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 expectations.
Silvia’s story is not just one of personal transformation but a call to challenge outdated narratives around disability and family. She reveals how Jordan shattered their preconceived notions, not by conforming to societal standards, but by thriving unapologetically in his own way. His infectious spirit and undeniable charisma have not only reshaped family dynamics but have also forced them to reconsider what success and happiness truly look like.
Silvia’s journey shows that the real struggle is not in raising a child with Down syndrome, but in breaking free from society’s pity-driven perspectives and embracing the pure, transformative love that only a child like Jordan can bring. Her story proves that children with Down syndrome are not just surviving—they are thriving, leading lives filled with friends, joy, and potential that the world too often underestimates.
This episode challenges listeners to rethink how they view children with disabilities, daring them to go beyond surface-level acceptance to a deeper understanding and admiration for their strengths and individuality. Silvia’s story is a battle cry for radical love, fierce advocacy, and the courage to reject limiting beliefs.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Cardiac Cowboys
The heart was always off-limits to surgeons. Cutting into it spelled instant death for the patient. That is, until a ragtag group of doctors scattered across the Midwest and Texas decided to throw out the rule book. Working in makeshift laboratories and home garages, using medical devices made from scavenged machine parts and beer tubes, these men and women invented the field of open heart surgery. Odds are, someone you know is alive because of them. So why has history left them behind? Presented by Chris Pine, CARDIAC COWBOYS tells the gripping true story behind the birth of heart surgery, and the young, Greatest Generation doctors who made it happen. For years, they competed and feuded, racing to be the first, the best, and the most prolific. Some appeared on the cover of Time Magazine, operated on kings and advised presidents. Others ended up disgraced, penniless, and convicted of felonies. Together, they ignited a revolution in medicine, and changed the world.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.