In this episode, guest Jen Stegall speaks candidly with Mary Susan about the early days surrounding her incredible son, Silas's autism diagnosis. They discuss her son's regression, the lack of sleep, early intervention therapies, AAC devices, and what life is like raising a child with autism as a single mom. Jen is fun, honest, and beautifully reflective. Jen Stegall is in the music industry in Nashville, TN and has had multiple pieces published by The Mighty.

In this episode, Mary Susan reads first-hand narratives submitted by women raising children with special needs regarding the many feelings that often surround Mother's Day.

The day after graduating high school, Rebecca Kuntz traveled to Ghana, West Africa from her hometown of Chicago. Six years later she returned as the mother to a beautiful little girl she had met during her advocacy work for children with special needs. This love story reminds you of the power of a mother's love and the fierce nature in all mama bears.

Mary Susan McConnell speaks with guest and friend Alison Bynum about the early days surrounding Alison's daughter Charlotte's unexpected medical diagnosis- a diagnosis that would signal a future with profound special needs.

The Mama Bear Podcast is a place for women raising children with special needs to get together and chat about life. Mary Susan McConnell and her guests discuss the beautiful highs and the extreme lows that can come with parenting on such unique journeys. Conversations are fun, candid, and you may want headphones (adult language warning). In this episode, Mary Susan introduces herself and this podcast by telling stories of her own journey into the world of parenthood as the mother to a truly magical little girl with profound special needs.