Dad to Dad Podcast cover art

Dad to Dad Podcast

Dad to Dad Podcast

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 436 - Jamie Bark of New Richmond, WI A Widower And Proud Father Of Two Daughters Including One With SMA.

    SFN Dad To Dad 436 - Jamie Bark of New Richmond, WI A Widower And Proud Father Of Two Daughters Including One With SMA.
    Jun 26 2026
    Our guest this week is Jamie Bark, of New Ricchmond, WI, a fire fighter, former owner of Value Auto Glass, a widower and father of two daughters, including one with Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

    Jamie and his wife, Jackie, were married for 30 years, before she very sadly passed away in January of 2025 after a long battle with Multiple Sclerosis. He is also the proud father of two daughters: Maddie (21) and Gabby (17) who has a type of Muscular Dystrophy known as Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) level 2.

    Jamie reflects on his life as a firefighter and private business owner, the struggles of raising a child with SMA, losing his wife to a debilitating disease and becoming a sole parent as well as the role Cure SMA and MDA have played on behalf of his family.

    Jamie's story speaks volumes about his commitment to family, perseverence and reslience all on this episode of the sFN Dad To Dad Podcast.

    Show Notes -
    Phone – (715) 222-0369
    Email – valueglassco@gmail.com
    LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-bark-74631022/
    MDA – https://www.mda.org/
    Cure SMA - https://www.curesma.org/

    SFN Audiobook 'On Losing A Child' - https://tinyurl.com/46jueh3s

    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 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/
    Show More Show Less
    30 mins
  • SFN Dad To Dad 435 - Rob Reider of Falmouth, ME Father of Two, Co-Founder & Executive Director Of The Sad Dads Club

    SFN Dad To Dad 435 - Rob Reider of Falmouth, ME Father of Two, Co-Founder & Executive Director Of The Sad Dads Club
    Jun 19 2026
    Our guest this week is Rob Reider of Falmouth, ME a father of two and co-founder and executive director of the Sad Dads Club.

    Rob and his wife, Tehilah, have been married for 12 years and are the proud parents of two children: Dallas (6) who is autistic and Lila, who very sadly passed away in 2017 as the result of a still birth.

    Rob along with Chris Piasecki and Jay Tansey who also lost children to a still birth about the same time are co-founders of the Sad Dads Club, a global support community for fathers who have lost a child, helping them navigate life after loss by providing community and access to mental health services.

    While losing a child is conisdered a parent's worst nightmare, those involved with the Sad Dads Club find comfort in knowing they are not alone. It's a surprising uplifting story all on this episode of the SFN Dad To Dad Podcast.

    Show Notes -
    Email – rob@saddadsclub.org
    LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-reider-65438840/
    Website - https://saddadsclub.org/
    SFN Audiobook 'On Losing A Child' - https://tinyurl.com/46jueh3s

    Join 21CD on the SFN U.S. Tour, a 30 day, 50 state, 60+ stop tour taking 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 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.

    Join the SFN U.S. Tour in one of 60+ locations all across the U.S. from May 21st to June 21st. Go to www.21stCenturyDads.org for additional informaiton.

    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
    31 mins
  • SFN Dad To Dad 434 - Brad Sund of Fort Mill, SC Father of Three and Board Member of Defend The Fatherless

    SFN Dad To Dad 434 - Brad Sund of Fort Mill, SC Father of Three and Board Member of Defend The Fatherless
    Jun 12 2026
    Our guest this week is Brad Sund of Fort Mill, SC a long-time employee at Advanced Drainage System, father of three and board member of Defend the Fatherless,

    Brad and his wife, Caitlin, have been married for 22 years and are the proud parents of three children: Kyrie (18), Brooks (16) and Olivia (14) who was adopted from China, who has ADHD and microtia, a rare deformation of the ear.

    Caitlin is founder of Defend The Fatherless, a not for profit whose mission is: lessening the burdens of foster and adoptive families by meeting their physical, emotional, spiritual, educational and financial needs.

    It's an uplifting story about faith, family, adoption and supporting like minded families all on this episode of the SFN Dad To Dad Podcast.

    Show Notes -
    Phone – (704) 507-4524
    Email – bradleysund@yahoo.com
    LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-sund-b020827a/
    Website - https://www.defendthefatherless.org/

    Join 21CD on the SFN U.S. Tour, a 30 day, 50 state, 60+ stop tour taking place from May 21 to June 21, 2026: to strengthen and grow the Special Fathers Network and distribute 2,000 complimentary copies of our new book.

    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.

    Join the SFN U.S. Tour in one of 60+ locations all across the U.S. from May 21st to June 21st. Go to www.21stCenturyDads.org for additional informaiton.

    Please conisder hosting, co-hosting or simoly joining the tour near your home.

    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