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Episode #359 – A Look Back on 2024
Hi I’m David Hirsch, founder of the 21st Century Dads Foundation and Special Fathers Network as well as host of the Special Fathers Network Dad To Dad Podcast.
Happy New Year and welcome to the first episode of 2025.
Tom Couch, the editor and producer of the SFN Dad To Dad Podcast, and I, thought we would do something special and provide a Look Back on 2024.
In total we produced 72 episodes, 52 were weekly episodes airing on Fridays and for 20 weeks from May through September we produced a series of short episodes with SFN Mentor Fathers who are also involved with the SFN Mastermind Group program. We called them SFN Mastermind Group Monday Podcasts. While we’d love to include a snippet from all 70+ episodes, to keep it more concise we decided to provide some highlights.
We hope you enjoy listening to this Look Back on 2024 Episode as much as we did producing it.
18 of the 2024 guests are authors. Nine of the interviews included international guests, from the following seven countries: Australia, Canada, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Iceland, Israel and the UK. Four of the guests are women. Three interviews were with dads who lost a child including one who was an Israeli hostage killed by Hamas terrorists. Two interviews included military veterans: a former U.S. Navy Seal and a U.S. Air Force Vietnam-era combat pilot. And one of the guests is a Native American.
The episodes also spanned a very broad range of disabilities including; Autism, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Rare Disease, Dwarfism as well as those who are blind, deaf and missing a limb(s). Here is a brief month by month recap with a clip from a select number of episodes.
In January, we aired four episodes including a dad from the UK and one from the Cayman Islands as well as with Jonathan Eig, father to three, including a son whose parents passed away at an early age. Jon is also the best-selling author of biographies on: Muhammad Ali, Lou Gehrig, and MLK.
In February, we aired four episodes including one with Dave Jereb of Sydney, Australia, a Physical Therapist, co-founder of Move About Therapies and author of the book: Challenging The Story. We also did a two-episode story with filmmaker Bob Manganelli, whose 23 year old deaf son, very tragically committed suicide, while at Gallaudet University back in 2014.
In March, we produced five episodes including a two-episode interview with Keith Harris of Albuquerque, NM who is a retired business owner and father of four, including son Tim who has Down Syndrome. He and Tim owned and operated the restaurant Tim’s Place for five years. Tim also went on to author The Book of Hugs, a children’s book.
In April, we aired four episodes including one with Jonathan Bennett of Ontario Canada, who is an executive leadership coach, author and father of two, including one with Autism who is also non-binary.
In May, we did six episodes including one with Dr. Greg Pursley of Jackson, MO who is a chiropractor, owner of PC Medical Centers, an author and father of two, including a son who has Dwarfism. We also interviewed John Borling of Rockford, IL who is a retired Major General in the U.S. Air Force. John was a combat pilot in Vietnam who flew 97 missions before being shot down and held hostage for six years, eight months at the Infamous Hanoi Hilton. And we interviewed Jon Ghahate a Pueblo Indian from Placitas, NM who is a Vietnam-er veteran and father of three, including a daughter who is sight impaired.
In June, we produced eight episodes including four SFN Mastermind Group Monday interviews with testimonials about their mastermind group experiences. One was with John Shouse of Franklin, TN an industrial control engineer and father of three including twin boys, one of which, Evan, is Autistic. John and his wife, Janet, have been leaders in the disability community throughout TN and John has been involved with the Tuesday night Mastermind group for nearly three years. We also interviewed Paul Briggs of Falling Waters, WV, who is the father of 38. No this was not a typographical error or some misstatement. Paul and his wife, Jeanne, have six biological kids and 32 adopted children including: 13 from Ghana, 10 from Ukraine, six from Russia, two from Bulgaria and one from Mexico.
In July, we did nine episodes including five Mastermind Group Monday interviews. We also interviewed Kelley Coleman of Los Angeles, CA, a mother of two, a disability advocate, and author of Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child: Your Guide to the Essential Systems, Services, and Supports. We also interviewed Sam Farmer of North Easton, MA who is the father of a son with Autism and later in life was also diagnosed with Asperger’s. Sam is also the author of A Long Walk Down A Winding Road and has become one of the more well recognized self-advocates in the Autism community. We also Al Malavolti of Rockford, IL in a two-part interview. Al is a retired aerospace executive and he and his wife, Rosemary, have 22 children including four biologic kids and 17 adopted kids, and one they parented.
In August, we aired nine episodes including four Mastermind Group Monday episodes, including one with Tom Costello of Frankfort, IL who is the father of twin 21-year-old boys who are Autistic. Tom and his wife Irene created the Twin Autism Foundation and have been outspoken advocates for those diagnosed with ASD. We also interviewed Alvin Green of Chicago who is a retired Chef. Alvin and his wife, Angela Ferguson, have two boys including Aiden who is Autistic. To provide Aiden with some career skills and to support himself, Alvin founded Al’s Cookie Mixx, a premium online cookie business that employs individuals who have intellectual disabilities.
In September, we produced nine episodes including five Mastermind Group Monday episodes and one with Agust Kristmanns of Reykjavik, Iceland who is the father of three including son, Ingi, who has 2Q37 Deletion syndrome, a rare chromosome condition that affects his development. We also interviewed Jonathan Polin who is an Israeli-American. Jonathan and his wife, Rachel Goldberg-Polin, became some of the most outspoken advocates speaking out about the urgency behind releasing the Israelis being held hostage by Hamas. They met with the Pope at the Vatican and President Biden at the White House. They spoke at the United Nations in Geneva and at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. I interviewed Jonathan on day 328 of their son Hersh’s captivity and very sadly, just days later we learned about Hamas murdering six of the hostages including Hersh.
In October, we aired five episodes including one with Dr. Ruslan Vasyutin who is a single Ukrainian father to 12 year old daughter Alicia, who has Cerebral Palsy and unable to walk or talk. They are currently living in Solihull, England after fleeing Kiev in February 2022 after the Russia invasion of Ukraine. We also interviewed Andrew Bustamante of Colorado Springs, CO who is the father of two young children. Andrew and his wife, Jihi, are both x-CIA undercover intelligence officers and hosts of the EverydaySpy Podcast. It was a fascinating conversation about utilizing CIA tactics to overcome adversity.
In November, we produced five episodes including one with fellow podcaster daughter-father team: Reena Friedman Watts and her father Wayne, who produce the Better Call Daddy Podcast. We also interviewed Todd Evans of Brentwood, TN who is an entrepreneur. He and his wife Kristin have two children with disability and are the co-authors of How To Build A Thriving Marriage As You Care For Children With Disabilities.
And in December we did four episodes including one with former U.S. Navy Seal Phillip Koontz who is a business owner, leadership coach and speaker, father of five including an Autistic son and author of the book: The Truth Behind My Trident, which provides a fascinating look behind the curtain of the life as a U.S. Navy Seal. We also interviewed Emma Livingstone of London, England who is the mother of three typical kids, who herself has Cerebral Palsy and is founder and CEO of UP - The Adult Movement For Adults With Cerebral Palsy.
All in all 2024 was an extraordinary year for the 21st Century Dads Foundation and Special Fathers Network. I want to offer my heartfelt thanks to:
Tom Couch, our SFN Dad To Dad Podcast editor and producer and my partner in crime,
To Our primary sponsor Horizon Therapeutics for the ongoing and generous support, To all those who agreed to do interviews this past year, some of which were included here, andPerhaps most importantly of all, YOU our valued listeners for tuning in week after week and sharing the episodes with family and friends. For more information, please go to the show notes or visit: www.21stCenturyDads.org.
Thank you again and best wishes to you and your family for a safe and healthy new year.
Special Fathers Network -
SFN is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs. Many of the 800+ SFN Mentor Fathers, who are raising kids with special needs, have said: "I wish there -
Our guest this week is Emma Livingstone of London, England who is the mother of three typical kids, a self-advocate with Cerebral Palsy and founder & CEO of UP - The Adult Cerebral Palsy Movement.
Emma and her husband, Derrick, have been married for 17 years and are the proud parents of three typical children ages 11-16. She is the one who has cerebral palsy, which has propelled her to become one of England's most outspoken advocates for adults with CP.
Emma is founder and CEO of UP - The Adult Cerebral Palsy Movement, a non-profit whose mission is to help all members of the adult Cerebral Palsy community to live their best lives.
It's an uplifting story about family, perseverance and service all on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.
Show Notes -
Phone/WhatsApp – 44-07-951-019-508
Email – [email protected]
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-livingstone-080967a4/
Website - https://upmovement.org.uk/
Special Fathers Network -
SFN is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs. Many of the 800+ SFN Mentor Fathers, who are raising kids with special needs, have said: "I wish there was something like this when we first received our child's diagnosis. I felt so isolated. There was no one within my family, at work, at church or within my friend group who understood or could relate to what I was going through."
SFN Mentor Fathers share their experiences with younger dads closer to the beginning of their journey raising a child with the same or similar special needs. The SFN Mentor Fathers do NOT offer legal or medical advice, that is what lawyers and doctors do. They simply share their experiences and how they have made the most of challenging situations.
Check out the 21CD YouTube Channel with dozens of videos on topics relevant to dads raising children with special needs - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzDFCvQimWNEb158ll6Q4cA/videos
Please support the SFN. Click here to donate: https://21stcenturydads.org/donate/
Special Fathers Network: https://21stcenturydads.org/ -
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Our guest this week is Craig Parks of San Diego, CA who is a professional musician, band leader, camp director, author and father of two including one with special healthcare needs.
Craig and his wife, Rachel, have been married for 23 years and are the proud parents of two children: Nashaman (10) and Jonah (20) who has multiple issues, including: anxiety, attention issues and Autism.
Craig has a real passion for working with youth. He has combined his love of music and talent as a musician with his commitment to serving youth in a variety of ways including serving as a camp director and band leader.
More recently Craig authored an e-Book entitled: "Stress Less & Have Fun With Your Kids". He also created a curriculum the "Parenting A to E Course" available at: https://www.parentingharmony.com/
We’ll hear Craig’s story and about his musical and special needs journey on this week’s Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast.
Show Links -
Phone – (760) 505-3099
Email – [email protected]
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-parks-6038756/
Website - https://www.parentingharmony.com/
North County JCC Camp – https://jcca.org/find-a-jcc/lawrence-family-jcc-of-san-diego-county-jacobs-family-campus/
eBook – Stress Less & Have More Fun With Your Kids – https://craigparksmusic.samcart.com/products/stress-less--have-more-fun-with-your-kids
Parks Party Central Episode 1 March 29,2020 (youtube.com)
Parks Party Central Episode 19 (youtube.com)
Parks & Pals: Tequila (youtube.com)
Urban Plates - 12 under $12 - core - eat well (youtube.com)
Here's a bonus video of his son at 6 years old playing the drums with Criag and a couple of the teens he was working with: Long Live Rock.mpg (youtube.com)
Here is a video from Autism's Got Talent with Jonah in 2020. He ended up winning the competition that year. J the King - Autism's Got Talent - YouTube
Parenting A to E - From Stress To Smiles Turning The mundane Into The Memorable - Enroll now at: https://parentingharmony.com/products/parenting-a-to-e?fbclid=IwY2xjawHO4_FleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHVTpd8dvVA6oGnGhjp4mA6lsq2ii8VvRokknzaxNn1wFwJ0zJZRagsM_Mw_aem__SD5vUvTcsNCFek5EJgsVg
Miracle League of San Diego https://www.miracleleagueofsandiego.org
San Diego Chill Ice Hockey for kids with special needs https://sandiegochill.org
The San Marcos Shooting Stars Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/p/SMYBB-Shooting-Stars-100057535536242/
Special Fathers Network -
SFN is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs. Many of the 800+ SFN Mentor Fathers, who are raising kids with special needs, have said: "I wish there was something like this when we first received our child's diagnosis. I felt so isolated. There was no one within my family, at work, at church or within my friend group who understood or could relate to what I was going through."
SFN Mentor Fathers share their experiences with younger dads closer to the beginning of their journey raising a child with the same or similar special needs. The SFN Mentor Fathers do NOT offer legal or medical advice, that is what lawyers and doctors do. They simply share their experiences and how they have made the most of challenging situations.
Check out the 21CD YouTube Channel with dozens of videos on topics relevant to dads raising children with special needs - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzDFCvQimWNEb158ll6Q4cA/videos
Please support the SFN. Click here to donate: https://21stcenturydads.org/donate/
Special Fathers Network: https://21stcenturydads.org/ -
Our guest this week is Tieal Bishop, of Walkerton, IN, mother to six including a medical fragile son and founder of A Rosie Place For Children.
Tieal and her husband,Travis, have been married for eight years and between them they are the proud parents of six children: Max (25), Sam (22) and Gigi (20) and triplet 21 year old girls, Madeline, Abby and Kate.
Her oldest son, Max, had a precarious entry into the world. Diagnosed with RSV, he required a G-Tube for feeding, a Trach for breathing and seven month in the PICU, which resulted in the family staying at the local Ronald McDonald House for seven months. Despite the early challenges, Max is thriving as a young adult.
Tieal is founder of A Rosie Place for Children, a state of the art, nurse-staffed specialty hospital for medically fragile children and respite for their parents, based in South Bend, IN.
Tieal has a zest for life and a passion for service. You'll hear her uplifting story on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.
Show Notes -
Phone – (574) 315-6283
Email - [email protected]
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tieal-bishop-b821237/
A Rosie Place For Children- https://arosieplace.org/
Children's Respite Homes of America - https://childrensrespitehomes.org/
National Center for Pediatric Palliative Care Homes (NCPPCH) - https://www.ncppch.org/
She’s All Set (a short film by The Grotto Network at the University of Notre Dame) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNgD2wdUv-s&t=2s
Special Fathers Network -
SFN is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs. Many of the 800+ SFN Mentor Fathers, who are raising kids with special needs, have said: "I wish there was something like this when we first received our child's diagnosis. I felt so isolated. There was no one within my family, at work, at church or within my friend group who understood or could relate to what I was going through."
SFN Mentor Fathers share their experiences with younger dads closer to the beginning of their journey raising a child with the same or similar special needs. The SFN Mentor Fathers do NOT offer legal or medical advice, that is what lawyers and doctors do. They simply share their experiences and how they have made the most of challenging situations.
Check out the 21CD YouTube Channel with dozens of videos on topics relevant to dads raising children with special needs - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzDFCvQimWNEb158ll6Q4cA/videos
Please support the SFN. Click here to donate: https://21stcenturydads.org/donate/
Special Fathers Network: https://21stcenturydads.org/ -
Our guest this week is Phillip Koontz of Monument, CO a retired U.S. Navy Seal, combat veteran, a former pastor, co-founder of Buffalo Leadership Academy, owner of an e-commerce business, author and perhaps most importantly, the father to five children.
Phillip and his third wife, Suzanna, have been married for 6 1/2 years and between them are the proud parents of five children: Briah (11), Robert (13), Zadak (13), Madeline (16) and Jacob (18), who is Autistic.
Phillip served for more than five years on Seal Team 10 and is a combat veteran, during which time Danielle, his first wife was diagnosed with stage four metastatic breast cancer and died four years later. His second marriage produced two children: Zadak and Briah.
Phillip is also the author of The Truth Behind My Trident, which provides a fascinating look into the U.S. Navy Seals program and some hard truths about the sacrifices made by those who serve. He is also a principal of Buffalo Leadership Academy and owner of Karambit.com and e-commerce business that sells high end knives.
It’s a fascinating story and you’ll hear it on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.
Show Links
Phone – 479-806-7445
Email – [email protected]
Website - http://www.philkoontz.com/
Website - https://karambit.com/
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/philkoontz/
The Trurth Behind My Trident - https://tinyurl.com/46kj4pwz
Special Fathers Network -
SFN is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs. Many of the 800+ SFN Mentor Fathers, who are raising kids with special needs, have said: "I wish there was something like this when we first received our child's diagnosis. I felt so isolated. There was no one within my family, at work, at church or within my friend group who understood or could relate to what I was going through."
SFN Mentor Fathers share their experiences with younger dads closer to the beginning of their journey raising a child with the same or similar special needs. The SFN Mentor Fathers do NOT offer legal or medical advice, that is what lawyers and doctors do. They simply share their experiences and how they have made the most of challenging situations.
Check out the 21CD YouTube Channel with dozens of videos on topics relevant to dads raising children with special needs - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzDFCvQimWNEb158ll6Q4cA/videos
Please support the SFN. Click here to donate: https://21stcenturydads.org/donate/
Special Fathers Network: https://21stcenturydads.org/ -
Our guest this week is Dennis Watkins of Oak Park, IL who is a professional magician and father of two adopted children, including a son who is Autistic.
Dennis and his husband, Sean Kelly, have been married for seven years and are the proud parents of two adopted children: Magnolia (15 months) and Henry (5), who is Autistic.
Dennis hails from Dallas and a long line of family magicians. His grandfather, Ed Watkins, was a leader amongst magicians in Texas who had.a national reputation.
After taking a BFA from Southern Methodist University, Dennis pursued a career in theatre. Working his way up from a performer to being a director, Dennis is proprietor of The Magic Parlour, located in downtown Chicago, now in it's 15th season, where he performs six shows a week, which according to Trip Advisor it is the #1 show in Chicago.
Dennis has quite a story to tell and we’ll hear it on this week’s episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.
Show Notes -
Phone – (312) 300-6803
Email – [email protected]
Website - https://denniswatkins.net/
Website - http://www.themagicparlourchicago.com/
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/dennisrwatkins/
Adoption Center of Illinois – https://www.adoptioncenterofillinois.org/
Special Fathers Network -
SFN is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs. Many of the 800+ SFN Mentor Fathers, who are raising kids with special needs, have said: "I wish there was something like this when we first received our child's diagnosis. I felt so isolated. There was no one within my family, at work, at church or within my friend group who understood or could relate to what I was going through."
SFN Mentor Fathers share their experiences with younger dads closer to the beginning of their journey raising a child with the same or similar special needs. The SFN Mentor Fathers do NOT offer legal or medical advice, that is what lawyers and doctors do. They simply share their experiences and how they have made the most of challenging situations.
Check out the 21CD YouTube Channel with dozens of videos on topics relevant to dads raising children with special needs - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzDFCvQimWNEb158ll6Q4cA/videos
Please support the SFN. Click here to donate: https://21stcenturydads.org/donate/
Special Fathers Network: https://21stcenturydads.org/ -
Our guest this week is Tom Parro of Grayslake, IL, president of MERK Capital and father of three including a daughter with a rare disease.
Tom and his wife, Janice, have been married for 27 years and are the proud parents of three children: Erin (24), Matthew (20) and Megan (22) who has Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) a condition that causes a number of symptoms when you transition from lying down to standing up, such as a fast heart rate, dizziness and fatigue.
With a degree in accounting and MBA in finance Tom has enjoyed a career in finance leading, 27 years ago, to founding MERK Capital, a boutique investment private equity firm.
We learn about the Parro family, their faith and commitment to one another all on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.
Show Links
Phone – (847) 867-9793
Email – [email protected]
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-parro-405396/
Special Fathers Network -
SFN is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs. Many of the 800+ SFN Mentor Fathers, who are raising kids with special needs, have said: "I wish there was something like this when we first received our child's diagnosis. I felt so isolated. There was no one within my family, at work, at church or within my friend group who understood or could relate to what I was going through."
SFN Mentor Fathers share their experiences with younger dads closer to the beginning of their journey raising a child with the same or similar special needs. The SFN Mentor Fathers do NOT offer legal or medical advice, that is what lawyers and doctors do. They simply share their experiences and how they have made the most of challenging situations.
Check out the 21CD YouTube Channel with dozens of videos on topics relevant to dads raising children with special needs - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzDFCvQimWNEb158ll6Q4cA/videos
Please support the SFN. Click here to donate: https://21stcenturydads.org/donate/
Special Fathers Network: https://21stcenturydads.org/ -
Our guest this week is Todd Evans of Brentwood, TN who is a business owner, author and father of two children with disability.
Todd and his wife, Kristin, have been married for 23 years and are the proud parents of two children: an 18 year old who was born with a metabolic disorder and 14 year old who has Cri du chat syndrome is a genetic disorder caused by a deletion of the short arm of chromosome 5.
Together Kristin & Todd maintain the website: DisabilityParenting.com, dedicated to empowering parents of kids with all kinds of disabilities.
They are also co-authors of the book, How To Build a Thriving Marriage As You Care For Children with Disabilities. Todd is also a member of the Nashville SFN Mastermind Group.
Theirs is a story about faith, marriage, overcoming adversity and service to others all on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.
Show Links -
Phone – (731) 202-1112
Email – [email protected]
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-evans-a35744137/
Website - https://disabilityparenting.com/
Book - https://tinyurl.com/3urefxpr
Special Fathers Network -
SFN is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs. Many of the 800+ SFN Mentor Fathers, who are raising kids with special needs, have said: "I wish there was something like this when we first received our child's diagnosis. I felt so isolated. There was no one within my family, at work, at church or within my friend group who understood or could relate to what I was going through."
SFN Mentor Fathers share their experiences with younger dads closer to the beginning of their journey raising a child with the same or similar special needs. The SFN Mentor Fathers do NOT offer legal or medical advice, that is what lawyers and doctors do. They simply share their experiences and how they have made the most of challenging situations.
Check out the 21CD YouTube Channel with dozens of videos on topics relevant to dads raising children with special needs - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzDFCvQimWNEb158ll6Q4cA/videos
Please support the SFN. Click here to donate: https://21stcenturydads.org/donate/
Special Fathers Network: https://21stcenturydads.org/ -
Our guests this week are father and daughter, Wayne Friedman of Louisville, KY and Reena Friedman Watts of Houston, TX.
Wayne and his wife, Maureen, have been married for 45 years and are the proud parents of three daughters: Reena, Jessica and Stephanie, who between them have 13 children, Wayne and Maureen’s grandchildren. A unique factoid is that Jessica and Stephanie live and work in Israel.
Wayne ran a successful multi-generation family owned business for decades before retiring.
Reena and her husband, Will, have been married for 17 years and are the proud parents of four children ages five to 16. Reena previously worked for decades as a producer of the Jerry Springer Show, based in Chicago.
In addition to being a successful TV producer, Reena now hosts the Better Call Daddy Podcast. At the end of each episode, Wayne leans in and provides his insights and pearls of wisdom. The podcasts are; creative, interesting and always enlightening.
We’ll hear from and about this father-daughter duo on this SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.
Show Links -
Reena – (310) 895-4032
Wayne – (502) 533-0697
Reena - [email protected]
Wayne - [email protected]
Reena – https://www.linkedin.com/in/reenafriedmanwatts/
Better Call Daddy Podcast – https://bettercalldaddy.com
BCD Episode #377 (6/14/24) featuring David Hirsch - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/377-pedaling-through-parenthood-special-fathers-network/id1525296416?i=1000659078645The Better Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bettercalldaddypodcast/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bettercalldaddypodcast/
Special Fathers Network -
SFN is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs. Many of the 800+ SFN Mentor Fathers, who are raising kids with special needs, have said: "I wish there was something like this when we first received our child's diagnosis. I felt so isolated. There was no one within my family, at work, at church or within my friend group who understood or could relate to what I was going through."
SFN Mentor Fathers share their experiences with younger dads closer to the beginning of their journey raising a child with the same or similar special needs. The SFN Mentor Fathers do NOT offer legal or medical advice, that is what lawyers and doctors do. They simply share their experiences and how they have made the most of challenging situations.
Check out the 21CD YouTube Channel with dozens of videos on topics relevant to dads raising children with special needs - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzDFCvQimWNEb158ll6Q4cA/videos
Please support the SFN. Click here to donate: https://21stcenturydads.org/donate/
Special Fathers Network: https://21stcenturydads.org/ -
Our guest this week is Dana Lange, of Denver, CO who does business development for Tuff Shed, is co-founder and CFO of Bright Life Connections, a non-profit and father of two including a daughter with a rare genetic disease.
Dana and his wife, Dana, have been married for 34 years and are the proud parents of two daughters: Sarah (28) and Victoria (26) who has Pitt-Hopkins Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder characterized by developmental delay, moderate to severe intellectual disability, among other challenges.
The Langes are also co-founders of Bright Life Connections a non-profit that helps loved ones effectively manage disability services in the Denver metro area. They provide resources coordination to enable independence and personal growth for persons with disabilities, and to create opportunities for persons with disabilities to connect in the community to achieve their brightest life.
Dana is also a member of the new SFN Mastermind Group in Denver that meets on Monday evenings and he attended the SFN Matermind Group Retreat held in Chicago in September 2024.
We’ll hear Dana’s story on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.
Show Link -
Phone – (303) 591-6833
Email – [email protected]
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/danajlange/
Bright Life Connections – https://www.brightlifeconnections.com/
Massachusetts Familly For Change. https://thearcofmass.org
Special Fathers Network -
SFN is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs. Many of the 800+ SFN Mentor Fathers, who are raising kids with special needs, have said: "I wish there was something like this when we first received our child's diagnosis. I felt so isolated. There was no one within my family, at work, at church or within my friend group who understood or could relate to what I was going through."
SFN Mentor Fathers share their experiences with younger dads closer to the beginning of their journey raising a child with the same or similar special needs. The SFN Mentor Fathers do NOT offer legal or medical advice, that is what lawyers and doctors do. They simply share their experiences and how they have made the most of challenging situations.
Check out the 21CD YouTube Channel with dozens of videos on topics relevant to dads raising children with special needs - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzDFCvQimWNEb158ll6Q4cA/videos
Please support the SFN. Click here to donate: https://21stcenturydads.org/donate/
Special Fathers Network: https://21stcenturydads.org/ -
Our guest this week is Andrew Bustamante of Colorado Springs, CO a former covert CIA intelligence officer, U.S. Air Force combat veteran, business consultant, host of the Everyday Espionage Podcast, a self-proclaimed improvement junkie and perhaps most important of all, father of two adolescent children.
Andrew and his wife, Jihi, who is also a former CIA intelligence officer, have been married for 14 years and are the proud parents of two adolescent children.
In addition to doing business consulting, Andrew is host of the Everyday Espionage Podcast, where he interviews some fascinating guests as well and banters with his wife about their CIA days and how the lessons learned translate into everyday life. As an example, be sure to check out the episode with ED Jackal, a former covert CIA agent.
We also learn about why doctors, clergy and Peace Corps volunteers never serve in the CIA and why journalists seem to always be accused of espionage.
We’ll hear Andrew's fascinating story on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.
Show Links:
Email - [email protected]
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-bustamante-mba-89812a10b/
Everyday Spy – https://everydayspy.com/?homepage=c
ED Jackal Deep Cover Part I - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/edjackal-deep-cover-part-i/id1441789630?i=1000459839014
Special Fathers Network -
SFN is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs. Many of the 800+ SFN Mentor Fathers, who are raising kids with special needs, have said: "I wish there was something like this when we first received our child's diagnosis. I felt so isolated. There was no one within my family, at work, at church or within my friend group who understood or could relate to what I was going through."
SFN Mentor Fathers share their experiences with younger dads closer to the beginning of their journey raising a child with the same or similar special needs. The SFN Mentor Fathers do NOT offer legal or medical advice, that is what lawyers and doctors do. They simply share their experiences and how they have made the most of challenging situations.
Check out the 21CD YouTube Channel with dozens of videos on topics relevant to dads raising children with special needs - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzDFCvQimWNEb158ll6Q4cA/videos
Please support the SFN. Click here to donate: https://21stcenturydads.org/donate/
Special Fathers Network: https://21stcenturydads.org/ -
Our guest this week is Mike Abramowitz of St. Augustine, FL, an entrepreneur, co-founder of Better Than Rich, speaker, author and transformational coach as well as father of two young children.
Mike and his wife, Lindsay, have been married for seven years and are the proud parents of two children: daughter Ella (1) and son James (3), who was born at 26 weeks, weighing 1 pound four ounces, which caused severe bronchial pulmonary challenges, necessitating a trachea, ventilator and feeding tube. Their route to becoming parents also included; IVF, a series of miscarrIages and a still birth.
Mike was born and raised in New Jersey and is the youngest of eight siblings. His dad fought in two Israel wars, which revealed some very positive and enlightening aspects of his dad's personality, which helped shape his world view and impacted his commitment to fathering.
At heart Mike is an entrepreneur with a drive and commitment to serve. We learn about Vector Marketing and the Cutco Mafia, GRAB Tomorrow, PB&J for Tampa, Front Row Dads, and Better Than Rich, a virtual assistant platform, which allows users to leverage their time and accelerate growth.
We’ll hear Mike’s incredible story on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.
Show Links
Phone – (732) 687-8688
Email – [email protected]
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeabramowitz1/
Personal Website - https://mikeabramowitz.com/about/
Better Than Rich - https://www.betterthanrich.com/
PB&J for Tampa – https://mikeabramowitz.com/programs/pbj/
G.R.A.B. (Grow. Re-Evaluate. Appreciate. Believe.) - https://mikeabramowitz.com/programs/grab/
Special Fathers Network -
SFN is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs. Many of the 800+ SFN Mentor Fathers, who are raising kids with special needs, have said: "I wish there was something like this when we first received our child's diagnosis. I felt so isolated. There was no one within my family, at work, at church or within my friend group who understood or could relate to what I was going through."
SFN Mentor Fathers share their experiences with younger dads closer to the beginning of their journey raising a child with the same or similar special needs. The SFN Mentor Fathers do NOT offer legal or medical advice, that is what lawyers and doctors do. They simply share their experiences and how they have made the most of challenging situations.
Check out the 21CD YouTube Channel with dozens of videos on topics relevant to dads raising children with special needs - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzDFCvQimWNEb158ll6Q4cA/videos
Please support the SFN. Click here to donate: https://21stcenturydads.org/donate/
Special Fathers Network: https://21stcenturydads.org/ -
Our guest this week is Tony Bombacino of Chesterton, IN, co-founder of Real Food Blends and father of two, including one with multiple disabilities.
Tony and his wife, Julie, have been married for 18 years and are the proud parents of two children: daughter Luca (15) and son AJ (13) who has multiple disabilities.
Tony and Julie founded Real Food Blends in response to seeking wholesome foods suitable for AJ, who is tube fed. Real Food Blends was acquired by Nutricia, part of Danone S.A.. Subsequent to the sale Tony & Julie founded CINO United, LLC, working with and guiding B2C/B2B companies through all stages of growth. Areas of expertise and work include: creating and/or evolving digital (and overall) marketing, brand, sales, product, business development, partnership, transportation/warehousing and capital raising strategies to help turn vision into reality.
Tony's story is a series of overcoming some of life's greatest challenges, including losing his mom when he was a teenager, the death of his older brother Scott at 40 and during the past 13 years, parenting a son with severe disabilities, who is unable to talk or walk.
Along the fatherhood journey, Tony also found time and some value in sharing his thoughts and experiences through a blog reflecting on various issues related to being a father of a child with disability. We also learn about a number of organizations that have played in instrumental role for the Bombacinos, including: A Rosie Place For Children and Jacob's Ladder.
Tony is also a member of the new Chicago SFN Mastermind Group, a group of like-minded dads that meet virtually on a weekly basis to: share weekly wins and heartfelt experiences as well as read & reflect on six books a year and meet with the authors.
It’s an inspiring story about: faith, a father's love for his family, overcoming adversity and commitment to service, all on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.
Show Links -
Phone – (708) 359-1626
Email - [email protected]
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonybombacino/details/experience/
A Rosie Place For Children - https://arosieplace.org/
Jacob’s Ladder - https://www.jacobskids.org/
Tony’s Blog posts connected with Special Needs Dads -
https://www.realfoodblends.com/special-needs-dad-the-role-that-everything-and-nothing-prepared-me-for/
https://www.realfoodblends.com/special-needs-dad-strong-2/
https://www.realfoodblends.com/best-fathers-day-gift-special-needs-dad-can-give/ https://www.realfoodblends.com/keep-going-special-needs-dad/ https://www.realfoodblends.com/bouncing-back/
https://www.realfoodblends.com/happy-almost-10th-anniversary-to-me/
Special Fathers Network -
SFN is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs. Many of the 800+ SFN Mentor Fathers, who are raising kids with special needs, have said: "I wish there was something like this when we first received our child's diagnosis. I felt so isolated. There was no one within my family, at work, at church or within my friend group who understood or could relate to what I was going through."
SFN Mentor Fathers share their experiences with younger dads closer to the beginning of their journey raising a child with the same or similar special needs. The SFN Mentor Fathers do NOT offer legal or medical advice, that is what lawyers and doctors do. They simply share their experiences and how they have made the most of challenging situations.
Check out the 21CD YouTube Channel with dozens of videos on topics relevant to dads raising children with special needs - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzDFCvQimWNEb158ll6Q4cA/videos
Please support the SFN. Click here to donate: https://21stcenturydads.org/donate/
Special Fathers Network: https://21stcenturydads.org/ -
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 Ruslan Vasyutin of Ukrainian who currently lives in Solihull, England and who is the father of a daughter with Cerebral Palsy, who is unable walk or talk.
Ruslan and his x-wife, Olga, divorced two years ago, shortly after they fled Ukraine in March of 2022, weeks after the Russian invasion. They are the proud parents of Alice (12) who has severe Cerebral Palsy and is unable to walk or talk.
Ruslan has been involved with the Special Fathers Network for four years. He's done two SFN Dad To Dad Podcast interviews one in May of 2021 and a second in March of 2022, just weeks after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He is one of the first members of the London SFN Mastermind Group and attended the 2024 SFN Mastermind Group Weekend Retreat in Chicago.
It’s an uplifting conversation about a father's love for his child, perseverance, overcoming life's challenges and advocacy, all on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.
Show Notes -
Phone – +44 757 817 0700
Email – [email protected]
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/rvasyutin/
Previous SFN Dad To Dad Podcasts –
May 2021 – https://21stcenturydads.org/148-ruslan-vasyutin-of-kiev-ukraine-has-a-daughter-with-cerebral-palsy-is-an-outspoken-advocate-for-special-needs/
March 2022 – https://21stcenturydads.org/191-special-report-ukraine-with-sfn-mentor-father-ruslan-vasyutin/
Favorite SFN Mastermind Group Book – Zero To Hero by Allen Lynch
About the SFN Mastermind Group –
WHAT-
SFN Mastermind Group dads meet weekly by Zoom for 75 minutes. Each meeting:
◦ starts with a round of wins from the past week,
◦ includes a discussion of the current book (6 per year) being reviewed,
◦ has two Dad-In-The-Middle sessions for dads to share a challenge, and
◦ ends with a recap and look at the week ahead.
WHO -
SFN Mastermind Group Dads are those:
◦ seeking meaningful friendships with like-minded dads,
◦ willing to invest their time and make a financial commitment,
◦ looking for a safe place to be open and authentic, and
◦ who realize seeking advice is a strength, not a weakness.
WHY -
SFN Mastermind Group Dads benefit by:
◦ realizing they are NOT alone
◦ having better relationships with their spouse,
◦ developing improved understandings of their child(ren),
◦ tapping into the experience and wisdom of others,
◦ getting weekly encouragement from like-minded dads, and
◦ creating a pathway to become the best version of themselves
21st Century Dads Foundation is looking to provide 100 special needs fathers with the opportunity to be part of the class of 2024 Mastermind Group. -
Our guest this week is Chris Hunter of Orlando, FL a father and grandfather, who has devoted much of his career to serving families with special needs, to help plan their financial future.
Chris and his wife, Jane, have been married for 40 years and are the proud parents of an adult daughter and four grandchildren.
Chris is from Canada. He has a civil engineering degree from New Brunswick University and a MBA from York University. For 15 years, Chris worked for LafargeHolcim as a professional engineer. The next 15 years he worked as a financial advisor for Merrill Lynch. Since 2009 he has been a financial advisor, vice president & investment officer at Wells Fargo Advisors.
Chris has been very intentional about serving families touched by disability in a way that separates him from most of the advisor community.
His is story of compassion and care. And we’ll hear his story on this week’s episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.
Show Links
Phone – (407) 592-4939
Email - [email protected]
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrishunterorlando/
Website - https://fa.wellsfargoadvisors.com/chris-hunter/
Special Fathers Network -
SFN is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs. Many of the 800+ SFN Mentor Fathers, who are raising kids with special needs, have said: "I wish there was something like this when we first received our child's diagnosis. I felt so isolated. There was no one within my family, at work, at church or within my friend group who understood or could relate to what I was going through."
SFN Mentor Fathers share their experiences with younger dads closer to the beginning of their journey raising a child with the same or similar special needs. The SFN Mentor Fathers do NOT offer legal or medical advice, that is what lawyers and doctors do. They simply share their experiences and how they have made the most of challenging situations.
Check out the 21CD YouTube Channel with dozens of videos on topics relevant to dads raising children with special needs - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzDFCvQimWNEb158ll6Q4cA/videos
Please support the SFN. Click here to donate: https://21stcenturydads.org/donate/
Special Fathers Network: https://21stcenturydads.org/ -
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 Todd Evans of Brentwood, TN owns multiple businesses, is an author and is the father of two children who have different abilities.
Todd and his wife, Kristin, have been married for 23 years and are the proud parents of two children: an 18 year old born with a metabolic disorder and 14 year old, who has Cri du chat syndrome, a genetic disorder caused by a deletion of the short arm of chromosome 5.
Kristin & Todd are the authors of How To Build A Thriving Marriage As You Care For Children With Disabilities. It's a must read for all parents whose families touched by disability.
Kristin & Todd also host and maintain the website: https://disabilityparenting.com/, which has some excellent resources for parents and caregivers touched by disability.
Todd has been involved with the Special Fathers Network less than a year. His SFN Dad To Dad Podcast, episode is scheduled to air in November 2024. He was one of the first members of the Nashville SFN Mastermind Group and he attended the 2024 SFN Mastermind Group Weekend Retreat in Chicago..
It’s an uplifting conversation about faith, family, perseverance, overcoming life's challenges and advocacy, all on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.
Show Notes -
Phone – (731) 202-1112
Email – [email protected]
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-evans-a35744137/
Website - https://disabilityparenting.com/
Book - https://www.amazon.com/Build-Thriving-Marriage-Children-Disabilities/dp/1540903737/ref=sr_1_1?crid=LLBSHPJK220N&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.e6fcilBY15aGN8XMG5QVhw.9hm3b4z3SDB5gMxdFu9N7cjU1iZf65jfSYO3cKOv7aw&dib_tag=se&keywords=evans%2C+how+to+build+a+thriving+marriage+as+you+care+for+children+with+disabilities&qid=1727382950&s=books&sprefix=evans%2C+how+to+build+a+thriving+marriage+as+you+care+for+children+with+disabilities%2Cstripbooks%2C96&sr=1-1
About the SFN Mastermind Group –
WHAT-
SFN Mastermind Group dads meet weekly by Zoom for 75 minutes. Each meeting:
◦ starts with a round of wins from the past week,
◦ includes a discussion of the current book (6 per year) being reviewed,
◦ has two Dad-In-The-Middle sessions for dads to share a challenge, and
◦ ends with a recap and look at the week ahead.
WHO -
SFN Mastermind Group Dads are those:
◦ seeking meaningful friendships with like-minded dads,
◦ willing to invest their time and make a financial commitment,
◦ looking for a safe place to be open and authentic, and
◦ who realize seeking advice is a strength, not a weakness.
WHY -
SFN Mastermind Group Dads benefit by:
◦ realizing they are NOT alone
◦ having better relationships with their spouse,
◦ developing improved understandings of their child(ren),
◦ tapping into the experience and wisdom of others,
◦ getting weekly encouragement from like-minded dads, and
◦ creating a pathway to become the best version of themselves
21st Century Dads Foundation is looking to provide 100 special needs fathers with the opportunity to be part of the class of 2024 Mastermind Group. -
Our guest this week is Chris Mallette of Chicago, IL, father of four and director of community engagement and head football coach at Chicago Hope Academy. Chris also does violence prevention consulting.
Chris and his wife, Kendall, have been married for 28 years and are the proud parents of four: Luke (26), Zion (24), Judah (19) and Levi (16). Their family has been touched by mental health challenges, including; severe anxiety, depression, OCD and bi-polar.
Chicago Hope Academy is a Christian College Prep High School with an average class size of 15 students. 275 students attend Chicago Hope with about 70 students in each grade level. Perhaps most impressively, 100% of the graduates are accepted into college
Chris earned a BA in history from Princeton University, a law degree from University of Pennsylvania and was a public interest scholar.
In addition to being the director of community engagement, Chris is the varsity football coach and has lead the team to many championships. While proud of the teams' successes, he is most proud of his student/players who are overcoming the circumstances of their birth place. His mentorship to his students and players goes well beyond the playing field.
It's a uplifting story about faith, family, perseverance and serving others all on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.
Show Notes -
Phone – (773) 991-7101
Email - [email protected]
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-mallette-837b6741/
Chicago Hope Academy - https://chicagohopeacademy.org/
Special Fathers Network -
SFN is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs. Many of the 800+ SFN Mentor Fathers, who are raising kids with special needs, have said: "I wish there was something like this when we first received our child's diagnosis. I felt so isolated. There was no one within my family, at work, at church or within my friend group who understood or could relate to what I was going through."
SFN Mentor Fathers share their experiences with younger dads closer to the beginning of their journey raising a child with the same or similar special needs. The SFN Mentor Fathers do NOT offer legal or medical advice, that is what lawyers and doctors do. They simply share their experiences and how they have made the most of challenging situations.
Check out the 21CD YouTube Channel with dozens of videos on topics relevant to dads raising children with special needs - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzDFCvQimWNEb158ll6Q4cA/videos
Please support the SFN. Click here to donate: https://21stcenturydads.org/donate/
Special Fathers Network: https://21stcenturydads.org/ -
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 Agust Kristmanns of Reykjavík, Iceland a father of three, who works as an electrician and serves as a board member of Unique Children of Iceland. (Einstokborn)
Agust and his wife, Maria, have been married for 26 years and are the proud parents of three children: Asta Mary (26), Sara Dogg (18) and middle child, son Ingi (23) who was diagnosed with 2Q37 Deletion syndrome, a rare chromosome condition that affects his development.
Agust has been involved with the Special Fathers Network for more than four years. His SFN Dad To Dad Podcast, episode #184, aired in Janaury 2022. He was one of the first members of the London SFN Mastermind Group and he attended the 2024 SFN Mastermind Group Weekend Retreat in Chicago..
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 Notes -
Phone – (354) 698-5651
Email - [email protected]
Unique Children of Iceland. (Einstokborn) https://www.einstokborn.is/is/english
LinkedIn - SFN Dad To Dad Podcast #184 - https://21stcenturydads.org/184-agust-kristmanns-of-reykjavik-iceland-board-member-of-einstokborn-father-of-3-including-a-son-with-2q37-deletion-syndrome/
About the SFN Mastermind Group –
WHAT-
SFN Mastermind Group dads meet weekly by Zoom for 75 minutes. Each meeting:
◦ starts with a round of wins from the past week,
◦ includes a discussion of the current book (6 per year) being reviewed,
◦ has two Dad-In-The-Middle sessions for dads to share a challenge, and
◦ ends with a recap and look at the week ahead.
WHO -
SFN Mastermind Group Dads are those:
◦ seeking meaningful friendships with like-minded dads,
◦ willing to invest their time and make a financial commitment,
◦ looking for a safe place to be open and authentic, and
◦ who realize seeking advice is a strength, not a weakness.
WHY -
SFN Mastermind Group Dads benefit by:
◦ realizing they are NOT alone
◦ having better relationships with their spouse,
◦ developing improved understandings of their child(ren),
◦ tapping into the experience and wisdom of others,
◦ getting weekly encouragement from like-minded dads, and
◦ creating a pathway to become the best version of themselves
21st Century Dads Foundation is looking to provide 100 special needs fathers with the opportunity to be part of the class of 2024 Mastermind Group. -
Our guest this week is Nate Plasman of Lombard, IL, a vice president at family owned Monroe Transportation and father of three, including a son with a rare genetic disease.
Nate and his wife, Sara, have been married for 20 years and are the proud parents of three children: Grace (15), Jackson (12) and Andrew (10) who has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a progressive and severe muscle-wasting condition that typically results in premature death.
Duchenne impacts around 15,000 individuals in the United States, predominantly males, and over 300,000 globally. It is a condition that transcends cultural, economic, and social lines, affecting families worldwide.
We learn about a host of organizations seeking cures and improving the lives of those living with muscular dystrophy, including; Parent Project MD, Cure Duchenne and Serepta Therapeutics.
It'a an uplifting story about faith, family and overcoming adversity all on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.
Show Notes
Phone – (630) 248-3220
Email - [email protected]
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-plasman-0a050149/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/nathan.plasman/friends
Monroe Transportation – https://monroe-trans.com/
Parent Project MD - https://www.parentprojectmd.org/
Cure Duchenne - https://cureduchenne.org/
Serepta Therapeutics - https://www.sarepta.com/
Special Fathers Network -
SFN is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs. Many of the 800+ SFN Mentor Fathers, who are raising kids with special needs, have said: "I wish there was something like this when we first received our child's diagnosis. I felt so isolated. There was no one within my family, at work, at church or within my friend group who understood or could relate to what I was going through."
SFN Mentor Fathers share their experiences with younger dads closer to the beginning of their journey raising a child with the same or similar special needs. The SFN Mentor Fathers do NOT offer legal or medical advice, that is what lawyers and doctors do. They simply share their experiences and how they have made the most of challenging situations.
Check out the 21CD YouTube Channel with dozens of videos on topics relevant to dads raising children with special needs - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzDFCvQimWNEb158ll6Q4cA/videos
Please support the SFN. Click here to donate: https://21stcenturydads.org/donate/
Special Fathers Network: https://21stcenturydads.org/ -
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 for the past few months, host David Hirsch has interviewed members of the SFN Mastermind Group community, men who meet virtually via Zoom on a weekly basis.
This Monday’s episode is a recap from the 4th Annual SFN Mastermind Group Weekend Retreat, held at the Hyatt Regency Chicago from September 6-8, 2024. In total 27 dads attended including three from Iceland and one from Ukraine.
Friday, September 6th -
The retreat kicked off with a Meet & Greet with pizza, sodas and some special treats, including Al's Cookie Mixx cookies provided by SFN Mentor Father Alvin Green of Chicago and some Mullen's Apple Sauce provided by SFN Mentor Father Jim Mullen.
Saturday, September 7th -
On Saturday morning the group participated in a Cycle To End Father Absence (C2EFA) ride at Cyclebar River North.
The morning session included playing 21CD/SFN Trivia and talking about the importance of Self-Care. SFN Mentor Father Wayne Messmer made a terrific presentation over lunch. The afternoon session included discussions about the importance of Respite & Marriage.
From there the group enjoyed a performance by Dennis Watkins at the Magic Parlour, Chicago's #1 Show (as per TripAdvisor). The evening was capped off with a sumptuous dinner at Maggiano's Little Italy Grand, including birthday wishes for SFN Mentor Father Nathan Woerner.
Sunday, September 8th -
Sunday's session included discussions about Planning Ahead, Project ALEX, Hope For Luka, and Ideas for Improving the Mastermind Group experience.
All in all it was a fun and memorable experience. Lots of laughter, some tears and good fellowship.
About the SFN Mastermind Group –
WHAT-
SFN Mastermind Group dads meet weekly by Zoom for 75 minutes. Each meeting:
◦ starts with a round of wins from the past week,
◦ includes a discussion of the current book (6 per year) being reviewed,
◦ has two Dad-In-The-Middle sessions for dads to share a challenge, and
◦ ends with a recap and look at the week ahead.
WHO -
SFN Mastermind Group Dads are those:
◦ seeking meaningful friendships with like-minded dads,
◦ willing to invest their time and make a financial commitment,
◦ looking for a safe place to be open and authentic, and
◦ who realize seeking advice is a strength, not a weakness.
WHY -
SFN Mastermind Group Dads benefit by:
◦ realizing they are NOT alone
◦ having better relationships with their spouse,
◦ developing improved understandings of their child(ren),
◦ tapping into the experience and wisdom of others,
◦ getting weekly encouragement from like-minded dads, and
◦ creating a pathway to become the best version of themselves
21st Century Dads Foundation is looking to provide 100 special needs fathers with the opportunity to be part of the class of 2024 Mastermind Group. - Visa fler
