The Autism Dad

I’m so excited to bring you this episode. My guests today are Cara Cooper and Jessica Rush. They’re both Broadway Moms and they’re here to talk about motherhood, parenting, their podcast (MAMAS Talkin’ LOUD), balancing career and family, as well as how their lives have been impacted by COVID-19. Cara is a special needs mom and we talk about that journey as well.

Cara and Jessica are absolutely hilarious and I encourage you all to check out their podcast, MAMAS Talkin’ LOUD. It’s a trip. 

This is a fantastic conversation and I’m thrilled to bring it to you all.

About Cara Cooper:

Cara Cooper is an actress most recently on Broadway in the critically acclaimed musical The Prom. Prior to that, she was the longest-running Mary Delgado in the Broadway company of Jersey Boys. During her run in JB, she had not one, but two babies. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, Graham Bowen, and the aforementioned babies, Elin and Finn (who are no longer babies). Before kids, her Broadway career included the original companies of Elf, The Wedding Singer, All Shook Up, Urban Cowboy, replacing in Legally Blonde, and waking up for a matinee at 10 am… She has appeared on Showtime’s “City on a Hill” and in the films Adult Beginners and The Great Gilly Hopkins (both of which she shot while pumping in the trailer). As the mother of a child with special needs (her daughter is autistic), she is keenly aware of the specific challenges of raising children of different ‘abilities’ and fights for this community of warrior parents to feel seen and supported. She is the co-founder of Broadway Baby Mamas and keeps her sanity with equal parts exercise, wine, and tortilla chips.

About Jessica Rush:

Jessica Rush is a mom, wife, and award-winning actress currently seen as Rhonda in the original Broadway company of Tina: The Tina Turner Musical. She most recently completed a successful run in Broadway’s Dear Evan Hansen, where she stood by for both Cynthia Murphy and Heidi Hansen. Last season she originated the role of Joyce Bogart in Summer: The Donna Summer Musical. Jessica had the honor of closing the Broadway run of Jersey Boys as the longest-running Lorraine, and prior to that, appeared in Guys and Dolls and was the stand-by for Laura Benanti in Gypsy with Patti LuPone. Television credits include appearances on “Billions”, “White Collar” and the award-winning web series “Then We Got Help”. She was the recipient of the Joseph Jefferson Award for her portrayal of Louise in Gypsy at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre and is co-founder of the Broadway Baby Mamas. Ms. Rush enjoys a charcuterie board, rosé, pumpkin spice, and all things basic while raising her voice in the fight for awareness and equality. She is married to actor Eric Anderson, and mom to their daughter, Elliot.

About MAMAS Talkin’ LOUD:

Website: https://broadwaypodcastnetwork.com/podcast/mamas-talkin-loud/

Instagram @mamastalkinloud 

Twitter: @mamastalkinpod  

Link to the season finale episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rachel-tucker-on-both-sides-of-the-pond/id1483884105?i=1000486769299

The Podcast Is Available on Apple/iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeart, TuneIn, Deezer, Player.FM, Pocket Cast, Podcast Addict and everywhere else you listen to podcasts.

https://broadwaypodcastnetwork.com/

About Me:

All my information and relevant links are here

Sponsors

This episode is sponsored by Mightier. Mightier is an amazing program out of Harvard Medical and Boston Children’s. It uses video games to teach kids to emotionally self-regulate. Visit theautismdad.com/mightier and find out more information, including how to get a free 30-day trial.

This episode is also brought to you by Hero Health. HERO is a smart automatic pill dispenser that dramatically improves medication management and compliance. Learn more at theautismdad.com/hero and use code “theautismdad50” to save $50. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest today is a legendary supermodel and celebrity fitness trainer Oscar Smith. He’s devoted his life to fitness and has successfully trained clients with every type of fitness goal. Oscar Smith owns and operates his own fitness studio called O-Diesel Studios, located in Tribeca.

Many gyms to be closed and even if they’re open, people aren’t comfortable going because of COVID. Oscar shares things we can do from home to work on our fitness, including things we can do with our kids. He even shares how we can start a home gym for under $100. Life is so stressful right now and taking care of ourselves is incredibly important. Just because you can’t hit the gym, doesn’t mean you can workout.

Oscar is very down-to-earth, super easy to talk to, inspirational and encouraging. He focuses on building people up and I’m so grateful for his time. Please listen, share and remember, self-care matters.

About Oscar

In addition to running his own Manhattan-based facility, O-Diesel Studio, he’s a former NYPD Detective, rescue diver, author, and too many other things to list here.

The bottom line, Oscar is an amazing human being, who’s accomplished a mind-blowing number of things and he’s not done yet.

Natural Strength

O-Diesel Studios

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

All my information and relevant links are here

This episode is sponsored by Mightier. Mightier is an amazing program out of Harvard Medical and Boston Children’s. It uses video games to teach kids to emotionally self-regulate. Visit theautismdad.com/mightier and find out more information, including how to get a free 30-day trial.

This episode is also brought to you by Hero Health. HERO is a smart automatic pill dispenser that dramatically improves medication management and compliance. Learn more at theautismdad.com/hero and use code “theautismdad50” to save $50. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mentioned in this episode:

Happy Ladders

Happy Ladders is Parent-Led Early Autism Therapy that empowers you, the parent, to teach your toddler essential developmental skills through play. Studies have shown that the parent-led model is highly effective while eliminating frustration over long wait lists, or the worry about losing precious developmental time. All without the disruption of people coming into your home

Visit Happy Ladders

BrainyAct

BrainyAct® provides tech-enabled, patent-pending therapy programs delivered via gamification for neurological disorders such as Autism, Asperger’s, Dyslexia, and ADHD. BrainyAct activates the underdeveloped areas of the brain through exercises that strategically target a child’s balance, gravity, gross/fine motor, rhythm and timing, visual motor perception, and memory.

Visit BrainyAct

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this weeks episode, I have a parent to parent conversation with Amy Nielsen. She’s an autism mom, author, educator, blogger, podcaster, and early intervention specialist. We talk about her amazing family, life as an autism parent, and how COVID has made things more challenging. We also talk about how she and her husband are navigating the new school year.

It’s a great conversation and one you can definitely relate to.

About Amy Nielsen:

Amy is a former educator with seventeen years of experience. Her educational background includes teaching second grade, elementary media specialist, middle school television production teacher, and middle school media specialist.

After her fourth child was diagnosed with ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder, she left her full-time teaching career so she would have the flexibility to meet the demands of this special parenting role.

Amy runs the Big Abilities Blog and Podcast. I am also a freelance writer for Playground Magazine , contributing author at The Mighty. author of the book It Takes a Village: Get Your Hands Dirty and Build Yours From the Ground Up  and Parent Advocate and Early Intervention Specialist at Collaborative Corner for Exceptional Children.

About Me:

Please remember that self-care is more important than ever. It’s not easy but we have to do our best to look after ourselves, especially during these turbulent and uncertain times.

Please listen and share with anyone that could benefit.

All my information and relevant links are here

Sponsors

This episode is sponsored by Mightier. Mightier is an amazing program out of Harvard Medical and Boston Children’s. It uses video games to teach kids to emotionally self-regulate. Visit theautismdad.com/mightier and find out more information, including how to get a free 30-day trial.

This episode is also brought to you by Hero Health. HERO is a smart automatic pill dispenser that dramatically improves medication management and compliance. Learn more at theautismdad.com/hero and use code “theautismdad50” to save $50. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mentioned in this episode:

Happy Ladders

Happy Ladders is Parent-Led Early Autism Therapy that empowers you, the parent, to teach your toddler essential developmental skills through play. Studies have shown that the parent-led model is highly effective while eliminating frustration over long wait lists, or the worry about losing precious developmental time. All without the disruption of people coming into your home Happy Ladders includes activities that target 150+ essential developmental skills every toddler needs as well as assessments in 4 different developmental areas. There’s also an exclusive community of parents just like you, and professional coaching to ensure success for both you and your toddler. To learn more, get a free trial, and take advantage of an exclusive, limited-time offer for my listeners, visit happyladders.com. Use the code "theautismdad" at checkout to save 50% off the monthly membership. Plus get a free one-on-one session as well as access to the Tantrums and Meltdowns mini-course. This is a limited-time offer so act now.

Visit Happy Ladders

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week’s episode, my friend Annette Hines stops by talk to about homeschooling vs online learning. We discuss the differences between homeschooling, distance learning, and remote learning. We even talk about unschooling as well. As parents, we need to know that we have rights when it comes to our children’s education. Our children have rights as well.

With COVID interfering with the reopening of schools this Fall, we need to know our homeschooling vs online learning options. Annette helps us to understand our rights as parents. Moreover, she explains the differences between homeschooling vs online learning options.

Annette M. Hines is the founding partner of Special Needs Law Group of Massachusetts, PC. She has been practicing in the areas of Special Needs, Elder Law, and Estate Planning for over twenty years. Her clients include individuals and families of children with special needs, the elderly, and others in the community. She received her BA for the University of Vermont, her MBA from Suffolk University, and her JD from Howard University School of Law.

Annette brings personal experience with special needs to her practice, as the mother of two daughters, one of whom passed away from Mitochondrial disease in November 2013. This deep personal understanding of special needs fuels her passion for quality special needs planning and drives her dedication to the practice.

In April 2019 she published Butterflies and Second Chances, a beautiful memoir about her life raising her disabled daughter, which was an Amazon best seller. Recognized as a Distinguished Citizen by ARC Massachusetts and cited for public service by both the Massachusetts State Senate and House of Representatives, Annette works tirelessly on behalf of people with disabilities. She was designated a 2016 Top Women of Law from Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, and has been designated a Massachusetts Super Lawyer every year since 2014.

Annette’s Links:

Special Needs Law

Parenting Impossible: The Special Needs Survival Podcast

Butterflies and Second Chances: A Mom’s Memoir of Love and Loss

Twitter

Please remember that self-care is more important than ever. It’s not easy but we have to do our best to look after ourselves.

Please listen and share with anyone that could benefit.

All my information and relevant links are here

Sponsors

This episode is sponsored by Mightier. Mightier is an amazing program out of Harvard Medical and Boston Children’s. It uses video games to teach kids to emotionally self-regulate. Visit theautismdad.com/mightier and find out more information, including how to get a free 30-day trial.

This episode is brought to you by Hero Health. HERO is a smart automatic pill dispenser that dramatically improves medication management and compliance. Learn more at theautismdad.com/hero and use code “theautismdad50” to save $50. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mentioned in this episode:

Happy Ladders

Happy Ladders is Parent-Led Early Autism Therapy that empowers you, the parent, to teach your toddler essential developmental skills through play. Studies have shown that the parent-led model is highly effective while eliminating frustration over long wait lists, or the worry about losing precious developmental time. All without the disruption of people coming into your home Happy Ladders includes activities that target 150+ essential developmental skills every toddler needs as well as assessments in 4 different developmental areas. There’s also an exclusive community of parents just like you, and professional coaching to ensure success for both you and your toddler. To learn more, get a free trial, and take advantage of an exclusive, limited-time offer for my listeners, visit happyladders.com. Use the code "theautismdad" at checkout to save 50% off the monthly membership. Plus get a free one-on-one session as well as access to the Tantrums and Meltdowns mini-course. This is a limited-time offer so act now.

Visit Happy Ladders

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let’s get honest here for a minute. We all want our kids to return to school. No one is saying that’s a bad idea. It’s important that our kids get back into the classroom. The issue is whether or not it can be done safely and the answer in most cases is a resounding no. We are handing our teachers a basket of impossible. As of 8/14/2020, a few schools have begun to open in the United States, and already, there are well over 2,100 students/teachers in quarantine due to COVID19 across several states. This is insane. We are putting our kid’s lives, the lives of teachers, school staff, bus drivers, and frankly, everyone else at risk. For what?

My guest this week is Carew Papritz. Carew is an accomplished author, a literacy advocate, and an educational thought leader who comes from a family of educators.

Carew is here to discuss the major concerns surrounding reopening schools during the worst national health crisis in over a century. He’s advocating for testing of all students before beginning the school year and ongoing testing to keep everyone safe. Teachers have been handed a basket of impossibles. Carew is suggesting we demand the impossible in return, in order to protect our kids, teachers, staff and everyone else who is at risk.

This is an essential conversation to have right now because no one knows what to do, parents are confused and scared.

I ask the question, what do people consider an acceptable loss of life so schools can reopen? I know that sounds dramatic but I’m serious. How many kids, teachers, and staff will have to die before we realize the insanity of what is happening?

I hope you enjoy this weeks episode, A Basket of Impossibles.

About Carew Papritz

Carew Papritz is an educational thought-leader, literacy advocate, and author of the multi-award-winning book, The Legacy Letters. Through his YouTube videos, including the I Love to Read series and his First-Ever Book Signings, and events such as creating National Thank You Letter Day and the World’s Largest Handwritten Thank You Letter, Papritz spreads the love of reading, learning, and civility to people of all ages. 

You can find Carew here:

www.protectourkidsnow.net

www.thelegacyletters.com

https://www.facebook.com/carewpapritzofficialpage

http://bit.ly/CarewTube

https://www.instagram.com/carewpapritz

https://www.twitter.com/carewpapritz

Please remember that self-care is more important than ever. It’s not easy but we have to do our best to look after ourselves, especially during these turbulent and uncertain times.

Please listen and share with anyone that could benefit.

All my information and relevant links are here

Sponsors

This episode is sponsored by Mightier. Mightier is an amazing program out of Harvard Medical and Boston Children’s. It uses video games to teach kids to emotionally self-regulate. Visit theautismdad.com/mightier and find out more information, including how to get a free 30-day trial.

This episode is also brought to you by Hero Health. HERO is a smart automatic pill dispenser that dramatically improves medication management and compliance. Learn more at theautismdad.com/hero and use code “theautismdad50” to save $50. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mentioned in this episode:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week’s episode, I speak with Alycia Halladay again. The previous episode can be found here. Alycia is the Chief Science Officer at the Autism Science Foundation. We recently had a discussion about how COVID19 impacts the Autism Community. We talk about family stress, school-related safety concerns, and even touch a bit on the upcoming COVID19 vaccine because the anti-vaxxers are already moving to discourage people from taking a COVID19 vaccine when it’s ready.

About Alycia:

Alycia Halladay is the Chief Science Officer at the Autism Science Foundation. She oversees the science programs and portfolio of ASF. She previously served as Senior Director of Environmental and Clinical Sciences at Autism Speaks. She holds a PhD in psychology from Rutgers University and completed a post-doctoral fellowship in pharmacology and toxicology at Rutgers University.

Website: https://autismsciencefoundation.org/

ASF Vaccine Rescources: https://autismsciencefoundation.org/what-is-autism/autism-and-vaccines/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AHalladayASF

Support The Autism Science Foundation

Please remember that self-care is more important than ever. It’s not easy but we have to do our best to look after ourselves, especially during these turbulent and uncertain times.

Please listen and share with anyone that could benefit.

All my information and relevant links are here

Sponsors

This episode is sponsored by Mightier. Mightier is an amazing program out of Harvard Medical and Boston Children’s. It uses video games to teach kids to emotionally self-regulate. Visit theautismdad.com/mightier and find out more information, including how to get a free 30-day trial.

This episode is also brought to you by Hero Health. HERO is a smart automatic pill dispenser that dramatically improves medication management and compliance. Learn more at theautismdad.com/hero and use code “theautismdad50” to save $50. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mentioned in this episode:

Happy Ladders

Happy Ladders is Parent-Led Early Autism Therapy that empowers you, the parent, to teach your toddler essential developmental skills through play. Studies have shown that the parent-led model is highly effective while eliminating frustration over long wait lists, or the worry about losing precious developmental time. All without the disruption of people coming into your home

Visit Happy Ladders

BrainyAct

BrainyAct® provides tech-enabled, patent-pending therapy programs delivered via gamification for neurological disorders such as Autism, Asperger’s, Dyslexia, and ADHD. BrainyAct activates the underdeveloped areas of the brain through exercises that strategically target a child’s balance, gravity, gross/fine motor, rhythm and timing, visual motor perception, and memory.

Visit BrainyAct

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I’ve been wanting to take on the topic of co-parenting through divorce for a while now. It’s relevant to so many families out there, including mine. David Hill, MD, FAAP literally co-wrote the book on Co-parenting Through Separation and Divorce: Putting Your Children First for the American Academy of Pediatrics. This is such an important topic because divorce is common, but unfortunately, navigating divorce, especially with kids (in general) can be incredibly challenging for a million reasons.

There are common mistakes that parents make when going through something this emotionally challenging and Dr. Hill helps us to understand those common mistakes and how to avoid them.

This is such an important conversation and I encourage you to listen and share this. The message is a very positive one.

David Hill, MD, FAAP, is a hospitalist pediatrician at Goldsboro Pediatrics, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Council Management Committee, and Associate Editor of Pediatric Care Online Patient Education for the AAP. He writes and lectures nationally and internationally on pediatric topics, including media use, fatherhood, and family separation.

Grab his book Co-parenting Through Separation and Divorce: Putting Your Children First

Check out his website: https://doctordavidhill.com/

Facebook: @DadtoDad

Twitter: @DadsBook

https://www.instagram.com/davidlhillmd/

https://medium.com/@davidlhillmd

https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidlhillmd/

All my information and relevant links are here

Sponsors

This episode is sponsored by Mightier. Mightier is an amazing program out of Harvard Medical and Boston Children’s. It uses video games to teach kids to emotionally self-regulate. Visit theautismdad.com/mightier and find out more information, including how to get a free 30-day trial.

This episode is also brought to you by Hero Health. HERO is a smart automatic pill dispenser that dramatically improves medication management and compliance. Learn more at theautismdad.com/hero and use code “theautismdad50” to save $50. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mentioned in this episode:

Happy Ladders

Happy Ladders is Parent-Led Early Autism Therapy that empowers you, the parent, to teach your toddler essential developmental skills through play. Studies have shown that the parent-led model is highly effective while eliminating frustration over long wait lists, or the worry about losing precious developmental time. All without the disruption of people coming into your home Happy Ladders includes activities that target 150+ essential developmental skills every toddler needs as well as assessments in 4 different developmental areas. There’s also an exclusive community of parents just like you, and professional coaching to ensure success for both you and your toddler. To learn more, get a free trial, and take advantage of an exclusive, limited-time offer for my listeners, visit happyladders.com. Use the code "theautismdad" at checkout to save 50% off the monthly membership. Plus get a free one-on-one session as well as access to the Tantrums and Meltdowns mini-course. This is a limited-time offer so act now.

Visit Happy Ladders

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to The Autism Dad podcast. Every Friday I bring you a new episode with an amazing guest and we take on topics that are relevant to your life. You will hear conversations about various parenting topics, mental health, autism, ADHD, technology, current events, and yes, sometimes even politics. It’s important to me that I approach these topics in a no-nonsense way and I don’t hide my views and opinions.

I’m not afraid to take on sensitive topics here on The Autism Dad podcast. Therefore, I talk about things, even when they are uncomfortable to talk about. I hope that everyone takes away something positive from each episode.

I’ve been writing daily for over a decade and have found that podcasting is a great new way to reach my audience. You can listen on every major podcasting platform. Just download your favorite app and search for “The Autism Dad Podcast”. Don’t forget to smash that subscribe button so you get notified when new episodes drop. Also, please remember to rate my podcast because that really helps me grow.

I’m also always looking for guests and sponsors. If you’d like to be a guest or sponsor an episode, send me a message at theautismdad.com/contact.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest is Eileen Silverberg. She’s a Life Coach in Emotional Management and author of “A Warrior of Light: A Guide of Inner Wisdom For Challenging Times”.

We have a very important conversation about the physical and emotional challenges of being a caregiver. Eileen shares her personal journey of becoming a caregiver to her mother.

The message here is very important. Please listen, share, subscribe and rate this episode.

Eileen Silverberg’s Links:

Website: https://eileensilverberg.com/

Get her book here

All my information and relevant links are here

Sponsors

This episode is sponsored by Mightier. Mightier is an amazing program out of Harvard Medical and Boston Children’s. It uses video games to teach kids to emotionally self-regulate. Visit theautismdad.com/mightier and find out more information, including how to get a free 30-day trial.

This episode is also brought to you by Hero Health. HERO is a smart automatic pill dispenser that dramatically improves medication management and compliance. Learn more at theautismdad.com/hero and use code “theautismdad50” to save $50. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mentioned in this episode:

Happy Ladders

Happy Ladders is Parent-Led Early Autism Therapy that empowers you, the parent, to teach your toddler essential developmental skills through play. Studies have shown that the parent-led model is highly effective while eliminating frustration over long wait lists, or the worry about losing precious developmental time. All without the disruption of people coming into your home

Visit Happy Ladders

BrainyAct

BrainyAct® provides tech-enabled, patent-pending therapy programs delivered via gamification for neurological disorders such as Autism, Asperger’s, Dyslexia, and ADHD. BrainyAct activates the underdeveloped areas of the brain through exercises that strategically target a child’s balance, gravity, gross/fine motor, rhythm and timing, visual motor perception, and memory.

Visit BrainyAct

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I speak with Matthew Boulay about education in the advent of COVID19, as well as the importance of summer learning. We talk about his new book “When Schools are Closed: A Guide for parents to discover the extraordinary power of summer learning in the era of COVID19”.

It’s a great conversation and I recommend you check out his book. Link below.About Matthew Boulay:

Founder and Former CEO of the National Summer Learning Association (NSLA)

Author of “When Schools Are Closed” A guide for parents to discover the extraordinary power of summer learning in the era of COVID19..

You can get his book on Amazon

You can find me: theautismdad.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/theautismdad

Sponsors

This episode is sponsored by Mightier. Mightier is an amazing program out of Harvard Medical and Boston Children’s. It uses video games to teach kids to emotionally self-regulate. Visit theautismdad.com/mightier and find out more information, including how to get a free 30-day trial.

This episode is also brought to you by Hero Health. HERO is a smart automatic pill dispenser that dramatically improves medication management and compliance. Learn more at theautismdad.com/hero and use code “theautismdad50” to save $50.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mentioned in this episode:

BrainyAct

BrainyAct® provides tech-enabled, patent-pending therapy programs delivered via gamification for neurological disorders such as Autism, Asperger’s, Dyslexia, and ADHD. BrainyAct activates the underdeveloped areas of the brain through exercises that strategically target a child’s balance, gravity, gross/fine motor, rhythm and timing, visual motor perception, and memory.

Visit BrainyAct

Happy Ladders

Happy Ladders is Parent-Led Early Autism Therapy that empowers you, the parent, to teach your toddler essential developmental skills through play. Studies have shown that the parent-led model is highly effective while eliminating frustration over long wait lists, or the worry about losing precious developmental time. All without the disruption of people coming into your home

Visit Happy Ladders

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices