Dad to Dad Podcast

Our guest this week is Rolando 'Ro' Lopez. Ro is a retired FBI special agent who rescues victims of child sex trafficking through the Freedom Shield Foundation. He’s a man on a mission: to save as many of these youth and young adults as he can. It’s a truly inspiring story and you’ll hear it on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast. Freedom Shield Foundation - https://www.freedomshieldfo...

Our guest on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast is Mitch Gardner of Jacksonville, FL. Mitch and his wife Ellen have four children including 14-year-old Davis who has severe Autism and is non-verbal. We’ll hear Mitch’s story including his work with the Peace of Heart Autism Community and Ellen’s work with the Tim Tebow Foundation. That’s all on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad P...

Our guest this week is Felimon Hernandez of Olympia, Washington. Felimon is a graphic designer and photographer. He and his wife have three children including 8-year-old twins, a son who has epilepsy and daughter who has Spina Bifida. We’ll hear Felimon’s story and how he and his family have cared for the twins. That’s all on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast. Check out Felimon’s web...

Our guest on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast is Ruslan Vasyutin, a native Ukrainian businessman who has a daughter with Cerebral Palsy. In his mission to provide support, Ruslan formed DCP Help, a country-wide NGO, to aid parents of kids with special needs. We’ll hear Ruslan’s life story and more on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast. Check out DCP Help's website: http...

Our guest on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast is Azim Khamisa. Azim was born in Kenya and is a successful international businessman. In 1995, Azim’s world was turned upside down when his 20-year-old son Tariq was murdered by a 14-year-old gang member. Azim now dedicates his life on the concept of forgiveness and helping others to avoid similar violent tragedies. In fact, Azim has be...

Our guest this week on the Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast is Larry Kaufman. Larry talks to us about an issue we haven’t discussed before, the problem of bullying. Larry grew up being bullied and coincidentally so has his son, Matt. We’ll hear their stories and how they deal with this difficult issue. Larry is also the author of the book "The NCG Factor: A Formula for Building Life-Chan...

Our guest this week on the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast is Jeremy Kredlo. Jeremy is single and has two granddaughters with special needs, making Jeremy a senior member of the Special Fathers Network, a Special Grandfather, if you will. He also spends a great deal of time helping other dads at the Washington State Fathers Network and Arc of King County. We’ll hear all about his life and what makes him ti...

Our guest this week is Andy McCall of Greenville, TN. Andy is a career teacher and coach who has three children, including daughter, Penelope, who, sadly, passed away at age two, due to severe special needs and cancer. Andy kept a blog during Penelope's life, which he turned into a book entitled, Pigtails & Steel, which is available on Amazon. His experience has led to his dedication as a voluntee...

This week we’ll hear the final installment of David Hirsch’s conversation with Warren Rustand. Warren has led an exemplary life. He’s been a serial entrepreneur, a former White House Fellow, former NBA player for the Golden State Warriors, past CEO of the World Presidents Organization, a frequent speaker, a grandfather of nineteen and a father of seven. This week, in part two, we’ll hear about War...

Our guest this week is legendary Warren Rustand. Warren’s career is as varied as it is interesting. He’s been a serial entrepreneur, served on 50 for-profit and non-profit boards, a former White House Fellow, former NBA player for the Golden State Warriors, past CEO of the World Presidents Organization, a frequent speaker, grandfather of nineteen, father of 7, including a son with special needs. a...

Our guest this week on the Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast is Rob Harris of Littleton, CO. Rob tells the heartbreaking story of how he and his wife Gina lost two children at childbirth and the happy occurrence of the arrival of their third child, a bouncing baby boy named R.J. Their life experience propelled Gina to become involved with and now serves as CEO of Now I Lay Me Down To Slee...

On this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast, host David Hirsch talks to two Dads, Chris Wade and Travis Jorgensen. Chris is a divorced dad of three kids one of whom, Luca, has Wolf Hirschhorn Syndrome, a rare congenital disease. Travis is a step-dad of sorts to Luca, though not married to Luca’s mom, Leah, he is a dedicated partner and caregiver of Luca and her siblings. Chris, Travis and L...

Our guest this week is Lyle Liechty, a father of three including a daughter with Down syndrome. We’ll hear Lyle’s family story, which includes being adopted, and about his work with DADS (Dads Appreciating Down syndrome), a group that offers support for dads of kids with Down syndrome, now in dozens of communities across the country. We also learn how Lyle's family and faith have shaped his journe...

Our guest this week is Don Raineri, president of Dads of Steele. Don is the father of four children,, including twins; one with Down Syndrome and the other who, sadly, died at childbirth. We’ll hear Don’s family story, about his faith and Dads of Steele, a charity dedicated to strengthening dads to be more present in their children’s lives. That’s all on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad pod...

Our guest this week is Tony Gayle, a US Army and US Marine veteran as well as father of a son with special needs. He has an amazing story to tell and we’re hearing it in two parts. Last week we heard how Tony grew up on a US military base in Panama, then moved to NYC with his Panamanian mom only to end up in foster care before being raised by an elderly Jewish couple. He served in both the US Mari...

Our guest this week on the Dad to Dad Podcast is Tony Gayle, an Army and Marine veteran whose son has special needs. He’s got an amazing story to tell and we’ll hear it in two parts. This week, we’ll hear how Tony almost lost his son when he was born, only to lose his wife from complications of that delivery. It’s an incredibly moving story from an incredibly powerful story teller. And it’s all in...

Our guest on this Dad to Dad Podcast is Rob Kenney of Seattle, WA, who is also known as 'The YouTube Dad' with over 3 million subscribers. Rob has created more than 60 'Dad How Do I?' videos that have taken off in popularity during the COVID pandemic. We’ll hear about Rob’s faith and how the pandemic has brought him a huge internet following. That’s all on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad P...

Our guest this week is James Mack of Columbia, SC. James has spent his career working with people who have Autism. He also has a step-son who is autistic. We’ll hear James’ unique story and many words of wisdom about raising a child with special needs. That’s all on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast. South Carolina Autism Society - www.scautism.org Brookland Baptist Church - https://...

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 chi...

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...

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 o...

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...

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 Po...

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 adopte...