Special Fathers' Network Podcast

Our guest this week is Justin DeVault of Algonquin, IL. Justin and his wife, Margaret, have been married for 17 years and are the proud parents of three; Hazel (3), Alice (5) and Henry (13). Hazel was diagnosed with Autism and Henry had a brain stroke shortly after birth, that lead to the loss of his sight and has impaired his neurological development. We’ll learn about Justin's journey, which included a sister with special needs and who is legally blind, teaching in a Montessori School, the full range of challenges their children have encountered and a number of organizations that have played an influential role in their lives, including: Dream Riders TLC, Clearbrook Arlington Heights, Duke University Cord Blood Bank and Thumbuddy Special. It’s a fascinating story and one we’ll hear this week on the Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast. LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-devault-373043b9/ Email – [email protected] Dream Riders TLC - https://www.dreamriderstlc.com Clearbrook Arling

Our guest this week is Mike Graglia of Palo Alto, CA. Mike and his wife, Ashley, are parents to two boys John (3) and Tony (8) who was diagnosed with SynGap 1, a rare genetic disorder. We’ll learn about Mike's eclectic career including being a Peace Corps volunteer in Namibia, as well as working at: the World Bank, Boston Consulting Group, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, New America, and Emerson Collective before jumping in full-time at the SynGAP Research Fund in a quest to find treatments and a cure for those who diagnosed with SynGap1. It’s a fascinating story and one we’ll hear this week on the Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast. Website – https://www.syngapresearchfund.org SynGAP 10 Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/syngap10-weekly-10-minute-updates-on-syngap1-video/id1560389818 Email – [email protected] LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/graglia/ Evans/Graglia YouTube Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLO2hsAi4-M&t=

Our guest this week is Riana Milne of Del Rey Beach, FL, who is a mother of two, grandmother of six, a licensed mental health counselor with decades of experience, a global life & love coach, childhood and love trauma recovery specialist, bestselling author and fellow podcast host. Riana has a BA in Broadcasting & Speech Communications from Penn State University, and a MA in Applied Clinical & Counseling Psychology from Rowan University, NJ, plus a dozen certificates and licenses, including; Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, Certified Addictions Professional and Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor.She is also a best selling author including the books: - Live Beyond Your Dreams-Love Beyond Your DreamsRiana also hosts the Lessons In Life & Love Podcast, with well over 100 episodes. Riana offers sage advice for moms and dads for themselves and their relationships as well as those seeking help for their sons/daughters and other loved ones. Website - https://rianamilne.com > E-book and 4

Our guest this week is Catherine Whitchter of Milwaukee, WI a mother two daughters, one of whom has Epilepsy. Catherine is also one the country’s most well-respected experts on IEPs or Individual Education Plans. She is also a podcast host and has created the Master IEP Coach program. We’ll learn about her career as a Special Education teacher, growing up with a younger brother with Down syndrome and hear some sage advice on how to create win-win strategies to help your child succeed. That’s all on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast.Show Links:Website - https://catherinewhitcher.mykajabi.com Email – [email protected] LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherinewhitcher/ Special Education Inner Circle Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/special-education-inner-circle/id1484686234website: https://www.masteriepcoach.comSpecial Fathers Network - SFN is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs. Many of the 500+ SFN Mentor Father

Our guest this week is Duncan Keya of Nairobi, Kenya, the father of four children and a Designated Migration Officer at the Canadian High Commission in Nairobi. Duncan and his wife, wife, Faith, have been married for six years and are the proud parents of four children: Luka (5), who has Autism, Khalayi (2) who has Albinism and two other children: Keith (13) and Kaylee (6) from his first marriage. Duncan has become an outspoken advocate for families raising children with all types of special healthcare needs and has helped start the SFN Nairobi Dads Meetup Group. It's a very compelling story all here on the SFN Dad To Dad Podcast. Kenya Autism Alliance - http://www.kenyaautismalliance.org Albinism Society of Kenya Website – https://albinismsocietyofkenya.org/blog/blog-2/ Positive Exposures Kenya website - http://www.positiveexposure-kenya.orgEmail – [email protected] LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/duncan-keya-03155729/ Andy Speaks - https://andy.or.ke Special Fathers Network - SFN is a dad to da

Our guest this week is William "Bill" Strickland, Jr. of Pittsburg, PA, a John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Genius Fellow, founder of Bidwell Training Center and Manchester Craftsman's Guild, an author, and a former pilot. Bill is the quintessential social entrepreneur. Through his love of the arts and specifically pottery, Bill has been offering welfare moms, out of work steel workers and at-risk youth vocational training in the arts and culinary worlds. Bill Strickland and his work offers new hope to displaced and underemployed workers around the country and we’re proud to have him be our guest for this 200th Special Father Network Dad to Dad Podcast. Personal website - http://www.bill-strickland.com/home.html Email - [email protected] Website - https://www.manchesterbidwell.org TED Talk - https://www.ted.com/speakers/bill_strickland Harvard Video - https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/voices/events/strickland/ Book - Make the Impossible Possible - https://www.amazon.com/Make-Impossible-Possib

Our guest this week is Damion Navarro of Frankfort, IL, owner of NES Environmental, a father of three, including son Carter, who has Down Syndrome, and now a farmer! Damion and his wife, Sherri, are co-founders of Navarro Farm, a place to grow and employ people with all types of ability. We’ll hear Damion’s and the Navarro Farm story in this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast. Navarro Farm - https://www.navarrofarm.orgEmail – [email protected] LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/damion-navarro-31314160/ CBS Story - https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2021/08/13/navarro-farm-frankfort-illinois-special-needs/Special Fathers Network - SFN is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs. Many of the 500+ 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 under

Our guest this week is Jeremiah Kuria of Maaimahiu, Kenya, the father of three adult children and co-founder of Ubuntu Life, a Non-Governmental Organization and global lifestyle brand that provides economic security to hundreds of families raising children with special needs. Jeremiah reflects on his growing up in Escarpment, Kenya as the oldest of six children, the cultural differences, his paternal grandfather who was an assistant chief in their village, working in a children's home in Kenya, and going to school, working and living in Grand Rapids, MI for eight years.Jeremiah also reflects on the chance encounter in he had in 2000 with Zane Wilemon, a Texas pastor doing missionary work in Kenya and how that friendship led to the creation of Ubuntu Life, a NGO and global lifestyle brand providing economic security to hundreds of families raising children with special needs. It's an enlightening and inspiring story about serving the poorest of the poor and providing meaningful employment to those willing to

Our guest this week is Josh LaBelle, Executive Director of the Seattle Theatre Group, a former drummer for musicians Sam Phillips and T Bone Burnett and a father of two including son Levi (8) who has extreme ADHD and speech issues.We’ll hear Josh’s story including his own challenges with Epilepsy and how the Seattle Theatre Group runs a program to provide theatre that caters to families raising children with special needs. That’s all on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast.Show Links:Seattle Theater Group https://www.STGPresents.orgEmail Josh: [email protected] Fathers Network - SFN is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs. Many of the 500+ 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 goin

Our guest this week is Spela Mirosovic. who is a psychotherapist and biopsychologist, working as a researcher at the Medical University Ljubljana. Her work is focused on exploring unmet needs of cancer survivors and teaching mindfulness programs. Spela is also a mother to 2-year-old Urban who was diagnosed with CTNNB1, a rare autosomal genetic disorder that affects an estimated 1 out of 50,000 children worldwide. Spela is also co-founded and president of the CTNNB1 Foundation created to help find a cure for this debilitating syndrome. We’ll hear Spela’s story and much more on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast.Website – https://ctnnb1-foundation.org Email – [email protected] LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spelakrizanec/ Cure CTNNB1 website - https://www.curectnnb1.org Special Fathers Network - SFN is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs. Many of the 500+ SFN Mentor Fathers, who are raising kids with special needs, have said: "I wis

Our guest this week is Susanna Peace-Lovell, a single mother, certified life coach and advocate for the health and wellness of all special needs families. Susanna's daughter, Arizona, has ADHD, Eczema, severe food allergies, sensory and auditory processing disorders as well as Autism. We’ll hear Susanna’s story, her work as a life coach and her dedication to serve families raising children with special healthcare needs. That’s all on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast.Show Links:Email - [email protected] LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/susannapeace/ Website - https://www.susannapeacelovell.com Cheerful Helpers Child & Family Study Center - https://www.cheerfulhelpers.org The Children’s Ranch - http://www.thechildrensranch.org Social Foundations LA - https://www.socialfoundationsla.com We Are Brave Together - https://www.wearebravetogether.comSpecial Fathers Network - SFN is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs. Many of the 500

Our guest this week is Al Freedman of West Chester, PA a Psychologist who specializes in counseling families touched by rare disease and disability. Al is a divorced father of two adult children; Cara (21) and Jack (26), who had Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a rare neuromuscular disorder, leaving him wheel chair and ventilator dependent. David Hirsch recorded this interview with Al in August, 2021, but ivery sadly, Jack passed away in October at age 26. So, David spoke again with Al this week to have Al reflect on the impact Jack had on him, those he met and beyond. We’ll hear the original conversation then we’ll hear the follow-up, recorded just a few days ago, on March 23rd 2022. Jack Freedman has shined a positive light on everyone he met. We’ll hear about that light and we’ll feel that light in this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast. Show Links:Cure SMA - https://www.curesma.orgThe Muscular Dystrophy Association - https://www.mda.orgMake A Wish Foundation - https://wish.orgThe DuPont Hos

Our guest this week is Miguel Sancho, of Larchmont, NY a journalist and an Emmy award winning TV producer. Miguel and his wife, Felicia Morton, have been married for 16 years and are the proud parents of two; Lydia (13) and Sebastian (9), who was diagnosed with CGD, Chronic Granulomatous Disease, a rare genetic disorder in which white blood cells called phagocytes are unable to kill certain types of bacteria and fungi. People with CGD are constantly at risk of developing bacterial and fungal diseases that can be life-threatening.Miguel is also the author of: More Thank You Can Handle: A Rare Disease, A Family In Crisis, And The Cutting-Edge Medicine That Cured The Incurable. Miguel is a gifted story teller and he shares his family's chaotic, exhausting, funny, heartbreaking nerve-racking journey in a very authentic way. It's an enlightening and illuminating story all on this SFN Dad To Dad Podcast. Links: More Thank You Can Handle: A Rare Disease, A Family In Crisis, And The Cutting-Edge Medicine That Cur

Our guest this week is Eliya Stromberg, the founder of Fathers Connect and author of Chosen Fathers. Eliya and his wife Esther have several grandchildren and parent of three grown children, including Ariel (32) who has Down Syndrome. We’ll hear Eliya’s story about growing up in Los Angeles, taking degrees from UC Berkeley, Yeshiva University (NYC) and University of Kansas and how his career took him all across North America, before landing in Jerusalem. We also learn about his transformation from being an educator of to the parent of a child with special needs and his calling to assist fathers, which has lead to authoring the book Chosen Fathers and starting the non-profit Fathers Connect. And more on this episode of the Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast. Links: Email: [email protected] Fathers: Life Lessons Learned From Fathers of Children With Disabilities - https://www.amazon.com/Chosen-Fathers-Lessons-Children-Disabilities/dp/9659254105Special Fathers Network - SFN is a dad to da

Our guest on this SFN Dad To Dad Podcast 'Special Report' is SFN Mentor Father Ruslan Vasyutin of Kiev Ukraine, the father of a nine year old daughter with Cerebral Palsy, who is unable walk or talk. Today March 9, 2022 marks day 14 since Russia sent its army into Ukraine. This unprovoked and hostile action has upended the lives of all Ukrainians and put Ukraine at the Geopolitcal center of the world.Ruslan previously did an interview for the SFN Dad To Dad Podcast (episode #148), which aired in May 2021, just 10 months ago. As a native of Ukraine and as the father of a child with special needs as well as the leader of a non-profit that serves families raising children with special needs, we agreed now would be a very interesting time to do an update. We are very glad to report, Ruslan and his family were able to evacuate, are safe and are currently staying with friends in Slovakia. It’s a fascinating conversation and testimony to a father’s commitment to his family and service to others.Special Fathers N

Our guest this week is Shandra Cubin, co-founder of Special Hearts, a dating app for parents of kids with special needs. Shandra and her husband, Rich, have two children, including a son, Koen, who has been diagnosed with Seizure Disorder and Hyperlexia, which includes the ability to read at a surprisingly early age and often accompanied by an obsessive interest in letters and numbers. We’ll hear Shandra’s story and more on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast. Show Links:Find the Special Hearts app in the Google Play store, or Go to https://www.special-hearts.comEmail – [email protected] Special Fathers Network - SFN is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs. Many of the 500+ 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 co

Our guest this week is Amjad Farah, of Livonia, MI who is a global account director at PPG. Amjad and his wife Buthayna, have been married for 27 years and are the proud parents of three children: Amal (26), Sadallah (25) and Abdullah (19) who was diagnosed with Epilepsy and moderate to severe cognitive impairment. We’ll hear Ahmad’s family story, their immigration from the West Bank in Palestine, and more this week on the Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast. Show Links:Muhsen – https://muhsen.org ARC of NW Wayne County – https://thearcnw.org Early On Intervention MI – https://www.1800earlyon.org Email – [email protected] LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/amjad-farah-a0975643/Special Fathers Network - SFN is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs. Many of the 500+ 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

Our guest this week is Tom D’Amato of St. Charles, IL who is a Patient Advocate at Horizon Therapeutics, a company dedicated to delivering medicines for rare, autoimmune and severe inflammatory diseases. Tom and his wife, Ashley, have been married for 13 years are the proud parents of three, including two of whom have special healthcare needs. Callie has a rare kidney disease, and Brody has Periodic Fever Syndrome, one of only 700 cases worldwide. Tom also reflects on being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and his own treatment regimen.We’ll hear all about that and more on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast. Show Links:Horizon Therapeutics – https://www.horizontherapeutics.com/company/about-us HT Patient Advocacy - https://www.horizontherapeutics.com/patients/advocacy/ NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders) – https://rarediseases.org Global Genes – https://globalgenes.org Email Tom at - [email protected] Fathers Network - SFN is a dad to dad mentoring program for f

Our guest this week is Edgar Pacheco, Sr., of Pearland, TX, a senior paralegal and father of three, including oldest child Edgar Jr. who was born without arms or legs. We’ll hear the story of the two Edgars, from senior's growing up in Huatulco, Mexico, his immigration to the U.S., the family's faith as well as Edgar junior's knack for politics and how he has been transforming lives.That’s all on this Special Network Dad to Dad Podcast. Show Links:ABC News Story - https://abc13.com/game-changer-edgar-pacheco-tetra-amelia-pearland-texas/5384431/ House Bill 1252 renamed the Edgar Pacheco Bill (2:44 – 2:47)https://tlcsenate.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=49&clip_id=16253 Edgar Pacheco Email - [email protected] Edgar’s phone # (956) 243-1952Special Fathers Network - SFN is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs. Many of the 500+ SFN Mentor Fathers, who are raising kids with special needs, have said: "I wish there was something like this when we first rec

Our guest this week is Mark Miller, of Marietta, GA a self proclaimed 'chicken salesman' and one of the original employees at Chick-fil-A, where he has worked for more than 40 years and currently serves as Vice-President of High Performance Leadership. Mark is a best selling author or co-author of nine books with more than one million copies in print and in 25+ languages. Mark is also a well respected pubic speaker and executive coach who has had the privilege to teach and lead in not-for-profit organizations domestically and globally.Mark and his wife Donna have been married for 39 years and are the proud parents of two adult sons Justin and David, who has Cerebral Palsy, Autism and Epilepsy. Mark shares his family story, his rise through the ranks at Chick-fil-A, his journey as a special needs dad, his insights as a best selling author and his thoughts on the qualities that make great leaders. That’s all on this Special Network Dad to Dad Podcast. Show Links:Mark’s website - https://www.markmillerlead