PBT, Episode 57; Dads Talk #1, ft. Kenneth Prado

Sat down with Mr. Kenneth Prado to hear the story about his upbringing, and what inspired him to become a school board member in Hemet California. Just two dads, sitting down and talking about life, the struggles that men face, and what we think about fatherhood and being involved in our children's education.

Episode Transcript

(00:01):
Do you hear that? Do you see what's coming?
The voting data from 2024 shows a clear shift in the state of
California. The wave of Californians who
decided to up and leave to move to Texas or Florida or Tennessee

(00:24):
is over. The rest of us are here to stay,
and we will no longer stand idlewhile the bad politicians in
Sacramento continue to push bad policies that refuse to
represent the American people ofCalifornia.
This isn't about left versus right or Republican versus

(00:47):
Democrat. This is about saying enough is
enough. We have the highest rate of
homelessness, the highest unemployment, the highest gas
prices, the highest cost of groceries, the highest cost of
living, the highest taxes, and what are we getting in return?

(01:09):
The American people in California are sick and tired of
not being represented because when we sit back and get taken
advantage of for long enough, wethe people will stand strong and
united to make change. To the California voter who's

(01:31):
tired of what's going on in our state, join us.
Reach out, see how you can get involved.
There is a movement coming, a California movement.

(02:16):
You ever wonder what is the truth?
Three things cannot be long hated, the sun, the moon, and
the truth. All right, guys, here we are,

(02:47):
another episode of Point Blank Truth podcast.
Thank you so much for tuning in.Sitting across from me today is
Mr. Kenneth Prado. Kenneth, how are you doing, Sir?
I'm doing good, thanks for inviting me to come out.
Yeah, of course man. Thank you for coming.
I know we've been, we've been trying to figure out what's
going on, fixing some things. So I appreciate your patience
with this man of. Course man, my pleasure.

(03:08):
So talk to us a little bit aboutKenneth, who you are, and what
it is that you do. Hello everybody, my name is
Kenneth Prado. I'm a governing board trustee
for him at Unified School District.
So I want to share a little bit about my past, you know, to
bring it up to, to speed, like why I do what I do nowadays, you

(03:30):
know, so I was born my dad's from from Mexico.
So if you look at nowadays thing, the whole immigrant
thing, so my dad was a legal immigrant to to America from
Mexico. My mom's born in LA, but
unfortunately at the age of 5, due to unforeseen circumstances,
I was removed out of the care ofmy my mom.

(03:52):
I was placed in foster care. I've lived in a quite a quite a
few homes, group homes growing up till I settled with one
family in Sacramento. So I lived in Sacramento,
Folsom. They moved back east to Vermont.
So I lived in Vermont for a couple years, came back to
Folsom. And during that time as a young

(04:14):
kid, the home, home I was in the, the, the man of the house,
Bill, his son had gotten out of prison.
And so I was a young kid and about 12 years old, and he built
this punching bag in the garage.It's always all amazed, you
know, as young boys, you know, he's, he was punching it and
his, his knuckles got all bloody.

(04:34):
And I thought it was like the coolest thing.
And so I told my friend and thenit ended up he told his mom, his
mom told my foster mom, she got upset and there's one day she
had it out with me. And so that was the last time
that weekend I was in that home.How old were?
You when they had I was about 1213 years old and so I moved

(04:58):
back to my grandmother's. I was sent back to my natural
grandmother, Grace Murray in West Covina.
And so she raised me from the age of 13 and up.
So I learned a lot of things in in her home 'cause she, she was
a veteran from, from the Marine Corps, which I know you like.
And so, so I learned, learned a lot of things in her home.

(05:20):
You know, everything had a place, you know, strict, but not
strict to the point of like discipline strict.
But it was just, you know, trying to teach me how to how to
do things in life, learn how to take care of myself, you know,
such as like dropping me off with the the laundromat on the
weekend by myself to teach me how to wash my own clothes, to
sew, you know, so that was that was my upbringing.
But still, you know, I had no real parental or supervision

(05:43):
over me. I visited my mom every once in a
while. She lived in Azusa, CA, had a a
younger sister. And, you know, you get to that
age where you just start doing things and experimenting, you
know, with just different life things, as we all do as kids,
you know. And so where she lived in in
Azusa was like the project Section 8 housing.

(06:06):
So everything around me was justnothing but gang banging Section
8. Like I said, you know, back
when, you know, all the single moms used to wait in front of
the mailbox, you know, for, for the checks, you know, 1st
through the 15th, you know, and they get it, they go out and
party. And so that was just always,
always, always around us, you know, always tell people like we

(06:27):
in a zoo. So where we lived, we're
actually behind an uncle Puko byCitrus College.
And so Friday nights, yeah, you know, the, the moms would get
their checks and their money and, you know, and they go to
Acapulco and my mom would alwaystell me like, oh, I'll see you
see you later, like on a Friday night.
Then I see her like, you know, Monday morning.
Crazy, but we'd always hear the music, you know, over.

(06:50):
The. Club but at.
Least you know Mom's still having a good time.
Didn't. Hear the screams every once in a
while, you know, but yeah, they just left us up to ourselves,
you know, and, and, you know, like a lot of those stories, you
know, the Veteranos or the, the Ogs, you know, get out and they,
they raised us, you know, because there was only men where
we lived. So, you know, I still went to

(07:11):
school. That was my thing.
Played sports. And then when I was 17, I
enlisted into the Marine Corps, you know, 'cause that, that's
all I ever wanted to do as a kid, you know, since I live with
my grandma and, you know, she took me to graduations to, to
observe it. And so I studied real hard for
my test score kind of high. So I picked aviations to, to for

(07:32):
the Marines. And unfortunately, two weeks
before graduation and three weeks before I supposed to leave
to boot camp because I got swornin at MEPs and everything, I was
involved in a drive by shooting at a gas station.
We were all seniors hanging out at this gas station in Hacienda
Heights and a car drove by. And so back then when I was a
kid, the whole thing was wearinglike long white, white Tees.

(07:55):
You know, we used to pick them up when we walk on the sides.
But I guess they thought I had something because my friend was
arguing with a passenger and I walked up and he just reached
underneath his his seat pulled out a 22 just started dumping
into the air. I turned and got hit on my side
with with with one of the bullets and ended up the bullet

(08:16):
went through my small and large intestines.
My bladder hit my spine. It came out my left side.
I was in the hospital for a month and a half.
They said I had to bring me backtwice respiratory arrest, had a
colostomy bag for a year. I had to learn how to walk all
over again. But that just led me to for 18

(08:36):
years, just feeling lost in the world and just, you know,
surviving that that's all it was, was just survival, working
odd jobs back and forth. And then, you know, came to San
Jacinto in 2008, stopped drinking, gave my life to the
Lord in 2000. Actually be August 23rd of this

(08:58):
month, it'd be 17 years sober. Sober, nothing, no cigarettes,
no drinking, nothing. That's awesome.
Congratulations. Thank you.
You know, I gave my life to the Lord and I enrolled at Mount
Santa Sentinel College and at the age of 35 and obtained 2°

(09:19):
from there, one in alcohol and drug studies, other social
behavioral sciences. Then I transferred over to
University of Phoenix to obtain my bachelor's in criminal
justice and administration. And then I worked in the field
of substance abuse, drug courts,CPS, family preservation courts,
drug diversion, all, all like, all the different, you know,

(09:42):
different treatment Centers for 12 years, got up the ranks to a
clinical supervisor. And then COVID happened and
that's what propelled me to be sit in the seat across from you.
I see. I see.
So what, what was it that, what was it that made you decide to

(10:03):
like become a school board member 'cause that's like,
that's a lot like you, you know,you had a real troubled youth.
You, you came up as a young man and then you were going to go to
the Marine Corps. You know, everything was looking
right. And then one bad situation with
your friends and it changed yourlife forever, you know, and
then, you know, I'm sure that that that gap between from when

(10:27):
you came out of the hospital andwhen you in 2008 when you tried
to, when you decided to get sober and give your life to the
Lord, I'm sure that was a huge struggle for you as well.
I'm sure that there was a lot going on.
But so I guess I'm interested toknow with all of that, did any
of, did all that history have a lot to do with your desire to

(10:48):
like be on a school board and see if you can have a positive
impact? Like what?
How? What was it that inspired you to
do that? I was thinking about that like
the culmination of, of everything I've I've experienced
in life leading up to, you know,today being, you know, happily
married to my wife. We're a blended family.
We have 8 kids, 7, seven daughters and one son you know.

(11:12):
So busy household. But they're they're all adults
except. For two.
No, but I, I truly believe, you know, I've been blessed or
fortunate to have survived what I've been through and try to use
what I, what I've, I've gone through to, to hopefully like
help others. And like to answer your question

(11:34):
is, if you look at every step ofmy life, whether it was as a
young kid, a young boy to an adolescent, teenager, fatherless
home where I lived, you know, everything I've been through,
there's always been some sort ofauthority figure.
There's always politics involvedin it.

(11:55):
Structure, you know, and, and sono matter what area, there was
always been something, There wasalways been someone you had to,
they say like report to or, or be accountable to or else like
structure. So that led to like Marines.
I wanted structure. I've always enjoyed structure in
my life. And so I look at that led to

(12:16):
when, you know, running for school board at the first
situation I ever encountered. I've been doing advocacy for
like 10 years, but the first oneI've ever went out to say
something without my actual school board I sit on now is
that they used to call parents in the middle of the day.
You know, you get that the caller ID and you see at your

(12:39):
your kids school and you know that that moment when I answer
this, it could change my life forever because something could
have happened to my child. And then you answer it and it's
a recording talk about they're going to notifying you for a
pesticide spraying, you know, this weekend.
And it's like, this is ridiculous.
Or, or a smoking sensation class.
And so I approached the school board one time and told him

(13:01):
about this. I told him that I really didn't
feel that it was comfortable forparents to have to answer calls
in the middle of the day. You know, the stress that we go
through and so that and when. You see the school call and
you're like. Oh God, what happened?
What happened to my child, you know, and.
Then it's just a recorded line just informing you.
Yeah. So you could do those calls.
Anytime you know. So they don't do them no more.

(13:21):
I don't know, I don't think thatyou get them in the middle of
the day anywhere. See, So it's hopefully it's a
system. I'm saying I'm not the one that
did it, but it was just those are concerns where I approached
my school board. I've always, you know, went out
and, and tried to advocate for people, whether it was working
in substance abuse, trying to help people out, you know,
finding resources for them. And then COVID happened and, and
you know, like all of us, you know, the whole 2 year or two

(13:45):
weeks to, you know, slow the curve, but then see the
progression of things and, and you know, the, the dictatorship
of do as I say, not as I do. And a lot of things that we've
been through now, I've always told people like everything
could be, it should have been your choice what you want to do.
But when it got to a point of like, like having to choose
whether your own livelihood or, or doing what they asked you to

(14:09):
do, you know, that that was the last straw.
And then we kept on like asking,you know, certain groups I was
involved with at that time to like unmask our kids, you know,
And then we saw the governor at A at a Rams football game, you
know, playoffs or yeah, or something like, yeah, unmasked,

(14:29):
you know, But telling our kids, you know, and our teachers, No,
no, but you return Monday, you know, we can do this, you know,
getting caught in in a in a restaurant, you know, and all
those things that we all know about.
So that really pushed because I,I put a rally together with some
other individuals in front of our school district and went
there and told them like, get a backbone, do something, Tell the

(14:53):
tell the tell the the governmentthat, you know, we should unmask
our children to return. And so that I believe catapulted
me, you know, because then I sitthere now and I sit on the dais,
you know, and look at that podium, you know, as a concerned
parent that I once stood behind challenging my school board and
and then just got a lot of support from individuals to run

(15:14):
for school board and so. Yeah, nice.
When when did you when did you get elected?
My term is from 2022 to 2026, soNovember of 2022.
Nice. Are you gonna, I know it's still
early, but are you considering running again or are you
considering? Yeah.
Yeah, I mean, there's a lot of things we all, we all do.
We consider, we weigh the options, you know what's best,

(15:36):
not just for ourselves, but for our family, the future, you
know, and and that's one thing Iknow I've been blessed with.
It is with our two youngest in school, I'm able to have an
inside perspective of what goes on behind what public don't
really see all the time. You know, we only see the
outside of what goes on with school districts and board

(15:57):
meetings. But we I'm able to see what
happens on behind closed doors and maybe have like a better
understanding and better access to things.
Yeah, yeah. That's interesting, man.
You know, I also wanted to talk about the California movement a
little bit. You know, I got a phone call a
couple weeks ago and asked to sit down and speak with some

(16:17):
people and, and I got brought onto the California movement team
and I was really excited to see that you were part of it.
I was like, of course, of courseKenneth's here, you know, and
you know, I don't know. What are your thoughts on on
what it is their goal is and andwhat California movement's
trying to do? I truly believe is is being with

(16:40):
Oscar when the thought of California movement.
I know the objective and the mission is to bring awareness to
Californians. You know, we came him and I and
other leaders of California movement or or leaders of
another organization. We're just trying to bring
awareness, you know, and as being Hispanic, you know, it was

(17:01):
to the to wake up the community because like we all understand
as being Hispanic, we're conservative in nature of things
that we believe in God, family, hard work, you know, protection,
small business. And after that, just stay out of
our business, you know, but we see that how a certain political
party will still sit there and try to, you know, use people as

(17:25):
pawns, you know, based off the color of your skin.
So we just try to enlighten people that you don't have to
vote a certain way, you know, 'cause within Hispanics and
Latino, you know, families, there's two things that are
guaranteed that you're going to be without you asking a
question. One is Catholic and 1 is a
Democrat. And so why?

(17:47):
And so ever since I was a kid, I've always asked that question,
like, why? And so, like, I've never once
voted, you know, Democrat since I was 18 years.
Old really. Do you feel like you've always
like done your own research and just try to bend and form been
like, oh, this guy is more fits more my beliefs, you know?
And then it turns out, oh, he's not even a Democrat.

(18:09):
Look at that. Imagine that.
Right. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
That's why, you know, people, like, do some research, you
know, don't get out of that box that, you know, they they try to
place us in or that we placed ourselves in, you know, step
outside, ask questions like why?Why this?
And I think in high school, you know, history and government and
civics was I love those those subjects.

(18:29):
And it had me dig deeper into what the meaning was and the
foundation of our country. And like, if you look at
everything they've tried to do to destroy our country,
globalists or those that they call the deep state, there's
this foundation that's unbreakable, you know, and it
reminds me of like even in the Bible where he says, you know,
as long as you have a strong foundation, you know, that's

(18:51):
what you need. No, no, because no matter what
happens, you can build up again as long as your your foundation
is strong and it's built upon principles and morals that are
righteous. Right, right.
You know, it's, it's interestingbecause since I've started the
podcast and I got, I got involved, I started getting
involved in the school board andthen I did the Fox News

(19:11):
interview and then we did the podcast.
And, you know, I've been pretty open and vocal about who I am
and what I represent and what I stand for.
And it's interesting is it was the conservatives who kind of
like welcomed me with open arms,you know, but at the same time,
like there were organizations who would let me in, but only to
a certain point, right? Because I'm not a registered

(19:33):
Republican. I'm a registered libertarian.
I, I feel like the Libertarian Party kind of fits more my
belief system, you know, you know, small government, leave us
alone, let people live their life, do what they want.
So it's been, it's been interesting to see with
California movement and speakingwith Oscar, how he made it very
clear is like he was like Danny,you know, we know who you are

(19:56):
and what you're about, dude, anddo your thing.
We, we, this, we're not into this group thing.
Grou think mentality, you know, and that really drew me to the
California movement was like, and I know they're still young
and we're still growing and and there's a there's you know,
there's a lot coming up that we're going to be working on and
dealing with. But I thought it was just

(20:16):
awesome to finally see like a conservative movement that's
like, hey, dude, you don't have to be a Republican to be with
us. You know what I mean?
Like and that's the crazy thing is when you look at California,
right, you look at the presidential race, there's so
much red on that map. So much of California voted for
Trump. And I think that I think that

(20:39):
the mindset that California movement has where it's like,
no, no, no, no, you don't have to be a Republican.
You know what I mean? Like we want to focus on real
issues, you know, issues before party line.
You know what, what are you going to do for the people of
California? California has a lot of issues.
I mean, the homelessness is high.
The the, the cost of living is crazy, I think.

(21:02):
I think just recently I saw thispoll that said California has
the highest homelessness and thehighest unemployment.
Yeah. And, and like, gas prices are
crazy. Like, our state is literally
coming up with ideas and ways tocombat the American federal
government. That's crazy to me.

(21:23):
It it just it's they're stuck inin a mindset like no matter what
administration it is, was just focus on today's administration.
No matter what they do, you haveto be combative against it, you
know, and and listen to the words they use.
It is fight. Yeah, stand your ground.

(21:44):
I was listening to one that was speaking at the recent thing for
California with governor with Newsom a couple of days ago.
It was I believe he was from Texas or someone he was saying,
yeah, we got to square up. And we all know like where we we
come from when you someone said square up.
That's fight, that's. You're fighting, you're getting
physical. And so it's just amazing that

(22:05):
that why why do you want to get physical with people if they
have difference of opinion? And that's what's great about
California movement. Like you're saying, it's no
matter what your background is, no matter what you know, society
dictates like your ethnicity or whatever box they want to place
you in, that there's an objective, there's a mission
statement. And it's just to bring awareness

(22:27):
and, and collaborate with othersbecause we, we're good at
separation and putting each other in different areas.
You know, we don't work together, but that's what
California is about. It is just bringing awareness to
individuals to to Californians, whether it's the blacks,
Hispanics, whites, Asians, Polynesians, some, no matter who
it is, we all have some basic things that we all agree upon

(22:51):
and let's stand on those and let's push back against the
majority in California because Iknow we're all tired of it.
Like you're saying, look at the last election, majority of
California was red. Of course, the blue is those
major scenes. There's just heavily.
Populated, populated areas. And it wasn't that you have
people saying, oh, I'm going to I'm going to vote, I'm going to

(23:12):
become a Republican. Now those are no, that was the
voice of the people, the power of the people voting, saying I'm
tired of this, regardless of my political affiliation.
We want better for our state. And then they turn around and,
you know, thinking they had the Latino vote and then they left
them. It was the highest ever, you
know, crossing over to politicallines.

(23:34):
And I told people that's one thing I've learned like growing
up and it was a joke, but I was serious when it came to like
Hispanics and Latinos. I said, we're, we're like that
that little clear box that's in,in businesses on the wall that
says breaking case of an emergency.
You know, this this country is always battled between white and
black. It's always it's that that has
always been like the systemic like hatred or like smear on

(23:57):
America, black and white, black and white.
But to anybody else, you break that glass and get, wow, we need
them. And so the last, the election
cycle, you know, you've seen what happened with Hispanics and
Latinos. They're like, no, we're tired of
this. Like you, you're forcing us to
believe something that we don't want to.
You're you're erasing our identity by saying Latin X.
Yeah, that's. You know, and that's not even.

(24:19):
The next thing? Like so you're really like
that's a that was a spit in my face.
Like that's like non conforming to anything, like no.
And and it, and it really you, you can tell that Latin X came
from the white liberals of America.
It's like you are, you have no idea about that.

(24:39):
You're not even considering the context of the, of our language,
of our language. Our language is gendered.
Depending on what you say, there's an O at the end or an A
at the end. Our language is gendered.
You can't just all of a sudden, oh, well, we don't want to
offend anybody. So Latin X.
It was nobody getting offended, you know, But, yeah, so it it's

(25:00):
just, you know, being so involved in everything, you
know, sometimes you say you go down those rabbit holes or, you
know, looking at things, asking why and not being in that box.
We're at a place right now. I knew this was going to happen.
I I said it back in 2016 during the, you know, Trump's first,
first Trump and Clinton when they were going for president.
We're going to be the individuals or the ethnicity

(25:23):
that's going to be the pawns in in this chess game because one's
going to pander to them and one's going to lose us.
And then when you lose us, look what they do to us.
And right after the election, what happened?
Look at all these riots about immigration, all these things.
Now you're now you're putting other like, you know, Department

(25:44):
of Homeland Security, ICE, you know, all these individuals that
support our country and our borders and keep us safe.
Now you're doxing them and putting them on notice, you
know, on social media, you know,and then using US, letting us go
and, you know, oh, look at Hispanics fighting for the
rights and with the Mexico flag flying in America, you know, to
then come in, want to be our saviors.
Like you're going to do something to save us Now, like

(26:06):
I, I, it's just, I always tell people, you got to wake up.
Look, it's bigger than what you think, you know, don't, don't be
quick to react back to like current events.
Look at the long game of, of what's going to happen.
And, and sad to say is, is what I from what I do and everything
that I'm involved in. We've already passed the point
of no return as a country. We can't get back to things that

(26:29):
you and I enjoyed, you know, as as young boys and young men in
our country and things that oncewe're here to us continue to to
stand up and fight to protect our families and to protect
what's right in in America because it's still a great
country. The the the greatest country in
in the world. Yeah, I agree.
I. Agree.
Amen, brother. That's awesome.

(26:49):
You know, it's, it's it's just interesting to see this shift
that's happening is because the conservatives seem to be
standing on common sense now, you know, and it's and when you
see people fighting against conservative movements, they
don't say Republican anymore. They say, oh, you mogga idiots,
you mogga guys, you know, and it's like, yeah, because the

(27:12):
moderates, the middle people, and California is full of these
people who are just in the middle, you know, it's expensive
to live here, man. Most people just they want to
stay out of the way and make money, take care of their
family. They don't want to get involved
in politics. They don't want to have to pick
sides and stuff like that. So California's full of a lot of
like middle of the road people and a lot of those people people

(27:33):
are agreeing with things that Trump are saying.
So I believe in the California movement and I'm looking forward
for the growth in that and to see how we can have an impact to
improve California. Cause at the end of the day,
like you said, it's about our families and, and what type of
life are we leaving behind for our kids, you know?

(27:56):
So yeah, man, you know, I wantedto talk to you a little bit
about, I know you said that you,you gave your life to Christ.
What was it like for you, dude? Like, like leading up to that,
like, did you have moments whereyou can like, feel God's
presence and like, it really felt like it was real for you,

(28:17):
You know, like what? What was that like?
Well, I don't share share this alot.
You know, it just, but I will cause it.
Maybe it'll touch somebody out there, you know, from growing up
in San Gabriel Valley in LA County, you know where I said
it, I grew up bright lights, bigcity, you know, everything you

(28:37):
want 24/7, you know, and then moving out to the, the San
Jacinto Hemet area. It was, it was it was a culture
shock for me. But everywhere I was 35 years
old, like nothing can go right in my life.
Like you try and try and this falls apart.
You know, this job you think is good and they let you off and
then all these different, you know, nothing, nothing was

(28:57):
everlasting where they say like I couldn't find no joy in life.
And I remember I was 35 years old and I was flipping burgers
at McDonald's in Moreno Valley. And so out here out there, the
60 freeway, you exit on Gilman Springs Road to go into to San
Jacinto Hemet. And I was driving at 89 Cutlass

(29:17):
and I was just thinking about everything.
And my youngest daughter was about to be born and I just
pulled over to the side of the road and I just, I lost it.
I tried one of the the biggest moments in my life, you know,
crying and, and just everything that that I just held in since I
was like 5 years old, everythingI've been through, everything
that I've experienced in my life, I would just, I just cried

(29:40):
out the guys, I'm tired. I can't, I can't do this no
more. And, you know, I know a lot of
people say, well, God's not real.
Well, he's rolling my life. He, he's brought me from the
pits of hell, whether it was my own doing or just situational
stuff and brought me to where I am nowadays, you know, and, and,

(30:01):
and I'm not perfect. None of us are perfect, you
know, and I fall short on a lot of areas, but I try my best to
to find those areas of my life to improve and hopefully not do
again, you know, and, and ask for forgiveness.
Where where I go wrong? Yeah, you know, I, I.

(30:22):
I never really talk about the religious stuff on here, you
know, And it's just crazy because, you know, man, for the
past year, like when I got involved with the school board,
like. It sounds crazy and I don't.
Want to get too much into my, mything either, but I can feel
like this, this the presence of,of God, dude, like pushing me

(30:46):
and, and tapping on my shoulder.And you know, a, a couple months
back, dude, we, we started goingto church and it, it completely
evolved my life. I, I, I, I called a friend and,
and he doesn't believe in anything.
We are in Afghanistan together and he's a really good friend of

(31:07):
mine. He lives in Riverside and I was
just telling him like everythingthat I'm experiencing, like it
just got really hard for me, dude.
I got I, you know, like times are tough.
There's no, there's no rule bookfor this.
I have 4 kids and a wife and a house, a mortgage, car payment.
It's like the flesh can only handle so much, dude, you know,

(31:28):
And like when I started going tochurch and when I started
breathing the Bible and praying,it's like that faith gave me a
jolt of energy, you know? And like, it just feels so real,
you know, it's like I, I, I knewGod existed.
I never denied that God wasn't real, but I always felt like

(31:49):
I'm, I'm, he's not really, I always felt like I, I stepped
away from religion, you know, He's been right here the whole
time, dude, you know, and it's just, it's crazy to me, you
know, it's, and it's, it's so new that it still makes me
emotional, you know, 'cause, youknow, like, why wouldn't I bring
my family to, to God to learn about Jesus, to learn about the

(32:13):
Christian faith? Why wouldn't I do that?
You look at the principles and the values like the 10
commandments alone honor thy mother and father.
You know, it's like, why wouldn't you do that?
I feel like I was telling my buddy, if you believe in, if you
don't believe in something, thenyou believe in nothing.
And then you leave it up to chance and luck and everything

(32:34):
sucks and you're miserable. Why would you live like that?
Why? So?
I don't know, man. I, I never talked about this
stuff on here, but you know, you, you talked about how you
were saved and and it happened when you were 35.
I'm 35. You know what I mean?
So it's just, it's crazy to me. It's crazy to me.
Yeah. 35 years. Old, like, is that where

(32:55):
something just happens with it within men, you know?
Yeah, we're not young no more. We're at the point of like, man,
I'm about to be old. Like at 35, you're thinking
like, wow, almost 40. Like the guys are like, Oh my
goodness, like be a grandpa. But yeah, I remember when I
first got to save the pasture, Isaid one, one thing and it
really stuck to me. He says, he said when people

(33:17):
always question him, like, why do you serve God?
Like, oh, he's not real and all this stuff, right?
Like, you know, just 'cause you're at your lowest, you turn
to something. And he said I'd rather serve,
I'd rather serve with God and find out there isn't one that to
do what I want and find out there really is.

(33:37):
And so that. Really, really stuck, stuck on
to me because I, I think we're as men, we go through a lot of
things like you were saying, like, you know, all the stuff's
going on, you know, always I, I like analogies.
I always think like, you know, growing up, we're like a piece
of sandpaper. You know it.
We're always running around, youknow, there's room and it has

(33:58):
four corners, you know, and every once in a while when we
get tired or something's going on, we're able to like take a
time out, relax, chill in the corner, right, Right.
But the enemy is always chasing us.
And eventually with that sandpaper, we just sand down
that room. Eventually it becomes a circle
and there's no more corners to hide.
And I think that's that is when we're we're touched, you know,

(34:21):
and we're gotten, that's where he's able to like, catch our
attention. You know, it's not that we're,
we're weak individuals and we wecan't try to figure stuff out.
But we're just tired and we needhelp, you know, as men.
And there's nothing wrong, you know, and asking for help, you
know, in, in doing things. Yeah.

(34:41):
Yeah, it was. It was, it was, it was crazy,
man. Like I had, you see how my, my
TV's down there and stuff. I had a leak.
We had a leak and I had this plumber come out and, you know,
we've been going to church and I've been praying and I've been
reading the Bible, but I've beenlike, I've been in my mind like
saying like I want to learn the Scripture.
Like I don't really know this, you know, like here goes the

(35:02):
blueprint to like be a good man and a good person, live like
Jesus Christ and, and, and help my children walk in the same
way. And this plumber came and he saw
a cigar cutter I had and he's like, you smoke cigars?
And I was like, yeah, yeah. Sometimes he's like, we do a
cigar and Bible study man. If you want to come just random.
It's the plumber who says that. The plumber.

(35:23):
Yeah, you know what I mean? It's like who offers that?
And yeah, man, I just, you know,the, it's, it got real hectic
for our family over the past couple years with all the
political stuff and being involved in the podcast and, you
know, everybody was saying our school board was a spiritual war
and like, I felt it. I'd like, you know, you when you
went to Temecula school board when everything was crazy, dude,

(35:45):
that did not feel good being there, you know?
Oh, you feel it. Yeah, yeah, it.
Was like oh these. People, you don't know what it
is, but yeah, there's something going on.
Yeah, there's something there, you know, and.
So, you know, ever since I started taking the family to
church, I'm really trying to live.
And it's funny is like going to that Bible study that I went to

(36:08):
like they're, they're, they're talking about Scripture and
they're breaking it down. And it's like, dude, all of this
is like everything. It's like everything I learned
in the Marine Corps. It's really like, just be a good
person, you know, treat others how you want to be treated.
You know, have a standard set the example.
Don't just talk about it, be about it.
You know, and it's like God, this, this, I have so much, so

(36:29):
much more to go, you know, as a,as a Christian.
But yeah, dude, I, it just really impacted me when you were
like, I was 35 and then I gave my life to God and it was like,
damn, you know, so I sorry, I wanted to, I normally don't talk
about that stuff, but you know, I feel like it was a, it was a
perfect moment, you know, yeah, of course, what I'm what I want
to what I want to switch to withyou a little bit about is I want

(36:51):
to talk to you about fatherhood,right.
So, you know, speaking about religion, you know, IA lot of my
motivation to turn to the to, toChrist and Christianity was
because I have children and, andfor me, I want to give them a
good foundation to work off of. You know, I, I want to be an

(37:12):
example for them. I want them to succeed and be
great in life, you know, and that's really my purpose in life
at this point is to raise my kids and make the best version
of a human that can exist, right?
Like, I don't know, talk to me alittle bit about that dude, as a

(37:32):
dad, I mean, you have, you have a, you have kids who are adults,
you know what I mean? So, and we all, I also have a
blended family. So I know that's a unique
factor. I don't know, talk to me a
little bit about being a dad andand what you have found the
goal. Of a dad.
Should be. No, it's a, it's a big question.

(37:53):
Yeah. You know, it took me a while,
Still lost on some things, you know, not having something to
turn to as a resource as being adad, you know, But I really
think my role as a dad is to protect my children and provide

(38:17):
them with the information, you know, age appropriate.
Of course, like can't be talkinglike, oh, all this, you know,
they're like sick. They're like what?
I just want to go outside and play like, you know.
Like but you know. Share things with them.
Talk to your kids, you know. Let them know that you love
them. It's not that hard to say I love

(38:37):
you to your kids, you know? Tell them goodnight, pray over
them. You know, when they don't know,
just to always, always be there,you know, come sometimes come
down to their level and just talk and just be a, you know, a
funny, funny dude in the house. You know, everybody says, oh,
dad jokes, you know, And so I just think that's that's the

(39:00):
role of a dad. A father is, is to protect your
children. Those are that's that's part of
you, of who you are as an individual.
And of course, they're going to get to an age where they make
their own decisions. But hopefully I would have an
impact that when they come to those decisions, they would they

(39:21):
would make good choices in life.And I think that's what what
I've learned is that's all we can do as dads is, is to get
them suited and booted for, for,for adulthood or even as, as
teenagers, you know, young kids when they experience things,
especially like what's going on now within schools and stuff
like that, that they know the difference between right and

(39:42):
wrong and have good morals and ethics.
Yeah. Yeah.
It's, it's interesting you, you know what I have found a very
unique perspective is, you know,my, my oldest daughter, she's
not my biological daughter, but I've been here since she was, I
met her mom when she was four and I met her when she was 5.

(40:03):
And her biological dad isn't really involved.
And I, I look it, it's crazy. It's like my connection with
her. Is different than my biological
children like my biological children, it's my flesh and
blood like they know me. You know, I found that being a
stepdad was much more difficult because we had to learn each

(40:27):
other, right? She had to learn me and I had to
learn her and I don't know did you notice that at all I know
you said you have a blended family.
Did you notice that it was difficult It was it was more
difficult with the step kids than it is with your biological
kids as far as like just being able to like understand them and
see each other like like my biological kids, I feel like

(40:49):
they can read me. You know, they see me and they
know oh, dad's not happy. You know, where she, her and I
didn't have that biological connection early on, you know,
and I mean, she's, she's a teenager now.
So I've been here for a long time.
It's obviously much different. But in the beginning I, I think
back when she was four and then my youngest daughter when she

(41:10):
was four, it was like I, I had to learn this, this person and
this person was like, they just came already molded to me.
I don't know what, what are yourthoughts on that?
Already prefabricated. For you.
Yeah, it's. True, blended, but a majority of
the kids, I would say six of them were already adults, you

(41:33):
know, when we had gotten married.
So since I believe it was fifth grade, yeah, I was fifth grade.
I was, he's a junior now. But just trying to just have
like normal conversation. I think I try to find like
similarities in my situation with him, which which is like
sports. We could talk sports all the

(41:54):
day, all all day long. You know, I try to reach out to
him because he lives actually with his dad, you know, just
normal conversations, text messages, you know, there's a
little bit difference, I guess, than than yours, you know, but
just be there, you know, when he's around.
But I, I do get the point of like, you got to like be on your

(42:14):
PS and QS with your stepchildren, you know, or
around them. Act, act better.
I guess you would with your own kids because they're like, you
can't go nowhere, like right. It always felt.
Like it always felt like there'sthis, there's this line that I
won't cross, you know, because, you know, I'm your stepdad, you

(42:35):
know, like there's, there's a limit that that I can take you
to work with my children. It's like, you know, like I'm
the disciplinary, you know what I mean?
Like, no, no, no, no, these are my rules, you know, where with,
with my stepchild, it was like we got to learn this.
You know, I, I, I would hand offa lot of things to my wife
'cause it's like, you know, likeI don't feel like this is but

(42:56):
your kid. Yeah, yeah, you know, and, and
it's so funny. It's like just for, you know,
like, and I'm talking about whenshe was like 6-7, you know, I
was in her life for like a year or two, you know, and it's like
now she's, you know, she's had me as her dad for more than half
her life, you know. So I think our relationship is,
is much, I mean, it's improved through the years.

(43:17):
It's grown, you know, but yeah, and, and every kid is different,
right? You know, one thing that I
noticed is as a dad, every childgets a better version of me
because I'm, I'm better preparednow, you know what I mean?
It's like with my oldest, I, I came into her life and, and I

(43:37):
was a Marine still, I didn't know anything but how to lead
Marines. You know, it's like she got a
very strict, tougher version of me than I am now, where with my
2 year old, you know what I mean?
He he he makes, he makes a mistake or he makes a mess or he
throws something and hits me in the head.
And it's like, all right, I did.You're too.

(43:58):
You know what I mean? Where where when I was like
inexperienced as a dad, my oldest son, maybe I'd be like,
don't do that. And it's like, right, he's 3 did
it or he's 2. You know, it's so every time you
have a kid, I feel like you growas a parent and every kid kind
of gets a better version of, youknow, I think so, yeah.

(44:18):
You know, you learn from, I guess, you know, yeah.
Just just experience, you know, like even my daughter, just
always, you know, raising her since since she was she was 4,
you know, single dad at that time, you know, raising her.
It just you know, the older theywe grew together, you know, so

(44:41):
that's it. You know, I understand.
I'm just thinking back. You got me thinking like like
the whole like red light green, like no, stop, don't like we
always use those terms, right? Like this.
My upbringing too. It was always like that, that
everything had a place. Everything.
You put it away, you use it, youput it Now I'm, you know, just
her bed's not made. I could care less or forbid, you

(45:02):
know, there's a dirty cup in theroom.
I don't care. It kind of thing.
Like I'll tell her like you got to put it away, but it's like
not something to harp on like with with kids, like that's not
the end of the world. You know, when before maybe we
were younger, we thought it, youknow, just to teach them that
we've already taught them that, you know, we can get on you if I
have to ask you more than once to do something, of course.

(45:24):
But I, I've tried to understand.I think even being one in, in
politics and, and school board is these kids have a lot of
issues, more than we had growingup that they deal with on a, on
a day in and day out basis. And a lot of things I've come to
learn that they deal with or adult problems and they're young
kids because us adults are fighting over issues or, or

(45:44):
wanting people to believe what we believe, you know?
And these kids are just like stuck in the middle because when
it comes to different genders, like our kids in school, that's
not nothing new to them. They're used.
To it, yeah. It's us as adults.
Yeah. It's, you know, like yo this.
Isn't this isn't how I was raised?

(46:05):
No, right, there was only. Like 1 restroom per, you know,
per per your boy, you were a girl.
That was it. And, and I, you know, I share
people like just growing up too,like I had friends, you know,
that had dads and I would go hang out their house, but they
had different like sexualities growing up, but everybody knew
like their, their place, I guess.

(46:25):
Like, like I never made fun of them, you know, if they were gay
or anything. And they never like try to pick
up on me or like throw advances at me like it was and it would,
we just grew up as kids like that.
Like it was no big deal. So I can understand these kids
nowadays, like it's just it's normal to them.
You know, I think we're we're a change, you know, for us, like I
was saying, like these kids dealwith adult issues because it

(46:46):
feels sometimes it's just being force fed that we have to accept
something. And if not, then we're just
called harsh words. Yeah.
And you know what's? Interesting is something that I
experienced, you know, just recently, like in the last year
where when we have these discussions of what's age
appropriate, what's not, you know, it's like.

(47:08):
There is a big difference. Between a 14 year old and an 8
year old, you know, and it's like there is some leeway that I
have for my 14 year old. I think there are some things
that I'm very comfortable or I, I feel is important for her to
be exposed to in the world that I don't feel about my 8 year

(47:29):
old. You know, and I, and I kind of
been talking about this a lot because it's like now that I
have a kid in high school, like it's like, oh, I, I kind of
understand the part of the issuehere is we're not having the
conversation in the same context, you know what I mean?
Like exposure that my 14 year old gets compared to exposure

(47:51):
that my 8 year old gets. Those are two different
conversations. You know, and a lot of times
when you have a parent who's like, in my experience, who's
like, oh, I have a child who's non binary and they need to be,
you know, it's like their kids like 1617, you know, like, I
feel like, yeah, I mean, in thatcase, like, sure, you know, your

(48:13):
kids are going to be an adult here in like 2 a year or two,
you know, like if that's how they want to live, that's their
prerogative, you know, But then when we're talking about
elementary school, it's like, that's a different conversation.
And I almost feel like that needs to be discussed more is
the context of the age groups that we're talking about.
There are things that I think are appropriate for maybe the

(48:34):
high school age where it's like,no, no, that's ridiculous for
elementary. And we're having these two
different arguments, but we're blanketing our position on it.
Do you get what I'm saying? No, I understand what.
You're saying like what, what's,what's age appropriate for
different age, age ranges? Yeah, yeah.
And it brings up even in inhibits 'cause you, I think a

(48:57):
lot of, you know, discussion in the past couple years was what
they like to deem as book banning.
You know, you're you're removingcertain books from school,
you're banning books. And and so I was contemplating
because if you look at my board,we're seven board.
I think myself more outspoken. You know, I try to share
information with people. It's all going to tie back to

(49:19):
death, right? So is how do I present something
to update with something within school boards?
Everybody in California has sameboard policy, same numbers.
And it's called library Media Center, right?
Books that can be checked out. How do books get reviewed such
and such, etcetera. And so there was a book that was

(49:45):
found that a teacher had broughtin at one of our schools.
And so I was like, you know, here's a perfect opportunity to
try to bring something forth to improve, you know, our, our
policy. And so I was able to request a
subcommittee. And that was one of the
questions is what's age appropriate?
Because every family is different.
What one family deems, oh heck no, not till they're 18 and

(50:08):
they're out of my house. I was like, Oh yeah, 14.
They're, they're, I'm good with it, you know.
So we debated that, you know, and one of the things that that
was discussed that they had said, well, according to me, you
know, they're saying, well, if you're saying that any books
that have this certain kind of material in it, then of course

(50:28):
this always comes out. They're going through a list and
it said it would be even the Bible would be included, you
know, that we would have to ban the Bible from from schools in
in the library. And I said why?
And so I like to play coy, you know, I answer my question is
OK, why? But why?
Oh, because there's certain stories.
Which ones? Well.

(50:49):
You know it talks about. Drunkenness.
OK, which part of the story? I go.
I read the Bible. Let me know.
Tell me what stories you're talking about and where they at,
what was what, what was the context to the story?
You know, what was the reason the story was being told?
And, and I said, you know what, you're right.
There's stories of people being drunk there, there, there's
orgies going on. Homosexuality is in the Bible.

(51:12):
They discuss all that. I yes, I agree with you.
So the difference is some of these books that are being
found, yes, they, they talk, sorry, they talk about those
subjects. But the difference is they go
into detail of the sexual act that is being performed and how
it's being performed and how it's being done between a father
and a daughter, you know, or a mother and a son.

(51:35):
And I said, so that's the point.And some of the rebuttal was,
well, you know, it comes from protected classes or a majority
of these authors. And so that could be a form of
discrimination. And I, I remember I'm not
laughing. That's funny.
But I said I don't care. Bisexual, homosexual, trisexual,
pansexual, heterosexual. Smut is smut and it shouldn't be

(51:58):
in our schools if kids have access to it, you know, come on,
let's just be real. Like there's certain books and
they just go extreme, you know, into certain things.
So that I was, you know, able, we updated our board policy, you
know, and within ours actually Karen England from Take Back the
Classroom, if you know who that is, you know where they review

(52:20):
books, you can go online and look at certain books.
Actually that is now in our board policy in Hemet Unified
that new books that come in or other books that are questions
would be ran through that website to see if they've been
flagged. I see.
Yeah, and and. That that whole conversation,
the the book banning thing, thatthat always triggered me when
they would talk about that out here.
I'd like, first of all, if it isa book ban, that would mean that

(52:42):
it's banned completely. If you want your child to have
that book, you can buy the book and the child can bring it to
school and read it on his own, right?
So by definition, we're not banning anything.
What we're doing is we're moderating content for age
appropriateness when we're talking about this stuff, right?
And like, again, that's just, itis, it's like we need to be able

(53:04):
to respect all belief systems, all family households.
I think that the big problem that we're having, especially in
California is the legislators, the school districts.
There's policy that has been passed and we're slowly creeping
into this realm where we no longer view the parents as the

(53:28):
core decision makers for their children.
And if we did view it that way and we respected that, right?
Like dude if someone runs their household and they have 6
LGBTQIA children like who am I to tell them what to do with
their house? That's that's my personal view

(53:48):
is like, if that's how you want to live, fine.
That's not how I do it. And I expect the public school
system that my tax dollars go towards that my children attend
to meet my standard of expectation for my children.
So if we're having just this free for all access, then it

(54:10):
needs to be as conservative as the most conservative household
in that community. And that's just what it is.
That's the reality of it, right?Like, it's, it's, they act like
public access to this content issomething that is, is necessary.

(54:31):
Like, no, no, no, it's, it's notnecessary.
The school, the school's job is to educate math, science,
history, you know, inspire my child to be a scientist, an
astronaut, a doctor, an attorney, right?
Like you don't have to tell that.
You don't have to have these cultural discussions.
These are conversations that should be had at home.

(54:55):
And that's the thing that's getting lost in translation
here, I feel like. And again, I think it really
comes for from this idea that parents aren't really in charge
of their children, which I whichwhich is, is the wrong way to
look at it. And a lot of people in
California see it that way. Everybody on.
From all sides, no matter if youeven have a side, if you just,

(55:16):
you just have your normal everyday, you know, Sunday
through Saturday thing as as a parent, they don't know how
extreme things are that parentalrights are slowly being removed.
And it's amazing that a lot of people are not aware or more
people are not aware of what's going on.
You know, and I think that's oneof the biggest things why I, I

(55:37):
started running, you know, for school board is if you look at
my Instagram handle is Prado forparents of HUSD because parents
are screaming at the top of their lungs like I should have
right to access anything about my child.
That's my kid, you. Know like why are you?
Telling me that I have to get permission to sit in the
classroom with my child if they're misbehaving.

(55:58):
Why do I? Why did you?
Why is my child in in the office?
Because they got in trouble and I'm not I'm not informed about
it. You know, why is my child
reading certain subjects at a young age where I didn't give
you permission? Like sex education?
Like parents have to opt out. No, it should.
Parents should have to opt in. Right, right.

(56:19):
Yeah, yeah, Like not sit there all.
And if they don't, then their kids are exposed to certain
things. Maybe parents don't want their
kids and that all bases down to like even religion and faith.
Like everybody thinks there's all these Christian
nationalists, you know, like it's not that like it's not a
whole Christian nationalist thing.
I mean, look at the Supreme Court ruling, you know, and it
came from Muslims, Muslims, Jewish and Christian parents

(56:43):
were now even in California. So if you're listening to this,
you're a parent of California, there is a form you can request
that not have your kid be exposed and you need to opt in
for certain books to be read to them from TK through 5.
Now, you know, a lot of parents are not aware of that.
And, and for dads out there, like, just growing up, I've seen

(57:03):
so many, like, men from different kinds of backgrounds,
different belief systems, you know, and I've even spoken to
them, like, if this was to happen to your child, what would
you do? Oh, I would nut up like, oh,
hell no. What's going on?
Yeah. And it's it's in the public
school system. And that's The thing is you have
radical ideologies that like arebeing forced upon us and, and,

(57:26):
and people are pushing back and,and we don't like it.
And if more dads would just be vocal, I'm not saying to, to
scream and going to want to fight people or curse people or
threaten people. Just go in with a loving heart
and talk to people like you would your own kids, you know,
stand up for your kids, stand upfor your family, stand up for
your your neighbors kids if you want.

(57:48):
You know, and I guarantee a lot of these things would not be
going on in California and people feeling threatened that
they have to decide if they haveto leave California.
You know, you know, it's like every aspect of us as dads and
as parents is being attacked, You know, every and it's and we
could go on for hours, you know,on things, you know, especially
within the school system and wire ran, you know, a lot of

(58:11):
teachers admin, they're good people.
It's just that small percentage that are very loud.
And if you don't go along with the get along, they will do
everything they can within theirpower to destroy you as an
individual, your family, and putyou on notice that your your
safety is at risk. Yeah, yeah.

(58:33):
No, and and I think that it's socrazy is that I'm having this
like epiphany moment here is like, 'cause I feel like
parents, but specifically dads, like the men, like where you
guys at? Where you at?
You know, it's like, but again, you and I, you and I choose to
step up and speak out and, and we're not afraid to put

(58:53):
ourselves out there, but you andI also share this core belief of
it's our duty to protect our children.
So maybe that's a question that dads need to ask themselves.
Is is what is outside of like the American image of the dad
and and social, the social construct of what a dad.

(59:14):
What is it in your soul that youbelieve your job is as the
leader of those children, as theprimary role model, the man in
the household, the person they see everyday?
You know, like, are you just checking out and scrolling on
your phone, watching TV doing nothing, or are you engaged with
your kids? These are things that I think

(59:35):
about when I when I show up to meetings or events and it's like
there aren't a lot of people here.
It's like or they're all moms. Yeah, or they're all moms.
Right, Yeah. It's like, where are the dads?
I I. That's, I think it's $1,000,000
question, you know, and I've challenged, you know, I was with
another brother a couple of years ago.

(59:57):
We did a, it was an Instagram thing, but was called Fathers of
Fortitude, you know, and trying to collaborate with different
dads, you know, standing up. Any culture, any, any country in
this world, pick one and tell mewhat the role is of of a dad in
that household. There's no difference.
It's just a different location on, on on the map.
But you know, and people will sit there and say, oh, male

(01:00:17):
chauvinistic pig or you. It's not about that.
It it's just we were created a certain way that it is.
It's protection. There's something in US, you
know, just like mom, Mama bears protect their kids, you know,
dad's doing a different way. You know when when a group of
men show up, guarantee when a group of men show up to oppose

(01:00:38):
something, it changes the environment of people making
those decisions of what they vote upon, and it also changes
the. Environment of the other people
in the room and how they act because you it's.
Just so crazy to imagine just a bunch of dads just showing up
one time in California to opposesomething that will harm their
children and see how these people pee their pants.

(01:01:01):
They will or they're to make allthese excuses, you know, of
things. And I just I challenge dads, you
know, to be more involved in in your life going.
I learned at a young age, like going to work is vacation,
right? What?
Because what does work do? Work takes you out of your home.
It takes you away from your wifeand from your kids.

(01:01:22):
You get to hang out with your your friends at work, right?
All the dudes in the job that you work at, you know?
Yeah. It's all different environment.
But, but you're away from your family.
So I, I kind of, I've kind of like tried to teach myself like
that's vacation. Yeah.
Because all your responsibilities are not there.
It's just work. It's something you have to do,

(01:01:44):
right? Your real work happens.
When you show up at home, you know, at least it should be, you
know, your kids, your wife, whatever is going on, they need
your time. So, so guys, dad's out there,
you know, going home because youworked a long day at work
doesn't mean you get to take offyour boots and just check out.
No, that that's your, that's your job, you know, and and

(01:02:07):
don't be surprised when you findout things happen.
You know, the more you're involved with your kids life,
watch how more beneficial that could be in their life lives.
Yeah, you know it. I mean, statistics speak for
themselves, you know, when it comes to like suicide rates, you
know, fatherless homes and no one saying like you have to live
in the home. But be involved in your kids
life like there's a separation. Be involved in their life, teen

(01:02:28):
pregnancy, majority of girls youknow, from fatherless homes,
juvenile delinquency, men in prison like look the stats can
go on and on and on how important the role is of a dad
in their in their kids lives. You know, and we're not going to
get it overnight. Just something to work on.
Our kids are very forgiving, youknow, Kenneth.

(01:02:48):
I completely resonate with everything that you're saying.
And like, I launched the watchdog program at her middle
school before she left. And it's it's they're about,
they're going to have their launch party this month and I'm
still kind of helping them, helping them out, you know, and
you know, the launch dog, the launch dog, the watchdog program
talks about that in their in their pamphlet that they send,

(01:03:11):
they talk about the statistics of fathers not being involved.
And that's kind of the goal of that program.
And like, it's true, it's true. And, and this isn't an, an, an
attack on women or moms, you know, single moms do what they
can, but we do live in a culturewhere a lot of dads have checked
out in, in every sense of the word.
And, and we can look around and see how that's impacted our

(01:03:34):
society and our culture and our children.
You know, and I don't know, I, Itake pride with my kids.
You know, I love being involved in their life in their world.
I don't care how stressful it is.
Like just the other day, I had to leave the job site early and
then I had to have my wife bringmy, my oldest daughter to my
job. And then we had to drive to Lake

(01:03:55):
Elsinore for a football game. And then they're like, can
someone do the stats? I'm like, sure, I'll do the
stats. And, and then they're like, can
you do it for varsity too? So we stayed for the varsity
game. And it's like, you know, all of
that was a lot. I was exhausted at the end of
the day, but I wouldn't have prefer to be in a better place.
You know, my kids are very engaged in sports and stuff and
my wife are being pulled apart at both ends.

(01:04:17):
You know, we constantly have to split duties, but that's what it
is. You know, I, I take pride in
being an involved dad and I think that the, IT shows in the
relationship that I have with mykids.
You know what I mean? Like nobody's perfect and
nothing is perfect, but I reallydo value just being there for my
kids, just being an involved andengaged dad.

(01:04:41):
These young people, they're adults and little bodies, man.
Everything they go through and experience, they're going to
remember. I remember things when I was
456, you know, it's like, So what kind of mark do you want to
leave behind in that human? What kind of influence do you
want to be? Do you want to be the type of

(01:05:01):
influence where they're like, I want to do things completely
different than my dad? Or do you want to do things
where like, I love my dad? I leaned on my dad, My dad was
there for me. And I think that that's the
goal. We, and again, I talked about it
like it's what I learned in the Marine Corps, lead by example.
You have to set the path and thetone.
A lot of people talk about it and very few people actually

(01:05:23):
execute on it. You know, and that's really what
it is, is it's not about how youfeel and what you think and what
you say. It's what you do.
It's how you're showing up. And I think that, you know, I
think I, I'm, I, I'm hopeful that the tides will turn that we
will see more dads step up and get involved.
But who knows? At the end of the day, all I can

(01:05:45):
do is worry about the ripple that I can make and the ripple
that I can have it. All I can do is make sure that
I'm showing up for my kids, thatI'm going to the school board
and giving public comment that I'm engaged in City Council and
what's going on. And I'm showing up to protest
things that I don't agree with. Or I'm meeting with other
community members who maybe havea different idea.
Because I want to hear their side too.

(01:06:06):
I want to hear their perspective.
I want context. I want to know this world that
my children are growing up in, because if I don't know the
world, then how can I prepare them for it, You know?
So I don't know, man, last, we'll, we'll close it out, but
I'm curious to, to hear what do you have to say to maybe the dad

(01:06:29):
who's listening that does want to go to the school board that
does want to step up, but just doesn't know where to start?
You know, like I said, I think that that's part of the problem
is a lot of dads, they don't want to get political.
So they, they, they don't know how to go about it and, and what
to do. What would be your words of
encouragement for those dads whoare ready to step up but but

(01:06:51):
they just need that last little nudge I.
I would say one, one of the things, excuse me, one of the
things they told me like when I,when I got on the board, right,
I was just a, a dad that ran to when you're a board member,
always member, you wear the board member hat.
So the decisions you make is as a board member and the influence

(01:07:15):
it's going to have on people. And so I was sharing with
someone the other day that that same thing that was told and I
said that it's true, but that board member had is life that
we've experienced. And so when you make those
decisions, it's morals and ethics and things that you
believe in that you find are true and pure in your life.

(01:07:36):
And so for the dads out there, the easiest way to get involved
and maybe just go to a school board meeting and just listen.
You know, agendas are released in your in your kids school
district minimum of 72 hours on their website.
Look at it, look at certain things maybe of interest to you.
You know, you don't have to speak with just a 10.

(01:07:56):
Watch how things go on. And when you speak, just speak
from your heart. Speak something that you would
stand up you personally or, or, or some want information on that
you don't quite understand. Search social media.
I mean, we all use social media right now.
Go to California movement, see how they do it.
And it's, it's OK to like be nervous.

(01:08:19):
It's OK to like not understand what goes on.
We all don't. It's, it's a learning process.
But the first step is, is, is you know, to take that leap of
faith and, and just go usually on Tuesday nights, you know,
once a month and, and for a couple hours and see what's
going on and speak to people, ask them what's going on and

(01:08:39):
stuff like that. So just just be brave, pray on
it, you know, go hopefully startmeeting people that, that have
same ideas and values. I think in our area, in the
Inland Empire, we can probably most likely pinpoint, you know,
people's belief systems and things they stand on, regardless
of, of political backgrounds. You can always see that in a

(01:09:01):
meeting, you know, just based onwho's in a meeting sitting
there. And so just be brave, reach out
to me, send me a message, you know, on Instagram as a, as a
dad to Prado for parents of HUSD.
And then we could just link up, reach out to you, you know, so,
so come on, dads, you know, that's what I've always asked.

(01:09:21):
You know, this has come from a guy that never had a dad.
And it's just, I've just learnedhow to, to be a father through
through life experiences and what not to do in life.
And hopefully, like you said, you know when when our time was
up or our kids have something good to say about us, that my
dad, man, I remember my dad sitting in that lawn chair and
when I was at practice for hoursat a time or my dad making

(01:09:44):
stupid dad jokes. You know, you know.
It's just crazy things. I think those things as dads,
that's, that's what we want. The good times, you know, of
course, disciplinary things we're going to have to do, you
know, but majority 90, probably 99% of us as men, we're just a
bunch of jokesters. We want to have fun with our
kids, you know, 'cause we're just, we're kids at hearts.

(01:10:04):
Yeah, totally. All right, we'll close out on
that, man. Thank you so much, Mr. Progress,
for staying with us tonight and you guys enjoy till next time.
We'll see you later. All right, everybody.