Episodios

  • The Paternal Instinct: Foundational or Fabricated?

    The Paternal Instinct: Foundational or Fabricated?
    Nov 18 2025
    Today we are going to dive deep into the origins of fatherhood and what it was designed to be. We’re also going to explore how fatherhood is connected to identity and purpose.My guest is my pastor Meshach Faaeteete. Pastor Faaeteete is husband and a father of two boys. He is passionate about helping men connect with their true God given identity and purpose.You can connect with pastor Meshach Faaeteete at:Phone: (650) 636-6811Email: faaeteete@andrews.eduSpecial thanks to Smile Online Course & Books for sponsoring this episode. To learn more visit: https://thefatherhoodchallenge--smileteenskills.thrivecart.com/social-career-skills-accelerator/Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastrhttps://zencastr.com/?via=thefatherhoodchallengeTranscript:00:16.58Jonathan GuerreroToday we're going to dive deep into the origins of fatherhood and what it's designed to be. We're also going to explore how fatherhood is connected to identity and purpose in just a moment. So don't go anywhere.00:29.12Jonathan GuerreroGreetings, everyone. Thank you so much for joining me in this episode called The Paternal Instinct, Foundational or fabric Fabricated. My guest is Pastor Mishak Faitete. Pastor Faitete is not only a pastor, but a husband and a father of two boys.00:43.49Jonathan GuerreroHe is passionate about helping men connect with their true God-given identity and purpose. Pastor Faitete, welcome to the Fatherhood Challenge.00:53.60MeshachThank you. Glad to be here.00:56.60Jonathan GuerreroOkay, my favorite question of all, what is your favorite dad joke?01:01.48MeshachFavorite dad joke. Okay. um So it goes, my wife complains that I don't buy her flowers. To be honest, I didn't know she sold them.01:14.53MeshachThat's all I got.01:18.20Jonathan Guerreroah That's perfect. All right. Well, this episode is going to go a little deep. So, so we'll not waste any more time. So let's dive in. Let's start with your story about the moment you became a father for the first time.01:32.21Jonathan GuerreroWere you scared, excited, both? What thoughts ran through your mind?01:38.48MeshachYes, so I both, I was both scared and excited. i was excited because having a child was something my wife and I ah really wanted. and We had been praying for some time for it.01:51.99MeshachBut I was also scared for a number of reasons. For one, having a child, another life, another life, in my, as part of my responsibility to nurture and raise, that task seemed pretty pretty big task. And so that that scared me at first. Another thing I was scared about was before my firstborn, Niles, we had experienced a pretty heartbreaking miscarriage.02:24.03MeshachAnd that one was, it was, I think, the I forgot which one of the first checkups that we had and it was going to be the one with the ultrasound where we could see the baby and when we looked, there was no baby and we had already told our families and so that that one was that experience was pretty heartbreaking. And so I was fearful of like, what if this happens again or something like that? So I'm fearful for for us and and especially for my wife.02:57.75MeshachI didn't want to see her heartbroken in in that sense too. So yeah, I was both scared and excited. ah Thoughts running through my mind.03:11.10Meshachum When my my firstborn came, which is Niles, When he was born, i was I had to go home to get food.03:23.32Meshachum He was born like around midnight in Niles, Michigan. And ah the the nurses had stated that they only had food for my wife, but for me, and this was a whole day of ah delivery. So I went home and as I went home, I remember my child was already born probably about an hour or two before.03:46.10MeshachAnd it was it was kind of this weird thought. Like, I checked the house to see if everything was okay, like clean and stuff. And it was a strange experience because it's like I was cleaning the house for a guest because someone that we've never had at home. But this wasn't just any guest. This was my son. So I still have trouble explaining that. But, yeah, um I remember that running through my head. Like, oh, man, is everything okay for our son when he comes home? It's like preparing for a guest. But, no, this is this is your child.04:15.16MeshachSo, yeah.04:18.38Jonathan GuerreroYeah. ah As you were describing this, it was taking me back to my own experience. i I still remember the day that we took our son home from the hospital. And actually, it was just me. um my My wife had to stay behind um for for just a little bit. So I went home first. so and And so I had my son and in the back, and I'm driving the van, and it's just me and him.04:47.20MeshachYeah.04:47.23Jonathan GuerreroAnd I still remember it was nighttime and I had a classical music station on to help him sleep. And in that calm, all kinds of thoughts ran through my mind.05:00.82Jonathan GuerreroEverything was a mixture of both excitement and ah a little bit of maybe healthy fear ah of what was what was ahead.05:00.90MeshachYeah...
    Más Menos
    29 m
  • The Car That Rebuilt Us

    The Car That Rebuilt Us
    Nov 9 2025
    Who doesn’t like stories, especially ones that inspire us? In this episode you’re going to hear the true story about a father, a son, a clunker car and a 5,000-mile road trip that rebuilt their relationship.Ruchin Kansal is a leadership educator, advisor. But I’ve brought him on the program because he’s the co-author of The Kansal Clunker: The Car That Rebuilt Us. His Son Neil Kansal is a certified EMT and lifelong car enthusiast, he rebuilt his first clunker at sixteen and drove it to the highest motorable road in America.To learn more about The Kansal Clunker or to purchase the book, visit: https://www.thekansalclunker.com/Special thanks to Smile Online Course & Books for sponsoring this episode. To learn more visit: https://thefatherhoodchallenge--smileteenskills.thrivecart.com/social-career-skills-accelerator/Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastrhttps://zencastr.com/?via=thefatherhoodchallenge00:14.50Jonathan GuerreroWho doesn't like stories, especially ones that inspire us? In just a moment, you're going to hear the true story about a father and son, a clunker car, and a 5,000-mile road trip that rebuilt their relationship. So don't go anywhere, right?00:30.65Jonathan GuerreroGreetings, everyone. Thank you so much for joining me in this episode called The Car That Rebuilt Us. Let me start by introducing my two guests. Ruxin Kansal is a leadership educator advisor, but I brought him on the program because he's the co-founder of the Kassal Clunker, the car that rebuilt us.00:49.85Jonathan GuerreroHis son, Neil Kassal, is a certified EMT and lifelong car enthusiast. He rebuilt his first clunker at 16 and drove it to the highest memorable road in America. Ruxian Neal, welcome to the Fatherhood Challenge.01:04.54Ruchin KansalThank you for having us, Jonathan. It's really a pleasure.01:07.69Neil Kansaland Thanks, Jonathan.01:09.33Jonathan GuerreroSo here's my favorite question to both of you. What is your favorite dad joke?01:16.40Neil KansalYeah, well, dad, fitting you start with this one, I'd say.01:19.62Ruchin Kansalyeah the You know what? Neil just had his heat break down and he called, Dad, I'm cold. And I said, yeah, go stand in the corner. It's 90 degrees there.01:34.78Neil Kansaloh man, these aren't that old, do they?01:42.97Jonathan GuerreroI love that one.01:46.58Jonathan GuerreroAll right. Well, let's jump into it. Ruchin, Neil, why don't you both start by telling us about your professional careers?01:55.62Ruchin KansalNeel, you want to go first?01:57.29Neil KansalYeah, sure. I can get started. I guess mine's significantly shorter than his is. Uh, so I'm a recent college graduate. I graduated from a Washington and Lee university in Virginia this past May studying biology and data science.02:10.91Neil KansalAnd I recently kicked off my career as an analyst um at Deloitte working for the state of Kentucky um and the assistance programs here. um so I guess just a little bit more about me.02:23.44Neil Kansalah My whole life, I've been a builder. I've loved building things. I've loved fixing things. I've taken apart my mom's kitchen appliances, um you know much to her disappointment at various times in my life.02:35.46Neil Kansalof02:38.02Neil KansalSo, you know, I've always loved to build things and that's kind of where we got to our whole console clunker project, um which you all hear about more today. um But apart from building, I played the cello my whole life. I'm a certified EMT ah and, you know, throughout school and after I've tried to build an impact by leading organizations that can create change.03:00.01Neil Kansalum ah whether that's being a student leader in orchestras or founding programs that deliver medical assistance to those in need.03:11.37Neil Kansalum And, you know, something I'm trying to carry on forward with my life.03:16.29Jonathan GuerreroYou said you play the cello. That piques my interest because I also play the cello. I've played in orchestras and I did not know that about you.03:23.32Neil KansalOh, wow.03:26.83Jonathan GuerreroThat's really, really cool. And you said you've been playing all of your life.03:29.13Neil KansalYeah. Yeah. Yeah, my parents started me early. I think I was around three years old when I started playing the cello.03:36.92Jonathan GuerreroThat's really, really cool. Yeah, that that has a special place with me.03:42.48Neil KansalHow long have you been playing?03:42.55Jonathan GuerreroThe cello for me is is a voice. It's become almost like an extension of my body. If I could sing, that's what it would sound like.03:51.20Neil KansalYou know, a lot of people actually say that. um And there's a quote, and i I cannot remember who this is by, but it it was talking about how the cello is the most close replica to a human voice out of the instrument families.04:05.32Jonathan GuerreroYes. So true. So true. That was really cool.04:12.16Jonathan GuerreroWell, what is the story behind how you both got into CARS?04:18.01Ruchin KansalMaybe I ...
    Más Menos
    29 m
  • Intentional Movie Watching With Kids

    Intentional Movie Watching With Kids
    Nov 3 2025
    Do you love sharing faith building movies with your family but feel like finding quality faith based movies is much harder than it needs to be? I’ve brought an award-winning filmmaker and storyteller to help us navigate the film industry so Hollywood doesn’t become your pastor or your children’s youth pastor.Wilson Hickman is the creator of The Lost Healer. Wilson is a storyteller who combines the wonder of fantasy adventure with the timeless truths of Scripture. His series began as a desire to explore the strength of familial love and humanity’s deep longing for something beyond this life. His work invites readers to experience an imaginative story that’s not only thrilling, but also deeply reflective of the spiritual journeys we all face.To learn more about Wilson Hickman and his work look for him on:Website: https://www.thelosthealer.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelosthealerseries/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelosthealerseries/Special thanks to Smile Online Course & Books for sponsoring this episode. To learn more visit: https://thefatherhoodchallenge--smileteenskills.thrivecart.com/social-career-skills-accelerator/Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastrhttps://zencastr.com/?via=thefatherhoodchallenge00:12.91Jonathan GuerreroDo you love sharing faith, building... mo Do you love... Do you love sharing faith-building movies with your family, but feel like finding quality faith-based movies is much harder than it needs to be?00:24.46Jonathan GuerreroI've brought an award-winning filmmaker and storyteller to help us navigate the film industry so Hollywood doesn't become your pastor or your children's youth pastor. So don't go anywhere.00:37.12Jonathan GuerreroGreetings, everyone. Thank you so much for joining me in this episode called Intentional Movie Watching with Kids. Today, I'm excited to welcome Wilson Hickman, the creator of The Lost Healer.00:48.66Jonathan GuerreroWilson is a storyteller who combines the wonder of fantasy adventure with timeless truths of scripture. His series began as a desire to explore the strength of familiar love and humanity humanity's deep longing for something beyond this life.01:04.94Jonathan GuerreroHis work and invites readers to experience an imaginative story that's not only thrilling, but also deeply reflective of the spiritual journeys we all face. well some wellome Wilson, welcome to the Fatherhood Challenge.01:18.54Wilson HickmanThanks for having me on. It's great to be here.01:20.38Jonathan GuerreroOkay, I love this next question. What is your favorite dad joke?01:24.86Wilson HickmanOkay. Honestly, I had to think a little bit about this one because I've i've heard a lot over the years. um one of my One of my favorites, I'll say, is a ah Bible-based dad joke.01:35.45Wilson HickmanSo it's, um why wasn't Cain able to offer a sacrifice that pleased the Lord?01:43.32Jonathan GuerreroHmm. I definitely haven't heard this one.01:46.15Wilson HickmanBecause he wasn't able.01:50.06Wilson Hickmanah but Yeah, it's that's one of those ones where it's so bad it's good.01:54.72Jonathan GuerreroI love this.01:54.95Wilson Hickmanchuckle.01:55.76Jonathan GuerreroI'm going to save this one. i have a student I have a student that loves to, he's just a little kid, but every time he comes in the classroom, he loves to to share some sort of ah of a Bible joke.02:10.29Jonathan Guerreroand So we always exchange bible exchange Bible jokes. That's just our tradition. So I have a fresh one now.02:15.06Wilson Hickmanah02:16.59Jonathan GuerreroThank you.02:17.56Wilson HickmanYou're welcome. and and And for future reference, hearing myself say that back, you probably want to ask it, why couldn't Cain offer a sacrifice that pleased Lord? Otherwise, you give the answer away if you say Abel in the question. But it still works, so I'll take it.02:28.25Jonathan GuerreroIt works. Yes.02:32.44Jonathan GuerreroWell, thank you so much for being here. It's an honor to have you. Let's start with your story. How did you get into filmmaking? And specifically, how did you get into Christian, into the Christian storytelling scene?02:45.22Wilson Hickmanright, well, that really traces all the way back to my childhood, and i was blessed to be raised in a Christian home. I came to know the Lord from an early age, but I will say that my faith didn't really become my own until probably age 14 or 15, and that's when I heard the gospel presented in a way that I'd never really heard it explained before.03:05.54Wilson Hickmanum Back before then, I think if you would ask me something like, do good people go to heaven or does God help people who help themselves? I probably would have said yes. Um, but then I heard the gospel presented using, ah God's law, the 10 commandments, God's moral commands in order to prepare the heart to recognize the significance of what Jesus did on the cross.03:25.99Wilson HickmanSo someone asked me, you know, how many, how many lies have you told in your...
    Más Menos
    29 m
  • My Favorite Episodes

    My Favorite Episodes
    Oct 27 2025

    For this episode I thought we would do something fun and different. I’ve often been asked what my favorite episodes are. There is a benchmark to qualify to make it on the program and that benchmark is pretty high so every episode is delivering high value to you as the listener. But there are a few that instantly come to mind as favorites.

    Join our Patreon community for content you won't find anywhere else. https://www.patreon.com/c/TheFatherhoodChallenge


    Special thanks to Smile Online Course & Books for sponsoring this episode. To learn more visit: https://thefatherhoodchallenge--smileteenskills.thrivecart.com/social-career-skills-accelerator/


    Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

    https://zencastr.com/?via=thefatherhoodchallenge



    Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/thefatherhoodchallengepodcast/donations
    Más Menos
    29 m
  • How Are We Doing

    How Are We Doing
    Oct 19 2025
    This episode will be a little different. I know you’re used to me having a guest with me all the time. But every once in a while it’s good to talk about this program and update you on where we are, what we are doing and why. You can visit our Patreon page to support this program and find updates and content that you won't see anywhere else. https://www.patreon.com/c/TheFatherhoodChallengeSpecial thanks to Smile Online Course & Books for sponsoring this episode. To learn more visit: https://thefatherhoodchallenge--smileteenskills.thrivecart.com/social-career-skills-accelerator/Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastrhttps://zencastr.com/?via=thefatherhoodchallengeJonathan GuerreroGreetings, everyone. Thank you for joining me in this episode. Thank you for joining me in this episode called How Are We Doing? This episode may be a little bit different, and I know you're used to have to me having a guest on all the time, but every once in a while, it's good to talk about this program and update you on where we are.00:29.56Jonathan GuerreroFirst, let's start with a history of the Fatherhood Challenge and how it got its start.00:36.66Jonathan GuerreroMany years ago, i went through a crisis of faith that comes for each of us at least once in our life, often twice. Some refer to it as the dark night of the soul.00:47.17Jonathan GuerreroMany run from it. I ran straight into it. it was triggered by the It was triggered by the death of my mom. my dad had been missing out My dad had been missing out of my life for many, many years.01:01.91Jonathan GuerreroAnd by then it carried so many wounds. When you add that to the trauma I carried from growing up in an abusive home, the death of my mom was the turning point that sent me spiraling down into a crisis of faith, beating at the door of heaven, demanding answers in anger and in bitterness.01:22.45Jonathan GuerreroI threatened to go somewhere else for my answers if I did not receive a timely answer. And I didn't bluff. I went to the dark side. That journey nearly cost me and my family and my life a few times.01:38.16Jonathan GuerreroBut due to a strong praying wife who understood the spiritual warfare that was happening, God intervened and I had a direct encounter and intervention by God where he restored me.01:49.43Jonathan GuerreroAs I was ready, he answered my hard questions.01:57.07Jonathan GuerreroNot long after that, my wife and I were driving and we were talking about When I made a comment that I thought was that I wasn't a good father, she was quiet and she didn't say anything.02:11.47Jonathan Guerrerothe next day we The next day, out of the blue, she said that I should start a podcast. I thought it was very strange and out of character for her to suggest something like that.02:24.54Jonathan GuerreroSo just to see where she was coming from, I said, well, suppose I were to start a podcast. What is it you think that I would have to talk about?02:36.90Jonathan GuerreroI was really, really curious why she would even bring that that but why she would even bring that up. Because there was just something very, very odd about yeah the fact that she would say that. There was something odd about the way she was saying it. The timing of it was off. Everything was off. It just...02:58.75Jonathan GuerreroIt just wasn't something that she would typically say.03:03.94Jonathan GuerreroHer answer was fatherhood. Her answer took me took the wind out of me, and I spent the next few days processing that conversation.03:17.34Jonathan GuerreroSo over those days, as I would drive, I would just ponder and ponder and ponder, trying to figure out why, why, why, why why would she say something like that?03:31.57Jonathan GuerreroWhat would possess her to say something so out of character like that? I just could not figure it out.03:41.51Jonathan GuerreroOne day, I just let myself open up to the possibility that maybe... Just maybe it wasn't my wife speaking, but instead it was the Holy Spirit speaking through her.03:55.18Jonathan GuerreroThe minute I let that thought enter my head, I felt the shift. Maybe I was being called by God to start a podcast on fatherhood.04:07.04Jonathan GuerreroAnd maybe my wife was simply the mouthpiece to deliver that message.04:23.02Jonathan GuerreroSo as I mentioned before, as soon as I allowed that thought to enter my head, I felt a shift. I felt a physical physical shift in the van. And what I was experiencing was the physical presence of God in my van.04:38.32Jonathan GuerreroThat's what that shift was. Right away when I recognized it, I went into prayer. I started praying immediately. And God and I had a very, very blunt conversation to say the very least.04:53.84Jonathan GuerreroI told God that I knew he was trying to call me, but that I had absolutely no desire and absolutely no interest in doing this.05:07.63Jonathan GuerreroI love podcasts. I've always listened to them ever since podcasts started coming out. I've enjoyed the programs. I ...
    Más Menos
    27 m
  • She’s My Daughter

    She’s My Daughter
    Oct 9 2025

    Ever heard of the term baby mama and baby daddy? Where did this come from? Why is the divorce rate so high? Why is there a feminist movement? Why are more women than ever turning to new age/witchcraft practices and facing a spiritual crisis in the search to discover their identity, purpose and value? Why are so many women the targets of violence, rape and sexual abuse? Because something is missing. In this episode Daryl Dudley will reveal what is missing and how you can be part of the change.

    Daryl Dudley is the founder of She’s My Daughter. She’s My Daughter is an organization that enlists men as advocates and protectors ​empowering women and girls and supporting victims.

    To connect with Daryl Dudley or learn more about She's My Daughter, visit: http://www.shesmydaughter.com/


    Special thanks to Smile Online Course & Books for sponsoring this episode. To learn more visit: https://thefatherhoodchallenge--smileteenskills.thrivecart.com/social-career-skills-accelerator/


    Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

    https://zencastr.com/?via=thefatherhoodchallenge




    Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/thefatherhoodchallengepodcast/donations
    Más Menos
    29 m
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

    Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
    Sep 29 2025

    Remember the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? If you do, you’re likely a gen-x’er like me. So many of my friends at school had the action figures and would play with them re-enacting episodes in class.The cartoon was rooted in values of fame and power. Many of us in my generation and younger are parents wanting stronger values grounded in scripture for our children than what we grew up with. My guest Howard "Quiggly" Chang was the Lead Toy Concept Artist for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. His spiritual transformation led him instead to create a new action figure franchise with characters rooted in truth, faith and courage all based on Hebrews 11.

    To learn more about Ancientz and what Howard is doing, visit:


    Website: www.ancientz.com

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ancientz_official/

    Facebook: facebook.com/ancientz.official


    Special thanks to Smile Online Course & Books for sponsoring this episode. To learn more visit: https://thefatherhoodchallenge--smileteenskills.thrivecart.com/social-career-skills-accelerator/


    Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

    https://zencastr.com/?via=thefatherhoodchallenge



    Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/thefatherhoodchallengepodcast/donations
    Más Menos
    28 m
  • How To Connect With Your Kids (Part 2)

    How To Connect With Your Kids (Part 2)
    Sep 21 2025

    In part 2 of How To Connect With Your Kids, we explore the image of God in the family unit and fatherhood specifically. We also explore Pastor Jim Berglund's two books: Dad, Pass the Torch: A Father-Son Devotional Workbook and another called Daddy Daughter Dates: A Devotional Legacy Workbook. Jim explains how both books can give you a much closer relationship with your kids making the process simple and consistent yelidling results.

    You can find both of Pastor Jim Berglund's books here:

    https://a.co/d/hqIflEF

    https://a.co/d/escUs7E


    Special thanks to Smile Online Course & Books for sponsoring this episode. To learn more visit: https://thefatherhoodchallenge--smileteenskills.thrivecart.com/social-career-skills-accelerator/


    Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

    https://zencastr.com/?via=thefatherhoodchallenge



    Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/thefatherhoodchallengepodcast/donations
    Más Menos
    27 m