Ep 115: Father's Day Special: Four Fathers on the E.P.I.C. Framework

Welcome to this Father's Day special of the Mother's Quest Podcast. This year, I decided to reach out to the husbands and life partners of incredible mothers I've interviewed on the podcast in the past, inviting four extraordinary fathers to share their reflections on living an E.P.I.C. life. 

E.P.I.C. is a metaphor for answering the call of our own hero's journey and also an acronym mnemonic for the guideposts that help us live that life while we are raising our kids. E - Engaging mindfully with our children, P- Pursuing our passionate and purposeful impact, I - Investing in ourselves, and C- Connecting to a strong support network. Each father offers a glimpse into what they've been on a quest for, insights into one of the guideposts from the E.P.I.C. framework, and an invitation to try something that will help us more fully live our E.P.I.C. lives. Together, these four fathers bring perspectives shaped by different faith traditions, cultures, and lived experiences. And they all offer a masterclass on what it takes to parent and live life fully, with strength and humility. Thank you Rabbi Hugh Seid-Valencia, Iftikhar Ahmed, Franklin Hysten, and George Brian Sellner for entrusting us with your reflections, and for the love and intention you bring to fatherhood and to living your lives. And thank you Tricia, Saadia, Jenjii, and Jadah, the mothers whose voices have shaped this podcast over the last decade, and whose connection with me inspired this episode. All of these contributions felt like a gift for me. Wherever you are listening, whether you are a father yourself, parenting alongside one, or maybe missing one, I hope this conversation is a gift for you too. Happy Father's Day.

This Episode Features:

Rabbi Hugh Seid-Valencia, Chief Community Officer at Jewish Silicon Valley, who teaches and lectures on Jewish approaches to leadership, meditation, and parenting. Hugh, the husband of my recent podcast guest Tricia Creason-Valencia, reflects on Engaging mindfully with our children, the practice of stepping up and stepping back as a father, the Jewish humility teaching of how much space to take up in a relationship, and how a lifelong practice of martial arts informed his approach to parenting.

Iftikhar Ahmed, co-founder of Kaizen Financial Strategies and co-author with his wife Saadia of A Planning Guide for American Muslims. Iftikhar, who came to financial services after a first career in engineering and tech leadership, reflects on Pursuing our passionate and purposeful impact, the Kaizen philosophy of small steps leading to big results, drawing passion from those who find happiness through helping others, and being a role model for his children.

Franklin Hysten, founding partner of Blaze Consulting Group and a coach and facilitator of more than 20 years developing leaders in nonprofits and public sector organizations. Franklin, the husband of my Episode 7 guest Jenjii Hysten, reflects on Investing in ourselves, the solo three-week journey to London where he sat with himself and his journal, the courage to ask for support through therapy and men's groups, and the shift from a love language of service to what he calls "the ministry of presence."

George Brian Sellner, founder of One Heart Music and One Heart Men's Circle, whose work draws from Jungian archetypes, Internal Family Systems, somatic practices, mythology, and contemplative traditions. George, the husband of my Episode 95 guest Jadah Sellner, reflects on Connecting to a strong support network, the couples meeting practice he and Jadah have held for years, the daily blessing he sends his daughter Zoe, and creating safe spaces for men to show up emotionally.

Topics Discussed in this Episode:

• Hugh on the practice of stepping up and stepping back as a father, and the Jewish humility teaching behind it