I Am Dad – Détails, épisodes et analyse

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.

This episode of the I Am Dad Podcast is a powerful reminder that fatherhood is shaped not only by biology, but by community, responsibility, and purpose.

Host Kenneth Braswell welcomes Greg Harris, Outreach Lead with Fathers Incorporated, for an honest, deeply reflective conversation rooted in Brooklyn streets and Atlanta impact.

Greg shares his daddy’s story—marked by loss, trauma, and resilience—and reflects on growing up in Brooklyn surrounded by coaches, elders, and community men who stepped in when fathers were absent. Together, Braswell and Harris explore how trust is built with fathers, why outreach is sacred “first contact,” and how heart work—not just hard work—drives transformation.

The conversation also examines the realities fathers face today, from apprehension and distrust to redemption and accountability. Through stories of loss and success, the episode underscores the power of relationship, navigation, and purpose in helping men stay present for their children.

This is not a conversation about programs alone—it is a conversation about people, pain, healing, and the men who choose to stand in the gap.

In this powerful episode of the I Am Dad Podcast, host Kenneth Braswell welcomes Chris James, a nationally recognized spoken word artist, TEDx speaker, mental health educator, and founder of Creative Connections. As a father of seven and the visionary behind the “Black Boys Better” program, Chris shares how art, advocacy, and emotional intelligence are reshaping the conversation around fatherhood and mental wellness.

The two dive deep into fatherhood, the danger of emotional suppression, and how men often carry unacknowledged pain in silence. Chris opens up about becoming a father at 16, dropping his oldest son off at college while raising an 18-month-old, and how his own healing journey allows him to serve boys and men with greater empathy and truth. He and Braswell challenge the myth that men don’t express emotions, arguing instead that men communicate constantly—we just need to listen differently.

This episode is rich with lived experience, critical insight, and practical frameworks for healing, mentoring, and creating culturally relevant support systems for Black boys and their fathers.

In this profound episode of the I Am Dad Podcast, host Kenneth Braswell sits down with David Mandel, internationally recognized expert on domestic violence and child safety, and author of Stop Blaming Mothers and Ignoring Fathers. As the founder of the Safe & Together Institute, Mandel challenges the systems that fail to hold men accountable and overburden women—while offering real tools for change.

The two discuss the power of lived experience, unpack generational trauma, and call for the elevation of the "father fullness" narrative. Mandel shares how fatherhood shaped his life and how growing up with a decent, emotionally present father informed his approach to transforming child welfare and domestic violence systems.

From confronting the myth of the “absent father” to reimagining accountability, this episode is a vital listen for practitioners, advocates, and parents working toward healing and justice. Mandel’s insight is not just theoretical—it's global, practical, and grounded in compassion.

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of the I Am Dad Podcast, host Kenneth Braswell sits down with Dr. Dominick Shattuck, a community psychologist, researcher, and thought leader in men's health and masculinities. From recounting a terrifying incident where his daughter was bitten by a copperhead to unpacking the structural failures of our health systems, Dr. Shattuck opens up about fatherhood, masculinity, and the urgent need to prioritize men's health as a public health issue.

They talk about why men often don't seek care, the stigma around vulnerability, and how being emotionally and physically available is the most important trait a father can model. With honesty and insight, this episode challenges traditional narratives and offers a new vision for what it means to be a healthy, engaged father. Whether you’re a dad, a public health advocate, or someone interested in reshaping community health from the ground up, this conversation will leave you thinking differently about manhood and legacy.

In this powerful and wide-ranging episode of the I Am Dad Podcast, host Kenneth Braswell, CEO of Fathers Incorporated, welcomes Dr. Charles R. Rogers—award-winning behavioral scientist, founder of the Colorectal Cancer Equity Foundation, and passionate advocate for Black men’s health.

Together, they explore the layered reality of fatherhood, from Dr. Rogers' personal story of losing his father to suicide at age four, to his work combating health disparities in colorectal cancer. The conversation cuts deep into the undervalued role of fathers in family health, why “picking someone’s brain” without compensation is problematic, and how boundaries, service, and legacy must co-exist for Black men doing impactful work.

Dr. Rogers also discusses the rise in early-onset colorectal cancer, the barriers Black men face in screening and treatment, and the critical need to reframe conversations around masculinity and preventive care. Whether you're a father, health advocate, or community leader, this episode is a call to elevate the health and worth of Black men—for themselves and the families who depend on them.

Dr. Charles R. Rogers is a nationally recognized behavioral scientist, public health expert, and the Founding Director of the Men’s Health Inequities Research Lab. With over 20 years of experience addressing health disparities, Dr. Rogers is especially known for his groundbreaking work to eliminate racial gaps in colorectal cancer outcomes, particularly among African-American men. He is the founder of the Colorectal Cancer Equity Foundation, a husband, and a devoted father. Learn more: crcequity.org

Kenneth Braswell is the CEO of Fathers Incorporated and host of the I Am Dad Podcast. A national leader in fatherhood engagement, Kenneth brings over 20 years of experience creating media, policy, and programming that support fathers and strengthen families. He is the author of multiple books, producer of documentaries and PSA campaigns, and a passionate advocate for Black men and boys.

In this heartfelt and eye-opening episode of I Am Dad Podcast, host Kenneth Braswell sits down with Keith Holmes, fatherhood outreach specialist and advocate at Fathers Incorporated. Keith opens up about being raised by a stepfather who modeled manhood through action, and how his own biological father's struggles with addiction gave him a deeper understanding of trauma and redemption.

Through candid dialogue, Keith shares the transformative experiences that led him from working in juvenile justice to becoming a vital part of Atlanta’s fatherhood movement. From counseling dads in crisis to mentoring youth in underserved communities, Keith’s insights speak to the importance of empathy, cultural understanding, and showing up—even when it's hard.

The conversation also touches on sports culture, Black fatherhood in Atlanta, systemic barriers, and the future of generational impact through father-focused programs. It’s more than a conversation—it’s a reflection on what it truly means to prepare our boys for the world and ourselves for the journey of fatherhood.

In this deeply moving episode of the I Am Dad Podcast, host Kenneth Braswell sits down with Juan Baxter, a relationship therapist, youth mentor, and co-founder of the media and training duo Those Baxters. Juan shares his story of growing up without a present father, raising his own son at 19, and transforming generational cycles through intentional fatherhood, community service, and spiritual calling.

Juan reflects on his decision to put himself on child support, become a single father in his teens, and walk away from street life for the sake of his children. With equal parts vulnerability and wisdom, he explains how faith led him into social work, radio, theater, and fatherhood programming—culminating in his role as a Gentle Warriors Academy facilitator with Fathers Incorporated.

Together, Juan and Kenneth dive into the realities of parenting while healing, the importance of availability over perfection, the needs of men reentering community life, and how brotherhood among fathers can help men thrive where systems once failed them.

In this thought-provoking episode of the I Am Dad Podcast, host Kenneth Braswell welcomes Dena Barnwell, a Doctor of Public Health candidate, health educator, and former doula, whose work focuses on making fatherhood visible in systems that often leave men out. Dena’s journey into fatherhood advocacy began with her own personal story—a deep bond with her father, followed by a decade-long absence that challenged everything she believed about paternal relationships.

Her work explores how mental health, systems involvement, and social stigma impact fathers during the perinatal period, and why public health must treat men as more than “accessory parents.” Kenneth and Dena unpack the often-overlooked role of dads in maternal health, the emotional complexity of co-parenting, and the critical importance of storytelling in reshaping narratives about Black fathers. From her powerful research in Baltimore to her reflections as a mother, Dena makes a compelling case for family-centered—not mother-only—models of care.

In this gripping episode of the I Am Dad Podcast, host Kenneth Braswell welcomes back author, speaker, and reentry advocate Sharmain Harris. From growing up in the streets of Racine, Wisconsin, to serving time in prison, Sharmain’s story is a raw and redemptive testament to the transformative power of second chances. Now a husband, father of three, and community leader, Sharmain returns to share the deeper truths behind his new memoir, Rising Above the Odds: My Journey from Pain and Prison to Power and Purpose.

With honesty and humility, Sharmain reflects on childhood trauma, the heartbreak of family separation, his time in prison, and the pivotal moments that changed his mindset. The conversation explores fatherhood as both an identity and a responsibility, how trauma impacts Black boys and men, and the systems that too often fail them. Sharmain also shares how becoming a stepfather, reconnecting with his faith, and facing his past led to a gubernatorial pardon and a renewed purpose to serve others.

This episode is not just a story—it’s a blueprint for healing, hope, and generational transformation.