Special Fathers' Network Podcast

Our guest this week is Rob Johnson who is a seven time Emmy award winning broadcast journalist and an outspoken advocate for those with disability. He has a brother, Edward (48) who has Down Syndrome. David Hirsch talked to Rob about his life experiences and lessons from growing up with a brother with special needs. Rob is also the author of Timothy Trainor: Head In The Game (2015), which is a children's book about a hockey player who suffers a concussion. And we’ll hear that discussion on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast.Concussion Legacy Foundation - https://concussionfoundation.org Chicago Youth Foundation - Hockey On Your Block – https://www.chicagoyouthfoundation.org Gigi's Playhouse - www.gigisplayhouse.orgSpecial Olympics Illinois - www.soill.org Rob Johnson Consulting - www.rj47llc.comRob's email - robjohnson@RJ47LLC.com www.21stCenturyDads.org

Our guest on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast is Casey Parks of Mercer Island, WA., who is a deputy prosecuting attorney and father of two children, one of whom, Ford, was diagnosed with CTNNB1 Syndrome, a rare genetic deletion. We’ll hear the Parks family story and all about Casey’s wife Effie who created the Once Upon a Gene Podcast. That’s all on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast. For more information on CTNNB1 Syndrome go to https://www.ctnnb1.orgYou can check out their Facebook page at: https://www.ctnnb1.orgTo hear Effie’s podcast and to find out more go to https://effieparks.comFind out about The Kindering Center at https://kindering.orgAnd find out about the Special Fathers Network at https://21stcenturydads.org

Our guest on this two-part Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast is Phil Irwin. Phil is the father of three girls including 1½ year old twins who were conjoined until August 2020, when surgeons successfully separated the twins at 14 months. In this second part we’ll hear about the recent successful surgery to separate the twins. The Million Dollar Day. It’s a fascinating story and it is all on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast.University of Michigan CS Mott Children's Hospital Video: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/rare-conjoined-twins-born-locked-in-embrace-successfully-separated-in-michigan/ar-BB19dDOq www.21stCenturyDads.org

Our guest on this special two-part Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast is Phil Irwin. Phil is the father of three girls including 1½ year old twins who were conjoined until jAugust, when surgeons successfully separated the two at 14 months. We’ll hear the first part in this episode in which Phil and his wife Alyson discover they’ll have twins that are conjoined. It’s a fascinating story and it’s all on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast.University of Michigan CS Mott Children's Hospital Video: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/rare-conjoined-twins-born-locked-in-embrace-successfully-separated-in-michigan/ar-BB19dDOq www.21stCenturyDads.org

David Hirsch’s guest on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast is Michael Striegl. Michael is a teacher whose core mission is to help children. Michael himself has two kids who are both autistic. Hear his story of being adopted and later raising two kids with differing special needs. It’s a fascinating listen and all on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast.

Our guest this week is Evan Spotswood of San Clemente, CA. Evan works in facilities management at Chapman University and has two children; Fletcher and June, who are both autistic. He served 5 1/2 years in the Navy, which included two deployments. We'll hear his faith, his family and some of his challenges and triumphs, including overcoming alcoholism on this Special Fathers Network, Dad to Dad Podcast.Beach Kids Therapy San Clemente – https://www.beachkidstherapy.com Stepping Forward, LCC - https://www.steppingforwardcounselingcenter.com Evan's Email Address - Evan.Spotswood@gmail.comwww.21stCenturyDads.org

Our guest this week on The Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast is Dr. Bob Franks, who is a nationally recognized child psychologist, is the president and CEO of the Judge Baker Children’s Center, is on the clinical faculty at Harvard Medical School and author of Be A Better Parent: 10 Strategies For Being The Best You Can Be For Your Child. Bob is also the father of twin teenage boys adopted from Columbia, and a daughter, who vey sadly passed away shortly after birth, 18 years ago, due to underdeveloped lungs. We’ll hear his fascinating story on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast.The Judge Baker Children's Center - https://jbcc.harvard.eduDr. Franks' Email - rfranks@jbcc.harvard.edu 21st Century Dads Foundation - www.21stCenturyDads.org

Our guest on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast is Blair Cornell. Blair is a financial advisor with UBS Financial Services and founder of JoyRide.org, a not for profit whose mission is to provide kids with special needs an opportunity to ride in incredibly special vehicles. Think Ferrari, or Bugatti. Blair and his wife Kat have four children, including 9 year old Carter, who has Dandy Walker Syndrome. We’ll hear the Cornell family story and more on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast. Find out about JoyRide at: https://joyridecars.orgWatch the Joy Ride Video: https://youtu.be/pXEAT84JmNU Learn more about Dandy Walker Alliance - http://dandy-walker.org And learn more about The Special Fathers Network at https://21stcenturydads.org/about-the-special-fathers-network/

Our guest on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast is New York Times best selling author, Bill Danko. Sadly, Bill's dad, Milton, a WWII veteran, died at 38 from MS and his older brother, Tony, was also diagnosed at 21 with MS and died in 2015 at age 68. Through faith, with gratuity, and an incredibly upbeat attitude, Bill keeps keeping on. Bill also discusses his bestselling book The Millionaire Next Door as well as his most recent book Richer Than A Millionaire: A Pathway To True Prosperity. Of interest to any parent and just one very small take-away is the concept of Economic Outpatient Care (EOC), which is how to help your child become facially independent. And we’ll hear his story and so much more on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast.If you’d like to contact Bill his email is wdd9125@gmail.com.To find out about his best selling book visit https://richerthanamillionaire.comThe Milton & Mary M. Danko Golden Rule Awards - https://www.albany.edu/~danko/golden/ And to find out

Our guest this week on the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast is Lon Haldeman, one of the world’s most well respected long distance, endurance bike riders of all time. He’s also and a mentor, of sorts, to our host David Hirsch. Lon and his wife Susan, herself a champion bike rider, have two children, Rebecca and Ericka, who sadly passed away just shy of her first birthday of Infantile ALS. It’s an incredibly interesting conversation and you’ll hear it on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast.To find out about Pacific Atlantic Cycling Tour go to: www.Pactour.comTo make a donation to the PAC Tour Million Mile Challenge go to: https://donate.alsawi.org/campaign/pac-tour/c281674 To support the PAC Tour Peruvian Projects go to: https://pactour.com/peruprojects2012.html For more information on ALS go to: https://lesturnerals.org To find out about the Special Fathers Network go to: https://21stcenturydads.org/about-the-special-fathers-network/

David Hirsch’s guest on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast is Alex Lyebelsky. Alex and his family came to the U.S. from Russia when he was a boy. He now lives in Wheaton, Illinois and works in corporate recruiting. He and his wife Tonie have two children, one of whom, Amanda, has Autism ADHD and cognitive challenges. We’ll hear about Alex's journey to the U.S.and how he and Tonie have worked together to raise their two children. That’s all on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast.Contact Alex at alyubelsky@gmail.comFor more information on the Special Fathers Network, go to https://21stcenturydads.org/about-the-special-fathers-network/

Our guest this this week is Stephen "Doc" Hunsley . Doc is a father of three children, one of whom, Mark, sadly passed away at age five due to complications from Dravet Syndrome and Autism. Doc is the founder of SOAR (Special Opportunities Abilities & Relationships) Special Needs, focusing on Abilities/the positive not Disabilities/the negative. We’ll hear Doc’s life story, including his time in the Air Force, the loss of his brother at five days, the loss of his career as a pediatrician and more on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad podcast.For more information about SOAR Special Needs go to: https://www.soarspecialneeds.orgEmail Doc directly at: info@soarspecialneeds.orgTo find out about the Special Fathers Network, go to: https://21stcenturydads.org/about-the-special-fathers-network/

Bruce Hearey is our guest this week on the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast. Bruce is an attorney who has 7 children, including 36-year-old Jill who is a spastic quadriplegic with cerebral palsy, unable to walk or talk. Bruce talks authentically about his divorce from Jill's mom and the hardest decision of his life, moving Jill to the Hattie Larlham Home, to ensure Jill will be well cared for and get the best services available. We'll hear Bruce’s and Jill’s story on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad podcast. To find out more about Hattie Larlham go to: http://www.hattielarlham.orgTo find out about The Special Fathers Network go to: https://21stcenturydads.org/about-the-special-fathers-network/

Our guest on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast is Mark Arnold. Mark and his wife Clare live in Bournemouth, South England and are parents to Phoebe and James, who is autistic, has epilepsy and is mostly non verbal. Mark is the director of the Urban Saints Additional Needs Ministry, hosts the Additional Needs Blogfather blog, and started an advocacy group called Dad’s File Circle. We’ll hear his story on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast.LINKS- Urban Saints:  https://www.urbansaints.org/additionalneedsAdditional Needs Alliance:   http://additionalneedsalliance.org.ukand https://www.facebook.com/groups/additionalneedsalliance/ The Additional Needs Blogfather:   https://theadditionalneedsblogfather.comThe Dads' Fire Circle (Founded July 2020): https://thedadsfirecircle.com and https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedadsfirecircle/YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8sK7U6d0r_7uVmyg0yN5sQ

On this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast, host David Hirsch talks with special father Al Feria. Al has four children, including John, who is autistic and non-verbal. Al works for One Collective a christian not for profit helping integrate communities across the globe. We’ll hear his intriguing story on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad podcast. To find out about One Collective go to: onecollective.orgContact Al directly at: Alcoleparis@gmail.comAnd to find out more about the Special Fathers Network go to: https://21stcenturydads.org

Our guest on this Dad to Dad Podcast is Dwayne Wiseman. Dwayne was born with Dwarfism and is short statured. He and his wife Sandy, who is also short statured, have four children; two with different forms of Dwarfism, another with Dwarfism who sadly passed away at age one, and the fourth of average height. It’s a fascinating story and we’ll hear it on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast. For more information on dwarfism visit the Little People of America website at: https://www.lpaonline.orgAnd find out about the Dwarf Athletic Association of America at:http://www.daaa.orgFind out about the Special Fathers Network athttps://21stcenturydads.org/about-the-special-fathers-network/

On this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast, host David Hirsch talks with Chris LaFriniere. Chris is the founder of the Bunch of Dads Facebook group that currently has over 120,000 members. Chris also has a son Zachary who is autistic. We’ll hear Chris’ story on this Dad to Dad Podcast. Show Links:A Bunch Of Dads Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/abunchofdads Contact Chris LaFriniere at" CLafriniere@gmail.comFind out about The Special Fathers Network at: https://21stcenturydads.org/about-the-special-fathers-network/

On this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad podcast It's the conclusion of host David Hirsch's conversation with multi media producer, director and marketer, Daniel DeFabio. Daniel and his wife Tina lost their oldest son Lucas (11) just months ago to Menkes Disease, a very rare genetic disorder. Daniel along with fellow SFN Mentor Father Bo Bigelow (SFN D2D #51) are co-founders of DISORDER: The Rare Disease Film Festival. It’s an emotional story that we'll hear in two parts on the Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad podcast. This is part two.To find out about Menkes Disease go to: https://themenkesfoundation.orgTo find out about DISORDER go to: https://www.rarediseasefilmfestival.comTo find out DeFabio design go to: http://defabiodesign.comTo find out about Every Life Foundation: http://www.everylifefoundation.orgTo find out about Ronald McDonald House Charities: http://wwwrmhc.orgAnd to find out more about the Special Fathers Network go to: https://21stcenturydads.org

On this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad podcast host David Hirsch talks with multi media producer, director and marketer, Daniel DeFabio. Daniel and his wife Tina lost their oldest son Lucas (11) just months ago to Menkes Disease, a very rare genetic disorder. Daniel along with fellow SFN Mentor Father Bo Bigelow (SFN D2D #51) are co-founders of DISORDER: The Rare Disease Film Festival. It’s an emotional story that we'll hear in two parts on the Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad podcast. This is part one.To find out about Menkes Disease go to: https://themenkesfoundation.orgTo find out about DISORDER go to: https://www.rarediseasefilmfestival.comTo find out DeFabio design go to: http://defabiodesign.com/And to find out more about the Special Fathers Network go to: https://21stcenturydads.org

On this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast, we hear from Nathan Woerner, a missionary with SEND international and a father of two children including Ada. (2), who has Angelman Syndrome. Nathan tells of his family's travels to Japan and the differences between American and Japanese healthcare. That’s all on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad PodcastShow Links: SEND International – https://send.org/ Angelman’s Syndrome - https://www.angelman.orgFAST (Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics - https://cureangelman.orgFind out about the Special Fathers Network at: https://21stcenturydads.org/about-the-special-fathers-network/Sponsored by Rubin Law www.rubinlaw.com