My Father, My First Example

Recorded August 2025For this episode, I sit down with the man who taught me what fatherhood looked like long before I became a father myself—my dad, Allen Oliver.Together, we explore our family history, the lessons passed down through generations, and the realities of growing up under fathers who expressed love differently than many do today. My father reflects on becoming a dad at 18, the values he learned from his own father and grandfather, and the sacrifices required to provide for a family.Through stories that are both humorous and heartfelt, we examine the legacy of hard work, the challenges of emotional expression, and the moments we wish we could get back. More importantly, this conversation helped me better understand my father's story and, in turn, gain a deeper understanding of my own.This is a conversation about grace, perspective, and the power of staying present. It's a reminder that fatherhood isn't about perfection—it's about showing up, learning as you go, and leaving something meaningful behind for the next generation.As a son, a father, and now a storyteller, I couldn't think of a more fitting way to close out Season One of Father Figures than by sitting across from the man who was my first example of fatherhood.#FatherFiguresPodcast #Fatherhood #BlackFathers #FamilyLegacy #GenerationalHealing #FatherAndSon #Parenting #Storytelling #FathersMatterBeing fatherless leaves questions that don't always have easy answers. In Father, Father: An Ode to the Fatherless, Dr. Michael Woodward Jr. speaks to that experience with honesty, compassion, and hope—get your copy wherever books are sold, and stay tuned for his powerful conversation coming in Season 2 of Father Figures.