Dad to Dad Podcast

David Hirsch’s guest this week is Colonel Mark Huhtanen of Columbia, SC, a 25 year combat veteran of the US ARMY, who has served four active duty tours, and is the father of two, including a non-verbal son with Autism. Mark and his wife, Shelly, have been married for 18 years and are the proud parents of two boys; Hayden (17) and Broden (15) who is non-verbal and has Autism. Serving in the militar...

Our guest this week is Dr. Harsha Rajasimha of Herndon, VA who is the father of three as well as CEO and Founder of Jeeva Informatics, a human-centric software as a service, also known as SaaS, enabling clinical research at scale. Harsha and his wife, Ashwini, have been married for 16 years and are the proud parents of three daughters: Amulya (14), Mytri (7) and middle daughter Kahushi who, very s...

Our guest this week is Jeremy Knakmuhs of Colorado Springs, CO who is a structural project engineer at CTL Thompson. Jeremy and his wife, Emily, have been married for 8 years and are the proud parents of three children: Colton (6), and three year old twins: Remi and Kennedy, who has PFIC, which is Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis, a rare genetic liver disorder that affects infants and...

Meet Marilyn York of Reno, NV the mother of four and one of the country's top family law practitioners who leads an all female practice specializing in men's rights. Marilyn and Mike, her fourth husband, have been married for six years and are parents to a four year old son. Marilyn in also a mom to three other children ranging in age from 14 - 25 from previous marriages. Marilyn was born and rais...

Meet Greg Hubert of Torrance, CA, who is an executive at Joni & Friends, the Christian Global Disability Ministry and father of three boys on the Autism spectrum. Greg and his wife, Gina, have been married for 33 years and are the proud parents of three boys; Zachary (29), Tyler (27) and Tate (23), who are all on the Autism spectrum. Greg reflects on his Faith, his career in the medical device sal...

Our guest this week is Dan Habib, an outspoken advocate for the disabled, a gifted photojournalist and award winning documentarian. One of those documentaries is “Including Samuel” which profiles his 21 year old son, Samuel, who was diagnosed with GNAO1, a rare neurodevelopment disorder. Other award winning films include: "Mr. Connolly Has ALS" and "Intelligent Lives." We’ll hear about Dan’s advoc...

Our guest this week is Paul Mannino of Libertyville, IL, who is CFO at the Archdiocese of Chicago and the father of four, including Sofia (18) who has Down syndrome. Paul talks very openly and authentically about his career, which included overseas assignments, his family and recent divorce. We’ll hear Paul’s story on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast. LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin...

Our guest this week is Frederick Jefferson of Houston, TX, who is the father of three, an Army veteran, retiree from the Department of Justice Bureau of Prisons and founder of Man II Man, a non-profit effort serving families raising children with special needs. Frederick was inspired to create Man II Man based on his experience raising his daughter, Jasmine (22), who has Autism. We’ll hear Frederi...

Our guest this week is John Rosemond of New Bern, NC, who is the father of two, grandfather of seven, a licensed family psychologist, the author of a dozen books on childrearing, a widely syndicated columnist, a sought after speaker and by some measure: “America’s Most Widely Read Parenting Expert.” Some of the book titles include: "Grandma Was Right After all" "Parenting By The Book" and "The Wel...

Our guest this week is Mike Ensminger of Conroe, TX. Mike is the father of three, including Aaron, 15, who is autistic. We’ll hear about Mike’s journey as a stepfather to a child with special needs, about his faith walk and much more on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast. Blue Skies Over Autism - http://blueskyesoverautism.com Night of Superstars Houston - http://www.nightofsuperstars...

Our guest this week is Dr. Taruj Ali, a pulmonologist and father of three, including Daanish (20) who has severe Autism and is non-verbal. We’ll hear the Ali family story and with the help of organizations like MUHSEN, the PANDAS Center and Autism Society of Central VA, how they have helped Daanish live a happy and satisfying life. That’s all in this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast. MUH...

Our guest this week is Chad Lunt of Menlo Park, CA. Chad is married to Cherisse and they have three children including Lucy, age 12, who has Type 1 Spinal Muscular Atrophy. We’ll hear how the Lunt family through their faith, along with help from the Tess Research Foundation, the Gwendolyn Strong Foundation and the miracle drug Spinraza has helped Lucy overcome. And about their hopes for the future...

Our guest this week is Special Father Brian Martin of Basking Ridge, NJ, father of eighteen-year-old twins born at 23 weeks, weighing 11 ounces and 1 lb 1 once, the smallest surviving twins on record. We’ll hear about health issues they experienced after birth and how they are persevering despite Tyler's Autism and Calahan's Cerebral Palsy. That’s all on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Pod...

Sometimes you come across a person who seems almost superhuman. A person who overcomes every obstacle thrown their way and constantly breaks new ground. Today’s guest is such a person. Jim Stovall, who lost his sight before age 30 is founder of the Emmy Award winning Narrative Television Network, author of 51 books, many of which have been made into major motion pictures, including “The Ultimate G...

Our guest this week is Bailey Pratt of Franklin, TN. Bailey and his wife Jill are parents to three children, including Jiselle who has Rett Syndrome, a rare neurological genetic disorder that causes severe muscle movement disability. We’ll hear the Pratt family story including the creation of The Jiselle Lauren Foundation on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast. The Jiselle Lauren Found...

Our guest this week is Canadian entrepreneur Chris Jones, father of two boys; Trey (14) and Derek (17), who has Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), also known as Dyspraxia. Interestingly, DCD impacts 1:20 youth, three times more prevalent than Autism, but goes mostly undiagnosed or mis-diagnosed. We’ll hear about Chris, his family, his experience as a successful entrepreneur, his passion fo...

Our guest this week is Osman Arain, who is the father of four including Sarina, his oldest, who is a spastic quadriplegic with Cerebral Palsy and Autism. Osman was born in Scotland, raised in England and moved to U.S. where he went to college at Dartmouth and graduate school at Columbia. He is a financial advisor with Romano Brothers & Co. Wealth Management in Evanston, IL. Osman reflects on his m...

Our guest this week is Ray Arata, co-founder of the Better Man Movement, whose mission is "to Transform Culture Through Heart-Based Leadership." The Better Man Movement provides resources, support, and community to encourage the involvement of men in creating an inclusive culture. Through their workshops, training, and events, their programming shifts organizations from managing diversity as a nec...

Our guest this week is Tom Hamilton. Tom has three children, one of whom, Bethany, is a champion surfer who lost an arm in a shark attack at age 13. But that didn’t stop Bethany! She still surfs, she’s had her story told in books and movies and has dedicated her life to helping others. Her Dad Tom is our guest on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast. Find all about Soul Surfer, the movi...

Our guest this week is Mary Anne Ehlert, founder of Protected Tomorrows. Mary Anne reflects on the impact serving as a caregiver for her younger sister, Marcia, as well as her parents, on being a stepmother and raising three boys with a wide range of needs and her work helping and guiding special needs families via the Ehlert Financial Group and her website protectedtomorrows.com. She’s written nu...

Our SFN Mentor Father this week is Kyle Malone of Indianapolis has two children: Zion (12) and Noah (19). We’ll hear about the Malone family and how Noah has overcome his inability to see and is setting records in track at Indiana State University, participating in the Paralympics and his TEDx Talk. It’s an uplifting and inspiring story and you’ll hear it on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad...

Our guest this week is Jeff Johnson of Anderson, SC. Jeff and his wife Michelle are parents of two boys, one of whom, Daniel, has hydrocephalus and encephalocele, and is unable to walk or talk. We’ll hear the Johnson family story, about their faith walk, Ainsley's Angles and about how a new computer gives the family new hope. That’s all on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast. To find o...

Our guest this week is Shane Madden who works at Pfizer and is father to Marshall (6), who has Cerebral Palsy. We’ll hear how Shane and his wife, Emily, have raised young Marshall, about their aspirations and hopes for the future. That’s all on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast. Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital - https://www.lebonheur.org The Therapy Hut - https://www.therapyhut.com Li...

Our guest this week is SFN Mentor Father Ray Morris, a former firefighter who does contract work for FEMA. Ray has two boys, including older son Zachary (32) who was diagnosed with Hemimegaloencephaly, a rare condition where one half of the brain is larger than the other. Ray shares how growing up with a dad who became a quadriplegic at 29 was foreshadowing for the experience he and his wife, Kell...

Our guest on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast is Jeremy Meinhardt. Jeremy and his wife Meg have two children, Beck, 15 and Nellie, 12, who has Spina Bifida. We’ll hear about Jeremy, his Dad, his family and how Nellie loves to play wheelchair basketball. That’s all on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast. Illinois Spina Bifida Association: https://i-sba.org Synergy Special...