EPISODES

Happy first week of November AND National Adoption Month! Today we’re thrilled to welcome Brady Murray, the passionate founder of RODS Heroes. Brady’s nonprofit has helped hundreds of children with Down syndrome find loving homes around the world. As a father of eleven—including two children with Down syndrome—Brady shares his personal journey with adoption, from being adopted himself to adopting seven of his children from around the globe. Hear the inspiring story behind how a triathlon became the seed for RODS Heroes, the miracles he’s witnessed along the way, and why he believes that when we invest in causes greater than ourselves, we experience incredible transformation. This is an episode you don’t want to miss!

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This month we’ve celebrated Down Syndrome Awareness Month with episodes based on popular Google search topics! Today we’re joined by award-winning photographer Hilary Gauld and advocate Kate Herron for this episode all about answering the question: Can a person with Down syndrome Shift Narratives? In 2014, Hilary and Kate collaborated on a fundraising calendar featuring Kate's 10-month-old son, Caleb, for the Waterloo Wellington Down Syndrome Society (WWDSS). What began as a local project quickly grew into a decade-long advocacy journey, evolving into an internationally recognized series that challenges stereotypes and represents the Down syndrome community in meaningful, thought-provoking ways. Hilary’s sharing how her friend Kate’s invitation sparked her dedication to authentically representing the Down syndrome community, the impact her work has had on families seeing themselves and their loved ones reflected in media, and the powerful role of storytelling in breaking down barriers. We’re also chatting about their documentary Decade, which celebrates the ten years of this incredible project, the impact the last ten years have had on their advocacy, what they hope for the future, and so much more! Friends, this is an episode you don’t want to miss!

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This month we’re celebrating Down Syndrome Awareness Month with episodes based on popular Google search topics! On today’s episode, we’re answering the question: Can a person with Down syndrome find community & belonging? Today’s conversation is sparked by a recent blog post of Heather’s on why her daughter Macy didn’t attend homecoming this year, we’re chatting about what it truly means for someone with Down syndrome to feel a sense of belonging in school and their wider community. What can we all do to ensure inclusion happens? How can we help build bridges where isolation exists? From clubs and activities to real friendships, we’re chatting about inclusion, community, and what happens when we work together to make existing opportunities even better. Do we have all the answers…never! But we have hope having these tough conversations helps build and maintain those bridges toward community and belonging.

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This month we’re celebrating Down Syndrome Awareness Month with episodes based on popular Google search topics! Today we’re joined by Emily Kendall & Chad Mayer from EmpowerMe Living for this episode all about answering the question: Can a person with Down syndrome live independently? Today, we’re talking about the incredible work of EmpowerMe Living, a program designed to support individuals with disabilities in choosing the best living arrangement for their unique needs. We're with EmpowerMe Living founder, Emily and Chad, who lives independently through the program, as they share their insights on independent versus supported living, overcoming challenges, and how EmpowerMe Living helps families navigate these important decisions. This is an episode you don’t want to miss!

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This month we’re celebrating Down Syndrome Awareness Month with episodes based on popular Google search topics! Today we’re joined by Erik & Emily Orton for this episode all about answering the question: Can a person with Down syndrome travel the world?  They’re sharing their incredible story of sailing the Caribbean, with their family of seven and how their daughter Lily, who has Down syndrome, has inspired them to break boundaries, live without limits, and travel the globe! We’re chatting about caregiver fatigue, challenging conventional ideas of therapies, parenting our kids with and without Down syndrome, and so much more. This is an episode you don’t want to miss!

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Friends, we’re coming to you with a BONUS episode this week. Over the years we’ve worked hard to provide you with topics that are helpful resources, to be sources of encouragement, and never shy away from difficult conversations. Today, we’re coming to you with a difficult, yet important conversation. This one is taken directly from comments by one of the Presidential candidates. We want to be clear we’re not endorsing either candidate but as a platform that promises to shout worth and work to shift narratives for people with Down syndrome each week, we feel this is an important conversation we need to have with all of you. We hope you’ll join us in this unfiltered and honest conversation.

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Happy Down Syndrome Awareness Month!! We’re celebrating this month with episodes based on popular Google search topics about people with Down syndrome. Today we’re kicking off the celebration with Alex Bolden and Genevieve Thompson from the National Down Syndrome Society as we answer one of the most searched questions: Can a person with Down syndrome vote? Alex shares his experience voting for the first time, tips for deciding who to vote for, and resources like NDSS's free checklist and values inventory to help voters prepare. We also discuss how parents and caregivers can support their loved ones in the voting process and the importance of using your voice to shape policies that impact the Down syndrome community. This is an episode you don’t want to miss as we head to the polls next month!

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We’re a week away from the start of Down Syndrome Awareness Month! Today we’re kicking off our celebration early with a conversation about common misconceptions people still have about Down syndrome. We’ll be celebrating next month by talking to self-advocates, organizations, and parents who are breaking down the stereotypes of some of the most Googled misconceptions about Down syndrome. We’re sharing our thoughts on the CoorsDown PSA ‘Assume That I Can’ featuring Madison Tevlin and how campaigns like this work to shift narratives. We’re chatting about how knowing and loving a person with Down syndrome has shifted how we value and see worth, no matter what someone can or can’t do. Join us as we get this important conversation started!

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Today, we’re excited to chat with Amanda Owen, the founder and executive director of Puzzle Pieces! Amanda has dedicated her life to supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities—a passion deeply rooted in her own family’s experiences. She’s sharing her experience growing up with a sibling with disabilities and how the dynamic has evolved as an adult that led to her journey of starting a non-profit. We’re chatting about having conversations around disability with our kids, how to cultivate meaningful and impactful friendships with people with disabilities, employment for adults with disabilities, group homes, and so much more! Friends, this episode is packed with incredible advice, stories, and even a few tears, this is an episode you don’t want to miss!

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Friends, you know we ask all the questions…even if we don’t have all the answers! Today, we're diving into a topic that hits close to home for many of us—volunteering. We're asking some tough questions: What happens when volunteering becomes more about extra credit or resume-building? How does this culture impact our efforts to shift harmful narratives? How can we make sure we teach our kids that volunteering isn’t just for show or awards? We’re chatting about how to make sure our volunteering efforts are intentional and meaningful, and our personal experiences that have made a meaningful impact. We know it's not about being the hero—it's about building bridges, we hope you’ll join us for this important conversation and share your thoughts and experiences with us!

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We’re excited to have Ashley Barlow back on the podcast today! We’re discussing the power of parental involvement in IEPs and why it’s so important for your child’s educational success. Ashley breaks down her research and shares personal stories from her journey with her son Jack, who has Down syndrome. This episode is packed with practical advice on how you can take an active role in your child's education, navigate challenges, and become a stronger advocate. Whether you’re facing challenges or just want to ensure your child’s needs are met, this episode is full of advice you won’t want to miss!

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Today, we're taking a trip down memory lane to revisit our very first IEP meetings! Let's be honest—those initial meetings can be a whirlwind of emotions: overwhelming, confusing, and sometimes even a bit intimidating. As we reflect on our experiences, we’ll dive into the questions we wish we had asked, the support we didn’t realize we needed, and the valuable lessons we’ve learned along the way. Whether you’re preparing for your very first IEP meeting or you’re a seasoned pro, we hope our stories bring you comfort, knowing you're not alone in this journey. And, of course, you might even share a few laughs with us as we look back on our IEP adventures! Friends, you’re doing an amazing job, we got this!!

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We’ve had many candid conversations about friendship and inclusion over the years. Today we’re excited to be joined by social worker, blogger, disability activist, and self-advocate, Kathleen Downes. Growing up in inclusive schools during the 90s, Kathleen shares her firsthand experiences, the struggles she faced in forming authentic friendships, and how involvement in disability-specific programs was pivotal in her life. We talk about the challenges that still persist in today’s inclusive settings and the changes needed to support our kids in developing meaningful friendships. This conversation is packed with wisdom, practical advice, and heartfelt reflections, making it an essential listen for anyone committed to true inclusion.

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We’re excited to have April Rehrig, founder of Rise Educational Advocacy and Consulting, on this week! With over 20 years of experience as an elementary school teacher and school psychologist, April has spent her career empowering parents and students to achieve the best educational outcomes. From understanding the IEP’s purpose to advocating for your child’s unique strengths, April provides actionable tips on communicating effectively, collaborating with school teams, and resolving conflicts. Whether it’s your first IEP or your fifth, April’s advice will help you navigate the process confidently and clearly. Friends, we were taking notes this entire interview! Tune in to learn how to make your voice heard and ensure your child’s strengths and interests are front and center this school year.

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Today we’re excited to talk to Pepper Stetler about her new book A Measure of Intelligence: One Mother's Reckoning with the IQ Test. She’s sharing her journey of questioning the authority and relevance of the IQ test after learning that her daughter, Louisa, who has Down syndrome, would be required to take it regularly to receive support in school. We’re chatting about the unsettling history of the IQ test and how its contributed to everything from ableism to terms used by schoolyard bullies. Join us as we dive deep into this important conversation about how we define (and assume) intelligence, the impact of these tests on our education system, and what it truly means to understand an individual's potential. This is a conversation (and book!) you don’t want to miss!

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