Dear Son,

This is a safe space to build upon and reinforce the values of fatherhood. We'll explore the gaps between the current generation of fathers and fathers of generations past, and mature the dialogue that will close those gaps for the generations to come. Whether your passion is to be a great father or peel back the layers of why your father wasn't present in your life (physically and/or emotionally), this is for you. Let's grow through it.

Latest Episodes:

I Didn't Have The Best Examples of Fatherhood, So I Became One | Ep 43 w Brandon Bradley Sep 27, 2022

Show notes

Sometimes men don't know what they're lacking in life until fatherhood sets in. Ideally, there would be a deep catalog of positive experiences and references to pull from...a how-to manual of sorts. That's extremely aspirational even in the best scenarios. Where do men learn to be men? How does each man learn best? The truth is, a man will learn by what is modeled throughout his life. Good or bad, some version of manhood is being taught everyday.

This conversation with Brandon was therapeutic for me. Our backgrounds are different, but the challenges of fatherhood resonated with me as I'm sure it will with other men. His story is colorful, eventful, and traumatic. He recalls all of it with a smile on his face, masking the hurtful moments that have shaped who is today. Through it all, he has chosen to be better than what was was modeled throughout his life, and strive to give his family gets a better version of him everyday. This is a good one.

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What Are We Really Teaching Our Sons? | DSP Ep 42 James Johnson #fatherandson Sep 24, 2022

Show notes

What are we really teaching our sons? Most dads have an immediate response listing all the topics that are most important or memorable to them, but what are the children learning from their actions? They know the difference between their parents’ talk and their walk. We had a deep discussion about teaching them to be tough, choosing friends, music and other cultural influences.

My conversation counterpart, James Johnson, brought the energy again. I mean, he’s a DSN community fave, and more of a recurring co-host at this point. His perspective on the impact of the circles our sons choose is poignant and quite timely. We covered a lot, yet there’s so much left to unpack

As always, I welcome your feedback and perspective. It takes a village.

#fatherhood #daddyissues #accountable #blackfathers #fatherandson #blackexcellence

Flexxion Chiropractic

1201 N Watson Rd (at 360 & 30)

Arlington, TX

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I Don't Blame My Father For This | DSP Ep 41 w Forrest Laurent #ChurchHurt Sep 09, 2022

Show notes

Enjoy the visual experience: https://youtu.be/dLFUPPlJn0k

Accountability is the true measure of a man. Oftentimes we search for excuses as to why a man behaves a certain way. Perhaps his father wasn't around; or maybe, his father set a terrible example. I personally believe that there are more great examples of fatherhood than there are of terrible fathers, but that's a conversation for another episode. I am certain that there are men out here defying the odds, working through, and healing from trauma, and generally being the change that they want to see.

This conversation with Forrest Brooks is proof. We discussed somewhat taboo topics like church hurt, abandonment, and what happens when a father starts a new family with someone else. How do you extract the positives from those experiences and live a healthy healed adult life? Jump into this episode to get our perspectives. I'm not suggesting that you will agree, but I'm certain this episode will initiate a conversation in your mind, family, and maybe even your community. Be blessed.

As always, I welcome your feedback and perspective. It takes a village.

#fatherhood #daddyissues #accountable #blackfathers #fatherandson #blackexcellence

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They’re Shooting! | Don’t Be A Tough Guy | Ep 40 Aug 17, 2022

Show notes

Dear Son, they're shooting at me! In this episode I caught up with my teenage son to get his perspective on school safety and the dangers of being tough (or at least trying to be). I shared a story about one of my run-ins with gun violence. Some days I'm paralyzed by the thought that my son might, at some point, have a similar experience.

Violence is so prevalent, that it can become numbing to kids, teenagers...and adults. Part of the struggle is navigating what is too much exposure, too soon. Part of me enjoys subscribing to the myth that ignorance is bliss. The rest of me wants to ensure my children know how to fight. The dichotomy.

As always, I welcome your feedback and perspective. It takes a village.

#blackfathers #fatherandson #blackexcellence #entrepreneurship #toughguy

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The Top Off Legacy | Entrepreneurship, Entertainment, and Fatherhood | Mr. JB tha Barber | Ep 39 Jul 01, 2022

Show notes

Mr. JB the Barber is a multi-faceted young entrepreneur with an old soul. He owns a successful barber shop filled with expressive art and hair artists that have become a staple in the community. Growing up, he was inspired by his father, also a barber, to take business ownership seriously, and he has become a savvy people leader in the process.

We talked about his early days growing up in Pine Bluff, AR where he recalls life in the hood being fun as a child, but he later understood the dangers of that environment. His family ultimately settled in the DFW metroplex by way of Bellevue, NE. DFW is where he formed the friendships and relationships that have significantly shaped his life. He gives us a peak into his relationship with the mother of his child and a with a friend that was murdered over a very trivial matter.

Fatherhood has been one of his most rewarding roles in life. His daughter is a brilliant and beautiful artist in the making. Though they are no longer a couple romantically, he speaks highly of his daughter's mother, and they work harmoniously to raise babygirl. The loss of his friend; however, clearly impacted him during the conversation. Their friendship created a brotherhood, and a collective of artists formed around that, Top Off Entertainment. He stepped away from the music business after losing his brother but has found the inspiration to rap again lately. His barbershop is named Top Off Cuts to honor the legacy.

Success looks different for many people. Most of us have a tendency to judge someone's character by what we immediately see. That's just human nature to a large degree. However, for those of us that mature beyond that, we're able to find the beauty in the journey and celebrate individuals for who they are. This conversation broadened my perspectives on a younger generation and gives me hope that they'll be just fine.

#fatherhood #blackfathers #blackartist #blackexcellence #entrepreneurship #dfwbarbers #barber #dallastx

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You Know The Vibes | How To Set The Frequency As A Father | DSP Ep 38 Jun 14, 2022

Show notes

https://linktr.ee/djohnslive

Do you know the vibes that resonate throughout your family? As fathers we are responsible for demonstrating manhood (amongst other important characteristics) in the home, which requires us to be mindful of our internal frequency. Don’t get tripped up on the wording, I’m just keeping it on par with this episode. Essentially, there is a tone that we set whether intentionally or unintentionally. It’s like the age-old parent-to-child [threatening] question: “Do you have an attitude?” Of course! Everyone always has an attitude. Typically, the inference is that the child is demonstrating some negative behavior at the time, and the parent wants them to “act better.”

In this conversation with Phillip, he challenged my thought pattern to consider how my actions resonate within my household, and whether I’m really in tune with how everyone in my household is feeling. Phillip has always been aware of his inner-spirit and is very open about being sensitive to that voice throughout his life. Society often pairs sensitivity with weakness, which is often a gross misrepresentation of the individual’s emotional state. Embracing this gift propelled Phillip to increasing levels of personal, financial, business, and familial success throughout his life.

Deep into the conversation, we began processing our thoughts on religion, God, and what this current life means. There are several points that require way more conversation to understand the full perspectives; however, I am always encouraged when men can intelligently discuss differences without judgement, anger, or any other unproductive result. We’ll continue the dialogue on a future episode. In the meantime, I challenge you to process your internal responses and why you believe what you believe. The end goal is not to change your mind, but you should be certain about your beliefs, and unbothered by those that believe otherwise. Be blessed.

#fatherhood #blackfathers #thoughtleader #blackexcellence #fatherandson #spiritual

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Trauma On The Yard | Violently Attacked at School | A Father’s Nightmare with Reggie George | Ep 37 Jun 07, 2022

Show notes

There's trauma on the yard! Many of us (parents) considered the school to be one of the safest places to send our children at one time. Over the past decade or so, the senseless attacks on our babies may have caused a heightened sense of awareness for some, paranoia for others, and perhaps even panic for a few. How would your life change if your child was the victim of a violent act at school? That's an unfair question to those who've never experienced it, and I pray that it is a question you'll never be able to answer from experience.

Unfortunately for the George family, they will have to live with such an experience forever. Reggie George is a loving husband, father, and father figure. One routine morning he dropped his twin daughters off at a Mansfield ISD (TX) public school not knowing that his life, his twin daughters’ lives, and his wife's life would pivot within hours due to a cowardly, horrific event at the school.

The scenario is too graphic to type here, but one of the twins was a approached and stabbed...which landed her in an 8.5 hour brain surgery fighting for her life. This episode connects the dots from that eventful day to the Father Figure movement that was birthed through Reggie's healing process, much of which he credits to an evolved relationship with God.

This testimony will rock your spirit, but, more importantly, will bless you.

#fatherfigure #fatherhood #blackfathers #blackexcellence #fatherandson #schoolviolence #girldad #childhoodtrauma

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Black or Blue? | Why I Became A Police Officer | A Conversation with Lt. Adrian Yowman | Ep 36 Jun 04, 2022

Show notes

Which comes first, black, or blue? Is there even a line between the two for police officers of color? Lieutenant Yowman gives us a peek into the everyday life and psychology of an officer, and how his journey to the force evolved. It all started in Port Arthur, TX, where Adrian grew up with his younger sister and single father in the home. He credits his father's drill sergeant background for the strict tone of the house. Adrian understood responsibility and leadership early as he was charged with overseeing his sister, ensuring that she handled her household chores and was safe and protected outside of the house.

At a young age, Adrian spent time riding along with his uncle, also a police officer, and knew immediately that he wanted to follow in his footsteps. Even after his uncle's untimely death while on the job, Adrian's desire to join the force never wavered. At the time of this recording, Adrian is thirteen years in, and provides a real-world perspective of what his priorities are as a black husband, father, and cop. We talked about the challenges with inadequate training and expectations of the average police officer. Does more need to be done to qualify and place officers? Are there still traces of racism and discrimination in the police system? Watch the full episode to gain a broader perspective, and then sound off in the comments, respectfully.

#blackandblue #blackfathers ##blackexcellence #stepdad #stepfather #stepmom #blendedfamily #fatherandson #dadhacks #emotionalintelligence

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The No Step Zone | How to Father a Blended Family | A Conversation with James Johnson | Ep 35 May 31, 2022

Show notes

You've just entered the no step zone. For some, there isn't much thought given to the term step as applied to familial relationships. Stepmom, stepsister, stepbrother...stepdad. I'll agree that the word prefix doesn't seem all that powerful, but does it impact how the individuals act in those relationships? On the one hand, we consider it a mere technicality... a lack of a biological connection. On the other hand, treating someone like a stepchild has been a dismissive insult (or assault) for as long as I can remember.

In this episode, James and I share the vulnerabilities we've experienced from both sides of non-biological fatherhood. Our stories are nuanced as is every fatherhood journey, but there are many core principles we share. Parenting in general is a very rewarding gift; however, do we really treat biological and non-biological children equally? If you just answered this question in your head, immediately share your thoughts in the comment section. You'll see how we answered this question by the end of the episode. I hope this blesses you where you are.

#blackparents #blackfathers ##blackexcellence #stepdad #stepfather #stepmom #blendedfamily #fatherandson #dadhacks #emotionalintelligence

Follow James: https://instagram.com/jeyblac

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The Three Foundational Pillars of the DSP Community

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“Better Man. Better Father.”

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My Son Thinks I'm A Whole Person | A Conversation with Donovan Johns | Ep 34 May 26, 2022

Show notes

My son thinks I'm a whole person, and I think he is amazing. We spent some time catching up on what's going on in his 14 yr-old life. He chronicles his bout with COVID and how it impacted him. I don't take anything my children say for granted as they are dealing with a different pace of information and emotional distress has many flags that are often unrecognized or ignored. I am grateful that he is in a good headspace all things considered.

He also manages to take control of the conversation with a few questions for me. I wasn't shocked by the depth of the questions, but admittedly didn't think he would ask a couple of them on camera. The point of this channel is to expose our journey to a healthier relationship. I'm becoming a better man in the process. Hopefully, this blesses you where you are.

#blackparents #blackfathers #blackexcellence #fatherandson #dadhacks #emotionalintelligence

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