After nine years working as a Special Education teacher, Mercedes Lawson knew she wanted to make a bigger difference. She realized that not every student had access to an equitable education, so she started her own company to help parents and students find success on their own.

In this episode, Mercedes talks to host Liz Durham about issues with government funding and how it is distributed in Tennessee, why staffing matters, and why teachers need to be advocates for their students. She shares her experience growing up with a sibling with disabilities and working alongside her mother to support their community.

A.C.C.E.S.S, Advocacy & Consultation Center for Educational Student Supports, provides advocacy services, IEP consultation, tutoring, and homeschool support at an affordable rate. To learn more about Mercedes and A.C.C.E.S.S., check out the show notes.

Mercedes Lawson Website | Facebook | Instagram

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Finding resources and support systems can be challenging for parents and caregivers, especially when they age out of the traditional school system. Michael Collins, the chief financial officer at Sertoma Center Incorporated, has dedicated his career to providing services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

Michael is also a member of the Governor's Council on Autism Spectrum Disorder and has served on the East Tennessee Chapter of the Autism Society of America. In this episode of Being Different, Michael joins our host Liz Durham to discuss his work at Sertoma, challenges in adult care, and what he’s learned from his personal experience. 

Plus, they explore ways in which people who don’t have kids with disabilities can support their friends who do. The simplest efforts like listening, offering help, and learning more can make an enormous difference in their lives.

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As the parent of a special needs child, Will Edwards knows first hand how complex it can be to receive support in the school system - and in life - and he’s on a mission to change that. 

Will sat down with our host Liz Durham to offer insight into care in Tennessee. He shares his experience advocating for his child with autism at many levels, from working with guidance counselors in the public school system, to reps on the school board.

In the world of disability support, it often comes down to money. Will walks us through the process, and helps us understand whether it’s possible to close the gap in the education budget for special needs. Plus, Will offers advice for parents and families facing similar hurdles. 

This is an important episode full of resources. If you know someone who could benefit from tuning in, please share. Special thanks to Will for helping support our Tennessee families who need it most. 

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Recently on Being Different, Liz engaged in conversations about the state of American agriculture and our role in it: How much do we know? What can we expect for the future? What can we do now?

Liz was joined by Andrew Garfield and Art Whaley to discuss what has changed in farming and how farmers are at the mercy of nature - and the economy. In this episode, Liz was joined by Anthony Palmer, producer of Being Different, and shares her experiences farming at home and encourages listeners to slow down, get outside, and go visit a farm or a garden.

What’s up next? We want to hear from you! Email [email protected] to let us know what you want to discuss on Being Different. 

Special thanks to our sponsors, Henderson Farms, for supporting this episode. 

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As trends drive people toward rural living, homesteading, and farming as a lifestyle choice, statistics show a dwindling agricultural workforce across America. This week, Liz is joined by long-time friend Art Whaley to investigate the realities of supporting farmers in today’s economy. 

Art, who studied Agriculture Economics at University of Tennessee, is the Chief Lending Officer for Rural 1st, the consumer lending division of Farm Credit Mid-America. He shares his insight into the process of lending and financing for farmers and how extension agents like Farm Credit work to support farmers. 

Liz and Art discuss why it’s important to teach our kids about agriculture, and how their own experiences with farming have changed their perspectives. Plus, what can we do as parents to make sure our families get the most well-balanced, healthy foods? 

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Where does your food come from? This episode starts a series exploring how agriculture systems impact our families. Up first, Liz sits down with Andrew Griffith to talk about the state of American agriculture today.

Dr. Andrew Griffith is an Assistant Professor at University of Tennessee in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics. He shares how agriculture has evolved in the past 100 years, and the pros and cons to changes in cattle, crops, and overall standards. 

Liz and Andrew discuss how farming together as a family helps everyone learn to build good foundations, and what it really means to give food labels like non-GMO, organic, pasture raised, or grass fed. Plus, the question everyone wants the answer to: Are egg prices coming down anytime soon?

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How is modern day feminism impacting American families? Trev Smoove is a writer, director, and host of “Chew the Fat,” a podcast where he provides space for men and women to listen and try to understand each other's perspectives on household roles, masculinity and parenthood.

In this episode, Liz Durham sat down with Trev to talk about the importance of the nuclear family - especially with a father in the picture - and what it means to have a mother in the workforce. Plus, TikTok algorithms, setting boundaries, and how to talk to your kids about social media.


Chew The Fat With Smoove Podcast

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Sometimes, all it takes is one simple phone call to trigger a very complex life change. Julia Landreth recently transitioned from corporate sales to running her own real estate business - a move that allows her the flexibility and freedom to prioritize both motherhood and her career.

Julia sat with host Liz Durham to talk about her reason for taking a “leap of faith” to focus on her nuclear family. Julia discusses why it’s important for our kids to see us as happy individuals sharing about our lives, while also helping them understand that our jobs don’t define us as parents. Plus, how to give ourselves grace in the midst of it all.

In This Episode:
Landreth and Lane Homes
Julia Landreth

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Did you know the first 1000 days of a baby’s life are critical for developing secure attachment? 

Erica Komisar is a clinical social worker, psychoanalyst, parent coach, and author of the book Being There: Why Prioritizing Motherhood in the First Three Years Matters.

Her advice to moms? Be open to making a change to prioritize time with your children - and that doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to quit work.

In this episode, Erica and Liz discuss the difference between secure and insecure attachment, the root causes of ADHD, the myth of socialization, and why "being there" matters most.

In This Episode:

Erica Komisar Website | Instagram | Books | Facebook

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When Dena SanMiguel decided to leave her career and become a stay at home mom, she struggled to find community. She was met with surprising reactions from colleagues and felt out of touch with “mommy groups”.

She turned her focus toward creating routine and experiences for her children - and herself. Tune in to hear about how Liz and Dena have redefined their roles as moms, embraced their own identities, and found the blessing of working on their at-home farms.

In This Episode:

Dena SanMiguel Facebook | Instagram 

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