Dad to Dad Podcast cover art

Dad to Dad Podcast

Dad to Dad Podcast

Written by: David Hirsch
Listen for free

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.Copyright David Hirsch
Episodes
  • 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

    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
    Oct 9 2026
    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 Diego
    • Rady Children’s Hospital
    • National Organization of Corpus Callosum
    • Regional Center (SD), and
    • Palway Unified SD
    It'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/
    Show More Show Less
    29 mins
  • SFN Dad To Dad 450 - Greg Yawitz of Olivette, MO Owner of KEAT Properties, Disability Advocate, Father of Two Including One With ASD

    SFN Dad To Dad 450 - Greg Yawitz of Olivette, MO Owner of KEAT Properties, Disability Advocate, Father of Two Including One With ASD
    Oct 2 2026
    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/
    Show More Show Less
    30 mins
  • SFN Dad To Dad 449 - Jim Ward of Fenton, MO A Project Engineer, Father Of Three Including One With Asperger's

    SFN Dad To Dad 449 - Jim Ward of Fenton, MO A Project Engineer, Father Of Three Including One With Asperger's
    Sep 25 2026
    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/
    Show More Show Less
    30 mins
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
No reviews yet