SHOW / EPISODE

What I Found While Looking for Love | w/ Beleaf in Fatherhood | Ep 216 | The Dear Son, Show

Episode 216
1h 34m | Sep 28, 2026

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.


Beleaf on Fatherhood, Identity, and Healing: From Baltimore Trauma to Building a Family Legacy


In this episode of The Dear Son Show, the host talks with Glen “Beleaf” Henry, creator of Beleaf in Fatherhood, about growing up in Baltimore with a single mother, a distant but present father, and how trauma shaped his views on love, Black identity, sex, and family. Glen shares suicidal thoughts from childhood, the pivotal call to his father that led him to move to California, and how exposure to other families, mentors, hip-hop, Upward Bound, and an HBCU helped restore pride in Blackness and expand his vision of manhood. They discuss marriage, serving a spouse, pressures of leadership and entrepreneurship, boundaries around family and public life, and how Glen’s book "Father Yourself First" pushed him toward therapy conversations with his mother. Subscribe for more meaningful fatherhood conversations, and comment with the moment that hit you the hardest.


00:00 Searching For Love

01:55 Dear Son Show Intro

03:41 Roots And Home Base

04:55 Baltimore Survival Lessons

05:57 Learning Black Is Beautiful

08:40 Complicated Father Bond

12:18 Suicidal Crisis And Reset

16:39 Moms Trauma And Abuse

20:16 Sex And Seeking Validation

28:04 Mentors And Better Models

33:00 Reclaiming Black Identity

35:48 Upward Bound Awakening

39:17 College Culture And Hotep Era

41:21 Faith Shift In California

42:54 GPA Confessions And Distractions

44:23 Leaving College Hungry

44:53 Meeting His Future Wife

45:59 Myspace to Marriage

47:23 A Pastor Models Family

49:48 Learning Leadership at Home

53:23 Serving Through Pregnancy

55:59 Strength Misread as No Help

01:00:05 Entrepreneurship Pressure

01:01:02 Obedience Over Comfort

01:10:47 Losing Deals Going Offline

01:16:28 Writing the Book Therapy

01:21:41 Marriage Is a Future Bet

01:23:11 Talking to Kids Honestly

01:26:08 Gratitude for Three Generations

01:33:19 Wrap Up and Where to Buy


#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://thedearsonshop.store


Follow Beleaf: https://instagram.com/beleafmel

https://shop.beleafinfatherhood.com

"Father Yourself First": https://www.amazon.com/dp/1400254035?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback


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:


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



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 ®



Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Paused
Audio Player Image
Dear Son,
Loading...