What happens when the picture-perfect plan of motherhood is shattered by an unexpected diagnosis? In this raw and revealing episode, Ashley Stringham opens up about the moment she learned her son Carter had Down syndrome — a moment that brought shock, grief, and an overwhelming sense of isolation. With brutal honesty, Ashley shares the emotional rollercoaster of denial, heartbreak, and eventual acceptance, inviting us into the messy, beautiful reality of parenting a child with special needs.

But this isn’t just a story about Carter. It’s a call to every mother who’s ever felt like she had to hold it all together. Ashley explores the often-unspoken truth that self-care isn’t selfish — it’s survival. That it’s okay to cry. That it’s okay to grieve. And that progress, not perfection, is what real motherhood looks like.

Through the power of community, Ashley found healing in the stories of other special needs moms. Her message is clear: advocacy begins at home, and joy can be found in the smallest victories — if we’re brave enough to stop comparing and start embracing the journey we didn’t expect.

This episode will challenge the narrative, crack open your heart, and remind you that sometimes the most unexpected detours lead to the most profound love.

In this episode of Conquering Your Clownfish, hosts Misty Coy Snyder, Ela, and Larry invite listeners into the raw and radiant journey of raising their daughter with Down syndrome—one that shattered their expectations, exposed the fear-based narratives still dominating the medical world, and ultimately gave rise to a global advocacy movement rooted in art.

What began as confusion and isolation quickly transformed into connection and purpose. Ela and Larry didn’t just find beauty in their daughter—they captured it, painted it, and put it on display for the world to see. Through their art, they’ve made it impossible to look away from the truth: children with Down syndrome are not a tragedy to grieve, but a light to follow.

They speak openly about the way limitations—imposed by doctors, systems, even well-meaning friends—can quietly crush potential. They spotlight the often-overlooked role of fathers, the fierce empathy that grows in siblings, and the community that every family deserves but so few actually find.

This episode doesn’t sugarcoat the journey. Instead, it flips the script: what if the “hard news” isn’t the diagnosis, but the lies we’re told about what that diagnosis means? What if the real disability is in how society chooses to see?

If you've ever been afraid of the unknown, or wondered how to turn pain into purpose—this one is for you.

What if the child you thought couldn’t understand you had been listening all along?

In this powerful episode of Conquering Your Clown Fish, Betsy Hicks-Russ—mother, advocate, and director of Autism Odyssey—opens up about her journey parenting Joey, a young man with non-speaking autism. For years, she was told Joey couldn’t comprehend the world around him. But everything changed when they discovered spelling to communicate—a method that unlocked Joey’s voice and transformed their entire relationship.

Betsy challenges the narrative that non-speaking means non-thinking. With fierce honesty and vulnerability, she shares how the vest Joey wears in public serves as more than a tool for safety—it’s a call for empathy in a world that too often makes assumptions. She dives into why society still underestimates people like Joey, and why it’s time we stop.

This conversation is a wake-up call to parents, educators, and anyone who’s ever judged what they didn’t understand. It’s also a love letter to the caregivers who keep showing up, even when Plan A fails—and who discover miracles in Plan B.