x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

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

kids & family parenting

All Episodes

18:17

When You Don’t Expect Good Things To Feel Bad

The Special Needs Mom Podcast ·

2025/06/11

Send us a text Sometimes the “good” moments still catch us off guard—like when progress or positive change feels surprisingly heavy. In this episode, I share how a kitchen remodel gone wrong helped me notice something deeper: the emotional tension of expecting joy, but feeling stress instead. If you're a parent of a child with special needs, you probably know this feeling well—when even the wins come with grief, fear, or fatigue. I unpack five mindset shifts that have helped me stay grounded ...

en-us

42:29

Faith, Trauma & Transformation with Katelyn Johnson

The Special Needs Mom Podcast ·

2025/06/04

Send us a text 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 cancer diagnosis, and learning how to feel her emotions for the first time as an adult. We talk about what survival mode looked like for her, how therapy (and a really good life coach-turned-therapist) helped her start healing, and the b...

en-us

27:32

When People Think You are Fine & You are Not

The Special Needs Mom Podcast ·

2025/05/28

Send us a text 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 navigating the complexities of raising children with special needs. I share personal reflections on the internal work required to acknowledge our true feelings and the courage it takes to express them. We delve into the layers beneath the surface and di...

en-us

39:05

Grief that Overwhelms Compassion with Kristin...

The Special Needs Mom Podcast ·

2025/05/21

Send us a text 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 condition. We talked about the emotional toll of constant caregiving, the push to find answers when the medical system leaves you hanging, and how self-compassion gets complicated when you're stuck in survival mode. Kristin was so open about w...

en-us

14:29

The Story of Two Wolves

The Special Needs Mom Podcast ·

2025/05/14

Send us a text 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 friend Laura's help—talk about a surprise upgrade! The highlight of the episode is a powerful Native American story about two wolves fighting inside us—one good, one bad. Which wolf will win? I dive into how this story helped me reflect o...

en-us

43:19

Discovering the Power of Authentic Connection with...

The Special Needs Mom Podcast ·

2025/05/07

Send us a text 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 and ongoing medical challenges. Tara shares how her career in sales helped her build genuine relationships and how those skills have translated into advocating for her daughter. We dive into the importance of asking for help, the struggles ...

en-us

18:08

The Jerky J: Tackling Self Judgement

The Special Needs Mom Podcast ·

2025/04/30

Send us a text 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 ourselves some compassion. If you've ever felt that nagging doubt about not being good enough, this episode is for you. Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/ ...

en-us

15:01

A Grieved Community

The Special Needs Mom Podcast ·

2025/04/23

Send us a text 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 and Human Services about autism, but what’s more troubling to me is how we’re responding as a community. I’ve seen judgment replacing empathy, and I’m left wondering how we got here. There’s a lot more to explore, but for now, I want to r...

en-us

76:40

Empowering Rare Disease Leaders through the Rare...

The Special Needs Mom Podcast ·

2025/04/16

Send us a text 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 in the rare disease space. The conversation covered the importance of community, collaboration, and using personal experiences to drive change. Panelists shared their journeys of advocacy, highlighting how moments of isolation became opp...

en-us

26:41

What Supporting Yourself Really Looks Like

The Special Needs Mom Podcast ·

2025/04/09

Send us a text 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 realized that getting the right kind of support—whether it’s a coach, a friend, or even a check-in system—can make all the difference when it comes to sticking with something that feels hard. I talk about a concept I love: getting support suffi...

en-us

53:35

Overcoming Isolation in a Digital World with Callista...

The Special Needs Mom Podcast ·

2025/04/02

Send us a text 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 about how social media can create a false sense of connection while leaving parents feeling even more alone. Callista shares her experience navigating loneliness after stepping away from her career following her daughter’s Down Syndrome diagnosis, the stru...

en-us

33:56

Building the Summer of Your Dreams

The Special Needs Mom Podcast ·

2025/03/26

Send us a text 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 through a six-step process (inspired by my landscape design days!) to create a future you’re excited about—without getting stuck in the “how.” I cover: What worked, what didn’t, and what’s changingWhy support is key (and why I’m hiring help!)How to move ...

en-us

51:28

Wanderlust & Wheelchairs: Making Travel Possible with...

The Special Needs Mom Podcast ·

2025/03/19

Send us a text 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 navigating accessibility challenges to embracing flexibility, Laura’s story is all about keeping dreams alive, even when the path looks different than expected. We talk about: 🌍 How Laura’s family adapted their travel style after Sophie’s

en-us

54:03

Moms Talk Autism (with me)

The Special Needs Mom Podcast ·

2025/03/12

Send us a text 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 podcast to chat about grief, acceptance, and finding your people. Tash, a Portland-based mom of two, loves fitness, nature, volunteering, and tending to her MANY houseplants. Brittney, a Northern California mom of four, runs a home bakery and balances the unique needs of her two autistic c...

en-us

28:04

Unsupportive Support Groups: Why Some Support Groups...

The Special Needs Mom Podcast ·

2025/03/05

Send us a text 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 truly support us. I share my first (not-so-great) support group experience, the different types of people you might encounter in these spaces, and why mismatched expectations can make things feel off. But don’t worry, this isn’t just a gripe...

en-us

43:05

We're Talking About Help: A Community Huddle Episode

The Special Needs Mom Podcast ·

2025/02/26

Send us a text 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.Why receiving is a gift to both giver and receiver.Practical ways to ask for and accept support.Learning to give yourself grace.And of course, we wrap up with our Community Cheer—because together is the only way. Give yourself the gift of COZY: https://cozyearth.com/ Up to 40% off ...

en-us

7:31

Digging Deep

The Special Needs Mom Podcast ·

2025/02/19

Send us a text 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, and last night, it surfaced again as a reminder that even in the toughest moments, we can choose to keep going. I hope this message encourages you to dig deep when things feel hard. Give yourself the gift of COZY: https://cozyearth.com/ Up to 4...

en-us

28:44

The Complexity of Receiving Help

The Special Needs Mom Podcast ·

2025/02/12

Send us a text 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, after years of advocacy, we finally received the help we needed—only to find myself struggling with an unexpected wave of guilt and disbelief when even more support came our way. I dive into the concept of our "inner thermostat" for receiving...

en-us

22:29

The Guilt of Receiving

The Special Needs Mom Podcast ·

2025/02/05

Send us a text 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: ✨ Why we resist help, even when it’s available. ✨ The hidden beliefs that keep us stuck in overdoing. ✨ Two big "potholes" in our thinking that block us from receiving. ✨ Simple mindset shifts to make accepting help easier. If you’ve ever tho...

en-us

22:58

The Race to Safety

The Special Needs Mom Podcast ·

2025/01/29

Send us a textI’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’t work.I talk about how to recognize when your nervous system is out of whack, why your to-do list might actually be adding to your stress, and simple ways to slow down, reset, and feel more grounded.Here's another related episode: Anxiety...

en-us

276 results

Similar Podcasts

Tale Teller Kids™

Sarnia de la Mare

米克馬故事坊

咪萊

Imagination Station

Imagination Station

Die Pferde sind nicht das Problem - und du bist nicht zu blöd. Der Aha-Podcast für Pferdemenschen

Silke Jahn & Maren Diehl

Hanna fragt Papa - Der Podcast für neugierige Kinder und Eltern

Hanna und Thomas Schamberger