The Special Needs Mom Podcast Podcast By Kara Ryska cover art

The Special Needs Mom Podcast

The Special Needs Mom Podcast

By: Kara Ryska
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About this listen

 Think of this podcast as your very own special needs mom support group--except it's helpful and fun! You will leave with the hope that you can have a super happy life even when your life includes parenting a medically complex child or a child with something like autism and ADHD.You likely didn't ask to be the parent of a disabled child or to live portions of your life in the hospital NICU or PICU. Your story is unique; it’s hard to find a place where you belong or where you don't feel so isolated and alone. Your child might have a rare disease, be undiagnosed or experience something that almost everybody has heard of like Downs syndrome yet the weird thing is that whether your child has an intellectual disability or physical disability, the experience as a mother is so similar. So regardless of your child’s disability, we can all find a home in this community.You find yourself managing everybody else's needs; your child, their siblings, and all the guilt that you have about that. All this has you feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and dizzy---not knowing who to turn to or what to do next for help. This podcast is your lifeline, you’ll find encouragement and inspiration as we connect to other moms’ journeys. We’ll get practical and look at what it takes to stop feeling so stuck in your life.You know this podcast is for you if you find yourself googling:Overwhelmed special needs mom helpHow to do self care as a special needs mom?Dealing with anger as a special needs momHow to manage special needs mom burnout and stress?How do I deal with mom's guilt?Help for myself as a special needs momHow do I cope with a disabled child?How do I manage the grief of my medically complex child?How to keep from drowning as a caregiverSupport group for special needs mom or community for caregiversI'm tired of taking care of my special needs childFinding balance between my child’s needs and my own mamas needsRespite and rest for special needs moms© 2025 The Special Needs Mom Podcast Hygiene & Healthy Living Parenting & Families Personal Development Personal Success Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Relationships
Episodes
  • Worry and Anxiety: A Rebroadcast of Ep 56

    Worry and Anxiety: A Rebroadcast of Ep 56
    Jul 2 2025

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    This episode is pulled from the archives. It was aired September 23 2021, shortly after finding out my son Levi’s brain tumor had returned. It was a season full of fear and uncertainty—and that’s exactly what I talk about here: worry and anxiety, and how they show up in our lives as special needs moms.

    I share real examples from that time and explore:

    • Why worry can feel like responsibility (but isn’t)
    • How trying to control the uncontrollable drains us
    • What it looks like to trust yourself, even in uncertainty

    You’ll hear mindset shifts and questions to help you interrupt the worry spiral and reconnect with presence, peace, and choice—even when the stakes are high.







    Get The Special Needs Mom Survival Pack HERE

    Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
    Website: https://www.kararyska.com/
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    33 mins
  • A Midsummer Check In

    A Midsummer Check In
    Jun 25 2025

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    Welcome to summer—ready or not! In this episode, I share a super personal mid-summer check-in that started with a frazzled Voxer chat with my friend Nicole and ended with some surprisingly helpful advice from... ChatGPT. (Yep, really.)

    I walk you through a real-life day in the life: four kids, a business to run, complex caregiving, and an unfiltered look at what it’s like to try and do all the things during summer break. Spoiler alert: taquitos were involved.

    I also talk through:

    • Why I brought back my hand-drawn family schedule
    • How I’m redefining what “working hours” look like for me
    • My renewed commitment to managing my nervous system (hello, less social media and more morning walks)

    It’s not about perfection—it’s about peace and presence (and maybe a little humor along the way).


    Resources Mentioned:

    • Episode 210: Empowering Special Needs Moms with AI: How ChatGPT Can Help







    Get The Special Needs Mom Survival Pack HERE

    Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
    Website: https://www.kararyska.com/
    Show more Show less
    27 mins
  • When the Diagnosis Breaks You Open with Erin Trier

    When the Diagnosis Breaks You Open with Erin Trier
    Jun 18 2025

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    This conversation with Erin Trier was equal parts heart, healing, and hard truths. Erin is a mom of four, a health coach, and someone who knows the weight of navigating rare diagnoses and emotional overwhelm. She shares about her son Brendan’s long, winding path to a diagnosis of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex—and what it’s been like to mother through so much uncertainty, grief, and resilience.

    We talked about how it feels when your family life doesn't look the way you dreamed it would, and the importance of making space for all the feelings—especially the ones we don’t usually say out loud.

    Erin brought her insight not only as a mom in the trenches, but also as a wellness coach and someone deeply passionate about supporting women in caring for themselves well—even when time and energy are limited. We also dug into sleep, therapy, the all-or-nothing trap, and how baby steps are actually the big deal.

    You’re going to feel seen, validated, and maybe even challenged to believe that small things count.


    Get To Know Erin:

    • Instagram: @erinktrier
    • YouTube: @erinktrier
    • Facebook: ektrier
    • Website: erintrier.com
    • Podcast: Empowered in Health by Erin Trier


    Resources Mentioned:

    • The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy
    • Episode 76: Having Impermissible Thoughts About Your Special Needs Child








    Get The Special Needs Mom Survival Pack HERE

    Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
    Website: https://www.kararyska.com/
    Show more Show less
    47 mins
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Kara has given me the keys to be a better mom in this complex and often discouraging world of special needs. She shares from the heart and also with deep wisdom!

Kara’s real life experience with continued Mindset towards wisdom and self growth! Best online resource out there!

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I loved listening to your first episode! I loved it so much that I listened twice and took many notes to help remind myself daily that I am MORE than just a mama of 2 special needs children. I would absolutely love to chat more with you one on one. The thing that stuck with me most from your first episode was

”Separate the concept of what you are responsible for...

I am responsible for teaching her, and I won't ever stop!

Just like the warrior mom that I am, I am going to find everything that is helpful for her and I'm going to love her fiercely and teach her..

But, I am not responsible for her learning.

It's letting go of the control. We cannot control them, nor would we really want to, right?

For me, it allows me to show up as fully and authentically as who I am, and to love them without attachments to them having to do something a certain way, or to meet my standard.

It allows me to continue to believe in her. Even though she has still not yet learned certain things, I believe it's possible for her, and so I get to show up relating to her as her highest and best and I also don't have to get mad when she doesn't act like I want her to. I have to realize she just hasn't learned that yet.

Thank you so much!

Gloria Hartle

Phenomenal!!!

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