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419 – Matt Shepherd of Emporia, KS, Owner of Midwest Evaluation & Research, Father Of Twins, One With Developmental Delays

Description Our guest this week is Matt Shepherd of Emporia, KS who is President and CEO of Midwest Evaluation & Research and father of two adopted children including one with developmental delays.  Matt and his wife, Brenda, have been married for 35 years and are the proud parents of two adopted children; Jeremy (26) and Bonnie (25) who has high emotional intelligence as well as development delays. Professionally, Matt is owner of Midwest Evaluations and Research, a consulting firm that helps community-based organizations, foundations, schools, and governments evaluate and improve their programs.  Along the way he has developed a high

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418 – Mike Griffiths of San Francisco, CA Exec. VP at CBRE & Father Of Two Including A Son With KCNB1 A Rare Genetic Disorder

Description Order your copy of the new 21CD book: Dads Raising Chidlren With Special Needs & Disabilities: A Guide For 21st Century Dads on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4tdvjcv Our guest this week is Mike Griffiths of San Francisco, CA an Executive Vice-President at CBRE, a real estate management firm and father of two children including one with KCNB1, a very rare genetic disorder. Mike and his wife, Julia, have been married for 17 years and are the proud parents of two children, daughter Rowe (9) and son, Hall (14) who has KCNB1, a very rare genetic disorder associated with severe developmental delays, intellectual disability, and

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417 – Patton Dodd of San Antonio, TX, Executive Director of the H.E. Butt Foundation, Author & Father of Three

Description Order your copy of the new 21CD book: Dads Raising Chidlren With Special Needs & Disabilities: A Guide For 21st Century Dads on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4tdvjcv Our guest this week is Patton Dodd, of San Antonio,TX who is the Executive Director of the H.E. Butt Foundation, author and father of three.  Patton and his wife, Michaela, have married for 26 years and are the proud parents of three children: Isabell (22), Henry (18) and Luisa (15). Occupationally, Patton is the executive director of the H.E. Butt Foundation.  Since the 1930s, the foundation has served people in Texas and beyond in various ways according

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416 – Christian Pache of Thousand Oaks, CA An IT Manager, Father Of 2 Including One With Angelman Syndrome & ASF Board Member

Description Our guest this week is Christian Pache of Thousand Oaks, CA who is a seasoned financial service IT manager, Angelman Syndrome Foundation board member and father of two including one with Angelman Syndrome & Autism. Christian and his wife, Anna, have been married for 24 years and are the proud parents of twenty-year old twins: Chloe and Aidan, who has Angelman Syndrome and Autism. Born, raised and educated in Germany, Christian immigrated to the U.S. for work in NYC.  A number of years later he met Anna, married and they started their family.  Work opportuinteis took them across the

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415 – Brad Meshell of Nashville, TN A Wealth Advisor, ED of Jacob’s Audible & Father Of Three Including An Autistic Son

Description Our guest this week is Brad Meshell, a wealth advisor, executive director of Jacob’s Audible and father of three, including an autistic son.  Brad and his wife, Jaime, have been married for seven years and are the proud parents of three children: Jailyn (18), Jackson (4) and Jacob (7) who is Autistic.  Brad is also the founder and executive director of Jabob’s Audible, a non-profit founded in 2022, whose mission is: Supporting Autistic Kids, Empowering Parents and Building Community.  Some of their events include: Pictures With Santa, Ammo For Autism Clay Shoot and the 444 Mile Walk, Bike, Run.

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414 – Hugh Hempel of Denver, CO Rare Disease Entrepreneur, Father Of Identical Twin Girls With Niemann Pick Type C – Pt. 2

Description Our guest this week is Hugh Hempel, a technology industry veteran turned health care entrepreneur and father of identical twin daughters with Niemann Pick Type C. Hugh and his wife Chris, have been married for 25 years and are the proud parents of identical twin daughters Addison & Cassidy.  The girls were born in January 2004 and were both diagnosed with Niemann Pick Type C, a type of childhood ALS, a very rare neurogenerative disease.  Despite heroic efforts to find a cure and treatments, very sadly the twins passed away in 2019 at age 15. After a successful tech

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413 – Hugh Hempel of Denver, CO Rare Disease Entrepreneur & Advocate, Father Of Identical Twins With Niemann Pick Type C

Description Our guest this week Hugh Hempel of Denver, CO, a technology industry veteran turned health care entrepreneur and father of identical twin daughters with Niemann Pick Type C. Hugh and his wife Chris, have been married for 25 years and are the proud parents of identical twin daughters Addison & Cassidy.  The girls were born in January 2004 and were both diagnosed with Niemann Pick Type C, a type of childhood ALS, a very rare neurogenerative disease.  Despite heroic efforts to find a cure and treatments, very sadly the twins passed away in 2019 at age 15. After a

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412 – Mike Kinner of Colorado Springs CO Founder of Air-O-Sport & Father of Three Including A Son With Microcephaly

Description Our guest this week is Mike Kinner of Colorado Springs, CO who is the founder of Air-O-Sport and father of three including a son with microcephaly. Mike and his wife, Stephanie, have been married for 12 years and are the proud parents of three children: daughters; Elieyanah (1) and McKenzie (9) as well as son, Samuel (6) who has microcephaly, which is linked to several disorders, including; epilepsy, cerebral palsy, being deaf, visually impaired and non-verbal. Mike is the founder of Air-O-Sport, a unique fast-paced, non-contact team game where players pass and throw a lightweight ring through the air

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411 – John O’Leary of St. Louis, MO, A Motivational Speaker, Best-Selling Author, Podcast Host & Father of Four – Part 2

Description Our guest this week is John O’Leary of St. Louis MO who is a motivational speaker, bestselling author, host of the Live Inspired Podcast, the subject of the recently released major motion picture SOUL ON FIRE and perhaps most importantly, the father of four children. John and his wife, Beth, have married for 22 years and are the proud parents of four children ages 14 to 20. At age nine, John was badly burned in a horrific gasoline fire, leaving him with third-degree burns on more than 80% of his body.  Given less than 1/2 of 1% chance of survival, he

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410 – John O’Leary of St. Louis, MO, A Motivational Speaker, Best-Selling Author, Podcast Host & Father of Four – Part 1

Description Our guest this week is John O’Leary of St. Louis MO who is a motivational speaker, bestselling author, host of the Live Inspired Podcast, the subject of the recently released major motion picture SOUL ON FIRE and perhaps most importantly, the father of four children. John and his wife, Beth, have married for 22 years and are the proud parents of four children ages 14 to 20. At age nine, John was badly burned in a horrific gasoline fire, leaving him with third-degree burns on more than 80% of his body.  Given less than 1/2 of 1% chance of survival, he

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409 – Nick Massie of Los Angeles, CA A Film Industry Veteran & Father To Son, Cole, An Actor With Cerebral Palsy

Description Our guest this week is Nick Massie of Los Angeles, CA, a film industry veteran and father of an adult son who is an actor with Cerebral Palsy.  Nick and his wife, Michelle, have been married for 29 years and are the proud parents of Cole (28), an actor and member of the Screen Actors Guild, who also has cerebral palsy.  Cole was feature in the highly acclaimed movie The Paper Bag Plan, which bebuted in 2024.  It’s a well told story and Cole gave a heartfelt performance as Billy, a young man with Cerebral Palsy.  The screen play was

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408 – Eric Freund of San Diego, CA A HS Teacher, Founder of Hope On The Hard Road, Podcast Host & Father Of Two With ASD

Description Our guest this week is Eric Freund of San Diego, CA who is a high school teacher, coach, co–founder of Hope On The Hard Road and father of two children who are both Autistic. Eric and his wife, Christen, have married for 27 years and are the proud parents of two: Abby (21) and Caleb (23), both who are on the Autism spectrum.  Christen & Eric are co-founders of Hope On The Hard Road, a non-profit organization whose mission is: helping connect and encourage families with children with special needs through programs designed to support the unique needs of the individual, the family,

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407 – Jeff Wallis of Valparaiso, IN A Veterinarian & Father Of A Son Who Had HADDTS Before Passing Away At 18

Description Our guest this week is Jeff Wallis, of Valparaiso, IN who is a veterinarian and father of who had a son with Hypotonia, Ataxia, Developmental Delay, and Tooth-Enamel Defects Syndrome (HADDTS) an extremely rare but serious genetic condition caused by a mutation in the CTBP1 gene. Jeff and his wife, Mindy, have married for 22 years and are the proud parents of Charles 18, who very sadly past away in May, who had Hypotonia, Ataxia, Developmental Delay, and Tooth-Enamel Defects Syndrome (HADDTS) an extremely rare but serious genetic condition caused by a mutation in the CTBP1 gene. We learn

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406 – Dave Tolmie With Tumsifu Munuo of Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, Director of Faraja School & Father Of A Child With Autism

Description Our guests this week are Dave Tolmie of Lake Forest IL and Tumsifu Munuo, of Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. In 1999, Dave Tomlie’s parents, John and Joann, raised $250,000 and with the help of the Lutheran Church built Faraja School, a boarding school for one hundred K-7 youth with physical disabilities, where Tumsifu serves as director.   In addiiton to the Faraja School, the Tolmie family created the Faraja Fund Foundation where Dave and his brothers have been instramentally involved for decades.  John serves as vice-president, Paul is secretary/treasurer, and Dave is chairman of the board of directors. More recently the Faraja Fund Foundation created Faraja

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405 – JP Klop of Alberta, Canada, A Draftsman & Father Of Two Including One With Schwachman Diamond Syndrome

Description Our guest this week is John Peter (JP) Klop of Alberta, Canada who is a draftsman with JPR Industries and father of two young children including a son with Schwachman Diamond Syndrome. JP and his wife, Lianna, have married for three years and are the proud parents of two young children: Anna (1) and Isaac (2), who has Schwachman Diamond Syndrome, which is characterized by: inability to digest food due to missing digestive enzymes, low muscle tone, anemia, skeletal findings and intellectual disability.  JP is very open and authentic about the challenges related to SDS and his own brush

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404 – Tom Chibucos of Chicago, A Manager of Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology Services, Father Of Two Including One w ASD

Description Our guest this week is Tom Chibucos of Chicago, IL, who is a Related Service Provider Manager of Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology services at Chicago Public Schools and father of two including one who is on the Autism spectrum.   Tom and his wife, Michelle, have been married for 20 years and are the proud parents of two children; Sylvie (10) and Vincent (9), who is non-verbal and on the Autism spectrum. Tom is also a co-founder of Pediatric Therapy Network Chicago, started in 2010 to deliver highly skilled therapeutic support to young children and families in their homes

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403 – Swapna Sasidharan Of Schaumburg, IL Mother of 2 Including One With POGZ & Founder Of The Cure POGZ Disorder Foundation

Description Our guest this week is Swapna Sasidharan, of Schaumburg, IL, a Vice President of Technology at ABCO Holdings, mother of two children, incuding one with POGZ, and founder of the Cure POGZ Disorder Foundation.  Swapna and her husband Sandeep are the proud parents of twoi children,: daughter Sloka (12) and son Ved (10) who has POGZ a rare genetic disorder characterized by: developmental delays, cyclic vomiting, autism, microcephaly and gastrointestinal issues. Educated as an engineer, informed about the challenges about rare diseases and inspired to find a cure for POGZ, the rare disorder her son has, Swapna is dedicated

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402 – David Apple of San Francisco, CA, Founder & CEO Of Shark Tooth Bio & Father Of Two Including One With CMT1A

Description Our guest this week is David Apple of San Francisco, CA, a serial entrepreneur, founder and CEO of Shark Tooth Bio, and father of two, including a son with Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease.  David and his wife, Cristina, have married for seven years and are the proud parents of two young children: Zoe (3) and Ari (5) who was diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease, AKA CMT1A, a rare mono genetic disease that impairs the signal from the brain to the muscles causing weakness, loss of sensation, pain, and atrophy.    David reflects on growing up in France and Israel.  In March 2024

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401 – Greg Corey of Highland Park, IL, A Wealth Manager & Father Of Three Including A Son With Down Syndrome

Description Our guest this week is Greg Corey of Highland Park, IL a wealth manager at Ameriprise Financial Services and father of three children including a son with Down Syndrome. Greg and his wife, Carly, have been married for 10 years and are the proud parents of three children: Ashton (4), Frankie (6) and Presley (8), who has Mosaic Down syndrome, which was not detected or diagnosed until he was four years old.   We also learn about a host of organizations that Presley has benefited from including:   Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association (NSSRA) Kick Start Therapeutic Day Care,

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400 – David Hirsch, Founder Of 21st Century Dads Foundation & Podcast Host Reflects On The Past Nine Years

Description To celebrate the 400th episode of the SFN Dad To Dad Podcast, David Hirsch, founder of 21st Century Dads Foundation and host of the SFN Dad To Dad Podcast offers his heartfelt thanks to all those who have been involved with and supported 21CD & SFN.  He reflects on: addressing the issue of father absence in society, his journey as a fatherhood advocate, starting the Illinois Fatherhood Initiative,  making an appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show,  starting the 21st Century Dads Foundation,  Dads Honor Ride 2015 from Santa Monica to Chicago, 2,325 miles in 21 days,  giving a TEDx

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399 – Casey Stubbs of Burlington, NC, Trading Strategist, Author, Podcast Host, Army Veteran & Father To Nine

Description Our guest this week is Casey Stubbs of Burlington, NC a trading specialist, author, podcast host and father to nine children. Casey and his wife, Deanna, have been married for 20 years and are the proud parents of nine children: twins Andrea & Courtney (26), Casey Jr (19), Caleb (17), Abbey (16), Ellie (15), Austin (14), Danielle (12) and Ethan (12).  Ellie and Danielle were adopted at age 2/12 and as a newborn and are biological sisters. Casey has been a host of the Replace Your Income With Options Podcast and author of: The Complete Trading System: How to Develop

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398 – Luba Patlakh of Bucks County, PA Mother of Three & Founder Of Kidology Inc. Pediatric Therapy Center

Description Our guest this week Luba Patlakh of Bucks County, PA a mother of three children and founder of Kidology Inc., a pediatric practice specializing in speech, occupational, physical therapy, and ABA services. Luba and her husband, Boris, have married for 10 years and are the proud parents of three children ages 4 to 9 years old.  Founded in 2014, Kidology, Inc. a top-rated family friendly pediatric therapy and child development center in Pennsylvania, offering families and children the support and guidance they need to thrive. They provide educational services in special needs and tutoring capacities.  They offer pediatric therapy

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397 – Daryl Potter of Toronto, CA A TD Merchants Exec, A Prolific Author & Father of 2 Including A Daughter with CFC Syndrome

Our guest this week is Daryl Potter of Toronto, Canada who is an executive at TD Merchants, a prolific author and father of two including a daughter with profound disabilities. Daryl and his wife, Carolyn, have been married for 28 years and are the proud parents of two children, Jackson (21) and McKenzie (24) who was diagnosed with Cardio Facio Cutaneous (CFC) syndrome.  Some of the challenges include; intellectual disabilities, non-verbal since age 12, being tube fed, the need for a hospital bed and being wheelchair bound. Beyond work and being a vigilant caregiver, Daryl has nurtured his passion for

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396 – Olivier Cortambert, London, Head Of Solutions Architecture at Yospace & Father Of A Son With A Rare Undiagnosed Disease

Our guest this week is Olivier Cortambert of London, UK who is head of solutions architecture at Yospace and father of a son with a rare undiagnosed disease. Olivier and his wife, Feng, have been married for seven years and are the proud parents of Antoine (3) who has a genetically tested undiagnosed disease, which presents with; low muscle tone, hearing loss, non-verbal as well as difficulty swallowing and walking.      We learn about Small Steps, a UK based agency that provides free services to those who are unable to walk and the pros and cons of having an

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395 – Mark Reinfeld of Boulder, CO A Chef, Author, Founder of Vegan Fusion Culinary Academy & Father Of A Son With Angelman

Our guest this week is Mark Reinfeld of Boulder, CO who is an award-winning chef, best-selling author and authority on plant-based cuisine. He is also the father of two young boys, including one with Angelman Syndrome Mark and his wife, Ashley Boudet, have been married for 10 years and are the proud parents of two boys: River (7) and Sage (9) who has Angelman Syndrome.  With more than two decades of experience, Chef Mark has written several acclaimed cookbooks, including The 30-Minute Vegan series, and has been recognized as a leader in the vegan and conscious cooking space.  Mark is also

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