Shut Up About Your Perfect Kid: The Imperfection Connection

In this bittersweet episode, "The Shut Up Sisters" and Producer Mike share memories of their beloved late mothers. In between their laughs and tears, they take time to report on this week's pressing news stories, including a Massachusetts woman who punched out a server for not including enough pickles on her sub. The Sisters also boldly tease their guest for the next podcast who remains a mystery (to them). 

The Shut Up Sisters welcome another fascinating guest (which may have something to do with the fact that she is not a relative). Dog rescuer/inventor/nurse/chicken whisperer Kristen Lazuka joins the podcast to talk about rescuing dogs in Thailand and an innovative harness she invented to hold communication devices for individuals with special needs. Full-time Producer Mike finally completes an assignment and shares results from his "undercover" bra investigation. 

After much deliberation and heavy pressure from a new "advertiser," the Shut Up Sisters make a pivotal show decision that will "upset the balance of imperfect power in the broadcast." In this episode they share this shattering show announcement and comment on the week's most interesting news stories, including one Massachusetts' city that has asked criminals to reschedule crimes until the heatwave breaks. Podpeople, you won't want to miss this one. 

In this groundbreaking episode, The Sisters welcome a fascinating guest, Maureen Ryan, a dear friend whom they have nicknamed “The Onion” for the fascinating layers of her life she has revealed (not her breath). In this episode, Maureen shares her harrowing story of living in a toxic waste dump and being involved in a jewelry heist. She has also been part of bringing an amazing program in her school system in North Andover, Massachusetts that educates school-aged children about differences – from physical abilities to learning disabilities. Also back in the studio is Interim Producer Mike, who still thinks the podcast is video.

In a stunning development, "The Shut Up Sisters" cave and let Gina's husband, also known as "Producer Candidate Mike," come into the studio and try his hand at producing. Producer Candidate Mike may not know what a producer does, have ever listened to the podcast, or realized that the podcast is not video, but he does have some hardline thoughts on the week's pressing news stories, including the woman arrested for licking ice cream at Walmart and putting it back in the freezer. Listen in and tell us if Producer Candidate Mike should be upgraded to Full-Time Producer.  

The Sisters return to the podcast studio to discuss more imperfection, including Gina's painful realization that she never finishes her thoughts -- a fact that her daughter with ADHD is constantly pointing out. The Sisters do manage to get out their pressing thoughts on Gas TV, and the pains of living with adult children who do not understand the importance of affixing toilet paper rolls and ensuring that dishes are properly washed. In a related topic to their children's domestic struggles, they tease (Na-na-na-na!) their exciting upcoming guest who spent time living in a toxic waste dump. 

They're back! After a brief hiatus (they were washing their hair), Patty and Gina have returned to "the biz" of podcasting with Season 2. In this imperfect episode, The Sisters discuss Gina and her husband's foray into the world of cleansing and living "legume free for 30 days. The Sisters also share their hardline stance on those who recline on airplanes and use 9-1-1 to call to complain about their McDonald's orders. You won't want to miss this one. 

After a brief hiatus (they were washing their hair), the “Shut Up Sisters” return to the imperfect studio to discuss the impact that pets have on our lives. Patty shares the story of the loss of her beloved family dog, Rocky Joe, and the role he played in helping her family and her daughter through difficult times. Give your dog/cat/snake/turtle/iguana/aardvark a hug and listen up.     

The Imperfection Connection: In this very special episode, the Shut Up Sisters discuss the connections between special needs families and chat with Megan and Susan Bell, a dynamic and loving mother and daughter duo they met in their imperfect travels. Megan shares her amazing successes as a young woman living with Down syndrome and Susan provides valuable insights on the importance of letting go. This interview with Megan and Susan will warm your heart.   

Episode 5: Special needs kid and relationships: It’s complicated. Men and women are very different. That’s especially true with how they deal with the stress that can come with raising children with disabilities. In this episode, the Shut Up Sisters welcome a highly imperfect guest (another relative) who demonstrates the differences and openly shares why raising special needs kids is not always fun and games in a marriage.

Episode 4 To Tell or Not to Tell Many, many, many moons ago, when the Shut Up Sisters were just young imperfect lasses, people didn’t talk openly about disabilities. Today, that’s changed as more and more people are openly sharing to educate others and connect. In this very telling episode, Patty and Gina sit down with Gina’s daughter Katie, who candidly recounts her journey with autism – from childhood to adulthood.

Ep 3:  Let 'em Fly Letting go of their children is a difficult process for any parent, but when you have a special needs child, it can seem impossible. In this imperfect-eyebrow raising episode, the sisters give you a view from 10,000 feet (literally) of how they learned to go out of their comfort zones and let their adult children fly.    

Season 1: Ep 2:  5 Most Important Lessons Though they no longer have their wisdom teeth, the Shut Up Sisters have accumulated years of wisdom raising their special needs children to adulthood. In this episode, they share the 5 most important lessons for special needs parents as well as other imperfect tales that will have you laughing and rejoicing with the fact that you are not them.

Season 1: Episode 1: Introduction Meet Imperfect sisters/mothers/daughters/housewives /blah/blah/blah, Patty Terrasi and Gina Gallagher, authors of the best-selling parenting book, “Shut Up About Your Kid: A Survival Guide for Ordinary Parents of Special Children.” In their podcast debut (they have faces for audio), the “Shut Up Sisters” introduce The Movement of Imperfection and invite parents from around the globe to laugh, connect, brag, and share the joys and milestones of raising imperfect kids on a perfection-pre-occupied planet.