Dad to Dad Podcast

David Hirsch
  • 4.7 (27)
  • Kids & Family
  • Updated Weekly

Fathers mentoring fathers of kids with special needs - presented by the Special Fathers Network. Host David Hirsch interviews some amazing fathers of kids with special needs.

  1. 6d ago

    SFN Dad To Dad 453 - Jim Wright of Frisco, TX A Reg. Coordinator at Partner Resource Network & Father of 2 Including One With Down Syndrome

    Our guest this week is Jim Wright, of Frisco, TX who is a Region 10 Coordinator for the Partner Resource Network, a Texas nonprofit that helps parents and families of children with disabilities understand and navigate special education services. Jim is also the father of two including a son with Down Syndrome.  Jim and his wife, Toi, have been married for 25 years and are the proud parents of two boys: Franklin (20) who has Dyslexia and Freddie (23), who has Down Syndrome.    In addition to learning about the Partner Resource Network, we learn about a variety of organizations the Wright family has benefited from, including:  - Scottish Rite Hospital - Down Syndrome Guild of Dallas - Dads Appraciating Down Syndrome, and  - Arc of DFW/TX It's an inspiring story about a father's commitment to his children and service to others all on this episode of the SFN Dad To Dad Podcast.  Show Notes -  Phone – (469) 388-8662 Email – pactregion10@prntexas.org Website - https://prntexas.org/ Regiister for the 8am CT November 14, 2026 SFN Mastermind Group Informaiton Zoom -  Click here to register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/QIoLXO4IQI2OZY63KkiZsg   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 900+ 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 Dad To Dad 453 - Jim Wright of Frisco, TX A Reg. Coordinator at Partner Resource Network & Father of 2 Including One With Down Syndrome

  2. Oct 16

    SFN Dad To Dad 452 - Tim Zittle of Hope Creek, Belize A Christian Missionary & Father of Four, Including Three Adopted With Special Needs

    Our guest this week is Tim Zittle of Hope Creek, Belize who is a Christian missionary and father of four, including three who were adopted, with a range of special abilities.   Tim and his wife, Jennifer, have been married for 27 years and are the proud parents of four children: Braden (18), Joshua (17), Micha (16) and Anna Joy (13) who between them have a range of special needs.  Tim, who is originally from Baltimore, MD, along with his familly moved to Belize in 2019 ato join the  All 4 Jesus Belize Ministry and lead the 3D Freinds program in Hope Creek & Silk Grass communities in Belize.  Tim is also a teaching pastor at Crossings Church.  All For Jesus Belize Ministry is a Christian outreach organization dedicated to sharing the love of Jesus Christ through faith-based service, community engagement, and support for individuals and families in Belize. Its mission emphasizes spiritual growth, compassion, and improving lives through practical assistance and Christian fellowship.Its programs include education, medical missions, food assistance, scholarships, and 3D Friends, which supports children with disabilities and their families We also learn about the support the family has benefitted including the church and Tim Tebow Foundation.   It's an uplifting and informative story all on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.  Show Links - Email – tim@a4jb.org Website - https://www.all4jesusbelize.org/ Website - https://www.3dfriendsbz.org/ Regiister for the 8am CT November 14, 2026 SFN Mastermind Group Informaiton Zoom -  Click here to register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/QIoLXO4IQI2OZY63KkiZsg   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 900+ 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 Dad To Dad 452 - Tim Zittle of Hope Creek, Belize A Christian Missionary & Father of Four, Including Three Adopted With Special Needs

  3. Oct 9

    SFN Dad To Dad 451 - Gary Seideman of San Diego, CA Who is Director of the Film & Media Program at Options For All & Father of a Son with CP

    Our guest this week is Gary Seideman of San Diego, CA who is the Director of the Film & Media Program at Options For All and father of a son with Cerebral Palsy.  Gary and his wife, Dawn, have been married for 16 years and are the proud parents of Kye (15) who has Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy and Agenesis of the corpus callosum.       Gary reflects on how Kye has defied most all the early predications and expectations of the medical professionals and how full his life has become.  We learn about the Film & Media Program at Options For All, an organization that provides individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities hands-on training in filmmaking, video production, editing, and other media skills. The program promotes creativity, independence, and inclusion while preparing participants for meaningful employment opportunities in the film and media industry. We also learn about a host of supporting organizations Kye and the family have benefited from, including:  Epilepsy Society of San DiegoRady Children’s Hospital National Organization of Corpus Callosum Regional Center (SD), and Poway Unified SDIt's an uplifting and informative story all on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.  Show Links - Phone – (858) 253-2857 Email – gseideman@optionsforall.org LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-l-seideman-5aa7481a/ Website - https://optionsforall.org/ Regiister for the 8am CT November 14, 2026 SFN Mastermind Group Informaiton Zoom -  Click here to register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/QIoLXO4IQI2OZY63KkiZsg   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 900+ 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 Dad To Dad 451 - Gary Seideman of San Diego, CA Who is Director of the Film & Media Program at Options For All & Father of a Son with CP

  4. Oct 2

    SFN Dad To Dad 450 - Greg Yawitz of Olivette, MO Owner of KEAT Properties, Disability Advocate, Father of Two Including One With ASD

    Our guest this week is Greg Yawitz of Olivette, MO who is owner of KEAT Properties a real estate company, an outspoken advocate for the disability community and father of two girls, including one who is autistic. Greg and his wife, Julie, have been married for 33 years and are the proud parents of two daughters: Allison (29) and Kaitlyn (27), who is autistic.    Greg and Julie have been outspoken advocates for the disability community.  We learn about a wide range of organizations Kaitlyn has benefited from and that the Yawitzs have been involved with including:  - JCC - St. Louis Arc - Easter Seals, and - Autism Speaks Greg has a pragmatic approach to business, parenting and life overall.  It's an informative & uplifting story about family and service, all on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.  Show Links - Phone – (314) 504-6900 Email – greg@keatproperties.com LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregyawitz/ Special thanks to all those who supported the SFN U.S. Tour, a month-long, 50-state, 60+ stop tour that took place from May 21 to June 21, 2026: to strengthen and grow the Special Fathers Network and distribute 1,000+ complimentary copies of our new book: Dads Raising Children With Special Needs & Disabilities: A Guide For 21st Century Dads.  Special Fathers Network – SFN is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs. Many of the 900+ 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 Dad To Dad 450 - Greg Yawitz of Olivette, MO Owner of KEAT Properties, Disability Advocate, Father of Two Including One With ASD

  5. Sep 25

    SFN Dad To Dad 449 - Jim Ward of Fenton, MO A Project Engineer, Father Of Three Including One With Asperger's

    Our guest this week is Jim Ward of Fenton, MO who is an engineer and project manager at Haberberger Mechanical Contractors and father of three including a son with Aspergers.  Jim and his wife, Shelia, have been married for 29 years and are the proud parents of three children: Caleb (22), Ruth (26) and Noah (28) who has Aspergers.  One of the difficult decisions Jim & Sheila faced was putting Noah in a residential facility as a teenager, becuase of Noah's behavior and for the overall welfare of the family.  We also learn about a number of local programs that Noah and the Ward family have benfited from including:  - St. Louis Arc - Easter Seals, and  - Family Matters Jim is very transparent about discussing the ongoing challegnes that Noah faces.  It's an insightful and authentic story all on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.  Show Links Phone – (314) 713-1147 Email – ward.fam@sbcglobal.net LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-ward-1a865459/ Special thanks to all those who supported the SFN U.S. Tour, a month-long, 50-state, 60+ stop tour that took place from May 21 to June 21, 2026: to strengthen and grow the Special Fathers Network and distribute 1,000+ complimentary copies of our new book: Dads Raising Children With Special Needs & Disabilities: A Guide For 21st Century Dads.  Special Fathers Network – SFN is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs. Many of the 900+ 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 Dad To Dad 449 - Jim Ward of Fenton, MO A Project Engineer, Father Of Three Including One With Asperger's

  6. Sep 18

    SFN Dad To Dad 448 - Paul Orshan of Miami, FL An Attorney, Author & Father Of Three Including One Who Had A Rare Disease

    Our guest this week is Paul Orshan of Miami, FL who is a prominent bankruptcy attorney, an author, a recovering person (12 step- clean for more than 40 years), and the father of three, including a daughter with special needs who very sadly passed away in 2015.     Paul and his former wife were married for 17 years and are the proud parents of three children: Max, Emily and oldest child, Amanda, who was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease and very sadly passed away in 2015 at age 22. Paul is also the author of: Just Say Hello: The Ordinary Dates of My Sometimes Difficult and Sometimes Remarkable (but Always Interesting) Days (and Nights).  The idea for the book sprung from a voicemail message a friend left as a condolence, shortly after Amanda passed away.  That simple act of reaching out and just saying hello, "I'm thinking about you," has been transformative.   Paul is also very transparent about drug and alcohol issues he had in his 20s, the positive impact the 12-step program has had on his life and is super proud that he has been clean for more than 40 years.   It's an uplifting story about commitment to family, transparency, reslience and the power of simple messages, all on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.  Show Links Phone – (305) 215-3158 Email – paulorshan@gmail.com  LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/orshan-p-a-9473391b/  Book: Just Say Hello - https://tinyurl.com/mryur334  Special thanks to all those who supported the SFN U.S. Tour, a month-long, 50-state, 60+ stop tour that took place from May 21 to June 21, 2026: to strengthen and grow the Special Fathers Network and distribute 1,000+ complimentary copies of our new book: Dads Raising Children With Special Needs & Disabilities: A Guide For 21st Century Dads.  Special Fathers Network – SFN is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs. Many of the 900+ 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 Dad To Dad 448 - Paul Orshan of Miami, FL An Attorney, Author & Father Of Three Including One Who Had A Rare Disease

  7. Sep 11

    SFN Dad To Dad 447 - Jerry Rakfeldt of Santa Monica, CA Who Is An Entrepreneur, Co-Founder of Adrian's Place & Father Of A Son With CP

    Our guest this week is Jerry Rakfeldt of Santa Monica, CA who is an entrepreneur, marketing executive, disability advocate, co-founder of Growing Side By Side and Adrian’s Place and perhaps most importantly, father of two including a son with cerebral palsy. Jerry and his wife Katty have been married for 23 years and are the proud parents of two children: Sofia (19) and Adrian (22) who has cerebral palsy.  Together they founded Adrian’s Place, a community activity center in Santa Monica, CA that offers a wide range of programs for youth and young adults with intellectual and physical disabilities. What makes Adrian's Place different is rather than operating as a traditional therapy center, Adrian's Place functions as a community-based activity center where independent providers deliver programs under one roof. It's an uplifting story about family, commitment to community and service all on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.  Show Links Phone – (310) 308-4149 Email – Jerry@adriansplace.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerry-rakfeldt-994848/ Website – https://www.adriansplace.com/ Website – https://www.adriansplacefoundation.org/   Special thanks to all those who supported the SFN U.S. Tour, a month-long, 50-state, 60+ stop tour that took place from May 21 to June 21, 2026: to strengthen and grow the Special Fathers Network and distribute 1,000+ complimentary copies of our new book: Dads Raising Children With Special Needs & Disabilities: A Guide For 21st Century Dads.  Special Fathers Network – SFN is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs. Many of the 900+ 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 Dad To Dad 447 - Jerry Rakfeldt of Santa Monica, CA Who Is An Entrepreneur, Co-Founder of Adrian's Place & Father Of A Son With CP

  8. Sep 4

    SFN Dad To Dad 446 - David Aarestad of Champaign, IL An Adjunct Professor of Law at UIUC & Father Two, Including One With Down Syndrome

    Our guest this week is David Aarestad of Champaign, IL who is a lawyer by education and training, an adjunct professor of Law at University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign and father of two, including one with Down Syndrome.    David and his wife, Karen, have been married for 25 years and are the proud parents of two children: Brynn (20) and Sofia (22) who has Mosaic Down Syndrome, which impacts only 1 1/2% of those with Down Syndrome.   Prior to moving to Illinois two years ago, the Aarestads lived in Denver for more than a decade.  While there they were involved in many many organization that supported Sofia and the family, including:  Adam’s CampRocky Mountain Down Syndrome Association, and Global Down Syndrome FoundationIt's an uplifting story about a father's commitment to family and dedication to the welfare of other families all on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast. Show Notes -  Phone – (303) 514-5522 Email – davidaarestad@yahoo.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-aarestad-96163b9/   Adam’s Camp – https://adamscamp.org/ Rocky Mountain Down Syndrome Association – https://rmdsa.org/ Global Down Syndrome Foundation - https://www.globaldownsyndrome.org/ Gigi’s Playhouse – https://gigisplayhouse.org/ For the record, this episode was recordred at the Urbana Country Club in Urbana, IL, on day #31 and stop #65 of the SFN U.S. Tour, a month-long, 50-state, 60-plus stop tour to strengthen the SFN and distribute 1,000 complimentary copies of the new book: Dads Raising Children with Special Needs & Disabilities: A Guide For 21st Century Dads. Special thanks to all those who supported the SFN U.S. Tour that took place from May 21 to June 21, 2026:  Special Fathers Network – SFN is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs. Many of the 900+ 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 Dad To Dad 446 - David Aarestad of Champaign, IL An Adjunct Professor of Law at UIUC & Father Two, Including One With Down Syndrome
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4.7
out of 5
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About

Fathers mentoring fathers of kids with special needs - presented by the Special Fathers Network. Host David Hirsch interviews some amazing fathers of kids with special needs.

Information

  • Creator
    David Hirsch
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    451
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright David Hirsch
  • Show Website
    Dad to Dad Podcast

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