Better Call Daddy

What does it really take to break the cycles you were handed and build something better for the next generation?

In this episode of Better Call Daddy, host Reena Friedman Watts sits down with Kelby Green, purpose-driven entrepreneur and proud girl dad, for a conversation that moves between boardrooms and bedrooms the business of building a life with intention.

Kelby opens up about leaving the corporate world behind, what pushed him toward entrepreneurship, and the hard lessons that came with the leap.

Reena and Kelby get into the real work of validating ideas before falling in love with them, why investing in yourself is non-negotiable, and how to network in a way that actually feels human. They also tackle the trickier stuff when to work for free, when to walk away from a partnership, and how to build community around what you create.

And woven throughout it all: fatherhood. Kelby reflects on how raising daughters shapes the way he thinks about business, legacy, and what it means to give kids room to figure out who they are.

🎙️ WHAT'S IN THIS EPISODE:
- Kelby's leap from corporate life to entrepreneurship
- How to validate a business idea before going all in
- Building community spaces for content creators
- The real rules of networking and when free work makes sense
- Navigating partnerships and knowing when to walk away
- Raising daughters to be curious, confident, and free from the box

💭 MEMORABLE QUOTES FROM KELBY:
"Everything is figureoutable."
"I want to encourage them to try things and see what they're interested in without feeling pressured to fit into any box."

🗣️ QUOTES FROM WAYNE FRIEDMAN:
"I think there is a solution. You can figure it out."
"You want to be able to share ideas, share people where everybody can get a common good out of it."

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Meet Kelby Green
(05:15) From corporate employee to entrepreneur
(15:30) Building community spaces for content creation
(25:00) Validating business ideas through client engagement
(35:45) Networking, partnerships, and the free work question
(45:00) Raising daughters with intention

 

🔗 CONNECT WITH KELBY GREEN:
Instagram | Website

🔗 CONNECT WITH REENA FRIEDMAN WATTS:
Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube
Join us for this engaging conversation that highlights the power of community, the importance of authentic connections, and the journey of parenting in the entrepreneurial world.

In this heartfelt episode of Better Call Daddy, host Reena Friedman Watts reunites with her childhood friend Carre Gordon to talk about loss, connection, and healing. The two reminisce about their carefree days growing up together in Kentucky before Carre shares her journey through grief after the sudden loss of her son, Grant, during what began as an ordinary birthday celebration.

Carre opens up about the unexpected signs and messages she's received from Grant, and how they've shown her that her bond with her son didn't end it just changed shape. The conversation moves through the role of spirituality, the healing power of community, and the lessons trauma can teach us about strength and vulnerability.

Together, Reena and Carre explore mediumship, the idea of soul contracts, and what it means to stay connected to someone you've lost. Carre's story is a gentle, grounded reminder that grief isn't linear and that love doesn't disappear, it just finds new ways to reach us.

If you or someone you love is navigating loss, this episode offers comfort, honesty, and the reassurance that you're not walking through it alone.

🎙️ What's in This Episode

Carre's journey through grief and healing after losing her son

Signs and messages from loved ones beyond the veil

Why community and support matter so much in navigating loss

Grief as a personal journey there's no "right" way to do it

Soul contracts and the idea of a pre-written path

Finding comfort and connection in the face of loss

💭 Memorable Quotes from Carre

"Life happens for us, not to us."

"We can still have an energetic relationship with our loved ones."

⏱️ Timestamps
(00:00) Introduction to Carre Gordon
(05:15) Reminiscing about childhood memories in Kentucky
(15:30) The impact of losing a child and navigating grief
(25:00) Signs and messages from Grant
(35:45) The role of community in healing
(45:00) Spiritual connections and the concept of soul contracts

 

Resources mentioned

https://www.helpingparentsheal.org/

 

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

Join us for this enlightening conversation about love, loss, and the connections that keep shaping our lives even after death. If you or someone you know is struggling, remember that support is available and healing is possible.

What happens when personal trauma intersects with a mission to advocate for justice?

In this powerful episode of Better Call Daddy, host Reena Friedman Watts sits down with Ariella Goldberg-Kay, a survivor liaison for Zaakah, an organization dedicated to supporting survivors of sexual violence within the Jewish community.

Ariella Kay opens up about her deeply personal connection to this work, rooted in her aunt's tragic story of sexual assault and suicide  a loss that has profoundly shaped her life and advocacy.

Reena and Ariella explore the complexities of trauma recovery, the stigma surrounding mental health in religious communities, and the fight for justice for survivors of sexual abuse.

Ariella shares how her own experiences fueled her passion for advocacy, helping other survivors find their voice and pursue legal action against their abusers.

The conversation also unpacks the unique challenges Jewish survivors face from barriers to reporting abuse to inadequate institutional responses. Ariella explains how Zaakah is changing the landscape for survivors by empowering them to seek justice without needing rabbinical approval, and why a trauma-informed approach is essential to real healing.

If you or someone you know needs support, Zaakah's confidential hotline is available at 1-888-492-2524, or visit www.zaakah.org.

🎙️ What's in This Episode:

Ariella's personal connection to sexual violence advocacy

The impact of silence and stigma on mental health

Navigating the justice system as a sexual abuse survivor

Why community support is critical for healing

How Zaakah is transforming survivor support in the Jewish community

The power of sharing personal stories to build connection and understanding

💭 Memorable Quotes from Ariella:
"I don't want people to have to live with the aftermath of suicide or sexual abuse."

"Your relationship with God is between you and God, and no one else should dictate that."

"If an institution can't afford to pay restitution for the abuse that happened there, it doesn't deserve to exist anymore."

⏱️ Timestamps:
(00:00) Introduction to Ariella K. and Zaakah
(05:15) The personal story behind Ariella's advocacy
(15:30) Challenges faced by survivors in the Jewish community
(25:00) The role of Zaakah in supporting legal justice
(35:45) Navigating trauma and mental health stigma
(45:00) Ariella's insights on community and healing

🔗 Connect with Zaakah:
Website: www.zaakah.org | Instagram
📞 Hotline: 1-888-492-2524

Outcry Podcast 

https://www.facebook.com/zaakah

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

If you've ever wondered how trauma shapes our lives — and why advocacy and community support matter for survivors of sexual abuse — this episode of Better Call Daddy is a must-listen.

Need support? Zaakah's hotline: 1-888-492-2524 | www.zaakah.org

What draws us to true crime and what does it say about us?

In this episode of Better Call Daddy, host Reena Friedman Watts sits down with Jerry Matz, the mind behind the hit Instagram account ID Crime Vault, for an honest conversation about true crime, storytelling, and the family moments that shape who we become.

Jerry traces his love of true crime back to childhood watching shows like Joe Kenda and Hollywood Demons with family, and slowly realizing he didn't just want to consume these stories. He wanted to tell them.

Reena and Jerry dig into what makes crime narratives so compelling, how he built a loyal community one consistent post at a time, and why patience might be the most underrated skill in content creation.

The conversation also gets real about the darker side of the industry — the psychological toll reality TV takes on its participants, and the responsibility creators and media have to portray crime with accuracy and empathy.

🎙️ WHAT'S IN THIS EPISODE:
- Jerry's origin story in the true crime world
- How family shapes the interests we carry into adulthood
- The psychology behind why crime stories grip us
- Empathy as a storytelling superpower
- Reality TV's hidden cost on its participants
- Growing a community around a shared passion

💭 MEMORABLE QUOTES FROM JERRY:
"Sometimes people like suspense. They like the mystery. It's like a mystery book."
"You never know what you're going to get out of it. Just try it and don't quit."

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Meet Jerry Matz true crime storyteller
(05:15) The family influences behind his passion
(15:30) The psychology of crime media
(25:00) Reality TV's darker realities
(35:45) Building community through shared obsession
(45:00) Grandpa's take on crime, media & responsibility

🔗 CONNECT WITH JERRY:
Instagram

🔗 CONNECT WITH REENA FRIEDMAN WATTS:
Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube

If you've ever found yourself three hours deep in a true crime rabbit hole and wondered why — this episode is for you.

In this episode of Better Call Daddy, host Reena Friedman Watts sits down with Jey Young, a mental health counselor and podcaster, to talk about holding grief and joy at once. Just weeks before welcoming his baby boy into the world, Jey lost his father to suicide.

Jey Young opens up about what it's like to process devastating loss while celebrating new life, sharing raw, unfiltered insight into that emotional whiplash. Together, Reena and Jey dig into the nuances of mental health, the power of open communication, and why community support matters most in moments of crisis.

The conversation traces how Jey's experiences have reshaped his understanding of fatherhood and mental health, offering listeners real takeaways on resilience, connection, and the importance of checking in on the people we love. Reena and Jey also reflect on their own stories, underscoring how vulnerability and authenticity are what make relationships meaningful.

It's also Men's Mental Health Month, and this episode is a reminder of why that matters: men are still far less likely to ask for help or talk about what they're carrying, even when it's costing them everything.

Content note: This episode includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available by call or text, 24/7.

🎙️ WHAT'S IN THIS EPISODE:

Jey's experience with grief alongside the birth of his son

Holding space for loss and new life at the same time

Navigating mental health conversations, especially among men

Why reaching out and showing up for each other matters

Building real connection through vulnerability

What podcasting has taught Jey about sharing stories

💭 MEMORABLE QUOTES FROM JEY:

"Life is a lot emptier. My phone feels a lot heavier, and my call log feels empty."

"Just to check on people, just to ask how they're doing, just to be there for them, just to show up for them."

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Introduction to Jey Young
(05:15) Jey's journey through grief and fatherhood
(15:30) Why mental health conversations matter
(25:00) Supporting loved ones through difficult times
(35:45) Vulnerability and the power of storytelling
(45:00) Wisdom from Reena's dad on parenting and connection

🔗 CONNECT WITH JEY YOUNG:
Instagram | Website

🔗 CONNECT WITH REENA FRIEDMAN WATTS:
Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube

Join us for this heartfelt conversation about sharing our stories and showing up for one another through life's hardest and most beautiful moments.