Special Fathers' Network Podcast

On this Dad to Dad podcast, host David Hirsch talks with special father Jeff Katz. Jeff is the afternoon host of The Jeff Katz Show at News Radio WRVA, in Richmond Virginia. He has three children including Julie who has global development delays and is non-verbal. Jeff tells his life story and why he truly treasures his daughter Julia. That’s all on this Dad to Dad podcast. To find out more about Jeff and WRVA go to Newsradiowrva.radio.com/shows/jeff-katz. To learn about the Special Fathers Network, go to 21stcenturydads.org.

That’s Mark Paterson, an executive in the industrial equipment industry, and father of a boy who is autistic. Mark speaks candidly with our host David Hirsch about some of the difficulties of raising a child with special needs. That’s on this Dad to Dad podcast. To find out about Little City go to www.littlecity.org. To learn about the Special Fathers Network, go to 21stcenturydads.org.

On this Dad to Dad podcast, host David Hirsch talks to special father, Cory Estby, the pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Grant Park, Illinois. Cory and his wife Christena have four children including two adopted brothers who both have Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Hear the fascinating story of how these two young boys became a part of the Estby family on this Dad to Dad podcast. Visit Giftofadoption.org to find out more, also check out parentprojectmd.org to find out about Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. To learn about the Special Fathers Network, go to 21stcenturydads.org.

On this Dad to Dad podcast, host David Hirsch talks to special father, Jim Rigg, the superintendent of catholic education at the Archdiocese of Chicago. Jim has four children including Daniel, who is autistic and diabetic. We’ll hear about the challenges of raising a son with multiple special needs and about Jim’s personal work in helping educate other kids with special needs. That’s all in this Dad to Dad Podcast, presented by the Special Fathers Network. To find out more about the schools of the Archdioscese of Chicago click on schools.archchicago.org, to find out more about the Special Fathers Network, go to 21stcenturydads.org.

In this Dad to Dad podcast host David Hirsch talks to Shane Sondergeld, a doctor from Brisbane, Australia. Shane is a father of three children including William, who was diagnosed with 4Q deletion syndrome, a rare genetic disorder. Shane tells the Sondergeld family story and how having a child with a disability is truly a wonder. That’s all on this Dad to Dad podcast. Find out more about the Special Fathers Network at 21stCenturyDads.com.

Meet John Crowley, a special father of three kids with special needs. Two of those children have a rare genetic disorder called Pompe disease. John and his wife Aileen were told that Meghan and Patrick would not live very long. So, they took matters into their own hands and helped develop a drug that successfully treats the disorder. They formed a successful RX company, Amicus, whose mission is to find treatments for rare diseases. Their story was told in a book, a movie starring Harrison Ford and by the President of the United States in a joint session of congress. And today, John Crowley tells his story to our host David Hirsch, on this Dad to Dad podcast. You can find out more about John’s mission at www.Amicusrx.com, or he can reached via Linked In at linkedin.com/company/amicus-therapeutics/. Also: https://wish.org and https://globalgenes.org For more information about the Special Fathers Network go to: www.21stCenturyDads.org.

Host David Hirsch talks to special father, Dan Tepperman. Dan has two boys including 20 year old Scott who is autistic. Dan talks about the challenges and rewards of raising a child with special needs and the family's decision to use Little City (www.littlecity.org) to help Scott thrive and the family to regain its balance. That’s all in this Dad to Dad Podcast, presented by the Special Fathers Network. To find out more about the Special Fathers Network, go to 21stcenturydads.org.

Host David Hirsch talks to special father, Tom Costello. Tom has twin 17 year-old boys, both with Autism. Tom tells us their story and how they’re both are blessed with incredible empathy. It’s a great listen and it’s all in this Dad to Dad Podcast, presented by the Special Fathers Network. To find out more about the Special Fathers Network, go to 21stcenturydads.org.

John Dodd is our guest on this Dad to Dad podcast. John has a daughter with Down Syndrome. He’s also had some significant challenges in his life but has remained incredibly upbeat. He’s a model for us all. Hear John’s incredible story on this Dad to Dad podcast, presented by the Special Fathers Network. To find out more about the Special Fathers Network, go to 21stcenturydads.org.

He’s written and directed some of the funniest movies to come out of Hollywood:Airplane and Naked Gun among them. He’s Jim Abrahams, and he’s our guest on this Dad to Dad Podcast. Jim has a son, Charlie, who at a young age was experiencing severe epileptic seizures. The medications prescribed and surgery performed by Charlie’s doctors weren’t effective, so Jim did his own research and found that a special high-fat diet might help. With the help of a dietician Charlie adopted the diet and miraculously, the seizures stopped. Hear the story of a dad taking matters into his own hands and making a life-saving difference for his son. That’s all on this Dad to Dad Podcast, presented by the Special Fathers Network. To find out more about the Special Fathers Network, go to 21stcenturydads.org.

On this Dad to Dad podcast, host David Hirsch talks with Special Father Jerry Castro, a financial industry veteran and father of 8, including Jack who passed away from complications due to premature birth at age 15. Jerry tells how his son was a real positive influence on the Castro family and that his legacy lives on. That’s all on this Dad to Dad Podcast, presented by the Special Fathers Network. To find out more about the Special Fathers network, go to 21stcenturydads.org.

On this Dad to Dad podcast, host David Hirsch talks with Special Father John Felageller, a 4th grade teacher and father of 11-year-old Christopher, who is autistic. John and his wife Elizabeth have been through some challenging times but have emerged stronger thanks in part to their involvement an evangelical christian church. That’s all on this Dad to Dad Podcast, presented by the Special Fathers Network. To find out more about the Special Fathers network, go to 21stcenturydads.org.

On this Dad to Dad podcast host David Hirsch talks to Shane Lee, a systems administrator and a father of five, including Jocelyn, who sadly passed away at age 4 ½ from complications related to Spinal Muscular Atrophy. We’ll hear the amazing story of the Lee family and their travails and triumphs over SMA on this Dad to Dad Podcast, presented by the Special Fathers Network. To find out more about the Special Fathers network, go to 21stcenturydads.org.

Meet Kelly Moynihan, a retired oil industry veteran and a father of three, including Nicki who has Down Syndrome. Kelly has some sage advice for fathers of kids with special needs and he’s our guest on this Dad to Dad podcast. For more information on the Special Fathers Network go to 21stcenturydads.org.

On this Dad to Dad podcast, host David Hirsch talks to John Wagner, a father of three, including David who has Down Syndrome. John has also written a book his about his family called “Perfect: Sacred Stories From The Heart of a Dad,” and he’s our guest on this Dad to Dad podcast, presented by the Special Fathers Network. To find out more about the Special Fathers network, go to 21stcenturydads.org.

On this Dad to Dad podcast host David Hirsch talks to Jason Lehmbeck a father of three children, including Noah, who was diagnosed with Fox G1, a rare genetic disorder. We’ll hear about Jason’s family and his career, including the founding of team Special X, helping parents get the best care for their children with special needs. That’s all on this Dad to Dad podcast, presented by the Special Fathers Network. To find out more about the Special Fathers network, go to 21stcenturydads.org.

On this Dad to Dad podcast host David Hirsch talks to Martin Cuevas, father of twin 4-year-old girls, one of whom has the incredibly rare Pitt Hopkins syndrome. We’ll hear how Martin and his wife Amy dealt with this devastating news and how close family makes their life much easier. That’s all on this Dad to Dad podcast, presented by the Special Fathers Network. To find out more about the Special Fathers network, go to 21stcenturydads.org.

On this Dad to Dad podcast we hear from a father who feels blessed to have a boy with Down Syndrome, saying families that have someone with Down Syndrome, are statistically happier and have a better life. Sean Farrell is David Hirsch’s guest on this Dad to Dad Podcast, presented by the Special Fathers Network. To find out more about the Special Fathers network, go to 21stcenturydads.org.

On this Dad to Dad podcast we hear the story of a boy who was born with no arms and no legs, who went on to become an inspiring and successful high school varsity football coach. Host David Hirsch talks with Coach Mendez’s father, Bob and hears the story of how young Robert was born with an extremely rare condition that currently affects around 100 people globally. To find out more about the Special Fathers Network, go to 21stcenturydads.org.

In this Dad to Dad Podcast we talk with special father, Tim Kuck. Tim not only builds boats - he’s the COO of Regal Marine, but he’s also a special father to three children, including Nathanial who passed away at age 4, due to multiple birth anomalies. In this Dad to Dad podcast, Tim talks of the journey undertaken by he and his wife Marie, including the formation of Nathanial’s Hope, a charity that celebrates kids with special needs. To find out more about the Special Fathers network, go to 21stcenturydads.org.