Dad to Dad Podcast

Our guest this week is Krista Mason, of Holland, Michigan, a Christian, wife and mother.
Krista and her husband, David have been married for 32 years and are the proud parent of two boys: James (29) and Benjamin (27), who has Autism and developmental delays.
Krista is also the co-founder of Benjamin’s Hope, a live, learn, play, worship farmstead community where people of all abilities are transformed by the love Christ.
The Ben's Hope Way: Committed to loving God and others,we fiercely respect the dignity intelligence and value of all humans. We are creative, courageous and committed to excellence. Through the love of Christ we live the abundant life together
We’ll hear the story of Benjamin’s Hope and more on this Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast. It’s a fascinating conversation, one which you are sure to enjoy.
Show Notes -
Email – [email protected]
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/krista-mason-90a804b/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/benjaminshope
Website – https://www.benjaminshope.net/
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 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/channe... Please support the SFN. Click here to donate: https://21stcenturydads.org/do...
Find out about Horizon Therapeutics – Science and Compassion Working Together To Transform Lives. https://www.horizontherapeutics.com/
Special Fathers Network: https://21stcenturydads.org/
Discover more about the Dads Honor Ride 2023 - https://21stcenturydads.org/2023-dads-honor-ride/

Our guest this week is Siggi Thosseinn-Gudmundson of Akranes, Iceland who is a healthcare professional and father of five including four with special needs.
Siggi and his wife, Fridur, have known each other since they were 15 years of age and have been married for 8 years. They are the proud parents of five children: Sittimfia (7), who has ADHD, Gudmuntuk (12), who is Autistic and non-verbal, Kolbrun (14) who has Prader-Willi Syndrome and Autism, and Matthias (16) who has Autism. Very sadly they lost your first child, Oscar, at 24 weeks gestation more than 15 years ago.
We’ll hear how Siggi and Fridur have perseverd the loss of a child and embraced being parents to children with a wide range of special healthcare needs. We also learn how Siggi has struggled balancing family and work along with a limited amount of formal education. What Siggi may lack from an academic perspective, he more than makes up with his commitment to family and being present: physically, emotionally and spiritually for his wife and children.
It's an uplifting and powerful story on this week's episode of the Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast.
Show Links -
Email – [email protected]
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/fridursiggi
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 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/channe... Please support the SFN. Click here to donate: https://21stcenturydads.org/do...
Find out about Horizon Therapeutics – Science and Compassion Working Together To Transform Lives. https://www.horizontherapeutics.com/
Special Fathers Network: https://21stcenturydads.org/
Discover more about the Dads Honor Ride 2023 - https://21stcenturydads.org/2023-dads-honor-ride/

Our guest this week is Hutch Matteson of Cumming, GA a pastor for 37 years and more recently the founder of The Pier Center Foundation, opening doors for adults with intellectual disabilities.
Hutch and his wife, Cindy, are the proud parents of four children; Julia (26), Jenna (28), Jonathan (30) and Josh (33), who has Down Syndrome.
We’ll hear about the poor advice the Mattesons received shortly after Josh's birth about all the things Josh would be unable to do. We learn about the supporting organizations that Josh benefited from, including: High Hope Early Intervention, Special Olympics, and their GA-based church, to name a few.
We also learn about how the Matteson family experience informed and inspired them in 2011 to create The Pier Foundation which has been opening doors of opportunity for adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, including life & job skills training, and even some jobs, which provides these adults with different abilities a genuine sense of purpose, fulfillment, dignity and respect.
The most recent endeavor of The Pier Center Foundation is the creation of Ellie Mae Sweet Treats a dog treat business, started during COVID.
It's an uplifting and powerful story on this week's episode of the Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast.
Show Links -
Email – [email protected]
LinkedIn - http://linkedin.com/in/hutch-matteson
Facebook - http://facebook.com/hutch.matteson
Website – https://www.pierfoundation.org
Website - Elliemaesweettreats.com
YouTube – http://youtube.com/c/OneThingforMen/videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YA1FRvz6q4
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 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/channe... Please support the SFN. Click here to donate: https://21stcenturydads.org/do...
Find out about Horizon Therapeutics – Science and Compassion Working Together To Transform Lives. https://www.horizontherapeutics.com/
Special Fathers Network: https://21stcenturydads.org/
Discover more about the Dads Honor Ride 2023 - https://21stcenturydads.org/2023-dads-honor-ride/

Our guest this week is Adam Terry of Nashville, TN who is the director of business analytics at Adhere Health in Nashville.

Adam and his wife Catherine have been married for 18 years and are the rpuod parents of three children; Brooke (6), Callie (9) and Will (12), who has Noonan Syndrome, a genetic condition that stops typical development in various parts of the body.

More recently Will suffered a traumatic brain injury.

We’ll hear the Terry family story, including how their faith has helped them cope with Will’s injury.

That’s all in this episode of the Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast.

Show Links -
Email – [email protected]
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-terry-a8692626/
Vanderbilt Children’s CHAMPions Tri My Best video - https://vimeo.com/821419152?share=copy
Noonan Syndrome Foundation - https://www.teamnoonan.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 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/channe... Please support the SFN. Click here to donate: https://21stcenturydads.org/do...

Find out about Horizon Therapeutics – Science and Compassion Working Together To Transform Lives. https://www.horizontherapeutics.com/

Special Fathers Network: https://21stcenturydads.org/

Discover more about the Dads Honor Ride 2023 - https://21stcenturydads.org/2023-dads-honor-ride/

Our guest this week is Frank McKinney of Delray Beach, FL a father, real estate artist, eight time best-selling author, philanthro-capitalist & 12 time badwater135 ultramarathon competitor.

This is part two of a two part interview. In last week’s episode we heard Frank talk about the first of his his five aspirations, the importance of family. In part two we’ll hear more about Frank’s other four aspirations, the role of faith and much more.

Frank and his wife Nilsa have been married for 33 years and are the proud parents of Laura (24). Professionally, Frank has built and renovated 44 ocean-front mansions with an average selling price of $44M. He is known as a real artist with a flair for creating these one of a kind master pieces and for the way he markets them.

Frank is also the best-selling author of eight books in 5 different genres. In reverse chronologicle order they are:

• Adversitology: Overcoming Adversity When You’re Hanging On By A Thread (March 2023)
• Aspire: How To Create Your Own Reality And Alter Your DNA (November 2021)
• The Other Thief: A Collision Of Love, Flesh & Faith (September 2018)
• The Tap (February 2009)
• Dead Fred, Flying Lunchboxes And The Good Luck Circle (January 2009)
• Burst This!: Frank McKinney’s Bubble Proof Real Estate Strategies (February 2009)
• Frank McKinney’s Maverick Approach To Real Estate Success: How You Can Go From A $50,000 Fixer-Upper To A $100M Mansion (April 2006)
• Make It Big: 49 Secrets For Building A Life Of Extreme Success (January 2002)

Frank is also a self described philanthro-capitalist and co-founder of the Caring House Project, a 501c3 non-profit organization, which has built 30 self-sustaining villages serving 13K children and their families in Haiti over the past 20 years. Each of the villages has 50 homes, a daycare center, community center, school, clinic and church.

On a personal level Frank is a runner and has competed in a number of races including 12 Badwater135 ultramarathons, finishing seven times. The Badwater135, which takes place annually in July in the scorching summer heat in Death Valley, CA is described by National Geographic as ‘the world’s toughest footrace.’

Also, in 2020 Frank was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML), which was a near death experience. One of the techniques Frank used to overcome this life threating disease was to disidentify it.

While Frank is not a parent of a child with special needs, he has a lot to offer parents and specifically dads on how to overcome adversity.

It’s a fascinating story and it’s here on this week’s episode of the SFN Dad To Dad Podcast.

Show Links –
Email – [email protected]
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-mckinney-b4a14332/
Website – https://www.frank-mckinney.com/

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 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/channe... Please support the SFN. Click here to donate: https://21stcenturydads.org/do...

Find out about Horizon Therapeutics – Science and Compassion Working Together To Transform Lives. https://www.horizontherapeutics.com/

Special Fathers Network: https://21stcenturydads.org/

Discover more about the Dads Honor Ride 2023 - https://21stcenturydads.org/2023-dads-honor-ride/

Our guest this week is Frank McKinney of Delray Beach, FL a father, real estate artist, eight time best-selling author, philanthro-capitalist & 12 time badwater135 ultramarathon competitor.

Frank and his wife Nilsa have been married for 33 years and are the proud parents of Laura (24). Professionally, Frank has built and renovated 44 ocean-front mansions with an average selling price of $44M. He is known as a real artist with a flair for creating these one of a kind master pieces and for the way he markets them.

Frank is also the best-selling author of eight books in 5 different genres. In reverse chronologicle order they are:

• Adversitology: Overcoming Adversity When You’re Hanging On By A Thread (March 2023)
• Aspire: How To Create Your Own Reality And Alter Your DNA (November 2021)
• The Other Thief: A Collision Of Love, Flesh & Faith (September 2018)
• The Tap (February 2009)
• Dead Fred, Flying Lunchboxes And The Good Luck Circle (January 2009)
• Burst This!: Frank McKinney’s Bubble Proof Real Estate Strategies (February 2009)
• Frank McKinney’s Maverick Approach To Real Estate Success: How You Can Go From A $50,000 Fixer-Upper To A $100M Mansion (April 2006)
• Make It Big: 49 Secrets For Building A Life Of Extreme Success (January 2002)

Frank is also a self described philanthro-capitalist and co-founder of the Caring House Project, a 501c3 non-profit organization, which has built 30 self-sustaining villages serving 13K children and their families in Haiti over the past 20 years. Each of the villages has 50 homes, a daycare center, community center, school, clinic and church.

On a personal level Frank is a runner and has competed in a number of races including 12 Badwater135 ultramarathons, finishing seven times. The Badwater135, which takes place annually in July in the scorching summer heat in Death Valley, CA is described by National Geographic as ‘the world’s toughest footrace.’

Also, in 2020 Frank was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML), which was a near death experience. One of the techniques Frank used to overcome this life threating disease was to disidentify it.

While Frank is not a parent of a child with special needs, he has a lot to offer parents and specifically dads on how to overcome adversity.

It’s a fascinating story and it’s here on this week’s episode of the SFN Dad To Dad Podcast.

Show Links –
Email – [email protected]
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-mckinney-b4a14332/
Website – https://www.frank-mckinney.com/

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 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/channe... Please support the SFN. Click here to donate: https://21stcenturydads.org/do...

Find out about Horizon Therapeutics – Science and Compassion Working Together To Transform Lives. https://www.horizontherapeutics.com/

Special Fathers Network: https://21stcenturydads.org/

Discover more about the Dads Honor Ride 2023 - https://21stcenturydads.org/2023-dads-honor-ride/

Our guest this week is Ryan Wolfe of Canton, OH, who is a minister as well president and executive director of Ability Ministry, founded in 1983, an independent Christian nonprofit that provides resources, curriculum, training, and residential services designed to equip and empower the disability community..

Ryan and his wife Melissa have been married for 25 years and are the proud parents of two children, Rocco (16) and Zoey (14) who is dislexia.

We’ll hear all about Ryan and his work on this week’s Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast.

Show Links -
Email – [email protected]
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-wolfe-a121021a/
Website – https://abilityministry.com/
Disabililty is Beautiful - https://disabilityisbeautiful.comFacebook Page https://www.facebook.com/AbilityMinistry/
YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/c/AbilityMinistry?app=desktop
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/abilityministry/?hl=en

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 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/channe... Please support the SFN. Click here to donate: https://21stcenturydads.org/do...

Find out about Horizon Therapeutics – Science and Compassion Working Together To Transform Lives. https://www.horizontherapeutics.com/

Special Fathers Network: https://21stcenturydads.org/

Discover more about the Dads Honor Ride 2023 - https://21stcenturydads.org/2023-dads-honor-ride/

Our guest this week is Ben Mattlin of Los Angeles, CA a disability advocate, an author, educator and writer.

Ben was born in New York City in 1962 with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a congenital muscle weakness. He attended the Walden School, Rudolf Steiner High School, and Harvard University, graduating cum laude.

Ben and his wife, Mary, have been married for 34 years and are the proud parents of two adult daughters.

Ben is a freelance writer and frequent contributor to Financial Advisor magazine. His writings have appeared in the New York Times, LA Times, and The Washington Post, to name a few.

He is also the author of: three books Miracle Boy Grows Up (2012), In Sickness & In Health (2018), and Disability Pride: Dispatches From A post-ADA World. (2022)

Ben reflects on being mainstreamed educationally, his objections to being labeled and misrepresented by the National MDA as a youth and how he has gone on to live a full and rewarding life as a husband, father and being gainfully employed, despite being confined to a wheelchair.

It's a fascinating and uplifting interview, which we’ll hear on this week's episode of the Special Fathers Network Dad To Dad Podcast.

Show Links -
Email – [email protected]
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-mattlin-3b8b452/
Website - https://www.benmattlin.com/

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 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/channe... Please support the SFN. Click here to donate: https://21stcenturydads.org/do...

Find out about Horizon Therapeutics – Science and Compassion Working Together To Transform Lives. https://www.horizontherapeutics.com/

Special Fathers Network: https://21stcenturydads.org/

Discover more about the Dads Honor Ride 2023 - https://21stcenturydads.org/2023-dads-honor-ride/

Our guest this week is David Ross of Little Hampton, England.

David is a rare disease advocate for mens mental health. He plans and hosts valuable international support calls focused on men in the rare disease community. David also has a rare disease himself called Cowden Syndrome, a rare genetic inherited condition. People with Cowden syndrome often have many noncancerous, tumor-like growths. They may also have an increased risk of developing certain cancers. Experts estimate it affects 1 in 200,000 people. The condition often goes underdiagnosed because some healthcare providers may not recognize its symptoms.

David reflects on the relationship with his daughter and the importance of communicating with loved ones and friends as part of confronting the challenges associated with rare disease and one's own mortality, all on this week’s Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast.

Show Links -
Email – [email protected]
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-ross-844965171/
Eurodis Rare Diseases Europe – https://www.edf-feph.org/our-members/eurordis-rare-diseases-europe/
PTEN UK & Ireland - https://ptenuki.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 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/channe... Please support the SFN. Click here to donate: https://21stcenturydads.org/do...

Find out about Horizon Therapeutics – Science and Compassion Working Together To Transform Lives. https://www.horizontherapeutics.com/

Special Fathers Network: https://21stcenturydads.org/

Discover more about the Dads Honor Ride 2023 - https://21stcenturydads.org/2023-dads-honor-ride/

Our guest this week is Jahmeer Reynolds of El Sobrante, CA, who is the father of five children and Executive Director of the Marin County Cooperation Team, a black led multi service agency that provides services and support to the community.

Jahmeer and his wife, Shakira, have been married for 12 years and are the proud parents of two young boys with Autism.

We’ll hear Jahmeer’s story, the years they lived and worked in Abu Dhabi, his thoughts on fatherhood and working hand in hand with the community as well as his thoughts on the importance of developing positive police relations, including his TEDx Talk entitled: 'Reimagining Policing For The Good Of All.'

That's all here on this episode of the Special Fathers Network Dad to Dad Podcast.

Show Notes -
Email – [email protected] LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jahmeerreynolds/details/experience/
TEDx Talk - https://www.ted.com/talks/jahmeer_reynolds_reimagining_policing_for_the_good_of_all Marin County Cooperation Team - https://www.marincountycooperationteam.org/
Sonia Corina Respite – https://www.soniacorina.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 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/channe... Please support the SFN. Click here to donate: https://21stcenturydads.org/do...

Find out about Horizon Therapeutics – Science and Compassion Working Together To Transform Lives. https://www.horizontherapeutics.com/

Special Fathers Network: https://21stcenturydads.org/

Discover more about the Dads Honor Ride 2023 - https://21stcenturydads.org/2023-dads-honor-ride/