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PODCAST

The UNspecial Podcast

Are you a parent raising a child with special needs? Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed, isolated, or unsure where to turn for guidance and encouragement? Welcome to The Unspecial Podcast, dedicated to empowering and inspiring parents like you on your unique journey. Each week, we bring you heartfelt conversations with a diverse range of guests who offer invaluable insights and personal stories. Hear directly from individuals with special needs who share their triumphs, challenges, and perspectives

kids & family parenting

All Episodes

00:43:24

Embracing Inclusion: A Journey Through Homeschooling...

The UNspecial Podcast ·

2026/10/05

On the UnSpecial podcast, the host interviews Mercedes Lara (Hooray for the Laras), an adoptive mom, homeschooler, Down syndrome advocate, and co-host of The Lucky Few podcast, about adoption, parenting a child with Down syndrome, homeschooling, advocacy, and building a world where everyone is included and valued. Lara shares how she began homeschooling after trying preschool, dealing with challenges like communication, and realizing the importance of having a supportive homeschool community and

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01:01:04

Heartbreak and Hope: Embracing the Unknown

The UNspecial Podcast ·

2026/09/28

Connection Is the Intervention: DIR/Floortime, Behavior, and Supporting Parents | Ashley Gillespie (Bloom Developmental Center)On the Unspecial Podcast, host interviews Ashley Gillespie of Bloom Developmental Center about why connection—not just therapies or compliance—is foundational for autistic children’s development. Ashley shares how growing up with her profoundly autistic cousin Haley, who struggled with self-injury, limited services, and lifelong dependence in rural Texas, shaped her calling

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01:13:59

Building a Life Beyond Bounds: Cody Alford on Growth...

The UNspecial Podcast ·

2026/09/21

In this Us Special podcast, the host interviews Cody Alford, a former Marine recon scout sniper and current farmer, business owner, and jujitsu coach, about resilience, stress, and making meaning when life changes unexpectedly, including for special needs families. Cody describes practicing stillness, reframing fear as excitement, and focusing on what he can control, while the host shares recent strains caring for four kids amid illness and his daughter Reika’s medical needs. Cody reflects on

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01:19:03

Living in the Moment: Strategies for Health and...

The UNspecial Podcast ·

2026/09/15

On the Us Special podcast, the host talks with Allie Hobson (Ally Hobson Wellness) about raising holistic kids, parenting through autism, and wellness habits for parents. They discuss the host’s child having whooping cough and his decision not to vaccinate, then broaden into pregnancy vaccines, maternal autoimmunity, and the “perfect storm” factors they believe can contribute to autism. Ally shares that her 7-year-old son Asher is non-speaking, generally happy and adaptable, and that she regrets

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00:58:08

Raising Hunter: A Mother’s Determination and Love

The UNspecial Podcast ·

2026/09/07

On the Unspecial podcast, Christina (“Autism Moms on a Mission”) discusses raising her nearly 4.5-year-old nonverbal son Hunter, including a near-drowning at a lake where he was revived after about three minutes unconscious with no brain damage, reinforcing her emphasis on swim lessons and water regulation. She highlights misconceptions about autism—especially assuming nonverbal children don’t understand—and shares parenting wins like potty training via the “naked method,” hand-leading

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01:00:18

Unwavering Faith: Parenting in the World of Autism...

The UNspecial Podcast ·

2026/09/01

On the Unofficial Podcast, host interviews Jamie Bisant (“The Bisants” on Instagram) about parenting a “unique” family with a 17-year-old daughter Dakota (autism with intellectual disability), a 15-year-old daughter Capri (no diagnosis), and a 12-year-old son Joey (Down syndrome; Jamie believes he also has autism). Jamie discusses navigating IEPs and the reality that “hard is not bad,” sharing how faith in Jesus, 2 Timothy 1:7, and “supernatural peace” shape her mindset through disability and Joey’s

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01:11:06

Redefining Autism Care: Insights from 'The Relentless...

The UNspecial Podcast ·

2026/08/24

Cassandra Jimenez (The Relentless Advocate): Biomedical Autism Hope, MAPS Doctors, and Faith Through the JourneyOn the Unspecial podcast, host interviews Cassandra Jimenez (The Relentless Advocate), a mom of six whose son Mateo was diagnosed with autism in March. She discusses caregiver stress, recommends The Body Keeps the Score, and shares her shift toward biomedical approaches, encouraging families to start with MAPS physicians, diet, and connecting with parents pursuing root-cause healing

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00:57:36

The Listening World: Bridging the Gap with The...

The UNspecial Podcast ·

2026/08/17

Host Zach interviews Dr. Dana Johnston, an occupational therapist and co-founder of the Spellers Method, about why silence in autism is often mistaken for absence and why speech is wrongly equated with intelligence. Johnston distinguishes “non-speaking” from “non-verbal,” arguing many non-speakers have intact language and cognition but face a motor planning “brain-body disconnect” she calls whole body apraxia, plus frequent undiagnosed vision issues. They discuss how dysregulation, sometimes labeled

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00:59:33

Faith, Family, and New Beginnings with Shante Gold

The UNspecial Podcast ·

2026/08/10

Pregnant With a Down Syndrome Baby Boy: Faith, Family Leadership, and Holistic Health with Shante GoldOn the Unspecial podcast, the host interviews Shante Gold (wild.boys.with.extra.love), a former BCBA and former online nutrition/fitness coach, now co-host of the Rebuild podcast, who is 23 weeks pregnant with a baby boy diagnosed with Down syndrome. Shante shares how business struggles and motherhood led her back to faith before receiving a 98% NIPT result and confirming the diagnosis via CVS

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00:49:12

Warrior for Change: Martin Slingstad's Story.

The UNspecial Podcast ·

2026/08/04

Martin’s Autism Life: Self-Acceptance, Special Olympics, and Training First Responders | Unspecial PodcastIn this episode of the Unspecial Podcast, the host interviews Martin Slingstad (Martin’s Autism Life), an autistic author, public speaker, Special Olympics athlete, and founder of Spire Autism. Martin shares early memories of being non-speaking until age three or four, his diagnosis at five, and the challenges of bullying and lack of support in school, which delayed his self-acceptance until

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00:53:32

From Special Needs to Community Needs.

The UNspecial Podcast ·

2026/07/27

On the Us Special podcast, host interviews Claire DePaulis about motherhood, community-building, and self-care while raising three children under five, including her oldest daughter Valentina, who shows signs of autism (minimal speech, low adaptive skills) and is in a specialized autism preschool classroom while awaiting a formal diagnosis due to system delays. Claire discusses shifting mindset from control to surrender, practicing gratitude, managing safety challenges like elopement, and navigating

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00:51:54

Navigating PDA: A Mother's Insight into Autism...

The UNspecial Podcast ·

2026/07/20

On “The Unspecial Podcast,” host Zach interviews Amber Aarons, an Arizona mom of six (four autistic children) and advocate for PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance/Persistent Drive for Autonomy). Amber shares her family’s diagnostic journey, including a son diagnosed medically at 12, two younger IVF children diagnosed as toddlers (one a “PDA girl”), and a late autism level-one diagnosis for a daughter after mental-health struggles. She discusses adult outcomes and state supports in Arizona, including

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00:44:46

Fierce and Unconditional: A Conversation on Autism...

The UNspecial Podcast ·

2026/07/13

Zach interviews Sarah of Inch Stones by Sarah, a mom, advocate, and educator supporting families navigating autism, IEPs, and celebrating “inches” of progress. In rapid-fire questions, Sarah shares self-care practices, challenges the myth that a diagnosis defines a child’s humanity, and offers hope that things will be “more than okay.” She describes shifting from trying to “fix” her daughter Millie to embracing unconditional, expectation-free hope, and explains how grief is non-linear and

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00:54:22

Perspective Shift: Embracing the Journey with Down...

The UNspecial Podcast ·

2026/07/06

On the Us Special podcast, the host interviews Erica Daverio, a mom to Gabriella (6), who has Down syndrome and autism, amid social-media controversy over an influencer who aborted a baby after a Down syndrome diagnosis and shared what Erica calls false, harmful claims about suffering and quality of life. Erica describes learning her daughter’s diagnosis at 12 weeks, the fear and medical framing she received, choosing testing, and ultimately accepting the pregnancy, saying termination was not an

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00:55:53

Hidden Battles: Understanding Profound Autism

The UNspecial Podcast ·

2026/06/29

The host and Olivia Rojo (“Praying Through Autism”) discuss the unseen burdens of profound autism—seizures, sleeplessness, isolation, grief, and constant medical battles—arguing autism is often deeply medical and worsened by untreated co-occurring conditions. They share takeaways from the Autism Health Inc. conference, including claims that 88% of autism is regressive and concerns about how pediatric screening questions obscure regression, plus a neurologist’s view that autism follows a

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01:04:24

Faith, Inclusion, and Community: A Conversation on...

The UNspecial Podcast ·

2026/06/22

On the Unspecial Podcast, the host interviews Jessi Mansfield about disabilities and the church, focusing on whether inclusion is a slogan or a lifestyle and how faith, autism, and families collide. Jessi shares her background (Marine Corps, primary care, nonprofit work with adults with developmental/intellectual disabilities) and how her stepson’s autism diagnosis brought uncertainty, mourning, and overwhelm, eased by supportive friends and later strengthened by returning to church. She describes

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01:12:36

Mindset and Miracles: Navigating Autism and Life's...

The UNspecial Podcast ·

2026/06/15

The host interviews Tommy Rhyne of Spectrum and Camouflage about the unseen mental battle parents—especially dads—face in the autism journey, emphasizing real mindset over “toxic positivity.” They discuss exhaustion, grief, and staying grounded when life doesn’t match expectations, with both men sharing personal contexts: Tommy’s non-speaking autistic son and the host’s wife’s two-year cancer fight. Their faith frames key ideas about praying for healing while surrendering to God’s will, and viewing

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00:49:09

Breaking the Silence: Chase's Journey to Communication.

The UNspecial Podcast ·

2026/06/08

The speaker describes apraxia as a major misconception in autism, noting that during five years teaching profound autism it was never discussed, and says recent experiences have exceeded what they thought possible. They express faith that God can do more than expected, including the possibility of verbal speech even though he currently communicates by spelling on a letterboard. He shares that when he nearly died from mono, Jesus was with him, carried him through, and told him his purpose was to

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01:11:55

Embracing Vulnerability: Uniting Moms Through Shared...

The UNspecial Podcast ·

2026/06/01

Zach interviews Megan Vondrak, founder of the Unlonely Moms Club, about motherhood, loneliness, and caring for her son Miller, diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age three after symptoms on a Costa Rica trip led to a pediatrician visit and a week at Rady’s. Megan describes the relentless management of Dexcom and Omnipod data, alarm fatigue, fear of highs and dangerous lows, and how diabetes can distort a mom’s sense of worth. They discuss how loneliness differs from shame-based “bad mom” narratives,

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01:05:11

Beyond the Spectrum: A Dad's Journey Through Autism...

The UNspecial Podcast ·

2026/05/25

Two dads, Zach and Tyler, troubleshoot audio on an Instagram Live, swap dad jokes, then discuss autism: what it is, misconceptions from the DSM-5, and how the broadened label can dilute understanding of profound autism and lifelong care needs. Tyler shares his son Lyric’s “acquired/regressive” autism experience, challenges the idea that autism is solely genetic, and describes grief, acceptance, and how dads often withdraw into work. They react to RFK remarks and media backlash, argue for researching

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97 results

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