A Weekly Podcast.
At Just Two Dads, our mission is to celebrate the unsung heroes of the Special Needs community by amplifying their stories through heartfelt conversation. As fathers to Special Needs children ourselves, we are dedicated to shedding light on the selfless individuals who tirelessly serve and support this community, fostering awareness, empathy, and connection.
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The Story Behind Just Two Dads
Shawn & Brian met nearly a decade ago as colleagues at a financial services firm dedicated to bridging the gap between middle America and the wealthy, with an education-based approach to finances, covering topics such as short- and long-term savings, life insurance, retirement, debt solutions, business solutions, and estate planning – all things that they are both passionate about.
Shows we've visited
S0312: Just Three Dads!
The Talk About It podcast
Greg Grunberg (@greggrunberg) hosts Shawn Francis (@iamshawnfrancis) and Brian Altounian (@brianaltounian) of the Just Two Dads podcast about raising children with special needs. See Shawn and Brian every Wednesday @ 11AM PT Live on Facebook!
Recent Episodes
Episode 167
EMM – EMMPowered Universe
Episode 112
Billy Price – Making a Measurable Difference One Foot at a Time
Episode 93
Katie Asher – The Book of Heaven
What People Are Saying
Meet Your Hosts
Originally from the island of St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands, Shawn Francis is a dedicated husband, and a father to 7 children: 2 of which are daughters from his wife’s previous marriage, 4 of which are his sister-in-law’s biological children whom he and his wife Laura first became legal guardians to before completing the adoption process, and one of which is his biological son, a young adult, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of three. He has more than a decade and a half of experience serving and educating families about goal setting & finances.
Shawn has served as a member of the Autism Parents Advisory Board at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles and as a volunteer Ambassador with Autism Speaks. Just over 5 years ago, he decided to focus a sizable portion of his business on serving other families with members who have special needs or are neurodivergent.
Shawn is the co-founder of the men’s support group, The Den which was created to foster community among men who are parents or caregivers to the neurodivergent or those with special needs. He is also a 2024 Fellow in the Caring Across Generations Care Fellows Program (www.caringacross.org), a national organization working to transform the way care is given across America. Shawn is also the co-creator & co-host of the weekly podcast, Just Two Dads, which spotlights those who serve & inspire the special needs community & beyond. He lives in Los Angeles, California.
Brian Altounian has more than 34 years of experience in the entertainment and technology industries. He has served as a C-level executive for a number of companies and has had much success helping early-stage ventures raise capital and pursue exit strategies such as acquisitions and going-public initiatives. In the entertainment industry, he has served as a Producer, Executive Producer and Co-Producer of a number of television and film projects, including COWBOYS & ALIENS, AUDREY, LOST IN WOONSOCKET, and “Random 1” among others.
His greatest pride & joy is being a father to three children including a 28-year-old daughter who was diagnosed with Apraxia, Microcephaly and Developmental Delays at the age of 18 months, but who, despite being told all of the “normal” life experiences she would miss out on, has been a wife, a step mother, and a middle-school teacher (just SOME of the things that her Dr. said she would never be able to do.)
Brian’s second daughter is 25, graduated college with honors and is now living and working in the tech industry in Tel Aviv, Israel. Brian also has 17-year-old son who is in high school and who was recently diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease, further rooting Brian to the community of special needs and the medically complex.
After entering the financial services industry almost 10 years ago educating and serving families about wealth maximization and financial independence. Just over 8 years ago, he decided to focus a portion of his business on serving families with members who have special needs.
As part of his service to this community, he is the co-creator and co-host of the weekly podcast “Just Two Dads,” and the co-founder of The Den, which was created to foster community among men who are parents or caregivers to the neurodivergent or those with special needs. He currently serves on the Board of Yes I Can Unity Through Music & Education, which provides skills training for opportunities in the entertainment industry to young adults with disabilities. He also serves on the Board of We Are Brave Together, a non-profit support group for mothers of those with special needs. He lives in Los Angles, California.