Episode 189 - J Hall - God Help Me, I'm a Young Dad - Ten big ideas for Dads

J Hall is an author, educator, podcaster from Oklahoma City where he lives in with his wife, two dogs, and a rotating cast of adult children who stop in for meals and occasional dog-sitting. Most importantly, he is a grandpa, and he will certainly bore you to tears telling you how awesome his grandson is.

J is the author of two books - God Help Me! I’m a Young Dad: 10 Essentials for Becoming the Dad Your Kids Need and his new book - College Unpacked: A Practical Guide to Choosing, Preparing For, and Excelling in College. J clearly does not believe in short titles.

After more than 15 years in professional ministry, J has spent the second half of his career in higher education, currently serving as Dean of Social Sciences at Oklahoma City Community College and teaching sociology.

Since 2021, J has hosted and produced the Okie Bookcast, a podcast dedicated to connecting curious readers with their next great read through interviewing authors and storytellers connected to Oklahoma. He also co-hosts a monthly book chat show through the Bookcast with his daughter, author and screenwriter Hannah Herron. J is a regular guest on a number of podcasts, talking about everything from books to pop culture to fatherhood and more.

Book: God Help Me! I’m a Young Dad presents ten big ideas for dads who desire to become the father God wants them to be. Full of stories, encouragement, and practical application, this book equips young fathers to develop these essential characteristics in themselves and model them for their children while also helping those children begin the process of developing these traits in their own lives. Written for dads with kids from birth to age twelve, the insights and applications connect with dads of all ages and at all stages of fatherhood.

Additionally, the book features a thirty day devotional guide to encourage readers to think about and begin to practice the essentials discussed in the book.

https://www.jhallwriter.com/

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https://dadspace.ca

music provided by Blue Dot Sessions

Song: The Big Ten https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/258270

Episode 188 - Maury Wood - Grit and Wit For Dads - Give Your Kids Permission to Ask Questions Without Fear

life’s too short to take seriously all the time — and way too long not to laugh at yourself along the way.

Grit & Wit is where real-life stories meet a little sarcasm, a little wisdom, and a lot of "well, that didn't go as planned." It’s faith, family, and finding the good stuff — even when you’re dodging laundry piles and rogue snakes in the kitchen.

Now also available in surround sound:

The Grit & Wit Podcast on Spotify — real talk on parenting, marriage, faith, and whatever chaos shows up next

YouTube Channel — stories, reflections, and moments that hit home (and hit your funny bone)

Want to support the stories? You can buy me a coffee here.

New! Check out the official Grit & Wit shirts: Grit & Wit Store

Currently writing a book inspired by a handwritten letter from my grandmother — a story about legacy, grit, and the lessons that last. Coming soon.

Also featured on podcasts like Dad Up, Dad Space, Living the Next Chapter, and The Family Teams Podcast, with more to come. You can give them a listen in the Grit and Wit in the Wild tab.

No spam. No ads. No lectures. Just a guy with a few scars, a lot of memories, and a stubborn streak trying to make sense of it all — and helping you do the same.

Pull up a chair. It’s going to be fun.

https://gritandwit.substack.com/

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https://dadspace.ca

music provided by Blue Dot Sessions

Song: The Big Ten https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/258270

Episode 187 - Sally McQuillen - Loving and Losing a Wild Child, Addiction, Rehab and Dangerous Choices

Sally McQuillen, LCSW, CADC, is a psychotherapist in private practice specializing in addiction, grief, and trauma recovery.

She provides ongoing support for addiction recovery, as well as support for those recovering from the impact of a loved one’s addiction. She sees adults seeking relief from mood symptoms, helps them navigate their personal and professional relationships and lead more fulfilling lives. She works with clients to find peace and healing from trauma and loss. Her goal is to bring light into the lives of her clients intuitively pulling from different therapeutic models and resources to support their specific needs.

Book: Reaching for Beautiful - A Memoir of Loving and Losing a Wild Child

A luminous story of how love triumphs over pain, love transcends fear, and love never dies; this debut memoir from a mother grieving her young-adult son’s death is a must-read for any parent who has lost a child, is raising a child from the edge of their seat, or whose family struggles with addiction.

When Sally’s twenty-one-year-old son died in a boat accident, her greatest fear is realized. Christopher was often drawn to risk and struggled with addiction. In this riveting memoir, Sally captures the wild ride of his jam-packed life and her deep love for him while reflecting on her own childhood and family’s legacy of alcoholism.

Sally shares insights about what it’s like to experience the emotional aftershocks of acute grief, filtered through the lens of her personal experience as a mother and her professional vantage point as a psychotherapist. Even if they have not been touched by loss in this way, readers may see themselves in Sally’s bittersweet illusion of trying to keep her son safe, in how she is challenged to let go of her fear, guilt, and regret in order to forgive herself, and in the ways grief teaches her about the power of love.

https://www.sallymcquillen.com/

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https://dadspace.ca

music provided by Blue Dot Sessions

Song: The Big Ten https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/258270