Our guest this week is Bill Walters of Collinswood, NJ, father of two and founder of Perfectly Imperfect Families.

Bill is the proud father of two children: Jake (21) and Tammy (23), who between the two of them have had a variety of challenges including; hearing impairment, development delays, IBS, ADHD and endometriosis.  Bill has been a single father for much of his children's lives.  

Professionally, Bill is a financial advisor who offers insurance and financial guidance for perfectly imperfect families. Through faith and perseverance, Bill has been able to overcome a lot of adversity and show others how to do the same. 

We’ll hear Bill’s story and more on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast. 

Show Notes -
Phone – (267) 278-5062
Email - [email protected]
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/billjwalters/
Website -   https://www.perfectlyimperfectfamilies.com 

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/

This is part of a special series of interviews within the SFN Dad To Dad Podcasts known as the SFN Mastermind Group Monday Podcasts.  Each Monday host David Hirsch interviews one of the SFN Mastermind Group dads on the impact the mastermind group has had on him and the wellbeing of his family.  

This Monday’s guest is Nathan Woerner of Littleton, CO who is a former missionary in Japan with SEND International and father of two girls including one with Angelman Syndrome. 

Nathan and his wife, Maryah, have been married for 17 years and are the proud parents of two girls: Naomi (8) and Ada (6), who has Angelman Syndrome.

Nathan has been involved with the Special Fathers Network for more than four years.  His SFN Dad To Dad Podcast, episode #114, aired in September 2020.   He was one of the first members of the Tuesday night SFN Mastermind Group and he has attended the last few Mastermind Group weekend retreats.  

It’s an uplifting conversation about perseverance, overcoming life's challenges and advocacy, all on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.

Show Notes - 
Phone – (615) 521-0600
Email – [email protected]
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-woerner-0244b6b/
SFN Dad To Dad Podcast #114 - https://21stcenturydads.org/114-send-international-missionary-nathan-woerner-and-his-daughter-with-angelman-syndrome/
Favorite Mastermind Group Books – 
Thinking In Pictures, By Temple Grandin - https://tinyurl.com/y9j5ej6m

About the SFN Mastermind Group –

WHAT- 
SFN Mastermind Group dads meet weekly by Zoom for 75 minutes. Each meeting:
◦            starts with a round of wins from the past week,
◦            includes a discussion of the current book (6 per year) being reviewed,
◦            has two Dad-In-The-Middle sessions for dads to share a challenge, and
◦            ends with a recap and look at the week ahead. 

WHO - 
SFN Mastermind Group Dads are those:
◦            seeking meaningful friendships with like-minded dads,
◦            willing to invest their time and make a financial commitment,
◦            looking for a safe place to be open and authentic, and
◦            who realize seeking advice is a strength, not a weakness.  

WHY - 
SFN Mastermind Group Dads benefit by:
◦            realizing they are NOT alone
◦            having better relationships with their spouse,
◦            developing improved understandings of their child(ren),
◦            tapping into the experience and wisdom of others,
◦            getting weekly encouragement from like-minded dads, and
◦            creating a pathway to become the best version of themselves

21st Century Dads Foundation is looking to provide 100 special needs fathers with the opportunity to be part of the class of 2024 Mastermind Group.

Our guest this week is Jonathan Polin of Jerusalem, Israel who is a serial entrepreneur, father of three, including son, Hersh, who very tragically was taken hostage on October 7, 2023, during the Hamas led attacks on Israel.    

This episode was recorded on August 29, 2024, day #328 since Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 (mostly civilians from 23 countries) and taking more than 220 hostages, including Hersh Goldberg-Polin. 

Jonathan and his wife, Rachel Goldberg-Polin, both born and raised in Chicago, have been married for 27 years and are the proud parents of two daughters: Leebi and Orly as well as Hersh (23), who shockingly lost his left hand and forearm in a grenade explosion during the October 7th attacks. 

Quite tragically, Hersh’s best friend, Aner Shapira, lost his life on October 7th protecting fellow concert goers, by deflecting seven Hamas grenades thrown into an above ground bomb shelter, before he was shot and killed.

Jon and Rachel have become outspoken advocates on behalf of all the hostages and thrust into the lime-light, meeting with members of the United Nations in Geneva, meeting with Pope Francis as well as U.S. President Joe Biden and more recently, they appeared on stage, at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on August 21st.  

Days after this interview was recorded, we learned that the IDF recovered the bodies of six hostages, including Hersh, who had been executed within the past 24-48 hours. 

On September 2nd, while eulogizing Hersh, at his funeral, Jonathan said “We failed you, we all failed you.  Maybe your death is the stone, the fuel, that will bring home the 101 other hostages.”

The Goldberg-Polin story is about and an ordinary American-Israeli family swept up into the most recent chapter of the Middle-East conflict and how through grit and steadfast determination they conducted themselves, to rescue their son and all the October 7th hostages. 

Email – [email protected]
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-polin-9824571/
Personal Website - https://www.theimpactguy.com/
Israeli Network for Life Enhancing Technologies (INLET) – https://www.inlet.co.il/
DNC Speech From August, 21, 2024 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PleW3qZSxQ
Hamas Released Video Hersh Goldberg-Polin May 2024 -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJeOoeCDgKw
YouTube - Anderson Cooper's Connection To Hersh Goldberg-Polin - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEW8H34zEGw
Hostage & Missing Families Forum - https://stories.bringthemhomenow.net/
Shalva – https://www.shalva.org/
Parent Circle - https://www.theparentscircle.org/en/homepage-en/

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/

This is part of a special series of interviews within the SFN Dad To Dad Podcasts known as the SFN Mastermind Group Monday Podcasts.  Each Monday host David Hirsch interviews one of the SFN Mastermind Group dads on the impact the mastermind group has had on him and the wellbeing of his family.  

This Monday’s guest is Joe Lofino of Greenville, OH who is owner of Walnut Grove Cabinet Company and father of three young children, two of which who have been diagnosed with Fragile X.   

Joe and his wife, Jen, have been married for 11 years and you are the proud parents of three: Josh (7), Joanna (6) and Junie (2).  The older two were diagnosed with Fragile X, which is the leading cause of intellectual disabilities like Autism.  

Joe has been involved with the Special Fathers Network for about five years.  He was featured in episode #95 of the SFN Dad To Dad Podcast that aired in April 2020.  He has been part of the inaugural SFN Mastermind Group and has attended all the SFN Mastermind Group weekend retreats.  

It’s an uplifting conversation about perseverance, overcoming life's challenges and advocacy, all on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.

Show Notes - 
Phone – (937) 232-9870
Email – [email protected]
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-lofino-2b644a73/
SFN Dad To Dad Podcast #95 - https://21stcenturydads.org/dad-to-dad-95-joe-lofino/
Favorite Mastermind Group Books – 
A View From The Top, by Aaron Walker -  https://tinyurl.com/mp5krvkd
The Ultimate Gift, by Jim Stovall - https://tinyurl.com/3pbm3rxx

About the SFN Mastermind Group –

WHAT- 
SFN Mastermind Group dads meet weekly by Zoom for 75 minutes. Each meeting:
◦            starts with a round of wins from the past week,
◦            includes a discussion of the current book (6 per year) being reviewed,
◦            has two Dad-In-The-Middle sessions for dads to share a challenge, and
◦            ends with a recap and look at the week ahead. 

WHO - 
SFN Mastermind Group Dads are those:
◦            seeking meaningful friendships with like-minded dads,
◦            willing to invest their time and make a financial commitment,
◦            looking for a safe place to be open and authentic, and
◦            who realize seeking advice is a strength, not a weakness.  

WHY - 
SFN Mastermind Group Dads benefit by:
◦            realizing they are NOT alone
◦            having better relationships with their spouse,
◦            developing improved understandings of their child(ren),
◦            tapping into the experience and wisdom of others,
◦            getting weekly encouragement from like-minded dads, and
◦            creating a pathway to become the best version of themselves

21st Century Dads Foundation is looking to provide 100 special needs fathers with the opportunity to be part of the class of 2024 Mastermind Group.

Our guest this week is DeAndrae Hinton of Houston, TX educator, special education chair at the Houston Independent School District, author and father of two including an Autistic son. 

DeAndrae and his x-wife, Chaquita Frazier, are the proud parents of Daja (19) and Dillon (16) who has Autism. 

DeAndrae is the special education chair at the Houston Independent School Disctrict.  He’s also written a book entitled: My Favorite Mistakes, Lessons Learned Through Accountability.

He is also a leader with the Autism Dads Social Club. 

He has quite a story to tell and we’ll hear it on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast. 

Show Links - 
Phone – (832) 523-7759
Email - [email protected]
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/deandrae-hinton-27772571/
Book - https://tinyurl.com/yjwryr6w
Autism Dads Social Club - https://autismdadssocialclub.org/

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/

This is part of a special series of interviews within the SFN Dad To Dad Podcasts known as the SFN Mastermind Group Monday Podcasts.  Each Monday host David Hirsch interviews one of the SFN Mastermind Group dads on the impact the mastermind group has had on him and the wellbeing of his family.  

This Monday’s guest is Tom Costello of Frankfort, IL who is an investment professional, father of twin 21 year old boys who are Autistic and are co-founder of the Twin Hearts Autism Foundation.   

Tom and his wife, Irene, have been married for 23 years and are the proud parents of twin boys: Michael and John who are Autistic. 

Tom has been involved with the Special Fathers Network for about five years.  He was featured in episode #69 of the SFN Dad To Dad Podcast that aired in October 2019.  He was part of the inaugural SFN Mastermind Group and also serves as treasurer of the 21st Century Dads Foundation. 

It’s an uplifting conversation about perseverance, overcoming life's challenges and advocacy, all on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.

Show Notes - 
Phone – (708) 205-2964
Email - [email protected]
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-costello-05867311/
FB Page - https://www.facebook.com/Twin-Hearts-Autism-Foundation-580801878996598/ SFN Dad To Dad Podcast Episode #69 –  https://21stcenturydads.org/dad-to-dad-69-tom-costello/
Twin Hearts Autism Foundation - https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/twin-hearts-autism-foundation,272189829/
Another Kind Of Courage by Steve Bundy - https://tinyurl.com/mrs7cvac

About the SFN Mastermind Group –

WHAT- 
SFN Mastermind Group dads meet weekly by Zoom for 75 minutes. Each meeting:
◦            starts with a round of wins from the past week,
◦            includes a discussion of the current book (6 per year) being reviewed,
◦            has two Dad-In-The-Middle sessions for dads to share a challenge, and
◦            ends with a recap and look at the week ahead. 

WHO - 
SFN Mastermind Group Dads are those:
◦            seeking meaningful friendships with like-minded dads,
◦            willing to invest their time and make a financial commitment,
◦            looking for a safe place to be open and authentic, and
◦            who realize seeking advice is a strength, not a weakness.  

WHY - 
SFN Mastermind Group Dads benefit by:
◦            realizing they are NOT alone
◦            having better relationships with their spouse,
◦            developing improved understandings of their child(ren),
◦            tapping into the experience and wisdom of others,
◦            getting weekly encouragement from like-minded dads, and
◦            creating a pathway to become the best version of themselves

21st Century Dads Foundation is looking to provide 100 special needs fathers with the opportunity to be part of the class of 2024 Mastermind Group.

Our guest this week is Mazi Keyghobadi of Houston, TX, a father and outspoken advocate for those with disabilities. 

Mazi, who was born and raised in Iran, emigrated to the U.S. as a teenager with his parents and brothers in 2000. 

Mazi and his x-wife, Dunia, were married for nine years, before divorcing in 2021 and are the proud parents of son, Luka (7) who has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Mazi has also formed Hope For Luka, a non-profit dedicated to funding Muscular Dystrophy research with the objective of finding a cure as well as advanced therapies for those impacted by Muscular Dystrophy. 

It's a an uplifting story about overcoming adversity, a father's commitment to his son, and advocacy for others.  All on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast. 

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/

This is part of a special series of interviews within the SFN Dad To Dad Podcasts known as the SFN Mastermind Group Monday Podcasts.  Each Monday host David Hirsch interviews one of the SFN Mastermind Group dads on the impact the mastermind group has had on him and the wellbeing of his family.  

This Monday’s guest is John Fela of Lyons, IL who works in Chicago for Joni & Friends, the global Christian disability ministry.  John is also the father of a teenage son with Autism.

John and his x-wife, Elizabeth, were married for 15 years and are the proud parents of Christopher (16), who is Autistic and non-verbal.  The couple divorced about five years ago.  More recently, John is happily married to Faith.

John was part of the original SFN Dad To Dad Mastermind Group community.  He was previously featured in episode #65 of the SFN Dad To Dad Podcast in August 2019. 

It’s an uplifting conversation about perseverance, overcoming life's challenges and advocacy, all on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.

Show Notes - 
Phone – (847) 722-5273
Email – [email protected]
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-fela-0b839920/
SFN Dad To Dad Podcast #65 - https://www.spreaker.com/episode/dad-to-dad-65-john-felageller-of-highwood-il-father-of-a-son-with-autism-school-teacher-blogger-and-writer--18772596
Favorite Mastermind Group Books –
The Voice Of Victory, by Wayne Messmer – https://tinyurl.com/5n8uhku6 
The Secrets of the Bulletproof Spirit, by Azim Khamisa -https://tinyurl.com/5bztw4cm

About the SFN Mastermind Group –

WHAT- 
SFN Mastermind Group dads meet weekly by Zoom for 75 minutes. Each meeting:
◦            starts with a round of wins from the past week,
◦            includes a discussion of the current book (6 per year) being reviewed,
◦            has two Dad-In-The-Middle sessions for dads to share a challenge, and
◦            ends with a recap and look at the week ahead. 

WHO - 
SFN Mastermind Group Dads are those:
◦            seeking meaningful friendships with like-minded dads,
◦            willing to invest their time and make a financial commitment,
◦            looking for a safe place to be open and authentic, and
◦            who realize seeking advice is a strength, not a weakness.  

WHY - 
SFN Mastermind Group Dads benefit by:
◦            realizing they are NOT alone
◦            having better relationships with their spouse,
◦            developing improved understandings of their child(ren),
◦            tapping into the experience and wisdom of others,
◦            getting weekly encouragement from like-minded dads, and
◦            creating a pathway to become the best version of themselves

21st Century Dads Foundation is looking to provide 100 special needs fathers with the opportunity to be part of the class of 2024 Mastermind Group.

Our guest this week is Alvin Green of Chicago who is a chef, founder of Al’s Cookie Mixx and father of two including a son with Autism.   

Alvin and his wife, Angella Ferguson, have been married for 27 years and are the proud parents of two: Asa (23) and Aiden (20), who is Autistic and was also diagnosed with Hyperlexia.

Alvin has directed his culinary skills and love for baking into creating Al's Cookie Mixx, a social enterprise created in 2018, that makes delicious custom home baked cookies and provides employment to young adults with disabilities. 

One of the company's catch phrases is: "Your Enjoyment Provides Employment."  

We also learn about the impact that Special Olympics and Victory Reins Equestrian Therapy have had on Aiden's life and personal development.  

Alvin’s an incredibly positive guy and we’ll hear his family story on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast. 

Show Notes - 
Phone – 773-474-8295
Email - [email protected]
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alvin-green-98523915/
Al’s Cookie Mixx - https://alscookiemixx.com/

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/

This is part of a special series of interviews within the SFN Dad To Dad Podcasts known as the SFN Mastermind Group Monday Podcasts.  Each Monday host David Hirsch interviews one of the SFN Mastermind Group dads on the impact the mastermind group has had on him and the wellbeing of his family.  

This Monday’s guest is Jordan Jankus of Wallingford, VT who is a disability advocate, founder of Plastic Learning, a freelance writer and perhaps most importantly, father of two including an adult daughter with Cerebral Palsy.  

Jordan and his wife, Cathy, have been married for 49 years and are the proud parents to two children: Justin (35) and Jessie (45) who has multiple developmental disabilities including Cerebral Palsy. 

Jordan is a freelance writer and disability advocate, serving in various roles, as a vocational coach, case-manager, advocate and personal technology specialist.  Jordan is also founder of Plastic Learning, which was created to promote lifelong learning opportunities for people with cognitive disabilities.

Jordan is also a more recent member of the SFN Dad To Dad Mastermind Group community.  He was previously featured in episode #311 of the SFN Dad To Dad Podcast in June 2024. 

It’s an uplifting conversation and a reminder, no matter what age you are, there is value in being in fellowship with other dads, all on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.

Show Notes - 
Email - [email protected]
LinkedIn -  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-jankus-a4215328/
Website – https://plasticlearning.com/
Substack - https://plastlearn.substack.com/  

About the SFN Mastermind Group –

WHAT- 
SFN Mastermind Group dads meet weekly by Zoom for 75 minutes. Each meeting:
◦            starts with a round of wins from the past week,
◦            includes a discussion of the current book (6 per year) being reviewed,
◦            has two Dad-In-The-Middle sessions for dads to share a challenge, and
◦            ends with a recap and look at the week ahead. 

WHO - 
SFN Mastermind Group Dads are those:
◦            seeking meaningful friendships with like-minded dads,
◦            willing to invest their time and make a financial commitment,
◦            looking for a safe place to be open and authentic, and
◦            who realize seeking advice is a strength, not a weakness.  

WHY - 
SFN Mastermind Group Dads benefit by:
◦            realizing they are NOT alone
◦            having better relationships with their spouse,
◦            developing improved understandings of their child(ren),
◦            tapping into the experience and wisdom of others,
◦            getting weekly encouragement from like-minded dads, and
◦            creating a pathway to become the best version of themselves

21st Century Dads Foundation is looking to provide 100 special needs fathers with the opportunity to be part of the class of 2024 Mastermind Group.   

Curious to learn more?
Are you looking to meet like-minded dads?
Do you feel like something is missing?  
SFN Mastermind Group FAQs - https://21stcenturydads.org/sfn-mastermind-group/  
Schedule A Call - https://21stcenturydads.org/sfn-mastermind-group-inquiry-form/