Better Husband, Father, and Man

In light of recent developments in Michael Jr.'s household, we took this time to discuss the recent Gillette commercial encouraging men to hold each other accountable in setting a positive example for the younger generation. We discuss strategies for how to raise boys into men. Also, in honor of Black History Month we briefly discuss the new Netflix series, "Trigger Warning with Killer Mike."

The title seems a bit oxymoronic, but it's an important concept that deserves consideration. With the government shutdown impacting hundreds of thousands of individuals all across the country, the idea seems to have more relevance. How do you prepare for the unexpected storms in life that everyone inevitably faces? We discuss the concept of preparing before financial storms come and how to weather those storms when they do arrive.

Happy New Year! Is all advice good advice? How do you evaluate what advice is good for you to follow? And how do you find and evaluate the advice giver? All these questions and more are discussed in this week's episode.FYI: This episode was recorded a while back, so apologies for the delay in getting this episode out.

In this episode we discuss the second portion of Will Smith's interview where he shares his views on marriage.

In today's episode we discuss an interview that Will Smith did where he discusses his views on raising children. We discuss his approach and Michael Sr. asks the question, "Who is leading your family?"

In this week's episode we discuss the story of actor Chow Yun-fat and his plans to give away his $700 million fortune to charity. We discuss how and why to find your own personal "number" that will leave you happy and satisfied in life. We talk about what it looks like to work in a demanding career, and how to set and maintain the right priorities so as to set the right example for your children.

In our second episode back we tackle the issue of how to set goals. We discuss the what SMART goals are: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, & Time-Bound. We also discuss why its important to set goals that take into account the specific season of life you are in.

Wow! It's been over two years, but we've been itching to get back to doing the podcast. In our first episode back, Michael Jr. and Michael Sr. catch you up on all the new and exciting events that have transpired in their lives during their podcast absence. We also explain what this podcast means to us, and just how wonderful it is to record another episode. It feels so good to be back!

Sorry for the delay, but we're glad to be back. This episode had the two Michael's recording from the same location, live in Los Angeles, CA. They discuss the family vacation and the events that transpired over the weekend, including a graduation and a family gathering. They also discuss the importance of supporting and encouraging your family members. Michael Sr. also shares some very important information about older men and bathrooms.

Happy beginning of summer everyone! In this episode we briefly discuss Nkiru's recent educational achievements. We also have a conversation about our topic of family vacations. The two Michael's discuss their favorite family vacations, and then they share some dos and don'ts to remember when going on vacation. This is an informative and entertaining episode we know you'll enjoy. Listen. Learn. Enjoy.

With graduation season in full effect, in this episode the Michael's discuss the importance of education. They talk about the legacy of education set by Michael Jr.'s maternal grandfather (Howard T. Williams), the importance of setting a standard and expectation of excellence, not comparing your child to others, and having a never-ending thirst for knowledge of the world and of self. Listen. Learn. Enjoy.

Asher's back!! In this episode we discuss the return of Asher, and how parents and grandparents can reconnect with children after not seeing them for an extended period of time. This is a perfect episode for military parents, parents who travel for work, or grandparents who see their children only a few times a year. Listen. Learn. Enjoy.

In this week’s episode we continue our discussion on the keys to being a successful man. This week we're talking about faith. We bring up a number of important things to remember about faith including a consistent relationship with God, contentment with God's timing, and surrounding yourself with positive people. Michael Jr. also shares his view on how his learning how to juggle relates to faith. There's something for everyone in this week's episode! Listen. Learn. Enjoy.

Both Michael's return for this week's episode. After a lengthy intro discussing (of all things), weather, they get into the topic for the day. They discuss Michael Jr.'s recent attendance at the Go Men's Conference at Lakewood Church in Houston, TX. They talk about the first key to success in manhood; consistency. Check it out! Listen. Learn. Enjoy.

Michael Jr. returns from a hiatus. In this solo episode he discusses a couple of points from a sermon series about marriage. Find out about what every husband should know about his wife. He also gives details about a giveaway to receive a free copies of the sermons, "What Every Husband Needs to Know About His Wife", and "What Every Wife Needs to Know About her Husband".

We've been gone for a couple of weeks, but we're back with a bang. In this episode we catch you up on all the action that's taken place during our absence. We also discuss the actions necessary to properly love your wife. Michael Sr. drops some major nuggets of wisdom in this episode. Listen. Learn. Enjoy.

For some father's the idea of handling all the parenting duties on their own is overwhelming. Michael Jr.'s wife is traveling this week which means he gets to have that experience. In this episode, the two Michael's discuss the importance of fathers making time to bond with their children. They discuss Michael Jr.'s plans for the week and relive some fond memories of their own. Listen. Learn. Enjoy.

With each passing year, hopefully our perspective is changing as we face new and exciting challenges. In anticipation of Michael Jr.'s 30th birthday, the Michael's discuss how to approach milestones in life. They also use Jon Acuff's book, Start, as a guide in discussing the various stages of adulthood. This is an episode you won't want to miss. Listen. Learn. Enjoy.

In this episode, we share our thoughts on an interview Michael Jr. conducted with author and speaker, Jeremy Anderson. Jeremy Anderson is the author of six published books and is currently CEO of Jeremy Anderson Ministries, Chief Operating Officer for Spirit Reign Communications & Publishing, and also the Spokesperson for Next Level Living, Inc. Jeremy took time out of his busy schedule to discuss with Michael Jr. what his organizations are doing to impact the world, how he finds time to balance his work & family responsibilities, and to just share some practical words of wisdom. Listen. Learn. Enjoy.

Success in life usually comes once you've discovered what your motivations in life are. Simon Sinek calls this your "why". In this episode we discuss two individuals (Jeremy Anderson & Seth Maust) who have found their "why" and are on the path of success. We talk about how Michael Jr. found his why, and how he is living that out. Michael Sr. shares some history about Jackie Robinson and brings up some considerations to keep in mind while pursuing your goals. Lilsten. Learn. Enjoy.

Too all our listeners, we are so sorry it took us so long to do this episode. We sincerely apologize from the bottom of our hearts, and we hope that you can find it in your hearts to forgive us. What can we do to make it right? In this episode, we discuss the a book by one of our beloved authors, Dr. Gary Chapman, which talks about the five languages of apology. It is inevitable that you will encounter conflict or hurt your spouse. That makes it supremely important for you to know the proper way to apologize to your spouse.

Do you remember Valentine's Day as a child? You would pass out candy and cards to all the kids in your class. As time progresses, we tend to focus all of our Valentine's Day affection on a single individual instead of showing love to all those around us. In this episode, we discuss showing love to individuals other than our spouse on this special day. We also talk about the importance of fathers saying, "I love you" to their children, and we issue a special "love challenge" to all our listeners. Listen. Learn. Enjoy.

It was estimated that Americans spent almost $19 billion for Valentine's Day in 2015. And yes, while advertisers and retailers have taken advantage of this day, that doesn't diminish the expectations your wife probably has of it. Valentine's Day is not just a day to overspend on flowers and candy. It's a day to let your wife know how special she is to you and how much you value her. In this episode we discuss why Valentine's Day is not only special for your wife, but why it should be special for you as well. We recount some of our favorite Valentine's Day memories, and share some tips on how to start planning a special Valentine's Day before February 13th. Listen. Learn. Enjoy.

For many people, the simple fact of where they were born and raised played an integral role in their future success. For one person, he may credit his childhood of being raised on a farm in a small town as the reason for his strong work ethic. For another, living in a bustling, big city created a drive and passion to stand out from the masses. For many of us, we are products of our environments. It is because of this important point that we as husbands and fathers take into careful consideration the environments we expose our children to. In this episode, we begin our discussion referencing a recent article in which a former professional football player shares lessons he's learned from watching NBA MVP Stephen Curry. We then branch off to discuss how the Vance family came to settle in Huntsville, AL. Michael Sr. shares some of the considerations and sacrifices he made when choosing this location. Michael Jr. also shares some of the considerations he made when choosing a home church in Houston, TX. This episode is sure to be enlightening and thought-provoking. Listen. Learn. Enjoy.

The average American household carries almost $130,000 in debt. Whether it be from credit cards, student loans, mortgages, or car loans, debt seems to be a standard part of most people’s lives. While many people view debt as an ordinary part of life, carrying a large amount of debt can place an extreme amount of stress and pressure on a individual or family. In part two of this series, we discuss the mindset needed to get out and stay out of debt, as well as some of the practical tools Michael Sr. and Ardella used in their journey. We talk a bit more about the share cropper's mindset, discuss what the debt snowball is, and explain the reasoning behind having an emergency fund.

The average American household carries almost $130,000 in debt. Whether it be from credit cards, student loans, mortgages, or car loans, debt seems to be a standard part of most people's lives. While many people view debt as an ordinary part of life, carrying a large amount of debt can place an extreme amount of stress and pressure on a individual or family. In part one of this series, Michael Sr. discusses his motivations and mindset when attempting to tackle the $70,000 in debt that plagued his life. He shares some of the strategies he employed before endeavoring on this journey, and some of the considerations he was mindful of while on the journey. He also discusses the differences between a sharecropper's mindset and a steward's mindset, and explains how important getting out of debt is for weathering the storms of life. Listen. Learn. Enjoy.

Kwanzaa is a unique holiday celebrated primarily in the African-American community from December 26 to January 1. While it is a celebration of African principles, culture and history, it can be celebrated by anyone and anywhere. In this episode we give a brief overview of Kwanzaa as well as discuss our motivations for why we celebrate it. Whether you've never heard of this holiday, or you have been interested in it but never knew how to begin your own celebrations, this episode is for you. This isn't a comprehensive analysis of the holiday, but we hope to give you a starting point in which you can conduct your own exploration into it. Listen. Learn. Enjoy.

Scrum is a software development methodology that many leading companies use to organize and execute their product development. The principles of scrum can also be used to facilitate the planning and execution of your goals and resolutions. In this episode we discuss four principles of scrum: planning, implementation, communication, and reflection, and how by following them you can easily and effectively meet your goals. Listen. Learn. Enjoy.

This week I received an email that described how stressful it can be raising a young child. While I know that raising a young child is challenging and occasionally overwhelming, I also know that is not the entire picture. When we begin to lose site of the blessings that being a father or being a husband is, we begin to only see our children or wives as challenges or obstacles in the way of our happiness. In this episode, we discuss some of our favorite memories as husbands, fathers, and as sons. We wanted to use this episode as a way to encourage you to reflect on the positive moments you have shared with your spouse or children. Listen as we reflect on our good times and then do the same with your family. Listen. Learn. Enjoy.

Dealing with drama and stress starts with taking care of yourself first. In this episode we discuss four areas to maintain to reduce the drama and stress in your life, how low self-esteem can put/keep us in stressful situations, and how to communicate with your spouse to help keep the stress down at home. Listen. Learn. Enjoy.

Nearly all families have traditions that have been passed down for generations. Traditions can range from how you open presents on Christmas day to having an annual family vacation. Traditions are important because they are a way for families to pass down their values and beliefs. Sadly, we can sometimes go our whole lives and never know the meaning or reasoning behind some of the traditions we take part in. In today's episode, we discuss the idea of starting traditions in your family and how to make them memorable and valuable. We also share some of our favorite family traditions and childhood memories surrounding them.

Many people use the holidays as an excuse to bust their budgets and make unwise purchases. This week we discussed Michael Vance Sr.'s most recent post on his Stewardship of Wealth blog about wisely spending money during this holiday season. We discuss five tips (taken from Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University class) you can apply to your spending plan that will help you combat the Black Friday spending mania. We also discuss the journey from financial bondage to financial freedom. This is an episode you don't want to miss. Listen. Learn. Enjoy.

With the weather getting colder, there being less daylight out, and the holidays approaching this is often the time that people think the least about their health. In an effort to combat that reality, we discuss the merits of living a healthy lifestyle, the challenges that come when making the decision to be healthy, and tips on how to make that quest easier. Listen. Learn. Enjoy.

As the holiday season approaches, we wanted to take the time to discuss the idea of visiting relatives for the holidays. For some this is a highly emotional and stressful time of year. We all celebrate the holidays a little differently so, it is important that we consider the values and traditions of our spouse and their family when making holiday plans. In this episode we discuss how to discuss holiday plans with your spouse, how to share those plans with your family, and any other considerations to keep in mind. Listen. Learn. Enjoy.

Nehemiah Mabry is an engineer by trade and an entrepreneur by heart. Ever since seeing a normal everyday guy run his own company and do business with NASA, he has been passionate about learning more about entrepreneurship. This passion led him to start his own company, STEMedia, a media company that uses the creative arts to motivate individuals pursuing careers in Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM) disciplines. He is also the host of the NSBEpreneur podcast, a weekly podcast that produces interviews and information for minorities looking to break into the world of entrepreneurship. I sat down with Nehemiah and discussed how he handles the challenge of balancing work, growing his company, and making time for his wife. We also discuss a host of other practical issues that face young entrepreneurs. This will be an enlightening episode for anyone looking to branch out into the world of entrepreneurship. Contact Info: Nehemiah@stemedia.org

Recently, we experienced a death in the family. In this episode we reflect on our loved one, share our thoughts on the grieving process, and discuss the importance of preparing for end of life events. Listen. Learn. Enjoy.

Ask Me Anything (AMA) interviews are one of the most popular ways to learn about someone. In these interviews, you can ask an interviewee anything and they'll do their best to answer every question. In this episode my father and I take a similar, but modified, approach to the AMA interview. Using a list of 100 questions as our source, we selected five or six questions to ask one another as a way to get to know one another better. The results were both enlightening and hilarious. Make sure to listen to both parts of this episodes to hear the answers to questions such as Michael Sr.'s worst bad habit, Michael Jr.'s favorite joke, and who considers themselves a good dancer. Listen. Learn. Enjoy. http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/random/articles/134150/title/100-questions-ask-parents

Ask Me Anything (AMA) interviews are one of the most popular ways to learn about someone. In these interviews, you can ask an interviewee anything and they'll do their best to answer every question. In this episode my father and I take a similar, but modified, approach to the AMA interview. Using a list of 100 questions as our source, we selected five or six questions to ask one another as a way to get to know one another better. The results were both enlightening and hilarious. Make sure to listen to both parts of this episodes to hear the answers to questions such as Michael Sr.'s worst bad habit, Michael Jr.'s favorite joke, and who considers themselves a good dancer. Listen. Learn. Enjoy. http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/random/articles/134150/title/100-questions-ask-parents

In America, turning 18 signifies the transition from childhood to adulthood. With that transition there accompanies more responsibility, but also different expectations. Interacting with your parents as an adult requires that both parties view themselves in a different light. In the final episode of this series, we discuss many of the expectations that parents have of adult children and how adult children can respond to those. We also discuss tips for how to respectfully disagree with your parents when they still think they are in charge of you and how to properly set boundaries in your relationships. This is an episode not just for the adult children but for parents as well. Listen. Learn. Enjoy.

The adolescent and teenage years of a child's life can be some of the most turbulent and difficult for them to manage. In this episode of the podcast, we discuss some of the challenges that you may encounter as well as some strategies you can implement to help you and your child successfully transition through that period.

Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." In this episode of the podcast we talk about raising and training a young child. We share some of our experiences, frustrations, and lessons learned along the way. Listen. Laugh. Learn.

This weekend we saw the hit movie, War Room. In this episode we discuss our thoughts about the movie and share lessons that we learned from it. This episode is sure to be highly entertaining and informative.

George Bernard Shaw once said, "The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." This episode is all about communication and the value it has in our marriages. Communication is made up of more than just the words that we speak, but it is also takes into account our actions. In this episode we discuss how we approach communication in our marriages, discuss the importance of learning your spouse's love language, and the most important aspect of communication...listening.

Time is a currency that once you spend it, you can never get it back. This necessitates that we spend it wisely. In this episode we discuss the importance of time management and how to make sure your family makes it to the top of your schedule. If you've ever struggled with prioritizing your various obligations, this is an episode you can't miss! Listen. Laugh. Learn.

Can any two people get and stay married? Or is marriage only for soulmates? In this episode we explore the topic of what makes a successful marriage. We discuss many of the skills and traits necessary to have a happy and fulfilling marriage. Listen. Learn. Enjoy.

Does your marriage have a plan? Have you and your spouse set concrete goals you desire to achieve? In this episode, we discuss the idea of setting goals and setting your marriage up for success!

This is our first podcast episode! We’re so excited to bring this podcast to you. It’s taken months of talking and figuring things out to get to this point. We’re really excited about the plans we have for this podcast and our hopes of bringing you interesting and relevant content that helps you in your life. We look forward to hearing from you, but this first episode is about giving you a little bit more information about who we are. Take a listen, and prepare yourself for an awesome journey with us as we discuss marriage, fatherhood, and how to succeed at both! LET THE JOURNEY BEGIN!!