Shows
Brave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsStory: Victory is a Walk by the Beach and Our S8 Wrap Up with Jessica PatayHello Brave Friends! Welcome to our Season 8 wrap up episode, #222. The host of the 'Brave Together Parenting Podcast' addresses the 'Brave Mom Squad,' expressing gratitude and celebrating the podcast's five-year anniversary and 220+ episodes. Reflecting on Season 8, the host highlights top episodes and thanks sponsors Rise Educational Advocacy, Pediatric Minds, and Yoga Six Rolling Hills. 'We Are Brave Together' is introduced as the nonprofit supporting caregivers through support groups, retreats, and special events. An anecdote about a family 5K walk illustrates the challenges and victories of caregiving. Season 9 will focus on mental health, with e...
2025-06-1112 min
Brave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsSTORY: Ryan’s Instinctive Gifts and What He's Taught Me with Chris PatayHello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's story episode, #221. These are true stories from a moment in the life of a caregiving parent. We hear a crafted story, and then have a conversation with our guests that goes deeper into their experience.In this heartfelt conversation, Chris and Jessica Patay reflect on their journey as parents of a child with Prader-Willi syndrome. They discuss the challenges and joys of parenting, the importance of community support, and the lessons learned from their son Ryan. Chris shares insights on fatherhood, the shifting expectations of parenting, and the...
2025-06-0436 min
Brave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsBONUS: Re-Release of In His Own Words with Ryan PatayHello Brave friends! May is Prader-Willi Syndrome Awareness Month and, as you probably know by now, my son Ryan has Prader-Willi Syndrome. He’s 21, almost 22, and today we are re-releasing episode number 100 from Season 3, in which I shared the story of how we told Ryan about his diagnosis. And after the story, I have the joy and the privilege of interviewing Ryan, but go grab a Kleenex because, as you will hear, he ends up interviewing me. So thank you for being here and I hope you enjoy listening to this re-release from a few years ago in ce...
2025-05-0123 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsEditor Pick Re-Run Ep140 Prune Your Life, Watch it Thrive with Jess RonneYou have to PRUNE to create room for real GROWTH, this is a sentiment gardeners understand but often busy parent caregivers forget. Are you making space in your life to experience peace? To exhale? To hear your own thoughts? In our busy world and even busier caregiving lives, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and out of touch with what we really require to thrive as human beings. On this episode, host Jessica Patay, speaks with our story teller, Jess Ronne, about getting in touch with ourselves, embracing our instincts and pruning anything from our...
2025-01-0130 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsEditor Pick Re-Run Ep114 Normalizing Grief with Meghann Crane-RussDid you know grief can be disenfranchised? Have you ever caught yourself welling up or feeling angry when parents of neurotypical, undisabled, healthy kids talk about the different milestones they’re experiencing with them? Do you judge yourself, feeling you should have accepted your child’s unique path by now? Well, you are NOT alone!In this practical episode, Jessica interviews Meghann Crane-Russ, a therapist and licensed clinical social worker about ALL THINGS GRIEF. They discuss where grief comes from, what it means, how to move through it, and most of all, how it is A...
2024-12-2526 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsEditor Pick Re-Run Ep120 Repackaging the Holidays with Margaret WebbThe holidays can be tough for everybody! We all get this extra large serving of commitments and expectations that can make enjoying anything feel off the table. Add the element of unique needs to this feast and now even the most organized and flexible person can feel downright defeated. Is there a fresh way to approach this?On today’s episode, Jessica interviews life coach, Margaret Webb, about strategies going into this most stressful of seasons. They discuss getting clear about your family's needs; which may be different than society's expectations. How to handle co...
2024-12-1829 min
Brave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsBONUS: The Power of Storytelling in Care with Lydia StorieHello Brave Friends! Welcome to today’s BONUS episode in which Jessica Patay, founder of We Are Brave Together and author, Kelley Coleman, join forces to chat with Director of Culture Change at Caring Across Generations, Lydia Storie. In this conversation, Lydia Storie discusses her journey from the entertainment industry to becoming the Director of Culture Change at Caring Across Generations. She shares her personal experiences with caregiving, the fragility of care infrastructure, and the importance of cultural representation in media. The discussion emphasizes the need for community support, advocacy for policy changes, and the...
2024-11-0734 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsASK US ANYTHING: Worst Parenting MomentsHello Brave Friends! This is an Ask Us Anything episode in which YOU, the listener, get to write or call in and, you guessed it, ASK US ANYTHING! In this Ask Us Anything episode, #195, we are responding to the question, “Will you tell us about some really hard or embarrassing moments you’ve had as a parent?"In this episode, Jessica Patay, Dr. Zoe Shaw, and Susanna Peace Lovell share their most mortifying parenting moments, exploring the challenges and realities of motherhood. They share personal stories of embarrassment, and reflect on th...
2024-11-0639 min
Brave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsSTORY: Looking for Signs in the Dark Times with Hannah ZornHello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's story episode, #194. These are true stories from a moment in the life of a caregiving parent. We hear a crafted story, and then have a conversation with our guests that goes deeper into their experience.In this episode of the Brave Together Parenting Podcast, host Jessica Patay interviews Hannah Zorn, who shares her family's journey through medical challenges, including her daughter's diagnosis of interstitial lung disease. Hannah discusses the emotional rollercoaster of navigating the healthcare system, the importance of creating positive memories during difficult times, and the profound...
2024-10-3032 min
Becoming Heart Strong64: Becoming Brave Together: Empowering and Supporting Caregiving Moms with Founder Jessica PatayJessica Patay, founder of We Are Brave Together, shares her journey as a mom with a child with a disability and the organization she created to support caregiving moms. The organization has 2,600 moms in its international community and has launched 25 support groups worldwide. Jessica discusses the challenges caregiving moms face, including the financial impact and the need for better support and resources. She emphasizes the importance of community, self-care, and affirming oneself as a woman outside of motherhood. She also addresses the stigma attached to disability and the misconception that caregiving moms are superhuman. In this conversation, Jessica Patay...
2024-07-2358 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsA Down Syndrome Diagnosis in South Africa 30 Years Ago with Jessica BaerHello Brave Friends! This is story episode #177. And it features one of the many powerful stories we feature in our first ever Brave Together book! It’s an anthology of stories shared courageously by our community of moms and it’s called Becoming Brave Together: heroic, extraordinary caregiving stories from mothers hidden in plain sight. It is out as of today! So go get yourself a copy!!! The link to find it is in the show notes. Today’s story is from the Becoming Brave Together anthology. It’s a...
2024-05-0126 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsWelcome to Season 6 and All That I Am NOT Doing in 2024Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to Season 6! We are so excited to roll out another vibrant season of Story episodes, Practical episodes and Ask Us Anything episodes for YOU the caregiving mom. In this trailer your host, Jessica Patay, reminds you what we offer as a podcast and non-profit organization, introduces Dr. Zoe Shaw (the newest co-host of the Ask Us Anything show) and even gives you a sneak peek into her year, with 9, NOT 10, of her personal resolutions. We hope you’ll join us for another uplifting, vulnerable and connecting season of Brave Together Pod...
2024-01-1609 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsBreak Relief Sitters with Nichelle HarveyVacationing with your kids doesn’t always feel like a vacation, more like a relocation, am I right?! And when any of your children have special needs, it can feel even harder to relax in a new location, no matter HOW sandy the beaches are. But what if you had a qualified nanny along for the ride?On this episode, host, Jessica Patay, interviews CEO and founder of Break Relief Sitters and Nannies LLC, Nichelle Harvey. Nichelle is a mother of 2 boys. Her oldest son is Autistic and like most new pa...
2023-06-0720 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsTransitioning from Middle to HS (for Neurodiverse Teens) with Natalie BorrellTransitions are hard for everybody, but especially for our neurodiverse teens and their parents. Just when you’ve gotten used to middle school and all that is expected in that environment, your teen is ushered into the wilderness of high school and a fresh batch of unknowns. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a guide? Well, you’re in luck!On this practical episode, host Jessica Patay interviews Natalie Borrell, a Certified Academic Life Coach, Licensed School Psychologist and the founder of Life Success for Teens. They discuss how to support our children as the...
2023-05-2424 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsA Letter for Mother's Day with Suzanne EisenbrandHappy Mother’s Day! Though the holiday this year has passed, we are here to remind you to do something special FOR YOU today! You deserve it! We want you to feel appreciated for ALL that you do, even if it’s just in a deep breath as you read this paragraph. We see you, we honor you and we are rooting for you!For this episode we hear a letter from an inspiring mother, Suzanne Eisenbrand, who raised 4 boys, two of which are twins on the autism spectrum. She shares her...
2023-05-1727 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsThe Lost Art of Asking for Help with Cheryl Ryan ChanOur lives as caregivers require WAY more help than we are willing to ask for, so what stops us? The intention for this episode is encouragement and maybe a nudge toward self-reflection as to WHY ON EARTH we of all people wouldn’t be able to ask for the help that we so badly need. On this episode, host Jessica Patay, talks to Cheryl Ryan Chan, who does workshops on The Lost Skill of Asking for Help, among other caregiver focused topics. They discuss why asking for help can feel so dif...
2023-05-1030 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsPrune Your Life, Watch it Thrive with Jess RonneYou have to PRUNE to create room for real GROWTH, this is a sentiment gardeners understand but often busy parent caregivers forget. Are you making space in your life to experience peace? To exhale? To hear your own thoughts? In our busy world and even busier caregiving lives, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and out of touch with what we really require to thrive as human beings. On this episode, host Jessica Patay, speaks with our story teller, Jess Ronne, about getting in touch with ourselves, embracing our instincts and pruning anything from our...
2023-05-0330 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsWhen No News is TRULY Good News with Ryan BarberaOne of the invisible burdens many parents of children with degenerative or recurring disease carry is the knowledge that someday the other shoe may drop. They don’t know when or at which doctor’s appointment, but that knowledge, that things could take a turn for the worse, bears weight on their souls.Our story teller on this episode, is a father, Ryan Barbera, whose son was diagnosed with the rare degenerative disease, Becker’s Muscular Dystrophy. He shares today with host Jessica Patay, about the challenges he faces as a parent...
2023-04-1930 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsWhen Sisterhood Hurts with Kimberly KooyHello Brave Friends! This episode is something that has been on Jessica’s mind and heart since the launch of We Are Brave Together. We are an organization that preaches SISTERHOOD and COMMUNITY but what if you’ve been burned by friends in the past or you’ve just never been close to other women or maybe you’re an introvert and a WABT retreat feels overwhelming to you. Well, this episode is here to explore those feelings and gives you tools to overcome them. Our guest is host Jessica Patay’s best frie...
2023-04-1222 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsSoldiering through Sadness with Kara RyskaThis episode is about the unexpected twists and turns that make this journey extra hard. When you get into a groove, with any kind of lifestyle, even our especially complex kind, it can feel manageable. Then, SURPRISE, you’re dealt another difficult hand of medical cards. How do we keep going when our child’s health and our life’s trajectory experience another brutal setback?On this episode, host Jessica Patay interviews our story teller, Kara Ryska, whose son had a cancer resurgence after ten years of clean scans. The weight of emotion that came w...
2023-04-0527 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsTruth or Dare with Susanna Peace Lovell, Cindy Kaplan and Jessica PatayRemember that game we played as kids, Truth or Dare? Well, for our world as caregivers, the truth is hard to say but ultimately freeing and the dare is accepting the consequences of holding it all in. This episode was born out of a conversation on Facebook about the difference between truth telling and playing the victim. Who said that being honest about our journey was the same as acting like a victim anyway? Is that even true?On this practical episode, your host Jessica Patay and life coaches Susanna Peace...
2023-03-2933 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsScreaming Your Truth with Laura LeeWelcome Brave Friends! So many of us grow up learning that keeping it all inside is what we have to do to be accepted. We think that by holding in our true feelings it will help us be the person others need us to be. And so our emotions, our needs and our truth get buried deep inside us. But today we explore what it looks like to release that need to please, embrace our desires and SCREAM our truth!On today’s episode, host Jessica Patay speaks with Laura Lee wh...
2023-03-2228 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsStop Treating Yourself Like Sh*t: Please Practice Self-Compassion with Jessica PatayWhat if we changed things up a bit and started speaking to ourselves with loving kindness and compassion?? What if instead of self-judgment and self-criticism in our heads, we heard empathy and encouragement?Jessica Patay believes the key to thriving and surviving amidst chronic hardship is the practice of self-compassion. From this all other compassionate practices will flow–as in acknowledging our own needs and emotions, acknowledging our inborn worthiness, acknowledging our need for connection and community. And then putting into practice self-care and soul care....
2023-02-0125 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsNot at Christmastime with Karen DraperWhen a medical event rocks her son and family a week before Christmas, guest Karen Draper has to rapidly process everything and do her best to move through it with grace. From the life saving steps necessary for her son, to the protection of her family's hearts through the fear, many of you will relate to this story of shock, strength and ultimately recovery and laughter. In her story and sweet conversation with host Jessica Patay, we hear from another strong mother who has experienced the spectrum of experiences that come w...
2022-11-3034 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsRepackaging the Holidays with Margaret WebbThe holidays can be tough for everybody! We all get this extra large serving of commitments and expectations that can make enjoying anything feel off the table. Add the element of unique needs to this feast and now even the most organized and flexible person can feel downright defeated. Is there a fresh way to approach this?On today’s episode, Jessica interviews life coach, Margaret Webb, about strategies going into this most stressful of seasons. They discuss getting clear about your family's needs; which may be different than society's expectations. Ho...
2022-11-2328 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsWhat I Dream About with Jessica PatayToday we hear from our host, Jessica Patay, as she shares the answer to her favorite question to ask her guests, “If you could dream BIG, for the disability community, what would you CREATE or CHANGE?” Join her as she paints a picture of the world with all the resources and support we all desire and feel inspired and encouraged to share YOUR big dreams on our website and social platforms.Share what YOU dream about here or here.Read...
2022-11-1611 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsWhat Do I Do When Crisis Hits with Samantha MoreyWhat do we do when a crisis hits? Most moms already know the answer because we’ve been to the ER or seen a pharmacy bill! YIKES!!! In those moments did we FREEZE? FIGHT? Maybe even FAWN? Most importantly, whatever we did, was there a judgment we felt about how we reacted?On today’s practical episode, Jessica interviews Samantha Morey LMFT about the different “threat responses”. They discuss ways we can prepare ourselves, not only for the threat response, but also to the reaction we have to our own response.
2022-11-0926 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsWhen Ableism Confronts Your Children with Larkin O'LearyWe’re all naturally afraid of “different” but what if “different” happens to be YOUR child? How do we react when other parents or kids have a hard time interacting with our child or fail to acknowledge them at all? It hurts right?! So how do we fix this?On today’s practical episode, host Jessica Patay discusses ableism, fear of the unknown and strategies for interacting with those who are different with the lovely Larkin O’Leary. Larkin O’Leary is the president and co-founder of Common Ground Society. She and her husba...
2022-10-2623 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsThe Wave: Normalizing Grief with Meghann Crane-RussDid you know grief can be disenfranchised? Have you ever caught yourself welling up or feeling angry when parents of neurotypical, undisabled, healthy kids talk about the different milestones they’re experiencing with them? Do you judge yourself, feeling you should have accepted your child’s unique path by now? Well, you are NOT alone!In this practical episode, Jessica interviews Meghann Crane-Russ, a therapist and licensed clinical social worker about ALL THINGS GRIEF. They discuss where grief comes from, what it means, how to move through it, and most of all, how it is A...
2022-10-1226 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsA Better Mom Would Have Fixed This By Now with Rachel UlriksenOur darkest days as parents, buried inside us, can rot us from the inside out. Our darkest days shared, can free us and make others feel less alone. It takes courage to share our pain though, especially when that pain centers around our child’s “behavior”. Will others judge us or even reject us for being so open about our shame, pain and fear? On this story episode, we hear from Rachel Ulriksen, who spent many years isolated due to the guilt and humiliation associated with her son Kevin’s aggressive and self injurious behavior...
2022-10-0529 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsTop Tips For Raising a Spicy Kid with Mary Van Geffen (Part 2)In this practical episode continuation, Jessica interviews Mary Van Geffen, an international parenting coach and parent educator for overwhelmed moms of strong-willed & Spicy Children™. In this episode, Mary defines what a “Spicy Child” is and gives guidance and encouragement to all parents currently attempting to raise one. Mary teaches monthly workshops to help moms gain confidence to choose gentle, respectful parenting especially if they weren’t raised that way. Mary has a ministry on Instagram where she posts an inspiring parenting tip every single day. Just reading her social media will help...
2022-09-2817 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsTop Tips For Raising a Spicy Kid with Mary Van Geffen (Part 1)In this practical episode Jessica interviews Mary Van Geffen, an international parenting coach and parent educator for overwhelmed moms of strong-willed & Spicy Children™. In this episode they get into a juicy discussion about all things parenting: new, old, book-lead, child-lead, gentle and everything in-between.Mary teaches monthly workshops to help moms gain confidence to choose gentle, respectful parenting especially if they weren’t raised that way. Mary has a ministry on Instagram where she posts an inspiring parenting tip every single day. Just reading her social media will help you delight in your...
2022-09-2823 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsOverwhelming Guilt and a Path to Acceptance with Laura BarrettWhen a child is born with a genetic disease, as a parent, it can feel like we’ve already failed them. Suddenly our child’s future is full of torturous “WHAT IFS” and the urge to blame ourselves can be overwhelming, but sustaining that guilt can be just as dangerous for us as any disease. On this episode, we explore how journaling, therapy and other tools brought one mom closer to acceptance and self-forgiveness.Today’s guest, Laura Barrett, is a successful copywriter and content editor whose son, Bailey, was born with cystic fibrosis. Today she...
2022-09-2126 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsSeason 4 TrailerHi Brave Friends! In this trailer host Jessica Patay, the girlfriend who “gets you” and your beautiful and brutal journey, shares the plan for Season Four. Hint, it includes even more compassionate and educational content created just for you, our amazing caregiving listeners. Through this podcast Jessica strongly desires to create a sense of belonging, connection, and community. Tune in September 7th for the first story episode!Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to s...
2022-09-0604 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsBack to the Future, with Effie Parks(This is the fifth of five re-releases of host Jessica Patay's favorite episodes from the last two years before we introduce Season 4 of Brave Together.)Jessica loves this episode because she loves good storytelling! Fellow podcaster and friend, Effie Parks, shares about the impact and collision of Michael J Fox into her life and rare disease world.We all need heroes, and every mom who shares her story here is offering something heroic - in vulnerability, they hold up a mirror, a place we can go to witness parts of our own paths, and be...
2022-08-3128 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsA Movement to Change Spaces (Toileting with Dignity)(This is the fourth of five re-releases of host Jessica Patay's favorite episodes from the last two years before we introduce Season 4!)Jessica loves this episode because it raises a VITAL issue that needs to be addressed across the United States and the entire world. She hopes someday to have a team in WABT to join the activists passionately trying to make changes. These changes will bring families out of isolation and bring dignity to children and adults who need a safe, clean space for toileting.Jessica interviews Christina Abernethy, a mom and the founder...
2022-08-2435 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving Parents"A Joyful Life is Ahead" with Chris Patay(This the third of five re-releases of host Jessica Patay's favorite episodes before we introduce to Season 4.!) Jessica loves this episode because, well, she loves her husband! She is extremely grateful that he has been a dedicated, loving, "hands-on dad" over the 22 years they have raised their kids together. She hopes this will inspire other fathers to have a voice and share their experiences in altered fatherhood.Today on the podcast Jessica and Chris Patay talk about fatherhood, and Chris’s journey over the years raising Luke, Kate, and their son, Ryan, who has Prader-Willi sy...
2022-08-1731 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsThe YaYa Sisterhood(This is our second of five re-releases of host Jessica Patay's favorite episodes before we introduce Season 4. )Jessica loves this episode because it demonstrates the beauty and life-giving quality of having community and deep friendships. In this episodes, she shares the mic with four of her dear friends, Heather Meyer, Erin Van Der Veen, Gina Loftis and April Park.Meet the YaYa Sisterhood! In today’s episode, Jessica introduces us to four incredible women who’ve supported one another through thick and thin, for over 35 years. The value of community and friendship is undeniable, and we c...
2022-08-1028 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsThe Beginning of We Are Brave TogetherDuring this break between Season 3 and Season 4, we will be re-releasing Jessica Patay's top 5 favorite episodes. To kick us off, we're taking it all the way back to the beginning!We Are Brave Together founder and podcast host Jessica Patay shares a little of her story as a mother, and about how her desire to create a community for caregiving and special needs moms began. If you are a mom to a child, any age, with any disability, challenge or diagnosis, We Are Brave Together is here for you. If you have a child with special health c...
2022-08-0313 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsTurning Advocacy into a BusinessIn this practical episode - and our final episode for season 3, Jessica Patay and Michelle Sullivan explore how Michelle has turned advocacy into a thriving business; her insights are inspiring and will certainly invite listeners towards movements of creative bravery!Michelle Sullivan owns @littlest_warrior apparel and is the author of the children’sbook Eli, Included. Michelle is the founder and executive producer of the Advocate Like a Mother podcast. Find her at @meeshellsullivan JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.Donate to our Ret...
2022-07-2723 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsThe Wiggles’ Biggest FanIn the lives of families with children with unique needs or disability, there are often (sometimes unusual) habits created to keep our kid safe, or calm, or to reduce sensory overload, pain, or unneeded difficulty. These little (or big) “staples” of daily life mean the world for families with children who have a disability. In this episode, Billie Short shares her gratitude for a staple of her household - one the Short family has held for 23 years. This is her story about a band that - if you’ve had kids - you just might recognize: The Wiggles. Bil...
2022-07-2027 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsReframing BoundariesIn this practical episode with Suzi Lula, Jessica and her guest discuss a new way of thinking around boundaries. What are they, really? What does it mean to “set boundaries” in a way that honors and encourages everyone involved? Can we practice boundaries that encourage cooperation and foster deeper connections? Suzi Lula, M.A., A.L.S.P., is a Spiritual Counselor, Teacher and Inspirational Speaker. Over her 20 years in private practice, along with her master’s degree training in spiritual psychology, Suzi is transforming the way people think about motherhood, and we are so excited to have he...
2022-07-1328 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsIn His Own Words - Ryan’s DiagnosisIn this very special episode (Episode 100!), Jessica shares the story of the night in 2016 she and Chris told their son Ryan about his Prader-Willi syndrome diagnosis. Ryan was 13 at the time of this story. After, Ryan, himself, joins Jessica behind the mic to share his thoughts and questions about the journey in his own words. You may want a few tissues nearby for this life-giving, raw, and heart-lifting episode. JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships h...
2022-07-0621 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsHealing the ‘Not Enough’ WoundWith so much overwhelm, it can be easy to crumble under a sense that we are either ‘not enough,’ or that we are ‘too much.’ In episode 99, Laura Lee and Jessica Patay explore a topic recently covered at one of the Brave Together retreats: how to heal from the sense that we are either less or more than what our family and circumstances require. Learn more about Laura Lee at www.lauraleelife.com.JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here. Donate to our Retreats...
2022-06-2925 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsDear Jack: You Are EnoughWe spend a lot of time on the podcast sharing messages and stories that are good reminders of what moms and caretakers need to hear - the reminders that we need to repeat to strengthen, encourage and inspire us through hard days. Today, Jessica and her guest share a conversation about what our kids need to hear. Whatever their ability, diagnosis, their struggle… on the hard, complicated days - what do they need to hear? In celebration of Father’s Day, Brave Together invites author, speaker, pastor and poet Jason Hague to share a letter to his son Jack, who...
2022-06-2230 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsThe Worst FearIn a world where children and young people who have disabilities are at an increased risk of being abused compared with their non-disabled peers, how can a parent learn to manage their fears and protect their children? On this week’s episode of Brave Together, Jessica Patay and expert advisor Toby Stark discuss some of the most important questions parents need to ask of the organizations supporting and caring for youth.Learn more about Toby’s incredible work here: https://starkcg.net/JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here
2022-06-1525 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsBack to the FutureWe all need heroes, and every mom who shares her story here is offering something heroic - in vulnerability, they hold up a mirror, a place we can go to witness parts of our own paths, and be reminded that we aren’t alone. This journey is hard. Whether it’s fellow moms in the trenches, or heroes of a totally different kind - we are surrounded by heroes giving us strength to look ahead. Effie Parks of Once Upon a Gene Podcast shares her story today… about some of the things that one of her own heroes...
2022-06-0828 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsSexual Health is Self Care! (Just for Moms)Sex isn’t something parents usually think of when they think of “self-care,” but the fact is, in the lives of many partnered moms - in and beyond the disability community - undistracted time to connect intimately with their spouse or partner is hard to find. In an effort to protect an incredibly important part of our health and wellbeing, Jessica chats with Cindy Scharkey, a nurse and sex educator, about a few ways to encourage, uplift and make time for a healthy, loving sex life in the midst of overwhelm. Find Cindy’s amazing podcastFind Cin...
2022-06-0124 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsWhen Nothing Makes SenseThis life can be incredible. It is profoundly beautiful AND… it can be profoundly isolating. Especially when a lack of diagnosis or cooperation or understanding from family, doctors, and teachers makes it difficult for us to see a way forward for our kids! Kam Katen’s story is one that invites us into the shoes of that profound confusion and loneliness, and her conversation with Jessica is a down-to-earth celebration of how telling our stories can break the power of isolation and uncertainty. JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here
2022-05-2530 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsBreath is Your Super-PowerWhat do you do when everything is going wrong? How do you zoom out enough to see things clearly - instead of reacting in fear or desperation? Jessica Patay and Yoga Instructor/Entrepreneur, D’Andre Clayton talk about the power of a regular breath practice to help develop clear-headedness and build peaceful foundations for our perspectives on the challenges of life. Find D’Andre on Instagram @dandreclayton @hotyogahealthyyou JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships he...
2022-05-1827 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsDear Younger Me: Mother’s Day“Dear Younger Me” is a long-standing Brave Together tradition. In celebration of Mother’s Day, we hear from several moms farther ahead in their mothering journey, about what they would share with their younger selves. We hope you enjoy their messages of wisdom, and encouragement - remember, you are not alone.Thanks so Cindy Kaplan, Elizabeth Greskovics, Billie Short, Renay Compere, Kimberly Storr, Patti Jasinski, and Cassandra Sines for their wise, empowering, humorous, and heart-lifting messages in this episode.We look forward to an in-person Dear Younger Me event in 2023! In the meantime, you do get a...
2022-05-1117 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsSelf Compassion vs. Burnout, and What to do About BothRose Reif is a therapist who helps adults with disabilities who are struggling with anxiety, depression, transitions, and other challenges - and - she counsels parents of kids with disabilities who are overwhelmed by guilt, fear, isolation, and who are finding it impossible to care for themselves. Jessica and Rose talk about the difference between burnout and compassion fatigue, and a few practical shifts that may lead us to healing from both. Find Rose at https://rosereif.comJOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
2022-05-0424 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsDear SawyerIn this altered family life, siblings occupy a sacred space, learning to carry the beautiful and the brutal sides of life while also being the brother or sister of a loved one with a disability. Growing up in this space comes with a price, and today author Kate Swenson, of Finding Cooper’s Voice, shares a sweet letter she wrote to her second son, Sawyer, containing her hopes, fears, and promises for him as her son, and as Cooper’s brother. Find Kate on InstagramFind Kate’s book: Forever Boy JOIN the international commun...
2022-04-2728 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsHow to Publish a Book (Really!)We Are Brave Together is full of amazing stories - we all have so much to share with the world, about our journeys, our families, about this altered life. Have you ever wanted to put it all down on paper? Has it ever crossed your mind that, “Hey, maybe I should write a book.” If so, this episode is for you. Joy Eggerich Reed, a literary agent, speaker and author, is here to completely demystify the process for us. Hint: it’s easier than you might think.Find Joy on InstagramFind Joy’s book, Get to the Pu...
2022-04-2030 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsYou Will Feel BetterThink back on your journey… maybe it was sometime in the early days of your child’s diagnosis. Maybe it was sometime during the process of early schooling or therapy… Maybe it was a health crisis, or an unthinking word from a friend or family member… Either way, we’ve all had “low points.” Maybe you’re going through that “low point” right now.But know this: you are not alone. Today, we have Kelley Coleman sharing about her heart cry for parents at their low point. Kelley is a screenwriter, author, speaker, and...
2022-04-1330 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsHow 504s and IEPs Go to CollegeApril Rehrig joins Jessica Patay in a punchy overview of how to handle 504s and IEPs in the transition from high school to college! You’ll want to take notes for this episode. April is a cross-trained special education advocate who teaches real-world positive communication strategies for assessment and IEP development. She finds success in reframing the mindset of parents, teachers and students.We’ve included all of April’s mentioned resources below. Books:Hamblet, E. (2017). From high school to college; Steps to success for students with disabilities. Arlington, VA: Council for Ex...
2022-04-0620 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsMeatball SandwichYou know those days… when there’s that one thing - that one little thing - that pushes you over the edge? Those moments of derealization and overwhelm can be horrible… but they can also offer a window of insight and catharsis. Speaking to that window, today we have the effervescent and hilarious Megan Dolan (see her TedX talk here) sharing her take on looking for peace in the midst of the madness. Find Megan:Facebook -- @TheLemurMomInstagram -- @lemurmomshowMedium -- @megandolanwingateJOIN the international community of We Are Brave...
2022-03-3028 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsMinimizing Hospital HasslesDaniel and his family have spent a lot of time in the hospital. At the age of 12 months, Daniel’s first child Lucas was diagnosed with the rare disease Menkes Syndrome. In this episode, Daniel shares some practical, effective tips to help those trips and stays feel less chaotic. Daniel co-founded DISORDER: The Rare Disease Film Festival and later The Disorder Channel, both dedicated to spreading awareness for patient families facing any of the more than 7,000 rare diseases. Find Daniel’s work and learn more at The Rare Disease Film Festivalhttps://www.rarediseasefilmfestival.com/ or on t...
2022-03-2322 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsThe Weight of AirIn this community, it can be especially hard to find time to process our feelings. The demands of life don’t wait for us to process or neatly put them away. So, when grief hits close to home, it can be hard to even imagine putting one step in front of another. Rory Hunter has some wisdom to share about the time and space that grief needs. Her story is a beautiful and vulnerable one, and we hope that her contemplative words on grief - and the rich conversation that follows - will help you, or someone you love.
2022-03-1630 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsIEPs - The Basics: Part 1PART 1 -- IEPs are a foggy, foggy sea... but in this two-part episode, hear some sharp tips on navigating the process and the all-important meetings with your child’s IEP team. For over 28 years, Elizabeth Bloom has worked as a teacher, administrator, program director and learning specialist. It was the the experience of raising a child with a disability that led her tomove out of the educational system and into the advocacy realm. We hope this two-part episode is helpful for you!Email Elizabeth: ebloom.education@gmail.comFind Elizabeth: https://decodingdyslexiaca.org
2022-03-0920 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsIEPs - The Basics: Part 2PART 2 - IEP’s are a foggy, foggy sea... but in this two-part episode, hear some sharp tips on navigating the process and the all-important meetings with your child’s IEP team. For over 28 years, Elizabeth Bloom has worked as a teacher, administrator, program director and learning specialist. It was the the experience of raising a child with a disability that led her tomove out of the educational system and into the advocacy realm. We hope this two-part episode is helpful for you!Email Elizabeth: ebloom.education@gmail.comFind Elizabeth: https://decodingdyslexiaca.org
2022-03-0915 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsThis is Not a GiftWe talk a lot on the podcast about perspective… about how to zoom out and take good care of our momma hearts. But… what about the really, REALLY bad days, when you don’t want to hear any of the usual comforting words, when truisms and platitudes do more harm than good? What about the days you need to grieve? Today, Let Jess’s beautiful, raw, and honest words be a cry of catharsis - for you, for your partner, or for a friend of yours. Learn more about Jess: Website: jessplusthemess.comWebsite: https://www...
2022-03-0221 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsTo Diploma or Not to Diploma?Is a High School Diploma actually the right route for your child? In this practical Brave Together episode, Jessica and Advocate, Kristen Carmi and Transition Expert, Dr. Gwen Palafox discuss - in detail - the tips, tricks, questions, and considerations to pose when making this important decision, and navigating your child’s journey through their school district. Learn more about Kristen Carmi at www.sbcadvocates.comLearn more about Dr. Gwen Palafox at www.meaningfulgrowth.comJOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships he...
2022-02-2326 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsThe Broken Crystal BallIn this week’s Story episode, Ryane Nicole Granados shares the wisdom she’s learned from the moments in life that shatter our expectations, predictions, and preconceptions of the future. Ryane is a speaker, writer, and absolute powerhouse, and her story about raising her son Joshua, is a poetic and compelling exploration of how to live life without a roadmap. Find Ryane @awriterslyfe on Instagram.JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.Donate to keep this podcast going here.Can’t get enough...
2022-02-1625 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsHow to Find the Right TherapistAt We Are Brave Together, we are huge proponents of therapy. Whether you're new to the world of therapy, an old veteran, or if you've struggled to find the right fit, we wanted to provide some practical tools to help you in your search. In our first Practical episode of Brave Together Podcast, Season 3, we're hearing from Kimberly Kooy and Chris Ioimo - two licensed marriage and family therapists and partners of We Are Brave Together - about how to find the right therapist. JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.Donate to o...
2022-02-0924 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsThe Quarantine that Never EndedOur first episode of Season Three is a Story Episode from Izzie Duval, mother of Dallas. Izzie and her family have had what might be called a… unique…quarantine experience. Izzie’s amazing words will bring inspiration, wisdom, and encouragement for when the tough moments of this altered life feel more like marathons than sprints. Find Izzie’s work @wishcometrueco on IG and Facebook.JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.Donate to keep this podcast going here.Can’t get enough...
2022-02-0224 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsWhat’s Happening in Season Three?Are you ready for Season 3? Our first episode drops TOMORROW! Host Jessica Patay and podcast producer and editor Madeleine Inskeep-Hewitt chat about what’s in store, and the things they are most excited about in the months ahead. We’re up to new and exhilarating things! What’s YOUR biggest dream for the podcast and the We Are Brave Community? We want to know!Learn more about Madeleine’s podcast work at MPowered. JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
2022-02-0111 min
Brave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsSeason 3 TrailerWelcome to Season Three! Check out the trailer to hear host Jessica Patay share what’s in store for this season, and find out about some exciting changes to the podcast coming in February! Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys. Learn more about our work and JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.Donate to o...
2022-01-2603 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsOur Mindset for the HolidaysHappy Holidays! Today on the podcast, we reissue our episode with Suzi Lula and Jessica Patay, discussing how moms might be able to set new precedents of peace during an often pressure-filled time. Brave Together Podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp, an organization working to make professional counseling accessible, affordable, convenient - so anyone can get help, anytime, anywhere from the world's largest network of licensed, accredited, and experienced counselors. For a 10% discount off of your first month, visit www.betterhelp.com/wearebravetogether.Join the community of We Are Brave Together.To request an episode g...
2021-12-0135 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsWhen You Feel Betrayed by the ProfessionalsToday on the podcast, Jessica Patay and Effie Parks from @onceuponagene discuss the importance of community, and the tension that arises when you feel betrayed by the professionals during your child’s diagnosis process. Effie’s story and wisdom is rich and relevant - don’t miss this episode!About Effie and @onceuponagene - When Effie’s son, Ford, was born with an extremely rare genetic condition called CTNNB1 syndrome, she dove headfirst into the world of advocacy. CTNNB1 syndrome is caused by a deletion, partial deletion, or mutation of the CTNNB1 gene. It is a neurological conditio...
2021-10-1334 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsOur Altered LifeToday on the @bravetogetherpod, Jessica Patay speaks with Charlie of @ouralteredlife. Based on the lessons learned during her journey as a special needs parent, plunged into a world she never expected or was prepared for, Charlie shares the incredible impact of our own self-talk and empowers people to break through their own limiting beliefs to find the happiness and success they deserve. Charlie Beswick is a first class psychology graduate, award-winning blogger, published author, charity founder, professional speaker, trainer and coach. She’s mum to teenagers Oliver and Harry and a self-confessed cheesaholic and gin lover!
2021-09-1532 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsWhen I Can't Make One More DecisionWe are Brave Together founder Jessica Patay and Life Coach Kara Ryska discuss a much-requested topic in episode 63 of the @bravetogetherpod - Decision Fatigue. How do we defend against burnout, indecision, and resignation? Find out today on the Brave Together podcast! In 2011, Kara became a mom to a special needs child as she and her husband received the crushing diagnosis of a huge and horrible tumor in her then 2 year old's brain. Kara is certified as a coach through the International Coaches Federation and through her years of coaching has developed tools to especially support women up a...
2021-09-0132 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsTrust Your Gut with Moira ClearyToday on the @bravetogetherpod, Moira Cleary and Jessica Patay speak about the gut feelings we have as mothers about our children. Moira has two amazing daughters with over 15 conditions. She is a Certified and Accredited Professional Coach and Mindfulness Practitioner, and the host of the Surviving the Waiting Room Podcast and the Parent + Caregiver Summit. Join her Insider's Club for access to her resources! Brave Together Podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp, an organization working to make professional counseling accessible, affordable, convenient - so anyone can get help, anytime, anywhere from the world's largest network of licensed, accredited...
2021-08-2531 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsTrailblazer Moms! Michele Knowlton-ThorneHave you met Michele Knowlton-Thorne? Today on the podcast, Jessica Patay and Michele talk about the power of care for the care-givers. We cannot wait to share her Trailblazing work with you! After both of her children were diagnosed with autism and she saw the need to provide parents with emotional, physical and educational support, Michele Knowlton-Thorne founded D.A.M.E.S LLC. Before founding D.A.M.E.S Michele worked as a geneticist at TGen and has an undergraduate degree in Molecular Biosciences and Biotechnology and a Master of Science Degree from Arizona State...
2021-08-1833 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsPain is a CatalystToday, Jessica Patay and author Kristin Armstrong discuss how pain is a catalyst and a conduit to growth and healing. Kristin Armstrong is the author of eight books including: Happily Ever After, Strength for the Climb, Work in Progress: An Unfinished Woman’s Guide to Grace, Heart of my Heart, Mile Markers: The 26.2 Most Important Reasons Why Women Run, Ties that Bind and YES. Her work has led to appearances on Oprah, The Rachel Ray Show, Hour of Power at the Crystal Cathedral, The 700 Club, NPR, Good Morning America and The Today Show. Kristin went back t...
2021-08-0435 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving Parents"A Joyful Life is Ahead" with Chris PatayToday on the podcast Jessica and Chris Patay talk about fatherhood, and Chris’s journey over the years raising Luke, Kate, and their son, Ryan, who has Prader-Willi syndrome, a rare, genetic disorder. Jessica interviews Chris about the duality of joy and pain in being a father, as well as the vital power of community for dads. Brave Together Podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp, an organization working to make professional counseling accessible, affordable, convenient - so anyone can get help, anytime, anywhere from the world's largest network of licensed, accredited, and experienced counselors. For a 10% discount off of...
2021-06-1631 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsFinancial Planning: Life Insurance for SN FamiliesJessica Patay, Shawn Francis and Brian Altounian dive into why Life Insurance isn’t something to be nervous, confused, or overwhelmed by - especially for families in the special needs community. There are so many ways life insurance can help families live more easily in the present - as well as prepare their children for the future.Brian and Shawn are hosts of the Just Two Dads podcast and fathers to children with special needs. Shawn has over a decade of experience providing financial education & services to families. Shawn is co-host of the Just Two Dads show, an...
2021-05-1240 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsCelebrating Stepmoms!We are celebrating Stepmoms! Any mother that steps wholeheartedly into a new family is a courageous, powerful soul. For families with children who have special needs, the courage and vulnerability of stepmoms is so worth celebrating. This week on the podcast, in honor of Mother’s Day, Jessica Patay interviews three amazing stepmoms: Tony Salisbury, Daisy Vasquez Vogt, and Jennifer M. McIrnerney.Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of...
2021-05-0522 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsStop Stalling! Write Your StoryThis week Jessica Patay interviews Sarah, Laurie and Ann - three warrior moms who’ve picked up the pen and written their stories. We hope that in listening you’ll be encouraged, equipped inspired to write your own story; the world needs to hear it!Sarah Swindell lives in the Austin area with her husband, Greg, a former Major League Baseball player and 2019 Texas Sports Hall of Fame Inductee. Sarah is a commercial actress/model and has been working in the industry for over thirty years, and is the author of Rounding Home - A Memoir of Love...
2021-04-1439 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsGrief: Love Not LostWhether it’s the loss of community and the pain of these last 12 months, a difficult diagnosis, an imagined future, or the loss of a loved one, we all have experienced grief. Today on the show, Jessica Patay and Ashley Jones speak about how we can heal in our grief, how our communities are vital to the process.Ashley Jones is the founder of Love Not Lost, an organization on a mission to revolutionize the way we grieve in America. Their driving question for everything they do is: “How can we love people better?” You will hear more a...
2021-04-0738 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsWhat About the Dads?As moms, we often carry the flag for our children in the special needs community. Today, Jessica Patay interviews two dads of children with special needs whose experiences as parents have changed the course of their lives, careers, and dreams. Shawn Francis and his wife of 14 years, Laura, are parents to seven children, one of which is their biological son who is 13 & was diagnosed with Autism at the age of three. Shawn has over a decade of experience providing financial education & services to families. He is co-host of the Just Two Dads show, and is an ambassador fo...
2021-03-3145 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsMama Trauma... Let's Heal It!In this episode of the Brave Together podcast, Jessica Patay and her dear friend Kimberly Kooy discuss some of the therapies available for those carrying the trauma that can come from years of extreme caregiving. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy treatment that was originally designed to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories. Learn more about EMDR at www.emdr.com, and learn more about Kimberly Kooy at https://refugecenter.org/bio/kimberly-kooyBrave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates...
2021-03-1027 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsConquering Guilt and Shame with Samantha Morey, LMFTToday, Jessica Patay and Samantha Morey speak about how to discern, process and defend against the guilt and shame that can creep into our busy lives! Called to counsel women and families towards wholehearted living, Samantha has a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy from Hope International University, and she works with the Center for Individual and Family Therapy in Torrance, CA. Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. T...
2021-03-0331 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsDear Younger Me: Mothers of Adult Children with PWS; Linda Ryan and Lisa GrazianoThe idea of Dear Younger Me series came from an annual event that We Are Brave Together offers. Experienced, expert moms share their wisdom on a variety of topics to moms earlier in their journey... it's organic mentoring at its best! This week, we hear stories from Jessica Patay, Linda Ryan and Lisa Graziano about raising adult children with PWS. Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We A...
2021-02-2433 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsWhy Conflict is Your Friend - Marriage with Chris Ioimo, LMFTChris Ioimo, LMFT, and Clinical Director of Journeys Counseling in Torrance, California, joins Jessica Patay in discussing why conflict can actually strengthen marriages. As a marriage and family counsellor, and having grown up with a medically fragile older brother with special needs, Chris's insights into the unique pressures a marriage can face are so valuable to families during this time. Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We A...
2021-02-1029 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsNotice, Notice, Notice: Mindfulness with Rachel RushJessica Patay and Rachel Rush discuss mindfulness as a practice to help us through the challenging and overwhelming seasons of our lives. Mindfulness is a practical tool that trains our brains to process intense situations with less stress. Rachel is a Certified Mindfulness Teacher through Mindful Schools and is trained in the MindUp Curriculum. She was inspired to teach students mindfulness when she saw the positive impact it had on her own life & teaching. She has eight years of classroom experience and has taught first, third and fifth grade. You can learn more about her work at https://www...
2021-02-0325 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsLet’s Shine a Light on Rare Diseases: Cri du ChatIn this second Rare Diseases Highlight, Jessica Patay speaks with Leah Moore, mother of Jordan, who has Cri du Chat, a rare genetic disorder cause by a partial chromosome deletion. Its name is a French term ("call of the cat") referring to the characteristic cat-like cry of affected children. Leah is a high school educator and mother of three, and and in this episode, she vulnerably and hopefully shares the story of her family. You can find Leah's writing on lovingyoubig.com and find her on Instagram @lovingyoubig. Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We...
2021-01-2732 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsSoul How Art Thou?Why is rejecting self-care actually a symptom of narcissism? Find out in today’s episode from Jessica Patay and Suzi Lula, who talk about the small steps that can help burdened mothers cultivate a strong sense of worthiness - in themselves, and their children. Suzi Lula, M.A., A.L.S.P., is a Spiritual Counselor, Teacher and Inspirational Speaker. Over her 18 years in private practice, along with her master’s degree training in spiritual psychology, Suzi is transforming the way people think about motherhood, and we are so excited to have her back on the show!Bra...
2021-01-2030 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsIs Self-Care a Bad Word?As we dive into 2021 and Season Two of the Brave Together podcast, Jessica Patay speaks about some new ways to think about strengthening and caring for ourselves in 2020, and explains the all-important difference between "self-comfort" and true "self-care."Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere. JOIN the international...
2021-01-0624 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsSeason One Wrap-Up!Wow! It’s the end of the year - and of Season One of the Brave Together Podcast! This week, Jessica Patay has some last encouragements for our amazing momma listeners as we step fully into the holidays, and prepare for the months ahead. Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere....
2020-12-1606 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsR is for Ryan and the Resilience He Taught MeJessica Patay shares what she has learned to embrace and reject as she has had to build and grow resilience over the past 17 years of mothering her son, Ryan, who has Prader-Willi syndrome. What she shares will inspire you to prioritize and build resilience amidst this season of constant change and hardship.Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect...
2020-12-0921 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsHow to Not Freak Out About the Future with Kim AlbrechtJessica Patay and Kim Albrecht from the LOMAH podcast discuss the “Future” for special needs children and their parents. What happens when carers and parents can no longer be around for their growing children? What can we do to control the future, if anything? How can we prepare? How can we silence our fear and find the peace we need to plan for our children well? Kim’s energy, optimism and practical advice is full of the encouragement for special needs moms out there who are asking any of these questions. You can find Kim on Instagram @journey2lomah, or on...
2020-11-1134 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsLet’s Shine a Light on Rare Diseases: Epidermolysis BullosaIn the months ahead, Jessica Patay will occasionally pause the regular podcast series to highlight lesser known and uncommon diseases. In today’s Rare Disease highlight, we meet Nadine and Becky, moms of children with Epidermolysis Bullosa. EB is an incredibly rare group of genetic conditions that can result in easy blistering and damage of someone’s skin; blisters and painful injury occurs with very minor trauma or friction at any point of contact, and EB’s severity can range from mild to fatal. Nadine and Becky vulnerably share their stories, and about what life is like for their childr...
2020-11-0437 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsSibling Series, Part 4 with Jeanie BergenThis week, Jessica Patay interviews the incredible Jeanie Bergen. Jeanie Bergen became her sister's guardian when she was 20 years old, and in this episode, tells her own and Edna's story with a grace and fiesty honesty that will break your heart and build it back together again. Look for Jeanie's incredible writing on Medium, on the We Are Brave Together blog, and on the horizon. She and Edna have stories to tell, and there's a whole world out there that needs to hear them. Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a...
2020-08-1941 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsSibling Series, Part 3 with Luke PatayJessica Patay is joined by her son, Luke Patay, age 19, for this episode!Luke shares his perspective of what life is like with Ryan and Prader-Willi syndrome.Jessica said this was a precious treat for her, obviously, and is deeply proud of Luke's heart and embracing of Ryan and their crazy-special journey as a family.Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together...
2020-08-1231 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsSibling Series, Part 1 with Chris IoimoChris Ioimo, LMFT, and Clinical Director of Journeys Counseling in Torrance, California, joins Jessica Patay, in this first episode of the series. Chris grew up in a special needs family, with an older brother with medically fragile needs. He shares openly his experience and offers advice to parents. https://journeyscounseling.comBrave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the me...
2020-07-2929 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsThe Power of Our Children as TeachersJessica Patay invites decades-long best friend, fellow advocate and nonprofit founder, Amy Groshell, Founder of Peace of Heart Community in Florida, to the show. Amy has five children, with two adult daughters on the Autism Spectrum. Her eldest daughters have taught her incredible lessons and she encourages us all to look at our children as teachers. This week's episode is longer, but absolutely rich with inspiration, healing, and hope. In other news, the Brave Together Podcast is graduating! We have so many incredible stories, guests, and topics lined up that we've decided to change our publishing schedule f...
2020-07-0147 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsThe Power of GatheringJessica Patay shares her background and her passion for connection and community. Both are valuable tools for managing chronic hardship, spreading knowledge, and cultivating personal empowerment on the Special Needs Motherhood journey. Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere. JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together h...
2020-06-1711 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsThe Power of MentoringJessica Patay invites her first mentor, Lisa Graziano, licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT), and former Executive Director of the Prader-Willi California Foundation to share about the power of having mentors to help guide and support you while navigating special needs motherhood.Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.
2020-05-2020 minBrave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving ParentsThe Beginning of We Are Brave TogetherIn this episode, We Are Brave Together founder Jessica Patay shares a little of her story as a mother, and about how her desire to create a community for caregiving and special needs moms began. If you are a mom to a child, any age, with any disability, challenge or diagnosis, We Are Brave Together is your tribe. And… even if you have a child with special health care needs, and no diagnosis, you are welcome to be a part of this community. The Brave Together podcast is here to remind you that you are NOT ALONE in your mo...
2020-05-0413 min