The Lucky Few

Latest Episodes:

120. Happy Father's Day! (Ft. Our Husbands) Jun 20, 2021

Show notes

Happy Father’s Day to all you dads out there shouting the worth of your kiddos! We’re here today with a very special episode from a couple of our favorite fathers (but we might be biased) - Josh and Chris! That’s right, Micha and Heather’s husbands are taking over to chat about all things fatherhood. And they’re not holding back! They’re here to share advice for new dads, how they support their wives, and the practical ways they advocate for their kiddos (at work and off-line!). And if you’ve ever felt like you’re just trying to get through all the hard stuff in the day.. Josh and Chris have some advice for that too. Happy father’s day to all of you dads learning from your kiddos each day! We see you and celebrate you!

Listen to our very first dad’s episode from June 2018: “The Dad’s Episode”

Podcast Rec! —> BITE YOUR TONGUE - Building Relationships With Your Adult Children

Click here to listen now!

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!

CHECK OUT HEATHER’S NEW BOOK

Preorder “Different, A Great Thing To Be” by Heather Avis

119. Tell Me You're Raising A Child w/DS Without Telling Me You're Raising A Child w/DS Jun 15, 2021

Show notes

You might have seen the popular social media trend where people describe a relatable situation and others know exactly what they’re talking about - or at least that’s what we think it means.. So we’re here with a fun game of “tell me you’re raising a child with Down syndrome without telling me you’re raising a child with Down syndrome.” If you are parenting a kiddo w/DS, you might relate to the endless amounts of abbreviations you have to learn (OT, PT, ABA, the list goes on), the feeling you get when watching your child run for the first time, and maybe even buying extra locks for the bedroom doors! We love this community and all the little instances that bind us together.. especially what it feels like to hug your baby with DS! Enjoy the episode, friends!

SHOW NOTES

Podcast Rec! —> BITE YOUR TONGUE - Building Relationships With Your Adult Children

Click here to listen now!

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!

CHECK OUT HEATHER’S NEW BOOK

Preorder “Different, A Great Thing To Be” by Heather Avis

118. Life As An Olympian, Mother, & DS Advocate (Ft. Elana Meyers Taylor) Jun 08, 2021

Show notes

Elana Meyers Taylor is a three time Olympic medalist and a two time women’s world champion (woah!) in bobsledding. She also happens to have the cutest little training buddy.. her son Nico, who has Down syndrome! Elana gave birth as the pandemic began and between receiving Nico’s diagnosis and raising a baby in the middle of quarantine (all while continuing to train for the Olympics) her journey has been anything but typical!

In the midst of her family’s busy schedule, Elana advocates across the globe. She proudly brings her son to all of her events and doesn’t shy away from discussing DS - especially with the athletes from the countries who hope to eradicate Down syndrome entirely (more on that in other episodes!). We’re so proud to advocate alongside Elana! Enjoy this interview.. and be sure to cheer her on in the 2022 Winter Games!

Follow Elana on Instagram @elanameyerstaylor

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!

CHECK OUT HEATHER’S NEW BOOK

Preorder “Different, A Great Thing To Be” by Heather Avis

117. Discussing "Dignity Beyond Accomplishment," An Article by Justin Hawkins (ft. author, Justin Hawkins) Jun 01, 2021

Show notes

We love our friends with Down syndrome (many of whom have been on this show) who are doing BIG things in the world! Representation is important and we are cheering them on! But what about the people with DS who aren’t running marathons or starring in movies? Does society see them as important too? Or does our world only see people with DS as valuable when they accomplish something big? There is a lot to explore here. That’s why we sat down and chatted with Justin Hawkins, a PHD candidate at Yale University, a sibling to Jenna, his sister with Down syndrome, and the author of “Dignity Beyond Accomplishment.” We’re talking about growing up with Jenna, ableism and acceptance, and why he wants to “severe the connection between dignity and accomplishment all together.” If you’ve ever wanted a deep dive into the inherent worth of people with disabilities, this one’s for you.

SHOW NOTES

Read Dignity Beyond Accomplishment by Justin Hawkins

Read more from Justin at justinryanhawkins.com

Listen to Episode 99: Our Response to "The Last Children of Down Syndrome" by Sarah Zhang

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!

CHECK OUT HEATHER’S NEW BOOK

Preorder “Different, A Great Thing To Be” by Heather Avis

116. "Forget Me Not" Documentary, ft. Olivier & Hilda Bernier May 25, 2021

Show notes

When Oliver and Hilda Bernier began filming what they thought would be a documentary about inclusive education, they couldn’t have predicted the end result. Now, their film “Forget Me Not” just premiered as the headliner of the Human Rights Watch Film Festival in New York, and for good reason. “Forget Me Not”is the incredible story about the rights of disabled students in New York's public schools, told through the personal journey of one family: Hilda, Olivier and their son Emilio, who has Down syndrome. It follows them step by step as they battle with the NYC Department of Education and it’s policy of segregating students with disabilities.

You can watch this film until MAY 27th through the Human Rights Watch Film Festival or later this fall when it releases internationally! For Olivier and Hilda, this isn’t just a story they’re telling, it’s a story they’re living. Don’t miss it.

SHOW NOTES

Click here to watch Forget Me Not right now!

Follow the film on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitterand be sure to check out the websiteand leave your email for updates!

Learn more about the Human Right Watch Film Festival.

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!

CHECK OUT HEATHER’S NEW BOOK

Preorder “Different, A Great Thing To Be” by Heather Avis

115. How The ABLE Act Supports Your Child's Future (ft. Catherine Beck) May 18, 2021

Show notes

If you’re anything like us, then the thought of your child’s financial future might be a little (okay a LOT) scary. But it doesn’t have to be, thanks to Catherine Beck and the MANY parents who advocated for The ABLE Act for over 10 years before it was finally passed into Congress. The ABLE Act ensures that people with disabilities can save money in a tax advantage account for necessary supports such as transportation, education, therapy, assistive technology, and more. Did you know that prior to the act’s passing, individuals with disabilities couldn’t save more than $2,000 in their name without losing their other benefits?

We’re so grateful for the many people that made this act happen, and especially Catherine Beck. She’s here today to discuss what the ABLE accounts mean for our children and how the ABLE Act made history in Congress (in more ways than one).

Click here for more information about the ABLE Act.

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!

CHECK OUT HEATHER’S NEW BOOK

Preorder “Different, A Great Thing To Be” by Heather Avis

114. Let's Talk PT! (Ft. Dr. Emily Heisey, Pediatric Physical Therapist) May 11, 2021

Show notes

If you have a loved one with Down syndrome, you’ve probably heard about low muscle tone, gross motor skills, physical therapy, and more.. but what does it all mean!? Do all children with DS need physical therapy? When do we start? When do we stop? So many questions! That’s why we are so grateful to be joined by Dr. Emily Heisey, a pediatric physical therapist, and the owner of kinesiokids.com! She has over 10 years of experience and is dedicated to helping little ones reach their full potential.

We’re chatting about the importance of starting PT early, how often your child might need PT, and how to build even just 20 minutes of exercise time into your child’s daily routine! And maybe most importantly, we’re discussing how adorable babies with DS are when exploring those fun PT gyms and equipment! You’ll want to take notes on this one.

SHOW NOTES

Learn more about Dr. Emily on Instagram at @kinactive_kids and online at kinesiokids.com

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!

CHECK OUT HEATHER’S NEW BOOK

Preorder “Different, A Great Thing To Be” by Heather Avis

113. Happy Mother's Day! (Ft. Our Very Own Moms) May 04, 2021

Show notes

Hello and happy (early) mother’s day to you all! We are celebrating with a very special treat.. our OWN mamas have joined us for this episode to chat all about being grandparents to children with Down syndrome. They’re sharing their initial reactions to learning of the DS diagnosis/adoptions, what they wish they knew in the beginning, and what they’ve learned so many years later. We’re sending love to all the mamas and grandmas in this space today. And we just want to say that we know this day isn’t easy and light for everyone.. no matter where you are in your motherhood journey, we see you, we love you, and we are cheering you on.

If you find yourself grieving as Mother’s day approaches, check out episode 68: Approaching Mother’s Day While Grieving w/Katie Jameson

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!

CHECK OUT HEATHER’S NEW BOOK

Preorder “Different, A Great Thing To Be” by Heather Avis

112. Disability Representation In The Media w/Gail Williamson (Talent Agent & Mother) Apr 27, 2021

Show notes

“There’s not a right way to have worth.. you just have worth.” - Heather Avis. We’re honored to chat once again with Gail Williamson who has been showing the media the worth of actors with Down syndrome for many years! It all started when her son Blair auditioned for a running commercial.. he’s built quite the acting career since and so has Gail - but in a much different way! She developed the children’s division in the Media Access Office and then went on to work for KMR Talent in the Diversity Department. Gail has blazed such a trail in this business that in 2019, the actors she represents made $3 million collectively. You don’t want to miss this chat with Gail as we discuss disability in the media, current barriers facing actors with DS, her proudest moments, and more!

SHOW NOTES

Listen to episode 51 w/Gail Williamson and the incredible actors she represents!

Check out kmrtalent.com for more information on Gail and her agency!

Learn more about Blair Williamson on IMDB

Watch Hunny Bunny, starring Blair & Susie

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!

CHECK OUT HEATHER’S NEW BOOK

Preorder “Different, A Great Thing To Be” by Heather Avis

111. Dual Diagnosis + Autism Acceptance Month, ABA, & More! Apr 20, 2021

Show notes

Friends! It’s April and you know what that means.. Autism Acceptance Month! So we sat down with our very own Micha Boyett to discuss the last 18 months after receiving her son Ace’s ASD diagnosis. We’re also asking tons of questions about ABA therapy.. Should we do it? What will the impact be? And most importantly, WHY do we put our children in therapies at all? Plus, we’re sharing some recommendations for autistic self-advocates to follow! Don’t miss this one.

Follow @the.autisticats and @lamarhardwick on IG!

Listen to: