UPDATE for 2025:

First, we want to say how much this podcast community means to us. Over the past seven years, we’ve released 290 episodes, reaching millions of listeners worldwide. You’ve been with us through laughter, tears, challenges, growth, and friendships. This podcast exists because of you, and we’re deeply grateful for your support.

To keep The Lucky Few Podcast thriving, we’ll be making some changes early this year. While we focus on restructuring and exploring new ideas, we invite you to revisit past episodes or relisten to your favorites. Stay up-to-date by following us on social media @theluckyfewpod.

We’re excited for what’s ahead! Until then, know we’re cheering you on and love you so much.

...

Throwback: Everything No One Tells You About Parenting A Disabled Child (w/Kelley Coleman)

We’re so excited to welcome feature film executive turned author and disability advocate, Kelley Coleman to the show! Her book Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child: Your Guide to the Essential Systems, Services, and Support releases TODAY!! Friends, this book is like gold, it provides the kind of support and confidence we all need to navigate and understand the complex systems, services, and supports no matter what diagnosis our kids have. It’s a resource we’ll be looking to for years to come, providing us with helpful questions, checklists, and ways to access services based on your child's individual needs. We celebrate finding friendship and community throughout the disability community, and Kelley shares how the Down syndrome community has embraced her and her son. She even shares how disability rights activist Judy Heumann shared her enthusiasm for a resource like Kelley’s book and emphasized the importance of sharing stories as self-advocates and nondisabled advocates in the disability space. This is a book and conversation we’re so grateful for, this is an episode you don’t want to miss!

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SHOW NOTES

• Order Kelley’s new book⁠ Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child: Your Guide to the Essential Systems, Services, and Support⁠

• To learn more, visit⁠ https://www.kelleycoleman.com/⁠ 

• Follow Kelley on⁠ Instagram⁠ and⁠ Facebook⁠

• ⁠Learn more about Judy Heumann’s legacy⁠

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR:

Thank you,⁠ Enable SNP⁠ for sponsoring this episode!

• ⁠47. Planning for the Future w/Phillip Clark from Enable SNP⁠

• ⁠191. Future Planning for the WHOLE Family - ft. Phillip Clark, Enable SNP⁠

HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE

Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email [email protected] for more information!

LET’S CHAT

Email [email protected] with your questions and Good News for future episodes.

Happy New Year friends! Join us as we welcome back Amy Julia Becker and her daughter Penny for an inspiring conversation on redefining resolutions for growth instead of perfection. We’re talking about the power of celebrating small wins, how caregivers and families can support loved ones with Down syndrome in setting and achieving goals, and the transformative lessons we’ve learned from goal-setting with our children. Penny also offers her perspective on staying motivated, what success looks like to her, and what she hopes to accomplish in the year ahead. Whether you’re setting goals for yourself or alongside your loved one with Down syndrome, this conversation will leave you ready to embrace every step of the journey. This is an episode you don’t want to miss!

SHOW NOTES

Instagram: @amyjuliabecker

Facebook: @amyjuliabeckerwriter

YouTube Channel

Threads: @amyjuliabecker

X: @amyjuliabecker

amyjuliabecker.com 

Our Previous Episodes with Amy Julia: 

• 247. The Transition To Adulthood: Fostering Independence, Dignity Of Risk, & Supporting Decision-Making (w/ Amy Julia Becker)
  
• 158. Faith, Healing, & Disability, ft. Amy Julia Becker (Mother/Autho
  
• 26. Owning Your Influence By Using Your Words with Amy Julia Becker

Thank you, NDSS for sponsoring this episode!

Register today for the 2025 Down Syndrome Advocacy Conference! Early bird registration is now open!

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

Join us in celebrating and supporting The Lucky Few Podcast! For just $0.99, $4.99, or $9.99 a month, you can help us continue shouting worth and shifting narratives for people with Down syndrome. Your support makes a difference in our ability to create meaningful content, enable us to cover production costs, and explore additional opportunities to expand our resources. Become an essential part of The Lucky Few movement today! 

DISCOUNT CODE

Friends, grab your narrative shifting gear over on The Lucky Few Merch Shop and use code LUCKY for 21% off!

HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE

Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email [email protected] for more information!

It’s Christmas Eve, and whether you’re wrapping up last-minute gifts, squeezing in a classic Christmas movie, or running errands around town, we’re thrilled to be keeping you company! Today, we’re diving into something extra special to celebrate the season—a deeper look at the good news in our lives.

In the Christmas tradition, there’s a powerful moment when the angel declares the arrival of Jesus as good news. Inspired by this, we’re dedicating today’s episode to celebrating all kinds of good news: the joy of Christmas, the incredible kids with Down syndrome who brighten our lives, and the beauty of shifting narratives.

So, grab a cup of cocoa, take a deep breath, and join us as we spread some cheer and shout some worth. We’re so glad you’re here.

SHOW NOTES

Join us in celebrating and supporting The Lucky Few Podcast! For just $0.99, $4.99, or $9.99 a month, you can help us continue shouting worth and shifting narratives for people with Down syndrome. Your support makes a difference in our ability to create meaningful content, enable us to cover production costs, and explore additional opportunities to expand our resources.⁠ Become an essential part of The Lucky Few movement today! ⁠

DISCOUNT CODE

Friends, grab your narrative shifting gear over on⁠ The Lucky Few Merch Shop⁠ and use code LUCKY for 21% off!

HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE

Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email [email protected] for more information!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Thank you,⁠ Enable SNP⁠ for sponsoring this episode!

• ⁠47. Planning for the Future w/Phillip Clark from Enable SNP⁠

• ⁠191. Future Planning for the WHOLE Family - ft. Phillip Clark, Enable SNP⁠

  
  

LET’S CHAT

Email [email protected] with your questions and Good News for future episodes.

Today, we’re bringing you some Holiday cheer as we head to the fictional and festive town of New Hope, TX. I have the honor and thrill of speaking with  Julia Barnett, the writer and director of the new holiday movie A Christmas in New Hope, and Mia Armstrong, one of the lead actors who plays Charlie, the daughter of a single mom fighting to save her home before Christmas. Mia, who has Down syndrome, shines in a role where her diagnosis takes a back seat, showcasing her as a fully realized character. Join us as we dive into the inspiration behind the movie, Mia’s journey to the role, and the powerful representation of Down syndrome in storytelling.

Watch this film on Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play, Spectrum, Fandango, Roku and Tubi 

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SHOW NOTES

• Learn more about the movie here

• Watch the trailer here

• Follow Mia on Instagram 

• Follow Julia on Instagram

  Follow A Christmas in New Hop on Instagram and Facebook

  
  

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

Join us in celebrating and supporting The Lucky Few Podcast! For just $0.99, $4.99, or $9.99 a month, you can help us continue shouting worth and shifting narratives for people with Down syndrome. Your support makes a difference in our ability to create meaningful content, enable us to cover production costs, and explore additional opportunities to expand our resources. Become an essential part of The Lucky Few movement today! 

DISCOUNT CODE

Friends, grab your narrative shifting gear over on The Lucky Few Merch Shop and use code LUCKY for 21% off!

HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE

Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email [email protected] for more information!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Thank you, ABLEnow for sponsoring this episode!

• 115. How The ABLE Act Supports Your Child's Future (ft. Catherine Beck)

LET’S CHAT

Email [email protected] with your questions and Good News for future episodes.

How do you handle the grief that comes with unmet holiday expectations? As we dive into the holiday season, many of us wrestle with the dream of a “perfect” celebration that doesn’t match reality. In this episode, we’re having an honest conversation about releasing those high expectations, navigating the challenges and grief that come with letting go of the idealized holiday image, and discovering joy in what is rather than what could have been. From coping with unplanned moments to redefining traditions and setting boundaries with family, we’re exploring how to create a meaningful, authentic holiday season that works for you. Don’t miss this heartfelt discussion!

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SHOW NOTES

• 236. Making Space For Grief (w/Claire Bidwell Smith)

• 235. All The “Big Feelings”

• 192. Tis' the Season!

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

Join us in celebrating and supporting The Lucky Few Podcast! For just $0.99, $4.99, or $9.99 a month, you can help us continue shouting worth and shifting narratives for people with Down syndrome. Your support makes a difference in our ability to create meaningful content, enable us to cover production costs, and explore additional opportunities to expand our resources. Become an essential part of The Lucky Few movement today! 

DISCOUNT CODE

Friends, grab your narrative shifting gear over on The Lucky Few Merch Shop and use code LUCKY for 21% off!

HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE

Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email [email protected] for more information!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Thank you, Enable SNP for sponsoring this episode!

• 47. Planning for the Future w/Phillip Clark from Enable SNP

• 191. Future Planning for the WHOLE Family - ft. Phillip Clark, Enable SNP

Thank you, NDSS for sponsoring this episode!

• Register today for the 2025 Down Syndrome Advocacy Conference! Early bird registration is now open!

LET’S CHAT

Email [email protected] with your questions and Good News for future episodes.

Today is Giving Tuesday! This year we’ve decided to switch up our traditional gift guide and bring you some of our favorite non-profit organizations doing incredible things for our community. In the spirit of Giving Tuesday, we encourage you to consider supporting their work with your time, resources, or donations. From advocacy to education to direct support, these organizations are transforming lives, and Giving Tuesday is a powerful opportunity to join them in making a lasting change. We hope you enjoy hearing from Karmel Garcia from Zoe’s Toolbox, Stephanie Thompson from the National Down Syndrome Adoption Network, and Crystal Lotterberry from Black Down Syndrome Association. Every bit of support counts, and today is the perfect day to give back meaningfully. 

SHOW NOTES

Zoe’s Toolbox:

• Learn more about Zoe’s Toolbox

• Donate to Zoe’s Toolbox

• Follow Zoe’s Toolbox on Instagram and Facebook

National Down Syndrome Adoption Network:

• Learn more about the National Down Syndrome Adoption Network

• Follow NDSAN on Instagram and Facebook

Listen to our previous episode with NDSAN:

• 45. Adoption & Down Syndrome w/Stephanie Thompson from the NDSAN 

Black Down Syndrome Association:

• Learn more about Black Down Syndrome Association

• Follow Black Down Syndrome Association (BDSA) on Instagram and Facebook

• Join the Black Down Syndrome Association Facebook Family Group

Listen to our previous episodes with BDSA:

• 195. Connecting with the Black Down Syndrome Association (ft. Kelli Caughman & Crystal Lotterberry)

• 256. Celebrating Motherhood, Advocacy, & Community (w/Black Down Syndrome Association)

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

Join us in celebrating and supporting The Lucky Few Podcast! For just $0.99, $4.99, or $9.99 a month, you can help us continue shouting worth and shifting narratives for people with Down syndrome. Your support makes a difference in our ability to create meaningful content, enable us to cover production costs, and explore additional opportunities to expand our resources. Become an essential part of The Lucky Few movement today! 

DISCOUNT CODE

Friends, grab your narrative shifting gear over on The Lucky Few Merch Shop and use code PODCAST for 10% off!

HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE

Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email [email protected] for more information!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR:

Thank you, ABLEnow for sponsoring this episode!

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

LET’S CHAT

Email [email protected] with your questions and Good News for future episodes.

That’s right friends, we’ve got a BONUS episode for you this week! Today, we’re bringing you our closing keynote from the NDSS Adult Summit, we’re sharing our takeaways from the weekend, practical tips, and tools for building a future that people with Down syndrome deserve. From dreaming about employment and supporting Down syndrome-owned businesses to creating transition plans and embracing independence, this episode is packed with inspiration and actionable steps. You’ll also hear from incredible advocates sharing their hopes and dreams for the next generation of people with Down syndrome. This is your reminder that your voice, your story, and your advocacy matter!

- - - -

SHOW NOTES

Links from our Favorite Tips & Tools from the Adult Summit!

• Dream about employment. Sit down with a loved one and write down your future dreams and goals for employment. NDSS has resources and templates for future planning, entrepreneurship, starting a business with your family, and more! Check out their website to get started!

• Support businesses owned and run by people with Down syndrome. Follow them on social media, sign up for their newsletter, purchase their products, and share with family and friends. Friends, this holiday season, take a look at the NDSS interactive holiday gift guide to help you find businesses to support! 

• Apply for an ABLE account (tax advantaged saving account for individuals with disabilities)

• Sign up to be part of research. Stay up to date with research. Did you know NDSS even has a research studies page on their website where you can search by age and sign up for their newsletter where they send out new research opportunities from time to time! Look into the Alzheimer’s research, if you are 35 or older talk to your doctor about Alzheimer’s disease and prevention. 

• NDSS resources and Adult Down Syndrome center website has a resource gallery with videos and worksheets on dating, puberty, social boundaries, and more.

• Make a transition plan. Contact your department of rehabilitation. Pick up transition guide from NDSS table or download online.

• Take a step towards independence. Is there an area of life you dream of having more independence? Living alone? Making your lunch? Navigating your community? Initiating social fun with friends? Sit down with your loved ones and make a plan for the next steps to meeting that goal. 

• Sign up for the NDSS Advocacy conference. April 28-30.

Watch the new NDSS PSA Town 21

Listen to EP 284 Why Does Inclusion for People with Down Syndrome Have to be a Distant Dream?

Thank you to Camilynne Photography for capturing so many of our Adult Summit memories!

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

Join us in celebrating and supporting The Lucky Few Podcast! For just $0.99, $4.99, or $9.99 a month, you can help us continue shouting worth and shifting narratives for people with Down syndrome. Your support makes a difference in our ability to create meaningful content, enable us to cover production costs, and explore additional opportunities to expand our resources. Become an essential part of The Lucky Few movement today! 

DISCOUNT CODE

Friends, grab your narrative shifting gear over on The Lucky Few Merch Shop and use code PODCAST for 10% off!

HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE

Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email [email protected] for more information!

LET’S CHAT

Email [email protected] with your questions and Good News for future episodes.

Friends, we had an epic time at the National Down Syndrome Adult Summit in Costa Mesa, CA! It’s a weekend of connection and educational sessions on a variety of topics that address adulthood and aging for the disability community. We had the honor of helping to launch the NDSS Town 21 PSA and spoke with Town 21 news anchor Jessica Kishner about her role in the video, her passion for music, and her dreams. We also got the chance to talk with NDSS President Kandi Pickard and the creator of the NDSS Adult Summit, Jadene Ransdell, about the importance of dreaming big and creating opportunities. Together, we reflected on how we can take the energy and education from this weekend to better support adults with Down syndrome. This episode captures the inspiration, hope, and energy of the weekend and we’re so excited to share it with all of you! This is an episode (and weekend) you don’t want to miss!

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SHOW NOTES

• Watch the new NDSS PSA Town 21

Our episode with BTS of Town 21 on EP 284 Why Does Inclusion for People with Down Syndrome Have to be a Distant Dream?

Our episode with Kandi Pickard celebrating their 45th anniversary:

• 262. 45 Years of Advocacy: A Conversation w/ NDSS President Kandi Pickard

Our episode with Alex Bolden (who is in the closing scene):

• 277. Can A Person With Down Syndrome Vote? (w/Alex Bolden & Genevieve Thompson)

Thank you to Camilynne Photography for capturing so many of our Adult Summit memories!

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

Join us in celebrating and supporting The Lucky Few Podcast! For just $0.99, $4.99, or $9.99 a month, you can help us continue shouting worth and shifting narratives for people with Down syndrome. Your support makes a difference in our ability to create meaningful content, enable us to cover production costs, and explore additional opportunities to expand our resources. Become an essential part of The Lucky Few movement today! 

DISCOUNT CODE

Friends, grab your narrative shifting gear over on The Lucky Few Merch Shop and use code PODCAST for 10% off!

HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE

Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email [email protected] for more information!

LET’S CHAT

Email [email protected] with your questions and Good News for future episodes.

We’ve talked about impactful PSAs that the Down syndrome community has put out over the years. Today we’re talking about the most recent PSA from our friends over at the National Down Syndrome Society, if you haven’t seen it already follow the link in our show notes and go watch their powerful, important, and impactful message and listen to some behind-the-scenes interviews on this weeks episode! We’re chatting with the president of NDSS Kandi Pickard, an amazing couple Jeremy and Audrey featured in the wedding scene, and Jamie Weitzman whose kiddos Hannah and Jedidiah were featured in the crowd at the wedding! We’re talking about every little detail, why it matters, and what we can do to help create this world that we all dream of for people with Down syndrome and that people with Down syndrome and disabilities deserve. This is an episode you don’t want to miss! 

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SHOW NOTES

• Watch the new NDSS PSA Town 21

• NDSS 2018 PSA Bridging the Gap

• Watch the NDSS 40th Anniversary PSA 

Check out Jeremy & Audrey’s Non-Profit Down Syndrome Rocks

Our episode with Kandi Pickard celebrating their 45th anniversary:

• 262. 45 Years of Advocacy: A Conversation w/ NDSS President Kandi Pickard

Our episode with Alex Bolden (who is in the closing scene):

• 277. Can A Person With Down Syndrome Vote? (w/Alex Bolden & Genevieve Thompson)

Our episode with Matthew & Lucia:

• 244. Love, Advocacy, & A Viral Proposal (w/Matthew Schwab & Lucia Romano)

Our episode with Craig & Heather: 

• 231. Love, Marriage, & Eqaulity w/ Craig & Heather (w/Moms Lisa & Pat)

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

Join us in celebrating and supporting The Lucky Few Podcast! For just $0.99, $4.99, or $9.99 a month, you can help us continue shouting worth and shifting narratives for people with Down syndrome. Your support makes a difference in our ability to create meaningful content, enable us to cover production costs, and explore additional opportunities to expand our resources. Become an essential part of The Lucky Few movement today! 

DISCOUNT CODE

Friends, grab your narrative shifting gear over on The Lucky Few Merch Shop and use code PODCAST for 10% off!

HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE

Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email [email protected] for more information!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Thank you, Enable SNP for sponsoring this episode!

• 47. Planning for the Future w/Phillip Clark from Enable SNP

• 191. Future Planning for the WHOLE Family - ft. Phillip Clark, Enable SNP

Thank you, ABLEnow for sponsoring this episode!

• 115. How The ABLE Act Supports Your Child's Future (ft. Catherine Beck)

LET’S CHAT

Email [email protected] with your questions and Good News for future episodes.

Nutrition is key to a child's development, but for some children with Down syndrome, feeding challenges make it difficult to get the nutrition they need. That’s where tube feeding comes in. Today, we’re chatting with Dr. Lauren Fiechtner, Director of Nutrition at Mass General for Children, to talk about the different types of feeding tubes, why they are sometimes necessary, and the unique feeding challenges that children with Down syndrome may face. We’re chatting about when tube feeding is typically used, the emotional and physical challenges parents may experience, and how feeding therapies and supportive resources can make a difference. We hope Dr. Fiechtner’s compassionate advice helps families feel empowered and reassured as they navigate tube feeding and nutrition.

- - - - -

SHOW NOTES

• Learn more about Feeding Matters

• Learn more about The Oley Foundation

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

Join us in celebrating and supporting The Lucky Few Podcast! For just $0.99, $4.99, or $9.99 a month, you can help us continue shouting worth and shifting narratives for people with Down syndrome. Your support makes a difference in our ability to create meaningful content, enable us to cover production costs, and explore additional opportunities to expand our resources. Become an essential part of The Lucky Few movement today! 

DISCOUNT CODE

Friends, grab your narrative shifting gear over on The Lucky Few Merch Shop and use code PODCAST for 10% off!

HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE

Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email [email protected] for more information!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Thank you, National Down Syndrome Society for sponsoring this episode!

• Check out episode 174 on The Down Syndrome Learning Profile

• Check out episode 181 with NDSS team member Dana Sciullo and her brother Anthony!

• Check out episode 262 with NDSS President Kandi Pickard celebrating their 45 years of advocacy!

Thank you, Enable SNP for sponsoring this episode!

• 47. Planning for the Future w/Phillip Clark from Enable SNP

• 191. Future Planning for the WHOLE Family - ft. Phillip Clark, Enable SNP

LET’S CHAT

Email [email protected] with your questions and Good News for future episodes.

Happy first week of November AND National Adoption Month! Today we’re thrilled to welcome Brady Murray, the passionate founder of RODS Heroes. Brady’s nonprofit has helped hundreds of children with Down syndrome find loving homes around the world. As a father of eleven—including two children with Down syndrome—Brady shares his personal journey with adoption, from being adopted himself to adopting seven of his children from around the globe. Hear the inspiring story behind how a triathlon became the seed for RODS Heroes, the miracles he’s witnessed along the way, and why he believes that when we invest in causes greater than ourselves, we experience incredible transformation. This is an episode you don’t want to miss!

- - -

SHOW NOTES

• Learn more about RODS Heroes
• Follow RODS Heroes on Instagram and Facebook
• Follow Brad Murray on Instagram
• Follow Cooper Murray on Instagram
• NBC Nightly News story of Cooper Murray throwing out MLB first pitches

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

Join us in celebrating and supporting The Lucky Few Podcast! For just $0.99, $4.99, or $9.99 a month, you can help us continue shouting worth and shifting narratives for people with Down syndrome. Your support makes a difference in our ability to create meaningful content, enable us to cover production costs, and explore additional opportunities to expand our resources. Become an essential part of The Lucky Few movement today! 

DISCOUNT CODE

Friends, grab your narrative shifting gear over on The Lucky Few Merch Shop and use code PODCAST for 10% off!

HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE

Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email [email protected] for more information!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Thank you, National Down Syndrome Society for sponsoring this episode!

• 174. Learning About the Down Syndrome Learning Profile! (ft. Jessica Kuss from the National DS Society)
• 181. How has your sibling changed your life? (ft. Dana & Anthony Sciullo from the NDSS team)
• 262. 45 Years of Advocacy: A Conversation w/ NDSS President Kandi Pickard

Thank you, ABLEnow for sponsoring this episode!

• 115. How The ABLE Act Supports Your Child's Future (ft. Catherine Beck)

LET’S CHAT

Email [email protected] with your questions and Good News for future episodes.