Behind the Capes Podcast

Life Lately with Medical Mom: Check in Time!

Life lately has been full of the beautiful, exhausting, emotional, and unpredictable moments that come with raising medically complex children. In this episode, we’re sitting down for an honest check-in about where our families are right now — the challenges we’ve been facing, the wins we’re celebrating, and the realities of medical motherhood behind the scenes. From appointments, therapies, and the emotional weight we carry as moms, this conversation is a real and vulnerable look at the season we’re currently navigating. We’re also reflecting on how far this journey has come as we look forward to celebrating the 1-year anniversary of the podcast — something we never could have imagined when we first started. Whether you’re in survival mode, finding moments of joy, or simply trying to make it through the week, we hope this episode reminds you that you’re not alone.

Inside the World of Service Dog Training:Interview with Shawna, Certified Service Dog Coach

What really goes into training a service dog—and how do these incredible dogs change life for medical families? In this episode, two medical moms sit down with certified service dog coach Shawna for an honest conversation about the world of service dog training. We talk about what service dogs actually do, the intense training behind them, common misconceptions, and the emotional realities families face when deciding if a service dog is the right fit. From medical alerts and public access training to the deep bond between handler and dog, this episode offers both professional insight and real-life perspective from families living the journey every day. Whether you are beginning to explore service dogs, currently in the process, or simply want to better understand the role these dogs play in the disability and medical community, this conversation is filled with education, honesty, and hope. Topics we cover: * What qualifies a dog to become a service dog * The training process and timeline * Misconceptions about service animals * Public access challenges * How service dogs support children and medical families * The emotional impact of having a service dog * What families should know before starting the journey This episode is for every family searching for support, understanding, and a little hope on hard days.

NICU Mom Life: What No One Tells You

No one prepares you for motherhood to begin under fluorescent lights, surrounded by monitors, medical terms, and constant uncertainty. In this episode, we’re talking about the real side of NICU life as a medical mom—the fear, guilt, exhaustion, isolation, and strength that so many parents carry silently. We discuss what it feels like to bond with your baby through incubator walls, the trauma of living from update to update, and the invisible emotional weight families take home long after discharge. We also talk about the unexpected things the NICU teaches you: resilience, advocacy, community, and a love that grows fiercely in the hardest places. Whether you’re currently in the NICU, years removed from it, or supporting someone who has walked this road, this episode is a reminder that you are not alone—and that behind every NICU stay is a parent learning how to survive while loving their child through the unimaginable.

Olympic-Level Parenting: Inside the Medical Mom Games

In this episode, we step into the arena of Olympic-Level Parenting—where the events are real, the stakes are high, and the training is something no one ever signed up for. Welcome to the Medical Mom Games. From midnight medication rounds and emergency room sprints to insurance call marathons and advocacy hurdles, medical motherhood demands a level of strength, endurance, and resilience that often goes unseen. In this episode, we’re breaking down the “events” that define this journey—with honesty, humor, and a whole lot of heart. We talk about what it really means to show up every day for children with complex medical needs, the invisible load medical moms carry, and the ways we find connection, community, and even laughter in the middle of it all. Because in these games, there’s no podium, no finish line—and yet, somehow, you keep going. Whether you're a medical mom, love one, or are just trying to understand this world a little better, this episode is a reminder: the strength it takes to do this? It’s already gold.

Autism 101: From Awareness to Acceptance

In this episode of Autism 101: From Awareness to Acceptance, we’re going deeper than awareness—we’re talking about what it truly means to understand autism. From the history of autism and the misconceptions that once shaped it, to the way diagnosis has evolved into what we now know as a spectrum with different levels of support, this episode walks through the foundations of Autism 101 in a real and honest way. We’ll also explore current statistics and the truths that often get overlooked. But this isn’t just about information—it’s about lived experience. As a mom of autistic children, I’m sharing what this journey has looked like for me. The learning, the unlearning, the hard moments, and the beauty that exists alongside it all. Because awareness is simply knowing autism exists… but acceptance is choosing to see, understand, and show up with compassion.