Shows
Shining Athletes PodcastEp 7: The Student-Athlete Experience: Leadership, Integrity, and Growth with Meghan CroyleIn this episode of the Shining Athletes Podcast, hosts Tyler Baum and Erin Molay sit down with Meghan Croyle, a standout hockey player at Stevenson University and Shining Athletes intern. Meghan shares her journey from Connecticut youth hockey to competing at the college level — reflecting on lessons in teamwork, leadership, and resilience along the way.She opens up about what it means to lead with integrity, the transition from high school to college competition, and how she chose a university that fit her both on and off the ice. Plus, Meghan gives a behind-the-scenes lo...
2025-10-1053 min
Big Conversations, Little BarMary Ann Halpin | Fear, Fame, and Flashbacks: Artistry Through Life’s LensIn this episode of Big Conversations, Little Bar, Patrick Evans and Randy Florence welcome acclaimed photographer, author, artist, and actress Mary Ann Halpin for a heartfelt and often hilarious chat. From her beginnings in Chicago to her transformative work behind the camera in Los Angeles, Mary Ann shares how life’s twists—like infertility—led to her groundbreaking photo books, including Pregnant Goddesshood and the Fearless Women series. The trio dives into her viral Super Bowl commercial appearance, her improv roots, and her marriage to piano man Joe Croyle. Along the way, Mary Ann opens up about personal reinvention, creati...
2025-07-2851 min
The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability.Spotting the Subtle Signs of Mental Health StrugglesMost of us are well aware of America's mental health crisis, but lack to tools to support each others and help ourselves. As mental health specialist and CDC Children's Mental Health Champion Patrice Beard shares, learning to spot the pink flags - those early warning signs that show up before the big red flags - can make a big difference! he Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability. The Center for Family Involvement at VCU School of Education's Partnership for People with Disabilities provides informational and emotional support to people with disabilities and their famili...
2025-07-0259 minThe Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability.Self-Care is a Joke (That We Need to Take Seriously)For so many of us, the idea of self-care is a joke. And for good reason. There are literally not enough hours in the day to do what's "required" of us, let alone take a break to focus on ourselves. Rather than telling you why you need to make time, this episode offers validation. And some tangible takeaways that are actually doable! The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability. The Center for Family Involvement at VCU School of Education's Partnership for People with Disabilities provides informational and emotional support to people with disabilities and their famil...
2025-05-0745 minThe Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability.Raise a Glass to SobrietyA glass of wine or tasty cocktail at the end of a hard day is alluring for sure. But when nearly every day is hard, it might be time to rethink that drink. The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability. The Center for Family Involvement at VCU School of Education's Partnership for People with Disabilities provides informational and emotional support to people with disabilities and their families. All of our services are free. We just want to help. We know how hard this can be because we're in it with you. SHOW NOTES:
2025-03-3013 minThe Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability.Rare Diseases Can Impact AnyoneWhen a child is sick or missing developmental milestones, we immediatly start searching for answers as to why. But what happens when test after test just leads to more questions? Rare diseases are more common than we realize; research surrounding them is what's lacking. We're shedding light on what so many people go through by sharing the story of one family's diagnostic odyssey. The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability. The Center for Family Involvement at VCU School of Education's Partnership for People with Disabilities provides informational and emotional support...
2025-02-2849 minThe Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability.New Year, Same You, Different AttitudeHow many times have you told yourself, "once I get through this week, it'll be smooth sailing;" only to end up in that same spot the following week, and the week after that, and after that? It's gotta stop! There will aways be work, family obligations, appointments, meetings, paperwork, laundry, and countless other pressing things to do. It's not going away. If you want something to change, it's gotta come from within. Maybe this new year, it's time for a new attitude! The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability. The Center fo...
2025-02-0123 minThe Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability.2024 Airing of Grievances: Sharing our Secret LivesWe're trying something different this episode: our first ever anonymous "airing of grievances." Many of us exist in our own information bubbles, completely ignorant of what those around us might be going through. This is especially true for people with disabilities and the family, friends, and professionals who love and support them. When The Odyssey's creator and host Erin Croyle asked, "What is something you wish others understood about your experience that you don't (or can't) talk about publicly?" - folks did NOT hold back. What about you? What secrets do you wish yo...
2024-12-2317 minThe Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability.Caregiving and Parenting Are NOT the SameRight now in the United States, more than 53 million family members are providing unpaid and mostly unseen care to the loved ones in our lives. According to the National Council on Aging, that's an economic value that totals more than $470 billion. Since November is National Family Caregivers Month, we wanted to highlight what it means to be a caregiver and why everyone should be looking out for the caregivers in their lives. The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability. The Center for Family Involvement at VCU School of Education's Partnership for People with Disabilities provides info...
2024-11-1823 minThe Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability.Are Inclusive Schools Even Possible? Part 2Meaningful inclusion is possible, if we're being honest though, it's so rare that most folks don't even know what it looks like. In part two of this episode on inclusion in public schools (be sure to check out part one!), Erin Croyle has educator and advocate Trina Allen break down what co-teaching is, how it works, and what can be done to make truly inclusive education a reality. The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability. The Center for Family Involvement at VCU School of Education's Partnership for People with Disabilities provides informational and emotional support to...
2024-10-011h 11The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability.Are Inclusive Schools Even Possible? Part 1Imagine being treated as a guest in your own school. For many students, not only is that their reality - it's by design. In part 1 of this 2 part episode, Erin Croyle and special education teacher Trina Allen break down what needs to be done to create meaningful inclusion in academics, throughout our school communities, and beyond. The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability. The Center for Family Involvement at VCU School of Education's Partnership for People with Disabilities provides informational and emotional support to people with disabilities and their families. All of our service...
2024-08-271h 06The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability.The Only Detox Worth DoingLooking to feel better? Want to help your children feel better? It might be time for a detox. And the one we're talking about actually works. The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability. The Center for Family Involvement at VCU School of Education's Partnership for People with Disabilities provides informational and emotional support to people with disabilities and their families. All of our services are free. We just want to help. We know how hard this can be because we're in it with you. SHOW NOTES: Details on the Unite...
2024-08-0136 minThe Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability.Dual Perspectives: Navigating Special Education as a Teacher and a ParentIn this epiosde we get an insider's perspective of the world of special education from someone who sees it from both sides. Eleanor Janek is a dedicated special education teacher and a mother two two children with disabilties. Her insight is both eye opening and incredibly useful for virtually anyone who is a teacher or a parent. The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability. The Center for Family Involvement at VCU School of Education's Partnership for People with Disabilities provides informational and emotional support to people with disabilities and their families. All of our se...
2024-06-301h 08The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability.Caring for Patients with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A Doctor's PerspectiveIn this episode, host Erin Croyle and guest Dr. Kathryn Rooth talk about just how much, or how little, medical professionals know about treating patients with disabilities. Is there a topic you want to learn more about? Something you want to ask Dr. Rooth? Feel free to contact Erin via email. The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability. The Center for Family Involvement at VCU School of Education's Partnership for People with Disabilities provides informational and emotional support to people with disabilities and their families. All of our services are free. We just want to help. We know h...
2024-05-3138 min
The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability.You Are Not AloneModern day parenting can be so isolating. It's an unfortunate reality many of us are struggling with. If you have a child or children with neurodiversity, medically complexities, or disabilities, it can feel downright lonely. But you are NEVER alone in this journey. The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability. The Center for Family Involvement at VCU School of Education's Partnership for People with Disabilities provides informational and emotional support to people with disabilities and their families. All of our services are free. We just want to help. We know how...
2024-04-3032 minThe Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability.Is Food Impacting Our Children More Than We Realize?You are what you eat. That adage has been around forever for a reason. The foods we consume have changed drastically over the last few decades. Packaged, highly processed foods have flooded groceries, gas stations, schools, sporting events, and gatherings. It's practically impossible for a child or adult to go a day without having ultra-processed fare offered or simply sitting out to grab. We're still learning the full impact this has on our minds and bodies. So far the data and anecdotal evidence show it's not good. And to be clear, this has nothing to do...
2024-03-281h 18The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability.Abuse Prevention and Cultivating Healthy RelationshipsPeople with intellectual disabilities are sexually assaulted at a rate SEVEN TIMES HIGHER than people without disabilities. And that figure is likely a substantial underestimate, as it doesn't take into account repeated abuse or people living in institutions and group homes. There are steps we can take to prevent abuse and empower our loved ones to protect themselves and understand the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships. We spoke with Molly Dellinger-Wray who leads LEAP - Leadership for Empowerment and Abuse Prevention - at VCU's Partnership for People with Disabilities and LEAP trainer Rose Sutton....
2024-02-291h 06The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability.Self-Care for CaregiversSelf-care is something we all need to do. But for many of us, it's an elusive practice. Caregivers are working harder than ever. Which makes self-care more important than ever. Knowing how real this struggle is, I reached out to my friend and chiropractor Dr. Sarah Gardner. She gets it, and has so many practical, doable ideas for how we can make self-care happen! The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability. The Center for Family Involvement at VCU School of Education's Partnership for People with Disabilities provides informational and emotional support to...
2024-01-3050 min
Change Makers: A Podcast from APHNew Hive Resources & Connect the Dots Officially LaunchesOn this episode of Change Makers, learn more about the Hive’s newest course on the topic of reading, designed for educators but also helpful for caregivers. The course was developed through a partnership with the state of Ohio and offers one of a kind learning with access to unique, accessible, resources. After that, hear about our recent event that announced a grant from PNC Foundation that will fund the delivery of the first official program of The Dot Experience, in partnership with the Louisville Free Public Library. On this podcastNarratorSara Brown, APH Pub...
2024-01-1143 minThe Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability.Best of 2023This odyssey of parenting, caregiving, and disability can be so many things: isolating, overwhelming, joyous, lonely, full, exhausting, exhilerating. The extreme ups and downs; the highs and lows. You can't fully understand it unless you live it. This episode explores why professional family to family support is so critical - so peers with lived experience can give us the information and empathy we so desperately need. We also celebrate the many accomplishments of our Center for Family Involvement staff, and share how their work is changing lives. The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability. The Cen...
2023-12-2054 minThe Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability.Why We Must Stop Labeling People High-Functioning/Low-FunctioningIt's natural for parents to want their children to reach their full potential. But who decides what that is? And at what cost? In part two of my interview with Heather Trammell, we explore how dangerous societal expectations can be; and how inaccurate and harmful it is to label people as high-functioning and low-functioning. (You can listen to Part 1 here!) The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability. The Center for Family Involvement at VCU School of Education's Partnership for People with Disabilities provides informational and emotional support to people with disabilities and their famil...
2023-11-2246 minThe Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability.Everything You Need to Know About IFSP and Applying for FundsWhen you have a child with a disability, you become more than just a parent. You become a caregiver. And many of us "parent-caregiver hybrids" have a lot to learn about supporting a child with a lifelong disability. Medicaid waivers can be one of the hardest things to understand. Under broad federal guidelines, states can develop home and community based (HCBS) waivers to support people who want to live at home or in their community; "waiving" the option of living in an institution. These HCBS waivers are offered by nearly all states and Washington DC. Th...
2023-10-2452 minThe Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability.What to Expect When the Unexpected HappensThe wishes, hopes, and dreams of expectant parents are many. Their baby having a lifelong disability usually is not one of them. When that happens, it can be devastating for families. The staff and volunteers at the Center for Family Involvement have family members with a disability. Some of us have disabilities. That lived experience makes a huge difference when providing emotional and informational support to people with disabilities and their families. We understand how complicated the mix of grief, joy, disappointment, and gratitude can be. So does Heather Trammell. She's the...
2023-09-261h 14The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability.Back to School SpecialThe back to school grind is tough for everyone, but it's over in a flash and parents get a breather during school hours. Except when they don't. The parents and caregivers of students with disabilities live in back to school mode all year long. It's almost like Santa preparing for Christmas. The first day of school is the main event, but elves are busy all year long. Come to think of it, Santa might have it easier. This episode is here to make things easier for families. The Center for Family In...
2023-08-121h 25
The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability.Does the ADA Need a Makeover?An estimated 1 in 4 Americans has a disability significant enough that it impacts their daily life. When the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law on July 26th, 1990 it was celebrated as groundbreaking legislation that would grant access to jobs, schools, transportation, and public spaces. More than 30 years later, the ADA is showing its age. Advocates argue that while the ADA banned disability-based discrimination, people with disabilities still have to fight to be included. Long-standing policies make it difficult for many people to find meaningful employment, obtain sufficient housing, relocate, and, in some cases, get mar...
2023-07-251h 09
The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability.Why We Need More Than InclusionReaching full potential. Becoming independent. We want these things for our children. For kids with disabilities, providing the assistance they need while trying to achieve these goals is like walking a tightrope. Help from even the most well-intentioned people, often is not helpful. It's not just educators, parents unintentionally hold their children back as well. Dr. John McNaught has made it his life's work to reshape how we teach students with disabilities. Early on, he realized parents need to be educated too. The lesson plan: SELF-DETERMINATION. He has witnessed first hand the transformation that happens wh...
2023-06-091h 11
The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability.How to Survive and Thrive in MotherhoodThere is no crystal ball to give us insight into what parenting a child with a disability is like. But conversations with Lisa Richard sure come close. Lisa is a mother to seven children ranging from ages 18 to 30. Two of her kids have Down syndrome. Lisa's honesty and insight is refreshing. She is the first to affirm how hard the early years are and will NEVER tell you that you'll miss those days. She's seen first hand that while early intervention and therapy are important for our children, it only does so much. It's OK to do less, to slow down...
2023-05-121h 19The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability.Siblings Day Special!!Every April 10th our social media feeds are flooded with throwback photos in honor of Siblings Day. It may seem like a stunt to keep us scrolling, but it's much more than that. In fact, there is an ongoing effort to get the United Nations to officially declare it "International Siblings Day." Siblings Day hits differently when a brother or sister has a disability, especially one that comes with medical complexities. The dynamic looks nothing like the stereotypes we've come to know. In some houses, the big brother/sister role might be blurred. In others, a sibling might have to pi...
2023-04-0853 minThe Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability.Why Are Summer Camps Inaccessible for So Many Children?Summer camp sign ups are well underway across the country. Parents and caregivers are scrambling to secure spots so they can work while their children make new friends, learn new skills, and have fun. It's not so simple for the estimated 17% of children ages 3 through 17 who have one or more developmental disabilities. If a child needs extra support or even the smallest modifications for activities and access, the options become extremely limited and, in some cases, obsolete. Jessye Cohen-Filipic and Cindy Lui are mothers, advocates, and professionals who have ran into road blocks both getting into and keeping their c...
2023-03-281h 04
The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability.How Having a Child with a Disability Transforms You with Jamie BruenThe moment you become a parent, your life is transformed forever. For parents of children with disabilities this transformation is on a whole other level. For some of us, it's a defining moment where our life is split in two: before and after. Because we're not just parents anymore. We're caregivers. The end to that caregiving role isn't after high school or college or when our child moves out. It's for life. And the heartbreaking reality is that we're caregivers until we die or, the unthinkable, our child dies before us. That part is rarely talked about because it's so pain...
2023-02-281h 25
The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability.Rare Diagnoses with Sarah Lepore, MSN, NNP-BC, MotherOne of the hardest things families go through is when something seems wrong with their baby or child. When we envision becoming parents, the hopes and dreams we have usually do not include a disability. Socital norms focus so much on "healthy" babies that getting a diagnosis of intellectual or deveopmental disabilities shatters our preconceived notions of what being a parent is. Then there are rare diagnoses. The ones that have no name. The ones that might require extensive testing. The ones that don't have networks of support like autism and Down syndrome do. So on top o...
2023-02-0149 min
Schoolutions: Teaching Strategies to Strengthen School Culture, Empower Educators, & Inspire Student GrowthS2 E21: Raising Children with Disabilities: Caregiving & Parenting Are Not the Same - A Conversation with Advocate and Mom, Erin CroyleErin Croyle offers listeners her perspective on the differences between caregiving and parenting when it comes to being an advocate for disability rights and a mother to three children, one of them having Down syndrome. Erin helps listeners understand how they can both support the disability community and caregivers of children with disabilities as well. Listeners must take a moment also to be inspired by Emily Perl Kingsley’s poem, Welcome To Holland.Episode Mentions:CAREGIVING AND PARENTING ARE NOT THE SAME (11/2019)CAREGIVING AND PARENTING ARE NOT THE SAME: BACK TO SCHOOL EDITION (9/2022)What is the Di...
2023-01-3038 min