In this episode of the Dear Son Show, hosts D Johns and Jey Blac engage in a heartfelt discussion that touches on life through the lens of fatherhood. They explore the impact of recent elections, the role of societal and emotional factors in decision-making, and how these elements intersect with their responsibilities as fathers. The conversation also delves into the importance of community, personal growth, and preparing the younger generation for the complexities of the world. Additionally,...

In this episode of the Dear Son, Show, hosts D. Johns and Jay Black engage in a heartfelt discussion about the pressures of fatherhood, the struggles of being perceived as strong, and the importance of vulnerability. They reflect on their personal experiences, share lessons learned from their fathers, and discuss how they are navigating these concepts with their own children. The conversation explores various perceptions of strength, the consequences of unaddressed emotions, and the...

Join hosts J Black and D Johns on The Dear Son Show as they dive deep into meaningful conversations about fatherhood, parenting, and life lessons. In this episode, they discuss the critical distinctions between tolerating and enabling behaviors in children, reflect on their personal experiences with these challenges, and share valuable insights on maintaining balance and accountability within the family. Tune in for relatable stories, practical advice, and a heartfelt dialogue aimed at...

In this episode of the 'Dear Son, Show,' hosts J Black and D Johns engage in a meaningful conversation about responsibility, preparedness, and the unexpected lessons life throws at us. They discuss a personal experience involving an unintentional firearm incident at an airport, the implications, and the importance of being judgmental and aware of one's surroundings. The hosts also delve into the evolution of friendship loyalty, gun safety, and how these topics are crucial conversations to...

In this episode of the Dear Son, Show, hosts D. Johns and Jey Blac delve into meaningful conversations about life, fatherhood, and the challenges they face. They discuss personal struggles, including health issues, aging parents, and the evolving dynamics of family leadership. The episode touches on themes of resilience, the importance of understanding one's 'why,' and the impact of personal battles on family and business. They also reflect on the balance between external motivations and...

In this episode of the Dear Son, Show, hosts D Johns and Jey Blac have candid conversations about fostering better family life and personal growth on the cusp of the New Year. They discuss the importance of lightening the load at home, being more active in family roles, the art of delegating responsibilities, and managing frustrations. They also delve into the significance of setting resolutions, staying true to them, treating goals as daily commitments, and having a healthier, more...

In this episode of The Dear Son Show, hosts Jay Black and D John engage in significant, reflective discussions regarding the quotidian influences that shape their sons' characters and actions. Drawing lessons from current events, such as the Club Shay Shay interview controversy (without focusing on the actual dispute), they transition to personal parenting experiences unveiling implications of hasty conclusions and the significance of influence. Insights are shared on how teenagers' actions...

Enjoy the visual here: https://youtu.be/Qd_ZkSnbuwQ In this free-flowing conversation, the two hosts discuss various socio-cultural and personal topics. They delve into the complexity of navigating life, addressing their journey with personal growth, authenticity, and their experiences as fathers. They reflect on the power of ego, the influence of people around them, the role of effective communication, expectations in relationships, and the significance of self-awareness. They touch upon...

Sometimes you just need to slow down. In this episode, we discuss various personal experiences to emphasize the importance of slowing down in life. We got into our hectic daily schedules, balancing family and work, overcommitting to tasks, and the challenges of entrepreneurship. This conversation highlights the importance of effective communication within families and re-evaluating their priorities to maintain a healthy work-life balance. This conversation, as do most, provides a transparent...

This platform focuses on lessons we’ve learned as men and how we apply them to fatherhood. Sometimes we need to take a step back and identify what we’re learning from our children. We used this episode to be very intentional about giving our children their flowers. The assignment was for each of us to bring five lessons to the episode, but we didn’t compare notes. Luckily, the lists didn’t overlap… so we’re really delivering the top 10 lessons we’ve learned from our children.  The episode is...

The fatherhood journey has emotional phases. We should talk about that more. At some point, just being resilient isn’t enough. I encourage all fathers to find safe spaces to emotionally dump the toxins within. That’s what this episode was for me. If you feel a way, process that feeling. When necessary, seek professional help.   This conversation, as do most, provides a transparent view of life through the lens of fatherhood; however, it does not exclude women. There may be parallel...

Purpose is heavy and often looks foreign to others. Stay the course.  This conversation, as do most, provides a transparent view of life through the lens of fatherhood; however, it does not exclude women. There may be parallel experiences that resonate with you, or you may just want a peak into the minds of men. We wouldn’t be here without you. You're welcome.... you’re all welcome. We invite you to take this ride with us to experience life as we know it. We learned quite about ourselves...

Dear son, I went too far! We don’t discuss this often, but I was once a child. Not only was I a child, but a very stupid one at different phases. Well, maybe not a stupid child, but if you isolated certain actions and behaviors, you could easily classify me as stupid-adjacent.  This was a very lighthearted discussion, and it the message is impactful. Yes, those two seemingly opposing concepts can be simultaneously true. Enjoy the banter, but don’t miss the jewels.  We took advantage of this...

Dear son, the torch is yours! I think every proud father looks forward to the day when he knows his son is ready to the lead the family. There’s no generic timeline for this transition of authority, and the path is nuanced for each scenario. What does the preparation look like? Do fathers and sons even discuss this in advance or do most wait for an untimely life event to thrust the weight of patriarchy onto an unsuspecting son.   I also want to believe that my son will be ready, yet this...

Dear son, don’t prey on broken women. In this age of opportunity and seemingly unlimited access to everything, don’t allow women to become a commodity in your mind. Every opportunity to gain, isn’t a good or fair opportunity, especially when it comes to women. The simple truth is that how you treat them is always a reflection of you. The woman you choose reflects your decision making, tolerances, and morals. Remember that.  Now, I’ll dismount my high horse to communicate more transparently...

Dear son, the black woman is not your enemy. Society, media, and entertainment platforms often present a monolithic, unrealistic representation of what black women are (or are not). The narrative is even reinforced within our community (by some) for some reason. Black men and women are often pitted against each other, fueling hatred and disdain… or at least that’s what “they” would have us believe.  The narrative can only shift through a collective understanding of how we should be valued....

Could you forgive a felon? Your answer may depend on the context, but should it? Order is a necessity in life. Order has several subcomponents such as structure, law, and consequences. One of the most extreme consequences is incarceration. This conversation isn’t about agreeing about law or the repercussions of breaking the law. What happens to those individuals after they’ve paid their debt to society?  Your response to the last question above probably depends on the context as well. Many...

Dear son, life has cycles. Highs and lows are a part of life, but have you ever stopped to evaluate the associated patterns? Sometimes we revisit lessons that are presented multiple times throughout our lives. Is your natural response to complain about your current circumstance or learn from it? If you give this careful consideration, your final answer may not match your initial response.  The other interesting thing about cycles, specifically in a family dynamic, is that it will not only...

This conversation was so necessary. For most men, there’s a little boy spirit that is tough to evict. It shows up in different ways for different individuals. A consistent theme from this discussion is that little boys need their fathers, even when they become adults.  Chapo and Savv (The Chop It Up Podcast) stopped by the set to share several vulnerable moments from their childhood, teenage, and adult years. The stories are too deep to capture here, but this was definitely an emotional...

The title is a bit jarring by intent, but is it inaccurate? Every day we hear about acts of violence and malice, but the assailants and orchestrators are getting younger. For some, that’s all they’ve been given, or at least, that’s what they see in their environments most frequently. In other scenarios, the children are blessed with a loving two-parent household that seemingly doesn’t struggle financially or emotionally. So, what’s happening? This discussion was inspired by a social media...

Stop! Don't! Sit down! Wait! Just be patient. Sound familiar? If not to you, then ask your children how often they've heard these exclamatory statements. Sometimes these outburst are warranted whether to keep the child safe or to keep the child from harming someone or something else. Other times, parents are just too far spent with life to deal with an annoying request for mild and cookies (oat milk, of course).  What is the lesson for the parent? That's simple...take a dose of your own...

My eBook is finally available! I appreciate your support. https://thedearsonpodcast.com/dsp-merch-%26-digital/ols/products/20lifepromptsv1 The journey of manhood is nuanced. We are often called to be everything to everyone at the expense of knowing our purpose and identity. Some would argue that those concepts are interchangeable, and yes, they are similar; however, they are not the same.  In this series launch, we assembled 16 panelists, men from varying walks of life, to discuss what some...

What is your motive for success? For some it’s personal, while others have an external “why.” Ultimately, most of us are either doing it for the castle or for the crowd. Stated differently, we’re pursuing success to take care of our home (the castle) or to impress those outside of our home. The delineation is vanity, doing the thing to be seen and praised. Sometimes our motives are misaligned. The effort looks good and plausible from the outside, but internally, the individual is pursuing...

The burden of manhood is heavy. Sometimes we get weighed down with its duties and responsibilities, which leaves little room for an expectation of being loved the way we want and need to be. Some men want a fairy tale love too. This may be a hot take for some, and others may assume the title is just for the views, but I challenge you to really give this some thought. A fairy tale is just a curated escape from reality. I’d submit that everyone has (or has had) those moments in life.  For this...