
The Special Needs Mom Podcast
Think of this podcast as your very own special needs mom support group--except it's helpful and fun! You will leave with the hope that you can have a super happy life even when your life includes parenting a medically complex child or a child with something like autism and ADHD.
You likely didn't ask to be the parent of a disabled child or to live portions of your life in the hospital NICU or PICU. Your story is unique; it’s hard to find a place where you belong or where you don't feel so isolated and alone. Your child might have a rare disease, be undiagnosed or experience something that almost everybody has heard of like Downs syndrome yet the weird thing is that whether your child has an intellectual disability or physical disability, the experience as a mother is so similar. So regardless of your child’s disability, we can all find a home in this community.
You find yourself managing everybody else's needs; your child, their siblings, and all the guilt that you have about that. All this has you feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and dizzy---not knowing who to turn to or what to do next for help. This podcast is your lifeline, you’ll find encouragement and inspiration as we connect to other moms’ journeys. We’ll get practical and look at what it takes to stop feeling so stuck in your life.
You know this podcast is for you if you find yourself googling:
Overwhelmed special needs mom help
How to do self care as a special needs mom?
Dealing with anger as a special needs mom
How to manage special needs mom burnout and stress?
How do I deal with mom's guilt?
Help for myself as a special needs mom
How do I cope with a disabled child?
How do I manage the grief of my medically complex child?
How to keep from drowning as a caregiver
Support group for special needs mom or community for caregivers
I'm tired of taking care of my special needs child
Finding balance between my child’s needs and my own mamas needs
Respite and rest for special needs moms
Episodes
255 episodes
Faith, Trauma & Transformation with Katelyn Johnson
In this episode, I talk with Katelyn—a mom of three kids with different disabilities, including Trisomy 21, Aicardi-Goutieres Syndrome & Autism, whose parenting journey started at just 19. Her story includes foster care, childhood trauma, a...
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Episode 253
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42:29

When People Think You are Fine & You are Not
This is a rebroadcast of Episode 130 that was aired back in 2023."In this episode, I open up about those moments when everyone assumes you're okay, but inside, you're struggling. It's a common experience, especially for us moms navigatin...
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Episode 252
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27:32

Grief that Overwhelms Compassion with Kristin Herzberg Purdy
This week, I sat down with Kristin Herzberg Purdy—psychologist, rare disease advocate, and mom of two children with disabilities. KristIn shares her deeply personal story of parenting through autism, epilepsy, and a rare neurodegenerative condi...
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Episode 251
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39:05

The Story of Two Wolves
In today’s episode, I’m sharing some personal reflections about acceptance and the emotions that come with it, especially with my son’s 16th birthday bringing up past challenges. I also share the excitement of an upcoming getaway, thanks to my ...
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Episode 250
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14:29

Discovering the Power of Authentic Connection with Tara Heaton
In this episode, I'm joined by Tara Heaton, a writer, speaker, and master storyteller with over 25 years of corporate experience. Tara’s journey took a turn when her daughter, Caroline, developed encephalitis, which led to a seizure disorder an...
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Episode 249
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43:19

The Jerky J: Tackling Self Judgement
In this episode, I talk about the sneaky voice of self-judgment that creeps in when we’re feeling inadequate. I share a personal story of how I’ve learned to recognize and deal with these judgmental thoughts, and why it’s important to show ours...
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Episode 248
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18:08

A Grieved Community
In this episode, I share my concern over the rising division within our special needs community. Recently, I’ve observed two sides clashing—each convinced the other is wrong. This division started with a comment made by the Secretary of Health ...
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Episode 247
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15:01

Empowering Rare Disease Leaders through the Rare Advocacy Exchange Series hosted by Global Genes
In this episode, we sit in on the Rare Advocacy Exchange virtual series. Global Genes is hosting this series in an effort to empower rare disease leaders. As moderator, I facilitated a panel that focused on the challenges and rewards of leading...
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Episode 246
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1:16:40

What Supporting Yourself Really Looks Like
I share a personal story today about my journey with pelvic floor physical therapy, and how I’ve been learning to support myself in ways that match my resistance. After some humorous missteps with scheduling and a lot of self-judgment, I realiz...
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Episode 245
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26:41

Overcoming Isolation in a Digital World with Callista Bowes
This conversation with Callista Bowes, a therapist, mom, and certified pediatric gentle sleep coach, dives into a reality many special needs parents face—the deep isolation that exists even in a hyper-connected world.We talk abo...
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Episode 244
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53:35

Building the Summer of Your Dreams
In this episode, I’m sharing how I’m planning ahead to create a summer that actually works—for me, my family, and especially Levi.Last summer was rough, so I got intentional about doing things differently this year. I walk you t...
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Episode 243
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33:56

Wanderlust & Wheelchairs: Making Travel Possible with Laura Ishmael
Today I’m chatting with my friend Laura Ishmael, special needs mom, travel advisor, and all-around travel pro. Laura shares how travel became part of her family’s life, even after her daughter Sophie’s rare brain malformation diagnosis. From na...
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Episode 242
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51:28

Moms Talk Autism (with me)
This episode is full of heart, insight, and real talk about the ever-evolving journey of special needs motherhood. I sat down with Brittney Crabtree and Tash Dillman from the Moms Talk Autism...
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Episode 241
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54:03

Unsupportive Support Groups: Why Some Support Groups Leave You Worse Off Than You Started
Ever walked into a support group expecting connection and left feeling… not so supported? You’re not alone. This episode is all about navigating support groups that don’t quite meet our needs and how to find, or even create, the spaces that tru...
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Episode 240
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28:04

We're Talking About Help: A Community Huddle Episode
Welcome to our Community Huddle! This month, we’re talking about receiving—why it’s hard, why it matters, and how we can get better at it.In this episode, we explore:The struggle of asking for help....
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Episode 239
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43:05

Digging Deep
Last night, as I was putting Levi to bed—exhausted and overwhelmed—I realized I had a choice: shrink back or dig deep.I take you back to my water polo days and a phrase my coach drilled into us—"Dig Deep." It’s stuck with me ever since, ...
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Episode 238
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7:31

The Complexity of Receiving Help
Today I'm wrapping up our two-part series on receiving. Inspired by my own journey and the experiences of the moms I work with, I take you through a personal story of navigating the world of financial support for my son, Levi.I share how...
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Episode 237
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28:44

The Guilt of Receiving
Today, we’re diving into a topic that so many of us struggle with—receiving help. This conversation was sparked by a comment from our community about the guilt of accepting support, even when we know we need it.In this episode, I explore...
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Episode 236
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22:29

The Race to Safety
I’m sharing a personal update about a recent unexpected hospitalization with my son Levi, and how I handle “hospital mode” when life throws a curveball. I also dive into how we try to outrun anxiety with our to-do lists—and why that just doesn’...
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22:58

Stabilizing After Winter Break- A Community Huddle
This week’s episode is a special one—our January Community Huddle! I sat down with four amazing moms, and together, we unpacked the post-winter break season. Think of it as a virtual coffee chat, full of reflections, laughs, and shared w...
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50:55

To Be Of Service
This episode is all about catching up! I’m sharing highlights from our winter break, including a big advocacy win for Levi, and reflecting on the mix of joy and challenges that come with parenting a child with disabilities.I also dive in...
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19:05

Finding Purpose Through Parenting Invisible Differences with Kari Baker
In this heartfelt episode, I sit down with Kari A. Baker, an inspiring mom, author, and advocate for families navigating life with invisible neurological differences. Kari shares her journey of becoming a "KIND mom" after her son Brady was diag...
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Episode 232
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49:50

Together is the Only Way
As 2024 wraps up, I’m reflecting on my son’s incredible progress and the motto that’s guided me: “Together is the only way.” In this quick episode, I share the story behind it and why it means so much.Looking for more connection...
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10:23
