Ever feel like your past is holding you back as a dad? You’re not alone—and you’re not disqualified. This week, we sit down with a very special guest and new friend of the show, Sammy Perez. He's a husband, father of four, and national voice for second chances through his work at Prison Fellowship. Sammy’s story is raw and real. From time behind bars to meeting Jesus in a prison cell and even finding his own father figure, his testimony will move you, but what God has done in his life since then and the work that has been done in his family is where the real story begins.

We talk about:

• What it means to father with grace instead of guilt
• Why humility is a dad’s greatest strength
• Breaking generational cycles (even if you were never shown how)
• The kind of legacy Jesus can build from failure

Whether you grew up with the wrong role models—or none at all—this episode is a hope-filled reminder that it’s never too late to begin again. Whenever you feel like life is running you over and it seems impossible that God could use you any more, soak in this reminder from Sammy: "I was created for more than this." This one is for the dad who feels disqualified. God’s not done with you, even if there are times you might feel like you're done with him.

Today's episode, we have the pleasure of talking with pastor Aaron Harvie. Aaron is the senior pastor at Highview Baptist Church in Louisville, KY. Prior to his role there, he served as a Church Planting Mobilizer with the North American Mission Board and taught at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has an extensive background in pastoring and planting churches in Kentucky and Philadelphia. Aaron and Allison have 5 children: John, Grace, Luke, Porter, and Claire. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Ouachita Baptist University in 1995 and a Master of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1998.

Needless to say, Aaron's a sharp dude. Not only that, he's a gold mine for dads who want to better disciple their kids. We get into some of his personal testimony, the importance of a close relationship with God's word, what it really means to "measure up" as a dad, and much more. You don't want to miss this one.

It started as a simple family phrase: "Look for the overlooked." However, Lawson's daughter Olivia flipped this on its head, encouraging her students to ask if maybe one of the people you're overlooking is yourself—or even a version of yourself you've neglected for too long. In this episode, we unpack what it means to notice the unseen, and not just in the people around us, but in the parts of ourselves we’ve pushed aside. What have we neglected in the name of productivity? What’s been quietly waiting for us to slow down, breathe, and listen?

Turns out, Jesus was in the business of seeing the overlooked—from the woman at the well to the leper no one would touch. And if we want to follow His lead as dads, it might mean noticing the quiet parts of our own soul that need care, rest, and reconnection with the Father. This one’s part biblical reflection, part personal confession, and part reminder that even (especially?) the busiest dad needs to hit pause and pay attention to the ones that no one else will.

Faithful. Gentle. Loving. Godly. Patient. These are the kinds of words we hope our kids would use to describe us. But if they were being totally honest, what’s the one word they'd actually write down? Would it be something we’re proud of—or something that hits a little too close to home, like angry, stressed, or even absent? In this episode, Kent and Lawson walk through a simple but eye-opening exercise that reveals how our day-to-day choices as dads shape how our kids experience us.

The good news? Whatever word they might choose today, it’s doesn't have to be the final word. With time, intentionality, and God’s help, we can grow into the kind of fathers who reflect the heart of Christ in our homes. There’s no guilt trip here—just a real opportunity to reflect, reset, and grow. So whether you walk away from this conversation feeling encouraged or convicted, lean in. You are not a father on accident. So go be a father on purpose.