
Beyond the Label Podcast
What is it like to parent a neurodivergent child? How do you navigate sibling relationships, family dynamics, and, well, the outside world? We're Ty and Lisa, parents of three kids. Nora and June are neurotypical, and Milo is autistic. We're sharing our experiences as a family. Hear stories about our day-to-day-life and conversations about the hope and grief and fear that are all a part of this journey. We also try to share some of the moments that make us laugh - there is plenty of joy in this life, too! We want to shine a light on what life is really like with a child who has a disability - pulling back the curtain and going beyond the label.
Episodes
21 episodes
E21: Family Trip
To Milo’s delight (thanks, Daniel Tiger), we went on a family trip! We spent a sunny week in Myrtle Beach, bouncing between the pool and the beach, and all our kids had a blast.In this episode, we share why we feel comfortable calling th...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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19:28

E20: Preschool
In this episode, we’re looking back on Milo’s 2.5 years of preschool—how it began, what we learned, and how it shaped the next phase of our journey.From that first January morning drop-off to his final days in the preschool classroom, we...
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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16:25
E19: Help Me Grow
In the summer of 2021, just weeks after moving into our new home, we sat down with a service coordinator from Ohio’s Help Me Grow Early Intervention program.It was the first time we fully acknowledged Milo’s developmental delays—and the ...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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17:52
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E18: The Chair
Days after moving into our new home, Milo — just 2 years old — pushed over a heavy wooden chair, and something in us shifted. In this episode, we reflect on the early signs that something deeper was going on, the stress that surrounded that sea...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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13:33

E17: The Great Divide
Do you remember your earliest friend? One of the hardest things for us as parents is to witness how hard it can be for Milo to connect with other kids his age. He's increasingly eager and friendly and aware, but the communication gap is al...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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16:12

E16: Hopeful
Milo is getting ready to say goodbye to the early learning center where he began school-based services in 2022—and it’s bringing up a lot of emotions. In this episode, we’re sharing the highs and lows of his kindergarten year, and how we're fee...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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19:28
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E15: Outside
Here’s something we’ve often wished was easier with our kids: just going outside.In this episode, we go back to a beautiful March evening when Milo couldn’t make sense of what we were doing—or what his sisters were doing—and we couldn’t ...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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16:40

E14: Sorry
Let's talk about the awkward, emotional, and often unspoken moments that can come with raising a neurodivergent child. Lisa shares a story she still replays years later and together we unpack the weight of apology, public perception, and the st...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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18:30

E13: No Filter
We’re talking about those rare moments when you meet people who just get it. From a chance connection at a splash pad to an unexpected friendship formed after a cookie decorating class, we share a few times when we felt truly seen as p...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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15:49

E12: Glimmers
Not all milestones are big and flashy. In this episode, we reflect on 9 recent glimmers—small moments that brought us peace and reminded us how far Milo has come.From getting excited about dinner to thoughtfully picking out gifts for his...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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18:29

E11: Diagnosis
Milo was diagnosed with autism the month after his fourth birthday.As the parents of a young neurodivergent child, we will make it to the "other side" of challenges over and over again - just like we made it to the other side of the auti...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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31:59
E10: Blankets
Ever been in a season where sleep just... disappeared? In this episode, we’re sharing what it was like during a stretch of nearly six months when Milo couldn’t fall asleep for hours—and still managed to wake up before sunrise. We tried everythi...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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14:21
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E9: Hey Jealousy
When Milo was diagnosed with autism just weeks after turning 4, and as his behaviors became more challenging, I struggled with envy toward other families. Sometimes, I still do. It’s not rational. I know every family has its own challenges, whe...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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18:03

E8: Sister Sister - Part 2
June & Milo.June is a bright, animated, and funny kid—and extremely stubborn. As the quintessential little sister, she wants Milo's attention, and she doesn’t care how she gets it.While we’ve been working on behavioral interv...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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13:11
E7: Sister Sister - Part 1
Nora & Milo. They are 16 months apart, now ages 7 and 6.Since they were very young, they've had a special relationship. Nora is the proud big sister. Her love and affection for Milo is one of his greatest blessings - but ...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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17:26
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E6: The Fall Festival
When it comes to any special event, the decision of whether or not to go as a whole family, with Milo in tow, is carefully made. That was definitely true as we planned for a fall festival at a local farm in support of Nora's school. Go back in ...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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19:34
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E5: Spider-Man
We're navigating a crowded Costco when Milo spots it: the overflowing rack of Spider-Man costumes. "That one!" he says, very matter-of-factly - and so we add it to the cart. It may seem like a simple interaction, but it was much more than that....
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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10:15

E4: SOS
Turkey calls and SOS texts: We're going back to a day last May when Ty had a plan for a much-needed break - and to enjoy a hobby he loves. When you're in the thick of "the hard," how do you find a way to regroup and refresh? And what if you can...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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22:57
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E3: Cake
So often, two things can be true at the same time. That's the case with Milo's birthday. We feel so grateful for him, and for being able to watch him grow! But anticipating his birthday can make us feel a little bit sad. We're digging into our ...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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14:38
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