Podcast · Kids & Family

Autism Life Today

by Autism Life Today Podcast · English · Kids & Family

Autism Life Today is a podcast dedicated to real conversations, honest stories, and practical support for individuals and families navigating life on the autism spectrum. Through interviews with parents, professionals, advocates, and community leaders, we explore the challenges, victories, and every

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 1 hr
Latest: 5 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

5 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 29 min

“I Thought I Couldn’t Be His Mom” — Ashley’s Powerful Autism Journey | Autism Life Today

In this powerful episode of Autism Life Today, Ryker sits down with Ashley and her son Messiah for an incredibly honest conversation about autism, motherhood, mental health, faith, and finding purpose in the hardest seasons of life.Ashley shares the deeply personal story of raising Messiah—from his difficult early years and autism diagnosis to the struggles, fear, isolation, and uncertainty she experienced as a mother. She opens up about moments she never imagined sharing publicly, including the shame and stigma she once felt, the challenges of severe behaviors and meltdowns, and the mental…

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Earlier episodes 16 most recent

S1 · E16 · 28 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 5 min
He Didn’t Communicate Until He Was 30: Betsy Hicks on Communication, Autism & Presuming Competence
What if someone who couldn’t reliably speak was actually understanding far more than the world realized?On this episode of Autism Life Today, Ryker Martin sits down with longtime autism advocate and mother Betsy Hicks for an incredibly powerful conversation about her 30+ year journey with her son, Joe.Betsy shares the highs, lows, challenges and breakthroughs that shaped her family — including the moment Joe began communicating through spelling at around 30 years old and started revealing just how much he understood all along.Together, Ryker and Betsy explore:• What it means to presume…
S1 · E15 · 22 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 4 min
From Special Education Teacher to Autism Advocate: Zack Ponder’s Story
What if the hardest things happening in your life aren’t happening TO you—but FOR you?On this episode of Autism Life Today, Ryker sits down with Zack Ponder, a former special education teacher, author, podcaster, husband, father, and passionate advocate for special needs families.Zack spent years teaching students with profound autism and discovered firsthand the realities that special education teachers and families face every day—from IEP meetings and classroom challenges to helping students experience life beyond the classroom.But Zack’s journey took an unexpected turn when his wife was…
S1 · E14 · 15 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 14 min
The Power of Small Wins With An Autistic Child
What if we stopped focusing only on what isn’t going right—and started celebrating every little win?In this powerful episode of Autism Life Today, Ryker sits down with Setarae, a passionate speech therapist whose personal connection to autism began with her own brother.Setarae shares how watching her mother advocate for her brother shaped the way she approaches speech therapy today—and why she believes families and professionals need to celebrate progress, even when the victories seem small.From communication and feeding therapy to friendships, IEP meetings, and the emotional challenges…
S1 · E13 · 14 Sep 2026 · 59 min
What If There’s More to Autism Than We’ve Been Told?
What happens when your child’s autism journey completely changes the way you see healthcare?In this episode of Autism Life Today, we sit down with Greer McInnis of Biomedical Healing for Kids to hear the deeply personal story that led her from working as a registered dietitian to exploring nutrition, gut health, research, and biomedical approaches for children with autism.After her son experienced significant changes in development as a toddler, Greer began asking questions that challenged what she thought she knew about autism and healthcare. Her journey eventually led her back to graduate…
S1 · E12 · 3 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
When Childhood Ends: The Special Needs Journey Into Adulthood
What happens when a child with special needs becomes an adult?For many families, turning 18 or 21 doesn’t mean the journey gets easier—it means entering an entirely new world of services, guardianship, SSI, employment, day programs, financial planning, and lifelong caregiving. And for many parents, it can feel like they’re starting all over again.On this episode of Autism Life Today, we sit down with Jeff Tebolt, an advocate, father, and founder of Parenting Special Kids Network, a nonprofit created to help families navigate the complicated journey of raising a child with a disability.Jeff…
S1 · E11 · 24 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 4 min
Fitness, Autism & Emotional Regulation: A Different Approach to Therapy
What happens when you combine special-needs education, fitness, movement, and a passion for helping kids reach their potential?In this episode of Autism Life Today, Ryker sits down with Dallas and Mackenzie from Kenzie’s Kids, a unique mobile fitness program designed to help children and families with special needs through movement, exercise, confidence-building, and individualized support.Dallas and Mackenzie were both educators before starting Kenzie’s Kids. While working in specialized classrooms, they began seeing firsthand how powerful movement could be for helping children with…
S1 · E10 · 18 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 32 min
From Nonverbal to Finding Her Childs Voice: Lyndsy Moffatt’s Autism Journey
What happens when a mother is told she has to wait nearly a year to get answers for her son?In this powerful episode of Autism Life Today, we sit down with Lyndsy Moffatt, whose own journey with her son Dominic completely changed the way she looked at autism, nutrition, gut health, environmental factors, and the search for answers.Lyndsy shares the story of Dominic’s early years, the challenges her family faced, and why she refused to simply sit back and wait for answers. She takes us through her experiences exploring nutrition, the GAPS diet, food sensitivities, environmental toxins,…
S1 · E9 · 10 Aug 2026 · 54 min
They Said He Might Not Survive… Here’s What Happened Next
When Tiffany Snow welcomed her first son into the world, she never imagined their lives were about to change forever.After a difficult birth, unexpected medical complications, and countless doctor visits, Tiffany and her husband learned their son Mason had Lowe syndrome, an incredibly rare genetic disorder that would require a lifetime of advocacy, faith, and perseverance.In this heartfelt episode of Autism Life Today, Tiffany shares: Her family’s journey through a life-changing diagnosis The emotional realities of raising a child with complex medical needs The challenges—and victories—of…
S1 · E8 · 10 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 2 min
The Autism Journey No One Talks About | Dr. April Lam on Healing & Functional Medicine
What if autism care looked beyond symptoms and focused on the whole child?In this episode of Autism Life Today, Dr. April Lam shares her experience as both an autism mom and functional medicine practitioner helping families navigate the challenges of autism spectrum disorder. From early diagnosis and therapies to inflammation, gut health, folinic acid, CBD, and PANDAS/PANS, this episode dives into the growing world of integrative autism care.More importantly, this conversation reminds parents they are not alone.If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, unheard, or unsure where to turn next — this…
S1 · E7 · 27 Jul 2026 · 56 min
How One Mom Fought for Her Son’s Future After an Autism Diagnosis
In this powerful episode of Autism Life Today, we sit down with Nicole — autism advocate, podcast host of Pieces For My Puzzle, and proud mom to her son Dracen.Nicole opens up about the emotional moment her son first called her “Mom” after being told he may never speak, the battles she faced navigating the school system and IEP process, and the lessons she’s learned raising a child on the autism spectrum.Together, we dive into: Autism diagnosis and early intervention Advocacy in schools and IEP meetings Dyslexia, dysgraphia, and educational challenges Autism parenting burnout and mental…
S1 · E6 · 21 Jul 2026 · 1 hr
From Rejection to Redemption: The Special Needs Ministry Changing Lives
In this powerful episode of Autism Life Today, we sit down with Laura Muller and Sarah Dowglish from Christ Church of the Valley to talk about something deeply important—special needs, faith, and true inclusion.What started as one question—“Where are these kids in the church?”—turned into a life-changing mission that has impacted thousands of families.From building a special needs ministry from scratch…To creating adaptive sports programs…To launching life-changing work in Kenya…This conversation is filled with real stories, raw emotion, and a powerful reminder that every child…
S1 · E5 · 13 Jul 2026 · 53 min
The Truth About ABA Therapy (What Parents NEED To Know)
In this episode of Autism Life Today, we sit down with Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) Brooke Oltsik to break down the realities of ABA therapy—what it is, how it’s evolved, and how it’s helping families every day.Brooke shares her unique journey from special education teacher to BCBA, giving insight into both the school system and clinical care. We dive into the biggest misconceptions about ABA, the shift toward play-based and naturalistic learning, and why today’s ABA looks very different from the past.Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, or someone exploring a career in the field,…
S1 · E4 · 7 Jul 2026 · 39 min
The Truth About Occupational Therapy for Autism | Full Breakdown with an OT Expert
In this episode of Autism Life Today, we sit down with master-level occupational therapist Courtney Bunch to break down what occupational therapy really is—and why it plays such a critical role in supporting children with autism and other special needs.From understanding the root causes behind developmental challenges to taking a truly holistic approach, Courtney shares how occupational therapy goes far beyond surface-level goals. We dive into how OT supports everything from sensory regulation and motor skills to communication and daily life independence.You’ll also learn: • The difference…
S1 · E3 · 7 Jul 2026 · 37 min
From Survival to Purpose; One Mom's Mission to Change Autism Care
In this powerful episode of Autism Life Today, we sit down with Cricket Barrientos, founder of Sounds of Autism, to explore the evolving reality of autism care—from early childhood through adulthood and beyond. Drawing from her personal journey as a mother of a 23-year-old son on the spectrum, Cricket shares the often-overlooked challenges facing individuals with “middle-functioning” autism—one of the most underserved populations today. The conversation dives into critical topics including the lack of post-graduation support, the connection between undiagnosed autism and vulnerable…
S1 · E2 · 7 Jul 2026 · 53 min
The Hard Truth About Raising a Severely Autistic Child
In the very first episode of Autism Life Today, Ryker sits down with his wife, Tori, to share the deeply personal story of their family’s autism journey.From the first signs of regression at 18 months, to sleepless nights, aggressive behaviors, school battles, caregiver challenges, and moments of complete exhaustion, this episode gives an honest look at what life can be like for families raising a child with severe autism.Together, Ryker and Tori open up about the realities many parents face but few talk about—the emotional toll on marriage, the impact on siblings, the fight for proper care,…
S1 · E1 · 14 May 2026 · 1 hr
Autism Treatment Options Explained | The Neuropathic Approach
Contact Dr. Mitchell at: [email protected] In this powerful episode of Autism Life Today, we sit down with Dr. Ken Mitchell—a naturopathic doctor with decades of experience—to explore a side of autism that many families have never been told about. Dr. Mitchell shares his deeply personal journey as a father. After his son experienced a sudden regression, he refused to accept a “wait and see” approach—and instead went on a mission to uncover the root causes behind his child’s condition. What followed was a path into biochemistry, detoxification, co-infections, and a completely…

About Autism Life Today

Autism Life Today is a English kids & family podcast from Autism Life Today Podcast. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Autism Life Today Podcast
Language: English
Category: Kids & Family
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 1 hr
Latest episode: 5 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1896664533
Rights: Autism Life Today Podcast

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