This episode of the I Am Dad Podcast is a powerful reminder that fatherhood is shaped not only by biology, but by community, responsibility, and purpose.

Host Kenneth Braswell welcomes Greg Harris, Outreach Lead with Fathers Incorporated, for an honest, deeply reflective conversation rooted in Brooklyn streets and Atlanta impact.

Greg shares his daddy’s story—marked by loss, trauma, and resilience—and reflects on growing up in Brooklyn surrounded by coaches, elders, and community men who stepped in when fathers were absent. Together, Braswell and Harris explore how trust is built with fathers, why outreach is sacred “first contact,” and how heart work—not just hard work—drives transformation.

The conversation also examines the realities fathers face today, from apprehension and distrust to redemption and accountability. Through stories of loss and success, the episode underscores the power of relationship, navigation, and purpose in helping men stay present for their children.

This is not a conversation about programs alone—it is a conversation about people, pain, healing, and the men who choose to stand in the gap.

Five seasons in, the I Am Dad Podcast continues to examine the foundations of responsible fatherhood—and this episode goes straight to the core question too few ask: So what?

Host Kenneth Braswell, CEO of Fathers Incorporated, welcomes national thought leader Matthew Shepherd, founder of Midwest Evaluation and Research, for a wide-ranging and deeply reflective discussion on fatherhood, research integrity, program evaluation, and systems change.

Shepherd shares his personal fatherhood journey, including lessons learned from his own dad and the transformative experience of adoption. From there, the conversation expands into the realities of Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood programs, the challenges of sustainability, the role of policy, and why data without meaning fails to move systems forward.

Together, Braswell and Shepherd unpack how programs can use research not as a compliance exercise, but as a tool for continuous improvement, storytelling, and long-term impact. The episode challenges practitioners, funders, and policymakers alike to rethink how success is measured—and why fatherhood remains one of the most powerful, bipartisan investments society can make.

If you care about fathers, families, research, or the future of social impact work, this conversation will stretch how you think about all four.

2025 was not a year of isolated wins — it was a year of alignment.

In this Fathers Incorporated 2025 Year in Review, we reflect on how fatherhood moved beyond conversation and into infrastructure, systems change, and national influence. Across programs, policy, media, and community engagement, Fathers Incorporated strengthened its role as a trusted leader in responsible fatherhood and family well-being.

This review highlights the organization’s national stewardship of the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse, expanded public education through fatherhood.gov, and large-scale behavior change driven by national media partnerships. It also captures the growth and outcomes of the Gentle Warriors Academy, including record-setting graduations, independent evaluation findings, and expanded reach into communities and correctional facilities.

Viewers will also see how Fathers Incorporated elevated fatherhood through civic engagement, including the 20th Anniversary of the Million Fathers March, policy leadership on legitimation reform, and sustained narrative change through media appearances and op-eds. Together, these efforts reflect a clear commitment: treating fatherhood not as a side issue, but as a foundational strategy for strengthening families and communities.

This video is both a reflection on what was accomplished in 2025 and a statement of where the work is going next. It affirms a simple truth backed by data and experience alike: when fathers are supported, families stabilize, children thrive, and communities grow stronger.