What happens when the picture-perfect plan of motherhood is shattered by an unexpected diagnosis? In this raw and revealing episode, Ashley Stringham opens up about the moment she learned her son Carter had Down syndrome — a moment that brought shock, grief, and an overwhelming sense of isolation. With brutal honesty, Ashley shares the emotional rollercoaster of denial, heartbreak, and eventual acceptance, inviting us into the messy, beautiful reality of parenting a child with special needs.

But this isn’t just a story about Carter. It’s a call to every mother who’s ever felt like she had to hold it all together. Ashley explores the often-unspoken truth that self-care isn’t selfish — it’s survival. That it’s okay to cry. That it’s okay to grieve. And that progress, not perfection, is what real motherhood looks like.

Through the power of community, Ashley found healing in the stories of other special needs moms. Her message is clear: advocacy begins at home, and joy can be found in the smallest victories — if we’re brave enough to stop comparing and start embracing the journey we didn’t expect.

This episode will challenge the narrative, crack open your heart, and remind you that sometimes the most unexpected detours lead to the most profound love.

In this episode of Conquering Your Clownfish, hosts Misty Coy Snyder, Ela, and Larry invite listeners into the raw and radiant journey of raising their daughter with Down syndrome—one that shattered their expectations, exposed the fear-based narratives still dominating the medical world, and ultimately gave rise to a global advocacy movement rooted in art.

What began as confusion and isolation quickly transformed into connection and purpose. Ela and Larry didn’t just find beauty in their daughter—they captured it, painted it, and put it on display for the world to see. Through their art, they’ve made it impossible to look away from the truth: children with Down syndrome are not a tragedy to grieve, but a light to follow.

They speak openly about the way limitations—imposed by doctors, systems, even well-meaning friends—can quietly crush potential. They spotlight the often-overlooked role of fathers, the fierce empathy that grows in siblings, and the community that every family deserves but so few actually find.

This episode doesn’t sugarcoat the journey. Instead, it flips the script: what if the “hard news” isn’t the diagnosis, but the lies we’re told about what that diagnosis means? What if the real disability is in how society chooses to see?

If you've ever been afraid of the unknown, or wondered how to turn pain into purpose—this one is for you.

What if the child you thought couldn’t understand you had been listening all along?

In this powerful episode of Conquering Your Clown Fish, Betsy Hicks-Russ—mother, advocate, and director of Autism Odyssey—opens up about her journey parenting Joey, a young man with non-speaking autism. For years, she was told Joey couldn’t comprehend the world around him. But everything changed when they discovered spelling to communicate—a method that unlocked Joey’s voice and transformed their entire relationship.

Betsy challenges the narrative that non-speaking means non-thinking. With fierce honesty and vulnerability, she shares how the vest Joey wears in public serves as more than a tool for safety—it’s a call for empathy in a world that too often makes assumptions. She dives into why society still underestimates people like Joey, and why it’s time we stop.

This conversation is a wake-up call to parents, educators, and anyone who’s ever judged what they didn’t understand. It’s also a love letter to the caregivers who keep showing up, even when Plan A fails—and who discover miracles in Plan B.

What if everything the world told you about disability was wrong?

In this powerful episode, Mitch Holeve shares the raw and transformative journey of raising his son Garrett, a trailblazer with Down syndrome who defied every limit—including stepping into the cage as a mixed martial artist. Mitch unpacks the emotional highs and societal hurdles of parenting a child with disabilities, exposing outdated perceptions and advocating for a world that expects more because our kids are capable of more.

From volunteering at Eunie's Buddies and mentoring new parents, Mitch challenges us to stop settling for sympathy and start building support systems that empower. This episode is a call to action—for positivity, for inclusion, and for a shift in how we define success, strength, and belonging.

To learn more about Eunie's Buddies, visit HERE.

What if the very thing you feared most became the source of your deepest joy?

In this raw and unfiltered episode, Amanda Ellard—mother, author, and fierce advocate—opens up about the life-altering journey of raising a child with Down syndrome. She doesn’t sugarcoat it. The grief is real. The trauma is real. But so is the joy—piercing, profound, and often found in the most unexpected places.

Amanda speaks to the quiet battles adoptive parents face: the emotional exhaustion, the fear of failure, the invisible weight of parenting children with trauma. She challenges the narrative that love is always easy—revealing how trust must be earned, how vulnerability is non-negotiable, and how therapy and self-care are not luxuries but lifelines.

This episode is a rallying cry: Every child—especially those the world too often overlooks—is worthy of celebration, belonging, and relentless advocacy. And perhaps the greatest transformation isn’t just in the child... but in us.

In this raw and riveting episode of Conquering Your Clown Fish, host Brady Murray sits down with Tim Ashcraft—Army aviator, father of four, and reluctant member of a club no parent asks to join: the parents of a child with a life-changing diagnosis. When Tim and his wife Ashley learned their youngest, Finley, would be born with Down syndrome, their world shifted in an instant. What followed wasn’t a tragedy—it was a transformation.

With unflinching honesty, Tim shares the emotional rollercoaster of receiving Finley’s diagnosis, the weight of uncertainty, and the unexpected beauty that emerged on the other side. He opens up about the sacred power of faith, the fierce importance of community, and the real, messy, miraculous moments of parenting a child with special needs. From celebrating milestones most overlook to grappling with the complexities of family dynamics and adoption, Tim’s story challenges cultural assumptions about what makes a life valuable.

This episode isn’t just about Down syndrome—it’s about what happens when you let go of the life you imagined and embrace the one you’ve been given. It’s about the kind of love that stretches you, surprises you, and ultimately saves you.

Prepare to be moved, challenged, and reminded that sometimes the greatest gifts come wrapped in uncertainty.

What if the stories the world needs most are the ones we rarely see on screen?

In this powerful episode, we sit down with David and Jackson Hughens—a father-son filmmaking team on a mission to challenge the status quo of storytelling. Their journey began not on a film set, but in the heart of a community too often overlooked: individuals with Down syndrome. What started as a personal connection evolved into a calling—to create films that don’t just include people with disabilities, but center them as heroes, artists, and changemakers.

From intimate mini-documentaries to the ambitious development of a feature film inspired by the magnetic and unforgettable Jay, the Hughens are flipping the script on what Hollywood thinks audiences want. They speak candidly about the uphill battle to secure funding, the emotional weight of telling stories that matter, and how their time in Armenia deepened their understanding of the global need for adoption and advocacy.

This episode isn’t just about filmmaking—it’s about demanding better from media, amplifying underrepresented voices, and proving that individuals with Down syndrome don’t need to be “fixed” or pitied. They need to be seen.

What if the world saw people with disabilities for who they really are—not as limitations to be pitied, but as leaders, change-makers, and warriors of hope?

In this powerful episode of See the Miracle, Brady Murray sits down with Katie Haynes, founder and CEO of Smiling While Sending Hope. Born from Katie’s own journey with chronic illness, this nonprofit is shaking up how we support and uplift individuals with disabilities. Katie opens up about her struggles, her triumphs, and the unshakable belief that every person—regardless of diagnosis—deserves dignity, purpose, and opportunity.

From the confidence she gained through 4-H to the bold vision she’s building today, Katie doesn’t just talk about advocacy—she lives it. With faith as her compass and community as her fuel, she’s challenging the status quo and calling out a world that too often overlooks the strength, intelligence, and value of people with disabilities.

Katie’s dream to become a motivational speaker is more than a goal—it’s a movement. One voice. One message. Thousands of lives waiting to be seen.

This episode is a wake-up call to rethink ability, reimagine leadership, and recognize the power of choosing purpose over pity.

In this powerful episode, Wendy Hooton opens up about the raw and real journey of raising her son Matt, who has Down syndrome. As a single mother, she faced overwhelming fears—not just about her son’s future, but about whether she could give him the life he deserved. From battling societal misconceptions to navigating the complexities of dating as a special needs parent, Wendy shares the deeply personal moments that shaped her into the fierce advocate she is today.

Her story is one of radical acceptance, unconditional love, and the transformative power of community. At the Dear Mom Conference, Wendy found not only healing but a tribe of mothers who reminded her that vulnerability is strength. She reflects on Matt’s incredible progress and the importance of celebrating each child’s path without comparison or shame.

Wendy doesn’t sugarcoat the hard stuff—divorce, isolation, the fear of adulthood—but she also doesn’t let it steal the joy. She urges other parents to stop apologizing for their children’s differences and instead, start building a life filled with laughter, connection, and bold hope. Because the truth is: the world is still catching up to what parents like Wendy have known all along—kids like Matt are not a burden; they’re the revolution.

What if everything the world assumes about disability is wrong? In this powerful episode, Pete Larkin invites us into the sacred, often overlooked bond between siblings—one shaped by unconditional love, grit, and a radical rethinking of what it means to live a meaningful life. Pete shares his journey growing up alongside his brother Brigham, who has Down syndrome, and how caregiving, once seen as a burden, became his greatest teacher.

Their story challenges the narrative that individuals with disabilities need to be "rescued" or "protected." Instead, Pete speaks to the strength, independence, and unapologetic joy Brigham embodies—reminding us that shielding people from struggle can rob them of growth. Through Brigham’s vibrant personality, infectious kindness, and the generational wisdom he unknowingly passes down, we’re forced to ask: are we underestimating the very people we should be learning from?