Conquering Your Clownfish

Discover the inspiring journey of Amanda Owen, a lifelong disability advocate whose experiences as a special needs sibling shaped her mission to transform lives. From growing up with a brother with a rare chromosomal disorder to founding a groundbreaking nonprofit, Amanda shares intimate insights into the joys and challenges of disability advocacy. Learn how her childhood experiences and parents' tireless efforts fueled her pas...

In this episode of Conquering Your Clownfish, I sat down with Marci Dunning, a medical mom, and parent to her daughter Freya, who has the rare Cornelia de Lange Syndrome. Marci shares the impact this has had on her family, and the challenges of raising a child with a life-altering condition. She discusses the weight of anticipatory grief, the struggle to plan for an uncertain future, and the power of living in the present. Offering...

In this week’s episode, I was joined by Anna Owen, a Montessori mom and an advocate for a more natural way of life. Ana shares her family's experiences after her daughter Josephine was born with a rare musculoskeletal disorder called Antley Bixler syndrome, greatly affecting her physical development. Anna and her family have felt so much joy with Josephine in their lives, and through their faith, patience, and willingness...

In this powerful episode of Conquering Your Clownfish, Amanda Griffith Atkins opens up about her journey as the mother of Asher, who was born with the rare condition Prader-Willi syndrome. Amanda shares the challenges of living in a world that often feels inaccessible, adapting to new perspectives, and the hard parts of raising a child as a part of the rare disease community. Amanda is on a mission to give parents permission to ack...

In this episode, Brady shares the incredible journey of his adopted son Cooper. From being abandoned on a street corner in China to throwing out the first pitch at iconic Major League Baseball stadiums across North America, Cooper's story is all about conquering limitations. For Brady, it’s about finding the courage to let his son spread his wings in the face of the unknown, pushing past his own worries to let his son tru...

In this powerful episode, Ashley Ashcraft shares her incredible journey as a military spouse, author, and mother to a daughter with Down syndrome. Discover how Ashley's experience with her husband's deployments to Afghanistan helped her embrace her daughter Finley's unexpected diagnosis. Be inspired by Ashley's unwavering faith, her commitment to building a supportive community, and her mission to change the narrati...

In this week’s episode of Conquering Your Clownfish, host Brady Murray sits down with special guest Amber Andrews, a wife, mom of three, stylist, salon owner, educator, and unstoppable Down syndrome advocate. Amber openly shares the raw emotions and challenges she faced when her daughter Andy was prenatally diagnosed with Down syndrome and discusses her journey after Andy’s birth which included two open-heart surgeries,...

In this week’s episode, we have the opportunity to interview special guest Stephanie Hanrahan, a writer, TEDx speaker, activist, and autism mom who courageously made her private journal chronicling her journey as an autism mom public. Stephanie shares her transformative story of embracing vulnerability, overcoming perfectionism, and finding radical acceptance of those blessed with special abilities. Discover the life-changing...

In this week’s episode, Kimberly Dowdell, a dedicated mother of four and popular social media influencer. Kimberly openly shares the joyous moments and inspiring journey of raising her son Jack, who has Down syndrome. Through her Instagram page, Kimberly spreads "good news" and gives hope to families navigating the ups and downs of having a child with special abilities. In this episode, she discusses the incredible ...

In this week’s episode of Conquering Your Clownfish, Crystal Paine, New York Times bestselling author and founder of MoneySavingMom.com, shares the transformative story of welcoming her son David, who has Down syndrome, into her family through fostering and adoption. She opens up about the challenges, joys, and lessons learned on their journey and how David has taught her and her family to embrace life, celebrate uniqueness, ...

In this episode of Conquering Your Clownfish, Brady interviews Andrew Lund, a disability advocate, and father to a daughter born with a rare craniofacial condition called Pfeiffer Syndrome. Andrew shares the emotional journey of his daughter Hadley's early medical issues, his hope that she lives comfortably, and his bittersweet realization that he will likely outlive his beloved child. This amazing conversation will open your e...

In this empowering episode, Brady Murray welcomes Rebekah Lyons, mom, author, and disability advocate. Rebekah shares her family's story of raising a son with Down syndrome and later adopting her daughter Joy, who also has Down syndrome, detailing the challenges and joys. She offers inspiration for embracing life's difficulties, emphasizing that we're all wired to overcome. Rebekah discusses creating family resilien...

In this episode of Conquering Your Clownfish, Brady interviews Kaley Stymeist, a registered behavior technician and passionate autism advocate. As a mother to three boys, including her youngest son, Hudson, who has non-speaking autism, Kaley shares her family's incredible journey of challenges, triumphs, and personal growth. She opens up about Hudson's miraculous birth story, his regression at age three, and how their famil...

Sometimes, when life knocks you off your feet, and you're left overwhelmed, all you need is the power of a supportive community. With their help, you can get back on your feet and move forward with conviction. In this week’s episode of Conquering Your Clownfish, content creator, author, and Down syndrome advocate Misty Coy Snyder opens up with raw honesty about receiving her son Jed’s Down syndrome diagnosis amidst ...

Brady felt blessed when his son Ridge was born healthy. However, concerning symptoms eventually emerged, leading to a diagnosis of 22q Deletion Syndrome. Desperate for normalcy, Brady took their doctor’s advice and raised Ridge no differently than any other kid. Outwardly Ridge seemed fine, but inwardly he struggled greatly in many aspects. In this episode, Brady regrets missed early intervention opportunities that could have...

We all face challenges in life, some more profound than others. However, one's physical abilities do not determine their capacity to uplift and inspire others. This week on Conquering Your Clownfish, host Brady Murray interviews his childhood friend Tate Castleton. Growing up with paralysis on his left side, however, with the unwavering support of family and friends, Tate went on to achieve great success in academics, career, a...

There are many misunderstandings about those with disabilities. Because they often rely on support for many basic needs, it can be easy to overlook their profound gifts. This week on Conquering Your Clownfish, host Brady Murray shares inspiring stories about key figures from his life who, despite facing challenges, profoundly impacted him for the better. Join Brady as he shares his realization that while those with dis...

We often assume a  disability diagnosis leads to only limitations for our child. The news leaves us fearing the worst about their future prospects and abilities. But what if their condition actually hides remarkable gifts within? This week on Conquering Your Clownfish, host Brady Murray explains how his perception shifted from grieving his son Nash’s diagnosis of Down syndrome to unveiling his hidden talents and potentia...