Black Dad Unfiltered

Should fathers stay in a marriage for the sake of their children, or is leaving sometimes the better choice? In this episode of Black Dad Unfiltered, we explore one of the most complex and emotionally charged decisions a father can face. Through honest dialogue and personal experiences, this conversation highlights the tension between maintaining family structure and protecting one’s mental and em...

Are you parenting your children from a place of fear or from a place of faith? In this episode of Black Dad Unfiltered, we explore one of the most important mindset shifts in parenting: moving from fear-based decision-making to faith-driven guidance. This conversation highlights how love, fear, and protection are deeply connected and how easily parents can slip into raising children based on anxie...

Are boys and girls really raised the same when it comes to relationships and dating? In this episode of Black Dad Unfiltered, we explore how parents approach raising sons versus daughters, especially during the teenage years when emotions, relationships, and boundaries begin to take shape. Through an honest and unfiltered conversation between a father and a mother, this episode highlights the tens...

When is the right time to introduce a new partner to your children? In this episode of Black Dad Unfiltered, we explore one of the most important and often overlooked conversations in parenting after divorce: how to navigate dating while protecting your children’s emotional well-being. Through an honest dialogue between a father and a mother, this episode breaks down the complexities of introducin...

What does it really take for a man to approach relationships differently after divorce? In this episode of Black Dad Unfiltered, we explore the realities of dating, healing, and rebuilding as black men navigating life after a failed relationship. This conversation goes beyond surface-level advice and dives into the deeper work required for emotional growth, vulnerability, communication, and self-a...

What does it really take to go from putting on plays in a Brooklyn basement to seeing your work on the big screen at AMC Theaters? In this episode of The Playbook with Coach Rod , Coach Rod sits down with Eden Marryshow , a Brooklyn-based award-winning writer, director, and actor, to talk about the journey behind the dream. This conversation goes beyond success headlines and gets into the real sto...

Most people quit right before the breakthrough. And the difference between good and great is rarely talent; it’s the mental game. In this episode of The Playbook with Coach Rod , we sit down with Keith Smart, 3-time Olympian and Olympic Silver Medalist in saber fencing , to unpack what it really takes to stay locked in when the pressure is loud and the stakes are high. Keith takes us behind the cu...

How do you know what love really is, and how do you know when it isn’t? For many of us, love has been defined by feelings, emotions, or past experiences, but that often leaves us confused and misled. In this solo episode of Carlos V. Spencer Speaks , Carlos breaks down how love can be understood in two powerful ways: by experiencing what love truly is and by learning from experiences where love wa...

What does it really take to lead at a high level when you’re often the only one in the room? In this episode, we unpack what it means to be “beyond reproach” and stay rooted in your identity while navigating leadership as a person of color. On  The Playbook with Coach Rod , Coach Rod sits down with  Albert Thompson,  a marketing technologist and cultural strategist, to discuss credibility, percept...

Fear isn’t always protecting you. Sometimes, it’s preventing you. In this episode of Carlos V. Spencer Speaks , Carlos breaks down what fear really is and why most of it is false evidence appearing real. Your brain is wired for safety, not success. That means the very discomfort you feel when stepping into something new isn’t a warning sign; it may be a doorway. Carlos challenges you to ask better...

Imagine waking up one day and finding out you no longer own your home, even though you never missed a mortgage payment. This episode of The Playbook with Coach exposes deed theft , one of the most devastating and least understood forms of fraud impacting homeowners across the U.S., especially in Black and Brown communities. Coach Rod sits down with estate planning attorney Sabine Franco to break d...

When is it time to make yourself a priority? For many of us, especially those responsible for others, the answer feels complicated, but the truth is simpler than we think. In this solo episode of Carlos V. Spencer Speaks , Carlos breaks down why self-care isn’t selfish; it’s foundational. From real-life analogies to powerful lessons about burnout, leadership, and responsibility, this conversation...

Forgiveness isn’t about letting someone else off the hook—it’s about finally setting yourself free. In this episode of Carlos V Spencer Speaks , Carlos V. Spencer delivers a powerful and motivating conversation on the true meaning of forgiveness and why holding onto resentment, anger, and unforgiveness quietly keeps you stuck. With a coaching-style approach and real-life insight, Carlos explains h...

Is pride a strength or can it quietly become your biggest obstacle? In this episode of Carlos V. Spencer Speaks , Carlos V. Spencer explores the fine line between healthy pride and harmful pride , and how understanding that difference can impact your growth, confidence, and long-term success. Carlos challenges the idea that pride is always negative, explaining how confidence rooted in hard work an...

How do you know if you’re making the right decision—and what if waiting to decide is actually the biggest mistake? In this episode of Carlos V. Spencer Speaks , Carlos V. Spencer tackles the fear that keeps so many people stuck: the fear of making the wrong choice. He explains why indecision is a decision in itself and how trying to avoid mistakes often costs us more than making them. Through rela...

Why do so many people quit right before they’re about to break through? In this episode of Carlos V. Spencer Speaks , Carlos challenges the way we think about failure and success. Instead of viewing setbacks as proof that something isn’t working, he reframes failure as a necessary and valuable part of growth. The real problem, he explains, isn’t failure itself; it’s how we interpret it. Drawing on...

Doubt has a quiet way of showing up—through fear, worry, and the stories we tell ourselves before we even try. In this episode of Carlos V Spencer Speaks , Carlos V. Spencer breaks down how doubt operates in the mind and why it keeps so many people from stepping into their full potential. Carlos explores the surprising truth that nearly 90% of what we worry about never actually happens, while the...

Dreaming is powerful—but dreaming alone won’t move your life forward. In this episode of Carlos V Spencer Speaks , we break down the real difference between having a dream and carrying a vision that creates action, clarity, and results. Using timeless examples and faith-centered insight, Carlos explains why dreams spark possibility, but visions build momentum. Writing the vision turns hope into di...

What if your future success hinges on the decisions you make today? In this eye-opening episode of Carlos V. Spencer Speaks , Carlos explores how everyday actions—no matter how small—carry the power to define the next 20 years of your life. Drawing from real conversations with high achievers and timeless biblical wisdom, Carlos delivers a relatable, motivating message about the importance of visio...

You work hard. You sacrifice. You climb. But what if the ladder you’ve been climbing is leaning against the wrong wall? In this episode of Black Dad Unfiltered , Carlos V Spencer exposes the cost of chasing goals that don’t align with your true purpose. Through personal testimony and hard-hitting insight, Carlos shows why security without vision leaves you unfulfilled, why fear keeps people stuck,...

In this episode of The Playbook , Coach Rod sits down with Kareem Hinckson, Finance Executive , to uncover the real strategies behind navigating competitive industries and rising to leadership. From his early years in New York City as the youngest of seven, to teaching in the South Bronx, to making a bold pivot into finance, Kareem’s journey is a masterclass in resilience and adaptability. Kareem...

✨ What if 80% of your thoughts were negative—and 90% of them repeated daily? ✨ In this bold and eye-opening episode, Carlos V. Spencer breaks down how your mindset can be the ultimate game-changer in work, life, and leadership. From elite tennis players to world-class track stars, Carlos reveals that what separates the good from the great isn’t just training or talent—it’s the mental game. 🧠💡...

💡 What does it mean to protect your legacy? For too many Black families, foreclosure threatens not just a house, but generations of stability, equity, and pride. On this episode of The Playbook , host Coach Rod welcomes AJ Willis , the powerhouse advocate behind Wessex Mortgage Advocates , to share how knowledge and courage can transform the foreclosure battle into a story of resilience. AJ’s jou...

What’s stopping you from making your next move? Too many of us wait for the “perfect moment” — but perfection is a lie. In this episode, Carlos V Spencer flips the script on procrastination and challenges you to take action today . Through raw personal stories and unapologetic truth, Carlos breaks down how generational struggles with financial literacy shaped his journey — and why regret is wasted...

What does it take to build a career that bridges wildlife conservation, veterinary medicine, and entrepreneurship? Dr. Nicole Dumas has lived that journey, and her story reveals the resilience and vision behind it. Born in Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Dumas discovered her passion for animals at a young age, navigating cultural differences in pet ownership and charting a path that took her from marine...