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The Lucky Few

The Lucky Few

The Lucky Few Podcast

Hey friends! Welcome to the Lucky Few Podcast where we are shifting the narrative by shouting the worth of people with Down syndrome. With your hosts, Heather Avis, Micha Boyett, and Mercedes Lara.
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Top 10 The Lucky Few Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best The Lucky Few episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to The Lucky Few for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite The Lucky Few episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

This month we’re celebrating Down Syndrome Awareness Month with episodes based on popular Google search topics! Today we’re joined by Emily Kendall & Chad Mayer from EmpowerMe Living for this episode all about answering the question: Can a person with Down syndrome live independently? Today, we’re talking about the incredible work of EmpowerMe Living, a program designed to support individuals with disabilities in choosing the best living arrangement for their unique needs. We're with EmpowerMe Living founder, Emily and Chad, who lives independently through the program, as they share their insights on independent versus supported living, overcoming challenges, and how EmpowerMe Living helps families navigate these important decisions. This is an episode you don’t want to miss!

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SHOW NOTES

Check out EmpowerMe Living’s website to learn more about our:

  • Incredible team
  • Microhome concept
  • First property in Cincinnati
  • Our Cincinnati Housing Market Analysis
  • First Place Global Leadership Institute –Check out their groundbreaking research on housing, including “A Place in the World” and their housing market analyses. Organizations can partner with First Place to conduct a housing market analysis in their community to collect and analyze data about housing needs and preferences directly from adults with I/DD and their families which can then be used to drive effective solutions.
  • Learn more about Beyond Down Syndrome – a wonderful resource for people with Down syndrome and their families focused on independence
  • Blog Emily wrote for this summer about trusting intuition advocating for her son with Down syndrome
  • Emily wanted us to share her son, Luke Kendall on the news! It has been awesome for Luke’s confidence and skill building, foundations for independence!
  • Learn more about Timothy M Freeman Center, MD, Center for Developmental Disabilities provides adults with I/DD interdisciplinary, patient-centered healthcare. It is one of the few centers in the country pioneering this approach within an academic healthcare system.
  • Learn more about Enable Special Needs Planning to create a plan that enables your child with disabilities to live a great life

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

Join us in celebrating and supporting The Lucky Few Podcast! For just $0.99, $4.99, or $9.99 a month, you can help us continue shouting worth and shifting narratives for people with Down syndrome. Your support makes a difference in our ability to create meaningful content, enable us to cover production costs, and explore additional opportunities to expand our resources. Become an essential part of The Lucky Few movement today!

DISCOUNT CODE

Friends, grab your narrative shifting gear over on The Lucky Few Merch Shop and use code PODCAST for 10% off!

HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE

Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email [email protected] for more information!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Thank you, National Down Syndrome Society for sponsoring this episode!

Thank you, Enable SNP for sponsoring this episode!

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If you’re a parent, you’ve likely wondered.. Should I let my child use this public restroom on their own? Is my child able to handle these kitchen tools? Can I let my child attend this sleepover? And if you’re a parent to a child with a disability, you might have even more fears around these risky activities. It’s time for a conversation about reasonable risks for our kids with Down syndrome. Here’s what we’re chatting about today:

  • What does “dignity of risk” mean?
  • Is the risky activity an opportunity for growth or an opportunity for trauma?
  • What makes our kids with disabilities more vulnerable even in “safe risk” situations?
  • How we do know when to let them take the risk? And when to step in?

We know its dignifying to have the right to make a risky decision, but its also super scary when it comes to our children. Lets unpack this and problem-solve (or try to) together today.

__

SHOW NOTES

Read ‘The Dignity of Risk’ by Amy Julia Becker

SHOUT OUT

  • Learn more about Project ECHO, a community of health care providers for individuals with DS.SPONSORS Learn more about Jack’s Basket. Learn more about Enable Special Needs Planning.
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    The Lucky Few - 294. Why Down Syndrome Isn't Something to "Cure"
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    04/08/25 • 33 min

    When we saw this headline, “CRISPR Snips Away Extra Chromosomes, Offering New Hope for Down Syndrome Treatment,” we knew we had to discuss this article together. So that’s what we’re doing today. Here’s what we’re covering in this episode:

    • The ethics of gene editing - What about other conditions with serious life-threatening effects?
    • Why do some people assume that we need to “cure” Down syndrome?
    • What would we do to alleviate some of the medical challenges in the DS community?
    • The problem with not including disabled people in this conversation

    We are really digging deep today! And we invite you to read the article (linked here) and join us for this important conversation.

    --

    SHOW NOTES

  • Read CRISPR Snips Away Extra Chromosomes, Offering New Hope for Down Syndrome Treatment
  • Keep this convo going with these past episodes: 161. Let’s Talk About Abortion & Disability; 117. Dignity Beyond Accomplishment; 99. The Last Children of Down Syndrome SHOUT OUT: Follow @amyjuliabecker for thoughtful discussions on hard topics in the DS community.
  • SPONSORSJOIN THE LUCKY CREW Join us in celebrating and supporting The Lucky Few Podcast! For just $4.99 a month, you can help us continue shouting worth and shifting narratives for people with Down syndrome. Enjoy bonus episodes where we dive deeper into the most controversial issues, shop discounts, and more! Become an essential part of The Lucky Few movement today!
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    Oprah’s favorite things are legendary, just like our gift guide- prepare to unwrap some magic with our 2023 gift ideas! We’ve got some rad ideas for everyone on your list from gifts for kiddos, grandparents, spouses, teachers, and more! Friends, we’ve scoured the corners of creativity and combed through countless options to find the perfect gifts for this years list. From functional, to educational, to downright stylish, and something to wrap it all up with, we’ve got you covered. You know we can’t resist some fun holiday stories with memories of the worst gifts we’ve ever received. Grab a cup of cocoa, sit back, and relax because The Lucky Few Podcast 2023 Holiday Gift Guide has you covered!

    ---

    SHOW NOTES

    Micha’s Picks:

    Mercedes’ Picks:

    Sentence building puzzles:

    Heather’s Picks:

    DISCOUNT CODE

    Friends, grab your narrative shifting gear over on The Lucky Few Merch Shop and use code PODCAST for 10% off!

    THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

    Thank you, Jack’s Basket for sponsoring this episode!

    Thank you, ABLEnow for sponsoring this episode!

    HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE

    Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email [email protected] for more information!

    LET’S CHAT

    Email [email protected] with your questions and Good News for future episodes.

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    Join us for a special Father’s Day episode featuring the dynamic father-son duo, David and Andrew Olshine! They share their inspiring journey of writing and publishing the book Fearless As A Honey Badger, Brave Like A Wolverine. Learn about the lessons they've learned, the message of hope and resilience they aim to share with the world, and how Andrew’s remarkable recovery from Guillain-Barré syndrome inspired him to write the book. They also discuss the inspiration behind the powerful quotes included in the book, drawn from movies, Eleanor Roosevelt, Nelson Mandela, and Bible verses. Enjoy an excerpt read by Andrew himself and hear about his plans for his next book. This is a fun and heartfelt episode you don’t want to miss!

    ----

    SHOW NOTES

    JOIN THE MOVEMENT

    Join us in celebrating and supporting The Lucky Few Podcast! For just $0.99, $4.99, or $9.99 a month, you can help us continue shouting worth and shifting narratives for people with Down syndrome. Your support makes a difference in our ability to create meaningful content, enable us to cover production costs, and explore additional opportunities to expand our resources. Become an essential part of The Lucky Few movement today!

    THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR:

    Thank you, Enable SNP for sponsoring this episode!

    DISCOUNT CODE

    Friends, grab your narrative shifting gear over on The Lucky Few Merch Shop and use code PODCAST for 10% off!

    HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE

    Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email [email protected] for more information!

    LET’S CHAT

    Email [email protected] with your questions and Good News for future episodes.

    bookmark
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    share episode
    The Lucky Few - 296. Planes, Trains & Presuming Competence
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    04/22/25 • 35 min

    The Avises are back from an 18-day European vacation with tips, tricks, and travel stories for all of us. So Heather and Josh are here today to answer all the questions:

    • How do you “lean in” to surprising (and sometimes frustrating!) moments with your kids?
    • What to do when your family vacation doesn’t look like other families?
    • What are your major tips for traveling with kids/teens who have Down syndrome?

    There are so many travel resources out there.. disability discounts, wheelchairs, free transportation, + more! We’re excited to share with you just how we used them. So take some notes then start planning your next trip!

    --

    SHOW NOTES

    • SHOUT OUT: Check out Cafe Joyeux on instagram and their website
    • Watch 47, a short film produced by Cafe Joyeux

    SPONSORS

    JOIN THE LUCKY CREW

    Join us in celebrating and supporting The Lucky Few Podcast! For just $4.99 a month, you can help us continue shouting worth and shifting narratives for people with Down syndrome. Enjoy bonus episodes where we dive deeper into the most controversial issues, shop discounts, and more! Become an essential part of The Lucky Few movement today!

    bookmark
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    share episode

    Happy New Year friends! Join us as we welcome back Amy Julia Becker and her daughter Penny for an inspiring conversation on redefining resolutions for growth instead of perfection. We’re talking about the power of celebrating small wins, how caregivers and families can support loved ones with Down syndrome in setting and achieving goals, and the transformative lessons we’ve learned from goal-setting with our children. Penny also offers her perspective on staying motivated, what success looks like to her, and what she hopes to accomplish in the year ahead. Whether you’re setting goals for yourself or alongside your loved one with Down syndrome, this conversation will leave you ready to embrace every step of the journey. This is an episode you don’t want to miss!

    SHOW NOTES

    Instagram: @amyjuliabecker

    Facebook: @amyjuliabeckerwriter

    YouTube Channel

    Threads: @amyjuliabecker

    X: @amyjuliabecker

    amyjuliabecker.com

    Our Previous Episodes with Amy Julia:

    Thank you, NDSS for sponsoring this episode!

    Register today for the 2025 Down Syndrome Advocacy Conference! Early bird registration is now open!

    JOIN THE MOVEMENT

    Join us in celebrating and supporting The Lucky Few Podcast! For just $0.99, $4.99, or $9.99 a month, you can help us continue shouting worth and shifting narratives for people with Down syndrome. Your support makes a difference in our ability to create meaningful content, enable us to cover production costs, and explore additional opportunities to expand our resources. Become an essential part of The Lucky Few movement today!

    DISCOUNT CODE

    Friends, grab your narrative shifting gear over on The Lucky Few Merch Shop and use code LUCKY for 21% off!

    HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE

    Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email [email protected] for more information!

    bookmark
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    share episode

    “My doctor told me that my baby would have Down Syndrome and then they brought up termination, so I came home and googled Down Syndrome and adoption and you were the first thing that came up..” the beginning of countless conversations Stephanie Thompson shares with expectant parents. A mother of a 27-year-old son with Down Syndrome herself, Stephanie has walked through those scary stages of the diagnosis process and now walks other parents through this journey. Knowing the uncertainty that accompanies most diagnoses, and the desire of many to parent a child with Down Syndrome, Stephanie created the National Down Syndrome Adoption Network. The NDSAN provides support, education, and counseling to parents expecting a baby with Down Syndrome. Most importantly, they provide options, including adoption. Mercedes and her family are among the many who have connected to their child through the NDSAN’s free services. Thanks to Stephanie’s counseling and guidance 6 years ago, Mercedes and her husband Andy became parents to Sunny.

    Today, we are so excited to interview Stephanie Thompson and share more information about the National Down Syndrome Adoption Network! Join us for a fun conversation with an extraordinary narrative shifter and don’t forget to keep shouting the worth of people with Down Syndrome wherever you go!

    ___

    SHOW LINKS

    Connect with the Down Syndrome Adoption Network:

    LIVE EVENT:

    Join us on the evening of Thursday, November 21st for a LIVE podcast recording event! We’re chatting with actors/actresses who have Down Syndrome, as well as their talent representative, Gail Williamson all about DS representation in the media! Get your tickets here.

    SHOW SPONSOR: QRI (Quantum Reflex Integration)

    QRI empowers individuals to reach their potential by strengthening neurological connections through cold laser and reflex integration! Head to reflexintegration.net and use code: QRILuckyFew for a FREE QRI Computer Harmonizer valued at $159 with the purchase of an Essentials Package.

    LET’S CHAT

    Email [email protected] with your questions and Good News for future episodes.

    HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE

    Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email [email protected] for more information!

    CHECK OUT HEATHER’S NEW BOOK

    Scoot Over and Make Some Room: Creating a Space Where Everyone Belongs by Heather Avis is NOW available on Amazon.

    Head to Youtube and subscribe to The Lucky Few’s NEW Channel: In Search of The Lucky Few. Click here to start watching now!

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    The Lucky Few - 221. A Letter To The Parents Of Our Kid's Peers
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    08/22/23 • 60 min

    Friends, today we’re talking about school and friendship in a different way, this episode is to the parents of our kid's peers. We’re sharing our thoughts on having conversations every kid deserves to have about disability and why it’s important. We think about our own childhoods and our first interactions with people with disabilities. How we as parents can make intentional choices about the way we talk about disability with our kids. We share some encouraging moments we’ve seen other parents approach including our kids with Down syndrome. Let’s keep shifting those narratives parents, whether you have a child with Down syndrome or not!

    ---

    SHOW NOTES

    From this episode:

    Listen to the episode with Micha & her friend Melynn- 6. Friendship Pt. 2 with Guest, Melynn Henry

    Other resources:

    DISCOUNT CODE

    Friends, grab your narrative shifting gear over on The Lucky Few Merch Shop and use code PODCAST for 10% off!

    THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR:

    Thank you, Jack’s Basket for sponsoring this episode!

    HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE

    Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email [email protected] for more information!

    LET’S CHAT

    Email [email protected] with your questions and Good News for future episodes.

    bookmark
    plus icon
    share episode

    Today, we’re excited to chat with Amanda Owen, the founder and executive director of Puzzle Pieces! Amanda has dedicated her life to supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities—a passion deeply rooted in her own family’s experiences. She’s sharing her experience growing up with a sibling with disabilities and how the dynamic has evolved as an adult that led to her journey of starting a non-profit. We’re chatting about having conversations around disability with our kids, how to cultivate meaningful and impactful friendships with people with disabilities, employment for adults with disabilities, group homes, and so much more! Friends, this episode is packed with incredible advice, stories, and even a few tears, this is an episode you don’t want to miss!

    - - -

    SHOW NOTES

    Listen to last week’s episode on volunteering:

    274. Are We Losing The True Meaning of Volunteering?

    JOIN THE MOVEMENT

    Join us in celebrating and supporting The Lucky Few Podcast! For just $0.99, $4.99, or $9.99 a month, you can help us continue shouting worth and shifting narratives for people with Down syndrome. Your support makes a difference in our ability to create meaningful content, enable us to cover production costs, and explore additional opportunities to expand our resources. Become an essential part of The Lucky Few movement today!

    DISCOUNT CODE

    Friends, grab your narrative shifting gear over on The Lucky Few Merch Shop and use code PODCAST for 10% off!

    HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE

    Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email [email protected] for more information!

    THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR:

    Thank you, ABLEnow for sponsoring this episode!

    LET’S CHAT

    Email [email protected] with your questions and Good News for future episodes.

    bookmark
    plus icon
    share episode

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    FAQ

    How many episodes does The Lucky Few have?

    The Lucky Few currently has 335 episodes available.

    What topics does The Lucky Few cover?

    The podcast is about Kids & Family and Podcasts.

    What is the most popular episode on The Lucky Few?

    The episode title '218. Creating Inclusion For All Learners w/Tim Villegas' is the most popular.

    What is the average episode length on The Lucky Few?

    The average episode length on The Lucky Few is 52 minutes.

    How often are episodes of The Lucky Few released?

    Episodes of The Lucky Few are typically released every 7 days.

    When was the first episode of The Lucky Few?

    The first episode of The Lucky Few was released on Feb 11, 2018.

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