Brave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving Parents

Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's story episode, #254. 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 guest that goes deeper into their experience.
In this episode of the Brave Together podcast, Wendy Ernzen shares her journey raising her daughter Nicola, who lives with autism and bipolar disorder. Wendy reflects on the challenges of navigating complex diagnoses, advocating for the right educational and support systems, and facing moments of crisis that required courage, compassion, and difficult decisions.
Through her story, Wendy explores the emotional realities of caregiving, the importance of finding community support, and the critical role of self-care for parents navigating long-term caregiving journeys. She speaks openly about the moments that pushed her family to seek new forms of help and how those experiences ultimately created new pathways toward stability and growth.
In the conversation that follows, hosts Jessica Patay and Susanna Peace Lovell discuss with Wendy the importance of compassion when interpreting our children’s behaviors, the need for stronger support systems for families, and how caregivers can find meaning, connection, and small moments of joy even in the most challenging seasons.
Wendy’s story is a powerful reminder that caregivers cannot do this work alone—and that community, honesty, and support are essential to sustaining the journey.
Find more about Wendy Ernzen here. 
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enough here.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find FULL episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here.
Donate in May to support retreats & scholarships: https://www.wearebravetogether.org/mothers-day
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. 
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here. 
Donate to support all of We Are Brave Together's programs and offerings here. 
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube. 
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: [email protected] 
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
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Hello 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, #253, we’re responding to the question many parents quietly carry:
“Hi Brave Together Podcast--What do you do when your partner is in denial about your child's needs?”
In this conversation, Jessica Patay, Susanna Peace Lovell, and Dr. Zoe Shaw explore the emotional complexity that can arise when parents process a child’s diagnosis differently.
The hosts discuss how denial is often rooted in grief, fear, overwhelm, shame, or uncertainty—not a lack of love. They talk about how one parent may be ready to seek services, ask questions, and move into action, while the other may still be struggling to accept what is happening. These different coping styles can create tension, loneliness, resentment, and conflict within a relationship.
Jessica, Susanna, and Zoe share personal insight and practical strategies for navigating this difficult dynamic with compassion and resilience. They discuss the importance of communication, empathy, timing, and curiosity over judgment. They also emphasize that support groups, therapy, family counseling, and community connection can be life-changing resources for couples feeling stuck.
The conversation also touches on cultural stigma around diagnoses, fears about labels, sibling dynamics, and the importance of advocating for a child’s needs even when parents are not on the same page. The hosts remind listeners that it is okay to have needs, ask for help, and seek support for yourself while your partner works through their own process.
This episode is a powerful reminder that parents do not have to process things at the same pace to still move forward together.
Keep the questions coming—we’re here to support you. Whether you’re parenting a child with complex medical, developmental, or mental health needs, or supporting someone who is, we would love to hear from you. We see you and we love you.
Find more information about Licensed Psychotherapist, Dr. Zoe Shaw here. 
Find Dr. Zoe’s book, Stronger in the Difficult Places: Heal Your Relationship with Yourself by Untangling Complex Shame
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. 
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here. 
Donate to support all of We Are Brave Together's programs and offerings here. 
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube. 
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: [email protected] 
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer

Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's expert episode, #252, with Dr. Melisa Moore, a sleep psychologist who specializes in supporting neurodivergent children and teens.
These expert episodes bring conversations with professionals whose work supports caregiving parents and families navigating complex needs.
In this episode, hosts Jessica Patay and Susanna Peace Lovell talk with Dr. Moore about the unique sleep challenges many neurodivergent children experience. Dr. Moore explains that neurodiverse brains can process sleep differently, and many sleep struggles are rooted in biology, development, and environmental factors—not parenting mistakes.
Dr. Moore shares practical, science-backed strategies to help families improve sleep routines while also encouraging parents to balance ideal recommendations with the realities of daily life. The conversation explores how to recognize when sleep issues may require professional support, how to create sleep environments that support regulation, and how mindset shifts can reduce anxiety around sleep for both parents and children.
Jessica and Susanna also discuss the important role sleep plays in emotional regulation, mental health, and overall well-being for neurodivergent youth. Dr. Moore offers compassionate encouragement for caregivers navigating sleep struggles and reminds parents that progress often comes from small, sustainable changes rather than perfect routines.
This episode is filled with practical insights and reassurance for families seeking better rest and healthier sleep habits for their children.
Find more about Dr. Melisa Moore here. 
Find Dr. Melisa Moore’s book, The Good Sleep Guide for Neurodivergent Kids here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enough here.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together her
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. 
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here. 
Donate to support all of We Are Brave Together's programs and offerings here. 
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube. 
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: [email protected] 
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer

Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today’s expert episode, #251, featuring Jennifer Iannuzzi, who joins us for a candid and compassionate conversation about supporting children with behavioral struggles, particularly aggression.
These expert episodes are conversations with professionals whose work directly supports caregiving parents. In this episode, hosts Jessica Patay and Susanna Peace Lovell explore the emotional toll that aggressive and dysregulated behaviors can take on caregivers and families.
Jennifer speaks openly about the isolation and stigma many parents experience when their child’s behaviors include self-injury or outward aggression. Together, they discuss how guilt and shame often compound the stress caregivers already carry—and why open conversations are essential in reducing stigma and normalizing these very real struggles.
The conversation also highlights the importance of building intentional support systems, creating safety plans for caregivers, and recognizing parents as valuable partners in their child’s care. They address the difficult and often misunderstood decisions around residential programs, reframing them not as failures but as thoughtful, loving choices made in pursuit of safety and independence for the child.
This episode validates the weight many caregivers carry while offering connection, perspective, and hope. You are not alone in navigating these challenges—and your efforts matter.
Find more information about Jennifer Iannuzzi here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enough here.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find FULL episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here.
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. 
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here. 
Donate to support all of We Are Brave Together's programs and offerings here. 
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube. 
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: [email protected] 
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Disclaimer

Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today’s expert episode, #250, featuring Dr. Jenn Rapkin, who joins us for a powerful and clarifying conversation about Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
These expert episodes are conversations with professionals whose work directly supports caregiving parents. In this episode, hosts Jessica Patay and Susanna Peace Lovell sit down with Dr. Rapkin to unpack the many misconceptions surrounding OCD and to offer deeper understanding for families navigating intrusive thoughts, anxiety, and compulsive behaviors.
Dr. Rapkin shares her perspective not only as a clinician, but also as someone who has personally experienced OCD and as a parent of a child with the condition. Together, they explore how OCD is often misunderstood and trivialized as simply being “neat” or “organized,” when in reality it can significantly disrupt daily life through intrusive thoughts and compulsions—including mental compulsions that may go unnoticed by others.
The conversation covers how OCD presents in children, the impact of trauma, and why early recognition and proper diagnosis are so important. Dr. Rapkin explains why Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is considered the gold standard treatment and what it truly means to sit with discomfort rather than allowing OCD to dictate behavior. She also emphasizes that managing OCD is often a lifelong journey—one that requires compassion, support, and informed care.
This episode replaces stigma with understanding and offers practical, hopeful insight for families seeking clarity around OCD.
Find more information about Dr. Jenn Rapkin here.
Find Jenn’s book, The Feeling Muscle here.
Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.
Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enough here.
Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.
Find FULL ep
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. 
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here. 
Donate to support all of We Are Brave Together's programs and offerings here. 
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube. 
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: [email protected] 
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
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