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
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...
Join us this week as we welcome the inspiring Zorina Pritchett to the show! Creator of ZomadicShift and founder of ZoChey, Zorina is not just a game designer—she’s a storyteller, a passionate advocate for children, and a champion of digital balance. After a 30-year career helping veterans access benefits as an Army Veteran herself, Zorina embarked on a new chapter by creating "Pass-n-Play," an innovative card game designe...
On today’s episode, we sit down with Dr. Holmes, Owner of BrainCore Neurofeedback in Duluth, GA, and a leading advocate for drug-free, non-invasive therapies for neurological conditions. Dr. Holmes shares her inspiring personal story of helping her daughter overcome ADHD symptoms without medication, a journey that ignited her passion for neurofeedback. Through her work, she’s been empowering families across the U.S. with personaliz...
On today’s episode, we sit down with Dr. Holmes, Owner of BrainCore Neurofeedback in Duluth, GA, and a leading advocate for drug-free, non-invasive therapies for neurological conditions. Dr. Holmes shares her inspiring personal story of helping her daughter overcome ADHD symptoms without medication, a journey that ignited her passion for neurofeedback. Through her work, she’s been empowering families across the U.S. with personaliz...
Welcome back to Pieces For My Puzzle, a podcast dedicated to empowering autistic students, parents, educators, and the broader neurodivergent community.
Tune in as we open up the conversation with Dr. Christopher Scott Wyatt, an autistic self-advocate, educator, researcher, and accomplished academic, this podcast dives deep into the challenges and triumphs of navigating the world of higher education as an individual on the spectrum...
Welcome to this week's episode! We are continuing our talk from last week’s episode with the talented Randi-Lee Bowslaugh!
She’s an author, mental health advocate, and former Canadian National Kickboxing Champion. Tune in as we deep dive into the challenges and triumphs of life.
Randi-Lee brings her unique perspective as a parent to a child on the autism spectrum, as well as her own journey of self-discovery as an autistic adu...
Welcome to this week's episode! Today we talk about mental health, motherhood, and kickboxing with the amazing and talented Randi-Lee Bowslaugh! She’s an author, mental health advocate, and former Canadian National Kickboxing Champion. Tune in as we deep dive into the challenges and triumphs of life. Randi-Lee brings her unique perspective as a parent to a child on the autism spectrum, as well as her own journey of self-disco...
Welcome to this week's episode! We're back this week with the fabulous Andrea Pollack for Part 2 of our conversation. In this episode, we continue talking about her remarkable transition from a 19-year career in litigation to becoming a dedicated advocate for parents of autistic children.
Episode Highlights: Autism Parent Solutions and Mindset Shifts
- Andrea provides an in-depth overview of the Autism Parent So...
Welcome to this week's episode! We're thrilled to have Andrea Pollack join us for an enlightening conversation about her remarkable transition from a 19-year career in litigation to becoming a dedicated advocate for parents of autistic children.
Episode Highlights:
- Andrea shares her unique background and what inspired her to become an advocate.
- The challenges she faced when transitioning from a legal career to ...
Welcome to another insightful episode of our podcast, where we discuss the intersection of Physical Therapy and Autism with our special guest, Dr. Nikki Robinett.
About Our Guest:
Dr. Nikki is a dedicated physical therapist with over 9 years of experience, specializing in pediatrics for the past 5 years. Based in Arizona, she has an extensive background that includes working in outpatient, aquatic, school, and home health settings. W...
In this episode, Lenora Edwards brings in her experience as a board-certified speech-language pathologist to the table, offering insights, practical tips, and expert advice on navigating the complexities of speech therapy for children on the autism spectrum. She’s had the privilege of working closely with individuals across the autism spectrum, from children developing communication skills to adults mastering social interactions.
Ab...
Welcome to another insightful episode of our podcast, where we discuss the intersection of Physical Therapy and Autism with our special guest, Dr. Nikki Robinett.
About Our Guest:
Dr. Nikki is a dedicated physical therapist with over 9 years of experience, specializing in pediatrics for the past 5 years. Based in Arizona, she has an extensive background that includes working in outpatient, aquatic, school, and home health settings. W...
In this episode, we sit down with acclaimed Director, Producer, and Photographer, Jay Silverman, to discuss his latest dramatic feature, Camera. Jay, who has over 40 years of experience in the entertainment industry, shares insights into the making of the film, its themes, and its impact on viewers, particularly within the Special Needs communities.
About Our Guest:
Jay Silverman is a highly respected Director, Producer, and Photogra...
Join us as we sit down with Sonia Chand, a licensed professional counselor with a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling. Sonia's unique perspective as both a mental health professional and someone diagnosed with autism later in life provides invaluable insights into the autism spectrum.
Who Should Listen?
- Autism Community: Whether you're on the spectrum, know someone who is, or are an advocate, ...
We continue our conversation with Sonia Chand, a licensed professional counselor with a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling. Sonia's unique perspective as both a mental health professional and someone diagnosed with autism later in life provides invaluable insights into the autism spectrum.
Episode Highlights
- Daily Life with Autism: Sonia shares her personal experiences, revealing what it's li...
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