This is the We Are 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.
Listeners of Brave Together that love the show mention: children with special needs, thank you jessica, compassionate, support, alone, offers, valuable, beautiful, inspiration, heart, share, needed, live, knowledge, wonderful, world, like, listening, life, love.
The Brave Together podcast is an incredible resource for parents navigating the special needs world. Jessica, the host of the podcast, has a unique ability to create a safe and welcoming space for her guests and listeners alike. Her conversations with each guest feel like sitting in a room and eavesdropping on a heartfelt conversation between friends. This level of authenticity and warmth makes this podcast incredibly relaxing and enjoyable to listen to.
One of the best aspects of The Brave Together podcast is the valuable advice it provides to parents in similar situations. As someone who is relatively new to the special needs world, this podcast has been a lifeline in helping me feel less alone and providing me with practical tips and insights that I can apply to my own journey. The snippets shared in each episode are poignant and relatable, such as discussing the challenges of living in a fallen world or experiencing the "Pleaser Crash." It's clear that Samantha and Jessica tackle important issues that many parents can readily relate to.
Another wonderful aspect of this podcast is how it creates a sense of community. Jessica has created a supportive community for moms of special needs kids through her podcast and other avenues, which has been enriching for many listeners. Especially during times of increased isolation, having this connection with other moms who understand your experiences can be invaluable. Jessica's ministry through this podcast feels sacred, as she provides a safe space for moms to feel seen and heard.
While it's challenging to find any faults with The Brave Together podcast, one potential drawback could be that the episodes may not cover every specific topic or type of diagnosis relating to special needs parenting. However, given the broad range of experiences shared by various guests, there is still plenty of valuable information for parents regardless of their child's diagnosis.
In conclusion, The Brave Together podcast is an absolute gem for any parent navigating the special needs world. Jessica's genuine empathy and kindness shine through in every episode, offering comfort, warmth, and valuable resources to listeners. Whether you're a seasoned special needs parent or just starting on this journey, subscribing to this podcast is highly recommended.
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 Enough 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 Parenting 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 us on Instagram 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 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 here.Brave Together Parenting 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 us on Instagram 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 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. The discussion also touches on the societal perceptions of autism and the need for honest dialogue about the realities of living 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 onBrave Together Parenting 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 us on Instagram 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 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 Parenting 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 us on Instagram 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! 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 Parenting 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 us on Instagram 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 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 Parenting 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 us on Instagram 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, #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..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 Parenting 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 us on Instagram 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, #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 Enough 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 Parenting 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 us on Instagram 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 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 Parenting 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 us on Instagram 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, #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 Parenting 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 us on Instagram 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 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 Parenting 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 us on Instagram 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 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 Parenting 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 us on Instagram 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, #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 Enough here.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 from Season 7 and clips from Season 8 on Youtube hereBrave Together Parenting 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 us on Instagram 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 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 hereBrave Together Parenting 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 us on Instagram 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, #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 Educational Advocacy. Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-foBrave Together Parenting 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 us on Instagram 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 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.orgwww.caregiverdoc.comwww.facebook.com/jessronneofficialwww.instagram.com/jessplusthemessFind 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 here.Donate to keep this podcast going here.Can't get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?Follow us on Instagram or on Facebook.Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.orgIf 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, #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 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 here.Donate to keep this podcast going here.Can't get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?Follow us on Instagram or on Facebook.Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.orgIf 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, #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 Enough 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 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 us on Instagram 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 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.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 here.Donate to keep this podcast going here.Can't get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?Follow us on Instagram or on Facebook.Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.orgIf 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, #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 Brave10 for 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 here.Donate to keep this podcast going here.Can't get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?Follow us on Instagram or on Facebook.Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.orgIf 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, #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 Enough 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 here.Donate to keep this podcast going here.Can't get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?Follow us on Instagram or on Facebook.Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.orgIf 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!Dis
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 Brave Together Podcast?Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.orgIf 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.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.orgIf 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
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.orgIf 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.orgIf 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.orgIf 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 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 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.orgIf 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 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.orgIf 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, #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 Enough here.Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.Find this episode and ALL our Season 7 episodes on Youtube here.Find Care.com 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.orgIf 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, #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.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.orgIf 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 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 Play here.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.orgIf 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, #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 Enough 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. 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. 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 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 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.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.orgIf 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 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 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.orgIf 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 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 Supports here.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 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.orgIf 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, #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 Enough here.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 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.orgPlease leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!Disclaimer
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 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.orgIf 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 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 Enough 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.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.orgIf 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 Enough here.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.orgPlease 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.orgIf you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message
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.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.orgIf 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 Others here.Fine Kelley Coleman and her book Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child: Your Guide to the Essential Systems, Services, and Supports 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.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.orgIf 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! 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 Enough here.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 Enough here.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 Enough 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
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 Enough here.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.orgIf 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 Enough 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.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.orgIf 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 Enough 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.orgIf 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.orgIf 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.orgIf 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.orgIf 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
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