If We Knew Then - Down Syndrome Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode we revisit a conversation with our longtime pediatrician, Dr. Ilona Kleiner, who has been with our family since the day Sophia was born and has guided us through Liam’s journey with wisdom, honesty and compassion. Dr. Kleiner shares her perspective on treating children as whole individuals far beyond a diagnoses or statistics and the profound impact that kind of care can have on both medical outcomes and family life.

Together, we talk about navigating the fears that often surround a Down syndrome diagnosis, the importance of preventative medicine and what it means to advocate for our children day by day. Dr. Kleiner also offers practical insights on vaccines, inclusion and supporting children’s mental health by reminding us that every child deserves to be seen, respected and treated with dignity.

This heartfelt conversation is a reminder of the power of compassionate care and our hope that every family finds a physician who sees their child for exactly who they are.

Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2025/09/15/192-choosing-a-pediatrician-with-dr-ilona-kleiner/2/

Please follow us on X @ifweknewthenPOD, you can drop us a line on our Facebook page @ifweknewthenPOD or visit our website https://www.IfWeKnewThen.com to send us an email with questions and comments. Also join our mailing list there and get alerts of future podcast episodes. Thank you again and we look forward to you joining us on the next episode of IF WE KNEW THEN.

Today we  sit down with speech-language pathologist and author Janine Tang to talk about her new book "Play Dumb and Sabotage: Mindfully Under-Anticipating the Child’s Needs and Creating Opportunities to Practice Language". Drawing from more than two decades as a therapist and her personal journey as a parent of a child with a brain injury, Jeaneen shares practical strategies parents can use every day to support speech development.

We discuss the challenges families face in accessing quality speech therapy, how to advocate for services and why creating small opportunities for communication can have lasting impact. Jeaneen also opens up about her son’s diagnosis, how it shifted her perspective as both a mother and a professional and the importance of empowering parents to see that they are doing a good job.

Jeaneen fills this conversation with hope, compassion and actionable tools for parents navigating speech development and early intervention. She reminds us that our children can achieve more when we give them space, support and belief in their potential.

Website: https://www.playdumbandsabotage.com

IG: @playdumbandsabotage

Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2025/09/07/191-play-dumb-and-sabotage-with-jeaneen-yang/2/

Please follow us on X @ifweknewthenPOD, you can drop us a line on our Facebook page @ifweknewthenPOD or visit our website https://www.IfWeKnewThen.com to send us an email with questions and comments. Also join our mailing list there and get alerts of future podcast episodes. Thank you again and we look forward to you joining us on the next episode of IF WE KNEW THEN.

It’s World Down Syndrome Day 2025 and we did it! We released an episode on March 21st. Many in our community do so well at preparing for this day every year and we greatly appreciate them but also, here’s to all those that feel like they are always behind or that their ‘to do” list is getting bigger, not smaller. We celebrate you and your loved ones today!

Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2025/03/20/182-wdsd-2025/2/

Please follow us on Twitter @ifweknewthenPOD you can drop us a line on our Facebook page @ifweknewthenPOD or visit our website https://www.IfWeKnewThen.com to send us an email with questions and comments. You can join our mailing list there and get alerts of future podcast episodes. Thank you again and we look forward to you joining us on the next episode of IF WE KNEW THEN.

This week Lori shares thoughts on Liam’s twelfth birthday.

Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2022/02/24/92-liam-turns-twelve-a-mothers-message/2/

Please follow us on Twitter @ifweknewthenPOD you can drop us a line on our Facebook page @ifweknewthenPOD or visit our website https://www.IfWeKnewThen.com to send us an email with questions and comments. You can join our mailing list there and get alerts of future podcast episodes. Thank you again and we look forward to you joining us on the next episode of IF WE KNEW THEN.

This week we talk about our personal experience discussing education and inclusion with someone we love who is of the belief that educating our children is asking 'extra' of the school system. We also talk about our new IEP and a story that demonstrates: it is a change of heart that will change the mind that can change the world.

Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2022/02/17/91-valentines-week-changing-hearts-minds-about-education/2/

Please follow us on Twitter @ifweknewthenPOD you can drop us a line on our Facebook page @ifweknewthenPOD or visit our website https://www.IfWeKnewThen.com to send us an email with questions and comments. You can join our mailing list there and get alerts of future podcast episodes. Thank you again and we look forward to you joining us on the next episode of IF WE KNEW THEN.

This week we are joined by Paul and Kerry Daugherty to discuss Paul’s book about his daughter, Jillian. It is a book we wish we would have found earlier with the beautiful message of “expecting instead of accepting”. Whether you have a person with Down syndrome in your life or not, this book should be one you read and then share with others.

Paul's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Uncomplicated-Life-Fathers-Exceptional-Daughter/dp/0062359959

Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2022/02/10/90-an-uncomplicated-life-a-fathers-memoir-of-his-exceptional-daughter-with-paul-and-kerry-daugherty/2/

Please follow us on Twitter @ifweknewthenPOD you can drop us a line on our Facebook page @ifweknewthenPOD or visit our website https://www.IfWeKnewThen.com to send us an email with questions and comments. You can join our mailing list there and get alerts of future podcast episodes. Thank you again and we look forward to you joining us on the next episode of IF WE KNEW THEN.

In this week's episode we discuss perceptions and our experience with Lena Dunham's new film, SHARP STICK, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival last week and starred Liam Saux. We discuss our concerns with Down syndrome representation, the affects of misperceptions and ultimately the overwhelmingly positive and insightful experience the project was to our entire family.

Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2022/02/03/89-inclusion-at-the-sundance-film-festival/2/

Please follow us on Twitter @ifweknewthenPOD you can drop us a line on our Facebook page @ifweknewthenPOD or visit our website https://www.IfWeKnewThen.com to send us an email with questions and comments. You can join our mailing list there and get alerts of future podcast episodes. Thank you again and we look forward to you joining us on the next episode of IF WE KNEW THEN.

We have the privilege of speaking again with our friend Paul Denniston. In this episode we discuss Paul’s new book where he breaks down his practice of healing.

Buy the book: https://www.pauldennistontraining.com/healing-through-yoga

Paul’s Website: https://griefyoga.com

Episode 22 - Paul’s 30 Minute Yoga Nidra Meditation: https://ifweknewthen.podbean.com/e/22-a-meditation-gift-from-paul-denniston/

Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2022/01/27/88-healing-through-yoga-transform-loss-into-empowerment-with-paul-denniston/2/

Please follow us on Twitter @ifweknewthenPOD you can drop us a line on our Facebook page @ifweknewthenPOD or visit our website https://www.IfWeKnewThen.com to send us an email with questions and comments. You can join our mailing list there and get alerts of future podcast episodes. Thank you again and we look forward to you joining us on the next episode of IF WE KNEW THEN.

This week we have a wonderful conversation with photographer Houston Vandergriff and his mother Katie. We discuss education, advocacy, focusing on the positives and the importance of finding your passion. Houston has traveled the world and his pictures communicate its beauty in the most breath taking ways.

Houston’s website: https://www.downsandtowns.com/

Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2022/01/20/87-downs-towns-our-conversation-with-houston-vandergriff/2/

Please follow us on Twitter @ifweknewthenPOD you can drop us a line on our Facebook page @ifweknewthenPOD or visit our website https://www.IfWeKnewThen.com to send us an email with questions and comments. You can join our mailing list there and get alerts of future podcast episodes. Thank you again and we look forward to you joining us on the next episode of IF WE KNEW THEN.

This week we welcome a New Year and a new school. We discuss how the educational system can make us feel and the importance of making a change when we know it’s right. We address the perceptions of failure and how to move forward after feeling broken.

Episode Transcript: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/qsd29z/86_Making_Changes_And_A_New_Beginning_2bamo1.mp3

Please follow us on Twitter @ifweknewthenPOD you can drop us a line on our Facebook page @ifweknewthenPOD or visit our website https://www.IfWeKnewThen.com to send us an email with questions and comments. You can join our mailing list there and get alerts of future podcast episodes. Thank you again and we look forward to you joining us on the next episode of IF WE KNEW THEN.