There’s a lot I’m still learning about this—and I’m open about that.

“Boys will be boys” is the conversation, but I don’t want it to end with a phrase—we need to unpack it.

If you live in spaces where boys are being shaped every day—educators, teachers, coaches—I’d value your perspective. What does that phrase get right? Where does it miss? And what responsibility do we carry in defining it moving forward?

This isn’t a statement—it’s an invitation.

We think “The Talk” is coming one day…

A single conversation we have to get right.

But the real one?

We won’t even be there for it.

One day, your child will sit across from someone they love…

and answer a question that will define everything:

“What was it like being raised by you?”

That answer is being written right now—

in the small moments we overlook.

So when they tell your story—

will it sound like safety… or something they had to survive?

We don’t have to be perfect.

But we do have to be intentional.

Follow for more real conversations on parenting, leadership, and human connection.

#Parenting #IntentionalParenting #TheTalk #GentleParenting #ParentingTips #EmotionalIntelligence

Season 2, Episode 5 of The Salad Bowl Podcast features Brent Dorrough—a man whose story is rooted in discipline, growth, and an unwavering commitment to becoming better than he was yesterday.

In this episode, we sit down with Brent to unpack the layers that shaped him—from his upbringing and early influences to the defining moments that tested his character and sharpened his perspective. Brent brings a grounded, real-world lens to what it means to navigate identity, responsibility, and purpose in today’s ever-evolving landscape.

This conversation isn’t about fitting into a mold—it’s about understanding how your experiences, your environment, and your choices all coexist to shape who you are. Brent speaks candidly about the lessons he’s learned along the way, the standards he holds himself to, and the mindset required to lead, grow, and stay true to yourself in the process.

At its core, this episode reflects what The Salad Bowl Podcast stands for: the belief that people don’t need to lose themselves to belong. Instead, it’s the combination of our differences, perspectives, and lived experiences that creates something stronger, more dynamic, and more authentic.

If you’re someone striving to evolve without compromising who you are, this conversation will challenge you, resonate with you, and remind you that growth doesn’t require you to dilute your identity—it demands that you understand it.

In this episode of The Salad Bowl Podcast, I sit down with someone who doesn’t just talk about leadership—he lives it. Zach Gonzalez is the kind of man who understands that what you carry in silence often shapes how you show up in every room you enter.

We start at the foundation—his upbringing in New York—and how the environment he was raised in helped shape his mindset, his edge, and his perspective on responsibility. From there, we step into the present, where Zach opens up about his growing family and the real weight that comes with leading, providing, and being someone others depend on.

This isn’t surface-level conversation. We dig into the quiet pressures men carry—the expectations, the standards, and the internal battles that rarely get seen but are always felt.

One of the most powerful parts of this episode is Zach’s spiritual evolution. We talk about his journey from atheism to becoming an Orthodox Christian, and how that shift has reshaped the way he views purpose, discipline, and who he’s called to be—not just for himself, but for his family.

This episode is about ownership. It’s about growth that stretches you. And it’s about the weight that comes with becoming the man you said you wanted to be.

If you’ve ever felt the pressure to lead, to provide, or to hold it all together… this one is for you.

Who builds the statues—and who never gets a chisel?

In this Side Salad segment from The Salad Bowl Podcast, we examine how power shapes history: who writes textbooks, who’s called “heroic,” and whose voices are left out of the national narrative.

This episode argues for a richer, more honest story of America—one made of many perspectives rather than a single monument. We explore colonization, slavery, Indigenous erasure, and gendered histories, and why adding context doesn’t erase truth—it deepens it.

Perfect for listeners interested in history, social justice, education reform, and cultural storytelling. Tune in to question the monuments you pass, and learn why the Salad Bowl isn’t about tearing things down—it’s about letting more hands carve the story.

What does it mean to truly show up as yourself in a world that constantly tries to define you?

In this episode of The Salad Bowl Podcast, Kevin sits down with Shawon Clark for a powerful conversation about leadership, personal identity, resilience, and the experiences that shape how we move through the world.

Shawon shares his journey—diving into the moments that tested him, the lessons that built him, and the perspective he’s gained along the way. From navigating life’s challenges to understanding the responsibility of leadership and influence, this episode explores what it means to live with authenticity while impacting the people around you. We also go into Shawon's journey to crossing into the highly esteemed fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi Inc.

Together, they unpack deeper questions about culture, character, and the courage it takes to remain true to who you are in environments that often reward conformity.

This conversation is honest, thoughtful, and full of the kind of insight that makes The Salad Bowl Podcast what it is: a space where different experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives come together without needing to dissolve into one.

Because the goal isn’t the melting pot.

It’s the Salad Bowl.

Topics include:

1. Leadership and influence
2. Personal growth and resilience
3. Identity and authenticity
4. Navigating complex environments
5. The power of perspective and conversation

If you enjoy conversations about leadership, culture, personal development, and human dynamics, this episode is for you.

What happens when positivity becomes a shield from truth?

In this Side Salad, we unpack a quiet cultural habit: choosing comfort over honesty. From personal relationships to conversations about racism, immigration, leadership, and societal problems, the pressure to “stay positive” can sometimes silence the truth that growth requires.

Is optimism helping us heal — or helping us avoid?

In true Salad Bowl fashion, this episode challenges the idea that harmony comes from smoothing over uncomfortable realities. Real unity isn’t artificial. It’s built on honesty, courage, and the willingness to face difficult truths head-on.

Because sometimes the most positive thing we can do…

is tell the truth first.

Topics explored:

1. Toxic positivity vs real resilience
2. Artificial harmony in society and leadership
3. Why hard conversations create stronger communities
4. Truth as the foundation for authentic unity

🥗 The Salad Bowl Podcast explores the complex ingredients of human experience — without forcing them to dissolve.

What if the most dangerous person in the room

isn’t the one holding the weapon…

but the one holding the microphone?

This Side Salad connects an ancient fable to social media culture, political polarization, and the power of digital amplification.

Listen carefully.