Every father should have honest conversations with his son. In this episode of The Dear Son, Show, we explore the lessons fathers must teach their sons before adulthood.

Carlton Young (CY) on PTSD, Fatherhood, and Leading From Clarity | Dear Son Show

On the Dear Son Show, host D Johns talks with guest Carlton Young (CY, “Mr. 8020”) about fatherhood, identity, and healing through faith and self-awareness. CY shares his background growing up in Birmingham, being adopted by his stepfather, and learning discipline and work ethic from a stern but present dad. He explains how trauma—including being shot at Fort Hood, multiple surgeries, lasting numbness, and an unrecovered bullet near his spine—contributed to PTSD, anxiety, and damaged relationships, including the collapse of his first marriage and strain in his second. CY describes confronting “survival scripts,” improving communication, forgiving himself, and renewing his mind through daily time with God. He discusses writing The Discipline to Finish, leading Mindset U, and his goal to impact a million men by helping them lead from clarity, not chaos.

00:00 Surviving the Shooting

00:38 Welcome to Dear Son

01:52 How’s Your Heart

02:19 Communication and Leadership

04:41 Roots and Survival Scripts

07:29 Growing Up Overseas

09:18 A Stern but Present Dad

12:29 Learning to Say I Love You

13:37 Parenting and Hard Feedback

15:06 Shot at Fort Hood

16:23 Joining the Army Fast

23:20 Leaving the Military

23:44 Starting Over in Dallas

24:54 Work Hustle and Uncertainty

26:41 Career Pivots

28:00 Sales Inspiration

28:45 Fatherhood After Trauma

29:38 Faith Awakening

33:24 PTSD And Healing

35:36 Repairing Family Bonds

39:21 Self Forgiveness

42:01 Writing The Book

45:04 Stewarding The Calling

47:19 Mission For Men

53:21 Where To Find Him

54:42 Final Reflections

#fathersonrelationship #adviceformen #modernfatherhood #adultchildren #lifelessonsformen #raisingmen #raisingkids #mantalk

Channel Focus Areas:

“What Fathers Should Teach Their Sons”

“How to Be a Better Father”

“Father Son Relationship Advice”

“Mistakes Fathers Make”

“Lessons Every Man Should Learn”

Follow CY: https://instagram.com/iam8020nation and www.carlton-young.com

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The Three Foundational Pillars of the DSP Community

1. Reveal trauma

2. Heal from trauma

3. Help through telling stories of it all

“Better Man. Better Father.”

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