I Am Dad

Letter to My 13-Year-Old Self: Wisdom Fathers Men Wish They Knew w/ Dr. David Miller

This week on I Am Dad Podcast, host Kenneth Braswell welcomes scholar, author, and longtime advocate Dr. David Miller for a powerful conversation about mentorship, memory, and manhood.
At the center of this episode is Dr. Miller’s new national writing project, Letters to My 13-Year-Old Self, an intergenerational reflection inviting Black men across the country to write a message to the boy they once were. The letters explore wisdom, wounds, and wins—the lessons learned through decades of life experience.
The conversation digs deeper than nostalgia. Braswell and Miller explore why age 13 represents a critical turning point in the development of boys and young men. They reflect on the awkward transition from childhood to adolescence, peer pressure, masculinity, identity formation, and the deep emotional experiences that shape a young man’s future.
Throughout the episode, they examine:
Why age 13 is a pivotal moment in Black male development
The power of intergenerational mentorship between Black men
The importance of community affirmation for young boys
What today’s generation of boys face in a hyper-digital world
The lasting impact of childhood trauma and early experiences
Why older Black men must intentionally pass wisdom to younger generations
Dr. Miller also shares how letters submitted by men across the country—from young adults to elders in their eighties—reveal common themes of resilience, healing, identity, and self-worth.
The episode closes with a reflection on the importance of slowing down, turning off the phone, and rediscovering the beauty of youth before adulthood arrives too quickly.
This conversation is a reminder that every man carries the voice of the boy he once was—and that speaking to that younger self can help guide the next generation.

Shared Parenting and Fatherhood Reform: Mark Ludwig on Family Court, Legislation, and Parental Alienation

In this episode of I Am Dad Podcast, host Kenneth Braswell welcomes Mark Ludwig for a powerful conversation about fatherhood, family courts, and the legislative battle to keep children connected to both parents.
Mark Ludwig shares his deeply personal story of going 204 days without seeing his son, a painful experience that ultimately led him into the world of fatherhood advocacy and policy reform. What began as a personal struggle evolved into a national mission to educate advocates and legislators on shared parenting and family law reform.
Together, Braswell and Ludwig unpack the realities many fathers face after separation or divorce, including parental alienation, legal barriers, and the adversarial nature of family courts. They also explore why legislative reform has become one of the most important tools for addressing systemic obstacles that prevent fathers from being meaningfully involved in their children’s lives.
The conversation covers:
What shared parenting actually means
Why the current family court system often creates “winners and losers”
The emotional toll of parental separation on fathers and children
The role of legislation in protecting father–child relationships
Why messaging and language matter in fatherhood advocacy
The growing national movement toward equal parenting laws
Mark also discusses his new book, The Parental Alienation Playbook, which identifies common tactics used to disrupt parent–child relationships and provides strategies for fathers navigating difficult co-parenting environments.
This episode is both a personal testimony and a strategic conversation about how fathers, advocates, and policymakers can work together to strengthen families and create healthier environments for children.

What Every Daughter Needs From Her Father - The Sacred Bond: Black Fathers, Daughters, and Mental Health” w/ Dr. David Miller

This week on I Am Dad Podcast, guest host Dr. Matisa Wilbon of the Moynihan Institute for Fatherhood Research and Policy takes the host chair for a powerful conversation with fellow institute colleague Dr. David Miller, a researcher focused on the mental health and social development of Black men, fathers, and families.
Drawing from his academic research and personal experience as a father of two daughters and a son, Dr. Miller explores a topic that has received far too little scholarly attention: the sacred bond between Black fathers and daughters.
Their conversation examines the emotional, psychological, and cultural importance of father involvement in daughters’ lives—even when fathers do not live in the same household. Dr. Miller shares findings from interviews with non-residential fathers and daughters that reveal an important truth: daughters continue to need affirmation, guidance, and presence from their fathers well into adulthood.
Together, Wilbon and Miller discuss:
Why the father–daughter relationship is critical to girls’ mental health • The myth of the “absent father” narrative • The emotional toll on fathers who are separated from their children • How fathers shape daughters’ self-esteem and identity • Why dads must talk to daughters about relationships, race, and beauty • The importance of racial pride and positive affirmations from fathers • Co-parenting challenges and policy barriers affecting father involvement • Why mental health support for fathers matters just as much as for children
The episode also addresses the uncomfortable but necessary conversations fathers must have with daughters about relationships, sexuality, safety, and self-worth. Dr. Miller argues that when fathers provide affirming messages about identity, beauty, and resilience, they help counter the harmful stereotypes Black girls face in society.
This conversation is not only about research—it is about healing, growth, and creating stronger relationships between fathers and daughters across generations.

Dads on the Sidelines: Youth Sports, Pressure, and Parenting with Purpose w/ Coach Javin Foreman

This week on I Am Dad Podcast, host Kenneth Braswell welcomes Javin Foreman, father of three and youth basketball dad living in the real-time rhythm of competitive sports parenting.
From Chicago courts to suburban gyms, this conversation dives into what really happens on the sidelines—where love, fear, ego, and expectation often collide. Drawing from his own playing background and now coaching and parenting two sons in organized basketball, Javin shares candid reflections on:
Living vicariously through our children
Managing emotional reactions during games
The ride home conversation
When competitiveness crosses into control
Parenting differently based on each child’s personality
The pressure of youth sports culture, AAU systems, and NIL aspirations
Co-parenting dynamics and sideline behavior
Kenneth and Javin explore how sports expose fatherhood in its rawest form. The gym becomes a mirror—revealing not just a child’s skills, but a parent’s fears, expectations, and growth areas. This episode challenges dads to ask: Are we building character—or projecting our own unfinished business?
If you have a child in youth sports, this conversation will feel familiar—and necessary.

The $154 Billion Man: Why Investing in Fathers Is an Economic Imperative w/ Christopher A. Brown

Season 5 of I Am Dad Podcast continues its deep dive into the systems shaping modern fatherhood—and this conversation is one for policymakers, practitioners, and advocates alike.
Host Kenneth Braswell welcomes Christopher Brown, longtime leader in the national fatherhood movement and president of National Fatherhood Initiative.
Together, they discuss the groundbreaking report The $154 Billion Man, which reframes father absence not only as a moral and social issue, but as an economic one. The report conservatively estimates that the federal government spends over $154 billion annually supporting single-mother households across 14 major assistance programs—a figure that has risen more than 50 percent (inflation-adjusted) since 2008.
This episode goes beyond the numbers. Brown and Braswell examine:
Why capacity building—not just programming—is essential
How culture change within agencies determines sustainability
The role of marriage and relationship stability in child outcomes
Why younger generations of fathers are redefining fatherhood identity
The urgent need for national convening and preservation of institutional knowledge in the fatherhood field
If you care about strengthening families, influencing public policy, or building sustainable fatherhood programming, this conversation offers both data and direction.

When Fatherhood Meets Justice: Charles Johnson on Loss, Love, and Saving Mothers

This episode of the I Am Dad Podcast is a powerful and necessary conversation about love, loss, and responsibility.
Host Kenneth Braswell welcomes Charles Johnson, founder and CEO of 4Kira4Moms, for an unflinching discussion about fatherhood in the face of tragedy and purpose born from grief.
Charles shares his deeply personal daddy story, including the loss of his wife Kira just days after the birth of their second son due to preventable medical failures. What followed was not only heartbreak, but a reckoning—one that exposed systemic bias in maternal healthcare and propelled Charles into national advocacy to ensure no family experiences what his did.
Together, Braswell and Johnson examine how racism, delayed care, and dismissal of Black women’s pain continue to drive maternal mortality in the United States. The conversation expands into the critical role fathers play—not only in parenting, but in advocating for their partners, navigating healthcare systems, and reshaping narratives around family, partnership, and accountability.
This episode also explores the intersection of fatherhood and maternal health, why empowering dads improves outcomes for mothers and babies, and how partnership—not performative allyship—is required to create real change.
This is not just a story about loss. It is a call to action for fathers, families, policymakers, and communities to show up, speak up, and do better.

Dadicated, Not Perfect: New Fatherhood, Marriage, and Showing Up Without a Manual w/ Joe Carr

Fatherhood rarely arrives with a manual—and for many men, the earliest season is the most overwhelming.
In this episode of the I Am Dad Podcast, host Kenneth Braswell welcomes Joe Carr, creator of the Dadicated Joe platform and co-founder of Serenity Kids, for an honest, wide-ranging conversation about modern fatherhood.
Joe shares his daddy story, the collision of launching a national baby food company on the same day his daughter was born, and the emotional reality of early parenting that no class, book, or preparation truly covers. Together, Braswell and Carr explore how fear of judgment, relationship dynamics, and unspoken expectations shape how men show up as husbands and fathers.
The conversation also dives into marriage, boundaries, household equity, emotional validation, and the evolving role of dads—along with practical insights on nutrition, shared parenting, and why today’s fathers are redefining masculinity through presence, care, and partnership.
This episode speaks directly to new dads, expecting fathers, and men navigating the balance between ambition, love, responsibility, and self-worth.

The Good Dad Act: How One Father Changed Custody Law and Reclaimed His Son w/ Dr. Bernard Jennings

This episode of the I Am Dad Podcast is a masterclass in perseverance, policy change, and purpose-driven fatherhood.
Host Kenneth Braswell welcomes Bernard W.H. Jennings, Florida Supreme Court–certified mediator, public servant, and architect of the Good Dad Act, for an extraordinary conversation about how one father’s fight for access to his son reshaped state law.
Dr. Jennings shares his deeply personal daddy story—how, despite being listed on his son’s birth certificate and actively parenting, he was told by a judge that he had no rights under Florida law. Rather than surrender, he studied the system, drafted legislation, built bipartisan support, and helped pass the Good Dad Act, establishing equal parental rights for fathers who step up.
The conversation explores the realities of paternity, legitimation, custody, and child support across states, the hidden barriers fathers face in family court, and why policy reform must be strategic, patient, and informed. Braswell and Jennings also discuss the emotional toll of prolonged separation, the importance of father involvement in child outcomes, and the role mothers, partners, and communities play in sustaining healthy families.
This is not just a legal story—it is a roadmap for fathers, advocates, and civic leaders seeking justice, equity, and lasting change for children and families nationwide.

Purpose-Driven Fatherhood: Faith, Leadership, and Raising Children with Intention w/ Jesse Anderson

Fatherhood is not a role a man steps into when it is easy. It is a calling that demands clarity, responsibility, and presence.
In this episode of the I Am Dad Podcast, host Kenneth Braswell welcomes Jesse Anderson, a fatherhood coach, court-appointed monitor, and ministry leader whose work focuses on helping men lead their families with strength, faith, and emotional integrity.
Jesse shares his deeply personal daddy story, growing up without a biological father and learning how to become a dad through mentors, faith, and lived experience. The conversation explores why many fathers disengage after separation or divorce, how leadership breaks down inside families, and why vulnerability, forgiveness, and consistency are essential to raising healthy children.
Together, Braswell and Anderson examine the role of faith in shaping masculine leadership, the difference between being present and being accountable, and how fathers influence both sons and daughters through modeling, structure, and love. From courtrooms to kitchens, the discussion centers on one core truth: children thrive when fathers rise.
This episode is a grounded, faith-centered conversation for fathers, mentors, and anyone committed to breaking generational cycles and building purpose-driven families.

Fatherhood in New York: Masculinity, Marriage, and Raising the Next Generation w/ Scott Leach

This episode of the I Am Dad Podcast is a masterclass in perspective, memory, and meaning.
Host Kenneth Braswell welcomes longtime friend and respected fatherhood practitioner Scott Leach for an expansive conversation rooted in New York City’s five boroughs and shaped by decades of work with fathers and families.
Scott shares his personal daddy story, reflecting on early separation, childhood anger, sports as an outlet, and the moment his understanding of fatherhood shifted through evidence, accountability, and love. From there, the conversation widens into the complexities of doing fatherhood work in New York—where geography, culture, transportation, and community identity all shape how fathers show up.
Together, Braswell and Leach unpack masculinity, marriage, toxic narratives, community mentorship, faith, and the generational impact of the 1980s on today’s fathers. They explore why children need to see healing, why community men still matter, and why fatherhood work is ultimately about supporting healthy children—not choosing sides.
This is not a theoretical discussion. It is lived experience, honest reflection, and practical wisdom for anyone committed to strengthening families in real-world conditions.