Black Fatherhood Podcast with Dr. Alvin Thomas

Alvin Thomas
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  • KIDS & FAMILY
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Black Fatherhood Podcast with Dr. Alvin Thomas

The myth of the “Absent Black Father” permeates American culture and adversely affects the mental health of Black men and their families. The Black Fatherhood Podcast serves to break that myth. Hosted by Dr. Alvin Thomas, clinical psychologist and Dir. of the TRYLab at the Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison, the show offers engaging conversations with Black authors, artists, and academics on the issues (past and present) affecting Black fathers, and serves to celebrate and strengthen Black Fatherhood.

  1. APR 29

    Fathers and Family Court

    Judge Mitchell, presiding Judge of the Juvenile Division in Dane County, oversees a myriad of juvenile and child welfare, family and civil cases.  Judge Mitchell joins us today to talk about what fathers need to know about identifying and securing their parental rights, and the challenges many men face once 'in the system'.

    29 min

  2. APR 15

    Black Fathers Need Stronger Support Systems

    Black dads can too easily be excluded from the social welfare system, challenging their ability to be gainfully employed, engage with their children, and sustain a good quality of life. Dr. David Pate, Associate Professor and Chair Emeritus of the Social Work department at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, joins us to talk about the effects of social welfare policy on the lives of Black men and their children.

    36 min

  3. APR 1

    Fathers and Feathers: BIPOC Birding for All

    On a mission to "spread as much joy as possible", Dexter Patterson, aka The Wisco Birder, is dedicated to making birdwatching welcoming for all birders around the state of Wisconsin.  As founding member of The BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin, Dexter joins us to share in a “community of people of color who love the outdoors and the birds and beauty of natural Wisconsin and wish to connect with others who share the same passion."

    34 min

  4. MAR 18

    Challenges of Being a Father

    As our next guest writes, “Fatherhood, while immensely rewarding, comes with its own set of challenges. As a black father, these challenges are often compounded by societal pressures and stereotypes that can weigh heavily on your shoulders.”  And we agree.  Kenneth Braswell, a life long advocate for responsible fatherhood and mental health, joins us to talk about the challenges - and joys - of Black fatherhood.

    35 min

  5. MAR 4

    Jacob Blake on Fatherhood and Life After Kenosha

    Exclusive Interview:  In August 2020, Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black man, was shot seven times in the back by a white officer outside an apartment complex in Kenosha, Wisconsin.  The shooting, which happened in front of Jacob's children, prompted national outrage with riots and protests breaking out across the country.  But despite his new identity as a contemporary civil rights icon, the first word Jacob uses to describe himself is “father.”  Today we’re speaking with Jacob Blake about Black Fatherhood, and how that fateful summer night shaped his role as father, then and now.   After the episode, for more information on Jacob and the work he's doing to "plug power to purpose", go to www.edifye.org.

    56 min

  6. FEB 26

    The Unapologetic Guide to Black Mental Health

    Mental health is too often overlooked and under appreciated in the Black community.  Dr. Rheeda Walker, an award-winning professor, psychologist, and author of The Unapologetic Guide to Black Mental Health, join us to talk about the mental health crisis in our community today, and how "in order to reclaim a life worth living, you must first reclaim your mind.”

    37 min

  7. FEB 12

    Alex Wheatle: Sufferah

    Abandoned as a baby to the British foster care system, best-sellling author Alex Wheatle grew up without any knowledge of his Jamaican parentage or family history.   Alex joins us to share stories from his new memoir "Sufferah" - of his early years at the notorious Shirley Oaks children’s home in London, through the Brixton Uprising, to the front porch in Jamaica of the father who abandoned him as an infant 24 years later.

    45 min

  8. JAN 29

    Kwame Alexander on Fatherhood

    Kwame Alexander, one of America’s most beloved writers, joins us to talk about Why Fathers Cry at Night - a collection of poems, recipes, and letters to his family about the beginnings of love, the ends of love, being a father, and a son.

    34 min
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About

The myth of the “Absent Black Father” permeates American culture and adversely affects the mental health of Black men and their families. The Black Fatherhood Podcast serves to break that myth. Hosted by Dr. Alvin Thomas, clinical psychologist and Dir. of the TRYLab at the Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison, the show offers engaging conversations with Black authors, artists, and academics on the issues (past and present) affecting Black fathers, and serves to celebrate and strengthen Black Fatherhood.

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