The Lucky Few

Latest Episodes:

184. Busting Myths About Down Syndrome - ft. Madison Tevlin Oct 25, 2022

Show notes

Madison Tevlin is a young woman with Down syndrome who enjoys listening to music, hanging out with her friends, and hosting her own talk show (she’s basically living OUR dream). In her mini interview series titled “Who do you think I am?” Madison connects with people from diverse backgrounds to get to the heart of who they really are. When she’s not on camera, she’s busting myths about Down syndrome on her Instagram page! Today, Madison is sharing all about her advocacy work, her future goals, and why she says that having Down syndrome is the least interesting thing about her. Tune in and enjoy!

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SHOW NOTES

Keep up with Madison!

Celebrate Down Syndrome month in style! We are excited to have a brand new shop just in time for DS Awareness Month. For the month of October ONLY we are offering 21% off EVERYTHING because we love you. Use code “DSawareness” for your discount. Tap HERE to shop.

LET’S CHAT

Email hello@theluckyfewpodcast.com with your questions and Good News for future episodes.

HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE

Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email hello@theluckyfewpodcast.com for more information!

183. Following the Lead of Self-Advocates (ft. Matthew Schwab) Oct 18, 2022

Show notes

Matthew Schwab is a 25 year old man with Down syndrome who is absolutely slaying it at life. There’s no better way to describe him! Since we last chatted with him in 2020, Matthew has moved into an apartment with his brother and started his own podcast! He’s officially entered the world of “adulting” where there’s no one around to remind you to do your chores! Today we’re chatting about the highs and lows of living away from home, the future of Matthew’s relationship (and why the law makes it SO difficult for couples with DS to get married), and what we think of the phrase “nothing about us without us.”

Friends, you’re going to love this episode! And if you want more behind the scenes of Matthew’s life, you can check out Matthew Schwab Speaks The Podcast: Thriving with Down Syndrome on anchor and spotify!

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SHOW NOTES

Listen to..

Matthew Schwab Speaks The Podcast: Thriving With Down Syndrome
Matthew’s other podcast, Tales of Arcadia: Unlocking the Universe’s Secrets
Our previous episode with Matthew Schwab.. #66. Public Speaking & Self-Advocacy

Keep up with Matthew!

Instagram
Facebook.
Visit matthewschwabspeaks.com to book Matthew for your next speaking opportunity!

Watch Matthew’s TedX Talk: How I Know Including People With Down Syndrome Is A Good Thing

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Celebrate Down Syndrome month in style! We are excited to have a brand new shop just in time for DS Awareness Month. For the month of October ONLY we are offering 21% off EVERYTHING because we love you. Use code “DSawareness” for your discount. https://www.theluckyfew.co/

182. A Day In the Life of Our Friend Jeremy (self-advocacy, independent living, + more) Oct 11, 2022

Show notes

When it came time for Jeremy to move away from home, he soon realized that the housing options available didn’t suit him. That’s until his older brother Nathaniel (who you may recognize from episode 122) started Cohome, an inclusive housing program in Morristown, New Jersey. Today, Jeremy lives independently at Cohome and spends his time working at a restaurant, ballroom dancing, and book writing. He also happens to be Micha’s neighbor (we’re jealous!) which means he has become her son Ace’s unofficial mentor.. and his perspective on being a role model might just surprise you! Join us for this episode as we chat about learning American Sign Language later in life, Jeremy’s dreams of becoming an interpreter, and the day to day life of an adult with Down syndrome.. the future is bright.

SHOW NOTES

Learn more about Cohome!

LET’S CHAT

Email hello@theluckyfewpodcast.com with your questions and Good News for future episodes.

HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE

Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email hello@theluckyfewpodcast.com for more information!

181. How has your sibling changed your life? (ft. Dana & Anthony Sciullo from the NDSS team) Oct 04, 2022

Show notes

Happy Down Syndrome Awareness Month! We’re celebrating all month long with guests who are rockin’ an extra chromosome! And today we have a very special sibling duo.. Anthony & Dana Sciullo from @ndssorg! Ever wondered what sibling relationships will look like when your kids with and without DS are all grown up.. our guests today are giving us a little sneak peek! Plus, we’re getting real about what it’s like to grow up with a sibling who has Down syndrome. We’re chatting about the pressure of being a sibling to someone with a disability, the jealousy you feel when your sibling seems to get more attention, and the guilt you carry for receiving more opportunities than your sibling. There’s a lot to unpack here, friends. But no matter what, we believe that siblings with DS make our lives better. For anyone out there wondering how to foster these sibling relationships, we hope you enjoy this episode!

SHOW NOTES

Keep up with the National DS Society!

IG: @ndssorg
Website: ndds.org

Keep up with our guests!

Email Dana at dsciullo@ndss.org

Read Unbound: The Life and Art of Judith Scott by Joyce Scott

LET’S CHAT

Email hello@theluckyfewpodcast.com with your questions and Good News for future episodes.

HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE

Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email hello@theluckyfewpodcast.com for more information!

180. "You make me better" (An Interview with Carissa Carroll, Founder of Jack's Basket) Sep 27, 2022

Show notes

Carissa Carroll is a fellow lucky mama on a mission to make sure every baby is celebrated and every family is congratulated. That’s why she started Jack’s Basket, a non-profit organization that hand delivers complimentary gift baskets to families with a new DS diagnosis. And THIS week, they are celebrating their 6,000th baby! Whoa! So today we’re chatting about all the things that medical providers should know when they deliver a diagnosis (tip #1: don’t start with “I’m so sorry”) PLUS all the things new parents need to know when they receive the diagnosis (be careful with your internet searches). Whether you’re a doctor, expecting parent, or a parent in the DS community already, you’ll find all the resources you need on jacksbasket.org and in this episode. Because if there’s one thing we know for sure, it’s that people with Down syndrome make our lives better, and there is absolutely nothing to be sorry for.

SHOW NOTES

Request a Jack's Basket for a new baby with DS HERE.

Follow Jack’s Basket on Instagram and Facebook!

Check out these resources for medical providers

Watch the prenatal consult film
Learn more about the 2022 'You Make Me Better' Gala

Head to jacksbasket.org for more information!

Listen to our previous interview with Carissa HERE.

LET’S CHAT

Email hello@theluckyfewpodcast.com with your questions and Good News for future episodes.

HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE

Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email hello@theluckyfewpodcast.com for more information!

179. Disability & The Church Sep 20, 2022

Show notes

What happens when our kids with disabilities are rejected from a space that claims to offer acceptance and love to all? Has anyone ever prayed that your child would be “healed” from Down syndrome? Can people with disabilities have meaningful relationships with God? We’re asking some tough questions today that all lead back to this one.. how is disability perceived in the church? No matter what you believe about religion, we hope you join us for this important conversation all about ableism in the church, the savior complex, disability ministries, and so much more. And if you are a churchgoer, we encourage you to assume competence and extend an invitation to everyone in your congregation. Thanks for listening, friends. Let’s keep this conversation going!

SHOW NOTES

Read Everyone Belongs by Heather Avis

LET’S CHAT

Email hello@theluckyfewpodcast.com with your questions and Good News for future episodes.

HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE

Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email hello@theluckyfewpodcast.com for more information!

178. Healthy (and happy) Aging for Adults with DS - Ft. Margot & Bart from the National DS Society Sep 13, 2022

Show notes

Did you know? The life expectancy for individuals with Down syndrome has increased from age 25 in 1980 to age 60 today. That means that people with DS have more opportunities today than ever before. While we celebrate this growth, we also know that aging brings about new challenges.. How does an extra 21st chromosome increase the likelihood for Alzheimer’s? Do the laws in place to promote healthy aging include adults with DS? What happens when adults with DS outlive their parents? These are questions that have never been asked before. And we’re thankful for organizations like the National DS Society (NDSS) who aren’t afraid to start the conversation! Today on the show we have Margot Rhondeau and Bart Devon from the NDSS to chat about how to support our loved ones with Down syndrome as they age (starting now!), how to be intentional about physical, mental, brain, and social health, and how to celebrate the joys of the aging process (for adults with DS and ourselves too). This episode is full of info + resources, check it out!

SHOW NOTES

Keep up with NDSS and Healthy Aging Month!

LET’S CHAT

Email hello@theluckyfewpodcast.com with your questions and Good News for future episodes.

HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE

Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email hello@theluckyfewpodcast.com for more information!

177. Happiness IS Down Syndrome (ft. Misty Snyder) Sep 06, 2022

Show notes

Many of us parents felt a confusing mix of fear, worry, and maybe even a little bit of grief when we received our child’s DS diagnosis. Maybe you felt those things too? We can easily lose the joy of having the baby to the fear of receiving the diagnosis. Today we’re here to tell you that there is SO much happiness on the other side of the diagnosis. And who better to chat about that than our friend, Misty Snyder, the creator of @happinessisdownsyndrome on Instagram! She’s a mama of two, including Jed, her son with DS. For the last couple of years, she’s been walking new parents through their diagnosis experience. And if that’s you, please know that the way you’re feeling now is not how you will feel forever. No matter the stage of parenthood you’re in, we hope you join us for this chat about finding community, Misty’s advocacy journey, and what new parents need to know.

SHOW NOTES

Follow Misty on social media at @happinessisdownsyndrome & her personal account, @mistycoysnyder

Watch the original Happiness Is Down Syndrome video that Misty created here.

Join Misty every Monday night at 9pm EST on the circles app for a FREE and anonymous opportunity to chat and ask questions. Click HERE then tap VOICES, Parenting Challenges and Happiness is Down syndrome.

LET’S CHAT

Email hello@theluckyfewpodcast.com with your questions and Good News for future episodes.

HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE

Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email hello@theluckyfewpodcast.com for more information!

176. The Ripple Effect (ft. Nancy & GiGi Gianni) Aug 30, 2022

Show notes

GiGi Gianni is 20 years old. She enjoys singing, dancing, and spending time with her boyfriend. Oh and one more thing, she inspired a global movement! Today we’re talking about THE GiGi behind GiGi’s Playhouse - a network of Down syndrome centers in over 82 countries that offers free programming for individuals with DS across the lifespan. We’re so thankful to have Nancy Gianni (founder of GP) & her daughter GiGi on the show to chat about the evolution of GiGi’s Playhouse over the last 20 years (and how Covid changed everything). Plus, Nancy is sharing some beautiful stories about how she “coincidentally” began advocating for Down syndrome before she ever received GiGi’s diagnosis. There’s something we can’t describe that lives in that extra chromosome, and it creates a ripple of effect that empowers all of us to be more loving, open, and gracious with each other. Enjoy the episode, friends! And search for a GiGi’s Playhouse near you!

SHOW NOTES

Get involved with GiGi’s Playhouse!

Website
Instagram
Check out GiGI’s At Home
Find a location near YOU
Start a new location

Listen to episode 59: Finding Community at GiGi’s Playhouse with Nancy Gianni

LET’S CHAT

Email hello@theluckyfewpodcast.com with your questions and Good News for future episodes.

HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE

Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email hello@theluckyfewpodcast.com for more information!s

175. Back to School Listener Q & A! Aug 23, 2022

Show notes

Friends! We’re headed back to school and we have ALL the feels about it.. especially after the rollercoaster of last year! Maybe you’re feeling this way too?! That’s why today we’re answering all of YOUR questions! What to do when you move to a new district? How to find the right classroom aide? What should homeschooling look like? How to stay on top of an IEP? And MORE. We’ve got it all covered! Plus we’re sharing about the plans for our kiddos this upcoming school year, why we have lawyers on board, using AAC devices at school, and how we’re mentally preparing for it all. We are cheering you on as head back to school!

SHOW NOTES

Learn more about the homeschool program at Strive to Thrive!

Find a GiGi’s Playhouse near you!

Follow @ashleybarlowco for IEP tips!

Check out previous episodes for more #BTS resources!