Episodes

  • SFN Dad To Dad 384 - Steve Harris of Lanesboro, MN A Freelance Writer, Author, Widower, Husband & Father of 2 Sons With Disabilities Part 1

    SFN Dad To Dad 384 - Steve Harris of Lanesboro, MN A Freelance Writer, Author, Widower, Husband & Father of 2 Sons With Disabilities Part 1
    Jun 27 2025
    Our guest this week is Steve Harris of Lanesboro, MN a free-lance writer, widower, author and father of two sons with disabilities. Part 1.

    Steve and his wife, Susan, have married for 17 years. Steve and his first wife, Pam, were together for 30 years, before she passed away in 2012 due to a rare neurological disorder. Steve and Pam had two boys: Matthew who was born in 1980 with Spina bifida and younger son, Andrew, who is 37 and who has Cerebral Palsy. Very sadly, Matthew passed away in October 2020 four days short of his 40th birthday.

    Steve's career included being a pastor, a middle school teacher and for 20 years, director of communications at Twin Cities YMCA . All along Steve has been a writer who morer recently has published two books:
    • Dads Like Us: A Survival Guide For Fathers Raising Children With Disabilities (2024)
    • Lanesboro, Minnesota (2018)
    We also learn about a wide range of supporting organizations the family has benefited from, including:
    • Spina Bifida Association,
    • Boston Children’s Hospital,
    • University of MA Medical Center,
    • Genetic Counseling Gillette Children’s Hospital (St. Paul),
    • Wanna Meonie’s School (Palo Alto) inclusive, and
    • MN Accessible sports.
    One of Steve's superpowers is his resilience through some of life's greatest challenges. This week's episode of the SFN Dad To Dad Podcast is Part 1.

    Show Links:
    Phone – (952) 836-7904
    Email – sharris1962@msn.com
    LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-harris-44101315/
    Website – https://steveharrisauthor.com/
    Books –
    • Dads Like Us: A Survival Guide For Fathers Raising Children With Disabilities (2024) https://tinyurl.com/mrxact2y
    • Lanesboro, Minnesota (2018) https://tinyurl.com/2zfbv24s
    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/

    SFN Mastermind Group - https://21stcenturydads.org/sfn-mastermind-group/
    Show more Show less
    46 mins
  • SFN Dad To Dad 383 - Peter Gerhardt of Rich Hill Park, NJ ED at Epic Schools, Author, Autism Expert & Disability Advocate - Part 2

    SFN Dad To Dad 383 - Peter Gerhardt of Rich Hill Park, NJ ED at Epic Schools, Author, Autism Expert & Disability Advocate - Part 2
    Jun 20 2025
    Our guest this week is Peter Gerhardt of Rich Hill Park, NJ who is executive director at EPIC Schools located in Paramus, NJ, author of dozens of publications and books, an internationally recognized Autism expert and outspoken advocate for the disability community.

    Peter has three degrees from Rutgers University: a BA in Psychology, an EdM in Special Education, and a PhD in Education Psychology and Special Education.

    He has dedicated his life to researching Autism and serving the disability community. He has developed workshops and given hundreds of presentations domestically and internationally.

    Some of his publications include:
    Make it Meaningful: Creating Programs that Matter into Adulthood for Learners with Autism and Related Disorders (2024).

    Handbook of Quality of Life for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism and Child Psychopathology Series (2022).

    Transition to Adulthood for Adolescents and Young Adults with Autism: Can We Improve Outcomes? (2022)

    Social Skill and Adaptive Behavior Intervention with Learners with Autism (2013).

    Peter also served as a consultant for the widely respected documentary In A Different Key (2021) co-producers: Caren Zucker, John Donovan & Ray Conley with music by Wynston Marsalis.

    Given the scope of Peter's work we decided to split his interview into two parts. This is part #2.


    Show Links:
    Phone – (210) 576-0600
    Email – PGerhardt@epicschool.org
    LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-gerhardt-112a4b29/
    Website - https://www.epicschool.org/
    Organization for Autism Research (OAR) - https://researchautism.org/
    Books –
    - Make it Meaningful: Creating Programs that Matter into Adulthood for Learners with Autism and Related Disorders
    - Handbook of Quality of Life for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism and Child Psychopathology Series - Publication
    - Transition to Adulthood for Adolescents and Young Adults with Autism: Can We Improve Outcomes?. Movie – https://www.inadifferentkeythemovie.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/

    SFN Mastermind Group - https://21stcenturydads.org/sfn-mastermind-group/
    Show more Show less
    32 mins
  • SFN Dad To Dad 382 - Peter Gerhardt of Rich Hill Park, NJ ED at Epic Schools, Author, Autism Expert & Disability Advocate

    SFN Dad To Dad 382 - Peter Gerhardt of Rich Hill Park, NJ ED at Epic Schools, Author, Autism Expert & Disability Advocate
    Jun 13 2025
    Our guest this week is Peter Gerhardt of Rich Hill Park, NJ who is executive director at EPIC Schools located in Paramus, NJ, author of dozens of publications and books, an internationally recognized Autism expert and outspoken advocate for the disability community.

    Peter has three degrees from Rutgers University: a BA in Psychology, an EdM in Special Education, and a PhD in Education Psychology and Special Education.

    He has dedicated his life to researching Autism and serving the disability community. He has developed workshops and given hundreds of presentations domestically and internationally.

    Some of his publications include:
    Make it Meaningful: Creating Programs that Matter into Adulthood for Learners with Autism and Related Disorders (2024).

    Handbook of Quality of Life for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism and Child Psychopathology Series (2022).

    Transition to Adulthood for Adolescents and Young Adults with Autism: Can We Improve Outcomes? (2022)

    Social Skill and Adaptive Behavior Intervention with Learners with Autism (2013).

    Peter also served as a consultant for the widely respected documentary In A Different Key (2021) co-producers: Caren Zucker, John Donovan & Ray Conley with music by Wynston Marsalis.

    Given the scope of Peter's work we decided to split his interview into two parts. This is part #1.

    Show Links:
    Phone – (210) 576-0600
    Email – PGerhardt@epicschool.org
    LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-gerhardt-112a4b29/
    Website - https://www.epicschool.org/
    Organization for Autism Research (OAR) - https://researchautism.org/
    Books –
    - Make it Meaningful: Creating Programs that Matter into Adulthood for Learners with Autism and Related Disorders
    - Handbook of Quality of Life for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism and Child Psychopathology Series - Publication
    - Transition to Adulthood for Adolescents and Young Adults with Autism: Can We Improve Outcomes?. Movie – https://www.inadifferentkeythemovie.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/

    SFN Mastermind Group - https://21stcenturydads.org/sfn-mastermind-group/
    Show more Show less
    34 mins
  • SFN Dad To Dad 381 Rick Bolle of Naperville, IL - Founding Pastor of Front Porch Church Serving Those With Disabilities & Their Families

    SFN Dad To Dad 381 Rick Bolle of Naperville, IL - Founding Pastor of Front Porch Church Serving Those With Disabilities & Their Families
    Jun 6 2025
    Our guest this week is Rick Bolle of Naperville, IL founding pastor of the newly formed Front Porch Church, father of two and retired businessman.

    Rick and his wife, Alinda, have been married for 32 years and are the proud parents of two adult children.

    Shortly after retiring from Thermo Fisher Scientific in 2022, where he was a Senior Safety Specialist, Rick felt a calling to start or plant Front Porch Church.

    Established in 2023, Front Porch Church helps people of all ability find their way back to God. FPC is specifically designed to welcome individuals with special needs and their families. Weekly services offer a worship experience that embraces all expressions and all movements, ensuring that everyone feels included, valued, safe and loved.

    It’s an illuminating conversation and we’ll hear it on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.

    Show Links
    Phone – (630) 442-4031
    Email – rickbolle2@icloud.com
    LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-bolle-6955b150/
    Website - https://kidsmatter2us.org/front-porch-church/
    Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/groups/962219779455651

    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/
    • SFN Mastermind Group - https://21stcenturydads.org/sfn-mastermind-group/
    Show more Show less
    40 mins
  • SFN Dad to Dad 380 - Spencer Doman Of Philadelphia, PA CEO & 3rd Generation Leader of the Doman International Institute

    SFN Dad to Dad 380 - Spencer Doman Of Philadelphia, PA CEO & 3rd Generation Leader of the Doman International Institute
    May 30 2025
    Our guest this week is Spencer Doman of Philadelphia, PA, who is president and CEO of the Doman International Institute, where they empower parents with knowledge and tools to help their children with special needs thrive and teach parents how to create a loving, stimulating and healthy home so that their child can reach their fullest potential.

    Spencer and his wife, Melissa, have been married for 15 years.

    Spencer's grandfather, Glenn Doman, created the The Doman Method, and dedicated his life to helping kids with special needs. Doman International Institute was founded by Glenn’s son, Douglas Doman, and four other members of the Doman family. Spencer is the 3rd generation leader of DII. Over the past 70 years they have served more than 40K families in eight countries. Their research based results indicate 2X faster development for children after starting treatment.

    The DII website has a robust level of resources including books, articles and various trainings for parents and caregivers.

    Show Links
    Phone – (267)270-6657
    Email – spencer@domaninternational.org
    LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-doman-05957523/
    Website - https://www.domaninternational.org/
    Books –
    • The Doman Method: From Special Needs To Wellness - https://tinyurl.com/3eutfh7y
    • Answering Autism: The Doman Method Plan for Autism, ADD and Neurodevelopmental Delays - https://tinyurl.com/yvefnbbv
    • From Immobility To Walking: The Doman Method Pln To Teach A Special Needs Child To Talk & Run - https://tinyurl.com/bddy3uye
    • Fit Baby, Smart Baby, Your Baby!: From Birth To Age Six - https://tinyurl.com/bdf57yty
    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/
    • SFN Mastermind Group - https://21stcenturydads.org/sfn-mastermind-group/
    Show more Show less
    43 mins
  • SFN Dad To Dad 379 - Rebekah Taussig of Shawnee, KS - Mother, Author, Podcast Host & Disability Advocate

    SFN Dad To Dad 379 - Rebekah Taussig of Shawnee, KS - Mother, Author, Podcast Host & Disability Advocate
    May 23 2025
    Our guest this week is Rebekah Taussig of Shawnee, KS who is a mother, wife, author, podcast host, outspoken advocate for those with disability and who, herself is a paraplegic.

    Rebekah and her husband, Micah have been married for seven years and are the proud parents of Otto, who is typical five year old.

    Rebekah was diagnosed with spine cancer at age one and due to multiple surgeries lost her ability to walk at age four. She was the youngest of six children and despite her disability, still slept on the top bunk upstairs in her family home. She credits much of her success and resilience to her parents and siblings, who didn't treat her any differently.

    Prior to Otto's birth, Rebekah was a high school English and Literature teacher.

    Rebekah combined her PhD in Creative Non-Fiction & Disability Studies from University of Kansas, with her passion for writing to author Sitting Pretty: The View From My Ordinary, Resilient Disabled Body (2020). and more recently, a children's book entitled: We Are the Scrappy Ones (2025).

    More recently Rebekah has partnered with Caitlin Metz to host the Scratch That: Parenting & Re-Parenting Off Script Podcast, now with more than 50 episodes.

    It's an uplifting story about family and a woman's resilience all on this episode of the SFN Dad To Dad Podcast.

    Show Notes -
    Phone – (913) 940-1714
    Email – rebekahgracetaussig@gmail.com
    LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebekah-g-taussig-458668139/
    Website - https://www.rebekahtaussig.com/
    Books -
    Sitting Pretty: The View From My Ordinary, Resilient Disabled Body - https://tinyurl.com/mv4nc9tk
    We Are The Scrappy Ones - https://tinyurl.com/49h7rdb4

    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/

    SFN Mastermind Group - https://21stcenturydads.org/sfn-mastermind-group/
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 3 mins
  • SFN Dad To Dad 378 - Leon Logothetis of Los Angeles, CA, 'The Kindness Guy,' Author, Speaker & Producer

    SFN Dad To Dad 378 - Leon Logothetis of Los Angeles, CA, 'The Kindness Guy,' Author, Speaker & Producer
    May 16 2025
    Our guest this week is Leon Logothetis of Los Angeles, a British-born adventurer, author, and television host renowned for promoting global kindness. Formerly a London-based broker, he left finance to explore human connection through travel.

    Leon created and starred in the docuseries Amazing Adventures of a Nobody (2006–2008), journeying across the U.S., U.K., and Europe on minimal daily budgets. His acclaimed Netflix series The Kindness Diaries (2017–2019) chronicled his travels relying solely on strangers' generosity, offering life-changing gifts in return.

    Leon has authored several books, including The Kindness Diaries and Live, Love Explore, inspiring audiences to embrace empathy and adventure. His work underscores the transformative power of compassion in everyday life.

    Show Links
    Instagram - @thekindnessguy
    Email – leon@createdbywinston.com
    LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonlogothetis/
    Website - https://www.leonlogothetis.com/
    Website - https://gobekind.org/
    Books –
    The Kindness Diaries: One Man’s Quest To Ignite Goodwill & Transform Lives Around The World. (2015) https://tinyurl.com/3m6m8hjc
    Live, Love, Explore: Discover The Way Of The Traveler A Roadmap To The Life You Were Meant To Live. (2016) - https://tinyurl.com/5bd2zdtu
    Go Be Kind (2019) https://tinyurl.com/mrxf67r3
    Go Be Brave 23 ¾ Adventures For A Fearless, Wiser, & Truly Magnificent Life (2023) https://tinyurl.com/mswdm4hp
    Amazon Prime Movie – The Kindness Within: A Journey To Freedom (2024) https://tinyurl.com/bdfdvnd3

    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/

    SFN Mastermind Group - https://21stcenturydads.org/sfn-mastermind-group/
    Show more Show less
    37 mins
  • SFN Dad To Dad 377 - Jim Littlefield-Dalmares of Louisville, KY Father Of A Child with CP, Author, Podcast Host & Founder of Seeing Ability

    SFN Dad To Dad 377 - Jim Littlefield-Dalmares of Louisville, KY Father Of A Child with CP, Author, Podcast Host & Founder of Seeing Ability
    May 9 2025
    Our guest this week is Jim Littlefield-Dalmares of Louisville, KY who is Director of Market Development at BNI Middle Tennessee, author, podcast host, founder of Seeing Ability and perhaps most importantly, father of two including a child with Cerebral Palsy.

    Jim and his wife, LeAnn, have been married for 27 years and are the proud parents of two: Peter (21) and Sophia (25) who was born very prematurely, diagnosed early on with Spina Bifida and who has Cerberal Palsy.

    Professionally, Jim is the Director of Market Development at BNI of Middle Tennessee. He is also author of the book: Seeing Ability: Finding Your Path In Parenting A Child With Special Needs and host of the Seeing Ability Podcast. More recently, Jim has also created the Seeing Ability Foundation.

    We’ll hear Jim’s life story and all about the Seeing Ability book, podcast and foudnation all on this episode of the SFN.Dad to Dad Podcast.

    Show Notes -
    Phone – (502) 528-0894
    Email – jimld858@aol.com
    LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimld/
    Website – https://seeingability.com/
    Book – Seeing Ability: Finding Your Path In Parenting A Child With Special Needs - https://tinyurl.com/2fpfw4vp
    Podcast - https://seeingability.com/podcast/

    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/
    Show more Show less
    53 mins