Better Call Daddy

What happens when Kentucky roots, a life in radio, and a passion for understanding people come together through the power of voice?

In this down-to-earth episode of Better Call Daddy, host Reena Friedman Watts reconnects with Jonathan Mertz host of It’s Your Break for a conversation about creativity, reinvention, and what it truly means to use your voice with purpose.

From Kentucky roots to radio beginnings, Jonathan shares how his journey has taken him through IT, consulting, voice work, and even working in a jail each chapter shaping how he sees people and the stories they carry.

“There’s power in speaking and even more power in learning to understand people.”

Jonathan opens up about fatherhood, mentorship, weight loss, knee surgery, and the uncomfortable seasons that force growth.

He reflects on his late grandmother’s influence, the importance of education, and how family continues to ground his creative path.

The conversation also explores his wife’s experience discovering her biological father later in life, highlighting themes of identity, connection, and healing through truth.

Reena and Jonathan dive into the art of voice acting, podcasting, and storytelling discussing how tone, presence, and authenticity shape the way we connect with others.

This episode is a reminder that every voice carries weight and every story has the power to change how we understand one another.

🔑 Episode Keywords

Better Call Daddy, Family Relationships, Parenting Advice, Generational Trauma, Jewish Culture, Personal Development, Emotional Healing, Forgiveness, Life Lessons, Family Dynamics, Bar Mitzvah, Motherhood, Storytelling, Self-Discovery, Legacy Building, Communication Skills, Relationship Building, Healing Through Art, Navigating Divorce, Childhood Memories

🎙️ In This Episode:

Kentucky roots and early radio beginnings

Reinvention through IT, consulting, and voice work

Lessons learned from working in a jail

Fatherhood, mentorship, and personal growth

Family legacy and his grandmother’s influence

Identity, adoption, and reconnecting with family

The craft of voice acting and storytelling

Why discomfort leads to growth

⏱️ Episode Highlights:

(00:00) Welcome to Better Call Daddy

(05:15) From radio to reinvention

(15:30) Working in a jail & understanding people

(25:00) Fatherhood and family influence

(35:45) Identity, connection & discovery

(45:00) Voice acting, creativity & storytelling

If you’ve ever wondered how your voice, your story, and your experiences connect you’ll feel right at home in this conversation.

Connect with Jonathan 

https://itsyourbreak.com/

 

Connect with Reena

https://www.youtube.com/c/bettercalldaddy

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

instagram.com/reenafriedmanwatts

What does it really take to be a high achiever without losing yourself in the process?

“Feel your feelings and embrace your journey.” — Victoria O. Makanjuola

"I want to be independent, I want to do things on my own. I kind of want to figure things out."

 

In this episode of Better Call Daddy, host Reena Friedman Watts welcomes the inspiring Victoria Makanjuola, a Gen Z podcaster and high achiever, to discuss creativity, resilience, and the power of storytelling.

Victoria shares her journey of growing up influenced by her father's love for music and education, which shaped her unique perspective on success.

As a proud graduate of USC, she reflects on the challenges of pursuing her dreams, including earning two master's degrees and delivering a commencement speech alongside industry legends.

“I want to bridge the gap between mental resilience and high achievement.” — Victoria

The conversation dives deep into the importance of vulnerability, the impact of generational differences in relationships, and how curiosity fuels Victoria’s podcast, “Feel Your Feelingz.”

With a focus on mental health, she emphasizes the significance of connecting with others and sharing experiences as a means of growth.

Reena and Victoria also touch on the nuances of being an introvert in a world that often values extroversion, the beauty of creativity, and the lessons learned from navigating life’s transitions.

This episode is a celebration of self-discovery, community, and the journey of embracing one’s true self amidst the pressures of society.
In This Episode:

- Victoria’s journey from student to podcaster
- The influence of family and culture on personal growth
- Exploring the intersection of mental health and achievement
- Understanding generational differences in relationships
- The importance of vulnerability and community support
- Creative expression as a tool for healing
- Navigating life transitions and finding independence
- Building a platform for high achievers

Episode Highlights:-

(00:00) Welcome to Better Call Daddy
(05:15) Victoria’s background and influence of her father
(15:30) The journey to earning two master’s degrees
(25:00) Embracing vulnerability in creative spaces
(35:45) Generational differences in dating and relationships
(45:00) The power of community and connection

If you’ve ever felt the weight of expectations or sought to understand your identity in a fast-paced world, this episode will resonate with you. Join us for a heartfelt conversation about the importance of feeling your feelings and pursuing your passions.

Connect with Victoria

https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-o-makanjuola/

https://www.instagram.com/astoldbyvictoria_/

https://www.instagram.com/fyfzpod_/

Connect with Reena Friedman Watts

Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In This Episode:

Growing up with an absent parent

Divorce and its impact on children

Rebuilding family relationships later in life

Mother-son connection and parenting with intention

Forgiveness and emotional healing

Art, creativity, and self-expression

Breaking generational patterns

Creating safe spaces within families

Episode Highlights:

(00:00) Welcome to Better Call Daddy

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

(15:30) Growing up with an absent father

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

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

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

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

Liana Morris is a passionate, colorful, and fun podcast guest who brings enthusiasm, laughter, and heart to every conversation. With 25 years in the corporate world and 22 years of marriage to her supportive husband, she offers a grounded, real-life perspective alongside her playful energy.

Liana loves exploring topics such as spirituality, art, joy, laughter, parenting, and the healing and nervous system benefits of laughter, all through stories from her lived experience. Based in Pasadena, Maryland, she shares her laughter and reflections with a growing community online, inviting others to reconnect with joy as a meaningful part of life.

Connect with Liana
Facebook

Connect with Reena Friedman Watts
Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube

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

“The biggest victims of radical Islam are Muslims.”

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

"Iranians are not going to be quiet."

 

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

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

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

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

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

In This Episode:

Escaping Iran and starting over in America

The emotional story behind Abteen’s father’s silence

From Islam to Christianity: Abteen’s faith journey

Fighting radicalism and political extremism

Iranian-American identity and cultural pressure

The American Dream and why freedom matters

Immigration, entrepreneurship, and political activism

Why more Iranian Americans are entering politics

Episode Highlights:

(00:00) Welcome to Better Call Daddy

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

(15:30) Why Iranian Americans need political representation

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

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

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

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

Connect with Abteen Vaziri
Instagram | Twitter

Connect with Reena Friedman Watts
Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Connect with Reena
instagram.com/reenafriedmanwatts
https://youtube.com/@bettercalldaddy
linkedin.com/in/reenafriedmanwatts