Brave Together: Recent Episodes
Jessica Patay
This is the Brave Together podcast. We Are Brave Together is a non-profit organization that provides a supportive community for moms of children with special healthcare needs. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, inspire, educate and validate all Special Needs Moms in their unique and difficult journeys. On Brave Together, founder Jessica Patay, along with the Brave community, will share interviews, celebrate stories, explore challenges, and rally hope for the motherhood journey. You are not alone.
Hello Brave Friends! I'm so excited for our very first Thriving Disabled Adults episode, #187. This is a new episode that we are doing for Season 7 of Brave Together Parenting Podcast, and our first guest is a radiant soul. I could feel his energy and his vibrance, just reading about him. So I cannot wait for you to hear this conversation with Cam Calkoen.Cam Calkoen is from New Zealand and he says that his life, defined by cerebral palsy, ambition and service above self, embodies resilience and determination. He defied expectations by mastering running and speaking, achievements once deemed impossible for him. Cam is thrilled to share his journey on Brave Together Parenting, celebrating his parents nurturing and his own mindset as he prepares for parenthood himself.Cam's story reflects values of courage and limitless potential as a full professional, inspirational speaker. He delivers a powerful message worldwide, inspiring others to surpass perceived limits and embrace their unique abilities. Please enjoy my conversation with Cam Calkoen. Find out more about Cam Calkoen here.Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together, Becoming Brave Togetherhere.
Find our second book from We Are Brave Together, Suddenly Brave Togetherhere.
Find FULL episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to support all of We Are Brave Together's programs and offerings here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's BONUS episode. Our guest is care advocate and author, Elissa Strauss, who has a fantastic new book called When You Care, The Unexpected Magic of Caring for Others.
This conversation was about such an important topic that I invited author, activist and fellow caregiving mom, Kelley Coleman to co-host with me. And together we explore the powerful role caring for others plays in our individual and communal lives with Elissa Strauss who in her book weaves together research about care and stories from parents and caregivers with a feminist bent.
Elissa Strauss has been writing about the politics and culture of parenting and caregiving for more than 15 years. Her work appears in publications like The Atlantic, The New York Times, Glamour, Elle, and elsewhere. And she was a former contributing writer at CNN.com and Slate, where her cultural criticism about motherhood appeared on XX. Her book, When You Care, The Unexpected Magic of Caring for Others, is out now from Gallery Bugs.
Please enjoy this critical and important conversation.
Thanks so much for listening!
Find Elissa Strauss and her book, When You Care: The Unexpected Magic of Caring for Othershere.
Find Kelley Coleman and her book Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child: Your Guide to the Essential Systems, Services, and Supportshere.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together, Becoming Brave Togetherhere.
Find our second book from We Are Brave Together, Suddenly Brave Togetherhere.
Find FULL episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to support all of We Are Brave Together's programs and offerings here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's expert episode, #232, with Speech Dude, Chris Wenger, sharing his neurodivergent affirming approach to IEP’s and wow does he have a refreshing take on them.
In this episode of the Brave Together podcast, Chris Wenger shares his journey as a neurodivergent educator and advocate for students with special needs. He discusses the importance of understanding neurodiversity, the need for a shift from deficit-based IEPs to a more affirming approach, and the significance of creating safe and supportive learning environments. Chris emphasizes the value of connecting with students authentically and provides insights into effective teaching strategies and resources for educators and parents alike.
Chris Wenger is a neurodivergent high school speech-language pathologist of over 20 years, international speaker, and creator of the Dynamic Assessment of Social Emotional Learning, a strengths-based assessment for autistic students. He is also the founder of NeuroAffirm, a first-of-its-kind worldwide interactive directory connecting providers and families. Globally known as Speech Dude, he has amassed nearly one million social media followers, sharing inspiring and educational content, always with a humorous twist.
Find more information about Chris Wenger here.
Follow Chris Wenger on IG here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together, Becoming Brave Togetherhere.
Find our second book from We Are Brave Together, Suddenly Brave Togetherhere.
Find FULL episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to support all of We Are Brave Together's programs and offerings here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's story episode, #229. These are true stories from a moment in the life of a caregiving parent. We hear a crafted story, and then have a conversation with our guests that goes deeper into their experience.
Join Susanna Peace Lovell and Natasha M. Nurse, Esq. as they delve into the complexities of neurodivergence, motherhood, and personal growth. Natasha shares her journey of self-discovery, from her childhood experiences to her recent diagnosis of autism and ADHD. The conversation explores the challenges and triumphs of raising a neurodivergent child, the importance of self-care, and the power of storytelling. Tune in for an inspiring discussion on embracing authenticity and designing a life that serves you.
Find out more about Natasha M. Nurse Esq. here and here and here.
Learn more about MRM Education here.
Learn more about ShareWell here
Learn more about Swell Cast here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together, Becoming Brave Togetherhere.
Find our second book from We Are Brave Together, Suddenly Brave Togetherhere.
Find FULL episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to support all of We Are Brave Together's programs and offerings here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! This is an Ask Us Anything episode in which YOU, the listener, get to write or call in and, you guessed it, ASK US ANYTHING!
In this Ask Us Anything episode, #189, we are responding to the question, Do you have any tips for navigating life with a disabled child after a divorce?
This is a VERY relevant topic for our community because the added stress of caregiving for disabled children is not known to help marriages last longer. Also two of our three hosts have been through divorce and continue to co-parent with their disabled children’s fathers. So we have A LOT of first hand experience and advice for this caller.
In this episode we offer: important things to consider in the divorce process, ways to break the news to our kids and the realities of what co-parenting with your ex-partner can look like as the primary caregiver.
Keep the vulnerable questions coming. We’re here to support you!
We see you and we love you!
Whether you have questions as a parent to a child with complex medical or mental health needs or you’re someone looking to support a care-giving parent, we would LOVE to hear from you.
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to ask a question, leave us a message here.
Find Dr. Zoe’s book, Stronger in the Difficult Places: Heal Your Relationship with Yourself by Untangling Complex Shamehere.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together, Becoming Brave Togetherhere.
Find our second book from We Are Brave Together, Suddenly Brave Togetherhere.
Find FULL episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to support all of We Are Brave Together's programs and offerings here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's expert episode, #234, with Jeremy and Ilana Hamburgh the creators of Social Life 360. These are conversations with experts in fields relevant to caregiving parents.
In this conversation, Susanna Peace Lovell interviews Jeremy and Ilana Hamburgh, a couple dedicated to supporting neurodivergent individuals in building friendships and relationships through their program, Social Life 360. They share their backgrounds, the inception of their program, and the importance of community and support in navigating social skills. The discussion also touches on the challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals, the impact of media representation, and the success stories that inspire their work. Ultimately, they emphasize the importance of connection and the dreams they have for their clients' futures.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together, Becoming Brave Togetherhere.
Find our second book from We Are Brave Together, Suddenly Brave Togetherhere.
Find FULL episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to support all of We Are Brave Together's programs and offerings here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to special feature episode #261 of the Brave Together Podcast.
In this moving conversation inspired by Suddenly Brave Together, Jessica Patay sits down with several mothers to share honest reflections about caregiving, resilience, motherhood, and the transformative power of storytelling.
Together, Asha, Tina, and Lena open up about raising children with complex medical and developmental needs, the emotional realities of adapting to unexpected diagnoses, and the ways caregiving reshapes identity, relationships, and hope.
Throughout the episode, the mothers discuss grief, acceptance, fear, advocacy, and the complicated emotions that often coexist alongside deep love and connection. They also reflect on the healing that can happen when caregivers share their stories openly and realize they are not alone.
This conversation explores how children with disabilities and complex needs often become profound teachers—offering lessons about presence, compassion, emotional strength, and unconditional love.
Jessica and the guests also discuss the meaning behind the phrase “Suddenly Brave” and how bravery often looks less like confidence and more like continuing forward one moment at a time, even when life feels uncertain or overwhelming.
This episode is a beautiful reminder that there is power in vulnerability, healing in community, and hope in being witnessed by others who understand the caregiving journey.
Connect with Tina at tina@kidsrarecare.com, or find out more about her here.
Find more information about Asha here.
Find more information about Lena here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together, Becoming Brave Togetherhere.
Find our second book from We Are Brave Together, Suddenly Brave Togetherhere.
Find FULL episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to support all of We Are Brave Together's programs and offerings here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today’s expert episode, #260, with relationship advocate and speaker Julia Woods.
These expert episodes feature conversations with professionals, advocates, and community voices whose work supports caregiving parents and families navigating complex life experiences.
In this episode, hosts Jessica Patay and Susanna Peace Lovell sit down with Julia for a powerful conversation about marriage, emotional connection, and navigating suffering together as partners.
Julia shares her personal journey and the experiences that shaped her work supporting couples through hardship and transition. Together, the conversation explores how caregiving, stress, grief, and changing family dynamics can deeply impact relationships—and why emotional honesty, vulnerability, and compassion are essential during difficult seasons.
Jessica, Susanna, and Julia discuss practical ways couples can strengthen connection, improve communication, and remain emotionally present for one another even when life feels overwhelming. The episode also highlights the importance of support systems and community, particularly for men who are often socially conditioned to navigate pain and stress in isolation.
Throughout the conversation, Julia emphasizes that partnership does not require perfection. Instead, healthy relationships are built through honesty, empathy, shared support, and a willingness to turn toward each other during suffering rather than away from it.
This episode is a compassionate and encouraging reminder that even in life’s hardest seasons, connection and support remain possible—and deeply important.
Find more information about Julia Woods here.
Follow Julia on Instagram here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together, Becoming Brave Togetherhere.
Find our second book from We Are Brave Together, Suddenly Brave Togetherhere.
Find FULL episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to support all of We Are Brave Together's programs and offerings here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today’s expert episode, #259, with documentary filmmaker and disability advocate Dan Habib.
These expert episodes feature conversations with professionals, advocates, and storytellers whose work supports caregiving families and the disability community.
In this episode, hosts Jessica Patay, Susanna Peace Lovell, and Dr. Zoe talk with Dan about his journey from photojournalist to acclaimed filmmaker and advocate for disability inclusion.
Dan shares how the birth of his son Samuel transformed both his family’s life and the trajectory of his work. Through projects like Including Samuel and The Ride Ahead, Dan has used storytelling and documentary filmmaking to challenge misconceptions about disability, amplify disabled voices, and advocate for systems rooted in belonging, mentorship, and interdependence.
The conversation explores the impact of mentorship in disability advocacy, the importance of authentic representation in media, and the lessons Dan has learned from Samuel about patience, communication, and community. Dan also speaks candidly about the fragility of support systems for families and the ongoing work of creating a more inclusive society where disabled individuals are valued, supported, and empowered.
Jessica, Susanna, and Zoe also discuss the emotional realities of parenting children with disabilities, balancing independence and support, and the importance of building communities where families feel seen and understood.
This episode is a thoughtful and inspiring conversation about advocacy, storytelling, and the power of community to create meaningful change.
Find more information about Dan Habib here.
Follow Dan on social media here.
Find more information about Licensed Psychotherapist, Dr. Zoe here.
Find Dr. Zoe’s book, Stronger in the Difficult Places: Heal Your Relationship with Yourself by Untangling Complex Shamehere.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together, Becoming Brave Togetherhere.
Find our second book from We Are Brave Together, Suddenly Brave Togetherhere.
Find FULL episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to support all of We Are Brave Together's programs and offerings here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
In this Thriving Neurodivergent Adults episode, hosts Jessica Patay and Susanna Peace Lovell sit down with artist, advocate, and neurodivergent creative Alexis Brygider for a deeply personal and unforgettable conversation about communication, creativity, disability justice, and finding belonging. On this episode, Alexis is joined on this episode by Anthony Rivello, a personal mentor on her support staff and a founding board member of We Are Brave Together.
Alexis shares memories from early childhood, including growing up nonverbal and experiencing the world through intense sensory and emotional awareness. She reflects on how art became her first language and how watching expressive performers and comedians helped her learn communication and human connection.
Throughout the conversation, Alexis speaks candidly about frustration, emotional overwhelm, and the internal experience of being misunderstood while desperately wanting connection. She offers compassionate insight into emotional dysregulation and explains how patience, support, and understanding can help neurodivergent individuals build communication skills and self-awareness over time.
Alexis also honors the people who shaped her life, especially her mother Barbara, whose steady love and belief in her became a foundation for growth and resilience. The episode explores the importance of support staff, community, disability advocacy, and creating environments where disabled adults can thrive authentically.
Listeners will also hear Alexis discuss her artistic work, disability justice communities, and her dream of creating meaningful art and animation that helps others feel understood and connected.
This conversation is equal parts insightful, emotional, philosophical, and joyful—and serves as a beautiful reminder that every person deserves to be seen, heard, supported, and valued exactly as they are.
Find more information about Alexis Brygider here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together, Becoming Brave Togetherhere.
Find our second book from We Are Brave Together, Suddenly Brave Togetherhere.
Find FULL episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to support all of We Are Brave Together's programs and offerings here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! This is an Ask Us Anything episode in which YOU, the listener, get to write or call in and, you guessed it, ask us anything.
In this Ask Us Anything episode, #257, we’re responding to the question:
“HI LADIES. I know the new book is coming out soon. I am very excited! What's a question you were afraid to ask early on as a mom — and what's the answer you wish someone had given you?”
In this heartfelt conversation, Jessica Patay, Susanna Peace Lovell, and Dr. Zoe reflect on the fears, grief, uncertainty, and unspoken questions they each carried early in their caregiving journeys.
The hosts share personal stories about the questions they were afraid to voice out loud—questions about identity, marriage, loneliness, resentment, joy, the future, and whether they would ever truly feel okay again. Together, they explore how silence and shame can keep caregivers isolated, and why honest conversations and community support are so important.
Jessica, Susanna, and Dr. Zoe also discuss the answers they wish someone had given them earlier: that grief and joy can coexist, that perfection is not required, that asking for help is healthy, and that caregivers deserve support and compassion too.
Throughout the episode, the hosts emphasize that there is no “perfect” way to navigate caregiving and that vulnerability can become a powerful pathway toward healing and connection.
This episode is a tender reminder that many of the questions caregivers are afraid to ask are actually deeply human—and that no one should have to carry those fears alone.
Keep the questions coming—we’re here to support you. Whether you’re parenting a child with complex medical, developmental, or mental health needs, or supporting someone who is, we would love to hear from you. We see you and we love you.
Find more information about Licensed Psychotherapist, Dr. Zoe here.
Find Dr. Zoe’s book, Stronger in the Difficult Places: Heal Your Relationship with Yourself by Untangling Complex Shamehere.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together, Becoming Brave Togetherhere.
Find our second book from We Are Brave Together, Suddenly Brave Togetherhere.
Find FULL episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to support all of We Are Brave Together's programs and offerings here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's expert episode, #256, with Laurie Magulac, an advocate focused on supporting caregivers navigating the financial realities of raising children with disabilities.
These expert episodes feature conversations with professionals and advocates whose work directly supports caregiving parents and families navigating complex needs.
In this episode, hosts Jessica Patay and Susanna Peace Lovell sit down with Laurie to discuss the financial challenges many caregivers face when raising children with disabilities. Laurie shares her perspective on the intersection of caregiving, poverty, and public assistance systems, and explains why so many families struggle financially despite working tirelessly to support their children.
The conversation explores how caregiving responsibilities can limit employment opportunities, create long-term financial strain, and force families to navigate complicated support systems that are often difficult to understand or access. Laurie also highlights resources available to caregivers, including programs that support student parents and families pursuing education while raising children with disabilities.
Jessica and Susanna discuss the emotional impact financial stress can have on families and the stigma that can prevent caregivers from seeking help. Laurie emphasizes that accessing public assistance or community resources is nothing to be ashamed of and encourages families to pursue support systems designed to help them survive and thrive.
The discussion also touches on the importance of advocacy, policy change, and collaboration between organizations to create stronger support networks for caregivers. Laurie shares her hope for more accessible, centralized resources and greater public awareness of the financial realities many caregiving families face.
This episode is a powerful reminder that caregivers deserve support, safety, and community—and that sharing these stories can help shift public perception and drive meaningful change.
Contact Laurie Magulac at lauriewallin@gmail.com
Sign up for one of Laurie’s upcoming in-person or virtual support groups for Moms of Teens here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together, Becoming Brave Togetherhere.
Find our second book from We Are Brave Together, Suddenly Brave Togetherhere.
Find FULL episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to support all of We Are Brave Together's programs and offerings here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends!
In this special episode, hosts Jessica Patay and Dr. Zoe come together for a deeply personal and heartfelt conversation centered around Suddenly Brave Together, the book co-authored by Jessica Patay, Dr. Zoe, and Kari Morin.
This episode explores the emotional journey so many parents experience when life changes unexpectedly—whether through a diagnosis, a medical challenge, or a shift in what we imagined for our families. Jessica shares the inspiration behind the book and the meaning of becoming “suddenly brave”—that moment when you are called to show up in ways you never anticipated.
Together, Jessica and Zoe reflect on the complexity of navigating grief, uncertainty, and resilience, while also making space for hope, healing, and connection. They discuss the importance of moving away from a “fix-it” mindset and instead embracing the present moment, honoring both the heartbreak and the beauty that can coexist in this journey.
This conversation also highlights the power of community. Through shared stories and vulnerability, parents can find connection, validation, and the reminder that they are not alone. Whether you are at the beginning of your journey or years into it, this episode offers compassion, perspective, and encouragement.
You are not broken—you are becoming.
Find more about Kari Morin here.
Find more about We Are Brave Together’s second book Suddenly Brave Togetherhere.
Find more about We Are Brave Together’s first book Becoming Brave Togetherhere.
Find more information about Licensed Psychotherapist, Dr. Zoe Shaw here.
Find Dr. Zoe’s book, Stronger in the Difficult Places: Heal Your Relationship with Yourself by Untangling Complex Shamehere.
Find FULL episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to support all of We Are Brave Together's programs and offerings here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's story episode, #254. These are true stories from a moment in the life of a caregiving parent. We hear a crafted story, and then have a conversation with our guest that goes deeper into their experience.
In this episode of the Brave Together podcast, Wendy Ernzen shares her journey raising her daughter Nicola, who lives with autism and bipolar disorder. Wendy reflects on the challenges of navigating complex diagnoses, advocating for the right educational and support systems, and facing moments of crisis that required courage, compassion, and difficult decisions.
Through her story, Wendy explores the emotional realities of caregiving, the importance of finding community support, and the critical role of self-care for parents navigating long-term caregiving journeys. She speaks openly about the moments that pushed her family to seek new forms of help and how those experiences ultimately created new pathways toward stability and growth.
In the conversation that follows, hosts Jessica Patay and Susanna Peace Lovell discuss with Wendy the importance of compassion when interpreting our children’s behaviors, the need for stronger support systems for families, and how caregivers can find meaning, connection, and small moments of joy even in the most challenging seasons.
Wendy’s story is a powerful reminder that caregivers cannot do this work alone—and that community, honesty, and support are essential to sustaining the journey.
Find more about Wendy Ernzen here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find FULL episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here.
Donate in May to support retreats & scholarships: https://www.wearebravetogether.org/mothers-day
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to support all of We Are Brave Together's programs and offerings here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! This is an Ask Us Anything episode in which YOU, the listener, get to write or call in and, you guessed it, ask us anything.
In this Ask Us Anything episode, #253, we’re responding to the question many parents quietly carry:
“Hi Brave Together Podcast--What do you do when your partner is in denial about your child's needs?”
In this conversation, Jessica Patay, Susanna Peace Lovell, and Dr. Zoe Shaw explore the emotional complexity that can arise when parents process a child’s diagnosis differently.
The hosts discuss how denial is often rooted in grief, fear, overwhelm, shame, or uncertainty—not a lack of love. They talk about how one parent may be ready to seek services, ask questions, and move into action, while the other may still be struggling to accept what is happening. These different coping styles can create tension, loneliness, resentment, and conflict within a relationship.
Jessica, Susanna, and Zoe share personal insight and practical strategies for navigating this difficult dynamic with compassion and resilience. They discuss the importance of communication, empathy, timing, and curiosity over judgment. They also emphasize that support groups, therapy, family counseling, and community connection can be life-changing resources for couples feeling stuck.
The conversation also touches on cultural stigma around diagnoses, fears about labels, sibling dynamics, and the importance of advocating for a child’s needs even when parents are not on the same page. The hosts remind listeners that it is okay to have needs, ask for help, and seek support for yourself while your partner works through their own process.
This episode is a powerful reminder that parents do not have to process things at the same pace to still move forward together.
Keep the questions coming—we’re here to support you. Whether you’re parenting a child with complex medical, developmental, or mental health needs, or supporting someone who is, we would love to hear from you. We see you and we love you.
Find more information about Licensed Psychotherapist, Dr. Zoe Shaw here.
Find Dr. Zoe’s book, Stronger in the Difficult Places: Heal Your Relationship with Yourself by Untangling Complex Shamehere.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find FULL episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to support all of We Are Brave Together's programs and offerings here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's expert episode, #252, with Dr. Melisa Moore, a sleep psychologist who specializes in supporting neurodivergent children and teens.
These expert episodes bring conversations with professionals whose work supports caregiving parents and families navigating complex needs.
In this episode, hosts Jessica Patay and Susanna Peace Lovell talk with Dr. Moore about the unique sleep challenges many neurodivergent children experience. Dr. Moore explains that neurodiverse brains can process sleep differently, and many sleep struggles are rooted in biology, development, and environmental factors—not parenting mistakes.
Dr. Moore shares practical, science-backed strategies to help families improve sleep routines while also encouraging parents to balance ideal recommendations with the realities of daily life. The conversation explores how to recognize when sleep issues may require professional support, how to create sleep environments that support regulation, and how mindset shifts can reduce anxiety around sleep for both parents and children.
Jessica and Susanna also discuss the important role sleep plays in emotional regulation, mental health, and overall well-being for neurodivergent youth. Dr. Moore offers compassionate encouragement for caregivers navigating sleep struggles and reminds parents that progress often comes from small, sustainable changes rather than perfect routines.
This episode is filled with practical insights and reassurance for families seeking better rest and healthier sleep habits for their children.
Find more about Dr. Melisa Moore here.
Find Dr. Melisa Moore’s book, The Good Sleep Guide for Neurodivergent Kidshere.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find FULL episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to support all of We Are Brave Together's programs and offerings here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today’s expert episode, #251, featuring Jennifer Iannuzzi, who joins us for a candid and compassionate conversation about supporting children with behavioral struggles, particularly aggression.
These expert episodes are conversations with professionals whose work directly supports caregiving parents. In this episode, hosts Jessica Patay and Susanna Peace Lovell explore the emotional toll that aggressive and dysregulated behaviors can take on caregivers and families.
Jennifer speaks openly about the isolation and stigma many parents experience when their child’s behaviors include self-injury or outward aggression. Together, they discuss how guilt and shame often compound the stress caregivers already carry—and why open conversations are essential in reducing stigma and normalizing these very real struggles.
The conversation also highlights the importance of building intentional support systems, creating safety plans for caregivers, and recognizing parents as valuable partners in their child’s care. They address the difficult and often misunderstood decisions around residential programs, reframing them not as failures but as thoughtful, loving choices made in pursuit of safety and independence for the child.
This episode validates the weight many caregivers carry while offering connection, perspective, and hope. You are not alone in navigating these challenges—and your efforts matter.
Find more information about Jennifer Iannuzzi here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find FULL episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to support all of We Are Brave Together's programs and offerings here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today’s expert episode, #250, featuring Dr. Jenn Rapkin, who joins us for a powerful and clarifying conversation about Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
These expert episodes are conversations with professionals whose work directly supports caregiving parents. In this episode, hosts Jessica Patay and Susanna Peace Lovell sit down with Dr. Rapkin to unpack the many misconceptions surrounding OCD and to offer deeper understanding for families navigating intrusive thoughts, anxiety, and compulsive behaviors.
Dr. Rapkin shares her perspective not only as a clinician, but also as someone who has personally experienced OCD and as a parent of a child with the condition. Together, they explore how OCD is often misunderstood and trivialized as simply being “neat” or “organized,” when in reality it can significantly disrupt daily life through intrusive thoughts and compulsions—including mental compulsions that may go unnoticed by others.
The conversation covers how OCD presents in children, the impact of trauma, and why early recognition and proper diagnosis are so important. Dr. Rapkin explains why Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is considered the gold standard treatment and what it truly means to sit with discomfort rather than allowing OCD to dictate behavior. She also emphasizes that managing OCD is often a lifelong journey—one that requires compassion, support, and informed care.
This episode replaces stigma with understanding and offers practical, hopeful insight for families seeking clarity around OCD.
Find more information about Dr. Jenn Rapkin here.
Find Jenn’s book, The Feeling Musclehere.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find FULL episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to support all of We Are Brave Together's programs and offerings here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! This is an Ask Us Anything episode, #249, where you, the listener, get to write in and ask us anything.
In this episode, we’re responding to the question:
“Hi there, I guess I am looking for more info on siblings in a special needs family. Can you shed light or talk about how they battle their own resentment, depression, anxiety or PTSD? THX.”
In this conversation, Jessica Patay, Dr. Zoe Shaw, and Susanna Peace Lovell come together to explore a deeply important and often under-discussed topic in caregiving families: the sibling experience.
The hosts unpack the complex emotional and psychological dynamics that can arise when one child in the family has additional needs. They discuss how siblings may experience a wide range of emotions—including love, pride, resentment, protectiveness, anxiety, and even feelings of invisibility—and why it’s so important to create space for all of those feelings without judgment.
Jessica, Zoe, and Susanna also explore the different roles siblings can take on within the family system, and how these roles can shape identity, relationships, and mental health over time. They speak directly to the question of resentment, depression, and anxiety, emphasizing that these responses are valid and deserve attention, support, and care.
The conversation offers practical strategies for parents, including the importance of validating siblings’ experiences, being mindful of how praise is given, and creating intentional one-on-one time and support systems. The hosts also highlight the value of therapy and open communication in helping families navigate these dynamics with compassion and honesty.
Ultimately, this episode is a reminder that sibling relationships are deeply meaningful—and that supporting siblings is an essential part of caring for the whole family.
Find more information about Licensed Psychotherapist, Dr. Zoe Shaw here.
Find Dr. Zoe’s book, Stronger in the Difficult Places: Heal Your Relationship with Yourself by Untangling Complex Shamehere.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find FULL episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to support all of We Are Brave Together's programs and offerings here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today’s expert episode, #248, featuring Kirk Martin, a parenting educator known for his honest, practical insights on raising strong-willed children and leading with calm.
These expert episodes are conversations with professionals whose work directly supports caregiving parents. In this episode, hosts Susanna Peace Lovell and Jessica Patay talk with Kirk about the evolving landscape of parenting—and why the most powerful shift we can make is moving from controlling our children to regulating ourselves.
Together, they explore how parental anxiety often fuels controlling behaviors, why strong-willed children require a different approach than compliant ones, and how calm leadership creates safety and connection. Kirk emphasizes the importance of normalizing children’s emotions rather than correcting them, validating their experiences, and modeling emotional intelligence in everyday moments. The conversation also highlights the crucial role fathers play in breaking generational patterns and fostering secure, healthy relationships with their children.
This episode is filled with practical strategies and honest reflection, reminding us that parenting is not about perfection or performance—it’s about growth. Success as a parent is not defined by a child’s behavior, but by our willingness to lead with steadiness, self-awareness, and compassion.
Find more information about Kirk Martin and Celebrate Calming here.
Follow Kirk on Instagram here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find FULL episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to support all of We Are Brave Together's programs and offerings here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today’s story episode, #247. These are true stories from a moment in the life of a caregiving parent. We hear a crafted story, and then have a conversation that goes deeper into the experience and themes shared.
In this episode of the Brave Together Podcast, Dr. Zoe Shaw shares her personal journey as a writer, therapist, and caregiver, exploring the powerful and often hidden impact of shame. Drawing from her own life and the insights that shaped her book, Stronger in the Difficult Places, Zoe unpacks the difference between simple guilt and complex shame—explaining how complex shame attaches itself to identity and can quietly influence how caregivers see themselves.
Zoe reflects on the “phantom critic” that so many parents carry, the cultural and societal pressures that intensify feelings of inadequacy, and how writing became her therapy and path toward healing. She offers practical insight into how shame manifests in caregiving, why guilt can be a healthy, adaptive emotion, and how forgiveness—“giving up all hope of a better past”—can open the door to freedom and self-acceptance.
In the conversation that follows, hosts Jessica Patay and Susanna Peace Lovell explore how shame shows up in the lives of caregivers, the ripple effects it has on families, and how parents can begin to untangle these deeply rooted beliefs. Together, they remind listeners that good-enough parents are more than enough for a child to thrive.
Find more information about Licensed Psychotherapist, Dr. Zoe Shaw here.
Find Dr. Zoe’s book, Stronger in the Difficult Places: Heal Your Relationship with Yourself by Untangling Complex Shamehere.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find FULL episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to support all of We Are Brave Together's programs and offerings here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends!
In this Expert episode, hosts Jessica Patay and Susanna Peace Lovell sit down with therapist and behavior analyst Monica Fyfe, LMFT, BCBA, to explore the evolving landscape of therapy for neurodivergent youth.
Monica brings a unique perspective to her work, blending her experience as a licensed marriage and family therapist with her training as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. In this thoughtful conversation, she explains how therapy for neurodivergent children has shifted in recent years toward more compassionate, individualized, and strengths-based approaches.
Together, they discuss how modern therapeutic practices—including updated approaches to Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)—are increasingly centered on dignity, consent, and the unique needs of each child. Monica also shares how integrating different therapeutic frameworks, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), can help children and teens better understand their emotions, identify their values, and build confidence navigating the world.
The conversation also explores the powerful role of language in shaping how families understand diagnoses and neurodiversity. Monica encourages parents to focus less on labels and more on specific goals and supports that help their children thrive. She also discusses the importance of helping neurodivergent youth build “social navigation” skills that allow them to create meaningful connections and engage with their communities.
Finally, Monica introduces her children’s book series, which uses storytelling and bibliotherapy to introduce therapeutic concepts in accessible, engaging ways for kids and families.
This episode is full of practical insight and reassurance for parents seeking thoughtful, respectful, and effective support for their neurodivergent children.
Find more about Monica Fyfe’s children’s series Welcome to Petsville here.
Find more information about Licensed Psychotherapist, Dr. Zoe Shaw here.
Find Dr. Zoe’s book, Stronger in the Difficult Places: Heal Your Relationship with Yourself by Untangling Complex Shamehere.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find FULL episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to support all of We Are Brave Together's programs and offerings here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! This is an Ask Us Anything episode in which YOU, the listener, get to write or call in and, you guessed it, ask us anything.
In this Ask Us Anything episode, #245, we’re responding to the question:
“Hi Dr. Zoe, Susanna and Jessica, I was wondering if you could shed light on us parents who will NOT BE EMPTY-NESTERS? I am struggling right now because I see friends who are so free and spontaneous and honestly, I am envious. As you guys always say, the grief buttons are getting pushed again. Thanks.”
In this conversation, Susanna Peace Lovell, Dr. Zoe Shaw, and Jessica Patay talk honestly about what it means to be a “forever nester”—a caregiver who may never experience the traditional empty nest. They define what empty nest and forever nest can look like, while also acknowledging that it’s not always a simple either/or; there are many unknowns, in-between seasons, and times when adult children launch and then return home.
Together, they name the complicated mix of emotions that arise when friends are traveling, retiring, or enjoying spontaneous freedom, while caregiving parents are still managing high-support needs, sleep deprivation, food vigilance, and constant responsibility. Jessica and Zoe share candidly about life with children who have Prader-Willi syndrome and the relentless focus on food and safety; Susanna reflects on lifelong rigidity, shame, and a longing to be more spontaneous. They speak to grief as cyclical, normal, and deeply human—especially when future dreams like travel, retirement, or hands-on grandparenting feel uncertain or out of reach.
The hosts also offer hope and reframes: the power of naming longings out loud, seeking pockets of “empty nest cosplay” (brief moments of freedom and joy), practicing radical acceptance of the life you’re living, and being intentional about creating memories and glimmers of joy right now. They remind listeners that wanting freedom, rest, and space is not selfish—it’s human—and encourage caregivers to seek support when resentment or grief feels overwhelming.
Keep the questions coming—we’re here to support you. Whether you’re a parent to a child with complex medical, developmental, or mental health needs, or someone supporting a caregiving family, we would love to hear from you. We see you, and we love you.
Leave us a message here.
Find more information about Licensed Psychotherapist, Dr. Zoe Shaw here.
Find Dr. Zoe’s book, Stronger in the Difficult Places: Heal Your Relationship with Yourself by Untangling Complex Shamehere.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find FULL episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to support all of We Are Brave Together's programs and offerings here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today’s expert episode, #244, featuring Mary Van Geffen, author of Parenting a Spicy One and parenting coach for families raising strong-willed, intense children.
These expert episodes are conversations with professionals whose work directly supports caregiving parents. In this episode, hosts Susanna Peace Lovell and Jessica Patay sit down with Mary to explore what it really means to parent a child who feels like they “need more than you have to give.”
Mary reframes the concept of the “spicy one”—a child who is strong-willed, emotionally intense, and often misunderstood—and challenges traditional parenting approaches that rely solely on discipline and control. Instead, she emphasizes compassion, emotional regulation, positive reinforcement, and what she calls “self-mothering” for parents. The conversation explores how self-care is essential—but not selfish—and how parents can protect themselves during aggressive outbursts while still leading with calm and clarity.
They also discuss sibling dynamics, navigating public perception, and the emotional complexity that can arise when one child requires significantly more energy than others. Mary encourages parents to name challenges openly, normalize the struggle, and create supportive environments where both parents and children can grow.
This episode offers practical tools, hopeful reframes, and the reminder that strong-willed children can grow into powerful advocates and leaders when met with steadiness and understanding.
Find more information about Mary Van Geffen here.
Find her book, Parenting a Spicy One, here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find FULL episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to support all of We Are Brave Together's programs and offerings here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends!
In this special collaboration episode, Jessica Patay and Susanna Peace Lovell are joined by Tash Dillmon and Brittney Crabtree, two of the hosts of Moms Talk Autism for a heartfelt and reflective conversation about podcasting, parenting, and the power of community.
Together, they reflect on how podcasting has transformed their lives as mothers raising children with autism and how building connection—especially during the isolation of the pandemic—became essential. What began as a creative outlet became something much deeper: a space for vulnerability, resilience, and shared stories that remind caregivers they are not alone.
This conversation explores the ongoing journey of grief and how it often resurfaces in everyday moments. Brittney shares, “Grief is an ocean for me,” capturing the cyclical and layered nature of caregiving. The group discusses how joy and heartache coexist, how community stories offer perspective and hope, and why vulnerability fosters deeper connection. They also honor the unique perspectives dads bring to caregiving and the importance of diversifying support systems.
From the challenges and rewards of podcasting to the quiet strength that grows when we share our stories, this episode is a reminder that we are doing this together.
Find more information about Moms Talk Autism here.
To subscribe to Moms Talk Autism see Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find FULL episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to support all of We Are Brave Together's programs and offerings here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today’s expert episode, #242, featuring Tanya Valentin, a neuro-affirming family coach, author and podcast host, who specializes in burnout in Autistic and ADHD children.
These expert episodes are conversations with professionals whose work directly supports caregiving parents. In this episode, Tanya joins hosts Jessica Patay and Susanna Peace Lovell for a compassionate and eye-opening conversation about childhood burnout, nervous-system safety, and how deeply children’s overwhelm impacts the entire family.
Together, they explore the ways burnout shows up in neurodivergent children, why it’s often misunderstood or misidentified, and what parents can look for when their child is chronically overwhelmed. Tanya shares practical tools and guidance to help children feel safer and more supported, while also addressing that parents of children in burnout need community and support too.
Find out more about Tanya Valentin and her parent membership community, From Burnout to Balance, here.
Find Tanya Valentin’s book, When She Wakes, She Will Move Mountains: 5 Steps to Reconnecting With Your Wild, Authentic, Inner Queenhere.
Leave us a message here.
Find more information about Licensed Psychotherapist, Dr. Zoe Shaw here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find FULL episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to support all of We Are Brave Together's programs and offerings here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends!
This is an Ask Us Anything episode in which YOU, the listener, get to write or call in and - yes - ask us anything!
In this Ask Us Anything episode, #241, we’re responding to the question:
“Hi Zoe, Susanna, and Jessica. You all have been moms a long, long time, and I am a newer mom. My first child, now age 3, was born with a disability…and I just can’t decide if I should have more kids or not. How did you decide?”
In this conversation, Jessica Patay, Susanna Peace Lovell, and Dr. Zoe Shaw respond with honesty, compassion, and deep respect for how complex this decision can be. They talk about the emotional weight of choice through the lens of their own experience, the role of grief and hope, and how different phases of parenting call for different questions. Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all answer, they explore how to listen to your values, your capacity, and your support system- while giving yourself permission to take your time and trust that there is no “right” answer, only the one that is right for you and your family.
Keep the questions coming—we’re here to support you. Whether you’re a newer parent navigating big decisions, a parent to a child with complex medical or mental health needs, or someone supporting a caregiving family, we would love to hear from you. We see you, and we love you.
Leave us a message here.
Find more information about Licensed Psychotherapist, Dr. Zoe Shaw here.
Find Dr. Zoe’s book, Stronger in the Difficult Places: Heal Your Relationship with Yourself by Untangling Complex Shamehere.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find FULL episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to support all of We Are Brave Together's programs and offerings here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! On this episode, #240, we are hearing about the experience of another Thriving Disabled Adult, April Lockhart.
April is the founder of Disabled& and an advocate for the disabled community. She is a contributing fashion editor at Marie Claire and a member of the Hello Sunshine Collective. April has been featured in Vogue, The Cut, Byrdie, Refinery29, Who What Wear, and Fast Company, among others. Her 2023 debut at New York Fashion Week walking for Victoria’s Secret’s adaptive line, along with her work modeling for Anthropologie’s adaptive collection, solidified her status as a trailblazer in both the fashion industry and advocacy space. In 2025, April was featured on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list.
In this conversation with Susanna Peace Lovell and Jessica Patay, April Lockhart shares her journey from hiding her limb difference to becoming an advocate and influencer in the disability community. She discusses the pivotal moments that led her to embrace her identity and the positive responses she received after sharing her story on social media. The discussion highlights the importance of authenticity, community, and the role of social media in amplifying disability representation. She also touches on the criticism faced within the disabled community and the need for a shift in how disability is perceived, advocating for a narrative that celebrates aspiration rather than mere inspiration.
Find April Lockhart on IG, TikTok and Youtube.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find FULL episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to support all of We Are Brave Together's programs and offerings here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hi Bravies! Today Jessica Patay and Susanna Peace Lovell are talking to another expert on a topic deeply relevant to you, the caregiving parent.
In this expert episode, number 239, they sit down with Dr. Maya Shankar, a cognitive scientist and host of the acclaimed podcast ‘A Slight Change of Plans.’ Maya shares her profound insights on navigating life's unexpected turns and the transformative power of change. Through her personal stories and expert knowledge, she reveals how embracing change can lead to self-discovery and growth. Join us as we explore the revelations that come with life's challenges and learn how to harness them for personal evolution.
Dr. Maya Shankar is a cognitive scientist and creator of the podcast A Slight Change of Plans, previously named “Best Show of the Year” by Apple. She served as a Senior Policy Advisor in the Obama White House where she founded and chaired the Social and Behavioral Sciences Team, which President Obama formalized by Executive Order in 2015. She was also appointed as the first Behavioral Science Advisor to the United Nations. Maya has a B.A. from Yale and a doctorate from Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in cognitive neuroscience at Stanford. She has been profiled by The New Yorker, has been a guest on NPR, CBS Mornings, and The Today Show, and was featured as a neuroscience expert on National Geographic’s Limitless with Chris Hemsworth. She is a former violin student of Itzhak Perlman at Juilliard, and is the author of the forthcoming book with Penguin Random House, The Other Side of Change.
Website: https://mayashankar.com/
Instagram: @drmayashankar
Book Order Link: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/729180/the-other-side-of-change-by-
maya-shankar/
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find FULL episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to support all of We Are Brave Together's programs and offerings here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's story episode, #238. These are true stories from a moment in the life of a caregiving parent. We hear a crafted story, and then have a conversation with our guests that goes deeper into their experience.
In this episode of the Brave Together podcast, Kristina Kuzmič shares her journey from childhood in Croatia to becoming a voice of hope and humor for parents navigating the challenges of altered motherhood. Kristina shares her personal journey of navigating guilt as a parent while dealing with her son's mental health struggles. She emphasizes the importance of self-care and how it can positively impact both parents and children. Kristina introduces the concept of 'No, thank you' as a powerful tool to reject judgment and negativity from others. The discussion also touches on the ongoing stigma surrounding mental health and the need for open conversations to combat shame. Finally, Kristina presents her new app, Hope and Humor Daily, designed to provide support and encouragement for parents.
Find out more about Kristina Kuzmič here.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find FULL episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to support all of We Are Brave Together's programs and offerings here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
This is an Ask Us Anything episode in which YOU, the listener, get to write or call in and- yes- ask us anything!
In this Ask Us Anything episode, #237, we’re responding to the question:
“Hi Brave Together Podcast, I want to start off the new year with more work/life balance. I feel swamped with juggling it all and I need your help. How do you create balance?”
In this conversation, Jessica Patay, Susanna Peace Lovell, and Dr. Zoe Shaw talk honestly about the myth of perfect balance and why it so often feels impossible for caregiving parents. They explore what balance can realistically look like in different seasons of life, how to recognize when you’re overwhelmed, and how to make intentional choices that protect your energy, mental health, and relationships. Together, they share compassionate reframes, practical ideas, and encouragement for starting the new year with more grace and less pressure.
Keep the questions coming—we’re here to support you! Whether you’re a parent caring for a child with complex medical or mental health needs, or someone looking to better support a caregiving parent in your life, we would love to hear from you. We see you, and we love you.
Leave us a message here.
Find more information about Licensed Psychotherapist, Dr. Zoe Shaw here.
Find Dr. Zoe’s book, Stronger in the Difficult Places: Heal Your Relationship with Yourself by Untangling Complex Shamehere.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find FULL episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to support all of We Are Brave Together's programs and offerings here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! This is a Winter Re-Run of one of our favorite Ask Us Anything episodes from Seasons 5 and 6. Call in to our SpeakPipe **to ask YOUR questions and tune in next season, starting in January 2026, for many more.
This is an Ask Us Anything episode in which YOU, the listener, get to write or call in and, you guessed it, ASK US ANYTHING!**
In this episode, #165, we are discussing how to get the most out of connection circles and in general, support groups, without taking on other attendee’s pain.
In this community we are ALREADY dealing with our own tough feelings when we step into a group sharing environment and as Dr. Zoe Shaw says, in this episode, “we’re wired for protection not connection” so dealing with other people’s emotions on top of our own can feel daunting. BUT it doesn't have to feel that way and the community and sisterhood that comes with sharing and holding space for those emotions is so worth facing your own.
There are so many wisdom gems, AHA moments and tools in this episode for helping us deconstruct the emotions we feel when in the presence of other people’s pain. Please enjoy this important episode of Ask Us Anything.
Whether you have questions as a parent to a child with complex medical or mental health needs or you’re someone looking to support a care-giving parent, we would LOVE to hear from you.
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to ask a question, leave us a message here.
Find more information about Licensed Psychotherapist, Dr. Zoe Shaw here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to support all of We Are Brave Together's programs and offerings here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hi Bravies! Welcome to Season 10 of Brave Together Podcast!
I’m Jessica Patay, founder of the non-profit, We Are Brave Together. Since 2017 We Are Brave Together has been a supportive community for the brave moms of children with disabilities, neurodivergence and all unique needs. Our international community includes over 4000 moms in 50 states and 30 countries.
I am also a mother to three children including a son with Prader-Willi Syndrome, which is a rare genetic disorder. I am passionate about encouraging and serving caregiving moms everywhere and I’m not alone. I have two brave mom co-hosts, the vivacious author and life coach to disability families across the globe, Susanna Peace Lovell and the deeply wise author, Clinical Psychotherapist, and complex shame expert, Dr. Zoe Shaw. Together we use our exponential motherhood experiences to support, guide and lovingly witness our fellow caregiving mom audience.
This season we are beyond thrilled to announce that we are now streamable on UK Health Radio. This means our beautiful community of genuine superhero moms will be growing and we have some incredible guests lined up to help celebrate. Guests like self-proclaimed ‘disabled fashion girlie’ April Lockhart, Mental Health Advocate, Author and Comedian Kristina Kuzmic, and the parenting guru for navigating the spicy ones, Mary Van Geffen.
So what can you expect from the podcast this season? We are offering Story episodes from moms just like you, Expert episodes on topics that impact you, Thriving Disabled Adult episodes to give you insights into the experiences of your children and Ask Us Anything episodes to answer your burning questions.
We make this podcast as a lifeline for you, the caregiving parent, so please, submit stories through our website, call into our Speakpipe through the link in the show notes and leave us messages with your questions, or comment on our Instagram and Youtube posts @wearebravetogether. We’d love to hear from you and do our best to create episodes to address your questions. We are also on Youtube so come see the faces behind this podcast there. And please take a moment to rate and review our podcast so we can continue to grow and reach more brave moms.
We offer you community here at Brave Together Podcast and remind you every chance we get—that you are strong, capable and definitely not alone.
We see you and we love you. Welcome to Season 10!
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find FULL episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to support all of We Are Brave Together's programs and offerings here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
When a medical event rocks her son and family a week before Christmas, guest Karen Draper has to rapidly process everything and do her best to move through it with grace. From the life saving steps necessary for her son, to the protection of her family's hearts through the fear, many of you will relate to this story of shock, strength and ultimately recovery and laughter.
In her story and sweet conversation with host Jessica Patay, we hear from another strong mother who has experienced the spectrum of experiences that come with the special needs journey and has come out the other side forever healing, human and present.
Karen Draper is a writer, poet and former inclusion advocate who turned her passion for celebrating diversity into her first book, The Place of Us. When she isn’t reading or writing, she’s probably editing photographs instead of words. Karen is an avid walker and yoga enthusiast who can easily be enticed by dark chocolate and red wine. She lives in Frederick, Maryland with her husband, Sam. Karen hopes that The Place of Us will help readers become better advocates for themselves and others.
Find Karen’s Book here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to support all of We Are Brave Together's programs and offerings here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! On this, our final episode of Season 5, we have such a great guest for you. Debbie Reber, who you guys probably know already, is a parenting activist, bestselling author, speaker and the CEO and founder of Tilt Parenting, a resource, top performing podcast, consultancy, and community with a focus on shifting the paradigm for parents raising and embracing neurodivergent children. Her most recent book, Differently Wired, A Parent's Guide to Raising an Atypical Child with Confidence and Hope, came out in 2018.
Debbie is a wealth of information, and I highly recommend that you check out everything that she offers and get involved in her community. If you have a child who is neurodivergent, she has lots of experts on her podcast and has educated thousands of parents. Please enjoy this comforting, warm blanket of an episode with the wonderful Debbie Reber.
Find the Tilt Parenting website here.
Find Debbie Reber’s book, Differently Wired,here.
Find the Tilt Parenting Podcast here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to support all of We Are Brave Together's programs and offerings here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends, do you think you fully understand ADHD and how it impacts school and everyday life? Although it is common, it is not simple, not by any means. It is extremely complex. There are many aspects to this disorder. There is no magic pill or formula that will help all kids and adults who struggle with ADHD, but there are proven methods, tips, skills, and wisdom to be applied.
We have an incredible guest today for you: Leslie Josel, an ADHD-academic and parenting coach, who is an award-winning entrepreneur, having founded Order Out of Chaos – a virtual company whose mission is to help parents guide their students to success in learning and in life - when her son was first diagnosed with ADHD.
She is also the creator of the award-winning Academic Planner: A Tool for Time Management®, a planner that helps students develop time management skills, and the award-winning author of 3 books including the recently published, “How to Do it Now Because it’s Not Going Away: An Expert Guide to Getting Stuff Done.” (Lerner Publishing)
A respected resource on ADHD and Executive Functioning, Leslie writes the weekly “Dear ADHD Family Coach®” column for ADDitude Magazine, the premiere magazine for adults and children with ADHD. She speaks to audiences all over the world helping them utilize their resources to best navigate the task-driven world in which they live. Last year, Leslie’s line of student organizing products – a collaboration with Samsill Corp – was released.
And for the last six years, Leslie has been named by Global Gurus as one of the top 20 Time Management experts in the world.
Find Leslie’s website here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to support all of We Are Brave Together's programs and offerings here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! This is an Ask Us Anything episode in which YOU, the listener, get to write or call in and, you guessed it, ASK US ANYTHING!
In this Ask Us Anything episode, #236, we are responding to the question, How do I survive the holidays without support?
In this conversation, Jessica Patay, Susanna Peace Lovell, Dr. Zoe Shaw discuss the concept of overwhelm and how to manage it by entering a 'survival mode' where non-essential activities are minimized to focus on what truly matters.
Keep the questions coming, we’re here to support you! Whether you have questions as a parent to a child with complex medical or mental health needs or you’re someone looking to support a care-giving parent, we would LOVE to hear from you. We see you and we love you! Leave us a message here.
Find more information about Licensed Psychotherapist, Dr. Zoe Shaw here.
Find Dr. Zoe’s book, Stronger in the Difficult Places: Heal Your Relationship with Yourself by Untangling Complex Shamehere.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find full episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to support all of We Are Brave Together's programs and offerings here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's expert episode, #235, with Molly Trexler, a pediatric nurse practitioner and coach for medical moms. These are conversations with experts in fields relevant to caregiving parents.
We discuss the unique challenges faced by mothers navigating the medical system, coping strategies for managing fear and anxiety, and the importance of community and support. With over 30 years experience, Molly shares personal stories and insights, emphasizing the need for self-care and the power of listening.
Find more information about Pediatric Nurse Practitioner & Medical Mom Coach, Molly Trexler here.
The generous sponsor for the entirety of our San Diego retreat this month is PCSI. PCSI is a nationwide, mission-driven nonprofit that creates meaningful employment opportunities for people with disabilities and veterans while delivering exceptional services to both the public and private sectors. Through our Workforce Development programs—including Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Community Employment, and Careers at PCSI—we empower individuals to achieve independence, personal growth, and long-term success. By combining sustainable business innovation with a values-based approach, we strengthen communities, challenge the status quo, and deliver outstanding results in every partnership. PCSI enhances the lives of people with disabilities through employment, advocacy, partnerships, and innovation.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find FULL episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here.
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's expert episode, #234, with Jeremy and Ilana Hamburgh the creators of Social Life 360. These are conversations with experts in fields relevant to caregiving parents.
In this conversation, Susanna Peace Lovell interviews Jeremy and Ilana Hamburgh, a couple dedicated to supporting neurodivergent individuals in building friendships and relationships through their program, Social Life 360. They share their backgrounds, the inception of their program, and the importance of community and support in navigating social skills. The discussion also touches on the challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals, the impact of media representation, and the success stories that inspire their work. Ultimately, they emphasize the importance of connection and the dreams they have for their clients' futures.
The generous sponsor for the entirety of our San Diego retreat this month is PCSI. PCSI is a nationwide, mission-driven nonprofit that creates meaningful employment opportunities for people with disabilities and veterans while delivering exceptional services to both the public and private sectors. Through our Workforce Development programs—including Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Community Employment, and Careers at PCSI—we empower individuals to achieve independence, personal growth, and long-term success. By combining sustainable business innovation with a values-based approach, we strengthen communities, challenge the status quo, and deliver outstanding results in every partnership. PCSI enhances the lives of people with disabilities through employment, advocacy, partnerships, and innovation.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find FULL episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here.
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's expert episode, #233, with certified life coach and clinical hypnotherapist Shelly Ehler. These are conversations with experts in fields relevant to caregiving parents.
In this enlightening conversation, Jessica Patay and Dr. Zoe Shaw interview Shelly Ehler about the transformative power of hypnotherapy, exploring its journey from skepticism to acceptance. Shelly shares her personal journey into hypnotherapy, addressing common misconceptions and the effectiveness of this therapeutic modality in treating anxiety, fears, and other mental health issues. The discussion highlights the process of hypnotherapy sessions, the safety and ethics involved, and its potential benefits for caregivers and individuals with special needs. The conversation concludes with a call for greater awareness and collaboration between hypnotherapists and traditional mental health professionals.
Shelly Ehler is a certified life coach and clinical hypnotherapist and her mission is to enlighten, empower and inspire her clients to live their best lives! She received her life coaching certification from the Integrated Wellness Academy and her certification in hypnotherapy from the Hypnosis Motivation Institute, the first accredited college of hypnotherapy in the country. Find more information about Shelly Ehler here.
The generous sponsor for the entirety of our San Diego retreat this month is PCSI. PCSI is a nationwide, mission-driven nonprofit that creates meaningful employment opportunities for people with disabilities and veterans while delivering exceptional services to both the public and private sectors. Through our Workforce Development programs—including Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Community Employment, and Careers at PCSI—we empower individuals to achieve independence, personal growth, and long-term success. By combining sustainable business innovation with a values-based approach, we strengthen communities, challenge the status quo, and deliver outstanding results in every partnership. PCSI enhances the lives of people with disabilities through employment, advocacy, partnerships, and innovation.
Find FULL episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here.
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's expert episode, #232, with Speech Dude, Chris Wenger, sharing his neurodivergent affirming approach to IEP’s and wow does he have a refreshing take on them.
In this episode of the Brave Together podcast, Chris Wenger shares his journey as a neurodivergent educator and advocate for students with special needs. He discusses the importance of understanding neurodiversity, the need for a shift from deficit-based IEPs to a more affirming approach, and the significance of creating safe and supportive learning environments. Chris emphasizes the value of connecting with students authentically and provides insights into effective teaching strategies and resources for educators and parents alike.
Chris Wenger is a neurodivergent high school speech-language pathologist of over 20 years, international speaker, and creator of the Dynamic Assessment of Social Emotional Learning, a strengths-based assessment for autistic students. He is also the founder of NeuroAffirm, a first-of-its-kind worldwide interactive directory connecting providers and families. Globally known as Speech Dude, he has amassed nearly one million social media followers, sharing inspiring and educational content, always with a humorous twist.
Find more information about Chris Wenger here.
Follow Chris Wenger on IG here.
The generous sponsor for the entirety of our San Diego retreat this month is PCSI. PCSI is a nationwide, mission-driven nonprofit that creates meaningful employment opportunities for people with disabilities and veterans while delivering exceptional services to both the public and private sectors. Through our Workforce Development programs—including Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Community Employment, and Careers at PCSI—we empower individuals to achieve independence, personal growth, and long-term success. By combining sustainable business innovation with a values-based approach, we strengthen communities, challenge the status quo, and deliver outstanding results in every partnership. PCSI enhances the lives of people with disabilities through employment, advocacy, partnerships, and innovation.
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! This is an Ask Us Anything episode in which YOU, the listener, get to write or call in and, you guessed it, ASK US ANYTHING!
In this Ask Us Anything episode, #231, we are discussing how we stay grounded in our own bodies and feelings when our children are struggling and needing us to be right there with them.
In this conversation, Susanna Peace Lovell and Dr. Zoe Shaw cover what to do when children are struggling. They discuss the importance of recognizing one's own feelings, the challenges of caregiving, and the need for self-care. The episode emphasizes the balance between empathy for children's struggles and the necessity of personal happiness, offering insights and strategies for navigating these emotional landscapes.
Keep the questions coming, we’re here to support you! Whether you have questions as a parent to a child with complex medical or mental health needs or you’re someone looking to support a care-giving parent, we would LOVE to hear from you. We see you and we love you! Leave us a message here.
Find more information about Licensed Psychotherapist, Dr. Zoe Shaw here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find full episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here.
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
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Hello Bravies! Welcome to today's expert episode, #230, with podcaster, narrative shifter and author of I Like You So Much: Celebrating What Makes You, You!, Heather Avis.
In this episode of the Brave Together Podcast, Heather Avis joins hosts Jessica Patay, Susanna Peace Lovell, and Dr. Zoe Shaw to discuss her journey as a parent and advocate in the disability space. Heather shares her experiences of adopting children with Down syndrome and the impact it has had on her life. The conversation delves into the power of narrative shifting, self-advocacy, and recognizing the intrinsic value of every individual.
Find more information about Heather Avis here.
Check out The Lucky Few Podcast here.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find FULL episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here.
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
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Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's story episode, #229. These are true stories from a moment in the life of a caregiving parent. We hear a crafted story, and then have a conversation with our guests that goes deeper into their experience.
Join Susanna Peace Lovell and Natasha M. Nurse, Esq. as they delve into the complexities of neurodivergence, motherhood, and personal growth. Natasha shares her journey of self-discovery, from her childhood experiences to her recent diagnosis of autism and ADHD. The conversation explores the challenges and triumphs of raising a neurodivergent child, the importance of self-care, and the power of storytelling. Tune in for an inspiring discussion on embracing authenticity and designing a life that serves you.
Find out more about Natasha M. Nurse Esq. here and here and here.
Learn more about MRM Education here.
Learn more about ShareWell here
Learn more about Swell Cast here.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
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Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's expert episode, #228, with Chrissy Barlahan, who is a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst with a degree in Psychology from Cal State Long Beach and a Master of Arts degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Capella University.
In this episode, join Jessica Patay, the founder of We Are Brave Together and Chrissy Barlahan as they delve into the complexities of parenting and marriage in the context of caregiving. With candid discussions on the challenges and joys of raising children with disabilities, they explore the importance of humor, resilience, and finding purpose amidst the chaos. Tune in for insights on maintaining strong relationships, the power of empathy, and the unexpected moments of joy that make the journey worthwhile.
Find out more about Chrissy Barlahan here.
Find How We Love site here.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find FULL episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here.
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
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Hello Brave Friends! This is an Ask Us Anything episode in which YOU, the listener, get to write or call in and, you guessed it, ASK US ANYTHING!
In this Ask Us Anything episode, #227, we are discussing how to approach and support other caregiving moms when we see them in the wild.
In this heartfelt episode, Jessica Patay, Susanna Peace Lovell, and Dr. Zoe Shaw dive into the challenges and triumphs of parenting children with special needs. They share personal stories and insights on how to approach fellow parents with empathy and understanding, emphasizing the importance of being allies to one another. Join them as they explore the power of connection, the impact of societal norms, and the simple yet profound act of acknowledging each other's humanity. Tune in for an inspiring conversation that encourages us all to be more compassionate and supportive in our daily interactions.
Keep the questions coming, we’re here to support you! Whether you have questions as a parent to a child with complex medical or mental health needs or you’re someone looking to support a care-giving parent, we would LOVE to hear from you. We see you and we love you! Leave us a message here.
Find more information about Licensed Psychotherapist, Dr. Zoe Shaw here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find full episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here.
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
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Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's expert episode, #226, with Kris Burbank, whose book, Embracing Another Normal: Resilience Stories and Strategies for Raising Children with Disabilities has a lot to teach us.
On this episode, Jessica Patay welcomes Kris Burbank who shares her journey as a mother of three, including her son Andrew, who has cerebral palsy. We discover how Kris's experiences led her to co-authoring a book on resilience and get an overview of her researched strategies for developing resilience for parents of children with disabilities.
Find more information about Kris Burbank here.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find FULL episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here.
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
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Hello Brave Friends! On this episode, #225, we are hearing about the experience of another Thriving Neurodivergent Adult, Author, Journalist and Influencer, Carrie Berk.
In this episode of the Brave Together Podcast, Carrie Berk shares her journey from writing children's books to her memoir, MINDFIRE: Diary of An Anxious Twentysomething, which addresses her personal experiences with anxiety and OCD. The conversation delves into the importance of self-love, the misconceptions surrounding OCD, and the role of parents in supporting their children's mental health. Carrie emphasizes the need for open communication, education on mental health in schools, and the destigmatization of mental health issues. She also shares practical strategies for self-compassion and managing anxiety, making this episode a valuable resource for parents and young people alike.
Find Carrie Berk on IG here and TikTok here.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find FULL episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here.
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
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Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's expert episode, #224, with Amanda Griffith-Atkins. These are conversations with experts in fields relevant to caregiving parents.
On this episode Amanda Griffith-Atkins joins us to discuss the inspiration behind her book, 'How to Handle More Than You Can Handle: Raising a Disabled Child Without Losing Yourself.' In our conversation, she emphasizes the importance of self-care, compassion, and the emotional experiences of parents in similar situations. Her book serves as a companion for parents navigating the challenges of raising children with disabilities, offering insights and support for their emotional well-being.
Amanda Griffith-Atkins is a licensed marriage and family therapist and founder of Amanda Atkins Counseling Group in Chicago. Amanda is also an in-demand speaker, author, and guest lecturer. Amanda’s book is available anywhere books or audiobooks are sold.
Find more information about Amanda Griffith-Atkins here. And if you’d like to hear MORE episodes with Amanda, find them here: Ep 144 Flexibility is Key and Ep 211 EXPERT: When You Wish Your Kid Had a Different Diagnosis
This episode was generously sponsored by Undivided, which brings expertise, technology, and community together to support parents raising kids with disabilities. Check them out today!
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find FULL episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here.
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
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Hello Brave Friends! This is an Ask Us Anything episode in which YOU, the listener, get to write or call in and, you guessed it, ASK US ANYTHING!
In this Ask Us Anything episode, #223, we are discussing the New York Times Best Seller, The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins, and applying it to caregiving life.
In this conversation, the hosts reflect on their Summer experiences and transitions in their children's lives, leading into a discussion of The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins. They explore the importance of releasing control over others and focusing on self-awareness and personal responsibility as caregivers. The conversation emphasizes the need for boundaries and the journey of allowing children to progress naturally without the pressure of expectations. The hosts share personal anecdotes and insights, highlighting the transformative power of the theory in their lives.
Keep the questions coming! Whether you have questions as a parent to a child with complex medical or mental health needs or you’re someone looking to support a care-giving parent, we would LOVE to hear from you. Leave us a message here.
Big thanks to our first sponsor of Season 9, Malaga Bank.
Find more information about Licensed Psychotherapist, Dr. Zoe Shaw here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find full episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
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Welcome to Brave Together Podcast, an empowering resource for the parents of children with disabilities, neurodivergence, and all unique needs.
Hi Bravies! Welcome to Season 9 of Brave Together Podcast. Yes, we've switched back to our original name, but we are as always, relentless in our mission to provide you the caregiving parent with resources, a platform for your stories and of course, community. I'm Jessica Patay, founder of the nonprofit, We Are Brave Together and a mother to three children, including a son with Prader-Willi Syndrome, and your co-host for this podcast.
I'm joined this season by two other Brave Moms, author and coach Susanna Peace Lovell, an author and licensed psychotherapist, Dr. Zoe Shaw. We are all passionate advocates for parents to children, of all ages, with high support needs, and we are parents too.
This season we are focusing on mental health, doing our part episode by episode to destigmatize it for you and our children. We have episodes on self-compassion, generalized anxiety disorder, OCD, and hypnotherapy, just to highlight a few. And like last season, we're offering Story episodes from moms just like you, Expert episodes on topics that impact you, Thriving Disabled Adult episodes to give you insights into the experiences of your children, and Ask Us Anything episodes to answer your burning questions.
We make this podcast as a lifeline for you, so please, call into our SpeakPipe through the link in the show notes and leave us messages with your questions or comment on Instagram and YouTube posts at We Are Brave Together. We'd love to hear from you and do our best to create episodes to directly or indirectly answer your questions and needs. And please take a moment to rate and review our podcast so we can continue to grow and reach more Brave Moms. We offer you community here at Brave Together Podcast and remind you every chance we get that you are strong, you are capable, and you are definitely not alone. We see you and we love you.
Welcome to Season 9!
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
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This week Jessica Patay interviews Sarah, Laurie and Ann - three warrior moms who’ve picked up the pen and written their stories. We hope that in listening you’ll be encouraged, equipped inspired to write your own story; the world needs to hear it!
Sarah Swindell lives in the Austin area with her husband, Greg, a former Major League Baseball player and 2019 Texas Sports Hall of Fame Inductee. Sarah is a commercial actress/model and has been working in the industry for over thirty years, and is the author of Rounding Home - A Memoir of Love, Betrayal, Heartbreak, and Hope with an Intimate Look into Raising a Child with Severe Autism. Sarah is an avid moviegoer, loves yoga, true-crime podcasts, and advocates for children and adults with autism and other disabilities. Her son was diagnosed with severe autism at the age of eighteen months and continues to touch peoples hearts to this day.
Laurie Magulac is a life coach, educator, and mother of four, ages twelve to young adult. Special needs parenting found her the day she brought home two bouncy foster siblings with, it turned out, a dozen medical, developmental and mental health disabilities. Raising and advocating for them and their two younger sisters, one of whom also has special needs, inspired her book, Get Your Joy Back: Banishing Resentment and Reclaiming Confidence in Your Special Needs Family. Her favorite writer resource is Jeff Goins.
Anne Fricke is a poet, author, storyteller, wife, and mother. She is the creator and host of the podcast, “Walking with Freya, A Journey Through Special Needs Parenting”. She has published two collections of poetry, a novel, and a writing journal for parents of children with special needs titled “There Is Joy To Be Found Here." You can find links to her books, samples of her writing, videos of poetry performances, and her podcast at annefricke.com. Follow the podcast on IG @walkingwithfreya.
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
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In Part Two of our series with Meygan Caston, you will hear the most practical advice on something I think we all take for granted: great communication skills! How can we get to the root of some marriage issues if we do not properly learn/re-learn/practice good communication skills?
Meygan Caston is the cofounder of Marriage365, where she and her team specialize in creating online and on-demand resources for engaged and married couples.
Meygan and her husband Casey live in Orange County, Ca and have two kids. Their son was diagnosed with autism and her husband has ADHD so they have a passion to help marriages who have been impacted with special needs.
You can learn more about Marriage365 by visiting marriage365.com
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
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In this episode you will hear the most practical advice from Meygan Caston on something I think we all take for granted: great communication skills! How can we get to the root of some marriage issues if we do not properly learn/re-learn/practice good communication skills?
Meygan Caston is the cofounder of Marriage365, where she and her team specialize in creating online and on-demand resources for engaged and married couples.
Meygan and her husband Casey live in Orange County, Ca and have two kids. Their son was diagnosed with autism and her husband has ADHD so they have a passion to help marriages who have been impacted with special needs.
You can learn more about Marriage365 by visiting marriage365.com.
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
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What do you do when everything is going wrong? How do you zoom out enough to see things clearly - instead of reacting in fear or desperation? Jessica Patay and Yoga Instructor/Entrepreneur, D’Andre Clayton talk about the power of a regular breath practice to help develop clear-headedness and build peaceful foundations for our perspectives on the challenges of life.
Find D’Andre on Instagram @dandreclayton @hotyogahealthyyou
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
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In a world where children and young people who have disabilities are at an increased risk of being abused compared with their non-disabled peers, how can a parent learn to manage their fears and protect their children? On this week’s episode of Brave Together, Jessica Patay and expert advisor Toby Stark discuss some of the most important questions parents need to ask of the organizations supporting and caring for youth.
Learn more about Toby’s incredible work here.
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
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Hello Brave Friends, you know we encourage sisterhood on this podcast but we don’t always talk about the unexpected community that can form around our children with unique needs, when we’re open to it. And sometimes that means having a broader idea about who that community may include. It might NOT be other mom’s, even care-giving mom’s with kids the same age because hey, they're BUSY! Instead, it might be a retired neighbor looking for some way to be of service, a single friend who has the time to help you take your kid to the park, it might even be a paid care-giver who bonds with your child and builds a lasting relationship with them. So in our last episode of season four, we have a beautiful topic for you, how to build an entourage of love around your child.
For this episode, host Jessica Patay speaks with author, speaker and psychotherapist, Emma Nadler who wrote a beautiful memoir called The Unlikely Village of Eden. Beyond building an entourage of love, they discuss a whole spectrum of things including: the shock of and culture around a child’s diagnosis, the importance of not giving up on community and why we have to FIGHT FOR OURSELVES, asking for help again and again because WE’RE WORTH IT.
The Unlikely Village of Eden is an insightful and wholehearted look at the long-ignored realities so many families live with daily. Nadler is a trusted guide who confronts both hope and despair as she gives readers the gift of what it looks like to redefine love, success, family, and community.
Find Emma’s website and links to order her beautiful book, The Unlikely Village of Eden, here.
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
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Do I really need to cook dinner EVERY night? And if so, how can I find joy in it? Joy, you say? What would that look like? A glass of wine, maybe? Music? In the overwhelming lives of caregivers, it’s easy to feel like the days are full of “have to’s” but what if we isolated the actual necessities and found ways to make everything else in our busy lives easier and MORE FUN!
Today we help you streamline your New Year with tips from the Lazy Genius, Kendra Adachi. Kendra Adachi is a two-time New York Times bestselling author of The Lazy Genius Way and The Lazy Genius Kitchen. Her podcast, The Lazy Genius Podcast, has over 18 million downloads and covers everything from cooking chicken to making friends. As a systems expert and professional permission-giver, Kendra helps others stop doing it all for the sake of doing what matters. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and three kids.
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
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Our lives as caregivers require WAY more help than we are willing to ask for, so what stops us? The intention for this episode is encouragement and maybe a nudge toward self-reflection as to WHY ON EARTH we of all people wouldn’t be able to ask for the help that we so badly need.
On this episode, host Jessica Patay, talks to Cheryl Ryan Chan, who does workshops on The Lost Skill of Asking for Help, among other caregiver focused topics. They discuss why asking for help can feel so difficult and explore many practical ways you can start intentionally allowing in the help you deserve, today.
Cheryl Ryan Chan is a public speaker, trainer, community organizer, person-centered practitioner, facilitator, change agent, positive agitator, and rum drinker. She is Mom to Nicky. Her gift is bringing people together and empowering. She’s passionate, loud and has messages that inspire!
Find Cheryl Ryan Chan’s Website here.
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
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Transitions are hard for everybody, but especially for our neurodiverse teens and their parents. Just when you’ve gotten used to middle school and all that is expected in that environment, your teen is ushered into the wilderness of high school and a fresh batch of unknowns. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a guide? Well, you’re in luck!
On this practical episode, host Jessica Patay interviews Natalie Borrell, a Certified Academic Life Coach, Licensed School Psychologist and the founder of Life Success for Teens. They discuss how to support our children as they embark on the grand adventure that is high school.
Find the Life Success For Teens Website here, on Instagram here and Facebook here.
PS: If you didn’t see the Channel 19 News Story about Academic Life Coaching, you can see it here!
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
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Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to our practical episode with Katie Taylor, who not only has wonderful professional credentials, she is also our Connection Circle Leader for Austin, Texas, and we are so grateful for her leadership and her enthusiasm to serve and support caregiving moms.
Katie Taylor is very impressive. She is the co-founder and CEO of Child Life On Call, a digital platform revolutionizing pediatric health care by putting parents at the center of the medical journey. With over 13 years of experience as a certified child life specialist, Katie has made significant contributions to the field of child life and the families she served with over a decade of working at the bedside.
She's an accomplished author and engaging speaker on child life and entrepreneurship and the host of Child Life On Call podcast. Katie's work emphasizes the vital role of child life services in supporting caregivers and enhancing children's medical journeys. I can't wait for you to meet my friend, Katie Taylor.
Find Katie Taylor’s childlifeoncall Instagram here.
Find Katie Taylor’s childlifeoncall website here.
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
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Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's practical episode with April Rehrig. She's going to talk about strengths-based IEPs. Have you even heard of that? I don't think I'd ever heard of it until recently. It's an IEP that looks at abilities as well as weaknesses. It looks at what students CAN do, what the team wants them to do next, and how strengths might be used to set goals to help address a particular need.
April is a repeat guest because we love her and appreciate her. She's the founder of Rise Educational Advocacy and Consulting. She has over 20 years of experience as a school psychologist, teacher, and parent in the public school setting. With her, build a better IEP curriculum. April teaches parents and teachers nationwide how to successfully navigate special education from a strength based perspective.
When not passionately advocating for inclusive education, April keeps busy with her adorable pug Luna, her husband, three sons, and four stepchildren in Los Angeles, California. We really hope you get a ton out of this episode!
Find out more from April Rehrig here.
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
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Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to our Season 8 wrap up episode, #222.
The host of the 'Brave Together Parenting Podcast' addresses the 'Brave Mom Squad,' expressing gratitude and celebrating the podcast's five-year anniversary and 220+ episodes. Reflecting on Season 8, the host highlights top episodes and thanks sponsors Rise Educational Advocacy, Pediatric Minds, and Yoga Six Rolling Hills. 'We Are Brave Together' is introduced as the nonprofit supporting caregivers through support groups, retreats, and special events. An anecdote about a family 5K walk illustrates the challenges and victories of caregiving. Season 9 will focus on mental health, with expert guests and parent stories to destigmatize mental health issues. The host encourages listener engagement and emphasizes the podcast's role as a supportive community for caregivers.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find full episodes from Season 7 and clips from Season 8 on Youtube here.
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
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Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's story episode, #221. These are true stories from a moment in the life of a caregiving parent. We hear a crafted story, and then have a conversation with our guests that goes deeper into their experience.
In this heartfelt conversation, Chris and Jessica Patay reflect on their journey as parents of a child with Prader-Willi syndrome. They discuss the challenges and joys of parenting, the importance of community support, and the lessons learned from their son Ryan. Chris shares insights on fatherhood, the shifting expectations of parenting, and the value of maintaining hope and engagement in the face of adversity. The conversation emphasizes the need for self-care and the beauty found in the unique traits of children with special needs.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find full episodes from Season 7 and clips from Season 8 on Youtube here.
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
...
Hello Brave Friends! This is an Ask Us Anything episode in which YOU, the listener, get to write or call in and, you guessed it, ASK US ANYTHING!
In this Ask Us Anything episode, #220, we are responding to the question, What can I say to myself and what can others say to me in the midst of chronic hardship?
In this final AUA episode of season eight, the hosts reflect on the challenges and unexpected gifts of caregiving. They discuss the importance of self-compassion, validation, and effective communication in navigating the emotional landscape of caregiving. The conversation emphasizes the need for caregivers to acknowledge their own feelings, communicate their needs, and practice positive self-talk. The episode concludes with affirmations for caregivers and a heartfelt farewell as they prepare for the next season.
Keep the questions coming, we’re here to support you! Whether you have questions as a parent to a child with complex medical or mental health needs or you’re someone looking to support a care-giving parent, we would LOVE to hear from you. We see you and we love you! Leave us a message here.
Find more information about Licensed Psychotherapist, Dr. Zoe Shaw here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find full episodes from Season 7 and clips from Season 8 on Youtube here.
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
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Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's expert episode, #219. These are conversations with experts in fields relevant to caregiving parents.
On this episode we have Tammie Penta PD, a retired Police Sergeant and Brave Mom to an adult son with Prader-Willi syndrome who trains police departments all over the country to interact safely with adults living with PWS and other intellectual disabilities.
In this conversation, Jessica Patay and Tammie Penta PD, discuss the importance of preparing families with developmental disabilities for interactions with law enforcement. Tammie shares her personal experiences and insights on how to effectively communicate with law enforcement, engage with neighbors, and prepare for a potential crisis. The discussion emphasizes the need for proactive measures, such as creating a blue form for quick reference during emergencies, and fostering relationships with local law enforcement to ensure better outcomes for individuals with disabilities.
Retired Sergeant Tammie Penta worked for the Tucson Police Department where she was a police officer for over 27 years, with the last 20 as a sergeant. Tammie was a detective sergeant for the Elder Abuse Task Force, which included investigations of vulnerable adults, the Child Abuse/Homicide Unit, Special Investigations and Aggravated Assault Unit. Additionally she was the training supervisor responsible for new officers coming into law enforcement and completed her career as the administrative supervisor for the largest division in the city.
Find more information about Tammie Penta PD here.
Download Blue Forms here and here.
This episode was generously sponsored by Pediatric Minds.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find full episodes from Season 7 and clips from Season 8 on Youtube
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
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Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's story episode, #218. These are true stories from a moment in the life of a caregiving parent. We hear a crafted story, and then have a conversation with our guests that goes deeper into their experience.
This episode is VERY special because we have on the podcast today, not one, not two, but ALL THREE authors of the instant New York Times Bestseller, Autism Out Loud: Life with a Child on the Spectrum, from Diagnosis to Young Adulthood―Moving Stories and Parenting Lessons Learned from Three Mothers of Children with Autism. Carrie Cariello, Kate Swenson and Adrian Wood join me and my other two co-costs Susanna Peace Lovell and Dr. Zoe Shaw, and let me tell you, it’s a party!
In this engaging conversation, a group of mothers share their experiences and insights on parenting children with autism, focusing on the challenges and joys of navigating their children's journeys into adulthood. They discuss the importance of community, the collaborative effort behind their book, and the emotional complexities of letting go as their children grow. The conversation highlights the need for resources and support for parents, especially those facing the transition to adulthood, and emphasizes the beauty and joy that can be found in the journey of raising children with autism.
Order your copy of Autism Out Loud here.
Find more about Carrie Cariello here.
Find more about Adrian Wood here.
Find more about Kate Swenson here.
This episode was generously sponsored by Pediatric Minds.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find full episodes from Season 7 and clips from Season 8 on Youtube
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
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Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's expert episode, #217. These are conversations with experts in fields relevant to caregiving parents.
Today, Brave Together founder, Jessica Patay and author Kelley Coleman interview Tom Chiodo. Tom Chiodo is the Executive Producer Special Projects, National Productions at WETA, flagship PBS station in Washington D.C., developing primetime documentary films and original digital content, accompanied by national impact and engagement campaigns, for 330+ PBS stations.
Tom joins us to discuss the upcoming PBS documentary on caregiving, called Caregiving, highlighting the joys and challenges faced by caregivers. He shares personal experiences and emphasizes the importance of community support and resources for caregivers. The discussion also touches on mental health, self-care, and the need to change the narrative around caregiving to foster understanding and support. Tom advocates for breaking routines to find joy and suggests innovative resources to assist caregivers in their journey.
Caregiving, the documentary created with executive producer Bradley Cooper highlighting the challenges and triumphs of caregiving in America, will premiere Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at 9 p.m. ET on PBS (check local listings), and on the PBS YouTube Channel. Caregiving will be available to stream on PBS.org and the PBS App beginning Tuesday, May 27, 2025.
Check out the Caregiving trailer at wellbeings.org here.
Check out Kelley Coleman’s book, Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child here.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find full episodes from Season 7 and clips from Season 8 on Youtube here.
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
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Hello Brave friends! May is Prader-Willi Syndrome Awareness Month and, as you probably know by now, my son Ryan has Prader-Willi Syndrome. He’s 21, almost 22, and today we are re-releasing episode number 100 from Season 3, in which I shared the story of how we told Ryan about his diagnosis. And after the story, I have the joy and the privilege of interviewing Ryan, but go grab a Kleenex because, as you will hear, he ends up interviewing me. So thank you for being here and I hope you enjoy listening to this re-release from a few years ago in celebration of Prader-Willi Syndrome Awareness Month.
Find full episodes from Season 7 and clips from Season 8 on Youtube here.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
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Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's story episode, #216. These are true stories from a moment in the life of a caregiving parent. We hear a crafted story, and then have a conversation with our guests that goes deeper into their experience.
In this heartfelt conversation, Dr. Zoe Shaw interviews author and speaker, Kelly Lang, who shares her profound journey following a traumatic car accident that changed her and her daughter's life forever. She recounts the harrowing moments of the accident, the struggles of recovery, and the emotional challenges faced as a caregiver. Kelly discusses the importance of understanding traumatic brain injury, the role of advocacy, and how she has turned her experiences into a platform for education and support.
Kelly Lang, co-author of The Miracle Child: Traumatic Brain Injury and Me is a brain injury survivor and caregiver to her daughter who sustained a traumatic brain injury in 2001. Kelly is an Author, Public Speaker, Communications Trainer, and Advocate. She co-leads the Brain Injury Association of America’s Advisory Council and serves on the Virginia Brain Injury Advisory Council. Kelly’s advocacy experience includes working with the National Center on Advancing Person-Centered Practices and Systems’ Brain Injury Learning Collaborative as a faculty member and co-chaired the Traumatic Brain Injury Leadership Group and served on the Person-Centered Advisory Group. Kelly has been the Keynote speaker at a number of state brain injury conferences and conducted workshops and webinars about brain injury and advocacy.
Find Kelly on IG: https://www.instagram.com/momof3misses/
Find Kelly’s book on FB: https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Miracle-Child-Traumatic-Brain-Injury-and-Me/100066688996682/
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find full episodes from Season 7 and clips from Season 8 on Youtube here.
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
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Hello Brave Friends! On this episode, #215, we are hearing about the experience of another Thriving Disabled Adult, Kelly Pozil! Kelly was born with TAR syndrome that resulted in having no radius bone in both her arms.
In this conversation she shares about what it was like growing up in a very physically active family, how her parents instilled confidence in her, and how she coped with the big feelings by appearing brave and resilient. She also emphasizes the significance of doing the deep work to feel and understand her own feelings and points out the strength and resilience of individuals with disabilities and the need for a more positive perspective on disability.
Professionally, Kelly is a para in a kindergarten special ed class and the graphic designer for Angel City Sports, an organization that offers free year round adaptive sports in Los Angeles, California. She is a delight to talk with and we are so grateful she joined us on the podcast.
Check out Kelly Pozil’s graphic design website here.
Check out Angel City Sports here.
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Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find full episodes from Season 7 and clips from Season 8 on Youtube here.
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
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Hello Brave Friends! This is an Ask Us Anything episode in which YOU, the listener, get to write or call in and, you guessed it, ASK US ANYTHING!
In this Ask Us Anything episode, #214, we are responding to the question, What do we do with ALL THESE EMOTIONS when we don’t feel like we have time and space to process them?
In this conversation, hosts, Jessica, Susanna and Dr. Zoe discuss the complex emotions experienced by caregivers, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging and processing these feelings. They explore the challenges of hypervigilance as a trauma response and provide insights on how to manage it effectively. The discussion highlights the necessity of self-compassion and the benefits of emotional processing for mental health and well-being.
Keep the questions coming, we’re here to support you! Whether you have questions as a parent to a child with complex medical or mental health needs or you’re someone looking to support a care-giving parent, we would LOVE to hear from you. We see you and we love you! Leave us a message here.
Find more information about Licensed Psychotherapist, Dr. Zoe Shaw here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
This episode was sponsored by Rise Educational Advocacy.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find full episodes from Season 7 and clips from Season 8 on Youtube here.
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
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Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's story episode, #213. These are true stories from a moment in the life of a caregiving parent. We hear a crafted story, and then have a conversation with our guests that goes deeper into their experience.
In this episode of the Brave Together Parenting Podcast, host Jessica Patay welcomes Jennifer Iannuzzi, LCSW, a mother and Connection Circle leader, to discuss the challenges and triumphs of parenting a child with unique needs. Jennifer shares her personal journey, including her daughter's diagnosis of Smith-Magenis syndrome, and the impact it has had on her family. The conversation delves into the feelings of shame and guilt that caregivers often experience, the importance of support and validation, and how to transform shame into empowerment.
Find Jennifer Iannuzzi here.
Find Jennifer Iannuzzi’s Blog here.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find full episodes from Season 7 and clips from Season 8 on Youtube here.
This episode was sponsored by Rise Educational Advocacy.
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
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Hello Brave Friends! This is an Ask Us Anything episode in which YOU, the listener, get to write or call in and, you guessed it, ASK US ANYTHING!
In this Ask Us Anything episode, #212, we are responding to the question, How do I unplug from constant hyper-vigilance in my caregiving?
In this conversation, Jessica, Zoe, and Susanna explore the theme of hypervigilance in parenting, particularly in the context of caring for children with any and all disabilities. They discuss the emotional toll of being constantly alert and the importance of recognizing this state as a protective response. The trio shares personal experiences and insights on how motherhood has evolved for them, highlighting the unexpected gifts that come with parenting. They also delve into practical strategies for managing hypervigilance, including grounding techniques and the necessity of self-compassion. Ultimately, the conversation emphasizes the importance of support and understanding within the caregiving community.
Keep the questions coming, we’re here to support you! Whether you have questions as a parent to a child with complex medical or mental health needs or you’re someone looking to support a care-giving parent, we would LOVE to hear from you. We see you and we love you! Leave us a message here.
Find more information about Licensed Psychotherapist, Dr. Zoe Shaw here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
This episode was sponsored by Rise Educational Advocacy.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find full episodes from Season 7 and clips from Season 8 on Youtube here.
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
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Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's expert episode, #211. These are conversations with experts in fields relevant to caregiving parents.
Our guest today is LMFT Amanda Griffith-Atkins, who is another Brave PWS mom as well as an author with a book coming out in June! Hooray! Her book is called How to Handle More Than You Can Handle: Caregiving for Yourself While Raising a Disabled Child.We’ve had Amanda on before too, so if you want to hear more from her we’ll link to that episode, #144, and, of course, we encourage you to pre-order her book, using the link above.
On this episode, we will be focusing on those understandable times when we catch ourselves wishing our child had a different diagnosis and comparing our caregiving challenges to other parent’s challenges. It’s so common, so understandable and as you’ll hear, we ALL find ourselves there from time to time, so it’s nothing to feel shame about. Our discussion highlights how navigating these feelings can ultimately lead to a deeper understanding of oneself and one's parenting journey.
Find Amanda on IG here and here.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find full episodes from Season 7 and clips from Season 8 on Youtube here.
This episode was sponsored by Rise Educational Advocacy.
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
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Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's story episode, #210. These are true stories from a moment in the life of a caregiving parent. We hear a crafted story, and then have a conversation with our guests that goes deeper into their experience.
Today we hear from one of our amazing connection circle leaders, Lindsay Hooten, whose son was diagnosed with autism in 2022. She opens up in this episode about why it took her YEARS to share about her child’s diagnosis.
In this episode, Lindsay shares her personal journey of finding her voice and the importance and power of sharing her story. She discusses the significance of radical acceptance, the complicated sibling experience, and the need for a supportive community that gets it. Lindsay also addresses the challenges of navigating relationships and the losses that can occur when sharing about her child's diagnosis.
Connect with Lindsay Hooten here.
So You Want to Be A Connection Circle Leader (Info Sheet).
Connection Leader Application (Form).
Find What Siblings Need here.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find full episodes from Season 7 and highlight clips from Season 8 on Youtube here.
This episode was sponsored by Rise Educational Advocacy.
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
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Hello Brave Friends! This is an Ask Us Anything episode in which YOU, the listener, get to write or call in and, you guessed it, ASK US ANYTHING!
In this Ask Us Anything episode, #209, we are responding to the question, How do we help our children feel empowered instead of defeated by their mental health diagnosis?
In this conversation co-hosts Jessica Patay, Susanna Peace Lovell and Dr. Zoe Shaw explore the importance of language in shaping self-perception and mental health. They discuss how different identities can be embraced and the power of affirmations in fostering a positive self-image. The conversation also touches on the challenges of discussing mental health with our kids in the context of social media and ways we can help them see themselves as whole human beings first.
Keep the questions coming, we’re here to support you! Whether you have questions as a parent to a child with complex medical or mental health needs or you’re someone looking to support a care-giving parent, we would LOVE to hear from you. We see you and we love you! Leave us a message here.
Find more information about Licensed Psychotherapist, Dr. Zoe Shaw here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
This episode was sponsored by Rise Educational Advocacy and YogaSix Rolling Hills: mention you heard this ad at YogaSix and get a free week of classes at the YogaSix Rolling Hills, CA studio location.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find full episodes fro
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
...
Hello Brave Friends! On this Thriving Disabled Adults episode, #208, we are speaking to Thriving Disabled Adult, Nicole Demos.
In this conversation, Susanna Peace Lovell interviews Nicole (Nix) Demos, who shares about her journey growing up in Greece in the 1970’s with cerebral palsy. She also generously shares her experiences being rejected and embraced by different cultures, living in various countries, and her evolution into an inclusive educator. She discusses the challenges she faced in accessing care and support, the power of poetry as a means of expression, and the importance of relationships in navigating her disability. Nix emphasizes the need for advocacy and understanding in society, while also finding joy in her connection with her dog and the unconditional love it brings. The conversation concludes with a call to action for listeners to engage with and support the disabled community, fostering a sense of belonging and empowerment for all.
Nicole Demos, a disabled inclusive educator for over 32 years, holds an M.A in Education and an M.Ed in International Counseling. Nicole worked in Greece, the US, Russia and the UK before teaching Learning Support at the International School of Helsinki. She has presented workshops on educational trends, and participated in podcasts and blogs. As an active member of the Diversability Leadership Collective and SENIA Europe, Nicole strives to educate on the importance of inclusion, disability identity, advocacy, equity and belonging. Since leaving the International School of Helsinki, Nicole has recently discovered a love for writing and has published poetry online here and here.This has led to her writing this poem to be included in a Danish architectural press publication highlighting diversity and inclusion. In addition Nicole has also been nominated to Diversability’s 2024 D-30 Disability Impact List for her continued efforts. Her hobbies include reading, singing, baking, flower rescue and spending time with friends and her toy poodle Sisu.
Find Nicole Demos: on Instagram here. on LinkedIn
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
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Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's practical episode, #207. These are conversations with experts in fields relevant to caregiving parents.
Our guest today is Brian Altounian. He is an entrepreneur, executive, and financial educator. His background includes business development, finance, operations and administration, and he has applied his skills to a variety of startups, Fortune 100 companies, and public and private organizations. He currently provides financial advice to individuals, families, and companies. Working in the areas of investments and insurance products and services through his Harborlight Financial Strategies company. He is also the co-founder and co-host of a weekly podcast supporting the special needs community called Just Two Dads. And he also sits on the board for We Are Brave Together He is a loving father of three and resides in Los Angeles, California.
In this episode, Susanna Peace Lovell interviews Brian Altounian, discussing the financial challenges and solutions for families with special needs children. Brian shares his personal journey, and the critical role of financial professionals who get it. They dive into basic financial planning for when you have a child with unique needs, including trusts and life insurance, to ensure peace of mind for parents. They explore misconceptions about government support and the necessity of proactive financial strategies to secure a stable future for their children.
Find Brian on Facebook here.
Find Brian on Instagram here.
Find Harborlight Financial Strategies here.
Find the Just Two Dads Podcast here.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find full episodes from Season 7 and clips from Season 8 on Youtube here.
This episode was sponsored by Rise Edu
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
...
Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's story episode, #206. These are true stories from a moment in the life of a caregiving parent. We hear a crafted story, and then have a conversation with our guests that goes deeper into their experience.
In this conversation, hosted by Dr. Zoe Shaw, Jess Ronne shares her profound journey as a caregiver, navigating the challenges of raising a child with special needs while dealing with personal loss. She discusses the emotional and practical aspects of caregiving, the importance of community support, and the judgment faced from others in similar situations. Jess emphasizes the need for resilience and the creation of spaces for advocacy and support for families like hers. Jess also talks about her new book, 'Caregiving with Grit and Grace,' which serves as a devotional for caregivers, emphasizing the therapeutic nature of writing and the need for caregivers to step out of isolation and engage with their communities.
Jess Ronne is an author, speaker, podcast host at Coffee with Caregivers, associate producer of the Unseen Documentary, and caregiver advocate. She is founder and executive director of The Lucas Project, a non-profit dedicated to providing recognition, resources and respite support for special needs families. She and her husband Ryan live in Michigan with their 8 children, including their son Lucas who has profound disabilities. Her story of beauty from ashes has been shared on The Today Show, Daily Mail and Huffington Post and is detailed in her memoir Sunlight Burning at Midnight.
Want more Jess Ronne? Here are some links:
www.thelucasproject.org
www.caregiverdoc.com
www.facebook.com/jessronneofficial
www.instagram.com/jessplusthemess
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find full episodes from Season 7 and clips from Season 8 on Youtube here.
This episode was sponsored by
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
...
Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's practical episode, #205. These are conversations with experts in fields relevant to caregiving parents.
In this episode, Susanna Peace Lovell interviews Dr. Laura Froyen, who shares her journey as a parent and expert in human development. They discuss the challenges of parenting neurodiverse children, the importance of understanding different neurotypes, and the need for new parenting skills. Dr. Froyen introduces the Collaborative and Proactive Solutions model, emphasizing its accessibility and effectiveness in addressing parenting challenges.
In this conversation, Laura Froyen, PhD, discusses the unique challenges faced by children with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) and introduces the Collaborative and Proactive Solutions (CPS) model as a framework for effective parenting. She emphasizes the importance of compassion, understanding, and breaking down tasks into manageable steps to support children with executive functioning difficulties. The discussion also highlights the significance of involving children in problem-solving processes and offers resources for parents seeking guidance and support.
Connect with Dr. Laura Froyen here.
Find Dr. Laura Froyen on IG here.
Find Dr. Laura Froyen on Facebook here.
Find the Balancing U Membership here.
Find The Explosive Child by Dr. Ross Greene here.
Find the Lives in the Balance website here.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find full episodes from Season 7 and clips from Season 8 on Youtube here.
This episode was sponsored by Rise Educational Ad
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
...
**Hello Brave Friends! This is an Ask Us Anything episode in which YOU, the listener, get to write or call in and, you guessed it, ASK US ANYTHING!
In this Ask Us Anything episode, #204, we are responding to the question, How do I Talk to My Kids about Natural Disasters?
In this conversation, our hosts discuss the emotional impact of natural disasters and how to communicate effectively with children during these times. They emphasize the importance of choosing truth over comfort, validating children's feelings, and preparing for emergencies. The conversation also touches on the significance of using real words when discussing difficult topics and the hosts share personal experiences and resources to help families navigate these challenging situations together.**
Keep the questions coming! Whether you have questions as a parent to a child with complex medical or mental health needs or you’re someone looking to support a care-giving parent, we would LOVE to hear from you. Leave us a message here.
Find They Hold the Line book here Find the Good Inside Podcast with Dr. Becky on this topic here.
Find an Emergency Go Bag Pack List here.
Find more information about Licensed Psychotherapist, Dr. Zoe Shaw here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
This episode was sponsored by
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
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Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's practical episode, #203. These are conversations with experts in fields relevant to caregiving parents.
In this episode of the Brave Together Parenting Podcast, host Jessica Patay interviews Hilarie Geurink, a registered dietitian specializing in blended tube feeding. Hilarie shares her journey into this niche area of nutrition, discussing the challenges families face with traditional tube feeding methods and the empowering benefits of incorporating blended diets. The conversation covers common myths, emotional aspects of feeding choices, practical guidelines for starting blended diets, and the importance of community support. Hilarie emphasizes that there are various options available for families, and it's essential to find what works best for each unique situation.
How to connect with Hilarie Geurink (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/blendedtubefeeding/
How to get support and join her online community: https://blendedtubefeeding.com/blended-tube-feeding/
Find links to all the resources we talk about in this episode below:Article on blenders and discount programs: https://blendedtubefeeding.com/the-best-blenders-for-tube-feeding-with-discounts/
Article on commercial real food formulas, what’s available, how to get samples, etc: https://blendedtubefeeding.com/real-food-tube-feeding-formulas-a-dietitians-review/
Article on navigating pushback from medical teams: https://blendedtubefeeding.com/blenderized-tube-feeding-what-does-the-research-actually-say/
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find full episodes from Season 7 and clips from Season 8 on Youtube here.
Thi
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
...
Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's story episode, #202. These are true stories from a moment in the life of a caregiving parent. We hear a crafted story, and then have a conversation with our guests that goes deeper into their experience.
In this conversation, Kari Baker shares her transformative journey from a successful career in financial services to becoming a dedicated advocate for families with children who have invisible neurological differences. She discusses the challenges of parenting a child with autism, the importance of adapting parenting strategies, and the role of faith and community in healing. Kari emphasizes the need for self-care among caregivers and offers encouragement to parents facing difficulties in their children's behavior management. The conversation highlights the significance of resilience, support, and the continuous journey of learning in parenting.
Find Kari’s Website here.
Find Kari’s The KIND Families Podcast here.
Use code Brave10for a discount on Keri Baker’s book, Finding KIND: Discovering Hope and Purpose while Loving Kids with Invisible Neurological Differences here.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find full episodes from Season 7 and clips from Season 8 on Youtube here.
This episode was sponsored by Rise Educational Advocacy.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
...
Hello Brave Friends! This is an Ask Us Anything episode in which YOU, the listener, get to write or call in and, you guessed it, ASK US ANYTHING!
In this Ask Us Anything episode, #201, we are responding to the question, Am I alone in feeling like there is extra pressure on us caregiving mothers to be saint-like in our parenting?
In this episode, the hosts celebrate the New Year and the start of Season 8 by reflecting on their experiences of motherhood. They discuss the unexpected gifts that come with being a mother, the pressures of perfection, and the importance of authenticity and vulnerability in parenting. The conversation emphasizes the need for self-compassion and the understanding that it's okay to not always be a 'perfect' parent. The hosts encourage listeners to embrace the “rainbow” of emotions that come with motherhood and to recognize that their struggles are shared by many.
Keep the questions coming, we’re here to support you! We see you and we love you!
Whether you have questions as a parent to a child with complex medical or mental health needs or you’re someone looking to support a care-giving parent, we would LOVE to hear from you.
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to ask a question, leave us a message here.
Find more information about Licensed Psychotherapist, Dr. Zoe Shaw here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find full episodes from Season 7 and clips from Season 8 on Youtube here.
This
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
...
Hello, Brave Friends! Welcome to Season 8 of Brave Together Parenting, a helpful podcast for the parents of children all ages with all types of disabilities and diagnoses. Our mission is to provide you, the caregiving parent, with as many resources, relatable stories, and perspectives as possible so you can stop surviving and start thriving, or maybe a little bit of both.
This season we are offering Ask Us Anything episodes to answer your burning questions, Story episodes, hearing from parents just like you, Thriving Disabled Adult episodes to give you hope and perspective on what's possible and we're bringing back Practical episodes to give you even more resources.
We make this podcast as a lifeline for you. Please feel free to call into our speak pipe voicemail through the link in the show notes and leave us a message, leave us a question, leave us a request for a future episode. And do follow us on Instagram at we are brave together. Also, please take a moment to rate and review our podcast so that we can best serve you.
And so that this podcast can get into the ears and hearts of more and more parents. We offer you community here at Brave Together Parenting and remind you every chance we get that you are beautiful, strong, and definitely not alone. We see you and we love you. Welcome to Season 8.
Our big sponsor this season is Rise Educational Advocacy.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Bra
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
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Hello Brave Friends! This is story episode #182, about what can happen when parents presume competence in their non-verbal, autistic son.
Today we hear from Jason Hague about his experience accepting his autistic son Jack’s presumed intellectual disability, making peace with it, and then seeing a documentary that changed everything.
Welcome to today's story episode: How Spelling Revealed a Non-Verbal Teen’s Brilliance.
Jason Hague has been telling his story of faith, fatherhood, and autism on his blog for years and years now. He also has a fabulous book called “Aching Joy: Following God through the Land of Unanswered Prayer” which chronicles his own spiritual and emotional journey with his son Jack and the link to find it can be found below.
Find Jason Hague’s Website, Blog and Book here.
Find the video about Jack’s spelling breakthrough here.
Find the Spellers Website here.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or i
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
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You have to PRUNE to create room for real GROWTH, this is a sentiment gardeners understand but often busy parent caregivers forget. Are you making space in your life to experience peace? To exhale? To hear your own thoughts? In our busy world and even busier caregiving lives, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and out of touch with what we really require to thrive as human beings.
On this episode, host Jessica Patay, speaks with our story teller, Jess Ronne, about getting in touch with ourselves, embracing our instincts and pruning anything from our lives that’s keeping us from reaching our full potential.
Jess Ronne is a non-profit CEO of The Lucas Project, author of Sunlight Burning at Midnight and special needs mama to her son Luke.
Find The Lucas Project here.
Find the trailer for UNSEEN: How We’re Failing Parent Caregivers & Why it Matters here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
...
Did you know grief can be disenfranchised? Have you ever caught yourself welling up or feeling angry when parents of neurotypical, undisabled, healthy kids talk about the different milestones they’re experiencing with them? Do you judge yourself, feeling you should have accepted your child’s unique path by now? Well, you are NOT alone!
In this practical episode, Jessica interviews Meghann Crane-Russ, a therapist and licensed clinical social worker about ALL THINGS GRIEF. They discuss where grief comes from, what it means, how to move through it, and most of all, how it is ABSOLUTELY NORMAL.
Meghann is a therapist who works with parents navigating childhood illness, individuals struggling with medical trauma, traumatic grief, and bereaved parents. Prior to private practice Meghann was a medical social worker caring for families in Pediatric Intensive Care Units, Neonatal Intensive Care Units, and hospice. She has advanced training in Pediatric Palliative Care and is trained in EMDR (a trauma focused treatment modality).
Connect with Meghann Crane-Russ, LCSW, PMH-C here!
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
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The holidays can be tough for everybody! We all get this extra large serving of commitments and expectations that can make enjoying anything feel off the table. Add the element of unique needs to this feast and now even the most organized and flexible person can feel downright defeated. Is there a fresh way to approach this?
On today’s episode, Jessica interviews life coach, Margaret Webb, about strategies going into this most stressful of seasons. They discuss getting clear about your family's needs; which may be different than society's expectations. How to handle comments from family members, who may not understand your child’s unique needs during holiday celebrations. And ultimately, how to set your family up for a successful and satisfying holiday season.
Margaret Webb is a master certified life and parenting coach for the past 12 years. She is passionate about supporting parents who are on parenting journeys filled with unexpecteds. Margaret has a 19 year old autistic son who has been the best teacher for her in learning how important curiosity and embracing different perspectives are in order to have more peace, ease and joy in parenting. She lives in Austin, TX with her husband of 25 years, her son and her three Jack Russell Terriers.
Get in touch with Margaret Webb here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
I
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
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Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's episode, #200! Can you believe it?!
In this celebratory 200th episode, host Jessica Patay, with co-hosts Dr. Zoe Shaw and Susanna Peace Lovell chat with Clayton Frech and Bahar Soomekh, parents of Paralympic Gold-Medalist, Ezra Frech. They share their journey of parenting a child with a disability, discussing the importance of proactive parenting, soliciting advice from the disabled community and the power of intuition, especially when making big medical decisions. The conversation delves into how they embraced Ezra's passion for sport, instilled confidence, and balanced normalcy with uniqueness in his upbringing. We know their insights will provide valuable lessons for parents facing similar challenges.
Clayton and Ezra co-founded Angel City Sports, which is a Los Angeles based non-profit that provides year-round sports opportunities for kids, adults, and veterans with physical disabilities or visual impairments. As a family they have been on a mission to transform the way our country views disability and make those with disabilities feel unlimited. Check out Angel City Sports and their upcoming events in the links below.
Brave Together Parenting Podcast WILL BE BACK on January 15th, 2025 with Season 8, so stay tuned!
Angel City Sports here.
Register for Angel City Sports Youth Weekend March 29th 2025 here.
Find out more about Camp No Limits here.
Find this episode and ALL our Season 7 episodes on Youtube here.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international co
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
...
Hello Brave Friends! On this Thriving Disabled Adults episode, #199, we are speaking to Thriving Disabled Adult, Jacob Pacheco, who shares his inspiring journey as an adaptive elite athlete and professional speaker. He discusses the challenges he faced growing up with cerebral palsy and how he transformed his struggles into a purpose-driven life.
In this fantastic interview, our guest Jacob emphasizes the role of support systems in recovery, the healing power of the ocean, and his path to becoming a professional surfer. He also reflects on navigating family expectations and career choices, highlighting the importance of following one's passion. Jacob also shares his journey of overcoming barriers related to his disability, particularly in the context of employment. He discusses the importance of self-worth, the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities, and the significance of service and community support.
Connect with Jacob Pacheco here.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
...
Hello Brave Friends! This is an Ask Us Anything episode in which YOU, the listener, get to write or call in and, you guessed it, ASK US ANYTHING!
In this Ask Us Anything episode, #198, we are responding to the question, How do I outsource help so I’m not doing everything for myself, my Family and my neurodivergent child?
In this conversation, we discuss the challenges of parenting, particularly for those with neurodivergent children, and explore various strategies for outsourcing tasks to alleviate stress. We emphasize the importance of community support, creative solutions for childcare, and the necessity of asking for help. Our discussion highlights the need for parents to recognize their limits and seek assistance, whether through formal arrangements or informal community connections. We share personal experiences and insights on finding help, balancing duties, and fostering connections with other caregivers.
Keep the questions coming, we’re here to support you! We see you and we love you!
Whether you have questions as a parent to a child with complex medical or mental health needs or you’re someone looking to support a care-giving parent, we would LOVE to hear from you.
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to ask a question, leave us a message here.
Find more information about Licensed Psychotherapist, Dr. Zoe Shaw here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find this episode and ALL our Season 7 episodes on Youtube here.
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
...
Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's story episode, #197, in which we hear a story from brave mom and advocate, Abby Zachritz.
In this conversation, Abby Zachritz shares her harrowing journey following a near-fatal accident involving her son, Wyatt. The discussion covers the emotional and medical challenges faced by Abby and her family, the miraculous recovery of Wyatt, and the profound impact of the experience on their lives. Abby emphasizes the importance of resilience, support systems, and the unexpected beauty that can emerge from trauma. In this conversation, Abby Zachritz shares her journey of navigating mental health challenges, particularly PTSD, after her son Wyatt's traumatic brain injury. She emphasizes the importance of processing emotions and seeking help, both for herself and her family. Abby discusses Wyatt's remarkable progress and her transition into advocacy work, where she helps families find resources and support. The conversation highlights the significance of self-care, community support, and the need for parents to prioritize their well-being while caring for children with disabilities.
Find the Advocacy Abby Website here.
Follow Advocacy Abby on IG here.
Check out supportnow.org here.
Find Grants here.
Find this episode and ALL our Season 7 episodes on Youtube here.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
...
Hello Brave Friends! On this Thriving Disabled Adults episode, #196, we are speaking to Thriving Disabled Adult, Presbyterian minister and author, Caroline Cupp.
In this conversation, Caroline Cupp shares her experiences growing up with cerebral palsy, the support she received from her parents, and her journey through life as a disabled individual. She discusses the importance of belonging, her career as a Presbyterian minister, and her experiences with pregnancy and the medical field. Caroline also highlights her recent books that focus on disability representation in parenting and dating, offering valuable insights and advice for parents of children with disabilities.
Find Caroline Cupp’s upcoming books Datable and This is How We Playhere.
Find the Dateability website here.
Find this episode and ALL our Season 7 episodes on Youtube here.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
...
Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today’s BONUS episode in which Jessica Patay, founder of We Are Brave Together and author, Kelley Coleman, join forces to chat with Director of Culture Change at Caring Across Generations, Lydia Storie.
In this conversation, Lydia Storie discusses her journey from the entertainment industry to becoming the Director of Culture Change at Caring Across Generations. She shares her personal experiences with caregiving, the fragility of care infrastructure, and the importance of cultural representation in media. The discussion emphasizes the need for community support, advocacy for policy changes, and the significance of sharing caregiving stories to validate experiences and foster a collective movement for better care solutions.
Thanks so much for listening!
Learn more about Lydia Storie and her work at Caring Across Generations here.
Find Kelley Coleman and her book Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child: Your Guide to the Essential Systems, Services, and Supportshere.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find this episode and ALL our Season 7 episodes on Youtube here.
Thank you to our BIG, beautiful 5k sponsors!! Our TOP sponsors that we want to acknowledge and appreciate are: RISE Advocacy, GHJ Foundation, Torrance Memorial Medical Center, CMS Creative Management, Inc., the Patay Family and MRM Education Harbor Light Financial Strategies, and PPL. We are so grateful to these generous sponsors and so excited about our 5K, which will be accessible and truly a family friendly event! Learn more about our 5K here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilit
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
...
Hello Brave Friends! This is an Ask Us Anything episode in which YOU, the listener, get to write or call in and, you guessed it, ASK US ANYTHING!
In this Ask Us Anything episode, #195, we are responding to the question, “Will you tell us about some really hard or embarrassing moments you’ve had as a parent?"
In this episode, Jessica Patay, Dr. Zoe Shaw, and Susanna Peace Lovell share their most mortifying parenting moments, exploring the challenges and realities of motherhood. They share personal stories of embarrassment, and reflect on the lessons learned from these experiences. The conversation is full of BIG LAUGHS and levity and emphasizes the understanding that all parents face difficult moments, reminding listeners that they are NOT alone in their struggles.
Keep the questions coming, we’re here to support you! We see you and we love you!
Whether you have questions as a parent to a child with complex medical or mental health needs or you’re someone looking to support a care-giving parent, we would LOVE to hear from you. If you have any topic requests or if you would like to ask a question, leave us a message here.
Find more information about Licensed Psychotherapist, Dr. Zoe Shaw here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Thank you to everyone who showed up in person or participated virtually in our 5k fundraiser! It was a BIG success and we cannot thank this community or our sponsors enough. An extra special thank you to our TOP sponsors: RISE Advocacy, GHJ Foundation, Torrance Memorial Medical Center, CMS Creative Management, Inc., the Patay Family and MRM
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
...
Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's story episode, #194. These are true stories from a moment in the life of a caregiving parent. We hear a crafted story, and then have a conversation with our guests that goes deeper into their experience.
In this episode of the Brave Together Parenting Podcast, host Jessica Patay interviews Hannah Zorn, who shares her family's journey through medical challenges, including her daughter's diagnosis of interstitial lung disease. Hannah discusses the emotional rollercoaster of navigating the healthcare system, the importance of creating positive memories during difficult times, and the profound moment she experienced with a dragonfly that served as a sign of hope. She emphasizes the significance of finding a supportive community and encourages parents to seek out their tribe during challenging times.
Hannah is a mother of two children who each have a disability. She is a disability professional in her rural community, and lover of all things nature, art, and music. She lives with her beautiful husband and children in the mountains of Colorado. She is currently working on creating a Family Resource Collaborative Guide for local families in partnership with the Arc of SW Colorado.
Connect with Hannah Zorn on Facebook here and on IG here.
Find this episode and ALL our Season 7 episodes on Youtube here.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here**.
Thank you to everyone who showed up in person or participated virtually in our 5k fundraiser! It was a BIG success and we cannot thank this community or our sponsors enough. An extra special thank you to our TOP sponsors: RISE Advocacy, GHJ Foundation, Torrance Memorial Medical Center, CMS Creative Management, Inc., the Patay Family and MRM Education Harbor Light Financial Strategies, and PPL. We are so grateful to these generous sponsors who help make all that we do for this community possible. If you or a business you kno**
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
...
Hello Brave Friends! On this Thriving Disabled Adults episode, #193, we are speaking to Thriving Disabled Adult, Tiffany Yu, who at age nine, was in a car accident that left her right arm permanently paralyzed, and also took the life of her father.
I think you're going to love this interview. Tiffany is so open about her courageous journey from the accident to finding her voice and community as a disabled person. She also has a lot to say about what it felt like to be in therapies and treatments for her brachial plexus injury. And in contrast to all those therapies, what it felt like when the initial support went away, and she was left, without an IEP, trying her best to fit in as a newly disabled person, in an ableist school system and world.
She is now an incredible disability advocate who started a disability centered community called Diversability. She is also a content creator (check out her Anti-Ableist series on TikTok) and she has a book coming out on disability inclusion called The Anti-Ableist Manifesto. I promise after this interview you are going to be clamoring to check out all of her world-changing content.
Thank you to everyone who showed up in person or participated virtually in our 5k fundraiser! It was a BIG success and we cannot thank this community or our sponsors enough. An extra special thank you to our TOP sponsors: RISE Advocacy, GHJ Foundation, Torrance Memorial Medical Center, CMS Creative Management, Inc., the Patay Family and MRM Education Harbor Light Financial Strategies, and PPL. We are so grateful to these generous sponsors who help make all that we do for this community possible. If you or a business you know is looking to help with our next fundraiser, please go to WeAreBraveTogether.org to find more opportunities to donate or get involved. We welcome your donations and generosity, and we thank you with all of our hearts.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find this episode and ALL ou
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
...
Hello Brave Friends! This is an Ask Us Anything episode in which YOU, the listener, get to write or call in and, you guessed it, ASK US ANYTHING!
In this Ask Us Anything episode, #192, we are responding to the question, What wisdom and encouragement do you have for women who are mothering without a mother?
In this tender conversation, Jessica Patay, Dr. Zoe Shaw, and Susanna Peace Lovell explore the complexities of motherhood, particularly the experience of mothering without a mother. They share personal stories of loss, caregiving, and the cyclical nature of grief, emphasizing the importance of community support and nurturing relationships. The discussion highlights the emotional challenges faced by mothers who have lost their own mothers, whether through death or complicated relationships, and the ways in which they seek connection and support in their parenting journeys.
Keep the vulnerable questions coming. We’re here to support you! We see you and we love you!
Whether you have questions as a parent to a child with complex medical or mental health needs or you’re someone looking to support a care-giving parent, we would LOVE to hear from you.
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to ask a question, leave us a message here.
Find more information about Licensed Psychotherapist, Dr. Zoe Shaw here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here**.
Find this episode and ALL our Season 7 episodes on Youtube here**.
Thank you to our BIG, beautiful 5k sponsors!! Our TOP sponsors that we want t
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
...
Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's story episode, #191. These are true stories from a moment in the life of a caregiving parent. We hear a crafted story, and then have a conversation with our guests that goes deeper into their experience.
Today we actually have TWO guests, Sandy and Chris Colter. They are a couple and they both wrote stories about their struggles with depression while raising their autistic son, Bryce. So we decided to feature both of them to explore this very common topic of depression within the caregiving community.
Chris and Sandy’s son Bryce had a brain hemorrhage that caused seizures when he was just over a day old and just when they'd weaned him off the seizure medication at age two and a half, he got an autism diagnosis. Chris and Sandy wrote a book together called PARENTING AUTISM The Early Years: How We Found Hope and Peace on Our Unexpected Journey, and have been very open about the ups and downs of their caregiving journey to all of our benefits.
Find Sandy and Chris Colter’s book PARENTING AUTISM The Early Years: How We Found Hope and Peace on Our Unexpected Journey here.
Thank you to our BIG, beautiful 5k sponsors!! Our TOP sponsors that we want to acknowledge and appreciate are: RISE Advocacy, GHJ Foundation, Torrance Memorial Medical Center, CMS Creative Management, Inc., the Patay Family and MRM Education Harbor Light Financial Strategies, and PPL. We are so grateful to these generous sponsors and so excited about our 5K, which will be accessible and truly a family friendly event! Learn more about our 5K here.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find this episode and ALL our Season 7 episodes on Youtube here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabili
Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
...
Hello Brave Friends! On this Thriving Disabled Adults episode, #190, we chat with Ryanna Hammond. Once plagued with anxiety, depression and multiple eating disorders, Ryanna used journaling, therapy, nature and exercise to turn her life around.
While anxiety and depression aren’t usually under the umbrella of disability we talk about here, we know more and more of our community, and their children, are struggling with mental health challenges. So this guest is here to inspire everybody!
Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell is your host for this episode, you may recognize her from our Ask Us Anything episodes. She interviews Ryanna Hammond, an author, poet and business owner who has a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in creative writing.
Ryanna’s business All With Heart is dedicated to helping people live their lives, all with heart. Her biggest passions are writing, spirituality, nature, solo travel, and mental health awareness.
Find out more about Ryanna Hammond and her business, All With Heart, here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Thank you to our BIG, beautiful 5k sponsors!! Our TOP sponsors that we want to acknowledge and appreciate are: RISE Advocacy, GHJ Foundation, Torrance Memorial Medical Center, CMS Creative Management, Inc., the Patay Family and MRM Education Harbor Light Financial Strategies, and PPL. We are so grateful to these generous sponsors and so excited about our 5K, which will be accessible and truly a family friendly event! Learn more about our 5K here.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! This is an Ask Us Anything episode in which YOU, the listener, get to write or call in and, you guessed it, ASK US ANYTHING!
In this Ask Us Anything episode, #189, we are responding to the question, Do you have any tips for navigating life with a disabled child after a divorce?
This is a VERY relevant topic for our community because the added stress of caregiving for disabled children is not known to help marriages last longer. Also two of our three hosts have been through divorce and continue to co-parent with their disabled children’s fathers. So we have A LOT of first hand experience and advice for this caller.
In this episode we offer: important things to consider in the divorce process, ways to break the news to our kids and the realities of what co-parenting with your ex-partner can look like as the primary caregiver.
Keep the vulnerable questions coming. We’re here to support you!
We see you and we love you!
Whether you have questions as a parent to a child with complex medical or mental health needs or you’re someone looking to support a care-giving parent, we would LOVE to hear from you.
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to ask a question, leave us a message here.
Find more information about Licensed Psychotherapist, Dr. Zoe Shaw here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Thank you to our BIG, beautiful 5k sponsors!! Our TOP sponsors that we want to acknowledge and appreciate are: RISE Advocacy, GHJ Foundation, Torrance Memorial Medical Center, CMS Creative Management, Inc., the Patay Family and MRM Education. We are so grateful to these generous sponsors and so excited about our 5K, which will be accessible and truly a family friendly event! Learn more about our 5K here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's story episode, #188. These are true stories from a moment in the life of a caregiving parent. We hear a crafted story, and then have a conversation with our guests that goes deeper into their experience.
Today's guest is Joanne De Simone, and she's a graduate of Hunter College in New York with degrees in dance and special education. She has two sons, one with a rare brain malformation and one on the autism spectrum. She’s also an author with a book out now called Fall and Recovery: Raising Children with Disabilities through Lessons Learned in Dance.
The story she shares is about her experience being in public with her child on the autism spectrum. There are so many things that we love about Joanne's story but one big one is that this is a moment so many of us can relate to. We've all been in public and we've seen that stranger scowl. Haven't we? We've all experienced that incredible discomfort when our child starts to melt down, act out, or just act in the way that they act that's different from everyone else.
Our interview goes deep into Joanne's journey, working with the school district to get the right services for her children. She has some really great insights, being a special educator herself about how to talk to educators. She also shares about how the lessons she learned in dance can be applied to her life as a caregiver today. I really think you’re going to get a lot out of our conversation. Please enjoy!
Find Joanne DeSimone’s book Fall and Recovery:Raising Children with Disabilities through Lessons Learned in Dance.here.
Thank you to our BIG, beautiful 5k sponsors!! Our TOP sponsors that we want to acknowledge and appreciate are: RISE Advocacy, GHJ Foundation, Torrance Memorial Medical Center, CMS Creative Management, Inc., the Patay Family and MRM Education. We are so grateful to these generous sponsors and so excited about our 5K, which will be accessible and truly a family friendly event! Learn more about our 5K here.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find our Becoming Brave Together book trailer here.
Donate to our Mother's Day Fundraiser here.
Find WABT 5K Fundraiser here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message <!--
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Hello Brave Friends! I'm so excited for our very first Thriving Disabled Adults episode, #187. This is a new episode that we are doing for Season 7 of Brave Together Parenting Podcast, and our first guest is a radiant soul. I could feel his energy and his vibrance, just reading about him. So I cannot wait for you to hear this conversation with Cam Coelken.
Cam Coelken is from New Zealand and he says that his life, defined by cerebral palsy, ambition and service above self, embodies resilience and determination. He defied expectations by mastering running and speaking, achievements once deemed impossible for him. Cam is thrilled to share his journey on Brave Together Parenting, celebrating his parents nurturing and his own mindset as he prepares for parenthood himself.
Cam's story reflects values of courage and limitless potential as a full professional, inspirational speaker. He delivers a powerful message worldwide, inspiring others to surpass perceived limits and embrace their unique abilities. Please enjoy my conversation with Cam Coelken.
Find out more about Cam Coelken here.
Find this episode on YouTube here.
Thank you to our BIG, beautiful 5k sponsors!! Our TOP sponsors that we want to acknowledge and appreciate are: RISE Advocacy, GHJ Foundation, Torrance Memorial Medical Center, CMS Creative Management, Inc., the Patay Family and MRM Education. We are so grateful to these generous sponsors and so excited about our 5K, which will be accessible and truly a family friendly event! Learn more about our 5K here.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find our Becoming Brave Together book trailer here.
Find WABT 5K Fundraiser here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's BONUS episode. Our guest is care advocate and author, Elissa Strauss, who has a fantastic new book called When You Care, The Unexpected Magic of Caring for Others.
This conversation was about such an important topic that I invited author, activist and fellow caregiving mom, Kelley Coleman to co-host with me. And together we explore the powerful role caring for others plays in our individual and communal lives with Elissa Strauss who in her book weaves together research about care and stories from parents and caregivers with a feminist bent.
Elissa Strauss has been writing about the politics and culture of parenting and caregiving for more than 15 years. Her work appears in publications like The Atlantic, The New York Times, Glamour, Elle, and elsewhere. And she was a former contributing writer at CNN.com and Slate, where her cultural criticism about motherhood appeared on XX. Her book, When You Care, The Unexpected Magic of Caring for Others, is out now from Gallery Bugs.
Please enjoy this critical and important conversation.
Thanks so much for listening!
Find Elissa Strauss and her book, When You Care: The Unexpected Magic of Caring for Othershere.
Fine Kelley Coleman and her book Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child: Your Guide to the Essential Systems, Services, and Supportshere.
Thank you to our BIG, beautiful 5k sponsors!! Our TOP sponsors that we want to acknowledge and appreciate are: RISE Advocacy, GHJ Foundation, Torrance Memorial Medical Center, CMS Creative Management, Inc., the Patay Family and MRM Education. We are so grateful to these generous sponsors and so excited about our 5K, which will be accessible and truly a family friendly event! Learn more about our 5K here.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find our Becoming Brave Together book trailer here.
Find WABT 5K Fundraiser here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Hello Brave Friends! This is an Ask Us Anything episode in which YOU, the listener, get to write or call in and, you guessed it, ASK US ANYTHING!
Welcome to the first episode of Season 7! In this Ask Us Anything ep, #186, we are responding to the question, What Do I Do Right After My Kid's Diagnosis?
Many of us on this altered motherhood journey, especially those of us acting as mentors to newer brave moms, get asked this question a lot. So we each supplied our top 5 things we love to tell people when they’re freshly reeling from their child’s diagnosis. Our answers come from our three personal journeys, some overlap and some diverge. We hope you can find at least one thing that resonates or is helpful.
One important thing we didn’t address in this episode is how to get services for your child, which is another thing that every parent to a disabled child will need to tackle. Every state and/or country has their own social services agencies but some great resources we know of include: Undivided and Kelley Coleman's Book Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child: Your Guide to The Essential Systems, Services and Supports, which you can find here.
Keep the vulnerable questions coming. We’re here to support you!
We see you and we love you!
Whether you have questions as a parent to a child with complex medical or mental health needs or you’re someone looking to support a care-giving parent, we would LOVE to hear from you.
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to ask a question, leave us a message here.
Find more information about Licensed Psychotherapist, Dr. Zoe Shaw here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find our Becoming Brave Together book trailer here.
Find WABT 5K Fundraiser here.
Thank you to our BIG, beautiful 5k sponsors!! Our TOP sponsors that we want to acknowledge and appreciate are: RISE Advocacy, GHJ Foundation, Torrance Memorial Medical Center, CMS Creative Management, Inc., the Patay Family and MRM Education. We are so grateful to these generous sponsors and so excited about our 5K, which will be accessible and truly a family friendly event! Learn more about our 5K here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encour
**Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to Season 7 of Brave Together Parenting, an empowering and truly helpful podcast for the parents of children, all ages, with all types of disabilities or unique needs.
Our mission is to provide you, the caregiving parent, with resources to help answer your questions. Stories from other caregiving parents to help you feel less alone and starting the season, something NEW, interviews with thriving disabled adults to give you hope!**
I am Jessica Patay, your host and a parent to a son who is 21 with Prader Willi Syndrome. And I'm joined for Ask Us Anything episodes, as well as a few other episodes this season by two other brave moms, clinical psychologist, Dr. Zoe Shaw and life coach, Susanna Peace Lovell. Together, we tackle all your nitty gritty questions from the trenches and share what wisdom we have gathered on our collective journeys.
This season is full of delicious newness, new podcast art, new title, new co-hosting opportunities, and new videos on our We Are Brave Together YouTube channel for each episode.
We make this podcast as a lifeline for you. So please give us feedback, call into speakpipe and leave us messages with your questions or topic requests.
We are here to offer you community and remind you that you are brave, you are beautiful and most definitely NOT ALONE. Welcome to Season 7! We thank you for tuning in every Wednesday and sharing our episodes with all your friends. We see you and we love you!
Whether you have questions as a parent to a child with complex medical or mental health needs or you’re someone looking to support a care-giving parent, we would LOVE to hear from you.
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to ask a question, leave us a message here.
Find more information about Licensed Psychotherapist, Dr. Zoe Shaw here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find our Becoming Brave Together book trailer here.
Find WABT 5K Fundraiser here.
Thank you to our BIG, beautiful 5k sponsors!! Our TOP sponsors that we want to acknowledge and appreciate are: RISE Advocacy, GHJ Foundation, Torrance Memorial Medical Center, CMS Creative Management, Inc., the Patay Family and MRM Education. We are so grateful to these generous sponsors and so excited about our 5K, which will be accessible and truly a family friendly event! Learn more about our 5K here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and
Hello Brave Friends! This is a Summer Re-Run of one of our favorite Ask Us Anything episodes from Seasons 5 and 6. Call in to our SpeakPipe **to ask YOUR questions and tune in next season, starting in September 2024, for many more.
This is an Ask Us Anything episode in which YOU, the listener, get to write or call in and, you guessed it, ASK US ANYTHING!**
In this episode, #174, we are responding to the question, How do I Support my Neuro-Divergent Kid as They Blossom into a Teen? It’s a bittersweet transition from childhood to young adulthood that we all experience in different ways. And with neuro-divergent kids the transition and experience can pose very real logistical and emotional challenges. We have to stay on our toes as parents to handle this intense growth period with grace.
Hopefully this episode can give you some comfort, as our co-hosts share anecdotes from their own experience, and remind you, as always, that you’re not alone. You’ll also find a helpful resource for sex-ed for the intellectually disabled and their support systems, mentioned in this episode, linked below.
Thank you so much for listening and calling in with your questions. Keep them coming!
Find the Mad Hatter Wellness Website here.
Whether you have questions as a parent to a child with complex medical or mental health needs or you’re someone looking to support a care-giving parent, we would LOVE to hear from you.
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to ask a question, leave us a message here.
Find more information about Licensed Psychotherapist, Dr. Zoe Shaw here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Thank you to our BIG, beautiful 5k sponsors!! Our TOP sponsors that we want to acknowledge and appreciate are: RISE Advocacy, GHJ Foundation, Torrance Memorial Medical Center, CMS Creative Management, Inc., the Patay Family and MRM Education. We are so grateful to these generous sponsors and so excited about our 5K, which will be accessible and truly a family friendly event! Learn more about our 5K here.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together coming May 1st here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook
Hello Brave Friends! This is a Summer Re-Run of one of our favorite Ask Us Anything episodes from Seasons 5 and 6. Call in to our SpeakPipe **to ask YOUR questions and tune in next season, starting in September 2024, for many more.
This is an Ask Us Anything episode in which YOU, the listener, get to write or call in and, you guessed it, ASK US ANYTHING!**
In this episode, #171, we are responding to the question, what do I do when my kid is being bullied? It’s so heart wrenching to imagine our vulnerable kiddos being bullied but kids can be mean and it does happen. On this episode we discuss methods of dealing with bullying ranging from reporting the issue at our next IEP meeting to practicing daily affirmations with our kids at home.
Thank you so much for listening and calling in with your questions. Keep them coming!
Whether you have questions as a parent to a child with complex medical or mental health needs or you’re someone looking to support a care-giving parent, we would LOVE to hear from you.
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to ask a question, leave us a message here.
Find more information about Licensed Psychotherapist, Dr. Zoe Shaw here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Find Information about CA Disability Rights in regards to Bullying and Harassment here.
Thank you to our BIG, beautiful 5k sponsors!! Our TOP sponsors that we want to acknowledge and appreciate are: RISE Advocacy, GHJ Foundation, Torrance Memorial Medical Center, CMS Creative Management, Inc., the Patay Family and MRM Education. We are so grateful to these generous sponsors and so excited about our 5K, which will be accessible and truly a family friendly event! Learn more about our 5K here.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together coming May 1st here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here<
Hello Brave Friends! This is a Summer Re-Run of one of our favorite Ask Us Anything episodes from Seasons 5 and 6. Call in to our SpeakPipe **to ask YOUR questions and tune in next season, starting in September 2024, for many more.
This is an Ask Us Anything episode in which YOU, the listener, get to write or call in and, you guessed it, ASK US ANYTHING!**
In this episode, #168, we are tackling the HIGHLY relatable question, what do we do when our spouse is not very involved in our disability caregiving? This is such a common question, especially in our community. Relationships are ALREADY full of murky divisions of labor and then throw in all the extra tasks that come with a disabled child and it doesn’t usually get easier to negotiate. Luckily, we have a well qualified team to handle this question. As always we pour compassion on our questioner and offer strategies to tackle the problem.
Thank you so much for listening and calling in with your questions. Keep them coming!
Whether you have questions as a parent to a child with complex medical or mental health needs or you’re someone looking to support a care-giving parent, we would LOVE to hear from you.
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to ask a question, leave us a message here.
Find more information about Licensed Psychotherapist, Dr. Zoe Shaw here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Thank you to our BIG, beautiful 5k sponsors!! Our TOP sponsors that we want to acknowledge and appreciate are: RISE Advocacy, GHJ Foundation, Torrance Memorial Medical Center, CMS Creative Management, Inc., the Patay Family and MRM Education. We are so grateful to these generous sponsors and so excited about our 5K, which will be accessible and truly a family friendly event! Learn more about our 5K here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! This is a Summer Re-Run of one of our favorite Ask Us Anything episodes from Seasons 5 and 6. Call in to our SpeakPipe **to ask YOUR questions and tune in next season, starting in September 2024, for many more.
This is an Ask Us Anything episode in which YOU, the listener, get to write or call in and, you guessed it, ASK US ANYTHING!**
In this episode, #165, we are discussing how to get the most out of connection circles and in general, support groups, without taking on other attendee’s pain.
In this community we are ALREADY dealing with our own tough feelings when we step into a group sharing environment and as Dr. Zoe Shaw says, in this episode, “we’re wired for protection not connection” so dealing with other people’s emotions on top of our own can feel daunting. BUT it doesn't have to feel that way and the community and sisterhood that comes with sharing and holding space for those emotions is so worth facing your own.
There are so many wisdom gems, AHA moments and tools in this episode for helping us deconstruct the emotions we feel when in the presence of other people’s pain. Please enjoy this important episode of Ask Us Anything.
Whether you have questions as a parent to a child with complex medical or mental health needs or you’re someone looking to support a care-giving parent, we would LOVE to hear from you.
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to ask a question, leave us a message here.
Find more information about Licensed Psychotherapist, Dr. Zoe Shaw here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! This is a Summer Re-Run of one of our favorite Ask Us Anything episodes from Seasons 5 and 6. Call in to our SpeakPipe **to ask YOUR questions and tune in next season, starting in September 2024, for many more.
This is another Ask Us Anything episode in which YOU, the listener, get to write or call in and, you guessed it, ASK US ANYTHING!**
Today we’re discussing the topic of comparing. Whether it’s our stories, our parenting styles or our child’s outcomes, comparing, it seems, is just human nature. It’s a tool we use to identify and connect with others who are like us but can also turn competitive and ugly. How do we support and honor each other’s journey’s without feeling better or worse off than our sisters?
Whether you have questions as a parent to a child with complex medical or mental health needs or you’re someone looking to support a care-giving parent, we would LOVE to hear from you.
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to ask a question, leave us a message here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find more information about Kimberly Kooy, LMFT here.
Find the UNSEEN list of ways you can support care-givers here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! This is a Summer ReRun of one of our favorite Ask Us Anything episodes from Seasons 5 and 6. Call in to our SpeakPipe **to ask YOUR questions and tune in next season, starting in September 2024, for many more.
This is another Ask Us Anything episode in which YOU, the listener, get to write or call in and, you guessed it, ASK US ANYTHING!**
Today we’re discussing the topic of raising a child who is aggressive or has bouts of violence towards others. We speak from experience about how it can feel, what it brings up for us as caregivers and how we deal with it. Most of all, this episode is a compassion fest. If you are out there feeling the isolation, fear and shame that can come with this kind of caregiving, know that you are NOT alone and we at Brave Together Podcast are here to support you.
Whether you have questions as a parent to a child with complex medical or mental health needs or you’re someone looking to support a care-giving parent, we would LOVE to hear from you.
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to ask a question, leave us a message here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find more information about Kimberly Kooy, LMFT here.
Find the UNSEEN list of ways you can support care-givers here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! This is a Summer ReRun of one of our favorite Ask Us Anything episodes from Seasons 5 and 6. Call in to our SpeakPipe **to ask YOUR questions and tune in next season, starting in September 2024, for many more.
This is another Ask Us Anything episode in which YOU, the listener, get to write or call in and, you guessed it, ASK US ANYTHING!**
Today we’re discussing the question, is it okay to take a vacation with the typical members of the family while leaving my child with complex needs behind and if so, how do I deal with the guilt I feel about planning that trip and how do I tell my child that I’m leaving them behind?
Whether you have questions as a parent to a child with complex medical or mental health needs or you’re someone looking to support a care-giving parent, we would LOVE to hear from you.
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to ask a question, leave us a message here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find more information about Kimberly Kooy, LMFT here.
Find the UNSEEN list of ways you can support care-givers here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! This is a Summer Re-Run of one of our favorite Ask Us Anything episodes from Seasons 5 and 6. Call in to our SpeakPipe **to ask YOUR questions and tune in next season, starting in September 2024, for many more.
This is our inaugural Ask Us Anything episode in which YOU, the listener, get to write or call in and, you guessed it, ASK US ANYTHING!**
Today we’re discussing the question, “Is it strange to feel frustrated when I see friends and family support and volunteer with programs that support people with disabilities and yet, do not volunteer to help my child or other children outside of those events?”
Whether you have questions as a parent to a child with complex medical or mental health needs or you’re someone looking to support a care-giving parent, we would LOVE to hear from you.
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to ask a question, leave us a message here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find more information about Kimberly Kooy, LMFT here.
Find the UNSEEN list of ways you can support care-givers here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Disclaimer
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Hello Brave Friends! This is an Ask Us Anything episode in which YOU, the listener, get to write or call in and, you guessed it, ASK US ANYTHING!
In this episode, #185, we are responding to the question, Can Caregiving Dads be Accepted into Mom Groups?
Another amazing question to close out Season 6! First off, thank you to this Dad for calling in and posing this vulnerable question. I know a lot of parents are going to benefit from this conversation.
It seems that because mom’s historically outnumber dad’s in the role of primary caregiver and are socialized to be more open to support, among a host of other reasons, most of the parenting groups are geared towards moms. And when dads try to join them, they may not always feel welcomed. For example, this caller expressed being turned away from some groups because they were “only for moms”.
In this episode we discuss: the reasons men may not be welcomed into these groups, ways men can approach these groups to more readily be accepted and we offer links to fathering groups and resources below.
Thank you so much for listening and calling in with your questions this season. We are taking a Summer Break but will be releasing Ask Us Anything “ReRuns” to keep you supported. We will be back, BETTER THAN EVER, in September for Season 7, so keep those questions coming! We see you and we love you!
Find Just Two Dad’s Podcast here.
Find Fathering Together organization here.
Find Project Fatherhood here.
Whether you have questions as a parent to a child with complex medical or mental health needs or you’re someone looking to support a care-giving parent, we would LOVE to hear from you.
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to ask a question, leave us a message here.
Find more information about Licensed Psychotherapist, Dr. Zoe Shaw here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find our Becoming Brave Together book trailer here.
Find WABT 5K Fundraiser here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholar
Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's practical episode, #184. Our guest today is a dad! Ryan Sheedy is a dad, a rare disease caregiver and a founder. He lives in Bentonville, Arkansas with his wife and three sons. In 2018, after 15 plus years in business development and fundraising, he paused his career to become a stay-at-home dad caregiver for his twin sons.
One of his sons, Reynolds, was diagnosed with Costello syndrome in 2018. Since birth, Ryan has been Reynolds’ primary caregiver. 100 plus days in the NICU, countless surgeries, and managing a 25 plus person care team. He and his son's rare journey and the countless families they have met along the way inspired him to create Mejo.
As a caregiver, he knows, first hand, that being a caregiver is an everyday job, there's no days off. And Mejo is a web app built for caregivers to help save you time so that you can have more joy with those that you love and care for.
I can't wait for you to meet Ryan. He is a great guy, great dad, entrepreneur, and he created something that all of us need! So please, run to your computers and look this up because it's going to save you a lot of time. Thanks for listening to my conversation with Ryan Sheedy.
Find the my mejo website here.
Contact Ryan Sheedy about my mejohere.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find our Becoming Brave Together book trailer here.
Donate to our Mother's Day Fundraiser here.
Find WABT 5K Fundraiser here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's practical episode, #183. Our guest is Anjillene O’Connor. She came to my family well over a decade ago. She was working in our school district, as an interventionist, and wanted a little work on the side. She loved my kids, understood them, would cook for them and was just the best. Everybody in my family loved Miss Jill, (we still call her Miss Jill).
Today she has been working in education for 20 years, continuing on to the completion of her special education mod severe credential with a master's degree and has been teaching in special education for the last eight years. She's a lovely human being with so much perspective because she’s worked in, or managed others in, like every position at this point.
We asked the secret Brave Together Facebook group for what questions they wished they could ask a Paraeducator or a BI or a BT at school? And we sure got A LOT of questions. So I hope you’ll get so much out of my candid conversation with the supreme educator Anjillene O’Connor.
Thanks so much for listening!
Find Anjillene O’Connor’s personal IG here.
Find Anjillene O’Connor’s behavioral resources IG here.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find our Becoming Brave Together book trailer here.
Donate to our Mother's Day Fundraiser here.
Find WABT 5K Fundraiser here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! This is story episode #182, about what can happen when parents presume competence in their non-verbal, autistic son.
Today we hear from Jason Hague about his experience accepting his autistic son Jack’s presumed intellectual disability, making peace with it, and then seeing a documentary that changed everything.
Welcome to today's story episode: How Spelling Revealed a Non-Verbal Teen’s Brilliance.
Jason Hague has been telling his story of faith, fatherhood, and autism on his blog for years and years now. He also has a fabulous book called “Aching Joy: Following God through the Land of Unanswered Prayer” which chronicles his own spiritual and emotional journey with his son Jack and the link to find it can be found below.
Find Jason Hague’s Website, Blog and Book here.
Find the video about Jack’s spelling breakthrough here.
Find the Spellers Website here.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find our Becoming Brave Together book trailer here.
Donate to our Mother's Day Fundraiser here.
Find WABT 5K Fundraiser here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! This is an Ask Us Anything episode in which YOU, the listener, get to write or call in and, you guessed it, ASK US ANYTHING!
In this episode, #181, we are responding to the question, How do I Access Playfulness When My Life is So Serious?
This is such a great question, and as you will hear, all three of your hosts grapple, themselves, with how to find “the fun” in the midst of chronic hardship. It’s not everyone’s natural gift to make light of the dark stuff or to find humor in the struggle. Juggling all the roles we have to inhabit for our children with unique needs can leave us feeling exhausted and in no mood to “play”.
In this episode, we explore lots of ways we can embrace the kind of fun that comes naturally to us. Igniting that spark of fun in ourselves, for ourselves, in our own way. We also acknowledge that for some people this may feel impossible. So, if that’s you, we see you, hang in there, take it one day at a time and remember that nothing stays the same forever.
Thank you so much for listening and calling in with your questions. Keep them coming!
Find The Power of Fun here.
Whether you have questions as a parent to a child with complex medical or mental health needs or you’re someone looking to support a care-giving parent, we would LOVE to hear from you.
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to ask a question, leave us a message here.
Find more information about Licensed Psychotherapist, Dr. Zoe Shaw here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find our Becoming Brave Together book trailer here.
Donate to our Mother's Day Fundraiser here.
Find WABT 5K Fundraiser here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message
Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's practical episode, #180. Our guest today is Dr. Jaclyn Zeccola, the clinical director of Cheerful Helpers, which is a well established therapeutic school and early intervention program dedicated to supporting children who are experiencing developmental challenges.
As you will hear in the episode, what makes their programs successful and unique to them is their collaboration with parents, their use of narration to help investigate the reasons behind behaviors and their welcoming attitude toward BIG EMOTIONS.
Dr. Jaclyn Zeccola is a psychologist and the clinical director of Cheerful Helpers Child and Family Study Center. Research for her doctoral dissertation focused on the parallel process of early childhood and early parenthood. She is a first 36 fellow and has spent most of her career with young people and their families. She is also the mother of a five year old, an adventure for which all of her book learning and study really didn't prepare her at all.
I hope you learn something from this episode and enjoy my conversation with Dr. Zeccola.
Find the Cheerful Helpers website here.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find our Becoming Brave Together book trailer here.
Donate to our Mother's Day Fundraiser here.
Find WABT 5K Fundraiser here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! This is story episode #179. And it features one of the many powerful stories we showcase in our first ever Brave Together book! It’s an anthology of stories shared courageously by our community of moms and it’s called Becoming Brave Together: heroic, extraordinary caregiving stories from mothers hidden in plain sight. It is available now and the link to find it is in the show notes, so go get yourself a copy!
Today we hear a story from Lora DeMello about her experience parenting a neurodivergent daughter. Sometimes called “invisible disabilities” neurodivergence can be particularly stressful because of how often it is misunderstood, misdiagnosed or completely disregarded as a real disability.
Welcome to today's story episode: What You Don’t See
Lora DeMello is the President of the We Are Brave Together board. Her WABT journey began when her daughter was diagnosed at age seven with several ‘hidden’ unique needs, including OCD, ADD, GAD, and Cyclothymia, and her son was diagnosed with ADHD at age six. Additionally, Lora is now also stepmom to her two stepsons, who, combined, carry a variety of diagnoses including: Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, PDA, depression, anxiety, and a rare blood disorder. Lora has a passion for empowering people through connection, art, the written word, and interactive experiences and she is truly honored to be a part of this WABT community.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find our Becoming Brave Together book trailer here.
Donate to our Mother's Day Fundraiser here.
Find WABT 5K Fundraiser here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! This is story episode #178. And it features one of the many powerful stories we showcase in our first ever Brave Together book! It’s an anthology of stories shared courageously by our community of moms and it’s called Becoming Brave Together: heroic, extraordinary caregiving stories from mothers hidden in plain sight. It is available now and the link to find it is in the show notes, so go get yourself and everybody you know a copy!
Today’s story is from Claire McMurray whose daughter was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called Rett Syndrome. The story she tells is a beautiful articulation of the ache we feel as parents when our not so typical kids struggle to make friends.
Welcome to today's story episode: Behind the Window
Claire McMurray Ph.D. holds a doctorate from Yale and worked as an academic before she left the workforce to care for her youngest daughter. She has degrees in French and German and lived in both France and Germany. She loves to read, write, run, and hunt for treasures in thrift stores. She runs a blog called I Don't Know How You Do It, has had articles published on parenting sites and in literary magazines, and has won several writing contests for her creative nonfiction.
Find Claire’s Website with her blog for parents of children with differences, disabilities, and diagnoses here.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find our Becoming Brave Together book trailer here.
Find WABT 5K Fundraiser here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! This is story episode #177. And it features one of the many powerful stories we feature in our first ever Brave Together book! It’s an anthology of stories shared courageously by our community of moms and it’s called Becoming Brave Together: heroic, extraordinary caregiving stories from mothers hidden in plain sight. It is out as of today! So go get yourself a copy!!! The link to find it is in the show notes.
Today’s story is from the Becoming Brave Together anthology. It’s a story excerpt from Jessica Baer who brings us into the raw emotions she felt the day she gave birth in South Africa, to a son with Down Syndrome. Welcome to today's story episode: A Down Syndrome Diagnosis in South Africa 30 Years Ago
Jessica Baer was born and raised in South Africa and immigrated to the USA in 1995. She’s been a speech language pathologist for 36 years and is passionate about helping children to communicate. She is a certified Auditory Verbal Therapist and enjoys working with young deaf and hard of hearing children and their parents to facilitate listening and spoken language at home. Jessica loves to cook and eat healthy food, garden, bird watch and travel. She has a love for family, fashion and reality TV.
Jessica has been a member of We are Brave Together for 4 years and wrote weekly Facebook posts titled Wesley Wednesday for 2 years for the group. Jessica was recently honored to take on the role of leader for the We are Brave Together South Bay Connection Circle. Jessica lives with her wife Toni and son Wesley in Lomita, Los Angeles, where they have a vegetable garden and an outdoor pond with four fish.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together out TODAY May 1st here.
Find Becoming Brave Together Book Trailer here.
Find WABT 5K Fundraiser here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's practical episode, #176. Our guest today is Jayme Betts, and she founded the Changing Spaces Advocacy Campaign in Massachusetts after experiencing, along with her daughter, Sophia, the challenges that traditional public restrooms present for disabled individuals who require assistance with their daily care.
With rare exceptions, the only options that caretakers have for changing their loved one’s undergarments is on the dirty floor of a public restroom. When the facilities offered do not even allow for this, many caretakers resort to setting up a changing station in the car, exposed to the elements and with no privacy.
As the individual ages and the situation becomes ever more challenging and unsafe, difficult decisions are made to stay home and begin a spiral toward social isolation. Universal changing tables are needed. They are powered, height adjustable tables that are large enough to support an adult weighing up to 300 pounds.
Changing Spaces in Massachusetts was organized just last year, but there was already work being done by a handful of individuals around the state. You'll hear all about it in my conversation with the inspirational, Jayme Betts.
Find the Changing Spaces Campaign website here.
Find the Momentum Refresh website here.
Find WABT 5K Fundraiser here.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together coming May 1st here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! This is story episode #175. When our child gets diagnosed it can feel like the snow globe of our life gets shaken really hard, and that everything is suddenly up in the air. But as the flakes slowly settle, we get the chance to reevaluate our relationships with everything, including ourselves.
When Margaret Webb’s son was diagnosed with Autism she became a warrior for him, fighting day in and day out for his comfort, development and care. But as you might guess, in the heat of battle, she lost touch with herself. Until one day, she saw a magazine cover that reminded her to reconnect.
Welcome to today's story episode: Diagnosis Isn't a Choice, My Martyrdom Is.
Margaret Webb is a parent coach and a Master Certified Martha Beck Life Coach. She has trained, apprenticed, mentored and taught as a Nature-Based Coach. She has a son who is on the autism spectrum, had apraxia of speech, didn't speak until he was 5, has anxiety and ADHD. He LOVES the work she does and takes great pride in the fact that she gets to help other parents with their children. Margaret loves connecting with people through Facebook, tele-classes and in-person workshops and retreats. Knowing that she is helping others to find ease and joy in their lives makes her heart very happy!! She has written a beautiful book called "A Hero's Journey in Parenting: Parenting the Child You Didn't Expect While You Were Expecting" and it is linked below.
Find Margaret Webb’s Book here.
Find Margaret Webb’s Parent Coaching Website here.
Find WABT 5K Fundraiser here.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together coming May 1st here**.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.**
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Hello Brave Friends! This is an Ask Us Anything episode in which YOU, the listener, get to write or call in and, you guessed it, ASK US ANYTHING!
In this episode, #174, we are responding to the question, How do I Support my Neuro-Divergent Kid as They Blossom into a Teen? It’s a bittersweet transition from childhood to young adulthood that we all experience in different ways. And with neuro-divergent kids the transition and experience can pose very real logistical and emotional challenges. We have to stay on our toes as parents to handle this intense growth period with grace.
Hopefully this episode can give you some comfort, as our co-hosts share anecdotes from their own experience, and remind you, as always, that you’re not alone. You’ll also find a helpful resource for sex-ed for the intellectually disabled and their support systems, mentioned in this episode, linked below.
Thank you so much for listening and calling in with your questions. Keep them coming!
Find the Mad Hatter Wellness Website here.
Whether you have questions as a parent to a child with complex medical or mental health needs or you’re someone looking to support a care-giving parent, we would LOVE to hear from you.
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to ask a question, leave us a message here.
Find more information about Licensed Psychotherapist, Dr. Zoe Shaw here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together coming May 1st here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to practical episode #173. Our guest is a fellow caregiving mama and creator of CapeAble Weighted Products, Marna Pacheco.
Marna created CapeAble, originally for her daughter Millie, who needed help regulating her nervous system. CapeAble is unique from all other weighted blanket manufacturers, because its patented SmartWeight technology provides an even weight distribution resulting in precise, deep touch pressure. What does this mean for parent caregivers? The deep touch pressure of SmartWeight helps provide a sense of safety, connection, and nervous system regulation.
I can't wait for you to hear this conversation which is both touching and informative. And I hope that you will try the products. It's such a nice option and comes from someone who is truly passionate about what they do. Please, enjoy this conversation and make sure that you check out CapeAble Weighted Products.
Thanks for listening!
Find Marna Pacheco’s CapeAble Weighted Products here.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together coming May 1st here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! In this story episode, #172, we enter the world of a parent living on unstable ground. An emotional state riddled with fault lines, shifting plates and the possibility that even a fun outing could cause an earthquake of a seizure in her child’s body.
Erin Rusling’s daughter was born with Dravet Syndrome, a rare and severe form of Epilepsy that causes prolonged seizures. Almost two, at the time of this story, Erin’s daughter had already had many seizures and had come out of them with minimal measures, but the BIG ONE was never impossible and always lurking.
Welcome to today's story episode: Walking on Eggshells with Epilepsy.
Erin is a wife, mom of 2 human children and 3 fur children. She loves making pancakes on Sunday mornings, planning family vacations and listening to true crime podcasts. She stays busy balancing work, family, Dravet medical research and looking for her cold cup of coffee that she knows is around here somewhere. She believes that research and advocacy is the most important part of being a rare parent.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together coming May 1st here.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! This is an Ask Us Anything episode in which YOU, the listener, get to write or call in and, you guessed it, ASK US ANYTHING!
In this episode, #171, we are responding to the question, what do I do when my kid is being bullied? It’s so heart wrenching to imagine our vulnerable kiddos being bullied but kids can be mean and it does happen. On this episode we discuss methods of dealing with bullying ranging from reporting the issue at our next IEP meeting to practicing daily affirmations with our kids at home.
Thank you so much for listening and calling in with your questions. Keep them coming!
Whether you have questions as a parent to a child with complex medical or mental health needs or you’re someone looking to support a care-giving parent, we would LOVE to hear from you.
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to ask a question, leave us a message here.
Find more information about Licensed Psychotherapist, Dr. Zoe Shaw here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Find Information about CA Disability Rights in regards to Bullying and Harassment here.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together coming May 1st here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to practical episode #170, in which we are discussing the importance and responsibility of adopting older children who have experienced trauma. We cover what you need to think about before adopting, ways to prepare for adopting, the systemic problems that need changing and how enormous the need is.
Our guest is Jenell Jones, mother of six, who adopted a seventh child, “because what’s one more when you have six!?”, an eight year-old girl, who she fell in love with and would later learn needed extensive services and support.
Jenell is an early education entrepreneur, currently operating multiple early learning centers, which specialize in providing high quality learning experiences to children who experienced trauma in low income areas.
Her education background includes earning a bachelor's degree in business management and a master's in curriculum and instruction with an emphasis on autism spectrum disorders from Arizona State University. A native of Phoenix, Arizona, Jenelle has provided her expertise to families for the last decade and currently hosts private discussions with other foster and adoptive parents on current issues affecting the nontraditional home.
Find links to her website and book below and thanks for listening to today's worthwhile conversation.
Find Jenell Jones’ website here.
Find Jenell Jones’ book, Shattered,here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! This is story episode, #169, in which we talk about the underrated difficulty level of being a parent to a child with extreme allergies. When we bring home a newborn, all we want to do is feed them, nourish them and help them to grow. But what if everything we’re feeding them seems to make them irritable, gassy, rashy and miserable; and then we’re miserable.
Susanna Peace Lovell knew something serious was going on with her child, but was assured by doctors that her daughter would grow out of her allergies. In the meantime, she became an expert burper, wind remover and whittled away at her own diet to help protect her child. Yet things kept getting worse. Already exhausted at every turn, eventually her daughter was also diagnosed with Autism. Welcome to today's story episode: When severe allergies join the family.
I’m so glad Susanna is here and shared this story, which is actually from her fantastic book Your True Self is Enough: Lessons Learned on My Journey Parenting a Child with Autism. Which I highly recommend. She is a former highly dedicated connection circle leader for We Are Brave Together in LA for 3 plus years, and is now a co-host for our Ask Us Anything episodes. She’s just a joy to be around and has so much to share. I think you’re really going to love my conversation with the warrior woman, Susanna Peace Lovell.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enough: Lessons Learned on My Journey Parenting a Child with Autismhere.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! This is an Ask Us Anything episode in which YOU, the listener, get to write or call in and, you guessed it, ASK US ANYTHING!
In this episode, #168, we are tackling the HIGHLY relatable question, what do we do when our spouse is not very involved in our disability caregiving? This is such a common question, especially in our community. Relationships are ALREADY full of murky divisions of labor and then throw in all the extra tasks that come with a disabled child and it doesn’t usually get easier to negotiate. Luckily, we have a well qualified team to handle this question. As always we pour compassion on our questioner and offer strategies to tackle the problem.
Thank you so much for listening and calling in with your questions. Keep them coming!
Whether you have questions as a parent to a child with complex medical or mental health needs or you’re someone looking to support a care-giving parent, we would LOVE to hear from you.
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to ask a question, leave us a message here.
Find more information about Licensed Psychotherapist, Dr. Zoe Shaw here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to practical episode #167, a TWO PARTER, in which we are diving into the nitty gritty around accessing mental health benefits and services. In Part 1 we focus on what services are available and how to find them and ways to approach starting the process. In Part 2 we focus on how the process works once you’re on the road to receiving services and the important things to consider and questions to ask your providers.
Our guest is Natalie Elliott Handy. And, oh my gosh, is she a wealth of information. She is a seasoned, healthcare executive with 24+ years in the health and human services industry. Currently, she serves as the Vice President of Government Affairs and Advocacy at Health Connect America, a behavioral and mental health company offering services throughout Virginia and eight states in the southeastern United States.
Prior to coming to Health Connect America, Natalie served as CEO of Intercept Health, CEO of four psychiatric residential treatment facilities in Virginia, VP of Utilization Review and Clinical Audit and CSA coordinator for the City of Roanoke, department of Social Services. A servant at heart, Natalie takes pride in being seen as a mental health concierge, helping families and agencies navigate the system to find the most appropriate service.
In September twenty-Twenty-two Natalie alongside sisters J.J. Elliott Hill and Emily Elliott founded Sisterhood of Care, an organization offering caregivers a safe place to relate, learn, be inspired, find hope, and obtain the critical resources needed to support their loved one while also maintaining their sense of self. The Sisters launched their website and blog Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver in October, 2022, followed by their Confessions podcast in January, 2023.
Welcome to today's VERY helpful conversation; we hope you get a lot out of it and please utilize all the resources linked below.
Resources
More about Health Connect America here.
Natalie and her sister’s Blog and Podcast, Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver,here.
Find information about IEPs and 504 plans here.
Find information about the EAP Program here.
Link to FindHelp.org here.
Link to 211.org here.
Link to uniteus.com here.
And… if you still have questions here is Natalie Elliott Handy’s email that she so generously provided for any further questions or assistance: natalie.handy@healthconnectamerica.com
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow
Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to practical episode #167, a TWO PARTER, in which we are diving into the nitty gritty around accessing mental health benefits and services. In Part 1 we focus on what services are available and how to find them and ways to approach starting the process. In Part 2 we focus on how the process works once you’re on the road to receiving services and the important things to consider and questions to ask your providers.
Our guest is Natalie Elliott Handy. And, oh my gosh, is she a wealth of information. She is a seasoned, healthcare executive with 24+ years in the health and human services industry. Currently, she serves as the Vice President of Government Affairs and Advocacy at Health Connect America, a behavioral and mental health company offering services throughout Virginia and eight states in the southeastern United States.
Prior to coming to Health Connect America, Natalie served as CEO of Intercept Health, CEO of four psychiatric residential treatment facilities in Virginia, VP of Utilization Review and Clinical Audit and CSA coordinator for the City of Roanoke, department of Social Services. A servant at heart, Natalie takes pride in being seen as a mental health concierge, helping families and agencies navigate the system to find the most appropriate service.
In September twenty-Twenty-two Natalie alongside sisters J.J. Elliott Hill and Emily Elliott founded Sisterhood of Care, an organization offering caregivers a safe place to relate, learn, be inspired, find hope, and obtain the critical resources needed to support their loved one while also maintaining their sense of self. The Sisters launched their website and blog Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver in October, 2022, followed by their Confessions podcast in January, 2023.
Welcome to today's VERY helpful conversation; we hope you get a lot out of it and please utilize all the resources linked below.
Resources
More about Health Connect America here.
Natalie and her sister’s Blog and Podcast, Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver,here.
Find information about IEPs and 504 plans here.
Find information about the EAP Program here.
Link to FindHelp.org here.
Link to 211.org here.
Link to uniteus.com here.
And… if you still have questions here is Natalie Elliott Handy’s email that she so generously provided for any further questions or assistance: natalie.handy@healthconnectamerica.com
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow&
Hello Brave Friends! On this story episode, #166, we are stepping into the shoes of a brand new care-giving parent, who, like so many of us, left the hospital and was immediately faced with piles of paperwork, prescriptions to administer, insurance issues, medical supplies to order and the endless phone calls, transfers and holds that become our JOB to navigate.
Kelley Coleman had a new baby with multiple disabilities, a toddler, and was getting no calls back from the Regional Center. So, on one particularly rainy day, she took matters into her own hands and started her journey towards figuring it out, for all of us!
Welcome to today's story episode: Crying on the Steps of the Regional Center
Author and advocate Kelley Coleman is the parent of two amazing boys, one of whom has multiple disabilities. Her book Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child draws upon over a decade of advocacy, with the candor, humor, and relatability earned in her prior career of writing and developing talking animal movies. She was recently named Best Mom Ever by her two discerning children and received a congratulatory mug.
Find Kelley Coleman’s Website here.
Find Kelley Coleman’s Book here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! This is an Ask Us Anything episode in which YOU, the listener, get to write or call in and, you guessed it, ASK US ANYTHING!
In this episode, #165, we are discussing how to get the most out of connection circles and in general, support groups, without taking on other attendee’s pain.
In this community we are ALREADY dealing with our own tough feelings when we step into a group sharing environment and as Dr. Zoe Shaw says, in this episode, “we’re wired for protection not connection” so dealing with other people’s emotions on top of our own can feel daunting. BUT it doesn't have to feel that way and the community and sisterhood that comes with sharing and holding space for those emotions is so worth facing your own.
There are so many wisdom gems, AHA moments and tools in this episode for helping us deconstruct the emotions we feel when in the presence of other people’s pain. Please enjoy this important episode of Ask Us Anything.
Whether you have questions as a parent to a child with complex medical or mental health needs or you’re someone looking to support a care-giving parent, we would LOVE to hear from you.
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to ask a question, leave us a message here.
Find more information about Licensed Psychotherapist, Dr. Zoe Shaw here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enoughhere.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to our first Practical Episode of Season 6. This is episode 164 and we could not be more thrilled and honored and in awe of our guest today, Kevin McGuire. Talk about the triumph of the human spirit, Kevin, personifies this. He was hit by a drunk driver at the age of seven and has used a wheelchair ever since.
He is now the CEO and founder of McGuire Associates, the nation's leading consulting firm specializing in compliance with state and federal disability laws, including, but not limited to, the Americans with Disabilities Act and Fair Housing Act. He's a graduate of Boston University and the Georgetown University Law Center, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and History, and a Juris Doctorate.
Kevin is so impressive. His bio is so long and beautiful. Please enjoy my conversation with him and click on the link below if you’d like to learn more about him and the important work he’s doing to make this world more accessible.
Find out more about Kevin McGuire here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! On this story episode, #163, we are exploring one mom’s experience, when not one but TWO of her seemingly thriving, healthy children were diagnosed, right in the middle of high school, with a rare genetic disorder.
Megan Loden was blindsided, not only by her twin daughter’s diagnosis, but by the slow fade of her typical community into the background, as she stepped into her own medical motherhood. And then a doctor recommended she look up groups online and the rest is history.
Welcome to today's story episode: Community is Everything
Megan Loden was a freelance writer before her world was turned upside down and she would love nothing more than to help others feel less alone through her writing now, as many seasoned veterans to the rare parenting world did when she was lost and terrified of her childrens’ diagnoses. Having a child (or two) with a rare genetic disease is not for the faint of heart, but she wants to assure you, if she can manage, so can you!
Find Megan Loden on Instagram here.
Find Megan Loden’s Website here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! This is another Ask Us Anything episode in which YOU, the listener, get to write or call in and, you guessed it, ASK US ANYTHING!
In this episode, #162, we’re discussing how to handle the PRESSURE we feel after the holidays (while caregiving) to make resolutions and change our whole lives at the start of the year. Are we ready for this? How do we approach this thoughtfully? This episode is full of compassion and creative ideas to make the start of 2024 feel less stressful.
Whether you have questions as a parent to a child with complex medical or mental health needs or you’re someone looking to support a care-giving parent, we would LOVE to hear from you.
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to ask a question, leave us a message here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find more information about Licensed Psychotherapist, Dr. Zoe Shaw here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to Season 6! We are so excited to roll out another vibrant season of Story episodes, Practical episodes and Ask Us Anything episodes for YOU the caregiving mom.
In this trailer your host, Jessica Patay, reminds you what we offer as a podcast and non-profit organization, introduces Dr. Zoe Shaw (the newest co-host of the Ask Us Anything show) and even gives you a sneak peek into her year, with 9, NOT 10, of her personal resolutions. We hope you’ll join us for another uplifting, vulnerable and connecting season of Brave Together Podcast.
Find the Mel Robbins “Let Them” vid I talked about here.
Whether you have questions as a parent to a child with complex medical or mental health needs or you’re someone looking to support a care-giving parent, we would LOVE to hear from you.
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to ask a question, leave us a message here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! On this, our final episode of Season 5, we have such a great guest for you. Debbie Reber, who you guys probably know already, is a parenting activist, bestselling author, speaker and the CEO and founder of Tilt Parenting, a resource, top performing podcast, consultancy, and community with a focus on shifting the paradigm for parents raising and embracing neurodivergent children. Her most recent book, Differently Wired, A Parent's Guide to Raising an Atypical Child with Confidence and Hope, came out in 2018.
Debbie is a wealth of information, and I highly recommend that you check out everything that she offers and get involved in her community. If you have a child who is neurodivergent, she has lots of experts on her podcast and has educated thousands of parents. Please enjoy this comforting, warm blanket of an episode with the wonderful Debbie Reber.
Find the Tilt Parenting website here.
Find Debbie Reber’s book, Differently Wired,here.
Find the Tilt Parenting Podcast here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! On this story episode we are exploring the sibling experience. As caregiving parents, it’s hard to give each child the same amount of attention. The neurotypical child’s experiences growing up are often overshadowed by their sibling’s complex needs. So it’s cathartic when we get the opportunity to put a big ol’ spotlight on their experience and talk about them on our podcast.
Kendall Albrecht is a senior in high school, who goes on vacation every year with her family, including her older sister, Miranda, who has Autism Spectrum Disorder. It’s not always easy but as you will hear, always worth it in the end. Please enjoy her story, Traveling with My Sister, and our fun conversation.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! This is another Ask Us Anything episode in which YOU, the listener, get to write or call in and, you guessed it, ASK US ANYTHING!
Today we’re discussing the topic of comparing. Whether it’s our stories, our parenting styles or our child’s outcomes, comparing, it seems, is just human nature. It’s a tool we use to identify and connect with others who are like us but can also turn competitive and ugly. How do we support and honor each other’s journey’s without feeling better or worse off than our sisters?
Whether you have questions as a parent to a child with complex medical or mental health needs or you’re someone looking to support a care-giving parent, we would LOVE to hear from you.
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to ask a question, leave us a message here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find more information about Kimberly Kooy, LMFT here.
Find the UNSEEN list of ways you can support care-givers here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's practical episode with April Rehrig. She's going to talk about strengths-based IEPs. Have you even heard of that? I don't think I'd ever heard of it until recently. It's an IEP that looks at abilities as well as weaknesses. It looks at what students CAN do, what the team wants them to do next, and how strengths might be used to set goals to help address a particular need.
April is a repeat guest because we love her and appreciate her. She's the founder of Rise Educational Advocacy and Consulting. She has over 20 years of experience as a school psychologist, teacher, and parent in the public school setting. With her, build a better IEP curriculum. April teaches parents and teachers nationwide how to successfully navigate special education from a strength based perspective.
When not passionately advocating for inclusive education, April keeps busy with her adorable pug Luna, her husband, three sons, and four stepchildren in Los Angeles, California. We really hope you get a ton out of this episode!
Find out more from April Rehrig here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Hello Brave Friends! On this story episode we are exploring the vital yet (especially in our community) illusive act of taking a break.
Our storyteller is Krysten Leighty whose daughter Lana, was diagnosed with Prader-Willi syndrome, and found early on that the “go go go” mentality of the medical world was counterintuitive to her instincts, as a mother, to just stop and be present with her child.
Krysten Leighty is an artist of many talents, an ambivert, empath, a work in progress human, a partner in love and a wild mama inspired by nature and traveling the world. She is a fierce advocate for her beautiful daughter who just so happens to be rare.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! This is another Ask Us Anything episode in which YOU, the listener, get to write or call in and, you guessed it, ASK US ANYTHING!
Today we’re discussing how we handle it when family, friends (or people in the grocery store) say judgmental or insensitive things about our non-typical kids or how we’re raising them? Do we take the time to educate them? Is that our job?
Whether you have questions as a parent to a child with complex medical or mental health needs or you’re someone looking to support a care-giving parent, we would LOVE to hear from you.
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to ask a question, leave us a message here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find more information about Kimberly Kooy, LMFT here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! One thing I wish I could free all moms from is MOM GUILT. I know you've heard me talk about this before, and it is just in the way of us thriving for sure. It's like a boulder that we carry around and I wish I could just take the boulder off of everybody's shoulders. Well, I think our guest today is going to help us with this.
Joanne Crone is a parenting educator and a life coach who helps moms feel confident in raising empowered kids while pursuing their own goals. She's the host of the award winning podcast, No Guilt Mom, an accomplished author and speaker appearing in national media and founder of the company, No Guilt Mom.
Her specialty is helping moms go from martyr to model, role modeling the behavior they want to see in their kids and forming deeper and more supportive relationships. Joanne is a former elementary school teacher with a master's degree in curriculum and instruction as well as a national board certified teacher in middle childhood education. She's a mom to two kids ages 14 and 10. I hope you love and benefit from today's conversation.
Find JoAnn’s Website and the FREE “Stop Doing” Checklist here.
Find the No Guilt Mom Podcast here.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! On this story episode we’re talking about being a neurodiverse mama and dealing with blameless guilt. What is blameless guilt? It’s guilt we feel when the unthinkable happens and we have no one to blame for it; like passing down genetics to our children. This guilt is tricky. It hangs around us, invisible, easily dismissed by our nearest and dearest but always finding its way back to us. How do we deal with it? Are we stuck with it?
Our storyteller, this episode, is Becky Tilley, who found out her two youngest children have a rare chromosome disorder called Koolen-de Vries syndrome (KDVS). And then, if that wasn’t stressful enough, she found out she had it too.
Becky is a passionate advocate for embracing uniqueness and finding strength in adversity. Her personal journey with rare diagnoses, as well as her experiences as a parent, inspired her to share her story with others. Through her writing, she hopes to inspire individuals to embrace their own journeys and celebrate their unique paths.
Find Becky Tilley’s Book, Thrive Rare: Embracing the Uniqueness Within here.
Find Becky on:
Instagram here
Twitter here
Youtube here
Facebook here
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! This is another Ask Us Anything episode in which YOU, the listener, get to write or call in and, you guessed it, ASK US ANYTHING!
Today we’re discussing the topic of raising a child who is aggressive or has bouts of violence towards others. We speak from experience about how it can feel, what it brings up for us as caregivers and how we deal with it. Most of all, this episode is a compassion fest. If you are out there feeling the isolation, fear and shame that can come with this kind of caregiving, know that you are NOT alone and we at Brave Together Podcast are here to support you.
Whether you have questions as a parent to a child with complex medical or mental health needs or you’re someone looking to support a care-giving parent, we would LOVE to hear from you.
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to ask a question, leave us a message here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find more information about Kimberly Kooy, LMFT here.
Find the UNSEEN list of ways you can support care-givers here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! Having girlfriends that get you is sacred and mandatory around here and our guest today, Laura Tremaine, could not agree more! She is an author and podcaster who shares how making, keeping and even releasing friendships can be easier than we think.
Laura has so much to share in this interview including her own personal experience with loneliness. She offers a fresh perspective on friendship and tools that aim to help you break out of lonesome seasons and add richness to your social life. She is the host of the 10 Things to Tell You podcast and author of Share Your Stuff, I'll Go First, and her latest book, The Life Council, 10 Friends Every Woman Needs.
Laura grew up in Oklahoma and moved to Los Angeles when she was 22 years old. She worked in film and television production for many years at MTV, VH1, Fox, and Paramount Pictures before pursuing writing full time. Laura has been sharing her life online for over a decade. She writes about friendship, anxiety, motherhood, and marriage. Her posts and podcast episodes resonate with women looking for ways to connect more deeply with others as they transform from one era of life into another.
Find Laura’s Books here and here.
Find Laura’s Website here
Find Laura on Instagram here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! On this episode we are exploring what pregnancy and early motherhood can look like when there is rare disease and a limb difference involved.
Our storyteller is Hannah Parsons who, herself, was born on the bathroom floor of a trailer. She always knew she wanted to experience pregnancy and whatever adventurous birth came along with that but was not prepared for the bumpy path her pregnancy set her on when an ultrasound revealed her son wasn’t developing typically.
Hannah Parsons is the producer and editor of Brave Together Podcast. She is so proud and thankful to be part of We Are Brave Together and wants to send a big hug out to all the other moms out there, especially the ones who have shared their stories on this podcast, because they make her personally feel less alone.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! This is another Ask Us Anything episode in which YOU, the listener, get to write or call in and, you guessed it, ASK US ANYTHING!
Today we’re discussing the question, is it okay to take a vacation with the typical members of the family while leaving my child with complex needs behind and if so, how do I deal with the guilt I feel about planning that trip and how do I tell my child that I’m leaving them behind?
Whether you have questions as a parent to a child with complex medical or mental health needs or you’re someone looking to support a care-giving parent, we would LOVE to hear from you.
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to ask a question, leave us a message here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find more information about Kimberly Kooy, LMFT here.
Find the UNSEEN list of ways you can support care-givers here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to our practical episode with Katie Taylor, who not only has wonderful professional credentials, she is also our Connection Circle Leader for Austin, Texas, and we are so grateful for her leadership and her enthusiasm to serve and support caregiving moms.
Katie Taylor is very impressive. She is the co-founder and CEO of Child Life On Call, a digital platform revolutionizing pediatric health care by putting parents at the center of the medical journey. With over 13 years of experience as a certified child life specialist, Katie has made significant contributions to the field of child life and the families she served with over a decade of working at the bedside.
She's an accomplished author and engaging speaker on child life and entrepreneurship and the host of Child Life On Call podcast. Katie's work emphasizes the vital role of child life services in supporting caregivers and enhancing children's medical journeys. I can't wait for you to meet my friend, Katie Taylor.
Find Katie Taylor’s childlifeoncall Instagram here.
Find Katie Taylor’s childlifeoncall website here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer
Hello Brave Friends! On this episode we’re exploring what being an amazing advocate looks like. As we all know, advocacy can take on a lot of forms, helping with communication, getting all the right medications and in some cases… calling out the professionals who’ve maybe forgotten that their patients are much more than their disabilities.
Our storyteller, this episode, is Lori Rivera, a sister caregiver, whose brother Shawn has severe cerebral palsy. She has been caring for him for over 11 years and has a really powerful story to share about how care-givers can facilitate deeper relationships between doctors and patients.
Lori Rivera is a lover of laughs, naps and sarcasm, a mother of 3, wife of 1 and caregiver to her brother Shawn. One of her motto’s is to buy the earrings and eat the dessert, because life is too hard and short not to.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Disclaimer
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Hello Brave Friends! This is our inaugural Ask Us Anything episode in which YOU, the listener, get to write or call in and, you guessed it, ASK US ANYTHING!
Today we’re discussing the question, “Is it strange to feel frustrated when I see friends and family support and volunteer with programs that support people with disabilities and yet, do not volunteer to help my child or other children outside of those events?”
Whether you have questions as a parent to a child with complex medical or mental health needs or you’re someone looking to support a care-giving parent, we would LOVE to hear from you.
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to ask a question, leave us a message here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find more information about Kimberly Kooy, LMFT here.
Find the UNSEEN list of ways you can support care-givers here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Disclaimer
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to Season 5 of Brave Together Podcast! This season we are rolling out a brand new episode format called Ask Us Anything. In these episodes my wonderful co-hosts, Life Coach and Soul Care Coach, Suzanna Peace Lovell and Marriage and Family Therapist Kimberly Kooy and I will do our darndest to honor and answer YOUR questions about anything and everything.
Whether you have questions as a parent to a child with complex medical or mental health needs or you’re someone looking to support a care-giving parent, we would LOVE to hear from you.
So, use the link in our show notes to leave a message on our Speakpipe or send us an email. You can share your name or it can be completely anonymous. These episodes will be a beautiful compliment to our Practical and Story episodes, so feel encouraged to submit stories as well. Our first episode of Season 5 will drop on September 6th. So please join us and we look forward to hearing from you.
All of us on this podcast team believe with all our hearts, that connection and community are critical to surviving well, and with JOY, amidst the chronic hardship of an altered motherhood.
Our hope is that this podcast makes you feel seen, heard and validated! And may you feel deeply connected to this brave community— a community who truly understands what this beautiful and brutal journey is all about.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Disclaimer
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Hello Brave Friends, you know we encourage sisterhood on this podcast but we don’t always talk about the unexpected community that can form around our children with unique needs, when we’re open to it. And sometimes that means having a broader idea about who that community may include. It might NOT be other mom’s, even care-giving mom’s with kids the same age because hey, they're BUSY! Instead, it might be a retired neighbor looking for some way to be of service, a single friend who has the time to help you take your kid to the park, it might even be a paid care-giver who bonds with your child and builds a lasting relationship with them. So in our last episode of season four, we have a beautiful topic for you, how to build an entourage of love around your child.
For this episode, host Jessica Patay speaks with author, speaker and psychotherapist, Emma Nadler who wrote a beautiful memoir called The Unlikely Village of Eden. Beyond building an entourage of love, they discuss a whole spectrum of things including: the shock of and culture around a child’s diagnosis, the importance of not giving up on community and why we have to FIGHT FOR OURSELVES, asking for help again and again because WE’RE WORTH IT.
The Unlikely Village of Eden is an insightful and wholehearted look at the long-ignored realities so many families live with daily. Nadler is a trusted guide who confronts both hope and despair as she gives readers the gift of what it looks like to redefine love, success, family, and community.
Find Emma’s website and links to order her beautiful book, The Unlikely Village of Eden, here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Vacationing with your kids doesn’t always feel like a vacation, more like a relocation, am I right?! And when any of your children have special needs, it can feel even harder to relax in a new location, no matter HOW sandy the beaches are. But what if you had a qualified nanny along for the ride?
On this episode, host, Jessica Patay, interviews CEO and founder of Break Relief Sitters and Nannies LLC, Nichelle Harvey. Nichelle is a mother of 2 boys. Her oldest son is Autistic and like most new parents, she struggled to balance her everyday life, working as an ICU nurse, and caring for her son. During a family vacation in the Dominican Republic, while sitting by the pool, she observed other families vacationing but was not really enjoying the full experience of what a vacation should be all about.
Nichelle decided to blend her passion for vacationing, her love for children, inclusive of kids on the spectrum as well as kids with special needs, theme parks and self-care into one big melting pot of goodness. This blossomed into her business.
Their motto is, “take the break you deserve today, we work while you play”.
Find out more about Break Relief Sitters and Nannies LLC here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
In extreme parenting, mastering flexibility is key! We never know what is around the corner and our kid’s unique needs keep us permanently on our toes. But we are also the ones providing routine for our kids, especially those who struggle with anxiety. So we have to stay nimble, dancing between providing the necessary structure and going with the flow enough to avoid a mental break!
In today’s story we hear form Amanda Griffith-Atkins who shares about a family vacation she went on with her son, who has Prader-Willi Syndrome. Then host, Jessica Patay interviews Amanda about all things PWS parenting, flexibility and advice for parents expecting too much from their differently abled children.
Amanda is a licensed marriage and family therapist and founder of Amanda Atkins Counseling Group in Chicago. Her specialties include couple’s issues, grief and loss (particularly partner, parent, or child loss), chronic or terminal illness, infertility, and postpartum mood disorders. She enjoys treating issues related to parenting, including the complex demands placed on parents of disabled children. Due to her extensive experience in grief work, she’s partnered with large corporations to provide on-site therapy amid workplace crises and tragedy. She’s also worked with nonprofits and corporations, presenting on mental health issues in the workplace. Before founding AACG in 2015, Amanda worked in community mental health, a group practice, and Hospice. Amanda holds a master’s degree from Northwestern University and is trained in EMDR and EFT. She has advanced training in postpartum issues and is certified in perinatal mental health. She is an in-demand speaker and media contributor, featured in the Chicago Tribune, Crain’s Chicago, Better, Chicago Parent, POPSUGAR and more. Amanda lives with her husband, 3 sons, beloved dog, and 2 mediocre cats. Her oldest son Asher has Prader-Willi Syndrome.
Find Amanda on Instagram here and here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Transitions are hard for everybody, but especially for our neurodiverse teens and their parents. Just when you’ve gotten used to middle school and all that is expected in that environment, your teen is ushered into the wilderness of high school and a fresh batch of unknowns. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a guide? Well, you’re in luck!
On this practical episode, host Jessica Patay interviews Natalie Borrell, a Certified Academic Life Coach, Licensed School Psychologist and the founder of Life Success for Teens. They discuss how to support our children as they embark on the grand adventure that is high school.
Find the Life Success For Teens Website here, on Instagram here and Facebook here.
PS: If you didn’t see the Channel 19 News Story about Academic Life Coaching, you can see it here!
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Happy Mother’s Day! Though the holiday this year has passed, we are here to remind you to do something special FOR YOU today! You deserve it! We want you to feel appreciated for ALL that you do, even if it’s just in a deep breath as you read this paragraph. We see you, we honor you and we are rooting for you!
For this episode we hear a letter from an inspiring mother, Suzanne Eisenbrand, who raised 4 boys, two of which are twins on the autism spectrum. She shares her experience with host Jessica Patay and talks about what she’s learned from her children, the importance of releasing control of their outcomes, and brushing off any unkindness people show you along the way.
Find out more about the clothing company she co-founded: here.
Find her on IG here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Our lives as caregivers require WAY more help than we are willing to ask for, so what stops us? The intention for this episode is encouragement and maybe a nudge toward self-reflection as to WHY ON EARTH we of all people wouldn’t be able to ask for the help that we so badly need.
On this episode, host Jessica Patay, talks to Cheryl Ryan Chan, who does workshops on The Lost Skill of Asking for Help, among other caregiver focused topics. They discuss why asking for help can feel so difficult and explore many practical ways you can start intentionally allowing in the help you deserve, today.
Cheryl Ryan Chan is a public speaker, trainer, community organizer, person-centered practitioner, facilitator, change agent, positive agitator, and rum drinker. She is Mom to Nicky. Her gift is bringing people together and empowering. She’s passionate, loud and has messages that inspire!
Find Cheryl Ryan Chan’s Website here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
You have to PRUNE to create room for real GROWTH, this is a sentiment gardeners understand but often busy parent caregivers forget. Are you making space in your life to experience peace? To exhale? To hear your own thoughts? In our busy world and even busier caregiving lives, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and out of touch with what we really require to thrive as human beings.
On this episode, host Jessica Patay, speaks with our story teller, Jess Ronne, about getting in touch with ourselves, embracing our instincts and pruning anything from our lives that’s keeping us from reaching our full potential.
Jess Ronne is a non-profit CEO of The Lucas Project, author of Sunlight Burning at Midnight and special needs mama to her son Luke.
Find The Lucas Project here.
Find the trailer for UNSEEN: How We’re Failing Parent Caregivers & Why it Matters here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Does your child have sensory issues? Picky eating, general dysregulation or motor skill delays? Have you been to a bunch of different therapists but they all seem like they’re on their own planets and aren’t communicating with each other? Now, can you imagine taking your child into ONE therapeutic clinic and having them look for the ROOT CAUSE of your child’s issues?
On this practical episode, host Jessica Patay interviews Dr. Marielly Mitchell from TheraPlay LA where their goal is to help your child become the best version of themselves through an integrative approach to pediatric therapy. TheraPlay LA has a holistic approach to help expedite progress in a variety of pediatric therapies by finding the root cause of your child’s challenges.
Learn more about TheraPlay LA here.
Book Recommendations:
Breath by James Nestor here.
Gasp by Dr. Gelb and Dr. Hindin here.
Jaws by Sandra Kahn and Paul R. Ehrlrich here.
The Evolution of the Human Head by Daniel E. Lieberman here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
One of the invisible burdens many parents of children with degenerative or recurring disease carry is the knowledge that someday the other shoe may drop. They don’t know when or at which doctor’s appointment, but that knowledge, that things could take a turn for the worse, bears weight on their souls.
Our story teller on this episode, is a father, Ryan Barbera, whose son was diagnosed with the rare degenerative disease, Becker’s Muscular Dystrophy. He shares today with host Jessica Patay, about the challenges he faces as a parent: misdiagnosis, searching for a cure, always being the person at the party talking about their sick kid and the stress of waiting for results. They also discuss the importance of taking care of your mental health in this high stress parenting scenario and why modeling all the emotions with your kids is important. It’s a very deep, open and inspiring conversation.
Ryan Barbera is the Co-Founder of Strongest Hearts a non-profit that is designed to exclusively work to find a cure or treatment, educate and advocate for DMD and BMD. DMD is the number one killer for adolescents in the US and we search to find a solution that will help over 90% of the DMD and BMD community.
Connect with Ryan Barbera and Strongest Hearts here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Hello Brave Friends! This episode is something that has been on Jessica’s mind and heart since the launch of We Are Brave Together. We are an organization that preaches SISTERHOOD and COMMUNITY but what if you’ve been burned by friends in the past or you’ve just never been close to other women or maybe you’re an introvert and a WABT retreat feels overwhelming to you. Well, this episode is here to explore those feelings and gives you tools to overcome them.
Our guest is host Jessica Patay’s best friend, Kimberly Kooy, who is a marriage and family therapist. They get cozy in Jessica’s podcast closet and discuss the power of female friendship, ways trauma can keep you from opening your life to new friendships and they use the remote control exercise to help show how you can heal past wounds.
Find Kimberly Kooy LMFT here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
This episode is about the unexpected twists and turns that make this journey extra hard. When you get into a groove, with any kind of lifestyle, even our especially complex kind, it can feel manageable. Then, SURPRISE, you’re dealt another difficult hand of medical cards. How do we keep going when our child’s health and our life’s trajectory experience another brutal setback?
On this episode, host Jessica Patay interviews our story teller, Kara Ryska, whose son had a cancer resurgence after ten years of clean scans. The weight of emotion that came with that plot twist left Kara no choice but to take a break from being the “good soldier” and befriend her unlikely new companion, sadness.
Outside of family, life coaching is Kara Ryska’s next favorite thing and Moms of kids with special needs are her sweet spot. A life coach and host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast she is passionate about empowering moms to take back control of their lives.
Find The Special Needs Mom Podcast here.
Get in contact with Kara about Life Coaching here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Remember that game we played as kids, Truth or Dare? Well, for our world as caregivers, the truth is hard to say but ultimately freeing and the dare is accepting the consequences of holding it all in. This episode was born out of a conversation on Facebook about the difference between truth telling and playing the victim. Who said that being honest about our journey was the same as acting like a victim anyway? Is that even true?
On this practical episode, your host Jessica Patay and life coaches Susanna Peace Lovell and Cindy Kaplan dive into a discussion about the story we tell ourselves, embracing our pain and what it means to be truth tellers and ask for help in a world that tells us to quiet down and be martyr mamas.
Learn more about Cindy Kaplan here.
Find Cindy's book here.
Learn more about Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Welcome Brave Friends! So many of us grow up learning that keeping it all inside is what we have to do to be accepted. We think that by holding in our true feelings it will help us be the person others need us to be. And so our emotions, our needs and our truth get buried deep inside us. But today we explore what it looks like to release that need to please, embrace our desires and SCREAM our truth!
On today’s episode, host Jessica Patay speaks with Laura Lee who is a fellow brave mother and Transformational Coach and Intuitive Guide and she shares a beautiful story about how much we can learn from our kids on the first day of school.
Laura’s mission as a coach is to help each woman know herself, love herself and unleash herself to be exactly who she was created to be. Her clients share that working with Laura is empowering, soul searching, and life altering. Laura has a wonderful gift to gently coax out your inner child so that it feels safe, loved, and understood and is a master at reconnecting women to their deepest selves in a powerful and spiritual way.
To learn more about Laura and her offerings, you can visit here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Hello Brave Friends, do you think you fully understand ADHD and how it impacts school and everyday life? Although it is common, it is not simple, not by any means. It is extremely complex. There are many aspects to this disorder. There is no magic pill or formula that will help all kids and adults who struggle with ADHD, but there are proven methods, tips, skills, and wisdom to be applied.
We have an incredible guest today for you: Leslee Josel, an ADHD-academic and parenting coach, who is an award-winning entrepreneur, having founded Order Out of Chaos – a virtual company whose mission is to help parents guide their students to success in learning and in life - when her son was first diagnosed with ADHD.
She is also the creator of the award-winning Academic Planner: A Tool for Time Management®, a planner that helps students develop time management skills, and the award-winning author of 3 books including the recently published, “How to Do it Now Because it’s Not Going Away: An Expert Guide to Getting Stuff Done.” (Lerner Publishing)
A respected resource on ADHD and Executive Functioning, Leslie writes the weekly “Dear ADHD Family Coach®” column for ADDitude Magazine, the premiere magazine for adults and children with ADHD. She speaks to audiences all over the world helping them utilize their resources to best navigate the task-driven world in which they live. Last year, Leslie’s line of student organizing products – a collaboration with Samsill Corp – was released.
And for the last six years, Leslie has been named by Global Gurus as one of the top 20 Time Management experts in the world.
Find Leslie’s website here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Hello Brave Friends, every relationship has its struggles and triumphs but not every relationship allows the world to peek behind the “fairytale” curtain and see its gritty inner workings. This takes bravery and trust, especially when it’s a relationship tethered to the added complexity of a diagnosed child.
In this story episode, we hear from author Carrie Cariello, who is a mother to five children, one of whom was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. She has been married to her husband Joe for over 20 years and, as you will hear, not because they “agree on everything” or “never fight”. In our conversation we talk about her discipline and process as a writer, mother and partner. It’s an honest and insightful conversation with some sizable chunks of food for thought.
Carrie Cariello is the author of What Color Is Monday, How Autism Changed One Family for the Better, and Someone I’m With Has Autism. She lives in Southern New Hampshire with her husband, Joe, and their five children. Carrie is a contributor to the Huffington Post, TODAY Parents, the TODAY Show, Parents.com. She has been interviewed by NBC Nightly News, and also has a TEDx talk. She speaks regularly about autism, marriage, and motherhood, and writes a weekly blog. One of her essays, “I Know What Causes Autism,” was featured as one of the Huffington Post’s best of 2015, and her piece, “I Know Why He Has Autism,” was named one of the top blog posts of 2017 by the TODAY Show.
Find Carrie’s Blog here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
We talk a lot about being a parent but what about being a partner? It’s not always a picnic right? Now add in ADHD to your partnership and all bets are off. From the forgetfulness to the impulsivity it can be a challenge sharing a life with them.
Now, this practical episode is specifically in support of Mom’s whose partners have ADHD but the advice and tools are applicable to lots of relationships.
Our guest is Meygan Caston, the co-founder of Marriage 365. She is not only married to someone with ADHD, she also works full-time with them, so she is MORE than qualified to talk about partnering successfully with a person who has ADHD. She covers everything from how to approach your partner about getting diagnosed to dealing with the symptoms of ADHD on a daily basis. It’s a great episode full of compassion and resources, I really hope you enjoy this episode.
Casey and Meygan Caston, founders of Marriage365, believe nobody should settle for an average marriage! They have devoted their lives to providing resources that teach spouses how to heal, change and become the healthiest person they can be. Marriage365 offers online coaching, retreats, books, marriage intensives for couples in crisis but the most popular resource is their membership which is the #1 online streaming service for relationships.
They've been married for almost 20 years, have two kids, and live in Southern California. They love going to the beach, playing card games, and enjoy singing along to any musical soundtrack! Visit marriage365.com to learn more.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Hello Brave Friends, if you’re on planet earth right now, you probably have social media. It’s a handy tool that connects us with friends, allows us to share our lives and generally makes our lives easier… except for when it doesn’t. Lets just say, those memories that “pop up”, aren’t always welcome.
Today we hear Amy Neyer’s story about her early days navigating the medical system with a child battling a rare disease. Her son was diagnosed with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome as well as many other diagnoses, but the road to those answers was far from easy. In her conversation with host, Jessica Patay, Amy shares about the confusion and pain that accompanied not being believed by health care professionals and about doing the work today to separate her child’s health conditions and struggles with her worth as a parent.
Amy Neyer is a wife, mother, physical therapist, and writer, born and raised in Southern California. Her writing has been featured in various online outlets such as the We Are Brave Together blog, Today’s Parent magazine, and The Mighty. She was a guest on the Brave Together Podcast in 2020, and has also shared some of her motherhood stories on stage and online through Expressing Motherhood storytelling shows. Amy’s writing helps her process her experiences with motherhood, while also connecting with other families, patients and caregivers living in the world of rare diseases. As a neurologic physical therapist, Amy specializes in helping people with rare and complex conditions. She is passionate about PT education, advocacy and mentorship, and has taught professional courses on treatments for people with rare conditions. When she’s not with her family, working, or writing, she can be found recharging with ocean swims, beach runs, walks with friends, and maintaining a daily meditation practice.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
On today’s practical episode, host Jessica Patay invites DBT expert, Matt Metcalf, to share from his wealth of knowledge about parenting kids who struggle with INTENSE emotions. He explains to us his BIG four tips for parents which include: structure, validating with consequences, remembering parenting is an amateur sport that you are not a “good parent” based on how well your child is doing in the current moment.
Matt Metcalf is the founder and owner of DBT Tri-Counties a clinical social work group practice dedicated to the implementation of comprehensive Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Rincon DBT Families Skills Center which provides Intensive Outpatient services. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has worked with adolescents and their families for over 15 years. He has a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Utah, a master's degree in divinity from Amridge University's Turner School of Theology, and a master's degree in social work from the University of Southern California Dworak-Peck School of Social Work. He is a DBT-Linehan Board of Certification Certified Clinician, and a Beck Institute CBT Certified Clinician who has trained in CBT with the Beck Institute and DBT with Behavioral Tech.
He has intensely studied and practiced these therapies in order to best support his clients with a variety of needs, such as social anxiety, panic attacks, PTSD, Mood Disorders, substance abuse, depression and providing support to those who struggle with intense emotions. He is passionate about providing parenting courses on how to use DBT skills when parenting.
Find Rincon DBT Website here.
Find DBT Tri-Counties here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Imagine you’re listening to the news and they’re describing a form of torture and then you realize what they’re describing is something you do for your child's survival, DAILY! Our journey as parents to children with unique needs can involve pretty traumatizing tasks for us and our children. When they become part of our daily routine we don’t always process how hard they really are.
On our story episode today, host Jessica Patay talks with Madeline Cheney about the hard things we go through as parents to help our children survive, the grief that comes with that and the tools we use to move through those experiences.
Madeline Cheney is the host/creator of The Rare Life, a well-loved podcast for parents of children with rare conditions. She finds huge fulfillment in connecting with this community of parents in this way. Her experiences with her medically-complex son Kimball inspired the podcast. Kimball is a Buzz-lightyear loving four year old with a rare form of dwarfism and deaf-blindness, among other aspects of his rare syndrome. Madeline and Kimball live in Utah with his dad Juston and big sister Wendy where they enjoy camping as a family.
Here are the links to visit Madeline Cheney’s
Website, Instagram and Facebook
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
What if we changed things up a bit and started speaking to ourselves with loving kindness and compassion?? What if instead of self-judgment and self-criticism in our heads, we heard empathy and encouragement?
Jessica Patay believes the key to thriving and surviving amidst chronic hardship is the practice of self-compassion. From this all other compassionate practices will flow–as in acknowledging our own needs and emotions, acknowledging our inborn worthiness, acknowledging our need for connection and community. And then putting into practice self-care and soul care.
In this practical episode, host Jessica Patay gives us a crash course in self-compassion. She covers the concept that we have worth just by existing, the difference between Self-Care and Self-Comfort practices, and she shares lessons learned from Kristin Neff’s book, The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself and her Soul Care course with Spiritual Therapist Suzi Lula. Please enjoy this warm hug of an episode and feel empowered to stop treating yourself like sh*t!
Find The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself by Kristin Neff here.
Find more about Suzi Lula here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
The day we found out our child’s diagnosis lives in all of us. It is a marker of a major shift in our journey as human beings. Who we are, how we feel, what we know, all began to change that day. And society will tell us to “overcome” that experience or look on the “bright side” of whatever that diagnosis brought us, but what if that doesn’t feel possible?
Today host, Jessica Patay, interviews mom, Jillian Benfield, about her journey becoming mother to her son, Anderson. Jillian has written a book called The Gift of the Unexpected, in which she uses her own life-altering moment—her son’s Down syndrome and congenital heart defect diagnoses— to encourage readers not to gloss over the hard parts of the human condition. In this interview she introduces us to the idea of “undergoing” the diagnosis, instead of “overcoming” it, as well as many other helpful insights.
Jillian Benfield is a former journalist and news anchor. She holds a broadcast journalism degree from the University of Georgia. As a freelance writer, her essays about living an unexpected life have appeared on sites such as TODAY, Good Morning America, Yahoo! News, and ABC News. Jillian regularly advocates for the full inclusion of people with disabilities in her writings, in her community, and as a part of the National Down Syndrome Congress’s National Down Syndrome Advocacy Coalition. Jillian and her husband, Andy, and their three children make their home on Florida’s Space Coast.
Learn more about Jillian here.
Find Jillian’s book here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Do I really need to cook dinner EVERY night? And if so, how can I find joy in it? Joy, you say? What would that look like? A glass of wine, maybe? Music? In the overwhelming lives of caregivers, it’s easy to feel like the days are full of “have to’s” but what if we isolated the actual necessities and found ways to make everything else in our busy lives easier and MORE FUN!
Today we help you streamline your New Year with tips from the Lazy Genius, Kendra Adachi. Kendra Adachi is a two-time New York Times bestselling author of The Lazy Genius Way and The Lazy Genius Kitchen. Her podcast, The Lazy Genius Podcast, has over 18 million downloads and covers everything from cooking chicken to making friends. As a systems expert and professional permission-giver, Kendra helps others stop doing it all for the sake of doing what matters. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and three kids.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Happy New Year, Brave Friends! Let's go on an adventure! Life, like a boat ride, takes us in all directions, up and down, side to side and depending on the weather, can even capsize us! But what if our boat was full of able sailors all doing their own specialized jobs to keep us on course? With that kind of support we might feel brave enough to rock a bit, visit distant lands or even dive off and swim!
Today, host Jessica Patay joins mom Julie Paterson on a metaphorical boat trip through her life with son Dylan, who is on the Autism Spectrum. Julia shares her wisdom gleaned from all the storms they’ve weathered together, with specific insights on giving your child room to grow, selfcare and allowing others on your boat to help lighten the load.
Julie has been married to the love of her life, Steve, for 33 years. Her greatest achievement has been and will always be raising her two sons, Kyle and Dylan. Being the parent of an autistic son, Julie knows personally how much these individuals need support and, more importantly, how much these amazing human beings and their talents can add value to their communities. We all have a purpose – Julie is steadfast in her belief that these wonderful individuals be given the support they need to find theirs.
If you would like to see the amazing things Dylan is doing in his professional life, please look at his Linkedin and his Website.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Hello Brave Friends, we’re taking a month off for the holidays, but will be back January 11th, 2023 with more practical and story episodes. So make sure you’re subscribed so that you don’t miss a thing!
And… if you would like to submit a story for the podcast we would LOVE to read and potentially produce it as a story episode in the new year. We will even work with you on developing your story so that it works well for our format.
What I need is a story about a day in the life of extreme caregiving. 500-700 words. Take us into a moment, a day, an experience, a victory, a defeat, that demonstrates what you go through, what you have gone through as a caregiver to a child with unique needs, or mental health needs and/or extreme needs, be it medical, psychological or behavioral.
We want to raise awareness and activism around extreme caregiving and tell brave, inspirational stories. Can you help us?
Please share your voice, your experiences and your wisdom with this community. Because sharing your unique story helps even MORE moms feel seen, connected and less alone. Have a beautiful holiday and we will see you, and hopefully hear more of you, in the new year!
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
It’s hard to think of a more jarring scenario than coming home from a fun night out to find your child in the midst of an unexplained medical emergency. The warrior mom lives in all of us though, and when our kids are in crisis she gets her chance to shine!
On today’s episode we hear a story from one such warrior mom, Angie Robinson, whose son Giancarlo gave her a big scare that night but thankfully is here to tell the tale. Not only that, but he’s here with her on the podcast too! Join your host, Jessica Patay, for a lighthearted conversation about getting through the toughest of parenting moments and allow Giancarlo to inspire you with all he’s accomplished despite having autism, diabetes insipidus and being blind. What an impressive pair they are! Enjoy!
Angie Robinson is a special needs advocate and speaker whose goal is to empower all parents with the knowledge she’s gained over the past 20 years. She is a first time author, with her debut memoir “Through the eyes of Mom.” Angie is a Mexican American born and raised in San Diego, California. She is the daughter of Immigrant parents from Tijuana B.C. She is the proud mother of three and is happily married to the love of her life Daniel, who has been a light in her life. Angie hosts a weekly podcast “The SPEDMom Podcast” in which she discusses a variety of topics related to raising a child with special needs. She shares the resources and guidance that helped her navigate the system. Her new life's mission is to teach other parents how to steer through the perilous waters of school boards, IEP’S and hospitals. She is the San Diego Support Facilitator for an organization that empowers special needs moms, known as We Are Brave Together. Angie has a zest for life. Despite the many challenges she faces, she makes it a priority to live life to the fullest. Angie maintains a positive outlook in life and loves to help those in need.
Find Angie’s Podcast here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
The daily needs of our unique children can take up A LOT of space in our lives and the siblings of those children experience that in all kinds of ways. Their lives are just as altered as ours are by their siblings' heightened needs, but they don’t always get permission to express that. What can we actively do, as parents, to help them?
Today’s episode is another great conversation with Family Therapist, Chris Ioimo, about what the siblings need in a disability family.
Chris is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and is the Clinical Director/Supervisor of Journeys Counseling South Bay and Pastoral Coach with Vibrant Living Coaching. Chris is also a regular speaker at churches, community groups, seminars, small groups, and retreats. He has also been a recurring guest on YouTube shows and podcasts focused on mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Chris has been an adjunct professor in the psychology department at a Christian University since 2008 and has been involved in multiple levels of ministry.
Contact Chris here.
What the Siblings Need to Know PDF
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
When a medical event rocks her son and family a week before Christmas, guest Karen Draper has to rapidly process everything and do her best to move through it with grace. From the life saving steps necessary for her son, to the protection of her family's hearts through the fear, many of you will relate to this story of shock, strength and ultimately recovery and laughter.
In her story and sweet conversation with host Jessica Patay, we hear from another strong mother who has experienced the spectrum of experiences that come with the special needs journey and has come out the other side forever healing, human and present.
Karen Draper is a writer, poet and former inclusion advocate who turned her passion for celebrating diversity into her first book, The Place of Us. When she isn’t reading or writing, she’s probably editing photographs instead of words. Karen is an avid walker and yoga enthusiast who can easily be enticed by dark chocolate and red wine. She lives in Frederick, Maryland with her husband, Sam. Karen hopes that The Place of Us will help readers become better advocates for themselves and others.
Find Karen’s Book here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
The holidays can be tough for everybody! We all get this extra large serving of commitments and expectations that can make enjoying anything feel off the table. Add the element of unique needs to this feast and now even the most organized and flexible person can feel downright defeated. Is there a fresh way to approach this?
On today’s episode, Jessica interviews life coach, Margaret Webb, about strategies going into this most stressful of seasons. They discuss getting clear about your family's needs; which may be different than society's expectations. How to handle comments from family members, who may not understand your child’s unique needs during holiday celebrations. And ultimately, how to set your family up for a successful and satisfying holiday season.
Margaret Webb is a master certified life and parenting coach for the past 12 years. She is passionate about supporting parents who are on parenting journeys filled with unexpecteds. Margaret has a 19 year old autistic son who has been the best teacher for her in learning how important curiosity and embracing different perspectives are in order to have more peace, ease and joy in parenting. She lives in Austin, TX with her husband of 25 years, her son and her three Jack Russell Terriers.
Get in touch with Margaret Webb here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Today we hear from our host, Jessica Patay, as she shares the answer to her favorite question to ask her guests, “If you could dream BIG, for the disability community, what would you CREATE or CHANGE?” Join her as she paints a picture of the world with all the resources and support we all desire and feel inspired and encouraged to share YOUR big dreams on our website and social platforms.
Share what YOU dream about here or here.
Read more of Jessica’s Blog here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
What do we do when a crisis hits? Most moms already know the answer because we’ve been to the ER or seen a pharmacy bill! YIKES!!! In those moments did we FREEZE? FIGHT? Maybe even FAWN? Most importantly, whatever we did, was there a judgment we felt about how we reacted?
On today’s practical episode, Jessica interviews Samantha Morey LMFT about the different “threat responses”. They discuss ways we can prepare ourselves, not only for the threat response, but also to the reaction we have to our own response.
Samantha Morey, LMFT. Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy from Hope International University. She works with the Center for Individual and Family Therapy in Torrance, Ca. Samantha is called to sit with women and couples as they work to address the broken pieces in their lives and climb toward healing and wholehearted living. She's been married for 23 years to her best friend and beloved husband, and together they parent two teen daughters. Samantha enjoys s'mores at the firepit, making pajamas for family and friends, and cuddling under a quilt watching a Hallmark movie, which always has a good predictable ending.
Get in touch with Samantha Morey here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Today we are a fly on the wall in a very special yoga class. In this class we witness a connection between human beings revealing new possibilities. We stretch our bodies and notice how caring for ourselves gives us strength. We breathe deep and meditate on how many roles we embody, (caregiver, advocate, therapist…) and wonder how our role as MOM might be most potent and desired.
Our story is from Cindy Kaplan, whose daughter, Mira, suffered a brain injury during birth, which caused spastic quadriparxsis and microcephaly. Cindy wrote a memoir about parenting Mira and today we hear a story from that memoir.
Cindy Kaplan has a Masters degree in psychology and works as a certified Conscious Parenting Coach and a Soul Care Coach. She has trained and worked as a yoga practitioner for children with special needs, and a family therapist. She is the co-founder of an online community, Evolving Together, which offers courses and support, as well as daily practices from yoga and breath work, to nutrition, neuro-movement, and listening therapy for caregivers of differently abled children.
Find Cindy’s book here.
Contact Cindy about Parent Coaching here.
If you are curious to learn more about the Soul Care Course we mentioned, click here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
We’re all naturally afraid of “different” but what if “different” happens to be YOUR child? How do we react when other parents or kids have a hard time interacting with our child or fail to acknowledge them at all? It hurts right?! So how do we fix this?
On today’s practical episode, host Jessica Patay discusses ableism, fear of the unknown and strategies for interacting with those who are different with the lovely Larkin O’Leary.
Larkin O’Leary is the president and co-founder of Common Ground Society. She and her husband Peter have two kids, James (8) and JuneBelle (3). Her son James, was born with Down syndrome, hearing loss and a host of medical issues. James is her inspiration to create change. She is determined to redirect the gaze of society to see the strength that lies in our diversity through educating our community about people with disabilities. She is a passionate educator turned advocate who will change the way we view and interact with people who are disabled.
Connect with Larkin on her Website, Instagram or Facebook!
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
When are we enough? When our child’s health improves? When the doctor offers us a high five? When we accomplish everything on our to-do list without crying? Being a medical mom isn’t like a regular job, it requires so much that is unseen and unacknowledged and carries with it this looming expectation of martyrdom that is very easy to internalize.
On today’s episode we hear from Maureen Hoff whose daughter was born with bilateral clubfoot. In her story, she shares about her uncertainty entering the world of medical motherhood, not knowing if she would have what it takes and discovering in the process, how important community, telling her story and holding onto her own identity would be.
Maureen is the author of Clubfoot Chronicles: Tips for Helping your Clubfoot Cutie During Treatment and the creator and host of the podcast, A Clubfoot Mom. Maureen considers her a clubfoot advocate and works to provide the parent perspective and encourage parents to advocate for their children. She is also the leader of the first ever diagnosis specific support group through WABT with the group Moms of Clubfoot Cuties Support Group.
Connect with Maureen here and here!
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Did you know grief can be disenfranchised? Have you ever caught yourself welling up or feeling angry when parents of neurotypical, undisabled, healthy kids talk about the different milestones they’re experiencing with them? Do you judge yourself, feeling you should have accepted your child’s unique path by now? Well, you are NOT alone!
In this practical episode, Jessica interviews Meghann Crane-Russ, a therapist and licensed clinical social worker about ALL THINGS GRIEF. They discuss where grief comes from, what it means, how to move through it, and most of all, how it is ABSOLUTELY NORMAL.
Meghann is a therapist who works with parents navigating childhood illness, individuals struggling with medical trauma, traumatic grief, and bereaved parents. Prior to private practice Meghann was a medical social worker caring for families in Pediatric Intensive Care Units, Neonatal Intensive Care Units, and hospice. She has advanced training in Pediatric Palliative Care and is trained in EMDR (a trauma focused treatment modality).
Connect with Meghann Crane-Russ, LCSW, PMH-C here!
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Our darkest days as parents, buried inside us, can rot us from the inside out. Our darkest days shared, can free us and make others feel less alone. It takes courage to share our pain though, especially when that pain centers around our child’s “behavior”. Will others judge us or even reject us for being so open about our shame, pain and fear?
On this story episode, we hear from Rachel Ulriksen, who spent many years isolated due to the guilt and humiliation associated with her son Kevin’s aggressive and self injurious behavior.
Rachel is on a mission to save mothers like herself from the devastating shame she never deserved to feel. She shares her life experience (the good, the bad, and the ugly) in the blog she authors: The Kevin Chronicles. Rachel is also a special education teacher who helps children with special needs acquire the skills they need to make a smooth transition to adulthood. She is a wife of 23 years, mother of three children, avid gardener, fabulous cook, bird watcher, church singer, and believer that all things are possible with love and community.
Find Rachel’s Blog here!
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
In this practical episode continuation, Jessica interviews Mary Van Geffen, an international parenting coach and parent educator for overwhelmed moms of strong-willed & Spicy Children™. In this episode, Mary defines what a “Spicy Child” is and gives guidance and encouragement to all parents currently attempting to raise one.
Mary teaches monthly workshops to help moms gain confidence to choose gentle, respectful parenting especially if they weren’t raised that way. Mary has a ministry on Instagram where she posts an inspiring parenting tip every single day. Just reading her social media will help you delight in your child and remember that you are enough. Mary believes that when a mom realizes how hard she is on herself and cracks the door open for some self-compassion, her entire family is bathed in light!
Mary is a certified Simplicity Parenting Counselor® and Professional Co-Active Coach®. Her greatest achievement, however, is cultivating a calm, kind, and firm relationship with her spirited go-getter daughter (17), polar-opposite introverted son (15) and un-Enneagramable hubby
Find Mary's FREE child temperament quiz here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
In this practical episode Jessica interviews Mary Van Geffen, an international parenting coach and parent educator for overwhelmed moms of strong-willed & Spicy Children™. In this episode they get into a juicy discussion about all things parenting: new, old, book-lead, child-lead, gentle and everything in-between.
Mary teaches monthly workshops to help moms gain confidence to choose gentle, respectful parenting especially if they weren’t raised that way. Mary has a ministry on Instagram where she posts an inspiring parenting tip every single day. Just reading her social media will help you delight in your child and remember that you are enough. Mary believes that when a mom realizes how hard she is on herself and cracks the door open for some self-compassion, her entire family is bathed in light!
Mary is a certified Simplicity Parenting Counselor® and Professional Co-Active Coach®. Her greatest achievement, however, is cultivating a calm, kind, and firm relationship with her spirited go-getter daughter (17), polar-opposite introverted son (15) and un-Enneagramable hubby.
Find Mary's FREE child temperament quiz here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
When a child is born with a genetic disease, as a parent, it can feel like we’ve already failed them. Suddenly our child’s future is full of torturous “WHAT IFS” and the urge to blame ourselves can be overwhelming, but sustaining that guilt can be just as dangerous for us as any disease. On this episode, we explore how journaling, therapy and other tools brought one mom closer to acceptance and self-forgiveness.
Today’s guest, Laura Barrett, is a successful copywriter and content editor whose son, Bailey, was born with cystic fibrosis. Today she uses her writing skills to fulfill her purpose of supporting other parents enduring a medical diagnosis for their child through her book Unconditional Love, and helping raise awareness of cystic fibrosis through national newspaper articles.
Find Laura’s book here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
It is in Jessica’s heart and vision for this podcast to spend more time shedding light on today’s topic of mental health, addiction and shame. Having a sick kid and having a kid struggling with addiction are both hard on families but one carries a lot of extra societal judgment. Both families need and deserve community, understanding and support though the shame associated with addiction can drive some parents into isolation.
Today Jessica interviews Heather Ross, a mother who was willing to do whatever it took to have a relationship with her daughter who struggled with addiction. Supporting her daughter taught her to focus on their similarities instead of their differences, be present as a mother, and love her daughter unconditionally for the 21 short years she had on this earth. After her daughter lost her life to fentanyl poisoning last year, Heather became even more dedicated to helping families heal. Her clients call her an expert at teaching them how to create peace of mind, space for change, and loving connection in their families. In addition to being a parent support coach Heather has over 20 years of experience in the recovery community, hosts the Living With Addiction Podcast, is a peer parent with the online parent support community Other Parents Like Me, and a CRAFT practitioner.
**Other Parents Like Me, LLC (OPLM) is an online membership-based platform for parents and caregivers of teens struggling with substance use and mental health issues. OPLM’s virtual community is designed to create a safe space with the access and support parents need as they move from crisis to healing.
For more information on OPLM visit here*.
Contact* Heather about coaching here**.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
When your child experiences the world through the altered lens of disability it can be difficult to stay on the same road, let alone understand each other. Social norms and the invisible pressure to fit into our society can cause us to miss the perfection of our children just as they are. It takes awareness and bravery to let go of control and allow them to be who they are and communicate to us in “their way”.
In this loving story from Nicola Irvine, she shares an experience with her adult son, Thomas, who is non-verbal, profoundly deaf and has a brain injury. On one of their drives together he begins to strip off his clothes. Nicola feels she needs to correct this behavior but knows doing so runs the risk of escalating the situation and causing him to become aggressive. Instead she chooses to breathe and finds profound beauty in what otherwise could be a very awkward or even dangerous situation.
Nicola Irvine works professionally with parents who struggle with fear, exhaustion, and feeling like they’re on a hamster wheel, to finally experience calm, clarity and peace so they can have a happy, joyful home life. She is an adventure-loving ex-accountant who enjoys time with family and inspiring parents through writing, coaching and speaking. She’s lived in multiple countries, written 3 books and has recently co-written a song.
When Nicola’s son, Thomas contracted bacterial meningitis leaving him with lifelong challenges, she was initially shattered. She searched the world for solutions to ‘fix’ her son and in the process discovered the perfection in the un-fixed, the beauty in “what is” and the gift within each challenge. She is a proud mother of 4, mentor and international speaker.
Find Nicola’s book here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Hi Brave Friends! In this trailer host Jessica Patay, the girlfriend who “gets you” and your beautiful and brutal journey, shares the plan for Season Four. Hint, it includes even more compassionate and educational content created just for you, our amazing caregiving listeners. Through this podcast Jessica strongly desires to create a sense of belonging, connection, and community. Tune in September 7th for the first story episode!
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys. Learn more about our work and JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
(This is the fifth of five re-releases of host Jessica Patay's favorite episodes from the last two years before we introduce Season 4 of Brave Together.)
Jessica loves this episode because she loves good storytelling! Fellow podcaster and friend, Effie Parks, shares about the impact and collision of Michael J Fox into her life and rare disease world.
We all need heroes, and every mom who shares her story here is offering something heroic - in vulnerability, they hold up a mirror, a place we can go to witness parts of our own paths, and be reminded that we aren’t alone. This journey is hard. Whether it’s fellow moms in the trenches, or heroes of a totally different kind - we are surrounded by heroes giving us strength to look ahead.
Effie Parks of Once Upon a Gene Podcast shares her story today… about some of the things that one of her own heroes - Michael J Fox - taught her about staying rooted in the present - when the future feels like too much.
Find Effie’s amazing podcast
Find Effie on Instagram
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
(This is the fourth of five re-releases of host Jessica Patay's favorite episodes from the last two years before we introduce Season 4!)
Jessica loves this episode because it raises a VITAL issue that needs to be addressed across the United States and the entire world. She hopes someday to have a team in WABT to join the activists passionately trying to make changes. These changes will bring families out of isolation and bring dignity to children and adults who need a safe, clean space for toileting.
Jessica interviews Christina Abernethy, a mom and the founder of Love, Hope and Autism. Christina is proud to be the coordinator for Changing Spaces Pennsylvania, a movement to build accessible restrooms with powered height adjustable adult sized changing tables across communities to promote inclusion. She is working with legislators to pass a bill in Pennsylvania that would require such facilities in hospitals, airports, museums, rest stops, sports arenas and more. For her efforts, she won the ACHIEVA Award Of Excellence for Family Support in 2018 and in 2019 was awarded a medal by the Autism Connection of Pennsylvania. Christina is committed to spreading a message of heightened awareness and acceptance of differences, ultimately inspiring hope.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
(This the third of five re-releases of host Jessica Patay's favorite episodes before we introduce to Season 4.!)
Jessica loves this episode because, well, she loves her husband! She is extremely grateful that he has been a dedicated, loving, "hands-on dad" over the 22 years they have raised their kids together. She hopes this will inspire other fathers to have a voice and share their experiences in altered fatherhood.
Today on the podcast Jessica and Chris Patay talk about fatherhood, and Chris’s journey over the years raising Luke, Kate, and their son, Ryan, who has Prader-Willi syndrome, a rare, genetic disorder. Jessica interviews Chris about the duality of joy and pain in being a father, as well as the vital power of community for dads.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
(This is our second of five re-releases of host Jessica Patay's favorite episodes before we introduce Season 4. )
Jessica loves this episode because it demonstrates the beauty and life-giving quality of having community and deep friendships. In this episodes, she shares the mic with four of her dear friends, Heather Meyer, Erin Van Der Veen, Gina Loftis and April Park.
Meet the YaYa Sisterhood! In today’s episode, Jessica introduces us to four incredible women who’ve supported one another through thick and thin, for over 35 years. The value of community and friendship is undeniable, and we can’t wait for you to be encouraged by their story.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
During this break between Season 3 and Season 4, we will be re-releasing Jessica Patay's top 5 favorite episodes. To kick us off, we're taking it all the way back to the beginning!
We Are Brave Together founder and podcast host Jessica Patay shares a little of her story as a mother, and about how her desire to create a community for caregiving and special needs moms began. If you are a mom to a child, any age, with any disability, challenge or diagnosis, We Are Brave Together is here for you. If you have a child with special health care needs, with or without a diagnosis, you are welcome to be a part of this community. The Brave Together podcast is here to remind you that you are NOT ALONE in your motherhood journey!
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
In this practical episode - and our final episode for season 3, Jessica Patay and Michelle Sullivan explore how Michelle has turned advocacy into a thriving business; her insights are inspiring and will certainly invite listeners towards movements of creative bravery!
Michelle Sullivan owns @littlest_warrior apparel and is the author of the children’s
book Eli, Included. Michelle is the founder and executive producer of the Advocate Like a Mother podcast. Find her at @meeshellsullivan
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here**.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook*.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message* here****.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!**
In the lives of families with children with unique needs or disability, there are often (sometimes unusual) habits created to keep our kid safe, or calm, or to reduce sensory overload, pain, or unneeded difficulty. These little (or big) “staples” of daily life mean the world for families with children who have a disability. In this episode, Billie Short shares her gratitude for a staple of her household - one the Short family has held for 23 years. This is her story about a band that - if you’ve had kids - you just might recognize: The Wiggles.
Billie Short is a Certified Life Coach. She works with caregivers and her mission is to support caregivers and help them develop tools to care for themselves first and by doing so be better caregivers to those they love. She is also the We Are Brave Together Support Group Facilitator for the Long Beach/North Orange County area of California.
Find Billie Short and her blog at: conversation4change.com/blog
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here**.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook*.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message* here****.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!**
In this practical episode with Suzi Lula, Jessica and her guest discuss a new way of thinking around boundaries. What are they, really? What does it mean to “set boundaries” in a way that honors and encourages everyone involved? Can we practice boundaries that encourage cooperation and foster deeper connections?
Suzi Lula, M.A., A.L.S.P., is a Spiritual Counselor, Teacher and Inspirational Speaker. Over her 20 years in private practice, along with her master’s degree training in spiritual psychology, Suzi is transforming the way people think about motherhood, and we are so excited to have her back on the show!
Find Suzi Lula on her website: https://suzilula.com/ or on Instagram @suzi.lula.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
In this very special episode (Episode 100!), Jessica shares the story of the night in 2016 she and Chris told their son Ryan about his Prader-Willi syndrome diagnosis. Ryan was 13 at the time of this story. After, Ryan, himself, joins Jessica behind the mic to share his thoughts and questions about the journey in his own words. You may want a few tissues nearby for this life-giving, raw, and heart-lifting episode.
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With so much overwhelm, it can be easy to crumble under a sense that we are either ‘not enough,’ or that we are ‘too much.’ In episode 99, Laura Lee and Jessica Patay explore a topic recently covered at one of the Brave Together retreats: how to heal from the sense that we are either less or more than what our family and circumstances require.
Learn more about Laura Lee at www.lauraleelife.com.
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We spend a lot of time on the podcast sharing messages and stories that are good reminders of what moms and caretakers need to hear - the reminders that we need to repeat to strengthen, encourage and inspire us through hard days. Today, Jessica and her guest share a conversation about what our kids need to hear. Whatever their ability, diagnosis, their struggle… on the hard, complicated days - what do they need to hear? In celebration of Father’s Day, Brave Together invites author, speaker, pastor and poet Jason Hague to share a letter to his son Jack, who has autism.
Learn more about Jason at his website: www.jasonhague.com
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In a world where children and young people who have disabilities are at an increased risk of being abused compared with their non-disabled peers, how can a parent learn to manage their fears and protect their children? On this week’s episode of Brave Together, Jessica Patay and expert advisor Toby Stark discuss some of the most important questions parents need to ask of the organizations supporting and caring for youth.
Learn more about Toby’s incredible work here: https://starkcg.net/
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We all need heroes, and every mom who shares her story here is offering something heroic - in vulnerability, they hold up a mirror, a place we can go to witness parts of our own paths, and be reminded that we aren’t alone. This journey is hard. Whether it’s fellow moms in the trenches, or heroes of a totally different kind - we are surrounded by heroes giving us strength to look ahead.
Effie Parks of Once Upon a Gene Podcast shares her story today… about some of the things that one of her own heroes - Michael J Fox - taught her about staying rooted in the present - when the future feels like too much.
Find Effie’s amazing podcast
Find Effie on Instagram
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Sex isn’t something parents usually think of when they think of “self-care,” but the fact is, in the lives of many partnered moms - in and beyond the disability community - undistracted time to connect intimately with their spouse or partner is hard to find. In an effort to protect an incredibly important part of our health and wellbeing, Jessica chats with Cindy Scharkey, a nurse and therapist, about a few ways to encourage, uplift and make time for a healthy, loving sex life in the midst of overwhelm.
Find Cindy’s amazing podcast
Find Ciny on Instagram
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This life can be incredible. It is profoundly beautiful AND… it can be profoundly isolating. Especially when a lack of diagnosis or cooperation or understanding from family, doctors, and teachers makes it difficult for us to see a way forward for our kids!
Kam Katen’s story is one that invites us into the shoes of that profound confusion and loneliness, and her conversation with Jessica is a down-to-earth celebration of how telling our stories can break the power of isolation and uncertainty.
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What do you do when everything is going wrong? How do you zoom out enough to see things clearly - instead of reacting in fear or desperation? Jessica Patay and Yoga Instructor/Entrepreneur, D’Andre Clayton talk about the power of a regular breath practice to help develop clear-headedness and build peaceful foundations for our perspectives on the challenges of life.
Find D’Andre on Instagram @dandreclayton @hotyogahealthyyou
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“Dear Younger Me” is a long-standing Brave Together tradition. In celebration of Mother’s Day, we hear from several moms farther ahead in their mothering journey, about what they would share with their younger selves. We hope you enjoy their messages of wisdom, and encouragement - remember, you are not alone.
Thanks so Cindy Kaplan, Elizabeth Greskovics, Billie Short, Renay Compere, Kimberly Storr, Patti Jasinski, and Cassandra Sines for their wise, empowering, humorous, and heart-lifting messages in this episode.
We look forward to an in-person Dear Younger Me event in 2023! In the meantime, you do get a flavor of this when you attend our retreats! If you are interested in attending a WABT retreat, make sure you sign up on the website to receive our emails and newsletters.
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Rose Reif is a therapist who helps adults with disabilities who are struggling with anxiety, depression, transitions, and other challenges - and - she counsels parents of kids with disabilities who are overwhelmed by guilt, fear, isolation, and who are finding it impossible to care for themselves. Jessica and Rose talk about the difference between burnout and compassion fatigue, and a few practical shifts that may lead us to healing from both.
Find Rose at https://rosereif.com
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In this altered family life, siblings occupy a sacred space, learning to carry the beautiful and the brutal sides of life while also being the brother or sister of a loved one with a disability. Growing up in this space comes with a price, and today author Kate Swenson, of Finding Cooper’s Voice, shares a sweet letter she wrote to her second son, Sawyer, containing her hopes, fears, and promises for him as her son, and as Cooper’s brother.
Find Kate on Instagram
Find Kate’s book: Forever Boy
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We Are Brave Together is full of amazing stories - we all have so much to share with the world, about our journeys, our families, about this altered life. Have you ever wanted to put it all down on paper? Has it ever crossed your mind that, “Hey, maybe I should write a book.” If so, this episode is for you. Joy Eggerich Reed, a literary agent, speaker and author, is here to completely demystify the process for us. Hint: it’s easier than you might think.
Find Joy on Instagram
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Think back on your journey… maybe it was sometime in the early days of your child’s diagnosis. Maybe it was sometime during the process of early schooling or therapy… Maybe it was a health crisis, or an unthinking word from a friend or family member… Either way, we’ve all had “low points.” Maybe you’re going through that “low point” right now.
But know this: you are not alone.
Today, we have Kelley Coleman sharing about her heart cry for parents at their low point.
Kelley is a screenwriter, author, speaker, and advocate. Learn more about Kelley:
www.kelleycoleman.com
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April Rehrig joins Jessica Patay in a punchy overview of how to handle 504s and IEPs in the transition from high school to college! You’ll want to take notes for this episode.
April is a cross-trained special education advocate who teaches real-world positive communication strategies for assessment and IEP development. She finds success in reframing the mindset of parents, teachers and students.
We’ve included all of April’s mentioned resources below.
Books:
Hamblet, E. (2017). From high school to college; Steps to success for students with disabilities. Arlington, VA: Council for Exceptional Children.
Websites:
April's website:
aprilrehrig.com
Elizabeth Hamblet’s website:
www.ldadvisory.com
My Future Plan- Transition Planning Resource for Students, Families and Professionals:
http://www.going-to-college.org
PACER Center Q & A on Section 504 & Postsecondary Education:
http://www.pacer.org/publications/adaqu/504.asp
OCR Auxiliary Aids and Services for Postsecondary Students with Disabilities:
http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/auxaids.html
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You know those days… when there’s that one thing - that one little thing - that pushes you over the edge? Those moments of derealization and overwhelm can be horrible… but they can also offer a window of insight and catharsis. Speaking to that window, today we have the effervescent and hilarious Megan Dolan (see her TedX talk here) sharing her take on looking for peace in the midst of the madness.
Find Megan:
Facebook -- @TheLemurMom
Instagram -- @lemurmomshow
Medium -- @megandolanwingate
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Daniel and his family have spent a lot of time in the hospital. At the age of 12 months, Daniel’s first child Lucas was diagnosed with the rare disease Menkes Syndrome. In this episode, Daniel shares some practical, effective tips to help those trips and stays feel less chaotic.
Daniel co-founded DISORDER: The Rare Disease Film Festival and later The Disorder Channel, both dedicated to spreading awareness for patient families facing any of the more than 7,000 rare diseases. Find Daniel’s work and learn more at The Rare Disease Film Festival
https://www.rarediseasefilmfestival.com/ or on their Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/rarediseasefilmfestival
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In this community, it can be especially hard to find time to process our feelings. The demands of life don’t wait for us to process or neatly put them away. So, when grief hits close to home, it can be hard to even imagine putting one step in front of another. Rory Hunter has some wisdom to share about the time and space that grief needs. Her story is a beautiful and vulnerable one, and we hope that her contemplative words on grief - and the rich conversation that follows - will help you, or someone you love.
Learn more about Rory: https://beautyinthebrokenness.me/about/
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PART 2 - IEP’s are a foggy, foggy sea... but in this two-part episode, hear some sharp tips on navigating the process and the all-important meetings with your child’s IEP team. For over 28 years, Elizabeth Bloom has worked as a teacher, administrator, program director and learning specialist. It was the the experience of raising a child with a disability that led her to
move out of the educational system and into the advocacy realm. We hope this two-part episode is helpful for you!
Email Elizabeth: ebloom.education@gmail.com
Find Elizabeth: https://decodingdyslexiaca.org
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PART 1 -- IEPs are a foggy, foggy sea... but in this two-part episode, hear some sharp tips on navigating the process and the all-important meetings with your child’s IEP team. For over 28 years, Elizabeth Bloom has worked as a teacher, administrator, program director and learning specialist. It was the the experience of raising a child with a disability that led her to
move out of the educational system and into the advocacy realm. We hope this two-part episode is helpful for you!
Email Elizabeth: ebloom.education@gmail.com
Find Elizabeth: https://decodingdyslexiaca.org
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We talk a lot on the podcast about perspective… about how to zoom out and take good care of our momma hearts. But… what about the really, REALLY bad days, when you don’t want to hear any of the usual comforting words, when truisms and platitudes do more harm than good? What about the days you need to grieve? Today, Let Jess’s beautiful, raw, and honest words be a cry of catharsis - for you, for your partner, or for a friend of yours.
Learn more about Jess:
Website: jessplusthemess.com
Website: https://www.thelucasproject.org/
Podcast: https://anchor.fm/jess-ronne
Instagram: @jessplusthemess
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Is a High School Diploma actually the right route for your child? In this practical Brave Together episode, Jessica and Advocate, Kristen Carmi and Transition Expert, Dr. Gwen Palafox discuss - in detail - the tips, tricks, questions, and considerations to pose when making this important decision, and navigating your child’s journey through their school district.
Learn more about Kristen Carmi at www.sbcadvocates.com
Learn more about Dr. Gwen Palafox at www.meaningfulgrowth.com
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In this week’s Story episode, Ryane Nicole Granados shares the wisdom she’s learned from the moments in life that shatter our expectations, predictions, and preconceptions of the future. Ryane is a speaker, writer, and absolute powerhouse, and her story about raising her son Joshua, is a poetic and compelling exploration of how to live life without a roadmap. Find Ryane @awriterslyfe on Instagram.
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At We Are Brave Together, we are huge proponents of therapy. Whether you're new to the world of therapy, an old veteran, or if you've struggled to find the right fit, we wanted to provide some practical tools to help you in your search. In our first Practical episode of Brave Together Podcast, Season 3, we're hearing from Kimberly Kooy and Chris Ioimo - two licensed marriage and family therapists and partners of We Are Brave Together - about how to find the right therapist.
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Our first episode of Season Three is a Story Episode from Izzie Duval, mother of Dallas. Izzie and her family have had what might be called a… unique…quarantine experience. Izzie’s amazing words will bring inspiration, wisdom, and encouragement for when the tough moments of this altered life feel more like marathons than sprints. Find Izzie’s work @wishcometrueco on IG and Facebook.
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Are you ready for Season 3? Our first episode drops TOMORROW! Host Jessica Patay and podcast producer and editor Madeleine Inskeep-Hewitt chat about what’s in store, and the things they are most excited about in the months ahead. We’re up to new and exhilarating things!
What’s YOUR biggest dream for the podcast and the We Are Brave Community? We want to know!
Learn more about Madeleine’s podcast work at MPowered.
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Welcome to Season Three! Check out the trailer to hear host Jessica Patay share what’s in store for this season, and find out about some exciting changes to the podcast coming in February!
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys. Learn more about our work and JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
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Say goodbye to Season Two of the Brave Together podcast. Today, Jessica shares a short reflection on the year, and a reminder of our power to choose the best for ourselves and our families.
Brave Together Podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp, an organization working to make professional counseling accessible, affordable, convenient - so anyone can get help, anytime, anywhere from the world's largest network of licensed, accredited, and experienced counselors. For a 10% discount off of your first month, visit www.betterhelp.com/wearebravetogether.
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Happy Holidays! Today on the podcast, we reissue our episode with Suzi Lula and Jessica Patay, discussing how moms might be able to set new precedents of peace during an often pressure-filled time.
Brave Together Podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp, an organization working to make professional counseling accessible, affordable, convenient - so anyone can get help, anytime, anywhere from the world's largest network of licensed, accredited, and experienced counselors. For a 10% discount off of your first month, visit www.betterhelp.com/wearebravetogether.
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We continue our Dear Younger Me series in episode 75 of the Brave Together Podcast , where seasoned moms share their stories and the wisdom they’ve learned over the years of parenting children with special needs.
This episode, hear from Carrie Wetsch and Jessica Baer, both of whom have sons with Down Syndrome.
Brave Together Podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp, an organization working to make professional counseling accessible, affordable, convenient - so anyone can get help, anytime, anywhere from the world's largest network of licensed, accredited, and experienced counselors. For a 10% discount off of your first month, visit www.betterhelp.com/wearebravetogether.
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Did you know that over 40% of people with a disability do not have a family member or friend who is there to provide additional support or care when needed? Meet Lisa Dempsey, a mom, grandmother, active caregiver, advocate and CEO whose mission is to inspire a sense of belonging and be a source of joy for people with disabilities. The Forgotten Wishes foundation is her family’s brainchild, focusing on creating community for and bringing awareness to an often forgotten and marginalized group of people. The Forgotten Wishes Foundation and the Forget Me Not Club organize community groups and remember individuals personally with birthday cards, holiday greetings, and small gifts they receive in the mail.
Brave Together Podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp, an organization working to make professional counseling accessible, affordable, convenient - so anyone can get help, anytime, anywhere from the world's largest network of licensed, accredited, and experienced counselors. For a 10% discount off of your first month, visit www.betterhelp.com/wearebravetogether.
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How do we help our growing children with disabilities to understand their sexuality - whatever form it takes? Jessica interviews Kim Rossow about the top 5 questions she receives in episode 73. Kim is the Parent/Caregiver Education Specialist for Mad Hatter Wellness, and has over 20 years of experience in sexual health education and wellness. Her real expertise comes from her 15 years of parenting her three unique children, including one child who has a profound intellectual and developmental disability. Check out episode 73 of the @bravetogetherpod and look up Kim’s work today!
www.madhatterwellness.com
www.sexualityforallabilities.com
Disability and Porn - Important Conversation for Parents and Caregivers
Brave Together Podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp, an organization working to make professional counseling accessible, affordable, convenient - so anyone can get help, anytime, anywhere from the world's largest network of licensed, accredited, and experienced counselors. For a 10% discount off of your first month, visit www.betterhelp.com/wearebravetogether.
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This week, Jessica has a special message for moms everywhere: You Are Worth the Rest You Need! It IS possible to get away - we promise! For moms of children with special needs, We Are Brave Together offers group retreats for $200 a person, covering bed and board (with scholarship opportunities!) Visit our website to learn more. You are not alone!
Brave Together Podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp, an organization working to make professional counseling accessible, affordable, convenient - so anyone can get help, anytime, anywhere from the world's largest network of licensed, accredited, and experienced counselors. For a 10% discount off of your first month, visit www.betterhelp.com/wearebravetogether.
Meet Katie, a certified child life specialist, podcast host and creator of Child Life On Call. She and Jessica discuss how to support parents, kids and medical care teams with the tools they deserve. She combines the expertise of a child life specialist and the heart of a momma to help parents go from overwhelmed to empowered. With over a decade of in-hospital experience, Katie has helped hundreds of families cope with and navigate challenging life events. Enjoy this episode with Jessica and Katie, and learn more about child life specialist work @childlifeoncall
Brave Together Podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp, an organization working to make professional counseling accessible, affordable, convenient - so anyone can get help, anytime, anywhere from the world's largest network of licensed, accredited, and experienced counselors. For a 10% discount off of your first month, visit www.betterhelp.com/wearebravetogether.
Today on the podcast we continue our series on culture and disability, exploring the intersection of Latinx culture, family norms, and multiple diagnoses. Angie and Terri invite us into their stories and discuss their experiences raising children with disabilities while navigating cultural assumptions. Angie is the facilitator of the We Are Brave Together San Diego support group, while Terri leads our virtual support group for Spanish-speaking moms. You can find Angie on IG at @angie_robinson619 and hear about her work on the SPEDMom Podcast.
Brave Together Podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp, an organization working to make professional counseling accessible, affordable, convenient - so anyone can get help, anytime, anywhere from the world's largest network of licensed, accredited, and experienced counselors. For a 10% discount off of your first month, visit www.betterhelp.com/wearebravetogether.
Today on the podcast, Jessica Patay and Effie Parks from @onceuponagene discuss the importance of community, and the tension that arises when you feel betrayed by the professionals during your child’s diagnosis process. Effie’s story and wisdom is rich and relevant - don’t miss this episode!
About Effie and @onceuponagene - When Effie’s son, Ford, was born with an extremely rare genetic condition called CTNNB1 syndrome, she dove headfirst into the world of advocacy. CTNNB1 syndrome is caused by a deletion, partial deletion, or mutation of the CTNNB1 gene. It is a neurological condition that can cause a range of symptoms from mild developmental delays to severe physical and intellectual disabilities. To help herself and others cope with and manage raising a child with a disability or rare genetic condition, Effie started the Once Upon a Gene podcast. She shares her personal stories and interviews other parents, patients, advocates, doctors, scientists, and more.
Dr. Regan is the oldest sister to 2 brothers on the autism spectrum and has been in the autism field for over a decade. She is an interdisciplinary professional drawing from her work in social work, special education, community-based services, and research to create person-affirming teams and support networks around autistic people as they grow up. Find the organization's resources: www.autismgrownup.com/toolbox and follow them @autismgrownup .
Tara has worked in elementary to high schools, universities, recreational camp programs, community-based services, and day programs. She has also been an autism researcher and instructor working with future educators and professionals, community organizations, and schools. In 2018, she earned her doctorate at UNC-Chapel Hill in the Applied Developmental Science and Special Education Program and founded Autism Grown Up.
This week, we are continuing our series shining a light on rare diseases. This week, we hear from Jodie Hughes and her beautiful daughter, Jadynne, who is six years old and diagnosed with Mowat-Wilson Syndrome, an incredibly rare condition.
What is a rare disease? In the US, it is defined as a condition that affects fewer than 200,000 people. Research is often lacking, and it can take years for a family to get a correct diagnosis. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) states there are more than 7,000 rare diseases, and that number is growing.
"How can the unexpected lead to transformation? Why is school inclusion for children with disabilities so important? Jessica and Jillian Benfield address both of these questions, and so many more in episode 66. Listen today!
Jillian Benfield @jillianbenfieldblog is a former TV Journalist and PR Specialist turned military spouse and mom of three. Her second child, Anderson, surprised their family when he arrived rocking an extra chromosome--also known as Down syndrome. When she is not moving to a new state, or transporting kids to doctor appointments, she is writing faith and parenting a child with a disability on her website, www.JillianBenfield.com and is currently working on her book set to publish with Bethany House in spring of 2023. Visit her website to download her free ebooks!
Brave Together Podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp, an organization working to make professional counseling accessible, affordable, convenient - so anyone can get help, anytime, anywhere from the world's largest network of licensed, accredited, and experienced counselors. For a 10% discount off of your first month, visit www.betterhelp.com/wearebravetogether.
Today on the @bravetogetherpod, Jessica Patay speaks with Charlie of @ouralteredlife. Based on the lessons learned during her journey as a special needs parent, plunged into a world she never expected or was prepared for, Charlie shares the incredible impact of our own self-talk and empowers people to break through their own limiting beliefs to find the happiness and success they deserve.
Charlie Beswick is a first class psychology graduate, award-winning blogger, published author, charity founder, professional speaker, trainer and coach. She’s mum to teenagers Oliver and Harry and a self-confessed cheesaholic and gin lover!
You can connect with her on facebook and instagram at @ouralteredlife.
Brave Together Podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp, an organization working to make professional counseling accessible, affordable, convenient - so anyone can get help, anytime, anywhere from the world's largest network of licensed, accredited, and experienced counselors. For a 10% discount off of your first month, visit www.betterhelp.com\wearebrave together.
Meet Marikay Cuthill on episode 64 of the @bravetogetherpod. Marikay Cuthill is mother of Maci, a vibrant, curious 16-year-old on the Autism Spectrum, and the founder of Maci And Pebble (MAP), a community dedicated to helping people navigate autism by finding answers, direction and peace of mind. She started MAP after spending countless hours living through and watching her daughter go through various evaluations, rigorous tests, therapies, treatments and supplements. MAP is Marikay’s way of sharing her experiences and resources with the hope of making other people’s lives easier.
https://profectum.org/
https://maciandpebble.com/
*Brave Together Podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp, an organization working to make professional counseling accessible, affordable, convenient - so anyone can get help, anytime, anywhere from the world's largest network of licensed, accredited, and experienced counselors. For a 10% discount off of your first month, visit www.betterhelp.com/wearebravetogether.
We are Brave Together founder Jessica Patay and Life Coach Kara Ryska discuss a much-requested topic in episode 63 of the @bravetogetherpod - Decision Fatigue. How do we defend against burnout, indecision, and resignation? Find out today on the Brave Together podcast!
In 2011, Kara became a mom to a special needs child as she and her husband received the crushing diagnosis of a huge and horrible tumor in her then 2 year old's brain. Kara is certified as a coach through the International Coaches Federation and through her years of coaching has developed tools to especially support women up against immovable and impossible circumstances. She hosts a weekly podcast called The Special Needs Mom Podcast. Through this podcast, she is creating a watering well for moms who often feel alone and in desperate need of support and connection.
Brave Together Podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp, an organization working to make professional counseling accessible, affordable, convenient - so anyone can get help, anytime, anywhere from the world's largest network of licensed, accredited, and experienced counselors. For a 10% discount off of your first month, visit www.betterhelp.com\wearebrave together.
Today on the @bravetogetherpod, Moira Cleary and Jessica Patay speak about the gut feelings we have as mothers about our children. Moira has two amazing daughters with over 15 conditions. She is a Certified and Accredited Professional Coach and Mindfulness Practitioner, and the host of the Surviving the Waiting Room Podcast and the Parent + Caregiver Summit. Join her Insider's Club for access to her resources!
Brave Together Podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp, an organization working to make professional counseling accessible, affordable, convenient - so anyone can get help, anytime, anywhere from the world's largest network of licensed, accredited, and experienced counselors. For a 10% discount off of your first month, visit www.betterhelp.com\wearebrave together.
We wanted to slide in this bonus episode to give you hope as the new school year begins. It's a reminder that 1. Moms make things happen for their children. 2. More trailblazers everywhere are making changes and possibilities for our children! Anything is possible.
In this special Bonus Episode, Jessica interviews Natally Raisin, the founder of Willowcrest School in North Hollywood, a progressive center for the early education of neurodivergent children. Natally is a young mom of two, and her son Henry has autism. Natally built Willowcrest school to give Henry and others an educational, supportive, and nourishing environment.
You can learn more about her work at www.willowcrestschool.com.
Brave Together Podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp, an organization working to make professional counseling accessible, affordable, convenient - so anyone can get help, anytime, anywhere from the world's largest network of licensed, accredited, and experienced counselors. For a 10% discount off of your first month, visit www.betterhelp.com\wearebrave together.
Have you met Michele Knowlton-Thorne? Today on the podcast, Jessica Patay and Michele talk about the power of care for the care-givers. We cannot wait to share her Trailblazing work with you!
After both of her children were diagnosed with autism and she saw the need to provide parents with emotional, physical and educational support, Michele Knowlton-Thorne founded D.A.M.E.S LLC. Before founding D.A.M.E.S Michele worked as a geneticist at TGen and has an undergraduate degree in Molecular Biosciences and Biotechnology and a Master of Science Degree from Arizona State University. She also worked as an adjunct professor, re-wrote biological manuals for ASU, published in peer-reviewed journal articles and is the author of a STEM picture book series. After the diagnosis of her children she founded D.A.M.E.S, became a Certified Autism Specialist and founded the Care for the Giver Conference. Michele also sits on the ALTCS Advisory Council as a parent representative and the ICC Financial Committee.
Brave Together Podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp, an organization working to make professional counseling accessible, affordable, convenient - so anyone can get help, anytime, anywhere from the world's largest network of licensed, accredited, and experienced counselors. For a 10% discount off of your first month, visit www.betterhelp.com\wearebrave together.
Susanna Peace Lovell shares the story of her experiences growing up mixed-race, and about the joys, heartbreaks, and cultural realities of raising her daughter Arizona to know her extended family in Taiwan. Arizona has multiple challenges and diagnoses including autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, anxiety and myriad food allergies. This is a rich and powerful episode, opening the door for desperately needed conversations about the relationship between race, culture, and disability.
Learn more about Susanna at her website, www.susannapeacelovell.com.
Brave Together Podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp, an organization working to make professional counseling accessible, affordable, convenient - so anyone can get help, anytime, anywhere from the world's largest network of licensed, accredited, and experienced counselors. For a 10% discount off of your first month, visit www.betterhelp.com/wearebravetogether.
Today, Jessica Patay and author Kristin Armstrong discuss how pain is a catalyst and a conduit to growth and healing.
Kristin Armstrong is the author of eight books including: Happily Ever After, Strength for the Climb, Work in Progress: An Unfinished Woman’s Guide to Grace, Heart of my Heart, Mile Markers: The 26.2 Most Important Reasons Why Women Run, Ties that Bind and YES.
Her work has led to appearances on Oprah, The Rachel Ray Show, Hour of Power at the Crystal Cathedral, The 700 Club, NPR, Good Morning America and The Today Show. Kristin went back to school alongside her kids and got a Master's in Clinical Mental Health and is currently an LPC-Associate supervised by Dr. Sunny Lansdale, LPC, an EMDR clinician, and a Channeled Light energy healer.
She sees adolescent and adult clients and specializes in relationships, communication, identity shifts and transition zones, divorce recovery, parenting coaching, and healing from trauma.
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We continue our series Shine a Light on Rare Diseases, and this week we speak to Madeline Cheney @the_rare_life about her adorable son, Kimball, and about living with grief and guilt as a mother and genetic carrier. Madeline is the leader of the Utah @wearebravetogether support group, so please do reach out if you live in the area and want to join the community. She is also the creator and host of The Rare Life, a podcast about parenting children with rare medical conditions. Her gracious, vulnerable words will inspire and comfort any mother carrying similar questions; you are not alone!
Continuing the Brave Together series celebrating Trailblazing Moms, this week Jessica speaks with Jess Ronne, an author, speaker, podcast host, and caregiver advocate.
Jess Ronne is founder and executive director of The Lucas Project—a non-profit dedicated to providing recognition, resources, and respite for special needs families. She and her husband Ryan live in Tennessee with their 8 children, including their son Lucas who has profound special needs. Her story of beauty from ashes has been shared on The Today Show, Daily Mail and Huffington Post and is detailed in her memoir Sunlight Burning at Midnight. To follow the ongoing saga she can be found at www.jessplusthemess.com or www.thelucasproject.org.
Brave Together Podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp, an organization working to make professional counseling accessible, affordable, convenient - so anyone can get help, anytime, anywhere from the world's largest network of licensed, accredited, and experienced counselors. For a 10% discount off of your first month, visit www.betterhelp.com/wearebrave together.
What will it take to change the way society cares for the basic needs of carers and those with disabilities in public spaces? How can we create a world where more families can leave the house knowing they have somewhere to attend their needs with dignity?
Jessica interviews Christina Abernethy, a mom and the founder of Love, Hope and Autism. Christina is proud to be the coordinator for Changing Spaces Pennsylvania, a movement to build accessible restrooms with powered height adjustable adult sized changing tables across communities to promote inclusion. She is working with legislators to pass a bill in Pennsylvania that would require such facilities in hospitals, airports, museums, rest stops, sports arenas and more. For her efforts, she won the ACHIEVA Award Of Excellence for Family Support in 2018 and in 2019 was awarded a medal by the Autism Connection of Pennsylvania. Christina is committed to spreading a message of heightened awareness and acceptance of differences, ultimately inspiring hope.
Brave Together Podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp, an organization working to make professional counseling accessible, affordable, convenient - so anyone can get help, anytime, anywhere from the world's largest network of licensed, accredited, and experienced counselors. For a 10% discount off of your first month, visit www.betterhelp.com/wearebrave together.
Jessica’s daughter Kate shares how being a sibling has shaped her, and offers wonderful wisdom and insight into the hearts and minds of siblings to children with special needs. Kate is 15, youngest sibling to Luke and Ryan, and she loves her brothers fiercely and unconditionally.
In this episode of the Brave Together podcast, Jessica speaks about some of the things she has learned while raising Ryan. What really matters as we guide our children into adulthood? Do we need to work to change every behavior that is not a neuro-typical behavior? Do we really need to try and "fix" things? Or, can we make peace with our children and let them change US, instead?
Brave Together Podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp, an organization working to make professional counseling accessible, affordable, convenient - so anyone can get help, anytime, anywhere from the world's largest network of licensed, accredited, and experienced counselors. For a 10% discount off of your first month, visit www.betterhelp.com\wearebravetogether. ⠀
We are celebrating stepdads! Any parent that steps wholeheartedly into a new family is a courageous, powerful soul. For families with children who have special needs, the courage and vulnerability of stepdads is so worth celebrating. Continuing our Father's Day series highlighting dads, this week on the Brave Together pod Jessica interviews Danielle Peretz and Khaled Al Khatib. Khaled is stepdad to Kai.
Brave Together Podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp, an organization working to make professional counseling accessible, affordable, convenient - so anyone can get help, anytime, anywhere from the world's largest network of licensed, accredited, and experienced counselors. For a 10% discount off of your first month, visit www.betterhelp.com\wearebravetogether.
Today on the podcast Jessica and Chris Patay talk about fatherhood, and Chris’s journey over the years raising Luke, Kate, and their son, Ryan, who has Prader-Willi syndrome, a rare, genetic disorder. Jessica interviews Chris about the duality of joy and pain in being a father, as well as the vital power of community for dads.
Brave Together Podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp, an organization working to make professional counseling accessible, affordable, convenient - so anyone can get help, anytime, anywhere from the world's largest network of licensed, accredited, and experienced counselors. For a 10% discount off of your first month, visit www.betterhelp.com\wearebravetogether.
On this episode of the Brave Together podcast, Jessica speaks with Ashley Barlow, an SPED Attorney and Advocate about the top 5 traits that can help parents be effective in advocating for kids during their journeys through the education system.
In a former life, Ashley was a German teacher in Jefferson County Public Schools and Cincinnati Public Schools, having taught nearly every grade from K to 12. She also taught Real Estate and Business Law at Miami University. Her areas of practice now include special education, family law, estate planning, and probate. She serves on the State Advisory Board for Exceptional Children in Kentucky, the National Down Syndrome Advocacy Coalition at the National Down Syndrome Congress and the Education Advisory Board and the Government Affairs Committee at the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati (past president of the Board). She participated in the Institute of Special Education at William and Mary College of Law in 2016, returning for the Alumni Track in 2017 and serving as faculty in 2020. She also holds an Advanced Advocacy Certificate from the Council of Parents Attorneys and Advocates. Ashley practices state wide in Kentucky and Ohio, and when not working, she is normally at the pool with her husband and two sons, one of whom has Down syndrome.
Learn more about her practice and webinars at ashleybarlowco.com. Ashley is on Facebook and IG, and also has a podcast called Special Education Advocacy.
Brave Together Podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp, an organization working to make professional counseling accessible, affordable, convenient - so anyone can get help, anytime, anywhere from the world's largest network of licensed, accredited, and experienced counselors. For a 10% discount off of your first month, visit www.betterhelp.com\wearebravetogether.
Laurie Magulac returns to the Brave Together podcast to speak with Jessica about invisible illnesses… how do we advocate for children with unseen special needs, how do we set boundaries with family and friends that do not understand, and what is it like to teach a child to advocate for themselves as they grow?
Laurie Magulac is a life coach, educator, and mother of four, ages twelve to young adult. Special needs parenting found her the day she brought home two bouncy foster siblings with, it turned out, a dozen medical, developmental and mental health disabilities. Raising and advocating for them and their two younger sisters, one of whom also has special needs, inspired her book, Get Your Joy Back: Banishing Resentment and Reclaiming Confidence in Your Special Needs Family.
Brave Together Podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp, an organization working to make professional counseling accessible, affordable, convenient - so anyone can get help, anytime, anywhere from the world's largest network of licensed, accredited, and experienced counselors. For a 10% discount off of your first month, visit www.betterhelp.com\wearebravetogether.
Today on the Brave Together Pod, we hear from Michele and Julie, two mothers of adult children with multiple special needs. Listen and hear their wisdom, their vulnerability, and celebration stories.
Julie Paterson draws her energy by being and connecting with others. She’s been married to the love of her life for 31 years and is grateful to be blessed with two amazing sons, Kyle and Dylan. Both boys have had their own struggles with mental illness-Kyle with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Dylan with Autism Spectrum Disorder. With the help of professionals, family, and friends both boys are doing extremely well. Currently, Julie is a member of Special Children’s League of South Bay and is a fitness instructor at Coreology Fitness in Palos Verdes. She finds this role similar to her coaching role as a special needs mother.
Michele is a native Californian who is happiest when with her family and friends. She’s been married for 30 years to her husband Tony and is a proud mother to Max (28) and Katie (24). She enjoys volunteering and has been involved in Special Children’s League South Bay for the last 10 years. She is a part time substitute teacher and enjoys walking, knitting and being outdoors….especially at the beach.
Brave Together Podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp, an organization working to make professional counseling accessible, affordable, convenient - so anyone can get help, anytime, anywhere from the world's largest network of licensed, accredited, and experienced counselors. For a 10% discount off of your first month, visit www.betterhelp.com\wearebravetogether.
This week, we hear from returning guest Sarah Swindell, author of Rounding Home. She shares a little more of her family’s journey, and in this conversation, Jessica and Sarah pinpoint some of the biggest ingredients in walking the long road from tragedy to triumph.
Sarah Swindell lives in the Austin area with her husband, Greg, a former Major League Baseball player and 2019 Texas Sports Hall of Fame Inductee. Sarah is a mother of four, a commercial actress/model and has been working in the industry for over thirty years, and is the author of Rounding Home - A Memoir of Love, Betrayal, Heartbreak, and Hope with an Intimate Look into Raising a Child with Severe Autism. Her son was diagnosed with severe autism at the age of eighteen months and continues to touch people’s hearts to this day.
Brave Together Podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp, an organization working to make professional counseling accessible, affordable, convenient - so anyone can get help, anytime, anywhere from the world's largest network of licensed, accredited, and experienced counselors. For a 10% discount off of your first month, visit www.betterhelp.com\wearebravetogether.
Jessica Patay, Shawn Francis and Brian Altounian dive into why Life Insurance isn’t something to be nervous, confused, or overwhelmed by - especially for families in the special needs community. There are so many ways life insurance can help families live more easily in the present - as well as prepare their children for the future.
Brian and Shawn are hosts of the Just Two Dads podcast and fathers to children with special needs. Shawn has over a decade of experience providing financial education & services to families. Shawn is co-host of the Just Two Dads show, and is an ambassador for Autism Speaks & a member of the Autism Parents Advisory Board of Children's Hospital of Los Angeles. Over the last 30 years, Brian has worked as an Executive across multiple industries. Just under 5 years ago, Brian made the choice to bring his passion & talents to serve the special needs community through to Revolution Financial Management.
Brave Together Podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp, an organization working to make professional counseling accessible, affordable, convenient - so anyone can get help, anytime, anywhere from the world's largest network of licensed, accredited, and experienced counselors. For a 10% discount off of your first month, visit www.betterhelp.com\wearebravetogether.
We are celebrating Stepmoms! Any mother that steps wholeheartedly into a new family is a courageous, powerful soul. For families with children who have special needs, the courage and vulnerability of stepmoms is so worth celebrating. This week on the podcast, in honor of Mother’s Day, Jessica Patay interviews three amazing stepmoms: Tony Salisbury, Daisy Vasquez Vogt, and Jennifer M. McIrnerney.
In this episode of Shine a Light on Rare Diseases, hear Amy Neyer and Carla Zimmerman discuss their children’s’ medical journeys with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and MCAS… and be inspired as they share what brings them and their children joy as the family navigates life with multiple rare diagnoses.
Today on the podcast, Jessica and Stephanie blow the doors wide open on how perfectionism can stop us (and those we love!) from really living. In this inspiring, freeing episode, you’ll hear Stephanie’s amazing story and celebrate with us as we champion the power of identity over ability.
Since sharing her story, Stephanie has achieved viral success with her website, Tinkles Her Pants, which chronicles her journey as a wife to a husband with chronic illness, a mother to children with special needs, and a woman who often unravels then finds her footing again. She can be found leaking nothing but the truth on the Today Show, CNN, Yahoo! News, Google, The Daily Mail, and most recently her TEDx Talk: The Problem with Being Perfect. Stephanie is also a founding board member of the 501(c)(3) non-profit, Labeled and Loved, which provides online resources and connective in-person experiences for special needs families, as well as the host of the Labeled and Loved Podcast.
Find Stephanie at tinklesherpants.com.
This week Jessica Patay interviews Sarah, Laurie and Ann - three warrior moms who’ve picked up the pen and written their stories. We hope that in listening you’ll be encouraged, equipped inspired to write your own story; the world needs to hear it!
Sarah Swindell lives in the Austin area with her husband, Greg, a former Major League Baseball player and 2019 Texas Sports Hall of Fame Inductee. Sarah is a commercial actress/model and has been working in the industry for over thirty years, and is the author of Rounding Home - A Memoir of Love, Betrayal, Heartbreak, and Hope with an Intimate Look into Raising a Child with Severe Autism. Sarah is an avid moviegoer, loves yoga, true-crime podcasts, and advocates for children and adults with autism and other disabilities. Her son was diagnosed with severe autism at the age of eighteen months and continues to touch peoples hearts to this day.
Laurie Magulac is a life coach, educator, and mother of four, ages twelve to young adult. Special needs parenting found her the day she brought home two bouncy foster siblings with, it turned out, a dozen medical, developmental and mental health disabilities. Raising and advocating for them and their two younger sisters, one of whom also has special needs, inspired her book, Get Your Joy Back: Banishing Resentment and Reclaiming Confidence in Your Special Needs Family. Her favorite writer resource is Jeff Goins.
Anne Fricke is a poet, author, storyteller, wife, and mother. She is the creator and host of the podcast, “Walking with Freya, A Journey Through Special Needs Parenting”. She has published two collections of poetry, a novel, and a writing journal for parents of children with special needs titled “There Is Joy To Be Found Here." You can find links to her books, samples of her writing, videos of poetry performances, and her podcast at annefricke.com. Follow the podcast on IG @walkingwithfreya.
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Whether it’s the loss of community and the pain of these last 12 months, a difficult diagnosis, an imagined future, or the loss of a loved one, we all have experienced grief. Today on the show, Jessica Patay and Ashley Jones speak about how we can heal in our grief, how our communities are vital to the process.
Ashley Jones is the founder of Love Not Lost, an organization on a mission to revolutionize the way we grieve in America. Their driving question for everything they do is: “How can we love people better?” You will hear more about Love Not Lost in today’s episode, and will be moved by Ashley’s personal story. If you want to learn more about Ashley Jones, please check out her incredible Tedx Talk, “How we heal in Grief."
As moms, we often carry the flag for our children in the special needs community. Today, Jessica Patay interviews two dads of children with special needs whose experiences as parents have changed the course of their lives, careers, and dreams.
Shawn Francis and his wife of 14 years, Laura, are parents to seven children, one of which is their biological son who is 13 & was diagnosed with Autism at the age of three. Shawn has over a decade of experience providing financial education & services to families. He is co-host of the Just Two Dads show, and is an ambassador for Autism Speaks & a member of the Autism Parents Advisory Board of Children's Hospital of Los Angeles.
Brian Altounian is the father of three children, one of whom is an adult daughter who was diagnosed with a developmental disability at the age of three. She is thriving & living independently today, despite being told by doctors upon her diagnosis that the case would be otherwise! Over the last 30 years, Brian has worked as an Executive across multiple industries. Just under 5 years ago, Brian made the choice to bring his passion & talents to serve the special needs community through to Revolution Financial Management.
@iamshawnfrancis
@brianaltounian
The Just Two Dads Podcast
Have you met Larkin O’Leary? She’s the first guest in our periodical series, “Trailblazing Moms!” which highlights the stories of world-moving mothers in the special needs community!
Larkin O’Leary is the president and co-founder of Common Ground Society. She and her husband Peter have two kids, James (6) and JuneBelle (1.5). Her son James, who was born with Down's Syndrome and hearing loss, is her inspiration! Larkin received her credential through CSU, Chico in 2004, has taught various grades ranging from PreK-8th, and has won several awards in her educational career. Since resigning to care for her son, Larkin has made almost 70 presentations to a wide variety of audiences about how to be inclusive in society. She is a passionate educator advocate who will change the way we view and interact with people who are disabled. Learn more about Larkin’s work at commongroundsociety.org.
Today on the Brave Together podcast, we have our first Celebration Story, with author and speaker, Nicola Irvine!
Nicola was born in New Zealand, and has lived for nearly 30 years in Indonesia, Hong Kong, and the US. Her son Thomas contracted bacterial meningitis at a young age, leaving him with many lifelong challenges. Nicola has since then devoted her life to make a difference for herself, for her son and for others. Learn about her work in today’s episode and at nicolairvine.com.
The cost of this episode today has been underwritten by Scott & Heather Meyer. Because of this generous donation, more of our dollars can go directly to the programs we are offering moms and dads who have children with special needs (or any and all diagnoses and challenges) through our nonprofit organization, We Are Brave Together. If you would like to underwrite a Brave Together episode, just go to our website wearebravetogether.com and click on the DONATE Page. In the comments section of your donation, please indicate that this is specifically to sponsor a Brave Together podcast episode.*
In this episode of the Brave Together podcast, Jessica Patay and her dear friend Kimberly Kooy discuss some of the therapies available for those carrying the trauma that can come from years of extreme caregiving.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy treatment that was originally designed to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories. Learn more about EMDR at www.emdr.com, and learn more about Kimberly Kooy at https://refugecenter.org/bio/kimberly-kooy
Today, Jessica Patay and Samantha Morey speak about how to discern, process and defend against the guilt and shame that can creep into our busy lives! Called to counsel women and families towards wholehearted living, Samantha has a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy from Hope International University, and she works with the Center for Individual and Family Therapy in Torrance, CA.
The idea of Dear Younger Me series came from an annual event that We Are Brave Together offers. Experienced, expert moms share their wisdom on a variety of topics to moms earlier in their journey... it's organic mentoring at its best! This week, we hear stories from Jessica Patay, Linda Ryan and Lisa Graziano about raising adult children with PWS.
Meet the YaYa Sisterhood! In today’s episode, Jessica introduces us to four incredible women who’ve supported one another through thick and thin, for over 35 years. The value of community and friendship is undeniable, and we can’t wait for you to be encouraged by their story.
Chris Ioimo, LMFT, and Clinical Director of Journeys Counseling in Torrance, California, joins Jessica Patay in discussing why conflict can actually strengthen marriages. As a marriage and family counsellor, and having grown up with a medically fragile older brother with special needs, Chris's insights into the unique pressures a marriage can face are so valuable to families during this time.
Jessica Patay and Rachel Rush discuss mindfulness as a practice to help us through the challenging and overwhelming seasons of our lives. Mindfulness is a practical tool that trains our brains to process intense situations with less stress. Rachel is a Certified Mindfulness Teacher through Mindful Schools and is trained in the MindUp Curriculum. She was inspired to teach students mindfulness when she saw the positive impact it had on her own life & teaching. She has eight years of classroom experience and has taught first, third and fifth grade. You can learn more about her work at https://www.mindful-circle.com/.
In this second Rare Diseases Highlight, Jessica Patay speaks with Leah Moore, mother of Jordan, who has Cri du Chat, a rare genetic disorder cause by a partial chromosome deletion. Its name is a French term ("call of the cat") referring to the characteristic cat-like cry of affected children. Leah is a high school educator and mother of three, and and in this episode, she vulnerably and hopefully shares the story of her family. You can find Leah's writing on lovingyoubig.com and find her on Instagram @lovingyoubig.
Why is rejecting self-care actually a symptom of narcissism? Find out in today’s episode from Jessica Patay and Suzi Lula, who talk about the small steps that can help burdened mothers cultivate a strong sense of worthiness - in themselves, and their children. Suzi Lula, M.A., A.L.S.P., is a Spiritual Counselor, Teacher and Inspirational Speaker. Over her 18 years in private practice, along with her master’s degree training in spiritual psychology, Suzi is transforming the way people think about motherhood, and we are so excited to have her back on the show!
This Wednesday, we continue our series on “Self Care,” and what it really means for warrior moms of special needs children to care for themselves. How do we practice Self-Care when it feels Impossible? This week, Jessica interviews Kara Ryska, a certified coach and the host of a weekly podcast called The Special Needs Mom Podcast. Through this podcast, she is creating a watering well for moms who often feel alone and in desperate need of support and connection, and we are so excited for you to hear her thoughts on this vital topic!
As we dive into 2021 and Season Two of the Brave Together podcast, Jessica Patay speaks about some new ways to think about strengthening and caring for ourselves in 2020, and explains the all-important difference between "self-comfort" and true "self-care."
Wow! It’s the end of the year - and of Season One of the Brave Together Podcast! This week, Jessica Patay has some last encouragements for our amazing momma listeners as we step fully into the holidays, and prepare for the months ahead.
Jessica Patay shares what she has learned to embrace and reject as she has had to build and grow resilience over the past 17 years of mothering her son, Ryan, who has Prader-Willi syndrome. What she shares will inspire you to prioritize and build resilience amidst this season of constant change and hardship.
The idea of Dear Younger Me series came from an annual event offered by We Are Brave Together. Experienced, expert moms, share their wisdom on a variety of topics with moms earlier in their motherhood journey. Organic mentoring at its best! We begin with Sheila James, mother to Quinn, who is an amazing artist with Cerebral Palsy, spastic quadriplegia, and optic nerve damage.
Just in time for Thanksgiving, Jessica and Suzi Lula discuss how to prepare our minds, hearts and bodies for a time of year that can be so full of pressure and expectation. This is our first holiday season during COVID... so what does it look like to approach things differently for our own and our family's well-being? Suzi Lula, M.A., A.L.S.P., is a much-sought-after Spiritual Counselor, Teacher and Inspirational Speaker who is an expert in the field of human transformation. Suzi and Jessica firmly believe that a thriving mother is the GREATEST gift we can give our children.
Jessica invites Peace of Heart Community Co-Founder Amy Groshell and Special Needs Educator and Founder of ACCEPTS, Inc., Morgan Tyner on the show to discuss "Presuming Competence." How do we see our children and teach others to see our children with intelligence and brilliance, even when their body and behaviors tell you a different story?
Jessica Patay and Kim Albrecht from the LOMAH podcast discuss the “Future” for special needs children and their parents. What happens when carers and parents can no longer be around for their growing children? What can we do to control the future, if anything? How can we prepare? How can we silence our fear and find the peace we need to plan for our children well? Kim’s energy, optimism and practical advice is full of the encouragement for special needs moms out there who are asking any of these questions. You can find Kim on Instagram @journey2lomah, or on her website and blog: www.lomah.org.
In the months ahead, Jessica Patay will occasionally pause the regular podcast series to highlight lesser known and uncommon diseases. In today’s Rare Disease highlight, we meet Nadine and Becky, moms of children with Epidermolysis Bullosa. EB is an incredibly rare group of genetic conditions that can result in easy blistering and damage of someone’s skin; blisters and painful injury occurs with very minor trauma or friction at any point of contact, and EB’s severity can range from mild to fatal. Nadine and Becky vulnerably share their stories, and about what life is like for their children, and their openness, compassion, and hope in the face of extreme hardship and heartbreak is not to be missed.
In this Bonus Episode covering Social Skills in younger children with special needs, we hear from Monica Fyfe. Monica is a mother of two, a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT # 47541) a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and a Registered Play Therapist- Supervisor Level. As the founder of Our VIllage, Currently Monica works in private practice where she combines her expertise in Play Therapy and Applied Behavior Analysis to consult with school districts, provide talks and workshops to the community and help children and families everyday. Monica also is an instructor at UCSD Extension in their Play Therapy Certificate Program, and a frequent speaker at conventions, schools, trainings and more! While ""Social Skills"" are a huge umbrella of topics, the overview and practical tips that Monica provides are an awesome place to start! Learn more about Our Village at ourvillageslc.org, and be sure to keep an eye out for more of these episodes in the future; there is so much to explore.
In Part Two of our Bonus Episodes covering Social Skills in children with special needs, Cecilia and Jason speak to us about the different levels of play, and the important things parents can keep in mind as we try to guide our children in the skills they need to interact socially. Social Skills is a HUGE topic, and this is just the beginning. Cecilia and Jason have a combined 30 years of experience. Cecilia is a school-based behaviorist, and Jason is B.C.B.A. credentialed; and their knowledge, techniques, and wisdom are a perfect introduction to the wild world of Social Skills. Be sure to keep an eye out for more of these episodes in the future; there is so much to explore.
Dannelle Newnam, LMFT, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Oklahoma, and is Board Certified in Neurofeedback. She is also a certified provider of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy specifically for treating Insomnia. She has a passion for helping kids and adults live fully functional, purposeful lives. Dannelle offers compassion for those who are struggling and is eager to offer help, support and practical tools to establish a clear path to reclaiming mental and emotional health. In today’s conversation, she explains the brain in ADHD and offers some practical advice and discusses the benefits of neurofeedback. She has a unique treatment approach which combines neurofeedback (retraining brain wave activity), which treats the physiological source of many issues, and psychotherapy, which focuses on improving behaviors and mindsets. It is a powerful combination with amazing results!
Find her at @okneuro or okneurofeedback.com.
Jamie Katz, is the Co-Founder of Brain Bridge in Manhattan Beach, California. Brain Bridge specializes in combining brain training with social and emotional well-being for youth and adults, families, businesses and community organizations. Jamie provides learning assessments, personalized cognitive training plans and conducts brain training. Jamie is an Advanced Trainer in the Structure of Intellect (SOI) - a theory that provides learning abilities assessments and training programs aimed at comprehending an individual’s learning style, learning abilities, and how they relate to school, careers and life. In today’s episode, Jamie shares tips for parents as distance-learning is especially difficult on children with ADHD. https://brainbridgesouthbay.com
With Child Psychiatrist, Dr. Lawrence Braslow. Dr. Braslow has 20 years of experience, providing psychotherapy and medication support to his patients, serving both children and adults. He completed his Child and Adolescent training at Cedars-Sinai Medical center, and is in private practice in the South Bay, Southern California. He has remained active training and supervising Child Psychiatry Residents at UCLA, USC, and Cedars- Sinai. He has also acted as Medical Director at Los Angeles Child Guidance Clinic for the past sixteen years, and has experience and value working with an interdisciplinary team. He sees the use of medication as part of an overall treatment plan, rather than solely as a "medical" problem.
Emily Nolan is the host of Brave Talks, a YouTube show and podcast sharing radical honesty and self-acceptance. A former model and Division 1 athlete who struggled deeply with disordered eating, body dysmorphia, and plastic surgery–breast implants, followed by full-body liposuction, and a breast explant–Emily regularly shares her story and message via her award-winning blog, EmilyNolan.com, and across multiple social media platforms, where she has over 250,000 combined followers. Emily is passionate about inspiring women to love and accept themselves, and to refute the societal messages of what it means to be acceptable and worthy.
In Part Two of our series with Meygan Caston, you will hear the most practical advice on something I think we all take for granted: great communication skills! How can we get to the root of some marriage issues if we do not properly learn/re-learn/practice good communication skills?
Meygan Caston is the cofounder of Marriage365, where she and her team specialize in creating online and on-demand resources for engaged and married couples.
Meygan and her husband Casey live in Orange County, Ca and have two kids. Their son was diagnosed with autism and her husband has ADHD so they have a passion to help marriages who have been impacted with special needs.
You can learn more about Marriage365 by visiting marriage365.com
In this episode you will hear the most practical advice from Meygan Caston on something I think we all take for granted: great communication skills! How can we get to the root of some marriage issues if we do not properly learn/re-learn/practice good communication skills?
Meygan Caston is the cofounder of Marriage365, where she and her team specialize in creating online and on-demand resources for engaged and married couples.
Meygan and her husband Casey live in Orange County, Ca and have two kids. Their son was diagnosed with autism and her husband has ADHD so they have a passion to help marriages who have been impacted with special needs.
You can learn more about Marriage365 by visiting marriage365.com.
Guest: Rory Hunter. A woman who is no stranger to loss and grief, a widow and a single, working mom, Rory Hunter is the epitome of grace and wisdom under pressure. Her WABT story began when her middle son was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma and Opsoclonus Myoclonus Syndrome at ten months old. She was Founding Board Member of WABT, serving two years. Currently, Rory is on the board of Tour de Pier, as a representative of the Uncle Kory Foundation, an event that has raised over five million dollars for cancer research and support.
“How do you do it?” As a single, working mom, how do you stay grounded and grateful? Lora Ackermann is gratitude and joy personified in the midst of hardship and spinning multiple plates. She currently shares her leadership experience and serves on the WABT Board. Lora has a passion for empowering people through connection, art, the written word, and interactive experiences and she is truly honored to be a part of this WABT community.
Undercover Moms and Mental Health: A mother’s heartache and journey with her own children propelled Joye Madden into advocacy and support of other parents whose children have mental health challenges. Joye Madden is the face of the WABT Support Group in Alabama, specifically geared towards moms of children with depression, anxiety, adhd, and all mental health challenges.
This week, Jessica discusses how to navigate IEPs & Distance Learning. Advocate/Educational Therapist Eryn Yolac, and Special Education Attorney Grace Clark brilliantly take on this topic during such a complicated, stressful time in history for special needs parents. noiepleftbehind.com
By popular request - we are giving you the clear wisdom of LMFT, Dannelle Newnam, who spoke at one of our support group zooms this summer. She offers practical tips on how to reduce daily anxiety levels, and gives some insight into why these tips are actually helpful! You can find her on IG @okneuro and her website: okneurofeedback.com
Part 2 of Managing Anxiety, where LMFT, Dannelle Newnam (who spoke at one of our online support groups this summer) offers some incredible wisdom on facing, manging, and conquering our anxiety, She offers practical tips on how to reduce daily anxiety levels, and gives some insight into why these tips are actually helpful! You can find her on IG @okneiro and her website: okneurofeedback.com
This week, Jessica Patay interviews the incredible Jeanie Bergen. Jeanie Bergen became her sister's guardian when she was 20 years old, and in this episode, tells her own and Edna's story with a grace and fiesty honesty that will break your heart and build it back together again. Look for Jeanie's incredible writing on Medium, on the We Are Brave Together blog, and on the horizon. She and Edna have stories to tell, and there's a whole world out there that needs to hear them.
Jessica Patay is joined by her son, Luke Patay, age 19, for this episode!
Luke shares his perspective of what life is like with Ryan and Prader-Willi syndrome.
Jessica said this was a precious treat for her, obviously, and is deeply proud of Luke's heart and embracing of Ryan and their crazy-special journey as a family.
"I see the siblings. I see them as champions of their families. I see their need to succeed as to take care of their family. I see these wonderful children who are mini caretakers, and I want to take care of them. I want to make each one of them feel like they are #1, even if only for a short time. I want to share with them coping skills and introduce them to peers they can rely and lean on when they need it. I want to give them a breath, since the pressures of their family life can feel suffocating. I want to give them a time to just be and let it all hang out!" - Mo Langley
Today we are joined by Mo Langley of Sandy Feet Initiative OC, a nonprofit that supports the siblings in a special needs family. It's a fantastic, inclusive organization, based in South Orange County, California. Sandy Feet Initiative has adopted the Sibshops model for facilitating programs for siblings. They take it one step further, they give the kids a coping skill; and a special one for their team; the gift of the ocean. Mo and her team truly empower the kids who attend and give them a fun, safe place to be with other kids who understand the challenges, lessons and humor of living with special needs siblings. You can learn more about Mo and her work at http://sandyfeetoc.org.
Chris Ioimo, LMFT, and Clinical Director of Journeys Counseling in Torrance, California, joins Jessica Patay, in this first episode of the series. Chris grew up in a special needs family, with an older brother with medically fragile needs. He shares openly his experience and offers advice to parents. https://journeyscounseling.com
Co-hosts of the Who Lives Like This?! podcast, Elizabeth Aquino and Jason Lehmbeck, caregivers themselves, share some stories of strength and resilience they’ve admired as they have interviewed many parents across the country. Check out their fabulous podcast here: www.wholiveslikethispodcast.com.
Susanna Peace Lovell is a certified professional life coach and advocate dedicated to the health and wellness of special needs families everywhere. Her own daughter Arizona has multiple challenges and diagnoses including autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, anxiety and myriad food allergies. Susanna and Jessica discuss the harmful effects of Mom Guilt and how to change this way of viewing motherhood, our roles and all our responsibilities. She has a practice in Los Angeles and can be found at www.susannapeacelovell.com.
Life Coach, Laura Lee, from Franklin, Tennessee joins Jessica in a discussion how healing from our own wounds is definitely a part of the self-care process, and a means of protection from caregiver burnout.
Laura is a certified Master Level transformational life coach. She stands for all women ditching “should's” and shame, and choosing instead to tap into the call of their heart, reclaim lost energy, and unearth the passions that make them truly shine. Find Laura at www.lauraleelife.com.
Jessica Patay invites decades-long best friend, fellow advocate and nonprofit founder, Amy Groshell, Founder of Peace of Heart Community in Florida, to the show. Amy has five children, with two adult daughters on the Autism Spectrum. Her eldest daughters have taught her incredible lessons and she encourages us all to look at our children as teachers. This week's episode is longer, but absolutely rich with inspiration, healing, and hope.
In other news, the Brave Together Podcast is graduating! We have so many incredible stories, guests, and topics lined up that we've decided to change our publishing schedule from bi-monthly episodes to one episode every week! Catch us next week with Laura Lee on Episode 6, The Power of Healing from Within.
Jessica Patay shares her background and her passion for connection and community. Both are valuable tools for managing chronic hardship, spreading knowledge, and cultivating personal empowerment on the Special Needs Motherhood journey.
Tina Quinn, author, a public speaker and an ICF Certified Professional Life & Leadership Coach, joins the show today. She shares her story as a fellow special needs mom and how gratitude changed everything for her perspective, disposition and daily life. In her book, Invisible Things, she shares raw personal stories and insights, many times about being a special needs mom, as she invites us to explore our own beliefs and experiences, and the hidden connections that permeate and enrich our lives. Tina can be found at www.tinaquinn.com.
Jessica Patay invites her first mentor, Lisa Graziano, licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT), and former Executive Director of the Prader-Willi California Foundation to share about the power of having mentors to help guide and support you while navigating special needs motherhood.
In this episode, We Are Brave Together founder Jessica Patay shares a little of her story as a mother, and about how her desire to create a community for caregiving and special needs moms began. If you are a mom to a child, any age, with any disability, challenge or diagnosis, We Are Brave Together is your tribe. And… even if you have a child with special health care needs, and no diagnosis, you are welcome to be a part of this community. The Brave Together podcast is here to remind you that you are NOT ALONE in your motherhood journey!