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In this week’s community huddle, we dive into a heartfelt follow-up on loneliness and grief—topics we’ve explored in recent episodes. Picture this: a cozy space to connect with moms who truly get it. We talk about whispers of grief in everyday moments, how resilience sometimes feels like a mask, and finding strength in vulnerability.

I’m joined by Shantay, Alyssa, and Annika, three incredible moms who open up about their unique parenting journeys, the unexpected emotions they’ve faced, and the power of shared community. We also touch on creating safe spaces, both physically and emotionally, and the profound impact of feeling truly seen and understood.

Whether you’re listening on your way to an appointment or with a warm cup of coffee, this episode invites you to reflect, connect, and feel supported in your journey.

Let’s keep the conversation going! Got thoughts on this episode? I’d love to hear from you. Shoot me a text!


Episode Resources:

• The Wild Edge of Sorrow by Francis Weller
• A Special Needs Mom’s Gratitude Journal by Amanda Owen

Guest Details:

• Shantay Hindia: Mom to an 11-year-old daughter and an 8-year-old autistic son.
• Alyssa Meyerhofer: Mom of three, including Gabby, who has Trisomy 9p.
• Annika Atkins: Mom of 10-year-old Ella, diagnosed with Infantile Pompe Disease.

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Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
Website: https://www.kararyska.com/

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Today’s conversation is one that I know many of us can relate to – balancing anxiety and our relationship with digital media. I’m thrilled to have Jennie Ketcham Crooks join us! Jennie is a clinical social worker, anxiety and OCD specialist, and founder of the West Coast Anxiety Clinic. Jennie has also been involved in research at the University of Washington, guest lectured at Harvard University, and appeared on popular television shows including Headline News, The View, and Oprah. She’s here to unpack some powerful insights on navigating anxiety, managing our “shiny rectangle” (a.k.a. our phones), and making space for true connection.

We dive deep into what makes anxiety tick, especially for special needs moms, and how our smartphones can be both a blessing and a trap. Jennie shares practical tips from her 30-day program in her book Look Up, which helps us rethink our digital consumption and build healthier relationships with technology. We also share a few laughs about managing “Brenda,” the little voice in our heads that always seems to have something to say!

Connect with Jennie:

• West Coast Anxiety Clinic
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Look Up: A 30-Day Path to Digital Minimalism

Episode Resources:

• Self-compassion resources at selfcompassion.org
• Mindful Self-Compassion for Burnout by Kristen Neff
• Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life by Steve Hayes'

Get The Special Needs Mom Survival Pack HERE

Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
Website: https://www.kararyska.com/

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This episode continues our exploration of the often avoided topic: grief. I share a story about one of my special needs mom clients, “Diana,” who, through our work together, found acceptance and even a path to peace despite facing deep sadness and loss. This is her third conversation with me on the podcast and I am grateful she is back for again. 

We often think grief looks like constant sadness or that it follows neat “stages,” but it’s much messier—and that’s okay. Grief doesn’t have to mean losing joy; in fact, it can create more room for it. I explore how embracing grief can actually open us up to feel fully alive. If you’re looking for a supportive space to explore these topics, I’ve built a community just for that.

Resources Mentioned: 

• Diana’s Episodes: 
  • Ep 163: "Regaining Control and Finding Tranquility"
  • Ep 165: "Impossible Levels of Support and Acceptance..."
• Books:
  • The Wild Edge of Sorrow by Francis Weller
  • As Long as You Need: Permission to Grieve by J.K. Park
• Related Episodes: 
  • Ep 220: "Let's Talk About Loneliness"
  • Ep 221: "Antidote to Loneliness"

Get The Special Needs Mom Survival Pack HERE

Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
Website: https://www.kararyska.com/

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I sit down with Rachel Wojo, author of Desperate Prayers, a book born from her journey through immense grief, faith, and resilience as a special needs mom. Rachel shares her deeply personal experiences of loss, from her mother’s battle with leukemia to the passing of her special needs daughter, Taylor.

Together, we explore what it means to live with both grief and joy, finding peace and purpose in the hardest moments. Rachel talks about the role of simple prayers—like “God, help me”—in staying grounded and connected to her faith, even when life felt overwhelming. We also dive into the power of community, self-compassion, and letting go of the need to be in control.

If you’re navigating life as a special needs parent, facing grief, or looking to strengthen your faith in difficult times, this conversation will speak to you. Join us to hear Rachel’s wisdom and encouragement for living fully, even in the face of life’s hardest challenges.

Resources Mentioned:

• Desperate Prayers by Rachel Wojo
• Book Website: desperatesprayers.com
• Rachel's website: rachelwojo.com
• Rachel’s Podcast: Untangling Prayer

Get The Special Needs Mom Survival Pack HERE

Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
Website: https://www.kararyska.com/

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In this episode, I’m diving into the connection between grief and loneliness, picking up where we left off last week. I share a bit about my experience with Levi and how loneliness often shows up for us as special needs moms. The good news? The antidote to loneliness is connection.

I also reference Dr. Vivek Murthy's book Together (an excellent read!) and talk about how loneliness can be as damaging as smoking or obesity. In this episode, I share how we can break the cycle of loneliness by:

• Questioning those disempowering beliefs like “No one understands me.”
• Joining communities like my Pathway to Peace coaching program.
• Allowing ourselves to be vulnerable and build connections, even through pain.

Next week, I’ll be doing an interview episode, and I’ll dive deeper into the topic of grief itself.

Resources Mentioned:

• Episode 220: Let's Talk About Loneliness - last week’s episode - go back and give it a listen!
• Together by Dr. Vivek Murthy

If you found this episode helpful, I’d love for you to share it with a friend—maybe it’ll spark a conversation about breaking the cycle of isolation and loneliness.

Get The Special Needs Mom Survival Pack HERE

Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
Website: https://www.kararyska.com/

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In this episode, I explore the deep connection between loneliness and grief as a special needs mom. Loneliness can feel like stepping into an unfamiliar world, while the rest of your community continues on like nothing has changed. We discuss how relationships shift in these moments and why feeling abandoned is such a common experience. 

This is just Part 1, where we unpack loneliness, so stay tuned for Part 2, where I’ll share more on the antidote to loneliness and offer actionable insights!

If you found this episode helpful, share it with your community, tag me @thespecialneedsmompodcast, or leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!

Resources from this episode:

• Together by Dr. Vivek H Murthy
• The Dictionary of Emotions: Words for Feelings, Moods & Emotions by Patrick Michael Ryan 
• Episode 189: Bringing Balance Back to The Language of Disability with Effie Parks
• Episode 196: Between The Cracks: Navigating Belonging in Cancer & Rare Diseases with Parvathy Krishnan

Get The Special Needs Mom Survival Pack HERE

Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
Website: https://www.kararyska.com/

Send us a text

This week, I thought I’d be back with a full episode, but instead, here’s a quick check-in and a preview of what's to come.

I share a bit about our recent school emergency and the challenging space of not knowing what’s next. If you’ve ever had to live in that uncertainty, you’ll relate. I also talk about the importance of giving ourselves permission to let go when needed (shoutout to my editor for pushing me to give myself a break).

On the horizon? I’m working on episodes about loneliness and grief—two emotions that often go hand-in-hand, especially in our community.

Lastly, I’d love to hear from YOU! Use the "Text the Show" feature in the show notes to share what you're going through or suggest topics for future episodes.

Get The Special Needs Mom Survival Pack HERE

Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
Website: https://www.kararyska.com/

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During a peloton ride recently, my instructor Robin Arzon, said something that has stuck with me. "Find your people, and climb your mountains together." I instantly thought of all of you. As special needs moms, we face tough challenges, but we’re stronger when we support each other. This is what I talk about on today's episode, and also how self-care impacts those around us—and why that’s okay!


Peloton Ride with Robin Arzon (not sponsored)

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Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
Website: https://www.kararyska.com/

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This week, to take care of myself, I’m hitting pause on a full episode. In its place I have something special for you: I’m sharing my contribution to the anthology Becoming Brave Together: Heroic, Extraordinary Caregiving Stories from Mothers Hidden in Plain Sight.

My piece, titled Anger. Rage. Fear. Surrender. Repeat. takes you through the raw emotions of caregiving—navigating medical systems, grappling with endless appointments, and finding peace in moments of surrender. It’s a deep dive into the realities we face but rarely talk about.

If you connect with this, you’ll definitely want to grab the anthology—it’s packed with stories from incredible moms, just like you.

Enjoy, and we’ll be back next week with a regular episode!

Get The Special Needs Mom Survival Pack HERE

Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
Website: https://www.kararyska.com/

Send us a text

This is an un-episode episode, a break from our regularly scheduled programming.

Here are some previous episodes for your binging pleasure:

Trauma, Shame & Loss of Identity https://www.buzzsprout.com/1190612/14473465

Understanding Trauma as a Gateway to Healing Pt 1. https://www.buzzsprout.com/1190612/14507073

Trauma in the Body, In the Mind, & In Our Lives Pt 2 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1190612/14547417

Trauma Recovery Resources Pt 3 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1190612/14572094

Easy Self Compassion with Kaitlyn McCarty https://www.buzzsprout.com/1190612/10475858

Having Your Own Back with Charmaine Fuller https://www.buzzsprout.com/1190612/9357658

Grief and Gratitude https://www.buzzsprout.com/1190612/11723308

When People Think You're Fine but You're Not   https://www.buzzsprout.com/1190612/12134357

Get The Special Needs Mom Survival Pack HERE

Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
Website: https://www.kararyska.com/