Adventures in Autism

Today I’m chatting with autism mom and educator, Jackie Killam. Jackie is very seasoned in the realm of autism parenting. Her twin daughters Tammra and Brooke were born in 1990- so Jackie definitely had a lot to share! We talk about the differences between autism awareness and resources in the 90s vs now. Jackie also shares how her experience as an educator gave her a different perspective when navigating the system for her daughters. Tragically, her daughter Tammra passed away in 2016. Jackie talks about how her and Brooke are coping and the importance of therapy and self care. When Jackie first reached out to me to be a guest, I was immediately blown away by her heart and honesty. Jackie definitely brings that to this episode. I am so honored to have her on podcast and thankful that she wanted to share her story. I always love hearing from parents with older or adult children because I think they have so much valuable experience to share. That was absolutely the case with Jackie. I had such a wonderful conversation with her and I hope you enjoy listening! Sponsors: Audible audibletrial.com/adventuresinautism Connect with Megan: IG: @adventuresinautismpod FB: @Adventures In Autism Podcast Email: adventuresinautism2018@yahoo.com Enjoying the show? I would so appreciate your rating & review! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/megan-carranza/message

Today’s episode is a good one! I’m starting off a new, ongoing series on the podcast: hot topics! These episodes will be covering one specific topic and go into detail on our experience. For this first one I’m talking about all things AAC! I’m going way to back to the beginning and sharing the process of Logan starting his AAC and everything that entails. I get questions about Logan’s AAC all the time and I’m hoping this episode can not only answer those but also just explain what it’s like using an AAC from day to day. I’m so thankful that Logan has this amazing tool for communication and I’m always glad to shine a little more light on AAC in general. It was fun to go in depth on this and if you have another “hot topic” in mind feel free to send it my way. I hope you enjoy listening! Sponsors: Audible audibletrial.com/adventuresinautism Connect with Megan: IG: @adventuresinautismpod FB: @Adventures In Autism Podcast Email: adventuresinautism2018@yahoo.com Enjoying the show? I would so appreciate your rating & review! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/megan-carranza/message

Today I’m chatting with autism sibling, Jessica Leving. Jessica shares her journey with her brother, Billy. Jessica and Billy are both adults now and they have an awesome relationship. Growing up, Jessica felt discouraged the lack of services and resources for fellow special needs siblings and she wanted to change that. Her passion led her to write the children’s book “Billy’s Sister” and corresponding workbook, as well as her nonprofit The Center for Siblings of People with Special Needs. Jessica is doing amazing work in the autism community and I’m thrilled to have her on today. We had a great conversation that left me feeling like I had a better understanding of how it feels to be the sibling of a person with autism. I think this is so valuable for parents like me who have neurotypical children as well. I had a great time talking to Jessica and I hope you enjoy listening! Connect with Jessica: IG: @supportingspecialsiblings FB: The Center for Siblings of People with Disabilities Website: https://siblingcenter.org/ Sponsors: Audible audibletrial.com/adventuresinautism Connect with Megan: IG: @adventuresinautismpod FB: @Adventures In Autism Podcast Email: adventuresinautism2018@yahoo.com Enjoying the show? I would so appreciate your rating & review! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/megan-carranza/message

Today I’m flying solo and reflecting back on the beginning of our autism journey. Since starting the podcast, I hear from parents everyday who are all on this journey with me. Some of them are just starting out, some have been at it for years. I felt inspired to do this episode for those parents who just heard the diagnosis of ASD. What I’m sharing today is the stuff I wanted to hear (and was looking for) back then but I couldn’t find it. I’m talking all about the early days and my feelings right after Logan was diagnosed. I’m also sharing how my thoughts and perspective have shifted since then. I’m doing my own version of “How it started vs How it’s going” with all the lessons I’ve learned along the way. It’s been almost four years since Logan was diagnosed and I can honestly say I am so thankful for all these lessons. They were learned the hard way (per usual for me!) but it was worth it to be on the other side now. In some ways I feel like our autism journey is old hat at this point- but in others it feels like we’re just getting started. I definitely put my heart and soul into this one- I hope you enjoy listening! Sponsors: Audible audibletrial.com/adventuresinautism Connect with Megan: IG: @adventuresinautismpod FB: @Adventures In Autism Podcast Email: adventuresinautism2018@yahoo.com Enjoying the show? I would so appreciate your rating & review! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/megan-carranza/message

Today I’m chatting with autism dad and author, Aaron Wright. Aaron shares his journey with his daughter (who is now a teenager) and explains how their experience navigating SPED led him to write his book ‘Thirteen Doors’. Aaron talks about the difficulty he faced when trying to gain access to appropriate services for his daughter within their school system. That battle not only inspired his book, but it also turned him into fierce advocate, for his own daughter and for all vulnerable students. Aaron and I also talk about the importance of allies, the transformative journey of having a child on the spectrum, and why he isn’t a fan of labels. Aaron’s honestly is both refreshing and thought provoking. We had such a great conversation and I hope you enjoy listening! Connect with Aaron: IG: @authoraaronwright FB: Author Aaron Wright Website: https://www.authoraaronwright.com/ Sponsors: Audible audibletrial.com/adventuresinautism Connect with Megan: IG: @adventuresinautismpod FB: @Adventures In Autism Podcast Email: adventuresinautism2018@yahoo.com Enjoying the show? I would so appreciate your rating & review! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/megan-carranza/message

Today I’m chatting with autism mom and life coach, Corinne Crabtree. I first became familiar with Corinne after listening to her podcast, ‘Losing 100lbs with Corinne’, which has been a game changer for me! Today, Corinne is sharing her journey with her 18 year old son, Logan. Corinne talks about some of the early signs and gut feelings she had that Logan was on spectrum. After Logan was diagnosed at age 5, Corinne and her husband dove into the world of therapy and tried to provide Logan with every resource they could. Corinne shares how Logan has grown and progressed now that he’s 18, and how he’s become an amazing self advocate! Corinne and I also dig into her coaching and she shares some great tips on coping and processing your feelings. I am a huge fan of Corinne’s and it was a thrill to have her on the podcast. Corinne is as heartfelt as she is real and I love her for that! We had such a great conversation and I hope you enjoy listening! Connect with Corinne: Facebook: www.facebook.com/pnpgirl/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/corinne_crabtree Website: www.phit-n-phat.com/join/ Sponsors: Audible audibletrial.com/adventuresinautism Connect with Megan: IG: @adventuresinautismpod FB: @Adventures In Autism Podcast Email: adventuresinautism2018@yahoo.com Enjoying the show? I would so appreciate your rating & review! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/megan-carranza/message

Today I’m flying solo and getting very personal about my weight loss journey. I’ve mentioned several times on the show (and especially on episode 112) that I have really committed to making my own self care, mental health, and general health a priority. Losing weight has been a big part of that. As someone who has DEFINITELY had my fair share of weight struggles, it feels really good to be (over!) 30lbs down and still losing. I wasn’t sure how much of this I’d share on the podcast but after opening up about it a little, I got an overwhelming response from so many of you who can relate to weight/body image issues. Today I’m sharing how got to this point, how I’ve lost the weight without counting calories, and how my whole mindset has really shifted. Just a quick disclaimer: I am not selling anything or advertising a particular diet/program- this is all just my own take on my own weight loss! I’m also talking about how the lessons I’ve learned from being an autism parent have really helped me during this weight loss journey. I want to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone in this community who has been so supportive- you guys have honestly been the best cheerleaders! I hope you enjoy listening to this episode! Sponsors: Audible audibletrial.com/adventuresinautism Connect with Megan: IG: @adventuresinautismpod FB: @Adventures In Autism Podcast Email: adventuresinautism2018@yahoo.com Enjoying the show? I would so appreciate your rating & review! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/megan-carranza/message

Today I’m chatting with returning guest, Mary Susan McConnell. Mary Susan and I are catching up about how life looks very different since she was last on the pod in January 2020. Mary Susan shares how her daughter, Abiella, has been doing through quarantine and how her medical needs have been a huge consideration during this season. We’re also talking about their amazing school district and how they have really accommodated Abi and other children with profound needs. Later, we’re discussing all the amazing projects Mary Susan has been working on. In addition to her podcast, The Mama Bear Podcast, Mary Susan has also written a book, put out an online course, started coaching other special moms on pursuing their dreams AND launched a daily membership podcast as well. Mary Susan is truly INSPIRING and everything she puts out is heartfelt and authentic to who she is. As always I throughly enjoyed our conversation and I hope you enjoy listening! Connect with Mary Susan: IG: @marysusanmcconnell Website: marysusanmcconnell.com Podcast: The Mama Bear Podcast Sponsors: Audible audibletrial.com/adventuresinautism Making Authentic Friendships makingauthenticfriendships.com Connect with Megan: IG: @adventuresinautismpod FB: @Adventures In Autism Podcast Email: adventuresinautism2018@yahoo.com Enjoying the show? I would so appreciate your rating & review! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/megan-carranza/message

Today I’m chatting with Amy Churchill, who is a licensed clinical therapist, about all things mental health. Amy also happens to be my best friend of more then 20 years (!) so this was a real treat! Today we’re digging into the importance of making your mental health a priority, as well some good coping techniques for dealing with stress and anxiety. Amy gives LOTS of good advice on things you can start doing right now that can benefit your mental health. She’s also answering listener questions like how do you find the right therapist and what are the best ways to deal with grief. I’m also sharing all the ways Amy has helped me through the years, both by being a good friend and giving me tools that have helped my own mental health. I think this is the perfect episode to kick off the new year- we could ALL benefit from prioritizing our mental health. I’m thrilled to have my bestie on the pod and I hope you enjoy listening! Sponsored by: Audible audibletrial.com/adventuresinautism Connect with Megan: IG: @adventuresinautismpod FB: @Adventures In Autism Podcast Email: adventuresinautism2018@yahoo.com Enjoying the show? I would so appreciate your rating & review! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/megan-carranza/message

Today I’m ringing in the new year with my sister and we’re reflecting back on 2020. Obviously, this has been a real dumpster fire of a year for all of us. 2020 definitely hit our family extra hard- today we’re discussing the highs and (extreme) lows of this year. Per usual, Mel and I keep it EXTREMELY real. This conversation definitely included some sister bickering and even a few tears...those who know us would expect nothing less! Melissa talks about her cancer journey and what she’s learned this year. She also gets honest about her frustrations, especially when it comes to her vision loss. I’m also sharing how focusing on my own health and self care led me to tackle my weight, which has been a personal struggle of mine for a while. We’re also going over our goals for the new year and I’m reflecting back on the goals I set for Logan and I last year- spoiler: we crushed them! I’m not big on resolutions but I love setting goals or intentions. Overall this was a VERY personal conversation for both of us but as usual, we still cracked jokes through our emotions. I hope you enjoy listening and HAPPY NEW YEAR! Connect with Mel: Instagram: @thezill Sponsors: Audible audibletrial.com/adventuresinautism Making Authentic Friendships makingauthenticfriendships.com Connect with Megan: IG: @adventuresinautismpod FB: @Adventures In Autism Podcast Email: adventuresinautism2018@yahoo.com Enjoying the show? I would so appreciate your rating & review! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/megan-carranza/message

Today I’m flying solo and talking about all things Christmas. This year things obviously look a little different because of Covid. That being said, we’re doing our best to enjoy the holidays in our own way. In this episode I’m talking about our family traditions and what makes the holidays special for us. We might do things a little differently, but the most important thing is that we really ENJOY our time together. I’m also talking about how this year in particular, I really am not focusing on gifts for Logan. In the past, it’s been a pain point for me that he doesn’t really play with toys. I struggled about not knowing what to get him and feeling badly that there was “nothing” he wanted. I’ve learned to stop putting so much emphasis on presents for him and just get him a few things that he really wants (i.e. candy!) as opposed to a bunch of stuff that he won’t even end up using. All in all, we are excited for Christmas and we LOVE having family time. I hope everyone has a great holiday and that you enjoy listening to this episode! Sponsors: Audible audibletrial.com/adventuresinautism Making Authentic Friendships makingauthenticfriendships.com Connect with Megan: IG: @adventuresinautismpod FB: @Adventures In Autism Podcast Email: adventuresinautism2018@yahoo.com Enjoying the show? I would so appreciate your rating & review! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/megan-carranza/message

Today I’m chatting with autism mom, Megan Heinz of @abovetypical. Megan and I connected on Instagram when we both started our accounts around the same time over two years ago. I have loved following her story with her son and it was such a treat to have her on the pod! Megan shares the early days of their journey and how living in a small community has its pros and cons when related to autism. We also talk about her sons service dog. She shares the process of getting him and how life has changed since having him this past year. Later, we discuss Megan’s son using his new AAC device. Megan explains how she didn’t necessarily think an AAC was right for him at first, because her son is technically verbal. However, with encouragement from their SLP, he has just recently started using one and it’s already proving to be a great tool for more functional communication. I absolutely loved this conversation with Megan and I hope you enjoy listening! Connect with Megan: @abovetypical Sponsors: Audible audibletrial.com/adventuresinautism Making Authentic Friendships makingauthenticfriendships.com Connect with Megan: IG: @adventuresinautismpod FB: @Adventures In Autism Podcast Email: adventuresinautism2018@yahoo.com Enjoying the show? I would so appreciate your rating & review! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/megan-carranza/message

Today I’m joined by my husband, Manny, for the third time! In honor of Logan’s 8th birthday later this week, we’re talking about all the ways we’ve seen Logan grow in this past year. We’ve definitely both witnessed him maturing which has been both surprising and welcomed. We’re also discussing Logan taking a pause from ABA therapy and how that really is the best thing for him right now. Later, we’re answering listener questions which was really interesting! The questions hit on marriage, dealing with denial, and how Manny and I stay strong as a couple. We’re also sharing our biggest pet peeves about each other! We had a great conversation and it’s always fun for me to bring Manny on the podcast. I hope you enjoy listening! Sponsors: Audible audibletrial.com/adventuresinautism Making Authentic Friendships makingauthenticfriendships.com Connect with Megan: IG: @adventuresinautismpod FB: @Adventures In Autism Podcast Email: adventuresinautism2018@yahoo.com Enjoying the show? I would so appreciate your rating & review! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/megan-carranza/message

Today I’m chatting with autism mom, Jenna Cooper, all about her adorable son Owen. This was a really fun episode for me because Jenna has been a long time listener & supporter of the podcast, so I was thrilled to bring her on the show and hear her story! Jenna is a mom of 5 (!) and Owen is her youngest. She talks about the “learning curve” of autism, especially after having four typical children. We also discuss the dynamics of their family and how autism has affected them. I really appreciated Jenna’s perspective on how she feels Owen having autism has truly been a good thing for his siblings, because it’s given them a deeper understanding & compassion for others. She also explains how they’ve navigated autism together and have figured out what works for their family. We had such a great conversation and I hope you enjoy listening! Connect with Jenna: Instagram: @jenna_cooper5 Sponsors: Audible audibletrial.com/adventuresinautism Making Authentic Friendships makingauthenticfriendships.com Connect with Megan: IG: @adventuresinautismpod FB: @Adventures In Autism Podcast Email: adventuresinautism2018@yahoo.com Enjoying the show? I would so appreciate your rating & review! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/megan-carranza/message

Today I’m chatting with powerhouse autism mom, and president of the Autism Hero Project, Tamika Lecheé Morales. Tamika was my guest way back on episode 9 of AIA and I am thrilled to bring her back on today! Since we recorded that episode over two years ago, so much has changed. Not only has her nonprofit, Autism Hero Project, blown up and done absolutely incredible things for the autism community, but Tamika and I have actually become very close friends. Today we’re talking about updates in her life regarding her incredible son, Maximilian, (aka Legend...listen to the episode to find out how that became his nickname!) as well as all the amazing things she’s working on with AHP. Tamika is also an author and she’s sharing a recently published story in the episode that is so moving and beautiful, it’s a must listen! I am so proud to support AHP and Tamika. We had a blast during this conversation and I hope you enjoy listening! Connect with Tamika: autismheroproject.org Facebook: The Autism Hero Project Instagram: @autismheroproject YouTube: Autism Hero Project Twitter: Autismhero_AHP LinkedIn: Autism-Hero-Project Sponsors: Audible audibletrial.com/adventuresinautism Making Authentic Friendships makingauthenticfriendships.com Connect with Megan: IG: @adventuresinautismpod FB: @Adventures In Autism Podcast Email: adventuresinautism2018@yahoo.com Enjoying the show? I would so appreciate your rating & review! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/megan-carranza/message