Beyond the Label Podcast
We’re Ty & Lisa Kellogg—parents to three great kids: Nora, Milo, and June. Our daughters are neurotypical, and our son is autistic. Since Milo’s diagnosis in January 2023, we’ve been learning how to navigate parenting, family dynamics, and life in ways we never expected.
Spoiler alert: We don’t have all the answers (to parenting or podcasting), but we’re figuring it out as we go. This show is our way of processing the highs and lows, sharing what’s real—grief, hope, fear, laughter—and connecting with others on similar journeys.
If you’re parenting a neurodivergent child, love someone who is, or just want an honest look at one family's parenting experiences, you’re in the right place. (We’re nice, we promise.)
Episodes
51 episodes
E51: Smile
We're reflecting on the first moments we wondered if autism might be part of our son Milo’s story.We revisit memories of Milo as a baby—smiling, making eye contact, and seeming “typical”—and the relief we felt, alongside the quiet concer...
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Season 2
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Episode 51
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25:16
E50: Connections
Building community has looked different for each of our kids. With Nora and June, connections with other families often happen naturally through school, activities, and everyday conversations. With Milo, it hasn’t always been that simple.
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Season 2
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Episode 50
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20:02
E49: That's a Pretty Name
A brief but meaningful interaction in a crowded Costco aisle left us thinking long after it ended. As Milo grows older, we sometimes find ourselves wondering how the world will respond to the ways he connects with others, especially when those ...
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Season 2
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Episode 49
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14:02
E48: The Loop
For years, we’ve described Milo as being “stuck in a loop.” These days, that loop involves repeated questions about Llama Llama toys and birthday parties. In this episode, we reflect on how looping has evolved from something that trapped our fa...
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Season 2
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Episode 48
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13:54
E47: The Prize
What happens when a simple carnival game becomes an impossible challenge for your family? We're sharing two stories about navigating arcades and fair games with our son Milo, who is autistic—and how those decisions impact our neurotypical daugh...
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Season 2
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Episode 47
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19:48
E46: New Mouth
We’re sharing the full story behind Milo’s January surgery — including a tonsillectomy and turbinate reduction — and how we navigated it as parents of an autistic child who thrives on routine, predictability, and trust. We rewind to early...
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Season 2
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Episode 46
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29:10
E45: No Mom
When Ty takes the girls to swim lessons, Lisa is home alone with Milo — something that once felt impossible. We're giving you a glimpse into the rhythms of our home and what it can feel like to parent an autistic child when you’re not the prefe...
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Season 2
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Episode 45
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9:04
E44: Seven
For Milo's 7th birthday, we're reflecting on some of the highs and lows and lessons learned in the last year. We reference this episode about Milo's 6th birthday:
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Season 2
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Episode 44
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18:55
E43: Nerf Battle
When Ty joins Nora at a friend’s birthday party, he finds himself in the middle of an all-out Nerf battle—with a room full of boys Milo’s age.It sparks an uncomfortable realization: what happens when you can play easily with other kids y...
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Season 2
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Episode 43
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11:37
E42: It's a Camel!
Camel or avocado? You never know.In this episode, we share a few small moments that show how much Milo has changed over the past year. What begins with a simple joke at the kitchen counter turns into a conversation about humor, communica...
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Season 2
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Episode 42
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9:03
E41: Village
Tune in for a little message of gratitude to our listeners and a quick update on the future of the podcast.
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Season 1
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Episode 41
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9:01
E40: Ring Ring
In this episode, we’re unpacking all the emotions that come with receiving an unexpected phone call about your child—and why those feelings can linger long after the moment has passed. We’re also sharing a recent glimmer with Milo that definite...
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Season 1
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Episode 40
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15:42
E39: Say Cheese
About three years ago, before we’d even begun Milo’s autism evaluation, we decided to try something that felt “normal”: a fall family photoshoot. What followed was 15 minutes of chaos—apple-eating, shirt-lifting, tear-filled chaos—and a gallery...
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Season 1
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Episode 39
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14:41
E38: Casita
We are sharing what it’s like to watch Milo turn spaces in our home into scenes from his favorite stories — lately, it's been Encanto. His creativity surprises us every day! We also talk about screen time, neurodiversity, and what we’re l...
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Season 1
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Episode 38
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9:25
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E37: Where's Kitty?
We’re sharing one of those mornings that started like any other — until it didn’t. When our son Milo couldn’t find his beloved stuffed animal moments before his school transport van arrived, everything unraveled fast.We talk about what h...
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Season 1
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Episode 37
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17:25
E36: Taking His Side
“It’s not fair!”When siblings are involved, fairness is always up for debate — but in our house, it takes on a whole new meaning. Milo, our son who’s on the autism spectrum, often needs extra support to stay calm and regulated. That mean...
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Season 1
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Episode 36
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18:27
E35: Perfect Pizza Party
In the year leading up to Milo’s autism diagnosis—and months before we began speech therapy—a simple children’s book changed everything. Pete the Cat and the Perfect Pizza Party by James and Kimberley Dean became more than just another...
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Season 1
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Episode 35
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14:11
E34: The Future
We're talking about the constant tension between living in the present and worrying about Milo's uncertain future as an autistic adult. We're also exploring why, in our opinion, the word "autistic" has too big a job, as it is expect...
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Season 1
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Episode 34
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13:42
E33: Run Jump
Milo’s games may be simple — run, jump, knock down, pretend — but they’re full of meaning. We're sharing how repetition in play helps Milo connect, communicate, and grow.We reference episode 17, The Great Divide, which discusses autism ...
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Season 1
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Episode 33
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11:07
E32: Chocolate
We’d had a rough week and needed a reset, so on Sunday morning, we loaded everyone in the van and headed to Geneva-on-the-Lake. What started as a simple day trip became a reminder that Milo is so much more than his struggles.
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Season 1
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Episode 32
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8:19
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E31: After (School Update Part 2)
After Milo’s school meeting, where we discussed a change of placement as part of his IEP, we were left with heavy emotions and hard questions. In this episode, we sit with what came next: the grief, the challenges, and the small con...
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Season 1
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Episode 31
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11:56
E30: Before (School Update Part 1)
Milo’s first-grade year started with so much promise, but just weeks in, we found ourselves in an unexpected and difficult conversation about his path forward. In this episode, we share what’s been happening behind the scenes as our...
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Season 1
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Episode 30
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9:00
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E29: Pool
A summer evening at the pool brought to you by lots of laughter, lots of splashing... and one small, blue plastic bottle. In this episode, we talk about what it means to show up in a community space with Milo, how quickly moments can shift, and...
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Season 1
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Episode 29
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11:13
