thatsmydadproject.comBrandon Baker’s story is about breaking the cycle of fatherlessness and overcoming adversity.Growing up with a father who struggled with drug addiction and incarceration, Brandon had to navigate the absence of a positive male role model.His father’s presence in his life was inconsistent—weekend visits often meant playing video games alone while his dad spent time with friends. By the time he was 12, his father was imprisoned for drug trafficking, and Brandon fully understood the impact of his choices.Rather than following the same destructive path, Brandon made a conscious decision to live differently. He avoided drugs, focused on his faith, and built a successful career in IT. He also became a pastor, mentoring young men who grew up in similar situations.Becoming a father himself was a defining moment. The birth of his daughter brought a new fear: What if he became like his father? Instead of letting that fear consume him, he committed to being fully present.His journey also included reconciliation with his father, a process filled with frustration, grace, and boundaries.
FTSOF 06 | Jerry McClain - Drill Sargeant Army Ranger Gets Real About Fatherhood Mistakes✅ Didn’t hear dad say I love you until military (grown man)✅ Army Ranger Hall of Fame✅ Wishing dad was dead✅ The time he pulled a shotgun on his dad✅ A powerful story of reconciliationHost: Scott HiltonGuest: Jerry McClain
✅ Turned down the NFL to Work a Corporate Job
✅ Navigating college opportunities without his dad
✅ Learning how to do a ponytail
✅ What is a healthy family structure?
✅ The tough parts of fatherhood
Host: Scott Hilton
Guest: Mastaki Smith
thatsmydadproject.com
FTSOF 04
✅ Why Derick Williams works in the prison system ✅ 80% of inmates were raised fatherless ✅ It’s almost never too late to reconcile ✅ Writing letters to your kids ✅ Fathering through Divorce
Host: Scott Hilton Guest: Derick Williams thatsmydadproject.com
FTSOF 03 | Ward Williams on Being embarrassed by His Dad, the Whataburger and Coke He Still Remembers, and How He’s Now Teaching Hundreds of Men to Be Great Dad
✅ Sitting outside as a kid waiting on dad to show up
✅ Being embarrassed by dad’s smell
✅ The Whataburger and drink he still remembers
✅ Teaching incarcerated men how to be a great dad
✅ Breaking generations of divorce cycle
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FTSOF 02 | Allen Weston on his dad being killed in Vietnam, joining the Sheriff’s department to make a difference, 3 generations in jail at one time, & the difference between $7.25/hour and $12/hour
✅ Grandfather, father, his son… all in jail at one time.
✅ WHY it’s worth being a good dad
✅ Didn’t know how to get a loan or buy a house
✅ The difference between $7.25/hour and $12/hour
✅ Becoming an officer to make a difference
Host: Scott Hilton
Guest: Allen Weston
IN THIS EPISODE:
✅ Dad walking out on him in 3rd grade
✅ Being a star athlete wasn’t enough to get dad to show up at his games
✅ The last Hail Mary to win dad over
✅ Bumping into dad at the airport 20 years later….
✅ The conversation with his dad that changed everything
Caleb Waid’s earliest memory is his dad abandoning him.
Confusion, anger, and bitterness all wreaked havoc on him and his siblings for a season…
Through high school, college, marriage, and all the successes in between - Where was dad?
Until one day… They bumped into their dad in the airport. It had been nearly 20 years since they’d seen him.
This “chance” encounter paved the way to a reconciliation that will leave you in tears.
S02, E07 with Coach Eddie Courtney, one of the nation's most prolific high school coaches.
IN THIS EPISODE:
What He’s Done for over 1,000 players, His Players’ Response to his Cancer Diagnosis, Missing his Dad’s passing because he was helping a player, Winning a game in 8 OT’s, Having to break the news that a player’s dad passed away.
BIO:
Coach Eddie Courtney started his coaching career at the collegiate level. All short stints that include stops at Mars Hill University, East Tennessee State University, and the University of Tennessee. Since then, Coach Courtney has dedicated his life to Farragut high school for almost 3 decades. He has amassed over 200 wins and won the 2016 state title. He and his wife Anita have been married for 42 years! They have 2 children Megan and Geoff as well as a 2 year old granddaughter, Charley Rose.
HELPFUL LINKS:
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S02, E06.
IN THIS EPISODE: dealing with the loss of a player; why he quit Saturday practices; the time his dad caught him shoplifting; learning to be dad and coach; overcoming feeling like a failure as a coach; the power of reconnecting with former players; what coaching is really all about
Vance Roberson has committed his life to being a mentor and coach for 26 years. He got his start in 1979 as a volunteer at Gadsden High School, then over the next couple decades - coached at Citronelle HS, Auburn University, Baylor University, Boaz HS, Emma Sansom HS, Austin HS, and Auburn HS. He compiled over 140 wins during this time and competed in the AHSAA playoffs 14 years! He also coached in 4 different bowl games including the Cotton Bowl.He and his wife Ramona have 3 children (Bonnie, Jack, Natalie). They have been married for 45 years.
S2, E05. "43 Years Later... Coach Still Cares."
Dealing with the loss of a player; the time he cancelled practice to take his players swimming; refusing to smile in team pics; his dad’s response to him going 1-3; the right way to correct a player; the problem with all these sports lessons in the off season; the coach who believed in him.
Coach Jerry Pullen coached for 43 years. He got his start at Emma Sansom (junior high) in 1979 losing only one game in 2 years. During the 80’s and early 90’s, Coach Pullen made several pit stops that include Valley Head HS, UT Chattanooga, University of Alabama, Mississippi State University, University of Arkansas, and Clemson University. He made an appearance in 3 bowl games, including the Cotton Bowl while also gaining Gadsden Times coach of the year honors in 1982. He and his wife Lisa have been married 40+ years! They have one daughter, Rebekah.
S02, E04. Winning multiple national championships; Telling his dad he wanted to get into coaching; ow a coach knows if he’s really winning; How coaches can mentor kids in the weight room; Facing a tough diagnosis head on; Inviting players into his home to show them what family looks like; A tribute from his former players and family
Coach Sam Graham is a defensive genius and a weight room specialist. But, more than anything he knows how to touch hearts. Since the early 90’s, Coach Graham dedicated everything he had to mentoring 16-23 year old men as a football coach. He has coached throughout the state of Alabama including two stints at University of West Alabama and the University of North Alabama. As a player, he won 3 straight national championships at UNA. Now, faced with a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis, Sam looks to remind everyone of what has always been at the center.This episode is one you don't want to miss!
IN THIS EPISODE: The time he goofed up on a date and his dad saved the day; Winning a state championship, Letting his players see how he raises his own kids; The time he got ejected from the game; The issue with parents coaching from the stands; A powerful tribute to his dad; Coaching boys from father-deficient homes; A lasting legacy.
While dedicating over 30 years to coaching and mentoring many youth, Coach Ryan maintained a marriage that will celebrate 40 years in March of 2024. He coached football at Thompson HS, Hewitt-Trussville HS, Clay Chalkville HS, and Westbrook Christian School. He collected over 200 wins, including a state title in 1999 at Clay Chalkville. Coach Ryan also coached boys and girls basketball with great success. He compiled over 120 wins, 2 area championships, and 2 sweet 16 appearances. Coach Ryan achieved this success as a coach while helping raise 3 sons (Matthew, Patrick, David) and maintaining a healthy marriage. He now gets to enjoy and help raise 6 grandchildren who, by his own admission, are sure to keep him humble!
S2, E01. Wanting the stadium named after him, a Senior Night tradition they’ll never forget, how the transfer portal is wreaking havoc on fatherhood, the punishment for profanity on his teams, his dad didn’t miss a game for 38 years.
Drew Noles got an early start in coaching; he was only 17 years old. 32 years later, he retired from coaching with 159 wins and 3 region championships. He's the winningest football coach in Boaz history and also achieved great success at Etowah High School and Westbrook Christian School.
Being his dad's ball boy on Friday nights, Learning X's and O's from his dad as a 3 year old, The time his fumble cost his team the game, Having to step away from coaching, He wanted to give up, but his wife had a message for him, His resolve to be a great dad, even amidst his battle, An emotional tribute from his wife and daughters.
7 years ago, Brett's war with esophageal cancer began. His story has received national attention over the past couple months... rightly so. His perseverence, perspective, and commitment to family is inspiring millions of people. His message in his episode is simple: "Let's not worry about wins and losses. Let's worry about winning lives."
Our 50-minute Season Finale.
For ep. 50/50, it was only fitting to sit down with Scott Hilton and reflect back on 50 episodes. Scott opens up with a glimpse into what’s to come in the next few months, then the episode begins. It turned into a powerful, emotional episode as Scott’s 2 kids and wife paid tribute to him. Enjoy.
In this episode:
✔️ the funniest moments from season 1 (mishaps)
✔️ our favorite stories from season 1
✔️ Season 1’s most memorable moments
✔️ a tease into what’s to come with the TMD Project.
✔️ the true reward
In this episode:
✔️ the one thing that makes you not a good dad
✔️ losing dad at 16
✔️ it took Jeff 3 hours to be able to walk to the casket
✔️ Honda opportunity or his son’s games
✔️ what he’d tell his dad today
Eddie has invested into many fatherless children. He is the founder of Breakaway Student Ministries, which hosts summer camps for kids, and the Dream Center in Gadsden, Alabama, which is serving kids all over the community.
In this episode:
✔️ a heart for the fatherless
✔️ greatest memory with dad and Phil Neikro
✔️ the time he ran away from home
✔️ challenges of being a dad and leading a ministry
✔️ an inspirational charge to fathers
Todd endured a tough childhood. Addiction. Violence. Trauma. But, it wasn’t the end of his story.
In this episode:
✔️ the devastating impacts of addiction
✔️ becoming like dad
✔️ the loyal friend who wouldn’t give up
✔️ journey to forgiving dad
✔️ finding a letter after dad died
Jacob is 29 years old. His birth father left him. But, somebody stepped in, changed the course of his life, and became his dad.
In this episode:
✔️ never meeting his dad
✔️ getting expelled from school
✔️ disappointing everyone around him
✔️ a conversation with dad that changed his life
✔️ saying good morning to his 2 year old
Vista’s dad killed 7 people, his mom and stepdad were on drugs, he had to steal hot pockets to eat as a kid, but ends up turning it all around and is now a faithful husband and father. You gotta hear this one.
In this episode:
✔️ stepdad was a raging drug addict
✔️ stepdad and mom left us at home to go rob jewelry stores
✔️ running off with his dad when he escaped from jail
✔️ how Vista flipped the script
✔️ a special tribute to those who invested in him
