The Special Needs Mom Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

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This episode came from a simple morning walk and one very unexpected moment of wisdom from my teenage niece’s boyfriend. We spent Thanksgiving together and he shared something that stopped me in my tracks. It got me thinking about how the people we spend time with quietly shape our thinking, our habits, our emotional landscape and even our hope. As special needs moms we often forget how much this matters because our lives feel full before they even begin.

In this conversation, I explore community, both the good and the harmful parts of it. I talk about why we pick up the beliefs of the people we are around, why default cultural narratives like holidays always being terrible can keep us stuck and how we can intentionally choose rooms that lift us up. I also share a powerful story from a memorial service that reminded me that healing usually happens shoulder to shoulder, never solo. If you have been craving connection or wondering why certain spaces feel draining, this episode will give you clarity, inspiration and a gentle nudge toward what feels good and true.

Another episode on suffering: Episode 164 Doing Hard Things Without Suffering 

Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
Website: https://www.kararyska.com/

Send us a text (Note: we are not able to respond but LOVE to hear from you!!)

This Thanksgiving week, I’m keeping it simple and talking about complex gratitude. The kind that feels messy, honest, and actually doable for special needs moms.

I share a story from the early days after Levi’s surgery, when gratitude felt impossible and I fully wanted to shove the whole concept off a cliff. What finally clicked for me was realizing I didn’t have to be grateful for everything to be grateful for something. That little truth opened up room for real, authentic gratitude instead of the forced version that makes you feel worse.

In this episode, I walk through my “sorting buckets” idea. It's a playful way to separate the hard things from the things we genuinely appreciate, without pretending the hard stuff isn’t there. Even a tiny whisper of gratitude can shift something inside us, especially during a season that brings up so many mixed emotions.

If you’re listening with metaphorical crossed arms… I get it. You’re still welcome here.

Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
Website: https://www.kararyska.com/

Send us a text (Note: we are not able to respond but LOVE to hear from you!!)

In this episode, I sit down with Nikki McIntosh, founder of Rare Mamas® and host of the Rare Mamas Rising Podcast. Nikki is also the author of Rare Mamas: Empowering Strategies for Navigating Your Child’s Rare Disease, a book born from her family’s journey after her son’s rare diagnosis.

We talk about the shock of those early days, the fight for treatment, and what it’s like raising one child with a rare condition and another without. Nikki shares how she turned pain into purpose, creating resources and community to give other moms strength, strategies, and hope.

This conversation is full of those “me too” moments—reminders that we’re not as alone as we sometimes feel. Nikki and I also touch on the rollercoaster of emotions that come with parenting in the world of rare disease, from fear and grief to joy and fierce determination. Her story is a powerful example of what it looks like to fight for your child while still choosing to build a meaningful, hope-filled life.

Resources Mentioned

• Rare Mamas: Empowering Strategies for Navigating Your Child’s Rare Disease 
• Rare Mamas community
• Rare Mamas Rising Podcast
• Cure SMA (patient advocacy group)

Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
Website: https://www.kararyska.com/

Send us a text (Note: we are not able to respond but LOVE to hear from you!!)

Hello and welcome to the podcast. As the dawn of a new year breaks, I'm filled with renewed hope and the pleasure of revisiting an episode that remains close to my heart, featuring the indomitable Anna Brown.

Through the lens of raising a nonverbal child, we discuss the profound lesson of releasing control and the importance of honoring our children's individual journeys without imposing our own expectations.

Connect with Anna:
Blog: https://www.motheringrare.org/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/mothering_rare/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mothering.rare

Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
Website: https://www.kararyska.com/

Send us a text (Note: we are not able to respond but LOVE to hear from you!!)

Feeling the holiday rush? Let me pull you aside for a moment of candid reflection; because, let's face it, the festive season can be equal parts enchanting and exhausting. In this heart-to-heart, I bare my soul about the upcoming winter break, sharing the joy and the jittery nerves as my husband and I put a new spin on our Christmas tradition. It's a tale of breaking the cycle of overwhelm by leaning into support and embracing the restorative power of rest—something many of us, especially us hands-on mothers and ardent workers, often resist. Prepare to feel a kinship and maybe even a lightbulb moment as I recount how reaching out for help isn't a sign of weakness but an essential step to enjoying the true spirit of the holidays.

As the year draws to a close, I'm buzzing with excitement to reveal a collaborative co-workshop that pairs my coaching insights with the organizational magic of a professional dynamo. This hands-on experience is designed not just to inspire but to ignite real change, and I'm practically giving away seats with a special rate and an early bird discount. If the price tag makes you hesitate, don't let it stand in your way—reach out, and let's make it work for you. And as we approach the finale of this episode, please receive my warmest holiday wishes, whether you're decking the halls or simply unwinding into the new year. Join us for a conversation that's all about honoring your need for downtime and getting a head start on a transformative journey.

Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
Website: https://www.kararyska.com/

Send us a text (Note: we are not able to respond but LOVE to hear from you!!)

Hello and welcome to the podcast. As the twinkle of holiday lights begins to shimmer, the weight of coordinating a festive season that embraces the needs of our special children can feel like a tangled string of bulbs. This heartfelt episode invites you into our circle of mothers, including the candid voices of Brooke, Erica, Francesca, and Rachel, who each bring to the table their own patchwork of challenges and triumphs in parenting children with special needs. We're cracking open the conversation on how we craft a holiday that's as inclusive as it is joyous, sharing stories that will wrap around you like the coziest of winter scarves.

Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
Website: https://www.kararyska.com/

Send us a text (Note: we are not able to respond but LOVE to hear from you!!)

Hello and welcome to the podcast. In this episode, I'm sharing 5 things that have been game-changers in my life recently! Listen in as I talk practical strategies from meal planning, and therapy support, to even mindset shifts that can help you reclaim your peace during this busy period. Lastly, I share five transformative tips that have been my compass during this journey and invite you to share your own experiences. You're not alone on this journey, and together, we can navigate this terrain.

Try Hungry Root for Yourself! ($50 off with this link)

Other Mentions:
The Lazy Genius Podcast
We Are Brave Together
Naples/Long Beach Retreat

Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
Website: https://www.kararyska.com/

Send us a text (Note: we are not able to respond but LOVE to hear from you!!)

Experience a journey that navigates the thin line between despair and hope. 

We open our hearts to you, sharing the intimate moments of fear and struggle, and the glimmers of hope that served as our lifeline. Feel the terror of entrusting our precious Ryan to a stranger's care, and the relief washing over us as we receive the invaluable support from those around us. Join us, as we recollect our journey from hardship to healing, resonating with strength, resilience, and most importantly, hope.

Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
Website: https://www.kararyska.com/

Send us a text (Note: we are not able to respond but LOVE to hear from you!!)

Are you losing sleep over your child's restless nights? You're not alone. I'm thrilled to share with you a conversation brimming with wisdom, insights, and practical tips from pediatric sleep consultant, Alison Egidi. She's not just an expert in her field, but also a mother who's walked the path of sleep troubles with her own child. We explore and debunk sleep myths, emphasizing the individuality of each child's sleep rhythm. The goal isn't to control their sleep schedules but to understand and align with their unique circadian rhythms.  But the conversation doesn't stop there. We touch on how anxiety can impact sleep and parenting, sharing our personal experiences and offering strategies to make bedtime less stressful.

Connect with Allison
IG: https://www.instagram.com/sleepandwellnesscoach/
Website: https://sleepandwellnesscoach.com/
Dr. Winter's Sleep Podcast

Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
Website: https://www.kararyska.com/

Send us a text (Note: we are not able to respond but LOVE to hear from you!!)

Hello and welcome to the podcast. Feeling overwhelmed and struggling to find gratitude in the midst of managing life as a special needs mom? Let's unpack those feelings together. In this special Thanksgiving episode, we're taking a deep-dive into the concept of "defending gratitude." We'll explore why we often struggle to be grateful in the face of adversity, and introduce practical strategies to help you navigate these emotional hurdles.

Positive Psychology
The Enemies of Gratitude: Hidden Brain, Tom Gilovich at Cornell

Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
Website: https://www.kararyska.com/