The American Masculinity Podcast is hosted by Timothy Wienecke — licensed psychotherapist, Air Force veteran, and award-winning men's advocate. Real conversations about masculinity, mental health, trauma, fatherhood, leadership, and growth. Each episode offers expert insight and practical tools to help men show up differently — as partners, fathers, friends, and leaders. No yelling. No clichés. Just grounded, thoughtful masculinity for a changing world.

What is family court really like for dads today? And how do fathers cope in the chaos of divorce and custody battles?

In this candid conversation, Canadian Certified Counsellor Furkhan Dandia joins host Tim Wienecke to unpack the realities men face in custody disputes. Drawing from his own experience as a divorced father, his background as an engineer, and his work as a therapist, Furkhan reveals how bias, financial strain, and short hearings shape men’s experiences in court. Together, they explore coping strategies that actually help — from therapy and men’s groups to radical acceptance and rebuilding community.

This episode doesn’t promise easy answers — but it does offer clarity, validation, and practical wisdom for men walking through one of life’s toughest battles.

• Why family court often feels stacked against fathers.
• How custody law trends are shifting in Colorado and across the U.S.
• The role of financial strain, stigma, and short hearings in shaping outcomes.
• What research says about abuse allegations in custody disputes.
• How dads can cope through therapy, peer support, and community rebuilding.
• Why preparation and radical acceptance matter in the face of systemic limits.

Furkhan Dandia is a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) specializing in addiction, trauma, and divorce recovery. After nearly two decades in engineering and business, he transitioned into therapy, bringing a systems-thinking lens to men’s mental health. His work includes anger management, group therapy, and helping fathers navigate the upheaval of family court.

Furkhan is also the host of EZ Conversations, a podcast where he explores mental health, recovery, and masculinity through expert interviews and lived experiences.

🔗 Learn more about Furkhan:

• Website: https://www.collectivelytangled.com/furkhan
• Podcast: https://podmatch.com/hostdetail/ez
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/furkhandandia

As always, we reviewed the episode for accuracy and nuance. Here are the clarifications:

• Custody Standards: Colorado, like most states, uses a “best interests of the child” test (Colo. Rev. Stat. §14-10-124). There is no 50/50 mandate, though equal time is often considered best.
• State Trends: Only a handful of states (Kentucky, Arkansas, Florida, and partly West Virginia) have adopted a legal presumption of 50/50 custody. Most states still use the “best interests” framework.
• False Allegations: Research shows intentional false abuse claims are uncommon. One Canadian study found ~12% in custody-related disputes (Trocmé et al., 2005), while broader reviews cite ranges of 2%–35% depending on definitions and methods (Psychiatric Times, 2021).
• Financial Abuse: Both men and women experience financial abuse. Research finds it is often reported more by women (Postmus et al., 2016), but men are not immune.
• Court Hearings: Temporary custody hearings are often brief, typically 15–30 minutes. Preparation makes a significant difference.

• Colorado Revised Statutes §14-10-124. (2024). Best interests of the child. https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2024-title-14.pdf
• Trocmé, N., Bala, N., & Bala, M. (2005). False allegations of abuse and neglect in Canada. Child Abuse & Neglect, 29(2), 133–155. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15734178/
• Psychiatric Times. (2021). False allegations of abuse during divorce: The role of alienating beliefs. https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/false-allegations-of-abuse-during-divorce-the-role-of-alienating-beliefs
• Postmus, J. L., Plummer, S.-B., McMahon, S., Murshid, N. S., & Kim, M. S. (2016). Understanding economic abuse in the lives of survivors. Violence Against Women, 22(6), 692–703. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801215610017
• Sbarra, D. A. (2015). Divorce and health: Current trends and future directions. Psychosomatic Medicine, 77(3), 227–236. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4397145/