Dad to Dad Podcast

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...

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 Mil...

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...

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...

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 t...

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 be...

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’...

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 t...

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 Podcas...

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 La...

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 Rar...

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...

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 Podcast Show Links: SEND International – htt...

In this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast, guest and entrepreneur Jim Vaselopulos talks of the challenges faced by people with Dyslexia, including his 20-year-old son, Spyros and himself. It’s an illuminating discussion about a condition that affects more than 15m Americans from all walks of life. That’s all on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast. Show Links: Contact Jim at Ji...

Meet Jack Lavin. Jack has a storied business career including his current role as CEO/President of the Chicago Chamber of Commerce. He’s the father of three children including Emily, 24, who has Down Syndrome. We’ll hear Jack’s inspiring story and the commitment he and his wife Kathy have made to serving those with disability, on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast. Show Links: Contact...

In this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast, host David Hirsch talks with Roddy Vannoy about the challenges of being a single father of three girls, including two with autism. Roddy is a registered nurse who treats COVID patients and his story is an amazing one. For more information on the Special Fathers Network, go to https://21stcenturydads.org/about-the-special-fathers-network/ Show lin...

On this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast, host David Hirsch talks with Stephen Drum, a retired Navy SEAL who has a brother with significant special needs. Steve is a public speaker who talks about his 27 years as a Master Chief in the SEALS. He’s seen combat and led teams in and out of incredibly sticky situations. Listen to his story on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast. F...

This is the Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast. When we say Dad to Dad that’s exactly what we have today, because David Hirsch is talking to special father Brian Lynch and his father Allen Lynch. Brian’s daughter Cailinn was diagnosed early in her life with a rare chromosome disorder, while Brian’s father Allen is one of only 80 living recipients of the Medal of Honor. It’s an intriguing c...

Our guest this week is Nik Nikic of Matiland, FL who is business owner and sales professional. Nik and his wife, Patty, have been married for 34 years and are the proud parents of two children; Jacky (30) and Christopher (20), who has Down Syndrome. Nik has developed the 1% Better Every Day method to help Chris set and achieve goals, like being a triathlete and now public speaker. It’s a great sto...

Meet Mike Carmody whose brother John has Down syndrome. Mike has spent the last decade running Opportunity Knocks, a non profit that provides activities, programs and general kindness to young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Mike’s our guest on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad podcast. To find out more about Opportunity Knocks go to: www.opportunityknocksnow.org To...

In this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast, host David Hirsch talks to Jose Valesco, a VP at SAP Software Solutions and director of the SAP Autism at Work Program. Jose has two children who are on the Autism spectrum and he strives to get people with autism and other special needs hired at SAP. Show Links: Find out why diversity and inclusion is fundamental to SAP’s mission: https://www.sa...

On this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast, host David Hirsch talks with Dr. Richard Shuster, a clinical psychologist, CEO of Your Success Insights, a psychological assessment company and host of the The Daily Helping Podcast. It’s a fascinating conversation filled with hope affirming insights. He is also founder of Every Kids Rocks a non-profit that helps students reach their full potenti...

On this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast, host David Hirsch talks with Dr. Stephen Grcevich, a child & adolescent psychiatrist and founder of Key Ministry, promoting meaningful connection between churches and families of kids with special needs. To find out Key Ministries go to: https://www.keyministry.org To find out about Dr, Grcevich’s book, Mental Health & The Church: A Ministry Hand...

On this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast, host David Hirsch talks with Jonathan McGuire. Jonathan and his wife Sarah are parents to Josiah and Jordan who is autistic. Jonathan and Sarah formed HopeAnew.com; a laugh together, cry together, pray together community that helps parents of kids with special needs navigate their path to the future. That’s all on this Special Fathers Network Dad...

On this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast, host David Hirsch talks with Robert Blackwell, a successful serial entrepreneur who is founder of Killerspin, a luxury table tennis company that's transformed the sport and been a pioneer in the #UnPlugNPlay movement. His daughter Ali-Yah is 23 and was diagnosed with autism at age 2 as the result of receiving a vaccine. We’ll hear Robert’s and Al...