Our guest this week is John O’Leary of St. Louis MO who is a motivational speaker, bestselling author, host of the Live Inspired Podcast, the subject of the recently released major motion picture SOUL ON FIRE and perhaps most importantly, the father of four children.

John and his wife, Beth, have married for 22 years and are the proud parents of four children ages 14 to 20.

At age nine, John was badly burned in a horrific gasoline fire, leaving him with third-degree burns on more than 80% of his body.  Given less than 1/2 of 1% chance of survival, he somehow beat the odds. Central to John's story is the role Jack Buck, the iconic St. Louis Cardinals sportscaster, played in John's life. 

After graduating from St. Louis University and a 15 year career in real estate, John became a motivational speaker and two-time best selling author of the books: 

• On Fire: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life
• In  Awe: Rediscover Your Childlike Wonder to Unleash Inspiration, Meaning, and Joy

The theatrical release of the movie Soul On Fire took place in October 2025, which is an inspiring true story about John, who survives a devastating childhood burn accident and transforms unimaginable suffering into a life of gratitude, resilience, and purpose—showing how hope, faith, and human connection can triumph over tragedy.  The movie is now streaming on: Prime Video, Apple TV, YouTube and elsewhere.  

This is Part 1 of the interview with John O’Leary, a story about faith, family and perseverance, on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.

Show Notes - 
Email – jo@johnolearyinspires.com
LinkedIn –  https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-o-leary-08b2805/
Website -  https://johnolearyinspires.com/
Book - On Fire: The Seven Chocies To Ignite A Radically Ispired Life - https://tinyurl.com/vn5d733u 
Book - In Awe: Rediscover Your Childlike Wonder to Unleash Inspiration, Meaning, and Joy - https://tinyurl.com/4h4duvjt
Movie - Soul On Fire Trailer -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CslVGLETWps

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/

Our guest this week is Nick Massie of Los Angeles, CA, a film industry veteran and father of an adult son who is an actor with Cerebral Palsy. 

Nick and his wife, Michelle, have been married for 29 years and are the proud parents of Cole (28), an actor and member of the Screen Actors Guild, who also has cerebral palsy. 

Cole was featured in the highly acclaimed movie The Paper Bag Plan, which debuted in 2024.  It's a well told story and Cole gave a heartfelt performance as Billy, a young man with Cerebral Palsy.  The screen play was written and the film was directed by Anthony Lucero.  

We also learn about the impact that various organization's have had on Cole's development, including: Canine Companions, Shane's Inspiration, United CP and Ronald McDonald House.  

It's an uplifting father-son interview with a cameo appearance from Michelle, all on this episode of the SFN Dad To Dad Podcast. 

Show Notes -
Phone – (323) 620-3903
Email – nickmassie04@gmail.com
Paper Bag Plan YouTube -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFRKK3wIQ3E
Cole Massie's Web Page: http://www.colemassie.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/

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.. 

Our guest this week is Eric Freund of San Diego, CA who is a high school teacher, coach, co-founder of Hope On The Hard Road and father of two children who are both Autistic.

Eric and his wife, Christen, have married for 27 years and are the proud parents of two: Abby (21) and Caleb (23), both who are on the Autism spectrum. 

Christen & Eric are co-founders of Hope On The Hard Road, a non-profit organization whose mission is: helping connect and encourage families with children with special needs through programs designed to support the unique needs of the individual, the family, and the community.

Eric also hosts the bi-weekly Hope on the Hard Road Special Needs Podcast, now with more than 90 episodes.

The Freund family story is one of; faith, hope and a commitment to serving others, all on this eipsode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.

Show Notes -
Phone – (760) 201-5207
Email – eric@hopeonthehardroad.org
LinkedIn –  https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-freund-5438416b/
Website - https://hopeonthehardroad.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.. 

Our guest this week is Jeff Wallis, of Valparaiso, IN who is a veterinarian and father of who had a son with Hypotonia, Ataxia, Developmental Delay, and Tooth-Enamel Defects Syndrome (HADDTS) an extremely rare but serious genetic condition caused by a mutation in the CTBP1 gene.

Jeff and his wife, Mindy, have married for 22 years and are the proud parents of Charles 18, who very sadly past away in May, who had Hypotonia, Ataxia, Developmental Delay, and Tooth-Enamel Defects Syndrome (HADDTS) an extremely rare but serious genetic condition caused by a mutation in the CTBP1 gene.

We learn about a host of organizations that played a key role in the Wallis family and on behalf of Charles including; the HADDTS Foundation, University of Chicago Genetics, Kids Work and Jacob's Ladder.  

We also learn about an epic cross country RV trip the family took with Charles during COVID to provide him with some extraordinary memories. 

While Charles lived a relatively short life, the Wallis family story one is about making the most of the situation and celebrating life.

Show Notes -
Phone – (219) 771-6129
Email – wallisje1@yahoo.com
HADDTS Foundation –  https://www.haddtsfoundation.org/
Jacob’s Ladder - https://www.jacobskids.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.. 

Our guests this week are Dave Tolmie of Lake Forest IL and Tumsifu Munuo, of Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.

In 1999, Dave Tomlie's parents, John and Joann, raised $250,000 and with the help of the Lutheran Church built Faraja School, a boarding school for one hundred K-7 youth with physical disabilities, where Tumsifu serves as director.  

In addiiton to the Faraja School, the Tolmie family created the Faraja Fund Foundation where Dave and his brothers have been instramentally involved for decades.  John serves as vice-president, Paul is secretary/treasurer, and Dave is chairman of the board of directors.

More recently the Faraja Fund Foundation created Faraja Forward a mobile outreach clinic and partnership with local health care providers as well as other specialists to serve families beyond those able to attend Faraja School.  Faraja Forward is filling the unmet healthcare needs of hundreds of additional children in more remote locations, offering diagnosis, psychosocial support, physical and occupational therapy, and training to mothers and village health workers.

It's an uplifting story about how a U.S. family has been able to transform the lives of thousands of families half way around the world through faith, education and building community around those touched by physical disabilities, all on this episode of the SFN Dad To Dad Podcast. 

Show Links -
Phone – (312) 927-5010
Email – dmtolmie@gmail.com
WhatsApp - +255 757 594 204
Email – munuotumsifu4@gmail.com
LinkedIn –  https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-tolmie-b3339889/  
Website –  https://www.farajaschool.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.. 

Our guest this week is John Peter (JP) Klop of Alberta, Canada who is a draftsman with JPR Industries and father of two young children including a son with Schwachman Diamond Syndrome.

JP and his wife, Lianna, have married for three years and are the proud parents of two young children: Anna (1) and Isaac (2), who has Schwachman Diamond Syndrome, which is characterized by: inability to digest food due to missing digestive enzymes, low muscle tone, anemia, skeletal findings and intellectual disability. 

JP is very open and authentic about the challenges related to SDS and his own brush with Autism that runs in his family. 
 
We’ll hear JP’s story, his commitment to family and service to others all on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.

Show Notes -
Phone – (226) 231-0933
Email – jpklop@outlook.com
LinkedIn –  https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnpeterklop/
Website –  https://shwachman-diamond.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.. 

Our guest this week is Tom Chibucos of Chicago, IL, who is a Related Service Provider Manager of Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology services at Chicago Public Schools and father of two including one who is on the Autism spectrum.  

Tom and his wife, Michelle, have been married for 20 years and are the proud parents of two children; Sylvie (10) and Vincent (9), who is non-verbal and on the Autism spectrum.

Tom is also a co-founder of Pediatric Therapy Network Chicago, started in 2010 to deliver highly skilled therapeutic support to young children and families in their homes and communities so that all children can fully participate in the joys of childhood.

We’ll hear Tom’s story, his commitment to family and service to others on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.

Show Notes -
Phone – (773) 818-3491
Email – tomchibucos@gmail.com
LinkedIn –  https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomaschibucos/
Website - https://www.ptnchicago.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/

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.. 

Our guest this week is Swapna Sasidharan, of Schaumburg, IL, a Vice President of Technology at APCO Holdings, mother of two children, including one with POGZ, and founder of the Cure POGZ Disorders 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 Disorders 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 traditional Indian family, about her career, her journey as a rare disease parent, her understanding about acceptance (the difference between surrender and acknowledgement) and her enthusiasum for life on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast.

Show Links
Phone – (847) 532-9808
Email – swapna@curepogzdisorders.org
LinkedIn –  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-disease
Facebook 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.
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