Pieces For My Puzzle
Welcome to the Pieces For My Puzzle Podcast, where I, Nikki Shipp, invite you to join me on a journey through the intricacies of life as a wife to a dedicated police officer and a mother to an incredible autistic son. As a parent navigating the unique challenges and joys of raising a child on the spectrum, I understand firsthand the complexities and uncertainties that come with it. Through this podcast, I share my personal experiences, insights, and lessons learned along the way. Pieces For My Puzzle is more than just a podcast; it's a beacon of hope and inspiration for parents and loved ones of special needs children. Whether seeking practical tips, a fresh perspective, or simply a reminder that you're not alone in this journey, this podcast is for you. Join me as we unravel the pieces of our puzzle together, finding strength, resilience, and, most importantly, a sense of community. Tune in for heartfelt discussions, uplifting stories, and the reassurance that there's always room for growth and joy amidst the challenges. Subscribe now and join our supportive community, where hope shines brightest, and every piece of the puzzle matters.
Episodes
Raising a child on the autism spectrum comes with incredible
joys—and unique financial challenges. In this episode, we talk with Mike
Ringel, a financial professional who helps families create long-term plans that
prioritize security, stability, and peace of mind.
We cover:
·
The first financial steps parents of autistic
children should take
·
How to plan for t...
In this episode of Pieces For My Puzzle, we sit
down with MaLinda Perry—designer-turned-Gallup-certified Strengths coach and
founder of Happy Girls Don’t Do That. With over 20 years of experience in the
design world and a passion for strengths-based development, MaLinda helps
creatives, families, and leaders aim their natural talents for transformational
results.
We explore her bold career shift from
interior...
In this episode, we sit down with Andre and Constance Lewis,
the husband-and-wife duo behind Miles and the Colorful Capes of Feelings.
Inspired by their son Miles and their journey as parents, they’ve created a
children’s book series that empowers kids to express emotions, build
resilience, and strengthen family bonds through creativity and play.
We talk about:
The personal story behind the Colorfu...
In this powerful episode of Pieces For My Puzzle, we talk with Les Townsend, founder of BT Property Services, about how his son Colton’s autism diagnosis completely reshaped his perspective on parenting, purpose, and legacy. Faced with the reality of raising a child who falls into the “quiet space” between neurotypical and state-supported, Les turned frustration into determination—creating a business designed to provide stability, ...
In this episode of Pieces For My Puzzle, author Janet Elliot joins us to share her powerful memoir, The Alien Savant, and her deeply personal journey as the sibling of an autistic brother. Through her heartfelt storytelling, Janet
offers a unique lens on autism, weaving together humor, history, and hard-won wisdom from growing up alongside her brother Michael in Ontario’s special needs education system of the ’60s–’80s.
This week on Pieces For My Puzzle, host Nikki Shipp welcomes Gabs Hayes, an inspiring business coach and mother of three, including a child with special needs. Gabs shares her powerful story of navigating life’s challenges, from parenting a daughter with severe asthma to making life-changing decisions for her family’s well-being. With grace and resilience, she has turned her experiences into a mission to support other parents who a...
Join us for an inspiring conversation with the founder of Dare To Be Academy, Ashlee Dollar, a passionate mom of an autistic child who turned her personal challenges into a groundbreaking educational mission. This episode dives into her extraordinary journey, from navigating life as a mother of a neurodiverse child to creating a home-based microschool where autistic and neurodiverse learners can thrive.
Learn how Dare To B...
This episode features the inspiring Dr. Roz, a
trailblazer in personal and societal transformation through L.O.V.E. (Letting
Others Voluntarily Evolve). Dr. Roz discusses her groundbreaking work as a
Certified Trainer of Kingian Nonviolence, her mission to foster positive change
through the Love Revolution, and her innovative approach to accessible
education with DebtFreeDegree.
We chat about how love i...
Join us for an enlightening conversation with Kerre Burley,
a parental development specialist with over 50 years of experience helping
families overcome challenges and build harmony at home. Kerre shares her
groundbreaking SleepTalk® process, which has transformed families around
the world by providing simple, effective tools for overcoming dysfunction and
stress. She also discusses the importance of laughter, e...
Step into the world of Jennifer Celeste Briggs, an
extraordinary mother and writer who inspires change and connection through her
powerful memoir, Watching Sarah Rise. This heartfelt conversation dives
into her journey raising her daughter, Sarah, who was diagnosed with autism,
and how the Son-Rise Program transformed their lives.
Topics Discussed:
- What
is the Son-Rise Program? Learn about this unique...
This episode features the inspiring T.L. McCoy, a dedicated author and publishing pioneer on a heartfelt mission to bring disability representation to children’s literature. Inspired by her granddaughter who lives with Dravet Syndrome, T.L. wrote Delilah Versus the Ghastly Grim to give kids with disabilities a hero they can see themselves in. The story follows Delilah, who, after a life-threatening seizure, is thrust into a magical...
Join us for an inspiring episode as we sit down with
Kristina Lucia Pezza, a talented artist, author, and passionate advocate for
creative parenting. Kristina shares her incredible story and mission to help
families form deeper connections through meaningful traditions, creativity, and
compassion. Whether you're seeking fresh ideas for building family bonds or
looking for tools to support your parenting jou...
Join us for an inspiring conversation with Jason, Science
Communications Specialist at Science Systems and Applications, Inc. (SSAI).
Jason shares his passion for STEM education, how his experience with Hyperlexia
has shaped his career, and the impactful work he’s doing to promote diversity,
equity, inclusion, and accessibility in STEM. From his role at SSAI to
practical advice for aspiring STEM communicators, t...
Join us for an inspiring conversation with Craig from
Parenting Harmony, as we discuss his passion for empowering families through
connection, mindfulness, music, and play. Craig shares his personal story and
professional insights tailored to help families, especially those in the autism
community, create more meaningful and joyful parenting experiences.
Episode Highlights:
·
Craig tells...
This episode features an inspiring conversation with Anastasia Arauz, founder of Live Life with Clarity. Anastasia brings over 20 years of experience working with autistic children in public schools and private therapy to her mission of helping families create balance, break generational trauma, and foster healthy systems. Her rich background as a family counselor, Registered Play Therapist, and coach adds depth to her approach and...
Join us for an insightful episode featuring Michelle Choairy, founder of Collective Wisdom 4 Complex Kids. Michelle shares her inspiring personal story as the mother of Drake, her son with a rare genetic disorder known as TBR1, which causes autistic traits. Her experience navigating the challenges of raising a complex child led her to create Collective Wisdom 4 Complex Kids, a platform dedicated to guiding families from confusion t...
In this inspiring and insightful episode of Pieces For My Puzzle, we sit down with Gail Ewell, a pioneer in special needs education and the executive director of Hope Technology School in Palo Alto, California. Gail has dedicated her career to transforming education systems to empower neurodiverse children and foster truly inclusive learning environments.
During our conversation, Gail shares her personal and professional story, disc...
Parenting teenagers isn’t easy, but it doesn’t have to feel impossible. This week, we’re thrilled to welcome Jeanine Mouchawar, a seasoned life coach who specializes in helping parents foster meaningful, conflict-free relationships with their teens. Jeanine combines her personal parenting experience of raising three children—including a neurodivergent child—with her expertise in communication strategies to transform chaos into conn...
Education expert and founder of EBL Coaching, Dr. Emily Levy, joins us to share her incredible insights on helping children with special needs excel academically. With decades of experience, Dr. Levy has developed groundbreaking, research-backed teaching methods, including multi-sensory and individualized instruction, that have transformed the way students learn.
During this episode, you'll learn about:
- What inspired Dr. L...
Music is more than just entertainment—it's a powerful tool for connection, communication, and healing. On today’s episode, we sit down with Samantha Foote, a board-certified music therapist and expert in neurodivergent care, to explore how music therapy can transform the lives of children with autism and other neurodivergent conditions.
With a career built on strengthening family bonds, enhancing social skills, and building em...
Popular Podcasts
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
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.
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.