🎙️ Welcome to a new episode of The Dad Up Podcast.

🟫 Redemption & Resilience| Casey Diaz and Bryan Ward

👉 Darwin “Casey” Diaz is a former gang leader and growing up on the mean streets of Los Angeles, he was forced to fight for his life.

👉 He was eventually incarcerated as one of the most violent criminals in California.

👉 While in prison, several dudes from two long-established gangs—18th Street and Florencia 13—asked him to become a “shot caller.”

👉 One of the shot callers’ responsibilities was to control the shanks within the prison population—the crude homemade knives used for stabbing another prisoner.

👉 Casey was the one who slept with the shanks—all thirteen of them under his mattress. It would be suicidal not to give him your shank because if you don’t, then he’d have you killed.

👉 Then Casey was transferred to New Folsom State Prison outside Sacramento, California, and placed in solitary confinement because of his “shot caller” status.

👉 Social interactions with other inmates were nonexistent and severely limited with guards.

👉 After a year or so at New Folsom, he heard the guards come by his cell with an announcement: “Church service. Any inmate wanting to go, stand by your gate.”

👉 His life was forever changed in that cell when one day God approached Casey in a miraculous way.

👉 Upon his release from prison, Casey landed a job making signs and today runs his own company, Samiah Signs.

👉 Casey enjoys teaching at church and sharing his story with audiences around the country.

👉 Grateful for a second chance at life, Casey wrote a book called The Shot

👉 When you read Casey Diaz’s book, The Shot Caller, you will understand why he knows firsthand how gangs destroy lives and ravage neighborhoods.

👉 Casey was caught up in a destructive lifestyle and was in deep about as deep as you can go. It’s amazing he’s still alive.

👉 Everyone needs to be concerned, especially parents of teens and young children who ask, “What can I do to keep my kids out of gangs?”

👉 Casey says there’s no easy answer, but you can certainly take steps to greatly reduce the odds of one of your children being caught up in a gang.

👉Make sure you check out Casey’s links in the show notes.

Dad Up!

📞 Contact with Bryan Ward:

✅ Dad Up Instagram:

https://instagram.com/daduppodcast

✅ Dad Up YouTube:

https://youtube.com/c/DadUpPodcast

✅ Dad Up Apple Podcast:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dad-up-podcast/id1486764562

✅ Dad Up LinkTree:

https://linktr.ee/Daduptribe

📞 Contact with Casey Diaz:

✅ Casey Diaz Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/real_casey_diaz_

✅ Casey Diaz Website & Book Order:

https://caseydiaz.net/

✅ Casey Diaz Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/casey.diaz

✅ Casey Diaz LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/casey-diaz-537b848

🎙️ Welcome to a new episode of The Dad Up Podcast.

🟫 Don’t Bench Yourself | Kent Evans and Bryan Ward

👉 Kent Evans is the Executive Director and co-founder of Manhood Journey, a ministry that helps fathers become disciple-makers and mentors build the next generation of godly men.

👉 Manhood Journey is a provider of resources to intentional fathers who want to give their sons a Biblical foundation.

👉 Kent has personally experienced how the guidance of godly men can change the course of a life.

👉 After a twenty-year career as a business leader, he embarked on biblical Fatherhood ministry projects and as a result, has appeared on television, radio, web outlets and podcasts.

👉 Currently, Kent is enjoying the new challenge of plying his skills to help fathers get fully engaged in the process of discipling their sons.

👉 Kent has written several books. His most recent book, Don’t Bench Yourself.

👉 Don’t Bench Yourself by Kent Evans is a motivational and self-help book aimed at encouraging readers to take control of their lives and pursue their goals actively rather than waiting for opportunities to come to them.

👉 Kent uses sports metaphors, particularly from basketball, to illustrate the importance of being proactive and engaged in one’s personal and professional development.

👉 Through anecdotes, practical advice, and actionable strategies, Kent emphasizes the significance of resilience, accountability, and continuous learning.

👉 Don’t Bench Yourself serves as a call to action for individuals to step off the sidelines and fully participate in their journey toward success.

Dad Up!

📞 Contact with Bryan Ward:

✅ Dad Up Instagram:

https://instagram.com/daduppodcast

✅ Dad Up YouTube:

https://youtube.com/c/DadUpPodcast

✅ Dad Up Apple Podcast:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dad-up-podcast/id1486764562

✅ Dad Up LinkTree:

https://linktr.ee/Daduptribe

📞 Contact with Kent Evans:

✅ Disability Parenting Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/disabilityparenting

✅ Manhood Journey Website:

manhoodjourney.org

✅ Manhood Journey LinkTree:

https://linktr.ee/manhoodjourney

✅ Manhood Journey Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/manhoodjourney

✅ Father On Purpose Podcast:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/father-on-purpose-podcast

🎙️ Welcome to a new episode of The Dad Up Podcast.

🟫 Remember What You Are Fighting For | Todd & Kristin Evans and Bryan Ward

👉 Dr. Todd and Kristin Evans are celebrating 23 years of marriage and are award-winning authors, national speakers, and special needs parents.

👉 They are passionate about empowering other parents of children with additional needs with the keys to thrive at www.DisabilityParenting.com.

👉 Their new book, How to Build a Thriving Marriage as You Care for Children with Disabilities, was recently released by Baker Books.

👉 “How to Build a Thriving Marriage as You Care for Children with Disabilities" is a guide that focuses on the unique challenges faced by couples raising children with disabilities.

👉 The book emphasizes the importance of communication, understanding, and teamwork between partners.

👉 It offers practical strategies for managing stress, balancing caregiving responsibilities, and maintaining intimacy.

👉 Todd and Kristin share personal stories, expert advice, and exercises to help couples strengthen their relationship while navigating the complexities of parenting.

👉 Overall, it aims to provide support and encouragement for couples to thrive both as partners and as parents.

👉 Todd and Kristin both earned their MA in Christian Educational Ministries at Wheaton College in Illinois and have served together in full-time ministry in church, camping, and retreat settings.

👉 Todd received his PhD from Vanderbilt University’s School of Engineering and currently manages his own business, and Kristin earned her MSW from the University of Tennessee and is a Licensed Master Social Worker experienced in couples, child and family, substance abuse, and crisis counseling.

👉 Check out all their links below or in the show notes!

Dad Up!

📞 Contact with Bryan Ward:

✅ Dad Up Instagram:

https://instagram.com/daduppodcast

✅ Dad Up YouTube:

https://youtube.com/c/DadUpPodcast

✅ Dad Up Apple Podcast:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dad-up-podcast/id1486764562

✅ Dad Up LinkTree:

https://linktr.ee/Daduptribe

📞 Contact with Todd and Kristin:

✅ Disability Parenting Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/disabilityparenting

✅ Disability Parenting Website:

https://www.disabilityparenting.com/

✅ Disability Parenting Links:

https://linktr.ee/disabilityparenting