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