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Dad to Dad Podcast

Dad to Dad Podcast

By: David Hirsch
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 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 403 - Swapna Sasidharan Of Schaumburg, IL Mother of 2 Including One With POGZ & Founder Of The Cure POGZ Disorder Foundation

    SFN Dad To Dad 403 - Swapna Sasidharan Of Schaumburg, IL Mother of 2 Including One With POGZ & Founder Of The Cure POGZ Disorder Foundation
    Nov 7 2025
    Our guest this week is Swapna Sasidharan, of Schaumburg, IL, a Vice President of Technology at ABCO Holdings, mother of two children, incuding one with POGZ, and founder of the Cure POGZ Disorder Foundation. Swapna and her husband, Sandeep, have been married for 17 years and are the proud parents of two children: daughter Sloka (12) and son Ved (10) who has POGZ, a rare genetic disorder characterized by: developmental delays, cyclic vomiting, autism, microcephaly and gastrointestinal issues.Educated as an engineer, informed about the challenges of rare diseases and inspired to find a cure for POGZ, the rare disorder her son has, Swapna and the team at the Cure POGZ Disorder Foundation are dedicated to finding treatments and hopefully a cure for POGZ and other rare diseases.We’ll hear all about Swapna's background growing up in a tradtional Indian family, about her career, her journey as a rare disease parent, her understanding about acceptance (the difference between surrender and acknowledgement) and her enthusiam for life on this epsiode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.Show LinksPhone – (847) 532-9808Email – swapna@curepogzdisorders.orgLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/swapnasasidharan/Website – https://www.curepogzdisorders.org/Daily Herald Story - https://www.dailyherald.com/20250226/news/schaumburg-moms-mission-is-to-find-cure-for-sons-rare-condition/ IL Tech Magazine Spot Light - https://issuu.com/illinois_tech/docs/illinois_tech_magazine_spring_2025 Kirt Consulting Blog - https://www.ronkritconsulting.com/post/the-mom-who-took-on-genetics-swapna-sasidharan-s-mission-to-cure-rare-diseaseFacebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/people/Cure-Pogz-Disorders-Foundation/61566626403487/Instagram Page - https://www.instagram.com/curepogzdisorders/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/videosPlease 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/Special thanks to SFN Mentor Father, SFN Mastermind Group dad and 21CD board member Shane Madden for creating the SFN jingle on the front and back end of the podcast..
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    27 mins
  • SFN Dad To Dad 402 - David Apple of San Francisco, CA, Founder & CEO Of Shark Tooth Bio & Father Of Two Including One With CMT1A

    SFN Dad To Dad 402 - David Apple of San Francisco, CA, Founder & CEO Of Shark Tooth Bio & Father Of Two Including One With CMT1A
    Oct 31 2025
    Our guest this week is David Apple of San Francisco, CA, a serial entrepreneur, founder and CEO of Shark Tooth Bio, and father of two, including a son with Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease.

    David and his wife, Cristina, have married for seven years and are the proud parents of two young children: Zoe (3) and Ari (5) who was diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease, AKA CMT1A, a rare mono genetic disease that impairs the signal from the brain to the muscles causing weakness, loss of sensation, pain, and atrophy.

    David reflects on growing up in France and Israel. In March 2024 and after Ari's diagnosis, with his background as an engineer and success in the business world, David shifted his primary focus to creating and building Shark Tooth Bio, a for profit organization whose mission is: developing treatments for CMT1A and unlocking solutions for other neuropathies. To-date Shark Tooth Bio has raised $650K and has been able to assemble and first class board and contract with some of the world's top scientists.

    We also learn about David's involvement with Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association (CMTA).

    It's an uplifting story about commitment to family and service to others all on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.

    Show Links -
    Phone – (415) 910-8647
    Email – apple@sharktooth.bio
    LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/appledavid/
    Website – https://www.sharktooth.bio/
    Website - https://cmtausa.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/

    SFN Mastermind Group - https://21stcenturydads.org/sfn-mastermind-group/

    Special thanks to SFN Mentor Father, SFN Mastermind Group dad and 21CD board member Shane Madden for creating the SFN jingle on the front and back end of the podcast..
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    29 mins
  • SFN Dad To Dad 401 - Greg Corey of Highland Park, IL, A Wealth Manager & Father Of Three Including A Son With Down Syndrome

    SFN Dad To Dad 401 - Greg Corey of Highland Park, IL, A Wealth Manager & Father Of Three Including A Son With Down Syndrome
    Oct 24 2025
    Our guest this week is Greg Corey of Highland Park, IL a wealth manager at Ameriprise Financial Services and father of three children including a son with Down Syndrome.

    Greg and his wife, Carly, have been married for 10 years and are the proud parents of three children: Ashton (4), Frankie (6) and Presley (8), who has Mosaic Down syndrome, which was not detected or diagnosed until he was three years old.

    We also learn about a host of organizations that Presley has benefited from including:
    • Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association (NSSRA)
    • Kick Start Therapeutic Day Care, and
    • Gigi’s Playhouse
    It's an uplifting story about commitment to family and service to others all on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.

    Show Links -
    Phone - (847) 847-2134
    Email – gregorycorey@gmail.com
    Email - greg.corey@AMPF.com
    LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregoryjcorey/
    Website – https://www.ameripriseadvisors.com/gregory.corey/

    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/

    Special thanks to SFN Mentor Father, SFN Mastermind Group dad and 21CD board member Shane Madden for creating the SFN jingle on the front and back end of the podcast..
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    26 mins
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