Dad to Dad Podcast

Our guest this week is Paul Carroll, of Situate, RI who is senior HR director at CVS Health, founder of Autism Dadvocate and father of an Autistic son. Paul and his wife, Jennifer, have been married for 20 years and are the proud parents of Vaughan(16) who is Autistic. Professionally, Paul is an Executive Director of Talent Manager at CVS Health. Informed by being a father to a neurodiverse child...

Our guest this week is Nate Boltz of Anchorage, AK who is executive director at Challenge Alaska and father of two, including one with Spina Bifida. Nate and his wife, Leah, have been married for 20 years and are the proud parents of two: Adeline (5) and Anna (16) who has Spina Bifida. Born in Bozeman, MT and raised in Fairbanks and Anchorage, Nate has always enjoyed the outdoors and athletics, in...

Our guest this week is Brady Murray of Salt Lake City, who is father to 11 children, a managing director at Capstone Partners a Mass Mutual General Agent, founder of RODS Heroes as well as the Special Abilities Network. Brady and his wife, Andrea, have been married for 21 years and are the proud parents of 11 children. By age they are: Brinley (17), Nash (16), Ridge (13), Copper (11), Mason (8), W...

Our guest this week is Rob Billerbeck of Lakewood, CO who works for the National Park Service in Colorado. Rob and his wife, Sarah, have been married for 27 years and are the proud parents of three children; including a son who has Down Syndrome. Rob reflects on being the 9th of nine children and the impact that losing a sister in a car accident and a brother to suicide. Rob also reflects on the c...

Our guest this week is Father Medard Laz of Ft. Lauderdale, FL a retired Catholic priest for the Archdioscese of Chicago, founding pastor of Holy Family Church in Inverness Illinois, the author of nine books and a serial social entrepreneur. His achievements are many; so many in fact, that we’re presenting his conversation with David Hirsch in two parts. This week in part 2, we’ll hear about Fathe...

Our guest this week is Father Medard Laz of Ft. Lauderdale, FL a retired Catholic priest for the Archdioscese of Chicago, founding pastor of Holy Family Church in Inverness Illinois, the author of nine books and a serial social entrepreneur. His achievements are many; so many in fact, that we’re presenting his conversation with David Hirsch in two parts. In this first installment we’ll hear about...

Our guest this week is Eric Swithin of Florence, AL a retired U.S. Marine, a former youth pastor, now founder and executive director of Outdoor Adventures as well as The Alliance For Ending The Fatherless Epidemic. Eric and his wife, Kameron, have been married for 14 years and are the proud parents of two children: Mason (6) and McKinzie (4). After some formative years in the U.S. Marines and serv...

Our guest this week is Eric Jorgensen of Frederick, MD a retired Navy veteran, widower, founder of True North Disability Planning, cancer survivor and father of two, including a son with Autism. Eric and his wife, Christine, were married for 12 years before, very sadly, she passed away in April 2012, after a short battle with HLH (Hemophagocytic Lympho Histiocystosis), a rare autoimmune disease. T...

Our guest this week 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 Communities, a unique residential community for adults with intellectual disabilities. Tony and his wife, Joelle, have been married for 34 years and are the proud parents of two boys: Jason (28) and...

Our guest this week is Jeff Zaugg of Minneapolis, MN, a former pastor of family ministries, a fatherhood advocate and host of the DadAwesome Podcast. Jeff and his wife, Michelle, have been married for 17 years and are the proud parents of four daughters: Kiva (9), Ruthie (6), Raya (4) and Zara (2). Jeff has been an outspoken advocate for fathers and is founder of Fathers for the Fatherless, a non-...

Our guest this week is Dan Redfield of Anchorage, AK who is an Emmy nominated filmmaker and the father of three children. Dan and his wife, Kristen, have been married for two years and are proud parents of three children; Henry (8 mo.), Reagan (3) and Ava, who very sadly passed away in November 2021 at age six, after suffering from Infantile Tay-Sachs, a rare inherited genetic disease. We’ll hear...

Our guest this week is Krista Mason, of Holland, Michigan, a Christian, wife and mother. Krista and her husband, David have been married for 32 years and are the proud parent of two boys: James (29) and Benjamin (27), who has Autism and developmental delays. Krista is also the co-founder of Benjamin’s Hope, a live, learn, play, worship farmstead community where people of all abilities are transfor...

Our guest this week is Siggi Thosseinn-Gudmundson of Akranes, Iceland who is a healthcare professional and father of five including four with special needs. Siggi and his wife, Fridur, have known each other since they were 15 years of age and have been married for 8 years. They are the proud parents of five children: Sittimfia (7), who has ADHD, Gudmuntuk (12), who is Autistic and non-verbal, Kolb...

Our guest this week is Hutch Matteson of Cumming, GA a pastor for 37 years and more recently the founder of The Pier Center Foundation, opening doors for adults with intellectual disabilities. Hutch and his wife, Cindy, are the proud parents of four children; Julia (26), Jenna (28), Jonathan (30) and Josh (33), who has Down Syndrome. We’ll hear about the poor advice the Mattesons received shortly...

Our guest this week is Adam Terry of Nashville, TN who is the director of business analytics at Adhere Health in Nashville. Adam and his wife Catherine have been married for 18 years and are the rpuod parents of three children; Brooks (6), Callie (9) and Will (12), who has Noonan Syndrome, a genetic condition that stops typical development in various parts of the body. More recently Will suffered...

Our guest this week is Frank McKinney of Delray Beach, FL a father, real estate artist, eight time best-selling author, philanthro-capitalist & 12 time badwater135 ultramarathon competitor. This is part two of a two part interview. In last week’s episode we heard Frank talk about the first of his his five aspirations, the importance of family. In part two we’ll hear more about Frank’s other fo...

Our guest this week is Frank McKinney of Delray Beach, FL a father, real estate artist, eight time best-selling author, philanthro-capitalist & 12 time badwater135 ultramarathon competitor. Frank and his wife Nilsa have been married for 33 years and are the proud parents of Laura (24). Professionally, Frank has built and renovated 44 ocean-front mansions with an average selling price of $44M....

Our guest this week is Ryan Wolfe of Canton, OH, who is a minister as well president and executive director of Ability Ministry, founded in 1983, an independent Christian nonprofit that provides resources, curriculum, training, and residential services designed to equip and empower the disability community.. Ryan and his wife Melissa have been married for 25 years and are the proud parents of two...

Our guest this week is Ben Mattlin of Los Angeles, CA a disability advocate, an author, educator and writer. Ben was born in New York City in 1962 with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a congenital muscle weakness. He attended the Walden School, Rudolf Steiner High School, and Harvard University, graduating cum laude. Ben and his wife, Mary, have been married for 34 years and are the proud parents o...

Our guest this week is David Ross of Little Hampton, England. David is a rare disease advocate for mens mental health. He plans and hosts valuable international support calls focused on men in the rare disease community. David also has a rare disease himself called Cowden Syndrome, a rare genetic inherited condition. People with Cowden syndrome often have many noncancerous, tumor-like growths. The...

Our guest this week is Jahmeer Reynolds of El Sobrante, CA, who is the father of five children and Executive Director of the Marin County Cooperation Team, a black led multi service agency that provides services and support to the community. Jahmeer and his wife, Shakira, have been married for 12 years and are the proud parents of two young boys with Autism. We’ll hear Jahmeer’s story, the years t...

Our guest this week is Steve Chatman of Cookeville, TN who is a pastor and VP at Rising Above Ministries, a Christian non-profit whose mission is 'to provide special-needs families with support, encouragement, inspiration, and community based a belief that God deeply loves all families and wants them to know that love in an authentic and meaningful way." Steve and his wife, Lori Ann, have been mar...

Our guest this week is Jesse White of Chicago, who is the recently retired Illinois Secretary of State, who served in that capacity for 24 years and under five governors. Prior to serving as Secretary of State, he was the Cook County Recorder of Deeds for seven years and a member of the Illinois House of Representatives for 16 years. Prior to his five decades long political career he served as a p...

Our guest this is week Francis Arana of Georgetown, Grand Cayman, who is head of Anti-Money Laundering for the Cayman Islands. Francis and his his wife, Helen, have been married for 30 years and are the proud parents of two boys; Nayil (23) and Khalid (19) who is Autistic. Francis and Helen are originally from Belize. They both studied in the U.S. and have lived in the Cayman Islands for 20 years....

Our guest this week is Bob West of Colorado Springs, CO a retired IT professional and founder and president of Need Project, a non-profit serving families impacted by special healthcare needs. Bob and his wife, Sue, have been married for 32 years and are the proud parents of three: Monica (25), Jonathan (27) and Kyle (30) who has Cerebral Palsy. At age seven, Kyle had the good fortune to meet Dr....