The Lucky Few

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27. Owning your Influence by Using your Gifts with Michelle Sullivan May 06, 2019

Show notes

Michelle Sullivan has found her voice, and she’s using it to host a podcast, run a clothing company, and most importantly— advocate like a mother. She credits all of this to her 5 year old son, Eli, who has Down Syndrome. Eli helped his mama own her creative influence to launch Littlest Warrior, a clothing company that starts conversations about different abilities while contributing back to this community by supporting adoptions, non-profits, and more! Michelle’s advocacy has evolved into her Advocate Like A Mother Podcast where she celebrates mothers of kids with different abilities who are owning their influence to shout their child’s worth. Today, we’re chatting with our friend (AKA family member), Michelle Sullivan, a mama of four, clothing designer, and now podcaster who is using her gifts in incredible ways.

So friends, what’s your fave Littlest Warrior Tee? Join us for Season Three Episode Eight to hear which shirts we have in our closets (hint: pretty much all of them!) and then shop online to support worthy causes and valuable messages. Happy Advocating, friends!

Connect with Michelle Sullivan!

Find Michelle on Instagram
Find Advocate Like A Mother Podcast on Instagram
Advocate Like A Mother Podcast Website
Find Advocate Like A Mother on Facebook

Shop Littlest Warrior Apparel:

SHOW SPONSOR: HOPE*WRITERS

Have you ever thought about writing a book but didn’t know where to start? Well, Hope*Writers believes that you’re already on your writing journey! Take their FREE 30 second quiz to find out where you are on your journey and where you can go. Visit hopewriters.com/quiz to take the quiz today!

CHECK OUT HEATHER’S NEW BOOK

Scoot Over and Make Some Room: Creating a Space Where Everyone Belongs by Heather Avis is available for pre-order on Amazon.

Head to Youtube and subscribe to The Lucky Few’s NEW Channel: In Search of The Lucky Few. Click here to start watching now!

26. Owning Your Influence By Using Your Words with Amy Julia Becker Apr 29, 2019

Show notes

When Amy Julia Becker received her daughter Penny’s Down Syndrome diagnosis, she mourned the loss of a hypothetical child, the one she had always expected. However, Amy Julia and her husband quickly found joy, love, hope, and perspective in their now 13 year old daughter. So much so that Amy Julia wrote, “A Good and Perfect Gift: Faith, Expectations, and a Little Girl Named Penny.” She chose to share Penny’s story when she noticed the consistent lack of hopeful information that comes with a Down Syndrome diagnosis. Amy Julia even shared her journey with our co-host Micha when she received her son Ace’s prenatal diagnosis.

Penny’s vulnerability and fight to be included opened her mother’s heart and eyes to other people that society often marginalizes and excludes. With this in mind, Amy Julia put pen to paper to discuss the important topic of privilege in her newest book, “White Picket Fences: Turning toward Love in a World Divided by Privilege.” Clearly, this mother of three does not shy away from the tough conversations. Her other publications include articles about Down Syndrome in Washington Post, New York Times, ABC News, The Atlantic, and more listed below. Amy Julia is definitely owning her influence as an author to shift the Down Syndrome narrative and talk about privilege. When she isn’t writing, she’s speaking or enjoying life with her family. What a gift it is to sit down with her today for Episode 7 of Season 3! So friends, join us as we chat with Amy Julia Becker about authors, advocates, affluence, oh and Penny’s new pointe shoes for dance class!

Purchase White Picket Fences: Turning toward Love in a World Divided by Privilege, by Amy Julia Becker on Amazon.

Purchase A Good and Perfect Gift: Faith, Expectations, and a Little Girl Named Penny, by Amy Julia Becker on Amazon.

CHECK OUT HEATHER'S NEW BOOK

Scoot Over and Make Some Room: Creating a Space Where Everyone Belongs by Heather Avis is available for pre-order on Amazon.

25. Owning Your Influence and Broadening The Spaces - Tesney Davis on Dual Diagnosis Apr 22, 2019

Show notes

Tesney Davis always knew she wanted to adopt a child with different abilities, but she never checked the box for Autism. When she discovered her adopted son with Down Syndrome had an additional diagnosis, her world changed, yet so did her mindset. Now, Tesney is a mother of two children, Kirill (12), who has a dual diagnosis of Down Syndrome and Autism, and Clayton (12), her biological son, who has inherited his mom's sarcasm gene and sweet tooth.

Kirill was adopted from Russia at the age of five, thanks to what Tesney calls, “the first miracle she’s ever witnessed.” After months of living in Russia with only a few days clothing packed and fighting the court’s initial denial, Tesney and her husband finally brought their son home. Kirill’s extraordinary adoption story has made a profound impact on his family, as well as Tesney’s social media community. She advocates for children with a dual diagnosis with raw and beautiful messages on her Instagram account: @downwithautism.

Today, we’re tackling an important, yet not often heard, conversation. Join us and Tesney Davis as we discuss breaking down the barriers that moms of kids with Autism often feel, accommodating and including children with Autism, and reaching parents of the 8-9% of kids who have dual diagnosis. (This statistic and more is available in the links below.)

Connect with Tesney Davis

Learn more about having a dual diagnosis:

Statistics on Autism from Autism Speaks
Statistics on Autism from the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention)
Information on Dual Diagnosis from NDSS (National Down Syndrome Society)
Autism Clinic, University of Alabama

SHOW SPONSOR

Jonas Paul Eyewear PROMO CODE: theluckyfew for 15% OFF your purchase at jonaspauleyewear.com

CHECK OUT HEATHER’S NEW BOOK

Scoot Over and Make Some Room: Creating a Space Where Everyone Belongs by Heather Avis is available for pre-order on Amazon.

Head to Youtube and subscribe to The Lucky Few’s NEW Channel: In Search of The Lucky Few. Click here to start watching now!

24. Owning Your Influence in the Business World with Mica May Apr 15, 2019

Show notes

Mica May believes every day life can be magical and lovely. She strives to delight her family, friends and community by creating spaces to connect and products to inspire creativity and productivity. She is a mama to three kids, Jackson (who has Down syndrome), Madelyn and Harper. She is obsessed with getting her kids to laugh, Thursday date nights with her husband, and lives for the next fun thing. Through her multimillion dollar company, May Designs, Mica teaches the world to see beauty in design and in Down Syndrome.

Almost immediately after launching their website and appearing on Good Morning America, May Designs had over 30,000 orders and 25,000 emails. Overwhelmed yet still unafraid, Mica May grabbed a toothbrush and her laptop and flew straight to her printing facility. Life quickly turned into conference calls in the grocery store with three kids in the cart. Over time, this CEO and advocating mama created what she calls, “systems for sanity” that have helped her achieve a blissful business and family balance.

All this to say, Mica is definitely owning her influence. May Designs has contributed thousands of dollars to Down Syndrome advocacy groups, and has even provided a scholarship for a Ruby’s Rainbow participant! Mica also designed the famous “Lucky Few Tattoo” and the “Advocate Like A Mother” tumbler. She believes in starting small, and always showing up. So friends, grab a coffee and your May Designs journal and join us for a chat about translocation Down Syndrome, advocating in your business, and how to hold loosely to expectations and tightly to beauty.

Connect with Mica May

Shop May Designs

SHOW SPONSOR

Jonas Paul Eyewear PROMO CODE: theluckyfew for 15% OFF your purchase at jonaspauleyewear.com

CHECK OUT HEATHER’S NEW BOOK

Scoot Over and Make Some Room: Creating a Space Where Everyone Belongs by Heather Avis is available for pre-order on Amazon.

Head to Youtube and subscribe to The Lucky Few’s NEW Channel: In Search of The Lucky Few. Click here to start watching now!

23. Owning Your Influence in the Spotlight with Lisa Gungor Apr 08, 2019

Show notes

Hey, friends! Thanks for joining us for Episode 4 of this season. You picked the right day to tune in. We’re chatting with Lisa Gungor, a wife, musician, and mama to two girls, one who has Down Syndrome. Lisa is one of the curators of the two-time Grammy nominated musical duo "Gungor,” the author of the book "The Most Beautiful Thing I've Seen," and a contributor to The Liturgists Podcast. She’s a creative soul who owns her influence to shift the Down Syndrome narrative through her music.

Lisa and her husband Michael created their band “Gungor” over a decade ago and wrote mostly Christian songs. In their struggle with infertility, they wrote “Beautiful Things.” Later, they would write the song, “Light” to celebrate their second daughter, Lucy, who has Down Syndrome. Having a child with Down Syndrome shocked the Gungors, but it didn’t shake their faith as much as leading worship at mega churches did. Join us today as Lisa shares her infamous faith journey, what she believes now, and how Down Syndrome shaped her spiritual world.

SHOW LINKS

Connect with Lisa Gungor

Listen to Gungor Music

Youtube
Website
Facebook
Listen to “Light” inspired by Lisa’s daughter with Down Syndrome

Get your copy of The Most Beautiful Thing I’ve Seen by Lisa Gungor.

SHOW SPONSOR

Jonas Paul Eyewear PROMO CODE: theluckyfew for 15% OFF your purchase at jonaspauleyewear.com

CHECK OUT HEATHER’S NEW BOOK

Scoot Over and Make Some Room: Creating a Space Where Everyone Belongs by Heather Avis is available for pre-order on Amazon.

Head to Youtube and subscribe to The Lucky Few’s NEW Channel: In Search of The Lucky Few. Click here to start watching now!

22. Owning Your Influence in Down Syndrome Spaces with Jen Jacob Apr 01, 2019

Show notes

“Congratulations! You’re going to have a baby with Down Syndrome..” the words Heather dreams a doctor would say when delivering a Down Syndrome diagnosis. Thankfully, fierce advocates like Jen Jacob are here to make that vision a reality. Jen is the co-author of "The Parent's Guide to Down Syndrome: Advice, Information, Inspiration, and Support for Raising Your Child from Diagnosis through Adulthood" and the author and a contributor for "Unexpected, Stories of a Down Syndrome Diagnosis." Jen is also the co-founder and Executive Director for the Down Syndrome Diagnosis Network. A former educator and professional development leader, she lives in the midwest with her husband and four children; her youngest son, Owen, has Down syndrome.

Jen is the perfect guest to talk about all things diagnosis! Today, we’re chatting about doctor’s appointments, community groups, and Jen’s incredible work with the Down Syndrome Diagnosis Network. Serving over 9,000 families, Jen Jacob is literally shifting the Down Syndrome narrative, in doctor’s offices and delivery rooms everywhere. What a powerful way to own her influence.

SHOW LINKS

Connect with Jen Jacob

Connect with Down Syndrome Diagnosis Network

Get your copy of “The Parent's Guide to Down Syndrome: Advice, Information, Inspiration, and Support for Raising Your Child from Diagnosis through Adulthood” on Amazon.

Read “Unexpected, Stories of a Down Syndrome Diagnosis” here or order on Amazon.

Watch “A Diagnosis Can Go Well” by DSDN.

21. Owning Your Influence in Front of the Camera With Amanda Booth Mar 25, 2019

Show notes

Hi friends! Welcome back to Season Three, Episode Two of The Lucky Few Podcast. Today, we’re chatting with Amanda Booth, an actress, model, and mama based in Los Angeles. She has appeared on network television shows such as Hot In Cleveland, Maron, and Community. Her campaign work includes advertisements for Lancome, Fiat, Hersheys, Target, and Old Navy. Her focus has broadened since becoming a mother in 2014 to her son Micah, who has Down Syndrome. Amanda is now an ambassador for Changing The Face Of Beauty and Global Down Syndrome Foundation as well as a social media advocate.

She and Micah work hard to represent the Down Syndrome community on the playground, Instagram, and even magazine covers like Vogue and Anthropologie! But you don’t have to be a model or an actress to own your influence. Amanda believes that whether it’s a trip to the park or an audition, the most important part is showing up.

Join us as Amanda shares her journey into the modeling industry, her son’s unique diagnosis story, and the way Down Syndrome transformed her career and helped her achieve her dreams.

SHOW LINKS

Follow Amanda and Micah on Instagram!

Check out Global Down Syndrome Foundation and the work they’re doing to provide current information to families with a prenatal Down Syndrome diagnosis.

Changing the Face of Beauty works hard to include models with different abilities in mainstream advertisements. Learn more about them here!

Read The Prince Who Was Just Himself.

SHOW SPONSOR

Jonas Paul Eyewear PROMO CODE: theluckyfew for 15% OFF your purchase at jonaspauleyewear.com

CHECK OUT HEATHER’S NEW BOOK

Scoot Over and Make Some Room: Creating a Space Where Everyone Belongs by Heather Avis is available for pre-order on Amazon.

Head to Youtube and subscribe to The Lucky Few’s NEW Channel: In Search of The Lucky Few. Click here to start watching now!

20. Owning Your Influence: WDSD & Dear Mom, Conference Mar 21, 2019

Show notes

Hi friends! Welcome to Season 3 of The Lucky Few Podcast. We are SO glad you found your way here, and on World Down Syndrome Day of all days! There is no better time to talk about owning your influence than right now. So let’s talk about it, with all the moms at Dear Mom, Conference! We’re asking, “What does it mean to be a shouter of worth?”

For some mamas it means planning an awareness event in your city, and to others it means blogging, or even adopting! All of these narrative shifting ladies prove that each of us has influence in our spaces, no matter where we live or how many followers we have. This season, we encourage all of you to do the same. Own your influence and shout the worth of individuals with Down Syndrome, every single day.

So let’s sit down and chat about what we’ve been up to for the past few months and how we’re owning our influence daily, alongside all of you! What an honor to shout the worth together.

Show Links:

See more from the Dear Mom, Conference on Instagram!

Learn more about Dear Mom, Conference at their Website Here

Love the stories of our Dear Mom ladies? Watch them own their influence online:

Sonia Barker is lighting up her city blue and yellow on World Down Syndrome Day. She’s owning her influence on Instagram at @soniasjoy
Taylor and her husband just adopted a newborn with Down Syndrome. Baby George has shown Taylor that parenting a child with DS does not make you a brave hero, but a very lucky mama! Follow her journey on Instagram at @chosenforjohnson
Stephanie is on a mission to change the world’s perspective. She’s doing just that in her new children’s book: He Gave Them Something Extra, available in two months!
Isaac’s family is working hard to shift the narrative in his school district. His mother and sisters arranged to have him fully included in the classroom, and he’s rocking it.
Hollyce blogs all about her beautifully blended family, including her 1 year old: Hudson! Her blog and Instagram show the world that different is okay and uniqueness should be celebrated.
Cailtin and Kori are best friends using their Instagram influence to shout the worth of their daughters: the cutest baby girls with Down Syndrome! They’re on Instagram at @shesjustsoextra and @korityler
Monica has an 11 year old son with Down Syndrome. She is sharing her story online and living life with some other lucky mamas in her area with her Facebook group: Healthy Living For Special Needs Moms!

Sponsor:

Jonas Paul Eyewear PROMO CODE: theluckyfew for 15% OFF your purchase at jonaspauleyewear.com

Do you love The Lucky Few?

Check out Heather’s new book! Scoot Over and Make Some Room: Creating a Space Where Everyone Belongs by Heather Avis is available for preorder on Amazon.

Head to Youtube and subscribe to The Lucky Few’s NEW Channel: In Search of The Lucky Few. Click here to start watching now!

19. Q & A! Dec 03, 2018

Show notes

Hey, friends! We are so glad you’re here for the final episode of Season Two of The Lucky Few Podcast! Listen along as we relive the best of this season and answer questions from you lovely listeners! From the conversations about inclusion with Kristen, self-advocacy with Kayla, and Down Syndrome in the church with Jamie, to the lessons learned from Terry Brown and parents of children with Down Syndrome, this season has been powerful! The world change doesn’t stop here though! This week, we are answering your questions about how to make time for all of your children and handle fears of the future for your child with different abilities. But friends, it gets better because we are coming back for The Lucky Few Podcast Season Three: Owning Your Influence! That’s right, we’ll be chatting all about what it means to shift the narrative in your daily life and influence your community to shout the worth of people with Down Syndrome! If you know any world changers and narrative shifters, tell us about them. As always, thank you for cheering us on this season. You are the sweetest listeners and advocates and we are so lucky to shift the narrative and shout the worth of people with Down Syndrome with you all! We’ll see you in Season Three! SHOW LINKS Care to listen again? Check out every episode from our first two seasons here: https://www.theluckyfewpodcast.com/episodes/ Check out the Mr. Rogers video mentioned by Micha! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BZlyxS37Kk SHOW SPONSOR Little Passports: Inspire Your Child to Learn About the World! (Visit https://www.littlepassports.com/lucky/ for special offers and more!) CHECK OUT HEATHER’S NEW BOOK Scoot Over and Make Some Room: Creating a Space Where Everyone Belongs by Heather Avis is available for pre-order on Amazon. Visit: https://www.amazon.com/Scoot-Over-Make-Some-Room/dp/0310354838/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1543220124&sr=8-1&keywords=scoot+over+and+make+some+room

18. The Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide 2018 Nov 26, 2018

Show notes

Welcome to The Lucky Few Podcast, friends! Thanksgiving is behind us and the holiday season is ahead! Struggling with gift ideas for your friends and family? We’ve got you covered. Listen along for the Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide, your inside look into this season’s most meaningful gifts for everyone on your list! From personalized children's books to planners, tote bags, and sponsorships, each gift in our guide supports a company that makes the world a better place. This season, give gifts that shout the worth of people with Down Syndrome and bring joy to your children, your friends, and even parents of children with different abilities! But don’t pay full price, we have coupon codes and more for all of our Lucky Few listeners! Happy shopping, friends! SHOW NOTES: GIFTS FOR KIDS Hey Wow Books: https://www.heywow.co/ Seek and find books that you personalize with your kids faces. Use code: hey10/luckyfew for 10% off your order! Electric Rose Toys: https://www.electricrosetoys.com/about.html Normalizing Down Syndrome and other different abilities with dolls and plush wheelchairs! 10% of all profits go directly to the Down Syndrome community. GIFTS FOR FRIENDS Lady and Beard: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ladyandbeard Gorgeous wooden earrings designed and created by a husband and wife duo who shout the worth of people with Down Syndrome! Holiday Cookie Boxes: http://holidaycookiebox.com/ Delicious ready-to-eat cookies shipped right to your door! Dance Happy Designs: http://www.dancehappydesigns.com/ Tote bags designed and screen-printed by three friends, one with Down Syndrome! GIFTS FOR MOTHERS OF CHILDREN WITH DIFFERENT ABILITIES Littlest Warrior’s Advocate Like A Mother Tee: https://www.littlestwarrior.com/ The perfect t-shirt to rock at your child’s next IEP meeting! Littlest Warrior donates 10% of sales every month to a family adopting a child with special needs. Save 10% with code: theluckyfew. The Glory Days Planner: https://theglorydaysco.com/ The perfect planner to help mothers navigate their child’s diagnosis! A portion of all products sold are donated to the Down Syndrome Diagnosis Network. Ixchel Triangle Bags: https://ixcheltriangle.com/ One-of-a-kind bags crafted in Guatemala! Proceeds support artisans and families in Guatemala. Check out the bag inspired by The Lucky Few --> https://ixcheltriangle.com/collections/the-lucky-few/products/the-lucky-few-coban-14 GIFTS THAT ARE SHIFTING THE NARRATIVE AND CHANGING THE WORLD Can’t Read, Can’t Write, Here’s My Book: https://www.heresmybook.com/ Authored by a man with Autism who used the speech-to-text function on his iPad to write his own book! Proceeds support Special Olympics and Community Living. Preemptive Love Coalition: https://preemptivelove.org/ Purchase beautiful apparel, candles, soaps and more to unmake violence and create jobs for refugees in war town areas. 99 Balloons: https://99balloons.org/ Helping people with different abilities live a full life by proclaiming the worth and beauty of each and every human being. Just $33/month sends a child with a different ability to school in Haiti, Uganda, or Southern Asia. SHOW SPONSOR Little Passports: Inspire Your Child to Learn About the World! (Visit https://www.littlepassports.com/lucky/ for special offers and more!) CHECK OUT HEATHER’S NEW BOOK Scoot Over and Make Some Room: Creating a Space Where Everyone Belongs by Heather Avis is available for pre-order on Amazon --> https://www.amazon.com/Scoot-Over-Make-Some-Room/dp/0310354838/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1543220124&sr=8-1&keywords=scoot+over+and+make+some+room ADVOCATE LIKE A MOTHER PODCAST: https://www.littlestwarrior.com/pages/advocate-like-a-mother-podcast

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