Conquering Your Clownfish

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 mess...

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...

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 t...

What if everything the world told you about disability was wrong?

In this powerful episode, Mitch Holeve shares the raw and transformative journey of raising his son Garrett, a trailblazer with Down syndrome who defied every limit—including stepping into the cage as a mixed martial artist. Mitch unpacks the emotional highs and societal hurdles of parenting a child with disabilities, exposing outdated perceptions and advocating for ...

What if the very thing you feared most became the source of your deepest joy?

In this raw and unfiltered episode, Amanda Ellard—mother, author, and fierce advocate—opens up about the life-altering journey of raising a child with Down syndrome. She doesn’t sugarcoat it. The grief is real. The trauma is real. But so is the joy—piercing, profound, and often found in the most unexpected places.

Amanda speaks to the quiet battles adoptive...

In this raw and riveting episode of Conquering Your Clown Fish, host Brady Murray sits down with Tim Ashcraft—Army aviator, father of four, and reluctant member of a club no parent asks to join: the parents of a child with a life-changing diagnosis. When Tim and his wife Ashley learned their youngest, Finley, would be born with Down syndrome, their world shifted in an instant. What followed wasn’t a tragedy—it was a transformation.

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What if the stories the world needs most are the ones we rarely see on screen?

In this powerful episode, we sit down with David and Jackson Hughens—a father-son filmmaking team on a mission to challenge the status quo of storytelling. Their journey began not on a film set, but in the heart of a community too often overlooked: individuals with Down syndrome. What started as a personal connection evolved into a calling—to create films...

What if the world saw people with disabilities for who they really are—not as limitations to be pitied, but as leaders, change-makers, and warriors of hope?

In this powerful episode of See the Miracle, Brady Murray sits down with Katie Haynes, founder and CEO of Smiling While Sending Hope. Born from Katie’s own journey with chronic illness, this nonprofit is shaking up how we support and uplift individuals with disabilities. Katie o...

In this powerful episode, Wendy Hooton opens up about the raw and real journey of raising her son Matt, who has Down syndrome. As a single mother, she faced overwhelming fears—not just about her son’s future, but about whether she could give him the life he deserved. From battling societal misconceptions to navigating the complexities of dating as a special needs parent, Wendy shares the deeply personal moments that shaped her into...

What if everything the world assumes about disability is wrong? In this powerful episode, Pete Larkin invites us into the sacred, often overlooked bond between siblings—one shaped by unconditional love, grit, and a radical rethinking of what it means to live a meaningful life. Pete shares his journey growing up alongside his brother Brigham, who has Down syndrome, and how caregiving, once seen as a burden, became his greatest teach...

What happens when life throws you a plot twist that shifts your entire worldview? In this powerful episode, Devon Dowdell — a proud father, passionate ufologist, and deep thinker — shares the raw, beautiful, and deeply human journey of raising his son Jack, who was born with Down syndrome.

Devon opens up about receiving Jack’s diagnosis over the phone while away for work — a moment that shattered expectations but sparked an awakenin...

What if the hardest thing you've ever faced as a parent turned out to be the most transformative?

In this powerful episode, Angela O’Brien—mother, Enneagram coach, and unapologetic truth-teller—opens up about raising a daughter with Down syndrome and how the experience shattered her expectations… and rebuilt her in the best way possible. Angela doesn’t sugarcoat the challenges of parenting a child with disabilities. From grief a...

What If Being a “Strong Dad” Is Actually Hurting Your Family?

In this raw and revealing episode of Conquering the Clown Fish, host Brady Murray sits down with Graham Andrews—a father of three and proud dad to Andy, his daughter with Down syndrome—for a conversation that challenges everything we think we know about fatherhood. Graham opens up about the gut-wrenching moment he received Andy’s diagnosis and the emotional rollercoaster ...

What if the most heartbreaking diagnosis became your life’s greatest teacher?

In this powerful episode of Conquering Your Clown Fish, host Brady Murray sits down with Jillian Arnold—a mother, caregiver, and unapologetic warrior for the rare disease community. When her son Roman was diagnosed with ASMD, a rare and devastating genetic disorder, Jillian was already pregnant with her second child, Stella—who would later be diagnosed wit...

In this powerful and eye-opening conversation, Silvia Almond lays bare the raw, unfiltered reality of parenting a child with Down syndrome. She doesn’t sugarcoat the initial shock, the overwhelming panic, or the crippling anxiety that followed Jordan’s diagnosis. Instead, she boldly confronts the uncomfortable truths society often avoids: the fear of the unknown and the heavy responsibility of raising a child who defies expectation...

Breaking Barriers and Redefining Strength with Camille Robinson

On this unfiltered episode of Conquering Your Clownfish, we dive into the raw and powerful journey of Camille Robinson—a mother, podcast host, and relentless community force. Camille's story isn’t just about raising her son, Mason, who lives with congenital heart disease and autism—it’s about shattering expectations, defying the odds, and proving that adversity does...

Breaking Barriers: The Unstoppable Journey of Caleb Prewitt

In this electrifying episode, Brady Murray sits down with Karen Prewitt, the fierce and determined momager behind Caleb Prewitt, a trailblazing athlete and entrepreneur who just happens to have Down syndrome. Karen shares the raw, unfiltered truth about raising a child society often underestimates—challenging outdated mindsets and proving that limitations exist only where w...

Breaking Barriers in Faith, Disability, and Inclusion

In this powerful episode of Conquering Your Clownfish, host Brady Murray sits down with Monica Mangiacapra—an author, advocate, and mother who is reshaping the conversation around disability and faith. Inspired by her son Isaac, who has Down syndrome, Monica wrote Different by Design, a children’s book that challenges outdated narratives and educates young minds about disabilitie...

The Uncomfortable Truth About Purpose and Perseverance

In this powerful episode, Brady Murray sits down with Cathy Daub—a mother of eight, fierce advocate, and co-founder of Team Iron Will—to challenge society’s perception of value and purpose. Cathy shares the raw, unfiltered story of her son Will’s birth, a journey marked by both medical challenges and undeniable miracles. She refuses to see Down syndrome as a limitation, instead ...