For Such a Time as This: Courage, Purpose, and Resolve to Answer the Call on Our Lives

For Such a Time as This: Courage, Purpose, and Resolve to Answer the Call on Our Lives

For Such a Time as This: Courage, Purpose, and Resolve to Answer the Call on Our Lives What happens when pain does not get the final word? In this powerful episode of Opportunity Awaits – Lead The Way, Dr. James C. Rodríguez, MSW, is joined by Dr. Alicia L. Jackson, PhD, from Tallahassee, Florida, and Dr. Chacko Abraham from La Paz, Bolivia, for a deeply human conversation about purpose, courage, faith, belonging, and what it means to answer the call on our lives. Built from the chapter “Most Great People Take Their Great Pain into Purpose” from Dr. Rodríguez’s book, The Purpose Within: Rise Out of the Ashes Like the Phoenix, this episode explores how pain can create a void — but that void does not have to be filled with fear, shame, anger, self-doubt, or hopelessness. It can be filled with purpose. One of the central reflections of this episode is: “Pain leaves the body so purpose can fill the void.” Together, Dr. Rodríguez, Dr. Jackson, and Dr. Abraham reflect on what it means to feel unqualified but still called, afraid but still courageous, uncertain but still moving forward. Dr. Alicia Jackson reminds listeners that “for such a time as this” can mean the ground is fertile for growth, change, and transformation. She offers a powerful reflection on perspective, courage, and doing things scared when comfort is not available. Dr. Chacko Abraham brings a global, reflective, and deeply human lens to purpose, parenting, transition, and the quiet strength required when life carries both blessing and heaviness. Dr. Rodríguez shares personal stories from the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference, including a life-changing moment of receiving unexpected support, meeting Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, U.S. Attorney Eric Holder, and First Lady Michelle Obama, while still quietly wrestling with the question: “Do I belong here?” This episode is for anyone who has ever felt unseen, unqualified, weary, or unsure of their purpose. It is for the parent, the veteran, the educator, the clinician, the advocate, the leader, the student, the servant, and the person still trying to rise from the ashes. Because sometimes purpose sounds like: “I don’t know, but I’m going up.” And sometimes the message we need most is simple: You belong. Your pain has purpose. Your story has meaning. Learn more about the podcast: https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org/opportunity-awaits-podcast.html [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org/opportunity-awaits-podcast.html] Hashtags: #OpportunityAwaits #LeadTheWay #ForSuchATimeAsThis #PurposeWithin #PainIntoPurpose #RiseLikeThePhoenix #Fatherhood #Leadership #Healing #Purpose #Resilience #NextGeneration #FFCA

Service Before Self: Lessons from Veterans Across Generations

This special broadcast of Opportunity Awaits — Lead The Way brings together powerful veteran voices across generations to reflect on service, sacrifice, injury, trauma, healing, identity, leadership, and purpose after the uniform. Hosted by Dr. James C. Rodríguez, MSW, President and CEO of Fathers and Families Coalition of America, this episode features Bishop Henry Hearns, Korean War era veteran; Prof. Eric Glaudé, Vietnam War veteran; Doc Bongo, post-Vietnam War veteran; and Lachi Zoutay, Afghanistan/Iraq era veteran, in a deeply meaningful intergenerational conversation. This episode highlights three tremendous elder African-American leaders, joined by a younger African-American veteran voice, whose collective experiences touch the Korean War era, the Vietnam War era, post-Vietnam service, Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Afghanistan, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and the continuing journey of veterans who return home carrying both visible and invisible wounds. The framework is Service Before Self. This conversation is not only for veterans. It is for anyone working with families, fathers, mothers, children, caregivers, communities, social workers, educators, faith leaders, and people who continue serving others while carrying the pain of their own. Inside this raw and honest conversation are powerful lessons: service does not end when the uniform comes off; some people hide pain better than they heal pain; and you can do anything when you refuse to quit, ask for help, mentor others, and find another way forward. Learn More About Our Guests Bishop Henry Hearns — 93-Year-Old Veteran Click Here [https://www.bishophenryhearns.com/] Prof. Eric Glaudé, LCSW-R — 82-Year-Old Veteran Click Here [https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-glaude-5a305b15/] Doc Bongo — 70s-Year-Old Veteran Click Here [https://therealmud.com] Lachi Zoutay — 31-Year-Old Veteran Click Here [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lachi-zoutay-16720813a/] Learn More and Stay Connected Learn More About the Host, Dr. James C. Rodríguez, MSW Click Here [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org/dr-james-c-rodriguez.html] Learn More About Opportunity Awaits — Lead The Way Click Here [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org/opportunity-awaits-podcast.html] Learn More About Fathers and Families Coalition of America Click Here [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org] Join Authors of Impact and Explore Featured Authors and Books Click Here [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org/featured-authors-books.html] Subscribe, share, and walk with us as we continue building conversations around purpose, family, healing, leadership, service, veterans, fathers, communities, and the courage to lead with love. #OpportunityAwaits [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org/opportunity-awaits-podcast.html]#OpportunityAwaitsLeadTheWay [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org/opportunity-awaits-podcast.html]#ServiceBeforeSelf [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org/opportunity-awaits-podcast.html]#LessonsFromVeterans [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org/opportunity-awaits-podcast.html]#VeteransAcrossGenerations [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org/opportunity-awaits-podcast.html]#HonoringSacrifice [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org/opportunity-awaits-podcast.html]#MilitaryServiceAndHealing [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org/opportunity-awaits-podcast.html]#VeteransVoices [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org/opportunity-awaits-podcast.html]#VeteranLeadership [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org/opportunity-awaits-podcast.html]#AfricanAmericanVeterans [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org/opportunity-awaits-podcast.html]#BlackVeterans [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org/opportunity-awaits-podcast.html]#KoreanWarVeteran [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org/opportunity-awaits-podcast.html]#VietnamVeteran [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org/opportunity-awaits-podcast.html]#DesertStormVeteran [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org/opportunity-awaits-podcast.html]#OperationIraqiFreedom [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org/opportunity-awaits-podcast.html]#AfghanistanVeteran [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org/opportunity-awaits-podcast.html]#Post911Veterans [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org/opportunity-awaits-podcast.html]#MilitaryFamilies [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org/opportunity-awaits-podcast.html]#PurposeAfterService [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org/opportunity-awaits-podcast.html]#TraumaHealing [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org/opportunity-awaits-podcast.html]#HealingAfterService [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org/opportunity-awaits-podcast.html]#PostTraumaticGrowth [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org/opportunity-awaits-podcast.html]#VeteransMentalHealth [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org/opportunity-awaits-podcast.html]#SuicidePrevention [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org/opportunity-awaits-podcast.html]#CommunityService [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org]#ServantLeadership [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org]#LeadershipWithLove [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org]#IntergenerationalWisdom [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org]#FamilyWellness [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org]#FathersAndFamilies [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org]#FathersAndFamiliesCoalition [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org]#FFCA [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org]#HOPE2027 [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org]#HOPETalks [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org]#CompleteNotCompete [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org]#PurposeWithin [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org/featured-authors-books.html]#PurposeWithinRiseOutoftheAshesLikeThePhoenix [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org/featured-authors-books.html]#AuthorsOfImpact [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org/featured-authors-books.html]#LeadTheWay [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org/opportunity-awaits-podcast.html]

A New Blueprint — Being an Architect of Wellness

Season 1 of Opportunity Awaits — Lead the Way introduces many voices, stories, and pathways toward purpose, healing, leadership, and transformation. This podcast is not about one voice only. The most important voice is your voice — the listener, learner, leader, parent, helper, healer, and person still building. Episode 3: A New Blueprint: Be an Architect of Wellness is rooted in Dr. James C. Rodríguez’s book, The Purpose Within: Rise Out of the Ashes Like the Phoenix, especially the chapter “The Architect Who Never Left.” Released in April 2026 with international sales, the book helped open a pathway for story, healing, and purpose. In May 2026, this podcast moved into production with an international audience already listening and responding. This episode begins with one question: What was the first job you ever wanted to do? For Dr. Rodríguez, the answer was architect — not only of buildings, but of programs, healing spaces, leadership platforms, family-strengthening systems, community movements, and new possibilities. Together, the book and podcast remind us that when purpose, service, and collaboration come together, we build bridges of destiny. This conversation explores how to build a new blueprint for wellness after adverse experiences, including military service, unhealthy relationships, childhood wounds, family systems, trauma, PTSD, professional caregiving, and harm connected to faith communities. While this is not a faith-based podcast, it honors how spirituality, humanity, interfaith perspectives, and personal meaning may be part of healing. Featured guests: Rhonda Stewart Jones, LCSW, specializes in trauma-informed care and EMDR, with experience in military and veteran mental health, public safety professionals, and helping people feel seen, heard, respected, and supported. Learn more about Rhonda [https://aboutfacellc.com/rhonda-stewart-jones-lcsw/]. Dr. Roderick Logan, founder of Making Space to Heal, brings more than 40 years of experience in trauma-informed care, resilience building, and helping people reclaim stability, meaning, hope, agency, autonomy, empathy, and rhythm. Learn more about Dr. Logan [https://rodericklogan.com/]. Dr. Rodríguez, Rhonda, and Dr. Logan explore: What does healing require before someone can build a new blueprint for life? How do we help people move from surviving into healing, purpose, joy, and healthier relationships without minimizing their pain or rushing their process? This episode also honors Dr. Gene C. Blue, President and CEO of Arizona Opportunities Industrialization Center, whose leadership helped create space for initiatives that grew from statewide vision into national and international work. His example reminds us that leadership is not only stepping forward. Sometimes it means being healthy, humble, and wise enough to step back so others can rise. Listeners will hear reflections connected to FFCA training programs, trauma-informed care, Kintsugi, resilience, hope, optimism, grace, forgiveness, and shifting from self-blame to gratitude and from self-doubt to being blessed. A new blueprint begins when we stop pretending the old structure never cracked. Come be an architect for bridges. Help us bridge wellness and build pathways where healing, leadership, family, and purpose can rise. Learn more about your host, Dr. James C. Rodríguez, MSW [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org/dr-james-c-rodriguez.html]. Learn more about Opportunity Awaits — Lead the Way [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org/opportunity-awaits-podcast.html]. #OpportunityAwaits #LeadTheWay #CompleteNotCompete #NewBlueprint #ArchitectOfWellness #BridgeWellness #MentalHealthMatters #TraumaHealing #Resilience #FamilyStrengthening #PurposeWithin #RiseLikeThePhoenix #Kintsugi #Leadership #Wellness #MoveTheNeedle

Take the Year - Take the Season with Guest Dr. Chacko Abraham, joining from Almaty, Kazakhstan

In this profound and deeply personal episode of Opportunity Awaits — Lead The Way [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org/opportunity-awaits-podcast.html], I sit down with educator, fatherhood advocate, and longtime friend Dr. Chacko Abraham, joining from Almaty, Kazakhstan, as we begin a journey through purpose, resilience, leadership, fatherhood, and the seasons of life that shape who we become. This is the first full podcast episode that is a conversation that became much more than a discussion around a chapter from my book, The Purpose Within: Rise Out of the Ashes Like the Phoenix. [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org/featured-authors-books.html] It became a reflection on joy, intentionality, healing, gratitude, perseverance, and the people who somehow appear in our lives at the exact moments we need them most. Together, we explore a chapter positioned literally in the middle of the book: Take the Year — Take the Summer. Dr. Abraham was drawn to this chapter because of four powerful metaphors woven throughout the story: the Phoenix, the Hill, the Orchard, and the Acorn. Each reveals something deeper about life, purpose, growth, waiting, and becoming. The Phoenix reminds us that we were once fierce and that resilience often rises from seasons we thought would destroy us. The Hill reminds us that many people stop just short of breakthrough. The Orchard reminds us that stewardship and cultivation matter. And the Acorn reminds us that becoming takes time. We also reflect on one of Dr. Abraham’s greatest accomplishments—not a degree, title, or professional achievement—but being a dad. Throughout our conversation we explore the difference between being a father and being a dad: presence over biology, stewardship over titles, and love expressed through consistency. The conversation unexpectedly moved into one of the most personal moments of my own life: a medical procedure in June 2002 involving an athletic heart condition and a process to reset my natural pacemakers. It was never heart surgery, but it required complete sedation and extraordinary care from gifted physicians and medical professionals. There is a humorous side to the story. After waking up, I joked with the physicians: “You stopped my heart and almost forgot to bring me back?” But the deeper story happened while I was unconscious. The nurses later shared that even while sedated, I would not stop talking. Apparently I was talking with God. I kept speaking about purpose. I kept speaking about my children. Nothing else. Purpose. God. My children. The team shared that they were moved to tears because they witnessed something I did not know I was saying. Sometimes we never know when our lives inspire others. We also honor my mentor, Dr. Gene C. Blue, whose family invited me to speak at his home-going celebration the very next day after recording this episode. We reflect on the quiet cheerleaders who help carry us through difficult seasons and remind us not to stop climbing. We also celebrate a beautiful beginning: Suayapa Santos, an extraordinary Latina scholar and Fathers & Families Coalition of America student who completed her graduate journey and invited me to serve on her thesis committee. One celebration marked a new chapter. Another celebrated a life well lived. Both reminded me that purpose exists in beginnings and endings. For leaders, educators, social workers, veterans, parents, helping professionals, and anyone navigating uncertainty, growth, grief, or change, this episode invites one powerful question: Who helped you touch the gate... …and who are you helping climb? Take the Hill. Take the season. Take the year. Touch the gate. And if you happen to see someone climbing behind you... cheer a little louder. Join us on Opportunity Awaits. [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org/opportunity-awaits-podcast.html]

Blessed to Be Alive: The Road Where Opportunity Awaits

In this powerful opening episode of Opportunity Awaits — Lead the Way, Dr. James C. Rodríguez, MSW welcomes listeners into a podcast rooted in purpose, resilience, leadership, family, faith, healing, and service. This first episode is more than an introduction. It is the beginning of a movement connected to Dr. Rodríguez’s book, The Purpose Within: Rise Out of the Ashes Like the Phoenix [https://a.co/d/0dwiudPb], his life of service as a proud Puerto Rican, veteran, father, social worker, professor, author, and President and Chief Executive Officer of the Fathers and Families Coalition of America [https://fathersandfamiliescoalition.org/]. Dr. Rodríguez shares part of his personal journey, including joining the military at 17, leaving the service at 28 without knowing what came next, and discovering that leadership is not about medals on the chest, but about mentoring, belonging, and helping others find their way forward. He reflects on the powerful words of Dr. Gene C. Blue, who would always say, “Blessed to be alive,” and honors the elders, mentors, leaders, friends, brothers, sisters, and international voices who helped shape his path. This podcast will feature conversations with leaders, speakers, practitioners, family advocates, fathers, mothers, veterans, authors, and community builders from across the United States and around the world — from Australia and beyond. Some episodes may be bilingual or Spanish-language, creating space for diverse voices, cultures, and stories. Whether you are listening in your car, at work, on your phone, or while trying to figure out life, this episode reminds you: you are not alone, you are not finished, and your story still has meaning. Together, we can learn. Together, we can grow. Together, we can strengthen families, build communities, create pathways forward, and lead with love. Opportunity Awaits — Lead the Way begins here.