Better Call Daddy with Reena Friedman Watts

“It’s never too late to have a relationship, and you can always choose your own destiny.” — Liana Morris

“Everything can be ritual. Everything can be sacred.” — Liana Morris

In this heartfelt episode of Better Call Daddy, host Reena Friedman Watts sits down with a long term friend Liana Morris  for a conversation about family relationships, divorce, forgiveness, motherhood, and healing generational wounds.

Liana opens up about growing up with an absent father, the emotional impact of divorce on children, and what it was like trying to reconnect after years of distance. She shares how personal growth, creativity, and self-awareness helped her heal and become more intentional in raising her son, David.

“The more calmness and intention I bring into a situation, the more sacred it becomes.” — Liana

Reena and Liana talk about mother-son relationships, building trust after family trauma, and how laughter, art, and shared experiences can create connection even after painful chapters.

This episode explores forgiveness, parenting, emotional resilience, and the reality that family relationships are rarely simple — but healing is still possible.

“Decide who you’re going to be — then become that person.” — Liana

• Growing up with an absent parent

• Divorce and its impact on children

• Rebuilding family relationships later in life

• Mother-son connection and parenting with intention

• Forgiveness and emotional healing

• Art, creativity, and self-expression

• Breaking generational patterns

• Creating safe spaces within families

• (00:00) Welcome to Better Call Daddy

• (05:15) Liana’s healing journey and reflections on forgiveness

• (15:30) Growing up with an absent father

• (25:00) Creating emotional safety for family and self

• (35:45) How art and creativity became part of healing

• (45:00) Family legacy, motherhood, and moving forward

If you’ve ever struggled with family dynamics, forgiveness, divorce, or reconnecting with a parent, this conversation will resonate deeply.

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“Freedom isn't permanent, and it depends on who's willing to fight for it.” Abteen Vaziri

“The biggest victims of radical Islam are Muslims.”

“I have a duty not only to save America, but to save Germany, because Germany saved me.”

"Iranians are not going to be quiet."

In this powerful episode of Better Call Daddy, host Reena Friedman Watts sits down with political commentator, entrepreneur, and activist Abteen Vaziri for an eye-opening conversation about escaping Iran, confronting radical ideology, finding faith, and fighting for the American Dream.

Born into a family fleeing the oppressive Islamic regime in Iran, Abteen shares the sacrifices his parents made to build a life in America. In one of the episode’s most emotional moments, he reflects on his father — a man who rarely used his voice — and the powerful “why” behind leaving everything behind in search of freedom.

From growing up Muslim to converting to Christianity, Abteen opens up about identity, faith, censorship, political activism, and why he believes more Iranian Americans must speak out against radicalism.

He also discusses immigration, entrepreneurship through the EB-5 visa industry, cancel culture, and the dangers of extremism both abroad and in the United States.

This episode dives deep into freedom, resilience, family legacy, and what it truly means to protect the American Dream.

• Escaping Iran and starting over in America

• The emotional story behind Abteen’s father’s silence

• From Islam to Christianity: Abteen’s faith journey

• Fighting radicalism and political extremism

• Iranian-American identity and cultural pressure

• The American Dream and why freedom matters

• Immigration, entrepreneurship, and political activism

• Why more Iranian Americans are entering politics

• (00:00) Welcome to Better Call Daddy

• (05:15) Abteen Vaziri’s journey from Iran to America

• (15:30) Why Iranian Americans need political representation

• (25:00) The story behind his father’s sacrifice and silence

• (35:45) Radicalism, free speech, and the political climate

• (45:00) Faith, freedom, and final thoughts on the American Dream

If you’ve ever wondered what people risk for freedom — or how one family’s escape from Iran shaped a new generation of outspoken activists — this is an episode you won’t forget.

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In this episode of Better Call Daddy, host Reena Friedman Watts speaks with Leron Rodgers, a father of four and Uber driver, whose story begins with a chance encounter while Reena was traveling for a Hollywood Demons shoot.

What starts as a simple conversation turns into a deep discussion about fatherhood, mental health, addiction, and breaking generational cycles.

Leron opens up about growing up with a father who struggled with addiction and how that shaped his approach to parenting. Now raising four children, he reflects on the challenges of single fatherhood, the importance of community support, and what it takes to heal and build a different future for his children.

This episode explores vulnerability, forgiveness, and the resilience required to rebuild family patterns and create lasting change.

Key Topics Uber driver father of four life story Chance meeting during Hollywood Demons shoot travel Single fatherhood and raising four children Growing up with addiction in the family Mental health and emotional resilience Breaking generational cycles Community support and “it takes a village” Forgiveness and personal healing

Episode Highlights How Leron’s childhood shaped his parenting style The realities of raising four kids as a single father Lessons learned from addiction, absence, and resilience Why communication and emotional honesty matter in families Reframing pain into purpose and growth

Why This Episode Matters This conversation is a reminder that healing doesn’t happen in isolation. Through honesty and reflection, Leron shares how he is building a new legacy for his children rooted in awareness, love, and intention.

Listen now for a conversation about fatherhood, resilience, and rewriting your story.

Jon Waldman is a Winnipeg-based writer, TEDx speaker, and advocate for infertility awareness. His book 100 Things Jets Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die was shortlisted for the Winnipeg Book Award. His work has appeared in the Winnipeg Free Press, The Hockey News, and The Toronto Sun, and he’s been featured by CBC and HuffPost.

After a six-year infertility journey with his wife Elana, Jon became a leading voice in the conversation around male infertility. Their daughter, Kaia, was born in 2015. Today, he serves as a spokesperson for Fertility Matters Canada, using storytelling to break stigma and build community.

In this episode of Better Call Daddy, Reena Friedman Watts sits down with TEDx speaker Jon Waldman for a conversation most men aren’t having but should be.

After six years of infertility, Jon opens up about the emotional toll, the silence surrounding male infertility, and how it reshaped his identity, marriage, and sense of legacy.

This episode drops during National Infertility Awareness Week—a reminder that 1 in 6 couples face this reality, yet men are often left out of the conversation.

From collecting sports memorabilia to confronting one of life’s hardest challenges, Jon shares how storytelling became his way through—and why speaking up matters.

This isn’t just about infertility. It’s about fatherhood, identity, and what we leave behind.

• Why male infertility is rarely talked about—and why that needs to change
• The emotional impact on men, relationships, and self-worth
• How Jon turned pain into purpose through his TEDx talk
• The surprising connection between sports memorabilia and legacy
• Using humor to navigate heavy conversations
• Building support and breaking isolation

Episode Highlights: - (00:00) Welcome to the Better Call Daddy Show - (05:30) Introduction of Jon Waldman and his TED Talk - (15:00) The statistics of infertility and its impact on men - (25:00) Jon’s journey in the sports memorabilia world - (35:45) The importance of storytelling in personal experiences - (45:00) Wayne’s insights on legacy and compassion - (55:00) Closing thoughts and reflections

Don't miss this thought-provoking episode that encourages listeners to embrace their stories and foster connections. Tune in and discover how vulnerability can lead to strength and understanding in the journey of fatherhood and beyond.

Connect with Jon Waldman

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonwaldman/

Connect with Reena Friedman Watts: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube (00:00) The Better Call Dream Daddy Show features interviews with influential and controversial fathers (01:54) Jon Waldman did a TED talk on the subject of infertility (07:26) Talk to me about how you started becoming a collector (11:29) In high school, in grade 10, I took our journalism program (13:02) Have you written any favorite pieces? Um, funny question (15:12) There are many people who you dream of interviewing as a sports fan (20:49) Comedian discusses his fertility journey in a new podcast (23:23) The world of infertility, especially around males, is vast (28:05) Is there anything that didn't make it into the book (29:37) Are there any organizations or people like books that you read, anything that helped you (32:17) Have you ever spoken up at all in the Jewish community (38:17) How do you instill the enjoyment of collecting in the next generation (42:37) Jon Waldman says collecting things can be part of your legacy

This episode is part of National Infertility Awareness Week, helping raise awareness around male infertility, IVF, and the emotional impact on families.

More info on National Infertility Awareness

https://www.asrm.org/advocacy-and-policy/take-action/national-infertility-awareness-week/

Join host Reena Friedman Watts and her dad, Wayne Friedman, for another captivating episode of the Better Call Daddy Show as they dive into the life and stories of Dean, known as 904 Dad Life. This episode is packed with humor, heart, and raw honesty as Dean opens up about his journey through sobriety, the challenges of fatherhood, and the complexities of family relationships. From delivering his daughter on the bathroom floor to navigating a complicated relationship with his own father, Dean shares his experiences with candidness and wit. He discusses the impact of his upbringing on his parenting style and how he strives to break the cycle of dysfunction.

The conversation touches on: - The challenges of being a dad while managing personal struggles - How music became a creative outlet for healing - Insights into sobriety and the importance of support systems - The complexities of family dynamics and the influence of past relationships - Lessons learned from navigating difficult conversations with children Listeners will resonate with Dean's story of resilience and the importance of creating a positive legacy for future generations.

As always, Wayne shares his wisdom, offering insights into the nature of family and the importance of setting boundaries. Episode Highlights: - (00:00) Welcome to the Better Call Daddy Show - (05:15) Introduction to Dean and his journey - (15:30) The story of delivering his daughter - (25:00) Navigating sobriety and family life - (35:45) The impact of Dean's father on his parenting - (45:00) Wayne's thoughts on family dynamics - (55:00) Closing remarks and reflections Don't miss this engaging episode filled with laughter, tears, and valuable life lessons. Tune in and discover how Dean is redefining fatherhood and creating a brighter future for his family. 🔗 Connect with Reena Friedman Watts: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube (00:00) Each week I interview a guest, share the stories with my dad (03:30) Had a friend pass away from a fentanyl overdose (05:54) When you're getting sober, your mind is going crazy, so (07:22) Wife had a natural childbirth that was easier than planned (10:28) How'd you guys meet? How did you reconnect on MySpace (11:42) Can I ask, like, what makes you drink? That is the ultimate question (15:54) The question about how it affect my marriage, it didn't start affecting it until (17:38) So what is sobriety look like for you? It looks good so far (22:40) Dean uses medical marijuana for back pain after two back surgeries (25:37) Did you watch the Jerry Springer show? Of course (26:59) Dean's father has a history of being a predator