Softening the Heart: Fatherhood, Faith, and Healing with Stephen Warner

In this episode, Avatari is joined by Stephen Warner—entrepreneur, former youth pastor, and hip-hop artist known as Pyro Zane—for an honest and emotional conversation about grief, faith, and the healing power of music.

Stephen shares how the sudden loss of his father led him into a season of emotional shutdown, where he poured himself into business and responsibility, all while unknowingly hardening his heart. It wasn’t until one unexpected song played in a hotel bathroom that he finally broke down and began reconnecting with the person he was becoming at 18—before the pain.

Together, they explore how music can open emotional floodgates, how fatherhood and faith shape resilience, and how forgiveness—even toward the man responsible for his father's death—can become an act of profound strength.

If you’ve ever buried pain to keep going or questioned how to soften again, this episode is for you.

FREE RESOURCES:

Follow Avatari on Instagram
Join the Avatari email list for behind the scenes content and updates

Find out more about Stephen Warner and Young Founders:

https://podcast.youngfounders.com/avatari