Beyond the Label Podcast

Building community has looked different for each of our kids. With Nora and June, connections with other families often happen naturally through school, activities, and everyday conversations. With Milo, it hasn’t always been that simple.

We talk about how communication differences, special education settings, and the structure of school and therapy programs can sometimes make families like ours feel a little invisible. And as we mark 50 episodes of the podcast, we reflect on why continuing to share our story is one of the ways we try to connect.

Topics covered: autism parenting, building community, special education experiences, parenting multiple children, communication differences, disability inclusion, parenting a child with autism

Follow us on Instagram @beyondthelabel440.

Email us at [email protected]

Thank you to our friend Tom Evanchuck for the use of his song, "Sunshine," as our theme music. Follow Tom on Spotify. 

Thank you for being here!

A brief but meaningful interaction in a crowded Costco aisle left us thinking long after it ended. As Milo grows older, we sometimes find ourselves wondering how the world will respond to the ways he connects with others, especially when those interactions don’t always fit social expectations.

We also share updates on Milo’s recent progress at therapy, including encouraging data from his annual IEP meeting and steps forward in his communication skills.

And after attending a local carnival, we share how we're reminded of how powerful community and recognition can be.

Topics discussed: autism parenting, neurodiversity, developmental disabilities, IEP progress, communication development, autism communication skills, disability inclusion, parenting a child with autism

Follow us on Instagram @beyondthelabel440.

Email us at [email protected]

Thank you to our friend Tom Evanchuck for the use of his song, "Sunshine," as our theme music. Follow Tom on Spotify. 

Thank you for being here!

For years, we’ve described Milo as being “stuck in a loop.” These days, that loop involves repeated questions about Llama Llama toys and birthday parties. In this episode, we reflect on how looping has evolved from something that trapped our family in cycles of anger and anxiety to something that’s become part of Milo’s daily rhythm—and often, how he communicates. 

Topics discussed: autism parenting, repetitive behaviors, scripting, anxiety in autism, ABA therapy, speech therapy, emotional regulation, autism and medication.

Follow us on Instagram @beyondthelabel440.

Email us at [email protected]

Thank you to our friend Tom Evanchuck for the use of his song, "Sunshine," as our theme music. Follow Tom on Spotify. 

Thank you for being here!

What happens when a simple carnival game becomes an impossible challenge for your family? We're sharing two stories about navigating arcades and fair games with our son Milo, who is autistic—and how those decisions impact our neurotypical daughters, Nora and June.

From a yellow Baby Shark prize at the Geauga County Fair to an unfortunate claw machine incident at a birthday party, we open up about sensory overload, managing public meltdowns, and navigating frank conversations with our daughters about our own limitations as parents.

We discuss why we now avoid the Midway, how setting expectations ahead of time helps, and what it means to "play the long game" when teaching siblings with different needs to navigate the world together.

Follow us on Instagram @beyondthelabel440.

Email us at [email protected]

Thank you to our friend Tom Evanchuck for the use of his song, "Sunshine," as our theme music. Follow Tom on Spotify. 

Thank you for being here!

We’re sharing the full story behind Milo’s January surgery — including a tonsillectomy and turbinate reduction — and how we navigated it as parents of an autistic child who thrives on routine, predictability, and trust.  We rewind to early speech concerns, chronic congestion, adenoid removal, allergy testing, and the long road to understanding Milo’s needs. 

We also share practical takeaways for families navigating surgery and recovery with autistic kids:
 • how we prepared Milo using social stories and visual supports
 • what actually helped during recovery (and what didn’t)
 • medication routines, food struggles, and safe-food surprises
 • advocating across providers before surgery

Follow us on Instagram @beyondthelabel440.

Email us at [email protected]

Thank you to our friend Tom Evanchuck for the use of his song, "Sunshine," as our theme music. Follow Tom on Spotify. 

Thank you for being here!

When Ty takes the girls to swim lessons, Lisa is home alone with Milo — something that once felt impossible. We're giving you a glimpse into the rhythms of our home and what it can feel like to parent an autistic child when you’re not the preferred parent. 

Follow us on Instagram @beyondthelabel440.

Email us at [email protected]

Thank you to our friend Tom Evanchuck for the use of his song, "Sunshine," as our theme music. Follow Tom on Spotify. 

Thank you for being here!

For Milo's 7th birthday, we're reflecting on some of the highs and lows and lessons learned in the last year. 

We reference this episode about Milo's 6th birthday: E3: Cake

Follow us on Instagram @beyondthelabel440.

Email us at [email protected]

Thank you to our friend Tom Evanchuck for the use of his song, "Sunshine," as our theme music. Follow Tom on Spotify. 

Thank you for being here!

When Ty joins Nora at a friend’s birthday party, he finds himself in the middle of an all-out Nerf battle—with a room full of boys Milo’s age.

It sparks an uncomfortable realization: what happens when you can play easily with other kids your son’s age… but not in the same way with your own child? Is it wrong to feel guilt—or even sadness—about that?

Maybe it's just part of the emotional tightrope we walk as parents.

Follow us on Instagram @beyondthelabel440.

Email us at [email protected]

Thank you to our friend Tom Evanchuck for the use of his song, "Sunshine," as our theme music. Follow Tom on Spotify. 

Thank you for being here!

Camel or avocado? You never know.

In this episode, we share a few small moments that show how much Milo has changed over the past year. What begins with a simple joke at the kitchen counter turns into a conversation about humor, communication, and emotional regulation. We talk about how Milo is not just expressing himself more clearly but also connecting with others through teasing and shared jokes. 

"Santa? Bye bye!" 

Follow us on Instagram @beyondthelabel440.

Email us at [email protected]

Thank you to our friend Tom Evanchuck for the use of his song, "Sunshine," as our theme music. Follow Tom on Spotify. 

Thank you for being here!

Tune in for a little message of gratitude to our listeners and a quick update on the future of the podcast.

Follow us on Instagram @beyondthelabel440.

Email us at [email protected]

Thank you to our friend Tom Evanchuck for the use of his song, "Sunshine," as our theme music. Follow Tom on Spotify. 

Thank you for being here!