The Good Dad Act: How One Father Changed Custody Law and Reclaimed His Son w/ Dr. Bernard Jennings

This episode of the I Am Dad Podcast is a masterclass in perseverance, policy change, and purpose-driven fatherhood.

Host Kenneth Braswell welcomes Bernard W.H. Jennings, Florida Supreme Court–certified mediator, public servant, and architect of the Good Dad Act, for an extraordinary conversation about how one father’s fight for access to his son reshaped state law.

Dr. Jennings shares his deeply personal daddy story—how, despite being listed on his son’s birth certificate and actively parenting, he was told by a judge that he had no rights under Florida law. Rather than surrender, he studied the system, drafted legislation, built bipartisan support, and helped pass the Good Dad Act, establishing equal parental rights for fathers who step up.

The conversation explores the realities of paternity, legitimation, custody, and child support across states, the hidden barriers fathers face in family court, and why policy reform must be strategic, patient, and informed. Braswell and Jennings also discuss the emotional toll of prolonged separation, the importance of father involvement in child outcomes, and the role mothers, partners, and communities play in sustaining healthy families.

This is not just a legal story—it is a roadmap for fathers, advocates, and civic leaders seeking justice, equity, and lasting change for children and families nationwide.