the troubling statistics is a generation of boys quietly longing to be seen, heard, and valued — yet the conversation around boys’ emotional lives remains far too quiet.

Season 3 of Unlocking the Parenting Code is here to change that.

In this new season, you’ll hear:

🔹 Real conversations with young men who are ready to share their truth.

🔹 Powerful insights from experts in boys’ mental and emotional health.

🔹 And raw, real wisdom from dads who are walking this road every day

🔹 Solo episodes where I reflect on what I’ve witnessed, wrestled with, and learned

At the heart of this season — and at the heart of Sonhood Coaching — is a mission:

To understand the inner emotional world of boys, to recognize the very real challenges they face, and to name the damaging myths and societal expectations that continue to shape how we see, treat, and raise our sons.

This is not about fixing boys.

It’s about truly seeing them — and learning how to show up differently, with compassion, courage, and connection.

Together, we’re building a world where boys feel safe to be their authentic selves.

Because when we get it right for our boys, we begin to heal something much bigger.

Visit sonhoodcoaching.com to learn more.