Moments of Joy

Welcome back! Whew! It's been a awhile but we are gearing up to come back and spread encouragement for the community we love most! New episodes coming 3/26/2025. Im so excited. Be sure to connect with us on social media and spread the word.

During this weeks episode I'm sending a special shout out to all of the parents raising children with special needs.  Autism has been something that over the years has gained a lot of attention.  Its gotten awareness but its time for more acceptance.  This episode has been brought to you by Big Heart  Toys!  This weekend Maison received a pretty cool set of toys from @bighearttoys. They are great for all special needs children. At the push of a button the book begins to talk. It not only reads the story but shares feelings and solutions as well.  The books have both educational and enjoyable benefits. Such as building language skills, increasing behavioral and emotional regulation. The books are meant to be fun and informational for children.  They are easy to use and a great tool to use with you while you are on the go.  Visit their website to learn more and check out their books! www.bighearttoys.com

On this weeks episode Im sitting down with Licensed Therapist Nadia Fiorita. We talked about why parents prioritizing their own wellbeing is so important and  Nadia shared simple things they can start to do when we feel overwhelmed and stressed out.  She gave tips on identifying anxiety in our children and ourselves and how to manage.

It was such a pleasure to sit down and chat with founder of Tasium Worldwide an apparel line dedicated to autistic people. Jose's passion came from being the older sibling to someone with autism. You've gotta hear this....Listen in   Follow him on social media @Tasium.worldwide

Today Im sitting down with Teresa Girolamo, Ph.D., she is an autistic language in autism researcher and assistant professor in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at San Diego State University. As director of the Brain, Environment, and Language Lab, she works with racially and ethnically minoritized autistic individuals with language impairment. This population is underserved in research, hindering our ability to develop supports to meet their needs. Current projects include how social determinants of health plus language ability shape life outcomes and how to better understand strengths in language ability in this population. The long-term goal of this work is to translate this knowledge into community-based supports for individuals to meet their self-identified goals.

Join me today as I chat with amazing tik tok mom @Zulekha WIlliams. She has an amazing platform encouraging Autism moms and providing many resources. 

Welcome back! Thank you for baring with me as we had a winter break. Today we are sitting down to chat with Melanie Oates. @melanieoates_ Mom of two special needs children. It was wonderful to hear her journey and what resources have worked for her.She made a tough decision of placing her daughter in a 24/7 respite care facility.

Today Im chatting with the creator of the platform Nigh Functioning Autism Tiffany aka TJ. She is a 39 year old mom of two who has been diagnosed with Autism. I love her platform because there is nothing like being educated from an adult with Autism. Tiffany adds another layer and that is being Autistic and Black. During this episode  she educates us on sooooo many topics. The puzzle piece, aac devices, meltdowns, speech, special education and so much more! Listen in and leave a review.   Follow her @Nigh.Functioning.Autism

During this episode I'm sitting down with founder of Happiness is Down Syndrome and mom of Jed, Misty Con Snyder. We chat about diagnosis, resources, the beauty of raising a child with special needs.  

Today my special guest is the mom of Ibrahim Hamed and her name is Yasmeen. They are constantly going viral on Tik tok and Instagram for showing the day to day life of her family and son who is now an adult living with Autism and Cerebral Palsy. We sit down for a candid discussion that is sure to encourage parents raising children with special needs.  

Today I'm sitting down to chat with the founder of non profit organization Hearts of Joy International. Hearts of Joy is a non profit that  provides life saving heart surgery to individuals with Down Syndrome. They are dedicated to serving vulnerable children who otherwise would have no access to quality medical care. 50% of children born with Down Syndrome are born with a congenital heart defect that requires surgery to repair before it becomes life threatening. Due to poverty and lack of resources in developing worlds, children are not given access to proper medical care. After traveling to Uganda, East Africa and seeing the need first hand and witnessing how individuals with Down syndrome are disregarded and seen as a burden to society, Lauren was inspired to start a program to help. Hearts of Joy International walks with families through the surgery process, providing resources, support and education to communities, orphanages, caregivers and parents on the inherent dignity and value of the child. Hearts of Joy International serves in the Philippines, India, Mexico, Uganda and right here in the United States. 

Today I'm sitting down with Shae with is Stece's mom. If you don't know who they are you must check them out on Tik Tok where they have millions of followers. Stece is 17 years old , nonverbal and has autism. He is a viral sensation who loves to cook. I talked to mom about the journey as a mom and finding resources and everything needed to take care of her son. let me know what you think and follow them online @shaenstece.

In todays episode I'm sitting down with Michelle Hobgood. She is the Mom of 28 year old Devon who was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and Autism. Michelle is a home organizer and fitness trainer and she shares her journey with us. Listen in and let me know what you think.

Today Im sitting down to chat with Ashley Haywood. Shes the mom of 6 year old Sadie Rae who is a viral sensation on tik tok and instagram @savingsadierae where she spreads advocacy and joy. Sadie Rae was diagnosed with Sanfilippo Syndrome which is  childhood dementia. I wanted to have mom come on and share to bring awareness and also to encourage other parents with special needs even if you don't have the same diagnosis.   If you are looking to join our support circle you can do so by tapping he link. I'll see you there. http;//mojsupportcircle.app

On todays episode I'm sitting down to chat with viral sensation Jada Boo @autismbeauty22's mom Danisha. Jada is a 17 year old young woman who is diagnosed with autism. She is shattering the myths around what Autism looks like and bringing awareness and acceptance . Follow her on social media and tap into this episode to let me know what you think.

Did you know that this week is Dwarfism Awareness Month??  Meet Eden! @edenolivia.com_ She's 6 years old and she was diagnosed with Achondroplasia which is the most common form of dwarfism at 5 months. There are over 400 types of dwarfism. On today's episode of The Moments of Joy Podcast I'm sitting down with Little Eden's mom and her name is Missy. Will you listen in to be educated with me and join in to support this amazing community! Community, would you join me in dropping your green hearts below to show your support! Because even though many of us may have different diagnosis you'd be surprised to hear how much we as parents still have in common. I'm excited about this episode   

Today I'm joined by Kaelynn Partlow, one of the stars of the Netflix Series Love on the Spectrum (U.S).  Kaelynn is a therapist who at the age of 10 was diagnosed with Autism, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, and Adhd. Listen in to the incredible chat and let me know what you think.    Be sure to connect with Kaelynn on all of her social platforms:https://linktr.ee/kaelynn_vp   Join our support circle : https://support-circle.mn.co/share/ETNtdrqN7JEfaqX-

One thing that I know well, is resources, and another is finding and growing community. So we're gonna get into that. My therapist, she said, Camille, I'm impressed with you. She said, You are so resourceful, and you have the gift of problem solving. And I said, Wow, I've never thought about that. And so I realized that maybe some people may not know when I'm going to share. So I'm going to just start sharing resources. If you are a parent, and you have a child, and you think there may be some delays, I spoke about this on a previous podcast, but there is something called early intervention. And that is a program that exists all throughout the United States. It's called something different in every state, I know up north where I'm from, it's called Birth to Three. Down here in Texas, it's called something different, but every state has it. And what early intervention is, is a list of it's a place of resources for your child, they can have speech therapy, sometimes occupational therapy, different things to work with them to get them on the level that they should be on developmentally, before there's ever a diagnosis. And many children who receive birth for three services don't even need have a need for a diagnosis after not because of the early intervention, just because they may have never had a disability, they just might have needed someone to work with them along the way. And so you can find out who that is in your area by using Google or 211. Google, and 211 are my favorite resources. Very simple to access to one one, you pick up your phone in the United States and Canada, and you dial 211 It's a UNICEF number, but it is going to put you in touch with someone who can give you the resources you need around your area. So say you're looking for respite, respite care in your area, and you have no idea how to get started, how to find someone that can help you with your child or your adult. You find respite. Respite is relief for the caregiver. So it's a short period of time of rest or release relief for the caregiver. This means say you have a teenager or a 19 or 20 year old, you're not able to leave your child with anyone or your adult with anyone you are their primary caregiver. But you have to go on a trip for work. Now what? 

 Every Monday, my social media networks, I've been very consistent about talking about mental health. And my stories, I have made it a mission. To make it mental health Mondays, I share articles, I share tips, I share different things that help parents raising children with disabilities. I know what I experienced, and I'll talk about that a little bit. Raising a child with a disability, it is beautiful. Our children are amazing. But because many of us have different diagnose diagnosis, the load is heavier from for some people than others. Nonetheless, study show. There are numerous studies that I've read one particular I was reading today, I normally read studies from different colleges around the United States. But today this morning, I was even reading one from the UK. And they all say that parents raising children with disabilities experience depressive symptoms and anxiety higher than parents raising children, typical children. This article was interesting to me because it also pointed out, they experienced reduced income, reduced employment, distress, and they have a significantly higher odds of being diagnosed have a mental health problem than other parents. I found it very alarming as I started reading, because myself I experienced anxiety. I can't say that it was all attributed to being a parent of a child with a disability because I have trauma. We all at some point or another. Well, a lot of us have gone through some level of trauma in our lives. And as I began to go to therapy, I realized that this was just adding more pressure to life. But it was also you know, bringing up trauma that I actually needed to do with and dig into. And so, nonetheless, here we are with mental health Monday, and I give tips every Monday. So I want to start with some ways that you can prioritize your mental health.   Looking for a community? Join us In the Support Circle:https://support-circle.mn.co/share/ETNtdrqN7JEfaqX-?utm_source=manual

I know many of you may have just found the podcast or maybe this may even be your first time listening to any episode. But this is actually year four of the podcast, something new and interesting is happening right now. It's a rebrand. And so when I started the podcast, I was geared towards one group of women, we pivoted into being for mothers. And now I am pivoting again, to be a podcast that is suited for my community online. In 2021, December of 2021, I went viral for a post, encouraging parents raising children with disabilities. And what that did was it brought a floodgate of parents from all around the world, to my platform. And so now I am giving my community what they need. And that is a podcast. So here we are. And so if this is your first time, welcome, I call my listeners MVPs.   I really want to talk about family. This is one of the biggest topics, one of the biggest pain points for all of us that we talked about. And I think it comes from both sides. I hear from family members who have children with any diagnosis, and they say, How can I get my family to come to a place of acceptance, support and understanding for my child who has a child with a disability and for my family? And then I have the other side? Who are family members and they say how can I get my family member to you know, maybe see a diagnosis, how can I get my family member to receive more support? How can I be there for my family member? So I want to speak to each side of that and and first let's go to the side of the family member who's seeking to support the individual who is a parent raising a child with a disability. I think as I was thinking about this earlier, one of the best things that you can do is asked that family member How can I support you?   Be sure to connect with us on instagram and if your looking for community join our Support Circle! https://support-circle.mn.co/share/ETNtdrqN7JEfaqX-?utm_source=manual

Stay connected with me on Instagram and I'll see you in August! www.instagram.com/momentsofjoypodcast

This week we are sitting down with Lillie Mae award winning PR and creator of the glambitious brand. As an Award-Winning PR Strategist & Creator of the Glambitious Brand Lillie Mae has dedicated her efforts to empowering, recognizing and supporting entrepreneurs of all facets around the country for 10+ years. Having grown up in a very underserved community, her desire to reverse the poverty, gun violence and drug use in the neighborhood, compelled her to become the first college graduate in her family from the University of NC at Chapel Hill. She has since built the internationally recognized Glambitious platform to encourage entrepreneurship as a tool to break generational deficits and accelerate financial freedom. She now offers courses, coaching and business books at TheGlamCEO.com, to activate entrepreneurs into their next level. 

This episode is dedicated to you! I hope that you enjoy! 

Today I have a treat. I'm chatting with a beautiful mom, Ida of to every mom.   Ida, similar to the majority of the adults that joined the Tiktok in 2020, was reluctant at first. However, when she heard a famous podcaster say, "If you don't have an audience, you don't have a business, and Tiktok is the place to grow an audience", she immediately made her way to the app to see what she could build.  She now has a community of almost 300,000 across Tiktok & Instagram and is still growing strong. She is now a Speaker, a Bestselling Author and a Tiktok & Instagram Reels Coach. She has helped other entrepreneurs, medical practitioners, social media influencers, authors and more, grow their audiences and promote their products using the strategies that propelled her to where she is today.  Ida has over a decade in traditional and online marketing experience working in organizations in both the U.S and the United Kingdom.

April is Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month. In this episode I'm sharing a few early signs of autism and what to do if you receive a new diagnosis.  This episode has been brought to you by aeroflow urology.   Aeroflow Urology helps parents of children with special needs receive bladder control supplies at no cost through their Medicaid benefits.  Aeroflow Urology supplies both pediatric and youth products to fit every stage of the child's life  All products ship for free in discreet packaging directly to your home every month ● You can easily reorder your child's supplies online or by sending a text ● Check your child's eligibility at https://aeroflowurology.com/moj or call (844) 276-5588

As we close out the moth of March and Cerebral palsy Awareness Month, I'm sitting down to talk with an amazing vessel Ashley Herndon. She is a beautiful mother and has an amazing story of finding her identity even with a disability She love sharing the word of God in love through teaching, transparency, And testimonies.    Follow Her:   Ashley Herndon. https://www.facebook.com/ashley.herndon.5682   My YouTube channel is Ashley's Living Testimonies https://youtube.com/channel/UCQ7meJwrmXTIHP01NYQELIQ

In honor of cerebral palsy awareness month which is right now in March I am interviewing Gerald Scott. Gerald is an amazing dad who has defied all of the odds that were stacked against him and has become an amazing advocate and encouragement for disabled people and the parents who are raising them.

During todays episode I am chatting with a wonderful Mom and Business Owner. Paulette, the multi-hyphenate mompreneur with a passion for uplifting women and young girls amongst a lengthy list of affections. Paulette has worked her way up the ranks in Higher Education, helping students succeed outside the classroom for over a decade. Her two children and busy family keep her happily grounded. In her not-so-free time, she is an author, philanthropist, mentor to BIPOC girls and inspiration to women around the world to live out loud.

Today I am having a really great discussion with a friend of mine fellow Autism mom Dana Young Askew. Through this conversation we hope to encourage other moms. Dana was raised and still resides in Virginia Beach. She is married and has 5 beautiful children – 2 sets of twins. Her youngest son, Drayden is Autistic. With input from Drayden's siblings, Dana has written a children's book, “Come Meet Drayden”. Her book is uniquely told from the sibling prospective. Dana is passionate about advocating for caregivers, connecting families to resources and encourages caregivers to build a supportive community. She firmly believes representation matters. All children, with all abilities, deserve to be seen.  

We recently had an online event encouraging families who are raising children with special needs. I recorded it a little after we started and it was so good that I wanted to share with you. Its a little longer than normal episodes but i hope you enjoy. If your listening on apple podcasts scroll all the way down and leave a written review.   

In this episode I'm sitting down with Dr. Meadows who is teaching us all about investing and why its important.    Owning stocks in different companies can build your savings, protect your money from inflation and taxes, and maximize income from your investments. Tap into this episode and share with a friend. 

This weeks episode I am sharing about who I am and where my passion for Moms comes from. Why do you have a heart for Moms? Hear my story as a young mom some of how I made it work.  Where does the Joy come from?   Connect with me on instagram www.instagram.com/momentsofjoypodcast

Today I'm sitting down with an amazing Mompreneur Chanel E.Martin. She is a mom of 4 children and the found of international platform Kingdom Business network. We talked about Motherhood, Building from the ground up and so much more....   Chanel E. Martin is an ordained minister, award-winning technology entrepreneur, author, publisher, & digital marketer. Chanel teaches business owners how to fund, increase exposure, and build dynamic brands with specialized online training, books, and in person events.   Chanel is also the founder of Media Startup,  Beyond The Book Media - equipping writers with community, accountability, and services enabling authors to go from manuscript to marketplace.   Connect with her at beyondthebookmedia.com

This week I am sitting down with Author Shannon Popkin.  We had a wonderful conversation about comparison, something that most of us as moms have experienced. 

Today I sit down with one of the most beautiful young women that I've ever met. Her name is Kellina Powell. She is a deaf young woman who is shining bright and has grown to be a major advocate for children and adults with disabilities. Even if you are not raising a child with a disability this interview will encourage you!

Parenting is no walk in the park. As they say there is no handbook that shows you how to do it from beginning to end. In this episode we are two moms having a real and raw conversation about parenting our children.    Charisse Sims is a PBS Early Learning Champion, she's a Mom of 6 and a twin mom.Parent coach and the CO-Founder of SIms Library of Poetry in Los Angeles California. Follow her at www.instagram.com/charissesims

This is the last podcast episode of 2022. Thank you to all of you who have made this show a continued success! The end of the year is just a new beginning! Without an end, there would be no new year, no new start. I am looking forward to the new start with all of you!

This episode is dedicated to a very special group of parents. In this episode I share a few resources and some specific encouragement and scriptures to fight anxiety.  Key Scriptures: Matthew 6:25 -34 Matthew 11:28 Philippians 4:6-7   This episode has been sponsored by Wisdom App. Available in your app store. Join me for a conversation tomorrow 12/15/2021 at 930 am CST 

Here is a replay of one of my top episodes. Chasing Destiny 4. A part of the Chasing Destiny Series that I did in 2019. This week we explore: 1.Validation/Oversharing  2.Taking the Limits Off 3.Believe/Having Faith 

The holiday season can bring feelings of joy and kindness, but it can also usher in stress. You can easily feel pressured to spend more on gifts this time of year, or just as easily feel distressed about attending a holiday work party or social gathering. Lets chat about it!   To enter the book giveaway follow directions and email me at Camille@mojpodcast.com

So many times as Moms we throw away their dreams just because we are moms this episode is encouragement to every Mom to Dream Again. Cast your net again.  A few tips for dreaming again and building up that vision include:    Build Your Confidence. One reason we stop dreaming as moms is that we don't really believe we can accomplish those dreams. Somehow when we become mamas, we lose confidence in who we are without kids. Start a “Dream Journal” Journaling is all the rage these days, and with 1,532 types of journals out there it can feel overwhelming. But if you find yourself lost in motherhood, having a notebook designated for ideas and dreams can be so helpful. Read books and listen to Ted Talks. Exposing ourselves to different viewpoints and opinions expands our own mental capacity. What you dwell on, you become. Surround yourself with women who are encouraging and uplifting       Connect with me on Instagram. We are almost at 10K www.instagram.com/momentsofjoypodcast

Whats is the definition of being consistent? Its described as being dependable and of the same quality. On today's episode we are diving into be consistent and what is looks like in this season. Many are right on the brink of their blessings. Galatians 6:9 declares"Let us not grow weary in well doing for in due season we will reap if you faint not."

So often as Moms we find ourselves wrapped in worry, guilt and fear. Thoughts like, did i make the right decision, will my kids be alright, Am I doing enough and so many more invade our minds. Take a second to breathe and make it a deep breath. We cant worry and trust God at the same time. So be strong! Trust in the lord with all of your heart.    Connect with me on social media @momentsofjoypodcast 

Today I'm sitting down with Special Guest Latoya Matthews. Latoya Mathews is an Inner Healing Coach, author & transformational speaker who specializes in teaching brave women how to heal past wounds and embrace a life of freedom. She does this via her group coaching program The Free Woman, retreat & speaking engagements. Her ultimate mission is seeing more GEMs, which is what she calls the women in her community, healed and helping them redefine and rewrite the narrative of their lives after trauma. GEM is an acronym that means God's Extraordinary Masterpiece.    

Today I have the pleasure of sitting down and chatting with 6 time author and influencer Bunmi Laditan. Bunmi is from Quebec, Canada by way of northern California. She's a mom of 3 whose writings include The Honest Toddler, Confessions of a Domestic failure and poetry such as Dear Mother and Dear God: Honest Prayers to a God Who Listens.  We had such a transparent conversation about parenting in 2021 and we chat about her new book!  To purchase your copy log onto www.bunmiladitan.com   Connect with Camille www.mojpodcast.com Start your podcast www.mojpodcast.com/learn

I'm excited for you to check out todays episode. I'm chatting with podcaster Darlyshia A. Menzie Host of fervent servant podcast. She is  a Kingdom & Marketplace Entrepreneur who teaches people how to get excited about their lives by investigating and investing in their personal and spiritual growth. She believes that growth only happens with intention and an honest assessment of self. With that in mind, she empowers others to take responsibility for their lives and do what's necessary to live with purpose every single day! Her motto is: "Live with Intention. Serve with Passion."   Today she will leave us with so many encouraging words while we wait on the lord.

The Mom Link is a community of moms, entrepreneurs and women in business. By giving each other the skills, secrets and tools necessary for success in business and life we are cancelling the toxic culture of competition & comparison amongst women. Women supporting women is everything we stand for and the reason for our success. So often we hear the phrase “The Present is Female” through our collaborative community and empowerment network we're changing that notion and making the present female. Too often as moms, wives and business owners or aspiring entrepreneurs we feel isolated and alone. Not having a supportive community will not only cripple your success but also keep you from it. Nicole, Crystal & Gina know it takes a village so when they came together to collaborate their mission was simple: to shatter glass ceilings by creating an unmatched community of ride or die women who support each other, provide each other with incredible opportunities, and ultimately help each other achieve limitless success in all aspects of life & business. www.themomlinkclub.info   This episode of the Moments of Joy Podcast has been brought to you by JoyBLZ www.JOYBLZ.com 

On this weeks episode I'm sitting down with the Amazing Alicia Rogers. She is Los Angeles Journalist and Tv News Reporter. She is an amazing single mom that has such an empowering story of grit and triumph! listen in....

In this weeks episode I'm sitting down with the hosts of the Blessed Mama Bosses Podcast. We had such an amazing conversation about Mommy Guilt, Time Management Hacks, and much more.     

On todays episode I am sharing every resource that has been helpful to us in raising our youngest son with Autism. If you cant relate to the topic today please share it on your timeline in case a parent who follows you does.