In this conversation, I sit down with Jacob Esser, founder of Dads of Down Syndrome, for a deeply human conversation about fatherhood, fear, advocacy, and the unexpected ways life forms us through moments we never saw coming.
Jacob shares the story of his son Levi’s birth, including the silence that came over the delivery room and the unforgettable moment his wife held their newborn son and declared, “You’re perfect.” From there, we talk about the fears many parents face after a Down syndrome diagnosis: fear of the unknown, fear of whether their child will be accepted, fear of how to lead a family through a new vision for their future.
But this conversation is not only about diagnosis.
It is about what happens after.
Jacob eventually founded Dads of Down Syndrome, a growing community created to give fathers a place to be honest, encouraged, and connected. What started with a small group of dads sitting together has grown into something much larger: a movement built around presence, compassion, and the belief that these men are among “the luckiest men in the world.”
This episode is about special needs parenting, marriage, community, honest conversation among men, and the quiet power of simply showing up.
Jacob is an incredible man, and I’m grateful he was willing to share his story here.
Keep showing up,
Kyle Layne Zibrowski
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