Episódios
-
Our guest this week is Rebekah Taussig of Shawnee, KS who is a mother, wife, author, podcast host, outspoken advocate for those with disability and who, herself is a paraplegic.
Rebekah and her husband, Micah have been married for seven years and are the proud parents of Otto, who is typical five year old.
Rebekah was diagnosed with spine cancer at age one and due to multiple surgeries lost her ability to walk at age four. She was the youngest of six children and despite her disability, still slept on the top bunk upstairs in her family home. She credits much of her success and resilience to her parents and siblings, who didn't treat her any differently.
Prior to Otto's birth, Rebekah was a high school English and Literature teacher.
Rebekah combined her PhD in Creative Non-Fiction & Disability Studies from University of Kansas, with her passion for writing to author Sitting Pretty: The View From My Ordinary, Resilient Disabled Body (2020). and more recently, a children's book entitled: We Are the Scrappy Ones (2025).
More recently Rebekah has partnered with Caitlin Metz to host the Scratch That: Parenting & Re-Parenting Off Script Podcast, now with more than 50 episodes.
It's an uplifting story about family and a woman's resilience all on this episode of the SFN Dad To Dad Podcast.
Show Notes -
Phone – (913) 940-1714
Email – [email protected]
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebekah-g-taussig-458668139/
Website - https://www.rebekahtaussig.com/
Books -
Sitting Pretty: The View From My Ordinary, Resilient Disabled Body - https://tinyurl.com/mv4nc9tk
We Are The Scrappy Ones - https://tinyurl.com/49h7rdb4
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/
SFN Mastermind Group - https://21stcenturydads.org/sfn-mastermind-group/ -
Our guest this week is Leon Logothetis of Los Angeles, a British-born adventurer, author, and television host renowned for promoting global kindness. Formerly a London-based broker, he left finance to explore human connection through travel.
Leon created and starred in the docuseries Amazing Adventures of a Nobody (2006–2008), journeying across the U.S., U.K., and Europe on minimal daily budgets. His acclaimed Netflix series The Kindness Diaries (2017–2019) chronicled his travels relying solely on strangers' generosity, offering life-changing gifts in return.
Leon has authored several books, including The Kindness Diaries and Live, Love Explore, inspiring audiences to embrace empathy and adventure. His work underscores the transformative power of compassion in everyday life.
Show Links
Instagram - @thekindnessguy
Email – [email protected]
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonlogothetis/
Website - https://www.leonlogothetis.com/
Website - https://gobekind.org/
Books –
The Kindness Diaries: One Man’s Quest To Ignite Goodwill & Transform Lives Around The World. (2015) https://tinyurl.com/3m6m8hjc
Live, Love, Explore: Discover The Way Of The Traveler A Roadmap To The Life You Were Meant To Live. (2016) - https://tinyurl.com/5bd2zdtu
Go Be Kind (2019) https://tinyurl.com/mrxf67r3
Go Be Brave 23 ¾ Adventures For A Fearless, Wiser, & Truly Magnificent Life (2023) https://tinyurl.com/mswdm4hp
Amazon Prime Movie – The Kindness Within: A Journey To Freedom (2024) https://tinyurl.com/bdfdvnd3
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/
SFN Mastermind Group - https://21stcenturydads.org/sfn-mastermind-group/ -
Estão a faltar episódios?
-
Our guest this week is Jim Littlefield-Dalmares of Louisville, KY who is Director of Market Development at BNI Middle Tennessee, author, podcast host, founder of Seeing Ability and perhaps most importantly, father of two including a child with Cerebral Palsy.
Jim and his wife, LeAnn, have been married for 27 years and are the proud parents of two: Peter (21) and Sophia (25) who was born very prematurely, diagnosed early on with Spina Bifida and who has Cerberal Palsy.
Professionally, Jim is the Director of Market Development at BNI of Middle Tennessee. He is also author of the book: Seeing Ability: Finding Your Path In Parenting A Child With Special Needs and host of the Seeing Ability Podcast. More recently, Jim has also created the Seeing Ability Foundation.
We’ll hear Jim’s life story and all about the Seeing Ability book, podcast and foudnation all on this episode of the SFN.Dad to Dad Podcast.
Show Notes -
Phone – (502) 528-0894
Email – [email protected]
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimld/
Website – https://seeingability.com/
Book – Seeing Ability: Finding Your Path In Parenting A Child With Special Needs - https://tinyurl.com/2fpfw4vp
Podcast - https://seeingability.com/podcast/
Register for the 6th Annual SFN Dads Virthual Conference on May 10, 2025:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/TLkN_ViJTTqnaK-M8pHPNA
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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 Dr. Patrick Schwarz, of Highland Park, IL who is CEO of Creative Culture Consulting, a public speaker, author of numerous books and an outspoken advocate for inclusive education for people of all abilities.
Dr. Schwarz earned his BS, MS and PhD in special education from the University of Wisconsin - Madison.
Dr. Schwarz is a dynamic professor, author, and motivational speaker renowned for his leadership in inclusive education, special education, and educational leadership.
Dr. Schwarz has dedicated his career to transforming educational practices to better serve students with diverse support needs. His seminal work, From Disability to Possibility, advocates for inclusive classrooms that recognize and nurture the potential of every learner.
Collaborating with Dr. Paula Kluth, he co-authored influential titles such as You're Welcome, Just Give Him the Whale!, and Pedro's Whale.
Through global presentations and consultations, Dr. Schwarz continues to inspire educators to create environments where all students can thrive. And you can hear his story on this episode of the SFN Dad To Dad Podcast.
Show Notes -
Phone – (708) 912-9994
Email – [email protected]
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-schwarz-55770717/
Website - https://www.patrickschwarz.com/
Books –
From Disability to Possibility, (2006) https://tinyurl.com/mtxhphuu
You're Welcome: 30 Innovative Ideas for the Inclusive Classroom (2007) https://tinyurl.com/3hbevvjm
Just Give Him The Whale: 20 Ways To Use Fascinations, Areas of Expertise and Strengths to Support Students With Autism. (2008) https://tinyurl.com/mrw3sjj9
Pedro’s Whale (2010) https://tinyurl.com/49sfd8f4
From Possibility to Success (2013) https://tinyurl.com/yeya7hsn
Howard Gardner Multiple Intelligences - https://www.simplypsychology.org/multiple-intelligences.html
Register for the 6th Annual SFN Dads Virthual Conference on May 10, 2025:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/TLkN_ViJTTqnaK-M8pHPNA
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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 Jamiel Owens, of Hatfield, PA who is a volunteer firefighter, advocate for those with disability, founder of Ausomeness Inc. and a father of two, including a son who is autistic.
Jamiel and his wife, Marta Santa, have been married for 5 years and you are the proud father of two children: Alejandro (3) and Shane (16), who is Autistic.
With little more than a GED, Jamiel has become a disability advocate and role model for others raising children with disability. Through Ausomeness, Inc. Jamiel has created a social enterprise that provides education, empowerment, engagement, and support to families of children with autism.
We also learn about Jamiel's faith, his overcoming the issue of father absence in his youth and how that has informed him about the importance of being present.
All on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.
Show Links
Phone – (445) 247-2071
Email – [email protected]
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiel-owens-75a985213/
Website - https://ausomenessinc.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ausomenessinc/
Register for the 6th Annual SFN Dads Virthual Conference on May 10, 2025:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/TLkN_ViJTTqnaK-M8pHPNA
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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 Eli Pierce of Aurora, CO who is a customer service representative at Silk Trade, a UK based software company. Eli is the father of four children, including one who is a spastic quadriplegic with cerebral palsy and epilepsy.
Eli, and his wife, Cassidy, have been married for 5 years and he is the proud father of four children: Evelyn (14), Elias (11), adopted daughter Annabelle (6) and Ettison (13) who is spastic quadriplegic with Cerebral Palsy and epilepsy.
For many years, Eli was a single dad with full custody of his three children from his first marriage. Eli's an overcomer dad. He's overcome a challenging upbringing, a challenging first marriage and the ongoing challenges of fathering four children, including one with profound disability.
Eli's commitment to his family is second to none and he serves as a great role model to those within and outside the disability community.
More recently Eli has joined the Denver SFN Mastermind Group and is thriving.
Learn this and more on the current episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.
Show Links
Phone – (719) 639-1782
Email – [email protected]
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/elishapierce/
Developmental Pathways in Denver https://www.dpcolo.org
Colorado Springs Resource Exchange https://www.tre.org
Children’s of Hospital Colorado https://www.childrenscolorado.org
Register for the 6th Annual SFN Dads Virthual Conference on May 10, 2025:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/TLkN_ViJTTqnaK-M8pHPNA
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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/ -
Michael our guest this week is Michael Pereira of Miami, FL who a financial representative, the father of two and founder of the The Autism Voyage.
Michael and his wife, Elizeth, have been married for 9 years and you are the proud parents of two children: Amanda Sophia (3) and Christian Omar (7) who is Autistic.
Michael is also the founder of Autism Voyage, offering financial planning assistance to parents of kids with special needs. Michael has made it his mission to share specialized knowledge in financial planning and support for special needs families, driven by his firsthand understanding and commitment to aiding similar families navigate their unique challenges.
We’ll hear about Michael’s journey, about his faith, growing up in Puerto Rico, being raised by a single mom and going on to be a very committed husband and father all on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.
Show Notes -
Phone – (786) 387-7522
Email – [email protected]
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpereirafl/
Website - https://theautismvoyage.com/
Register for the 6th Annual SFN Dads Virthual Conference on May 10, 2025:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/TLkN_ViJTTqnaK-M8pHPNA
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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 Jason Bechtold of Cary, IL. a director of IT services and an executive coach at Bain as well as the father of three who have a variety of neurological, psychological and intellectual challenges.
Jason and his wife, Lori Hermann, have been married for 8 years and he is the proud father of three children: Jordyn (24), Tyler (20), and Jessica (18), who between them have experienced: brain cancer, Asperger’s, ADHD and very sadly sexual assault.
Jason is a former weapons specialist with the U.S. Army Natiaonl Guard. For the past 20+ years he has worked in Chicago at Bain, the international consulting firm, where he serves as director of IT and as an executive coach. Separate from his work there, Jason also does leadership coaching for men.
Jason reflects on his spirituality and growing up as one of three boys with a father who was a pastor, owner of Christian book stores, a chaplain for the local police and fire departments as well as a long-time social worker in Cook County.
We’ll hear Jason’s story and about his mission to be help men to become the best version of themselves all on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.
Show Links -
Phone – (312) 593-2808
Email – [email protected]
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbechtold/
Website - https://waycocoaching.com/
Register for the 6th Annual SFN Dads Virthual Conference on May 10, 2025:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/TLkN_ViJTTqnaK-M8pHPNA
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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 Jen Lumanlan of Berkeley, CA wife, mother, researcher, parenting coach, author, curator of the Your Parenting Mojo website and host of the Your Parenting Mojo Podcast.
Jen and her husband, Alvin, have been married for 15 years and are the proud parents of daughter, Carys, who is 10 years old.
Jen was born and raised in England. She has a bachelors degree: English & Forestry from U.C. Berkeley, a masters degree in environmental management from Yale and a masters degree in psychology (child development) & education.
As a result of becoming a parent, frustrated by the lack of suitable parenting resources and informed by her masters in psychology & education, Jen redirected her energies into doing research and creating the Your Parenting Mojo podcast to fill that gap. That lead to creating the Parenting Mojo website and doing parent coaching.
Jen is the author of Parenting Beyond Power: How To Use Connection & Collaboration To Transform Your Family & The World, which is a must read for all parents.
Jen has also been self-diagnosed with Autism, which she credits with informing her about many of the challenges she experienced as a youth. More recently Jen has woven her understanding of: white supremacy, patriarchy, and racism into her work.
Her dedication to research, attention to detail and her straight foward ability to communicate sets her apart from many others in the parent coaching field.
All on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.
Show Notes -
Email – [email protected]
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-lumanlan-b5b115192/
Website - https://yourparentingmojo.com/
Your Parenting Mojo Quiz - https://yourparentingmojo.com/quiz/
Your Parenting Mojo Podcast episodes referenced in this interview:
#94 – Using Nonviolent Communication To Parent More Peacefully: https://yourparentingmojo.com/?s=non+violent+communication
#129 – The Physical Reasons You Yell At Your Kids: https://yourparentingmojo.com/?s=129
#175 – I’ll Be Me, Can You Be You: https://yourparentingmojo.com/?s=175
#232 – What Dog Trainers Know: https://yourparentingmojo.com/?s=232
#238 – Feeling Exhausted & Overwhelmed? Tools To Help You Cope: https://yourparentingmojo.com/?s=238
Register for the 6th Annual SFN Dads Virthual Conference on May 10, 2025:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/TLkN_ViJTTqnaK-M8pHPNA
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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 Rady Johnson of Westport, CT, a recently retired senior executive at Pfizer and a father of three including one with intellectual disabilities.
Rady and his wife, Diane, have been married for 38 years and are the proud parents of three children: Katherine (36), Bridget (30) and Michael (34) who was adopted from Romania as a one year old and who has intellectual disabilities.
Despite a wide range of challenges, Michael has lead a pretty remarkable life. Through organizations like Special Olympics, Best Buddies and church youth groups, Michael has grown and developed. Remarkably, Michael holds down three jobs; one as an office aid a Tauck, the world-wide travel agency, another on the maintenance crew at a Long Island beach, and a third at Marshall's the department store.
The Johnson family story is a shing example about commitment and the importance of community
all on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.
Show Links
Phone – (917) 545-3090
Email – [email protected]
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/rady-johnson-0ab46a7/
MIRA Usa Guide Dogs For The Blind https://www.mirausa.org
Register for the 6th Annual SFN Dads Virthual Conference on May 10, 2025:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/TLkN_ViJTTqnaK-M8pHPNA
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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 Kirby Rabalais of Glenview, IL the Director of Strategic Growth at Truce Software, father of two including one with Pitt Hopkins Syndrome and more recently the founder of 4TITUDE an online community created to support dads raising children with special healthcare needs.
Kirby and his wife, Chelsea, have been married for 8 years and are the proud parents of two boys: Porter (4) and Harley (6), who has Pitt Hopkins Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that causes developmental, intellectual and physical changes in children.
Informed by the experience of being a special needs dad and empowered by the benefits he's experienced from others, Kirby has created 4TITUDE, a community whose motto is: "Finding Strength in Every Challenge." They understand the emotional journey and unique challenges that come with raising a child with disabilities. The 4TITUDE mission is: "to provide empathetic support, guidance, and resources to help fathers navigate this path with strength and resilience."
Kirby is also a member of the Chicago SFN Mastermind Group that meets on Thursdays at 10:30am CT.
This is a story about faith, family and commitment to service, all on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.
Show Links
Phone – (312) 718-4098
Email – [email protected]
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirby-rabalais/
Website - https://pitthopkins.org/
Website - https://www.got4titude.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/got4titude
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565609293661
Napa Center Austin https://napacenter.org/about-austin/
Book a FREE discovery coaching call to receive a 50% discount on the Foundation or Momentum 4titude coaching packages. Use code DAD2DAD upon checkout of packages.
Book your FREE DISCOVERY CALL NOW
Register for the 6th Annual SFN Dads Virthual Conference on May 10, 2025:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/TLkN_ViJTTqnaK-M8pHPNA
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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 Tim Kane of Ridgewood, NJ a former Senior Director of Broadcasting for the NBA, board member at the Epic School Foundation and father of three children including an autistic son.
Tim and his wife, Laurie, have been married for 28 years and are the proud parents of three children: Katie (27), Caroline (21) and Jack (24) who is Autistic.
Tim reflects on his storied career that began at ESPN in the early days and with the NBA for more than 30 years as well as a long list of NBA A-listers who have showed an extraordinary level of compassion for the Kane family and especially their son.
Tim also talks about his faith and shares with gratitude some of the organizations that have had an influential role in their lives, including:
EPIC School Foundation Autism NJ, and Kennedy KriegerAll on this episode of he SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.
Show Links -
Phone – (201) 673-2750
Email – [email protected]
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-kane-09aa304/
Kennedy Krieger Institute https://www.kennedykrieger.org
Epic School https://www.epicschool.org
Autism New Jersey https://www.epicschool.org
Register for the 6th Annual SFN Dads Virthual Conference on May 10, 2025:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/TLkN_ViJTTqnaK-M8pHPNA
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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/
Special thanks to Amgen for there ongoing an generous support. https://www.amgen.com/ < -
Our guest this week is Sebastien Pelletier of Montreal, Canada a financial professional and father of four, three of whom were diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa. The Pelletier family was also featured in the National Geographic documentary BLINK.
Sebastien and his wife, Edith Lemay, have been married for 14 years and are the proud parents of four children: Mia (13), Leo (11), Colin (9) and Laurent (7). Mia, Colin and Laurent have been diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa, a rare genetic disorder also known as Inherited Retinal Dystrophy (IRD) that causes loss of vision.
There is no known cure for IRD that will eventually lead to complete blindness. In lieu of just providing their children with images, videos and movies to bolster their visual memories, the family embarked on an 18 month, 15 country journey around the world, which became the subject of the 2024 National Geographic documentary BLINK.
BLINK is more than a beautifully filmed travelogue to once-in-a-lifetime destinations, it's about the family’s love, resilience and unshakeable sense of wonder to ensure that their uncertain future does not define their present.
Today's episode is also a touching reflection about a couple's commitment to family and adventure, all on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.
Show Links -
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastien-p-62840b/
Quebec Foundation for Visually Impaired – https://fondationdesaveugles.org/en/
Blink Documentary Official Website - https://films.nationalgeographic.com/blink
Edith’s Book - https://www.amazon.ca/Plein-leurs-yeux-gardent-m%C3%A9moire-ebook/dp/B0DGLLRD2K
AQPEHV: https://www.aqpehv.qc.ca/ Mira: https://www.mira.ca/en/
Fighting blindness: https://www.fightingblindness.org/
MiraUSA Guide Dogs https://www.mirausa.org
Register for the 6th Annual SFN Dads Virthual Conference on May 10, 2025:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/TLkN_ViJTTqnaK-M8pHPNA
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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 James Burch, of Georgetown, Grand Cayman, who is a corporate law partner at Walkers, amateur boxer and single father of three young boys, including one with global developmental delays.
James was born and raised in Chelton, England. After obtaining his education and becoming a lawyer he has worked overseas in Hong Kong and Grand Cayman.
James and his x-wife, Gemma, were married for 9 years before divorcing seven years ago and are the proud parents of three boys: Charlie (10), Harry (12) and Archie (14), who suffered brain damage at the time of his birth and who has global developmental delays.
There were complications with Archie's birth that required he be medevacked to Miami for emergency surgery, so on a moments notice, James joined Archie on the flight to Miami and didn't return to Grand Cayman for three years.
James' story is a reminder, that "in the blink of an eye" life as you know it can end. There's was a surreal experience and very fortunately Archie is a miracle child.
We also learn about James' interest in boxing, which is leading to his first professional fight in Colombia, in May at age 48.
It's an inspiring story about a father's commitment to his children and overcoming adversity all on this week's episode SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.
Show Notes -
Phone/WhatsApp – 1-345-926-9588
Email – [email protected]
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-burch-42041510/
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children - https://www.gosh.nhs.uk/
Register for the 6th Annual SFN Dads Virthual Conference on May 10, 2025:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/TLkN_ViJTTqnaK-M8pHPNA
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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 Isaac Jean Paul of Los Angeles, CA. who is a father and U.S. Paralympic track and field champion who just happens to be legally blind.
Isaac and his significant other, Myra Harris, are the proud parents of two year old daughter Shylah.
Isaac was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago. In high school he was a track & field star. As he began to lose his sight he didn't want to be treated any differently than everyone else. A friend suggested he compete in adaptive athletics, which led to training and qualifying for the U.S. Paralympic Team. He's won national championships and represented the U.S. Paralympic Team in Tokyo and Paris, where he is a two time medalist in the long jump.
Isaac is also the author of a children's book entitled: Mya's Marvelous Day At The Games , which was published in July 2024. Isaac will be inducted into the Lewis University Athletic Hall of Fame in March 2025, just as his mom was 20+ years ago.
Isaac is an engaging fellow and we’ll hear his thoughts on success and life on this week’s episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.
Show Notes -
Phone – (847) 800-0376
Email – [email protected]
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/isaac-jean-paul-9a1078160/
Website - https://www.isaacjeanpaul.com/
Instagram – IJP_IAMONE
Register for the 6th Annual SFN Dads Virthual Conference on May 10, 2025:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/TLkN_ViJTTqnaK-M8pHPNA
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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 Alfred Niwagaba, of Kampala, Uganda who is the director of the Little Angels School in Wakiso and father of four children including a son with Down Syndrome.
Alfred and his wife, Rosemary Nambooze, have been married for 16 years and are the proud parents of four children: Benjamin (5), Beroil (9), Abigale (15) and Abryl (14), who has Down Syndrome and has some hearing deficits.
Alfred runs The Little Angels School, with over 600 students. Alfred and Rosemary also run Angel’s Center For Children With Special Needs, a NGO that serves families raising children with special needs.
It’s a fascinating story and we’ll hear it on this week’s episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.
Show Links -
Phone – +256-788-887077 WhatsApp
Email – [email protected]
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/niwagaba-alfred-357ba814a/
Angel’s Center For Children With Special Needs https://angelscentre.org
Register for the 6th Annual SFN Dads Virthual Conference on May 10, 2025:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/TLkN_ViJTTqnaK-M8pHPNA
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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 Jason Tuttle of Atlanta, GA, a former physical education and special education teacher, a stay at home parent and father to two children with multiple physical and cognitive disabilities.
Jason and his wife, Jennifer, have been married for 21 years and are the proud parents of two children: Samantha (16) who is non-verbal, epileptic, wheelchair bound and has severe neuro developmental delays, and Zachary who, very sadly, passed away in January 2022, at age 15, who was diagnosed with Eagle Barrett Syndrome, was non-verbal, epileptic and had severe development delays.
Since Zachary's passing, Jason has dedicated his energies to writing and sharing his feelings about grief with the aim of helping other men in similar situations. We learn about Bert's Big Adventure, an organization that had a profound impact on Zachary, Letters To Zachary and the Letters To Zachary Coloring Book.
Jason's story is one of tragedy and heartbreak as well as purpose and fulfillment all on this week’s episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.
Show Links
Phone – (770) 823-6867
Email – [email protected]
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-tuttle-4264112a7/
Website - https://letterstozachary.com/?trk=public_post-text
Facebook Page – https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552174684952
Letters To Zachary Coloring Book - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DC5GSFZK
Register for the 6th Annual SFN Dads Virthual Conference on May 10, 2025:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/TLkN_ViJTTqnaK-M8pHPNA
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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 Michael McManus of Barrington, IL, Vice President of Captive Resources, co-proprietor of Jigsaw Farms and father of two adult sons, including one with Autism.
Michael and his wife Stacie have been married for 33 years and are the proud parents of two boys: Matt (30) and Jake (29) who is Autistic.
Jake has benefited from a host of programs, including:
Cure Autism Now (CAN), now known as Autsim Speaks,Brave Hearts, and Cowboy DreamsMichael & Stacie purchased a 50 acre working horse farm in Woodstock, IL and renamed it Jigsaw Farms. In addition to their own horses, the farm currently boards 40 horses, includes three full time staff all with separate residences. They also rebuilt a house which would be suitable for Jake to live in, along with space for a caregiver.
We’ll hear about that and more on this week’s episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.
Show Links
Phone – (847) 460-8792
Email – [email protected]
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-mcmanus-21a12932/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jigsawfarms/
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 Scott MacGregor of Fishers, IN who is Executive Director of Content and Storytelling at Eli Lilly and Company and father of three including one with Down Syndrome.
Scott and his wife, Sara, have been married for 23 years and are the proud parents of three living children: Ainsley (16), Jack (18) and Abby (21) who has Down Syndrome. Very sadly, their son Owen who had Trisomy 13, was still born in 2011.
We learn about a wide range of organizations Abby has benefited from, including: Gigi's Playhouse,, Unified Track, Kids Dance Outreach and First Steps as well as DADS (Dads Appreciating Down Syndrome).
Scott supported his wife Sara as she co-founded Same As U, a nonprofit organization, located in Noblesville, IN established in 2019 to serve young adults with developmental disabilities and to help them live the life they imagine. Same As U is filling a need for more meaningful activities and programming that often stop upon leaving the traditional school system.
We’ll hear all about that school, Scott’s gift of story telling and his commitment to family all on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.
Show Links
Phone – (317) 440-4699
Email – [email protected]
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jscottmacgregor/
Website - https://www.sameasu.org/
Same As U - Vimeo - https://vimeo.com/957878602
DADS. Dads Appreciating Down Syndrome https://www.dadsnational.org
Gigi’s Playhouse https://gigisplayhouse.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 Jessica Ronne of Holland, MI, author, speaker, podcast host, founder & executive director of the Lucas Project and perhaps most importantly, wife and the mother of eight, including one with special needs.
Jess and her second husband, Ryan, have been married for 14 years and between them are the proud parents of eight children: four from her first marriage: Caleb, Lucas, Mable and Joshua, three from Ryan's first marriage: Tate, Mia, and Jada and Annabelle (9) who they had together.
Their son Lucas suffered a stroke in vitro at 20 months; has global developmental delays, is non-verbal, has hydrocephalous, severe Autism, scoliosis, and low muscle tone.
Very sadly Jess' first husband Jason, died of brain cancer in 2010. And Ryan's first wife, Kaci, also passed away from cancer in 2010. The couple met through some mutual acquaintances and married after a brief courtship to go on to have their 8th child, Annabelle.
Jess is a prolific author having published four books:
-- Sunlight Burning At Midnight (2013) a memoir
-- Lovin’ With Grit & Grace (2017) reprinted in 2023
-- Blended With Grit & Grace (2021)
-- Caregiving With Grit & Grace (2024)
Jess is also the founder and executive director of The Lucas Project, a nonprofit organization, whose mission is "to provide recognition, respite and resources to family caregivers of those with special needs."
She also hosts the Coffee With Caregivers Podcast and a blog that goes by the name: Jess Plus The Mess.
Jess is the oldest of 12 children, a dynamo and caregiver extraoridInaire. We'll hear all about Jess' journey, her deep faith and her wonderful sense of humor on this week’s SFN Dad To Dad Podcast.
Show Notes
Phone – (616) 617-9077
Email – [email protected]
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-ronne-4b412670/
Podcast Coffee With Caregivers - https://anchor.fm/jess-ronne
Website – https://www.jessplusthemess.com/
Website: https://www.thelucasproject.org/
Documentary Unseen - https://caregiverdoc.com/ .
Books –
Sunlight Burning At Midnight - https://tinyurl.com/3fsrekay
Blended With Grit & Grace - https://tinyurl.com/mr25k2rm
Lovin’ With Grit & Grace - https://tinyurl.com/3janr2sv
Caregiving With Grit & Grace - https://tinyurl.com/bdhted3v
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jessplusthemess Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessplusthemess
Pinterest: pinterest.com/jessplusthemess/
Twitter: twitter.com/jessplusthemess
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/ - Mostrar mais
