Episodios

  • SFN Dad To Dad 369 - Kirby Rabalais of Glenview, IL Founder of 4TITUDE.com & Father Of Two Including One With Pitt Hopkins Syndrome
    Mar 14 2025
    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 – hello@got4titude.com
    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/
    Más Menos
    38 m
  • SFN Dad To Dad 368 - Tim Kane of Ridgewood, NJ Former Sr. Director of Broadcasting at the NBA, Father of Three Including An Autistic Son
    Mar 7 2025
    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 Krieger
    All on this episode of he SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.

    Show Links -
    Phone – (201) 673-2750
    Email – tkane41@verizon.net
    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/ <
    Más Menos
    1 h y 1 m
  • SFN Dad To Dad 367 - Sebastien Pelletier of Montreal, Father of 4, 3 with Retinitis Pigmentosa & Featured In the NatGeo Documentary BLINK
    Feb 28 2025
    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/
    Más Menos
    51 m
  • SFN Dad to Dad 366 - James Burch Of Grand Cayman, A Lawyer & Single Father of Three Boys, Including One With Global Developmental Delays
    Feb 21 2025
    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 – James.Burch@walkersglobal.com
    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/
    Más Menos
    56 m
  • SFN Dad To Dad 365 - Isaac Jean-Paul of Los Angeles, CA A Father & Author Who Is A Legally Blind U.S. Paralympic Medalist
    Feb 14 2025
    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 – isaaccjeanpaul@gmail.com
    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/
    Más Menos
    52 m
  • SFN Dad To Dad 364 - Alfred Niwagaba of Uganda, School Administrator & Father Of Four Including One With Down Syndrome
    Feb 7 2025
    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 – niwaalfred@gmail.com
    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/
    Más Menos
    34 m
  • SFN Dad to Dad 363 - Jason Tuttle of Atlanta, GA Father Of Two, A Grief Counselor, Author and Blogger Who Very Sadly Lost Son Zachary at 15
    Jan 31 2025
    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 – letterstozachary2022@gmail.com
    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/
    Más Menos
    1 h y 2 m
  • SFN Dad To Dad 362 - Michael McManus of Barrington, IL Insurance Exec, Father of Two, One With Autism & Co-Proprietor Of Jigsaw Farms
    Jan 24 2025
    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 Dreams
    Michael & 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 – mmcmanus@captiveresources.com
    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/
    Más Menos
    45 m