Special Fathers' Network Podcast

This is part of a special series of interviews within the SFN Dad To Dad Podcasts known as the SFN Mastermind Group Monday Podcasts.  Each Monday host David Hirsch interviews one of the SFN Mastermind Group dads on the impact the mastermind group has had on him and the wellbeing of his family.  This Monday’s guest is John Fela of Lyons, IL who works in Chicago for Joni & Friends, the global Christian disability ministry.  John is also the father of a teenage son with Autism.John and his x-wife, Elizabeth, were married for 15 years and are the proud parents of Christopher (16), who is Autistic and non-verbal.  The couple divorced about five years ago.  More recently, John is happily married to Faith.John was part of the original SFN Dad To Dad Mastermind Group community.  He was previously featured in episode #65 of the SFN Dad To Dad Podcast in August 2019. It’s an uplifting conversation about perseverance, overcoming life's challenges and advocacy, all on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.Show N

Our guest this week is Alvin Green of Chicago who is a chef, founder of Al’s Cookie Mixx and father of two including a son with Autism.   Alvin and his wife, Angella Ferguson, have been married for 27 years and are the proud parents of two: Asa (23) and Aiden (20), who is Autistic and was also diagnosed with Hyperlexia.Alvin has directed his culinary skills and love for baking into creating Al's Cookie Mixx, a social enterprise created in 2018, that makes delicious custom home baked cookies and provides employment to young adults with disabilities. One of the company's catch phrases is: "Your Enjoyment Provides Employment."  We also learn about the impact that Special Olympics and Victory Reins Equestrian Therapy have had on Aiden's life and personal development.  Alvin’s an incredibly positive guy and we’ll hear his family story on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast. Show Notes - Phone – 773-474-8295Email - alvin@alscookiemixx.comLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alvin-green-98523915/Al’s Cookie

This is part of a special series of interviews within the SFN Dad To Dad Podcasts known as the SFN Mastermind Group Monday Podcasts.  Each Monday host David Hirsch interviews one of the SFN Mastermind Group dads on the impact the mastermind group has had on him and the wellbeing of his family.  This Monday’s guest is Jordan Jankus of Wallingford, VT who is a disability advocate, founder of Plastic Learning, a freelance writer and perhaps most importantly, father of two including an adult daughter with Cerebral Palsy.  Jordan and his wife, Cathy, have been married for 49 years and are the proud parents to two children: Justin (35) and Jessie (45) who has multiple developmental disabilities including Cerebral Palsy. Jordan is a freelance writer and disability advocate, serving in various roles, as a vocational coach, case-manager, advocate and personal technology specialist.  Jordan is also founder of Plastic Learning, which was created to promote lifelong learning opportunities for people with cognitive disabi

Our guest this week is Dave Van Doorn of Carpentersville, IL a retired general contractor, father of two, including an autistic daughter and Take A Vet Fishing ambassodor. Dave and his wife, Nancy, have been married for 35 years and are the proud parents of two: Tim (31) and Sara (29), who has Autism.Dave is a retired general contractor and professional fisherman, having won numerous tournaments.  More recently he has directed his love for fishing to serving as an ambassodor for Take A Vet Fishing, a non-profit dedicated to: honor, comfort and provide healing for our PTS (Post Traumatic Stress) veterans and their family members.It's an uplifting story about commitment to family, overcoming adversity and service to others, here on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast. Show Links -Phone – 847-636-2677Email - davevandoorn@comcast.netLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-vandoorn-85664713/Take A Vet Fishing - https://takeavetfishing.org/Special Olympics Illinois https://www.soill.orgSpecial Fathers Ne

This is part of a special series of interviews within the SFN Dad To Dad Podcasts known as the SFN Mastermind Group Monday Podcasts.  Each Monday host David Hirsch interviews one of the SFN Mastermind Group dads on the impact the mastermind group has had on him and the wellbeing of his family.  This Monday’s guest is Tim Coughlin of London, England who works for Morgan Stanley and is the father of two young daughters, one who has a rare genetic disease. Tim and his wife, Jennifer, have been married for 9 years and are the proud parents of two young girls: Alice (5) and Edith (3), who was diagnosed with BBSOAS or Bosch-Boonstra-Schaff Optic Atrophy Syndrome, a very rare neurological disorder caused by a disruption in the NR2F1 gene.  The young couple have also played leader roles within the BBSOAS community, with Jennifer leading the board of the NR2F1 Foundation, which funds research for BBSAOS.  Tim has helped establish the London SFN Mastermind Group earlier this year.  He was featured in episode #279 of th

Our guest this week is Scott Maulsby of Lebanon, TN, who is a life and health insurance agent with HealthMarkets, Inc. and father of five inlcuding two adopted sons. Scott and his wife, Carrie, have been married for 13 years and are the proud parents of five children; two older daughters, daughters Zoie (11) and two adopted sons, Jackson (11) and Ridley, who is autistic and intellectually disabled. Scott and Carrie have also been outspoken advocates for people with disabilities through Joni & Friends and Rising Above Ministries. We’ll hear Scott’s story on this episode of the SFN Dad To Dad Podcast. Show Notes - Phone  - (615) 606-1006Email - maulsbys@icloud.comWebsite - https://www.healthmarkets.com/local-health-insurance-agent/smaulsby/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottmaulsby/Blog - https://www.itsweewee.com/Joni & Friends – https://joniandfriends.org/Rising Above Ministries - https://www.risingaboveministries.org/Special Fathers Network - SFN is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers

This is part of a special series of interviews within the SFN Dad To Dad Podcasts known as the SFN Mastermind Group Monday Podcasts.  Each Monday host David Hirsch interviews one of the SFN Mastermind Group dads on the impact the mastermind group has had on him and the wellbeing of his family.  This Monday’s guest is Jason Hsieh of Buckeye, AZ who is the founder of LakiKid.com and the father of three including a son with Autism. Jason and his wife, Miho, have been married for 15 years and are the proud parents of three children: Moani (5) who has speech delays, Luana (9) who was diagnosed with Leukemia, and Keanu (12), who has Autism and ADHD.LakiKid.com is an online business that produces and sells products that help nuerodivergent children to have a full life of possibilities.  Jason has been part of the Wednesday night SFN Mastermind Group, has attended all three of the annual weekend SFN Mastermind Group Retreats and was featured in episode #183 of the SFN Dad To Dad Podcast in January of 2022. Show Notes

Our guest this week is Al Malavolti of Rockford, IL a retired aerospace operations manager, father of 22 and grandfather of 34.  Al and his wife, Rose, have been married for 51 years and are the proud parents of 22 children; four biological children, 17 adopted children and one who they parented, as well as 34 grandchildren. Their first experience included adopting eight siblings, upon their biological mother's deathbed wish to keep her children together.The Malavolti family story is a fascinating one, inspired by their deep faith and the call to make a difference in the lives of so many by opening up their hearts and homes to 18 youth who might not otherwise experience the love of a family.Given the scope and scale of the Malavolti family, the story is being told over two episodes.  This is the second installment. Show Notes -Phone – (815)298-5527Email - mtamalavolti@yahoo.comSeattle Times Story 1/4/98 - https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19980104&slug=2726904Special Fathers Network - SFN is

This is part of a special series of interviews within the SFN Dad To Dad Podcasts known as the SFN Mastermind Group Monday Podcasts.  Each Monday host David Hirsch interviews one of the SFN Mastermind Group dads on the impact the mastermind group has had on him and the wellbeing of his family.  This Monday’s guest is Matt Bando of Downers Grove, IL who owns Prodigy Printing & Promotions and is father of an adult son with Cerebral Palsy.Matt and his wife, Saba, have been married for 29 years and are the proud parents of Zain, 25, who has Cerebral Palsy and who is also a graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and more recently the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.Matt has been part of the Tuesday night SFN Mastermind Group, has attended the annual weekend SFN Mastermind Group Retreats and was featured in episode #237 of the SFN Dad To Dad Podcast in January of 2023. Show Notes - Phone – (630) 362-1151Email – mattbando@comcast.netLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/m

Our guest this week is Al Malavolti of Rockford, IL a retired aerospace operations manager, father of 22 and grandfather of 34.  Al and his wife, Rose, have been married for 51 years and are the proud parents of 22 children; four biological children, 17 adopted children and one who they parented, as well as 34 grandchildren. Their first experience included adopting eight siblings, upon their biological mother's deathbed wish to keep her children together.The Malavolti family story is a fascinating one, inspired by their deep faith and the call to make a difference in the lives of so many by opening up their hearts and homes to 18 youth who might not otherwise experience the love of a family.Given the scope and scale of the Malavolti family, the story is being told over two episodes.  This is Part 1 in today's SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.  Show Notes -Phone – (815)298-5527Email - mtamalavolti@yahoo.comSeattle Times Story 1/4/98 - https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19980104&slug=2726904Special Father

This is part of a special series of interviews within the SFN Dad To Dad Podcasts known as the SFN Mastermind Group Monday Podcasts.  Each Monday host David Hirsch interviews one of the SFN Mastermind Group dads on the impact the mastermind group has had on him and the wellbeing of his family.  This Monday’s guest is Tony Brescia of West Dundee, IL who owns a Hallmark store, is the father of two including a son with Tuberous Sclerosis, and more recently is raising funds to create Project ALEX (Adult Living EXperience) Communities, a unique residential community for adults with intellectual disabilities. Tony and his wife, Joelle, have been married for 35 years and are the proud parents of two boys: Jason (29) and Alex (33), who was born with Tuberous Sclerosis, a rare genetic disease that causes non-cancerous (or benign) tumors to grow in the brain and several areas of the body, including the spinal cord, nerves, eyes, lung, heart, kidneys, and skin. Tony has been part of the Tuesday night SFN Mastermind Grou

Our guest this week is Sam Farmer of North Easton, MA who is an Information Technology Consultant, a neurodiversity advocate, an Autistic writer, author, speaker, a husband and father of a son with Autism and himself was diagnosed later in life with Asperger’s.  Sam and his wife wife have been married for 23 years and are the proud parents of a 16 year old son, who is Autistic. Sam is also the author of: A Long Walk Down A Winding Road: Small Steps, Challenges, and Triumphs Through an Autistic Lens (October 2019).Sam was also a panelist along with Dr. Temple Grandin and Dr. Eric Endlich for the June 22, 2024 SFN Zoom Panel Discussion: Learning About Autism From Autistic Adults, which garnered more than 275 reigstrations, now available on the 21CD YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2Mhiudvngs&t=1105sIt’s a highly enlightening conversation on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.  Show Notes -Email - samijam669@gmail.comWebsite – https://www.samfarmerauthor.com/LinkedIn - https://www.li

This is part of a special series of interviews within the SFN Dad To Dad Podcasts known as the SFN Mastermind Group Monday Podcasts.  Each Monday host David Hirsch interviews one of the SFN Mastermind Group dads on the impact the mastermind group has had on him and the wellbeing of his family.  This Monday’s guest is Ian Todd of Baltimore, MD who is a Senior Service Consultant with SS&C Advent, father of two daughters and one of the original members of the inaugural SFN Mastermind Group.Ian and his wife, Erin, have been married for 12 years and are the proud parents of two girls: Maple (8) and Rosie (6), who suffered a brain injury from bacterial meningitis and who is sight impaired.  Ian has been involved with the Special Fathers Network for more than three years and his SFN Dad To Dad Podcast, episode #238, aired in January 2023.  For the past three years Ian has attended the Wednesday night SFN Mastermind Group and he has attended all three of the annual SFN Mastermind Group weekend retreats. Show Note

Our guest this week is Kelley Coleman of Los Angeles, CA a feature film maker turned author, disability advocate, wife and mother of two including a son with an undiagnosed rare disease and many disabilities.Kelley and her husband, Eric, have been married for 16 years and are the proud parents of two boys: Sean (12) and Aaron (10) who has multiple disabilities, including: An Undiagnosed Genetic DisorderCortical Visual ImpairmentFailure to ThriveAutismEpilepsyCerebral PalsyMicrocephaly, andA Feeding TubeKelley is also the author of Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child, available on Amazon.Kelley has lots to say about a host of supporting organizations, including the Undiagnosed Disease Network, Canine Companions, and Painted Turtle Camp to name a few.   That's all on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.  Show LinksEmail - kelleyellek@gmail.comWebsite – https://www.kelleycoleman.com/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/kelley.coleman.56Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hellokel

This is part of a special series of interviews within the SFN Dad To Dad Podcasts known as the SFN Mastermind Group Monday Podcasts.  Each Monday host David Hirsch interviews one of the SFN Mastermind Group dads on the impact the mastermind group has had on him and the wellbeing of his family.  This Monday’s guest is Shane Madden of Collierville, TN who is an operations analyst at Pfizer and the father of a son with cerebral palsy.  Shane and his wife, Emily, have been married for 8 years and are the proud parents of Marshall (8) who has cerebral palsy. Shane has been involved with SFN for four years, part of the Wednesday night SFN Mastermind Group for two years, has attend the SFN Mastermind Group Weekend Retreat and was featured in episode #154 of the SFN Dad To Dad Podcast in June of 2021. Show Notes -Phone – (615) 556-9333Email – dmadden79@aol.comLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shane-madden-cpf-62956b18/SFN Dad To Dad Podcast #154 – https://www.spreaker.com/cms/shows/2825002/dashboardShane's favor

In April 2024, our host David Hirsch traveled to Cuba with Joni & Friends, as one of 12 U.S. volunteers participating in a Wheels For The World Program, to fit and distribute 200+ wheelchairs to youth and adults, who might not otherwise experience mobility.  During his visit, he recorded two interviews with individuals connected to the disability community in Cuba. This is the the second of the two interviews.Toady's guest is Noel Fernandez Collott of Ciego de Avila, Cuba an 82 year old retired Baptist pastor who led seven churches during his career, who is one of the country's most well respected disability advocates and himself, went blind at age 30.Noel and his wife, Ornara, have been married for 58 years.  We also learn about how Retinitis Pigmentosa took his dad and grandfather's sight as well.Thirty years ago, Noel was the initial point of contact with Joni & Friends, the Agoura Hills, CA global Chrsitian disability ministry.  Since then there have been J&F Family Retreats and Wheels for the

This is part of a special series of interviews within the SFN Dad To Dad Podcasts to be known as the SFN Mastermind Group Monday Podcasts.  Each Monday host David Hirsch interviews one of the SFN Mastermind Group dads on the impact the mastermind group has had on him and the wellbeing of his family.  This Monday’s guest is Jon Heckert of Madisonville, LA who is a vice president of human resources at K.L. Breeden & Sons, LLC a privately held, family-owned and operated, trucking & transportation company.  Jon is also father of a son with disabilities and a volunteer with Ainsley’s Angels. Jon and his wife, Doris, have been married for 18 years and are the proud parents of Jackson (17) who was diagnosed invitro with Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita (AMC) a rare disease that causes permanent tightening of the baby’s muscles, skin and tendons that make their joints short and stiff. Arthrogryposis means crooking (bending) of the joint. “Artho” means joint, and “gryposis” means crooking.Jon has been part o

English Version - In April 2024, our host David Hirsch traveled to Cuba with Joni and Friends, as one of 12 U.S. volunteers participating in a Wheels For The World Program, to fit and distribute 200+ wheelchairs to youth and adults, who might not otherwise experience mobility.   This week's guest is Leonardo Cespedes of Bayamo, Cuba, a Baptist Preacher and father of two including a son with intellectual and physical disabilities.  Leonardo and his wife, Mairelis, have been married for 26 years and are the proud parents of two; daughter Reveca (23) who is a teacher, and son Marko (20) who has undiagnosed intellectual disabilities, suffers from seizures and is hard of hearing.   Marko was one of the recipients of a wheelchair. During his visit, David spoke with and recorded interviews with two Cubans connected to the disability community in Cuba.  Special thanks to Dairy Hernandez, the young Cuban woman that served as one of David's translators during the week and for her help translating today's episode in Eng

This is the fourth in a special series of interviews within the SFN Dad To Dad Podcasts to be known as the SFN Mastermind Group Monday Podcasts.  Each Monday host David Hirsch will interview one of the SFN Mastermind Group dads on the impact the mastermind group has had on him and the wellbeing of his family.  This Monday’s guest is John Shouse of Nashville, TN who works as an Industrial Control Sales Engineer at Link Systems and is father of three children including twins and more recently has became a grandfather. John and his wife, Janet, have been married for 40 years and are the proud parents of three children; Emma (35) and 28 year old twins Brendan and Evan, who is Autistic.John has been part of the Tuesday night SFN Mastermind Group, has attended the annual weekend SFN Mastermind Group Retreats and was featured in episode #52 of the SFN Dad To Dad Podcast in April of 2019.  John and Janet have been outspoken advocates for disability locally and nationally. Show Notes -Phone –  (615) 476-7472Email – jm

Leading into Father's Day weekend, this week’s guest is Paul Briggs of Falling Waters, WV, who works in the technology industry and is father to 38 children, including six biological and 32 adopted children. Paul and his wife, Jeanne, have been married for 48 years and are the proud parents to 38 children ranging in age from 8-44.  Six are biological and 32 are adopted from five countries, including; 13 from Ghana, 10 from Ukraine, six from Russia, two from Bulgaria, and one from Mexico.  They also have 23 grandchildren ranging in age from 1-19 years old.  Paul reflects on his upbringing, those who influenced him growing up, his spirituality, and the steps that lead to opening their home and hearts to this extraordinary family.  Paul also provides insights on how such a large family handles; meals, doing laundry, transportation, education as well as thier entry into the world of adoption and special needs, which started with the first adoption of Abraham (from Mexico) who is blind.  Favorite quote from this i