BABIES DOWN, BOTTLES UP

BABIES DOWN, BOTTLES UP

By Babies Down, Bottles UpParentingKids & Family
Download on the App Store

BABIES DOWN, BOTTLES UP episodes

  • Precious moments with our step sons w/ Precious Perez and Stephanie

    This one’s a real one.

    Josselyn’s out handling a parenting situation, so Terrin and Kisha are joined by Stephanie and Precious for a conversation all about step-parenting and what it actually looks like day to day.

    We get into how these relationships start, those first introductions with the kids, and how quickly things can either click or feel complicated. From there, it’s the real stuff, co-parenting dynamics, knowing your place, handling discipline, and figuring out how to show up without overstepping.

    We also talk about that in-between feeling of not always being seen as “the parent,” while still doing everything a parent does. And at the same time, the moments that make it worth it, the bonds, the routines, and the relationships that grow over time.

    Different experiences, different family setups, but the same goal, doing what’s best for the kids.

    If you’re living this or about to step into it, this one’s going to feel familiar.

    Connect with Our Guests

    Precious Perez

    Website: https://preciousperezmusica.com

    Socials: preciousperezmusica (all platforms)

    Find her music on all streaming platforms under La Reggaetonera Ciega

    Stephanie

    Co-runs the Blind and Bookish Facebook group

    Find the group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/997080930144525/

    Support us on Patreon.

    Email us at [email protected].

    Like our Facebook page.

    Follow us on TikTok.

    Follow us on Twitter.

    Follow us on Instagram.

    43 min
  • My City is just for me

    This one feels like a breath of fresh air after some of our heavier conversations.

    We’re back with a full cast episode, just talking, catching up, and letting things go wherever they go. No big topic, just real life updates, random questions, and the kind of conversations that remind you why we started this in the first place.

    We get into what’s been going on lately, from Kisha being deep in mom life with sports, gymnastics, and a packed schedule, to Terrin stepping into bodybuilding and prepping for the stage while working on a full Louisiana-inspired tattoo sleeve that keeps getting more detailed. Josselyn shows up with brand new pink hair after a full-day transformation that has her feeling like a whole different person. And Danny is doing what Danny does, dropping music updates, talking about AI projects, and somehow making his drink choices sound concerning.

    We also take a minute to talk about something we’ve been working on behind the scenes, the Blind Parenting Guide. It’s something we built with other blind parents to make things easier for anyone figuring it out as they go, from planning for a baby to handling everyday situations that don’t always get talked about.

    Then we get into the chaos. We run through a series of random “MySpace survey” questions that take us all over the place. From weird things our families collect to dream ice cream flavors, business ideas, childhood memories, and the kind of answers that probably say a little too much about who we are. It’s funny, it’s random, and it turns into one of those conversations where you realize you’re still learning new things about each other.

    We also touch on how different things feel now compared to how we grew up, especially with how much social media and AI have changed everything. There’s more access than ever, but also a lot more noise, and we get into what that looks like from our perspective.

    This episode is just us being us. No structure, no pressure, just conversation, updates, and a reminder that sometimes it’s good to slow down and just enjoy talking.

    Check out our Blind Parenting Guide and Toolkit Bundle at https://bdbupodshop.com.

    Support us on Patreon.

    Email us at [email protected].

    Like our Facebook page.

    Follow us on TikTok.

    Follow us on Twitter.

    Follow us on Instagram.


    50 min
  • Going, growing and glowing w/ Ms. Blind Diva pageant

    This one is a celebration.

    For Women’s History Month, Josselyn and Kisha sit down with the powerhouse women behind Eyes Like Mine Inc., an organization doing real work in the community and creating space for blind and visually impaired individuals to show up fully as themselves. Founded by Newark natives Krystal and Naquela, Eyes Like Mine has built something that goes beyond events. From Dancing with the Blind to the Miss Blind Diva Empowerment Pageant and their upcoming Marvelous Moms Community Baby Shower, they’re creating opportunities, visibility, and support where it’s needed most.

    We’re also joined by some of the titleholders from the Miss Blind Diva 2025 pageant, and they bring their stories, their work, and their personalities right to the table.

    Bianca Blaque Diamond Johnson, Ms. Altruistic 2025, is an award-winning author, poet, motivational speaker, and host of the BFF Empowerment Podcast. She’s written over 14 books, released multiple projects, and created the No Limits Girl Empowerment App, a platform focused on building confidence, independence, and leadership in blind and visually impaired youth. Everything she does is centered around showing people that there are no limits to what they can achieve.

    Courtney “Coco” Brown, Miss Blind Diva 2025 and Miss Photogenic 2025, is a full-on entrepreneur and leader. She’s the CEO and Founder of Cut Not Crushed Enterprises, along with Bling Boutique by Coco, Lillies Lifesavers LLC, and Blind Diamonds. Coco has taken her experience with vision loss and turned it into purpose, building brands that focus on confidence, advocacy, and community. She’s using her platform to uplift others while adding her own style and energy to everything she touches.

    Throughout the episode, we talk about what this pageant and organization mean to the women involved, the impact of having spaces like this in the blind community, and how each of these women is using their voice and their work to push things forward.

    This episode is full of energy, pride, and real conversation. It’s about showing up, supporting each other, and making sure the next generation sees what’s possible.

    Miss Blind Diva 2025 Titleholder Information

    Ms. Altruistic 2025: Bianca Blaque Diamond Johnson

    Website: www.bffempowermentpodcast.com

    Website: www.nolimitsgirl.com

    Miss Photogenic 2025 and Miss Blind Diva 2025: Courtney “Coco” Brown

    Courtney “Coco” Brown is the CEO and Founder of Cut Not Crushed Enterprises, an umbrella company rooted in faith, purpose, and empowerment. She is also the Founder and CEO of Bling Boutique by Coco, Lillies Lifesavers LLC, and Blind Diamonds. Living with vision loss, Coco has turned adversity into purpose by building brands and platforms that inspire confidence, advocacy, beauty, and community. As the reigning Miss Blind Diva 2025 and Miss Photogenic 2025 through Eyes Like Mine, she uses her voice, story, and leadership to uplift others and add sparkle back into the world one diamond at a time.

    Email: [email protected]

    Link: https://vip.covergirl.maxim.com/p/X2MFKWSf

    Support us on Patreon.

    Email us at [email protected].

    Like our Facebook page.

    Follow us on TikTok.

    Follow us on Twitter.

    Follow us on Instagram.

    1 hr 2 min
  • Adult Female friendships, are they for you?

    Friendships look a lot different once you become a parent, and we’re talking all about it in this episode.

    Kisha, Terrin, and Josselyn get real about the friendships that shaped them growing up and how those relationships change once life fills up with kids, work, and responsibilities. From childhood best friends to the people who came into their lives later, they talk about how those connections influenced who they are today.

    The conversation moves into the reality of maintaining friendships as adults. Long-distance friendships, group chats that go quiet, the effort it takes to stay connected, and how hard it can be to build new friendships when your schedule revolves around family life. They also talk about the uncomfortable side of friendships, including disagreements, drifting apart, and the moments when a friendship simply runs its course.

    Along the way they share stories about setting boundaries, figuring out who truly shows up for you, and why having a supportive circle matters more than ever as a parent. Sometimes your chosen family ends up being just as important as the one you were born into.

    It’s honest, relatable, and full of the kinds of conversations people don’t always say out loud about friendships as adults.

    Support us on Patreon.

    Email us at [email protected].

    Like our Facebook page.

    Follow us on TikTok.

    Follow us on Twitter.

    Follow us on Instagram.

    44 min
  • Mom of the Month: Adapt to the sighted world through Katy's Eyes W/ @KatysEyes
    iv>

    Our Mom of the Month spotlight is back, and this time we’re welcoming Katie from Katy’s Eyes on TikTok to the mic.

    Katie is a blind mom of two who has built a growing online following by simply sharing what life actually looks like in her house. From raising her kids to running her day-to-day life without sight, she’s been documenting the routines, workarounds, and moments that most people never get to see.

    In this episode, Katie talks about her choice to homeschool and how she structures learning at home while still giving her kids space to explore and be kids. She shares how volunteering at her church became another place where she could stay connected to her community and contribute in ways that matter to her family.

    We also talk about what it’s been like growing a social media presence while being open about blindness. Katie explains why she started posting in the first place, the reactions she gets from people online, and how those videos have turned into a space where others can ask questions, learn, and feel less alone.

    Along the way we get into the everyday strategies she uses around the house, the moments that catch people off guard when they see a blind parent in action, and the importance of showing the world that blind parents are doing the same messy, funny, exhausting, rewarding job as everyone else.

    Katie brings honesty, humor, and a lot of perspective to this conversation. It’s a great way to get to know another mom who’s doing things her own way and sharing it with the world.

    Find Katie from Katy’s Eyes

    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@katyseyes

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KatysEyes

    Instagram: http://instagram.com/katyseyes

    Support us on Patreon.

    Email us at [email protected].

    Like our Facebook page.

    Follow us on TikTok.

    Follow us on Twitter.

    Follow us on Instagram.

    52 min
  • See me function in a non-related Blindness Field

    This one is real.

    We’re talking about what it’s actually like working outside of the blindness bubble. Not conferences. Not advocacy spaces. Regular workplaces. Offices. Meetings. Systems that were never built with us in mind.

    We share our experiences being the only blind person in the room, the pressure to prove ourselves before we even open our mouths, and the exhausting dance of deciding when to educate and when to just do your job. There are stories of discrimination, yes. But there are also stories of unexpected allies, managers who stepped up, and coworkers who surprised us in the best way.

    We get into inaccessible software, awkward interviews, assumptions about productivity, and the constant need to advocate for basic accommodations. We also talk about why it matters that blind people show up in every industry, not just blindness organizations. Visibility changes perception. Presence shifts culture. And sometimes just existing in the space is the statement.

    This episode is about honesty, growth, frustration, and persistence. If you’ve ever felt underestimated at work or wondered how to push back without burning bridges, this conversation is for you.

    And we really do want to hear your stories.

    Support us on Patreon.

    Email us at [email protected].

    Like our Facebook page.

    Follow us on TikTok.

    Follow us on Twitter.

    Follow us on Instagram.

    37 min
  • Mom of the month: Embodiment of a Mompreneur. w/ She's REL Cooper

    We’re kicking off 2026 by naming our very first Mom of the Month, and it had to be REL Cooper. Friend of the show, blind mom, entrepreneur, homeschooler, and all-around force, REL joins Josselyn, Kisha, and Terrin for an episode that feels like sitting at the table with people who really know each other. Danny pops in with his usual chaos, the drinks are flowing, and the stories come fast.

    The episode opens with catch-ups and life updates, from Kisha being nominated for a major PTA honor, to Terrin stumbling into a full-circle connection with a tattoo artist whose family shares a blindness journey of their own. Josselyn admits she’s running on wine and an empty stomach, Danny shocks everyone with his beverage choices, and the group dynamic does what it does best.

    Then REL takes the mic. She talks about growing up blind, losing her remaining vision as a kid, and building a life that now includes a marriage, two kids, homeschooling, and multiple businesses. She shares how she met her husband Vision, how their partnership grew from friendship into family and work, and why entrepreneurship became the path forward when traditional jobs weren’t opening doors.

    REL breaks down the businesses she and Vision have built together, from furnished rental investing through Access Your Place, to Penny Works, an AI website builder designed with blind users in mind, to her passion projects centered on supporting moms. She also gets real about past ventures that didn’t work, the lessons they left behind, and why no experience is wasted if you actually learn from it.

    The conversation moves into homeschooling, how they make it work day to day, why structure looks different in their house, and how learning happens in conversations, play, and everyday life. They talk socialization myths, flexibility, and the pressure parents put on themselves to do things the “right” way. Along the way there are parenting stories, throwback memories, and moments that only happen when people have real history together.

    This episode is equal parts laughter, honesty, business talk, parenting reality, and mindset shifts. It’s a strong start to a new year and a perfect introduction to REL Cooper as our first Mom of the Month for 2026.

    Find REL Cooper

    shesrel.com

    Support us on Patreon.

    Email us at [email protected].

    Like our Facebook page.

    Follow us on TikTok.

    Follow us on Twitter.

    Follow us on Instagram.

    1 hr 5 min
  • Achieving a better life Experience. W/ Ashley Melero

    Money planning can get complicated fast when disability benefits are involved, so we brought in someone who truly understands how the system works. In this episode, we’re joined by Ashley Melero from The Arc of Texas for a clear, grounded conversation about ABLE accounts and Special Needs Trusts, and why knowing the difference between the two matters more than most people realize.

    Ashley walks us through what ABLE accounts are, why they were created, and how they allow people with disabilities to save money without risking Medicaid or Social Security. We talk contribution limits, who can open and manage an account, how parents can use them for minors, and what happens as balances grow. She also explains what counts as a disability-related expense and why documentation is key.

    From there, we shift into Special Needs Trusts and the common mistakes families make when planning for the future. Ashley explains the difference between third-party and self-settled trusts, why inheritances need to be handled carefully, and how pooled trusts can remove a lot of the stress that comes with managing funds and staying compliant with benefit rules.

    We also cover the parts people often avoid talking about, including Medicaid payback provisions, how marriage and employment can affect benefits, and why small steps like adding transfer-on-death designations or updating a will can make a major difference down the line.

    If you’ve ever felt stuck between wanting financial security and fearing the loss of benefits, this episode helps untangle that tension. It’s a straightforward conversation about planning ahead, protecting access to care, and making sure your money works for you instead of against you.

    Support us on Patreon.

    Email us at [email protected].

    Like our Facebook page.

    Follow us on TikTok.

    Follow us on Twitter.

    Follow us on Instagram.

    51 min
  • Financial goals = changing behaviors. W/ Anthony Melena

    Money is one of those topics that can feel heavy fast, especially when you’re trying to rebuild, stretch a fixed income, or figure things out after time spent at home raising kids. In this episode, we sit down with Anthony for a grounded conversation about money that speaks to real situations, not perfect ones. He shares his own experience moving through debt and finding financial stability, along with the mindset shifts that helped him stop feeling stuck.

    We talk about budgeting in a way that makes sense for people living on a fixed income and for moms who are re-entering the workforce or trying to regain financial footing after staying home. Anthony explains how to be more intentional with spending, how to approach money conversations with a partner, and how everyday choices can quietly shape your financial future. He also walks through tools like IRAs and Roth accounts in plain language, so you can understand what they are and why they matter without feeling overwhelmed.

    This episode is for anyone who wants to feel less anxious about money and more aware of how to work with what they have. It’s honest, realistic, and focused on building confidence one step at a time, no matter where you’re starting from.

    Reach Anthony: [email protected]

    Anthony’s suggestions:

    Opening a Capital One account (no minimum banking fees), which can help you build a simple system to track spending and start budgeting: https://www.capitalone.com/bank/money-management/banking-basics/opening-a-bank-account-online/

    Dave Ramsey’s book The Total Money Makeover (available on BARD and Bookshare): https://store.ramseysolutions.com/money/books/the-total-money-makeover-by-dave-ramsey/

    Support us on Patreon.

    Email us at [email protected].

    Like our Facebook page.

    Follow us on TikTok.

    Follow us on Twitter.

    Follow us on Instagram.

    1 hr 8 min
  • The rainbow Ribbon chronicles: all about Autism

    If you’ve ever wondered whether the signs you’re seeing mean something more, or you’ve already been down the road of seeking an autism diagnosis for your child, this episode is one you’ll want to sit with.

    Josselyn and Terrin speak honestly about their experiences raising autistic daughters, including the early stages of denial, the moment they realized they were the only ones in their families acknowledging what was happening, and what it took to fully accept and move forward with a diagnosis. They break down how autism diagnoses work today, why the term Asperger’s is no longer used, and what actually separates Levels 1, 2, and 3.

    They also talk through the day-to-day realities that come with parenting autistic kids, redirecting behaviors, managing sensory needs, and adjusting parenting styles to meet their children where they are. From different types of sensory input their daughters seek out to tools and items that help with regulation, they share what has worked in their own homes.

    The conversation also takes a necessary turn toward advocacy. Josselyn and Terrin discuss why organizations like Autism Speaks have faced backlash, and why person-first language is often pushed by people who are not autistic themselves. They draw clear parallels to disability language within the blind community and explain why lived experience matters more than outside policing.

    This episode is grounded in real parenting, real questions, and real learning. If you’re curious, concerned, or already working through an autism diagnosis, there’s a lot here that may help you feel less alone and more informed.

    Support us on Patreon.

    Email us at [email protected].

    Like our Facebook page.

    Follow us on TikTok.

    Follow us on Twitter.

    Follow us on Instagram.

    57 min

About BABIES DOWN, BOTTLES UP

From the publisher's feed

A group of blind moms that are changing the narrative. We discuss our kids, relationships, beauty tips, fitness, motivate, and share our experiences as blind women. We believe that the best way to change misconceptions and stigmas is through awareness and sharing our unfiltered truths. So put the babies down for bed, and come sip your glass of wine with us... Or the whole bottle. We don’t judge.

More shows like BABIES DOWN, BOTTLES UP

What Should I Read Next? by Anne Bogel

What Should I Read Next?

5,174 Listeners