Every father should have honest conversations with his son. In this episode of The Dear Son, Show, we explore the lessons fathers must teach their sons before adulthood.

Don’t Blow Out the Shocks: Hard Truths, Honor, and Communication in Relationships

The hosts of “Better Together” discuss how the “happy wife, happy life” mindset can make men “reverse submissive,” avoiding hard truths to keep peace, and argue that leaders in a household must speak necessary hard things without ego. Using shock absorbers as an analogy, they explain how reliable support—whether a man’s resilience, a steady paycheck, or God’s grace—can be taken for granted, overused, and then blamed when it fails. They distinguish respecting vs. honoring what supports you, warn against putting the wrong “shocks” in the wrong situations, and emphasize alignment, self-care, and accountability. Personal examples include tension with an adult child over feeling “not above and beyond,” and the need for boundaries so “no” is received with honor. The episode closes by stressing transparent communication to prevent resentment and burnout.

00:00 Happy Wife Trap

01:02 Meet The Hosts

02:44 Dont Blow Shocks

04:39 Manhood Takes Hits

06:00 Money As Cushion

07:17 When Shocks Fail

10:01 Respect Vs Honor

11:59 Right Tool Wrong Job

14:10 Grace And Consequence

16:34 Purpose Or Overwork

18:09 Chaos And Capability

20:18 Fatherhood Reality Check

26:17 Tough Love and No

27:14 Honor Versus Respect

29:14 Happy Wife Happy Life Myth

30:55 Overtooling for Conflict

32:53 Equally Yoked Reality Check

35:43 Boundaries and Resentment

37:28 Shocks Need Communication

40:57 Adjusting Around the Problem

44:18 Alignment and Self Care

46:59 Wrap Up and Takeaways

#fathersonrelationship #adviceformen #modernfatherhood #adultchildren #lifelessonsformen #raisingmen #raisingkids #mantalk

Channel Focus Areas:

“What Fathers Should Teach Their Sons”

“How to Be a Better Father”

“Father Son Relationship Advice”

“Mistakes Fathers Make”

“Lessons Every Man Should Learn”

Shop DSN Merch: https://thedearsonpodcast.com/dsp-merch-%26-digital

Shop Father Figure: https://www.f2apparel.store/

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

Follow Joe T: https://instagram.com/bakeriii

Follow Reggie: https://instagram.com/fatherfigureapparel

Also, if you've made it this far, don't forget to:

1. subscribe to the channel,

2. turn on the notifications,

3. like this video,

4. leave a comment, and

5. share this content with someone who needs it.

The DSP: https://thedearsonpodcast.com

Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors:

Shop DSN Merch: https://dear-son-merch.creator-spring.com/listing/the-dear-son-show

Love Kisha J Studios: https://lovekishaj.com

My ebook: https://thedearsonpodcast.com/dsp-merch-%26-digital/ols/products/20lifepromptsv1

My book (physical): https://thedearsonpodcast.com/dsp-merch-%26-digital/ols/products/dear-son-what-i-wish-my-father-told-me-physical-copy

Let’s connect socially:

https://instagram.com/thedearsonpodcast

https://facebook.com/thedearsonpodcast

The Three Foundational Pillars of the DSP Community

1. Reveal trauma

2. Heal from trauma

3. Help through telling stories of it all

“Better Man. Better Father.”

The Dear Son, Network ®

Every father should have honest conversations with his son. In this episode of The Dear Son, Show, we explore the lessons fathers must teach their sons before adulthood.

What Makes or Breaks a Man: Perspective, Growth, and Vulnerability | Better Together

The hosts of Better Together—Joe T, Reggie George, J Black, and D Johns—discuss what can make or break a man, focusing on perspective, personal development, and honest communication. Joe T reflects on how lust and mismanaging money once seemed like “badges” but were actually breaking him, and he shares how learning business basics like forming an LLC and applying for a loan reshaped his mindset. The group explores how environment can miseducate people into survival tactics, why relationships often resist growth more than other areas of life, and how fear, willful ignorance, and attachment to what’s familiar create dysfunction. They emphasize vulnerability as a strength, the importance of regular check-ins, accountability without weaponizing feedback, avoiding comparison, practicing surrender, and not “dying” in someone else’s lack of development.

00:00 Nineties Haircut Memories

01:39 Show Intro and Check In

03:18 What Makes or Breaks Men

03:54 Lust Money and Unlearning

07:53 Reeducation and Strongholds

09:30 Perspective Changes Everything

12:20 Vulnerability as Strength

15:06 Marriage Growth and Deflection

24:46 Complacency and Silent Ruts

26:54 Why Relationships Resist Change

30:55 Phone Analogy and Human Growth

33:55 Early Marriage Blind Spots

35:13 Cracked Screen Relationships

37:59 Familiarity Versus Growth

41:05 Check Ins Without Weapons

42:39 Change Versus Development

44:09 Dont Die In Prison

48:11 Make Or Break Mindset

53:05 Update Your Data

55:14 Accountability Filters

59:55 Surrender And Priorities

01:06:34 Speak Up In Safe Spaces

01:08:52 Better Together Closing

#fathersonrelationship #adviceformen #modernfatherhood #adultchildren #lifelessonsformen #raisingmen #raisingkids #mantalk

Channel Focus Areas:

“What Fathers Should Teach Their Sons”

“How to Be a Better Father”

“Father Son Relationship Advice”

“Mistakes Fathers Make”

“Lessons Every Man Should Learn”

Shop DSN Merch: https://thedearsonpodcast.com/dsp-merch-%26-digital

Shop Father Figure: https://www.f2apparel.store/

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

Follow Joe T: https://instagram.com/bakeriii

Follow Reggie: https://instagram.com/fatherfigureapparel

Also, if you've made it this far, don't forget to:

1. subscribe to the channel,

2. turn on the notifications,

3. like this video,

4. leave a comment, and

5. share this content with someone who needs it.

The DSP: https://thedearsonpodcast.com

Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors:

Shop DSN Merch: https://dear-son-merch.creator-spring.com/listing/the-dear-son-show

Love Kisha J Studios: https://lovekishaj.com

My ebook: https://thedearsonpodcast.com/dsp-merch-%26-digital/ols/products/20lifepromptsv1

My book (physical): https://thedearsonpodcast.com/dsp-merch-%26-digital/ols/products/dear-son-what-i-wish-my-father-told-me-physical-copy

Let’s connect socially:

https://instagram.com/thedearsonpodcast

https://facebook.com/thedearsonpodcast

The Three Foundational Pillars of the DSP Community

1. Reveal trauma

2. Heal from trauma

3. Help through telling stories of it all

“Better Man. Better Father.”

The Dear Son, Network ®

Every father should have honest conversations with his son. In this episode of The Dear Son, Show, we explore the lessons fathers must teach their sons before adulthood.

Value Is Undervalued: Gratitude, Access, and the Cost of Not Letting Go | Dear Son Show

On the Dear Son Show, hosts Jey Blac and D Johns discuss how “value is undervalued,” using examples from family life, finances, and work. They reflect on valuing needs over wants, the difference between price and long-term value, and how experience and expertise are often dismissed out of pride. D shares project-managing the rebuild of his father’s home after a minor fire while navigating his father’s early dementia and difficulty letting contractors lead. They explore protecting access to good people, setting boundaries around unequal exchanges, and how damaged value doesn’t always return—comparing a repaired car’s diminished worth to relationships where apologies don’t guarantee reconciliation. They also mention upcoming Dear Son Network content, including “Unhinged,” and encourage viewers to support other network shows.

00:00 Gratitude Hits Different

00:37 Show Intro and Check In

02:00 Family Updates and Milestones

04:10 Value Versus Price

06:46 Respecting Others Values

08:16 Undervaluing Experience

10:53 Rebuilding Dads House

13:16 Letting Go of Control

18:10 Access Is a Season

21:32 Protecting Dreams and Opportunity

23:06 Toolbox Value Shift

24:03 Humility And Motives

25:33 Protect Your People

28:25 Fair Exchange Boundaries

31:20 Paying For Expertise

32:01 Car Crash Value Lesson

35:19 Saturation And Brain Picking

38:16 Apologies And Trust Loss

40:51 Standards And Spillover

45:57 Network Updates And Signoff.

#fathersonrelationship #adviceformen #modernfatherhood #adultchildren #lifelessonsformen #raisingmen #raisingkids #mantalk

Channel Focus Areas:

“What Fathers Should Teach Their Sons”

“How to Be a Better Father”

“Father Son Relationship Advice”

“Mistakes Fathers Make”

“Lessons Every Man Should Learn”

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

Also, if you've made it this far, don't forget to:

1. subscribe to the channel,

2. turn on the notifications,

3. like this video,

4. leave a comment, and

5. share this content with someone who needs it.

The DSP: https://thedearsonpodcast.com

Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors:

Shop DSN Merch: https://dear-son-merch.creator-spring.com/listing/the-dear-son-show

Love Kisha J Studios: https://lovekishaj.com

My ebook: https://thedearsonpodcast.com/dsp-merch-%26-digital/ols/products/20lifepromptsv1

My book (physical): https://thedearsonpodcast.com/dsp-merch-%26-digital/ols/products/dear-son-what-i-wish-my-father-told-me-physical-copy

Let’s connect socially:

https://instagram.com/thedearsonpodcast

https://facebook.com/thedearsonpodcast

The Three Foundational Pillars of the DSP Community

1. Reveal trauma

2. Heal from trauma

3. Help through telling stories of it all

“Better Man. Better Father.”

The Dear Son, Network ®

Counting the Cost: Crime, Faith, Parenting, and the Price of Not Surrendering

In this episode of Better Together, the hosts discuss “counting the cost” across crime, spirituality, parenting, work, and relationships. Joe T explains that before prison, crime felt “lawful” and consequence-free because of his environment, but prison revealed how it was costing him everything. They contrast religious ritual with genuine spiritual formation, emphasizing exposure, accountability, and surrender, including how faith is tested during tragedy like a child’s medical crisis. The conversation also covers the danger of being convinced of yourself, how permissive parenting can stem from resenting structure, and the need to teach consequences. They share personal examples of counting the cost: moving family from the East Coast to Dubai, entrepreneurial risks versus corporate regret, success through content creation, and relationship decisions, ending with a call for viewers to reflect on what something is costing them and what it will cost.

00:00 Counting Crime Costs

00:49 Car Lesson on Value

02:06 Prison Reality Check

02:25 Ritual vs Relationship

05:36 Learning Surrender

09:43 God Knows My Heart

10:15 Echo Chambers and Pride

12:57 Parenting and Boundaries

16:46 Paying the Cost Daily

19:21 Marriage Covenant Costs

21:44 When Commitment Becomes Harm

24:26 Mortgage Analogy for Growth

26:21 Faith Tested by Loss

27:54 Moving Away for Family

31:48 Entrepreneurship vs Corporate

34:10 Time Wealth and Presence

36:07 TikTok Leap of Faith

37:50 Calling Off Engagement Regret

40:22 Community Challenge Wrap Up

#fathersonrelationship #adviceformen #modernfatherhood #adultchildren #lifelessonsformen #raisingmen #raisingkids #mantalk

Channel Focus Areas:

“What Fathers Should Teach Their Sons”

“How to Be a Better Father”

“Father Son Relationship Advice”

“Mistakes Fathers Make”

“Lessons Every Man Should Learn”

Shop DSN Merch: https://thedearsonpodcast.com/dsp-merch-%26-digital

Shop Father Figure: https://www.f2apparel.store/

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

Follow Joe T: https://instagram.com/bakeriii

Follow Reggie: https://instagram.com/fatherfigureapparel

Also, if you've made it this far, don't forget to:

1. subscribe to the channel,

2. turn on the notifications,

3. like this video,

4. leave a comment, and

5. share this content with someone who needs it.

The DSP: https://thedearsonpodcast.com

Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors:

Shop DSN Merch: https://dear-son-merch.creator-spring.com/listing/the-dear-son-show

Love Kisha J Studios: https://lovekishaj.com

My ebook: https://thedearsonpodcast.com/dsp-merch-%26-digital/ols/products/20lifepromptsv1

My book (physical): https://thedearsonpodcast.com/dsp-merch-%26-digital/ols/products/dear-son-what-i-wish-my-father-told-me-physical-copy

Let’s connect socially:

https://instagram.com/thedearsonpodcast

https://facebook.com/thedearsonpodcast

The Three Foundational Pillars of the DSP Community

1. Reveal trauma

2. Heal from trauma

3. Help through telling stories of it all

“Better Man. Better Father.”

The Dear Son, Network ®

Counting the Cost: Comfort, Convenience, and the Price of What You Want

In this episode of Better Together, the hosts discuss how many people pursue marriage, business, fitness, and parenthood without understanding the true cost, often falling in love with the ideology or highlight reel instead of the work and sacrifice required. They compare this to buying cars or houses, where people scrutinize price but ignore long-term interest and maintenance, and argue that financing and “right now” thinking distort value. They explore comfort and convenience as modern decision-drivers, the importance of retention and maintenance over simply acquiring something, and how misrepresentation in relationships creates unrealistic expectations. The conversation also turns to parenting, missed teaching moments, and how pride can block receiving hard truths, ending with a teaser question about the cost of crime that they save for part two.

00:00 Episode Kickoff

00:31 The Real Cost

02:32 Financing Illusion

03:56 Weddings Versus Marriage

04:27 Comfort Convenience Trap

05:47 Who Pays The Price

07:46 Climb And Pivot

10:39 Highlight Reel Culture

12:49 False Fronts In Love

14:06 Where Mindsets Begin

15:16 Bit By The Bug

16:47 Why This Platform

17:44 Clientele Retention Costs

18:57 Attention Versus Retention

19:35 Comfort Culture Shift

20:53 Paps Parenting Problem

21:58 Flat Tire Wake Up Call

24:00 Thermostat Money Lesson

26:31 Kids Mirror Parents

28:22 Pride And Feedback

30:26 Discipline And Consequences

33:58 Counting Cost Of Crime

34:20 Part Two Tease Outro

#fathersonrelationship #adviceformen #modernfatherhood #adultchildren #lifelessonsformen #raisingmen #raisingkids #mantalk

Channel Focus Areas:

“What Fathers Should Teach Their Sons”

“How to Be a Better Father”

“Father Son Relationship Advice”

“Mistakes Fathers Make”

“Lessons Every Man Should Learn”

Shop DSN Merch: https://thedearsonpodcast.com/dsp-merch-%26-digital

Shop Father Figure: https://www.f2apparel.store/

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

Follow Joe T: https://instagram.com/bakeriii

Follow Reggie: https://instagram.com/fatherfigureapparel

Also, if you've made it this far, don't forget to:

1. subscribe to the channel,

2. turn on the notifications,

3. like this video,

4. leave a comment, and

5. share this content with someone who needs it.

The DSP: https://thedearsonpodcast.com

Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors:

Shop DSN Merch: https://dear-son-merch.creator-spring.com/listing/the-dear-son-show

Love Kisha J Studios: https://lovekishaj.com

My ebook: https://thedearsonpodcast.com/dsp-merch-%26-digital/ols/products/20lifepromptsv1

My book (physical): https://thedearsonpodcast.com/dsp-merch-%26-digital/ols/products/dear-son-what-i-wish-my-father-told-me-physical-copy

Let’s connect socially:

https://instagram.com/thedearsonpodcast

https://facebook.com/thedearsonpodcast

The Three Foundational Pillars of the DSP Community

1. Reveal trauma

2. Heal from trauma

3. Help through telling stories of it all

“Better Man. Better Father.”

The Dear Son, Network ®

Every father should have honest conversations with his son. In this episode of The Dear Son, Show, we explore the lessons fathers must teach their sons before adulthood.

Breaking the Cycle: Fatherhood, Rejection, Lust, and Healing (ft. Trey Tucker | Rugged Counseling)

In this episode of The Dear Son Show, host Derek talks with therapist Trey Tucker from the Chattanooga, Tennessee area about fatherhood, the impact of absent or limited fathering, and how “gaps” in guidance shape men. Trey shares his path from the corporate world to education and counseling, his struggles with rejection and a decade-long hookup cycle, and how those experiences affect attachment, identity, and healing. Derek connects these themes to his own story—leaving home young, self-medicating through sex and alcohol, and creating the podcast as accountability to have meaningful conversations with his sons. They discuss grief, losing parents, why environment matters for young men, and Trey’s book Tough Enough aimed at men in their 20s. Subscribe and comment your biggest takeaway.

00:00 Show Welcome

00:31 Tennessee Connection

01:34 Therapist Journey

02:49 Leaving Corporate Life

05:45 Podcast Origin Story

07:42 Roots and Relocation

08:59 Fatherhood Gaps

14:56 Rejection and Validation

19:02 Book for Twenties

21:51 Hookup Cycle Fallout

24:17 Environment Shapes Choices

25:24 Talking Teens and Alcohol

28:15 School Years That Matter

30:30 Marriage and Fatherhood Hopes

32:27 Mentoring With Accountability

34:00 Training Toughness With Care

35:33 Losing Dad and Learning Grief

39:54 Grief Ritual and Healing

44:18 Parents Marriage Model

45:19 Platform Dating and Time

47:21 What I Wish Dad Said

49:32 Measuring Tough Enough Impact

52:13 Closing Reflections and Outro

#fathersonrelationship #adviceformen #modernfatherhood #adultchildren #lifelessonsformen #raisingmen #raisingkids #mantalk

Channel Focus Areas:

“What Fathers Should Teach Their Sons”

“How to Be a Better Father”

“Father Son Relationship Advice”

“Mistakes Fathers Make”

“Lessons Every Man Should Learn”

Follow Trey: https://instagram.com/ruggedcounseling

Also, if you've made it this far, don't forget to:

1. subscribe to the channel,

2. turn on the notifications,

3. like this video,

4. leave a comment, and

5. share this content with someone who needs it.

The DSP: https://thedearsonpodcast.com

Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors:

Shop DSN Merch: https://dear-son-merch.creator-spring.com/listing/the-dear-son-show

Love Kisha J Studios: https://lovekishaj.com

My ebook: https://thedearsonpodcast.com/dsp-merch-%26-digital/ols/products/20lifepromptsv1

My book (physical): https://thedearsonpodcast.com/dsp-merch-%26-digital/ols/products/dear-son-what-i-wish-my-father-told-me-physical-copy

Let’s connect socially:

https://instagram.com/thedearsonpodcast

https://facebook.com/thedearsonpodcast

The Three Foundational Pillars of the DSP Community

1. Reveal trauma

2. Heal from trauma

3. Help through telling stories of it all

“Better Man. Better Father.”

The Dear Son, Network ®

Dear Son: Life Comes at You Fast (Problem-Solving, Responsibility & Real-World Lessons)

In this episode of The Dear Son Show, D Johns and Jey Blac reflect on how quickly real-life tests can arrive before sons feel prepared, using stories like a late-night tire blowout that revealed gaps in communication, problem-solving, and a father’s tone even when saying the right words. They discuss using unexpected moments as coaching opportunities, balancing protection with letting kids experience consequences, and the danger of “skipping steps,” including buying a teen a new Challenger too soon, allowing passengers, and a wreck that followed—plus lessons from a stolen scooter and earning replacements. The hosts also connect “life comes at you fast” to readiness planning, global events as teachable moments, and personal examples like sudden loss, joining the military, and financial growth outpacing habits, ending with a push to “talk less and do more work.”

00:00 Tire Blowout Cold Open

00:45 Welcome to Dear Son

01:44 Network Updates

03:18 Life Comes Fast

04:58 Late Night Blowout

08:36 Problem Solving Lessons

12:31 Repair Talk and Trust

16:11 Letting Sons Lead

17:30 Car Crash Boundaries

18:34 Scooter Stolen Twice

22:31 Scooter Lesson Learned

23:03 Teen Car Rules

25:03 Crash After Greenlight

27:10 Rewards And Entitlement

29:51 Teach Through Doing

36:58 World Events As Lessons

42:54 Life Came Fast Stories

44:48 Planning And Money Prep

47:34 Closing Lets Talk Work

#fathersonrelationship #adviceformen #modernfatherhood #adultchildren #lifelessonsformen #raisingmen #raisingkids #mantalk

Channel Focus Areas:

“What Fathers Should Teach Their Sons”

“How to Be a Better Father”

“Father Son Relationship Advice”

“Mistakes Fathers Make”

“Lessons Every Man Should Learn”

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

Also, if you've made it this far, don't forget to:

1. subscribe to the channel,

2. turn on the notifications,

3. like this video,

4. leave a comment, and

5. share this content with someone who needs it.

The DSP: https://thedearsonpodcast.com

Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors:

Shop DSN Merch: https://dear-son-merch.creator-spring.com/listing/the-dear-son-show

Love Kisha J Studios: https://lovekishaj.com

My ebook: https://thedearsonpodcast.com/dsp-merch-%26-digital/ols/products/20lifepromptsv1

My book (physical): https://thedearsonpodcast.com/dsp-merch-%26-digital/ols/products/dear-son-what-i-wish-my-father-told-me-physical-copy

Let’s connect socially:

https://instagram.com/thedearsonpodcast

https://facebook.com/thedearsonpodcast

The Three Foundational Pillars of the DSP Community

1. Reveal trauma

2. Heal from trauma

3. Help through telling stories of it all

“Better Man. Better Father.”

The Dear Son, Network ®

Every father should have honest conversations with his son. In this episode of The Dear Son, Show, we explore the lessons fathers must teach their sons before adulthood.

Sara Connor on Fatherhood, Trauma, Faith, and Encouraging Today’s Sons | Dear Son Show

On the Dear Son Show during Women’s History Month, host Derek welcomes Sara Connor, a Jamaican-born minister and advisor, who shares her upbringing in a prominent Rastafarian and entrepreneurial family, the trauma of an absent musician father and a crack-addicted mother who was later murdered, and years of sexual abuse that shaped her identity and relationships. Sara describes finding Christian faith after running away at 13, learning self-worth through unconditional love, experiencing miracles, and later using therapy and practical tools to manage grief and triggers. She credits her father’s generosity and respect for creating unity across a blended family and discusses how conditioning led her to overextend for men’s dreams and struggle with boundaries. She explains how she parents her son to preserve kindness, ask for what he wants, and stand up for himself, and closes with encouragement to men facing embarrassment, pressure, and purpose.

00:00 Message to Men

00:45 Show Intro Guest Welcome

01:38 Jamaica Roots Family

03:04 Trauma and Loss

04:49 Blended Family Harmony

07:33 Father Character Generosity

09:38 Abuse and Conditioning

13:53 Faith and Self Worth

19:29 Rastafari and Education

25:04 Healing Support Systems

29:39 Managing Trauma Triggers

33:36 Talking with Dad

35:19 Why No Blame

37:10 Absent Parents Survival

38:12 Trauma Triggers Today

40:40 Seeking Approval In Men

42:46 Faith Culture And Boundaries

47:19 Divorce And Self Rediscovery

50:45 Parenting Kindness And Dreams

58:09 Father’s Pivotal Advice

01:04:52 Healing Family Rifts

01:08:05 Men’s Shame And Purpose

01:17:11 Closing Encouragement

#fathersonrelationship #adviceformen #modernfatherhood #adultchildren #lifelessonsformen #raisingmen #raisingkids #mantalk

Channel Focus Areas:

“What Fathers Should Teach Their Sons”

“How to Be a Better Father”

“Father Son Relationship Advice”

“Mistakes Fathers Make”

“Lessons Every Man Should Learn”

Follow Sara: https://instagram.com/iamsaraco

Also, if you've made it this far, don't forget to:

1. subscribe to the channel,

2. turn on the notifications,

3. like this video,

4. leave a comment, and

5. share this content with someone who needs it.

The DSP: https://thedearsonpodcast.com

Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors:

Shop DSN Merch: https://dear-son-merch.creator-spring.com/listing/the-dear-son-show

Love Kisha J Studios: https://lovekishaj.com

My ebook: https://thedearsonpodcast.com/dsp-merch-%26-digital/ols/products/20lifepromptsv1

My book (physical): https://thedearsonpodcast.com/dsp-merch-%26-digital/ols/products/dear-son-what-i-wish-my-father-told-me-physical-copy

Let’s connect socially:

https://instagram.com/thedearsonpodcast

https://facebook.com/thedearsonpodcast

The Three Foundational Pillars of the DSP Community

1. Reveal trauma

2. Heal from trauma

3. Help through telling stories of it all

“Better Man. Better Father.”

The Dear Son, Network ®