Episodes

  • Small Bites, Big Wins: Helping Support Selective Eaters

    Small Bites, Big Wins: Helping Support Selective Eaters
    Apr 16 2026
    Mealtimes can feel like a daily battle—especially when your child has very limited food preferences. But what if picky eating isn’t about defiance… and there’s a better way to approach it? In this episode of All Abilities, No Filter, we sit down with registered dietitian Jessica Setnick, who specializes in eating disorders and highly selective eating. Together, we break down what’s really going on beneath the surface when children—especially those with autism and other disabilities—struggle with food. You’ll learn how to support without pressure, reduce mealtime stress, and actually help your child expand their food choices in a way that feels safe and achievable for them. We cover:
    • Why picky eating is often misunderstood
    • The connection between autism, sensory needs, and food preferences
    • What not to do at mealtimes (this is huge)
    • Practical strategies to gently introduce new foods
    • How to encourage healthier eating without creating power struggles
    Whether your child eats only a handful of foods or mealtime has become overwhelming, this episode will give you real, actionable strategies you can start using immediately.
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    48 mins
  • Hypnotherapy and Autism: A New Path to Calm and Control

    Hypnotherapy and Autism: A New Path to Calm and Control
    Mar 19 2026
    Can hypnotherapy really help individuals with autism and neurodivergence find greater calm, focus, and control? In this powerful and eye-opening episode of All Abilities, No Filter, we sit down with special guest Lawrence Bartley, an autistic hypnotist who is transforming lives through hypnotherapy. Lawrence shares his personal journey with autism, how he discovered hypnotherapy, and how it has helped him manage anxiety, improve focus, and create a more peaceful mindset. Even more importantly, he explains how he now uses these same techniques to support other neurodivergent individuals. We break down:
    • How hypnotherapy works for autism and ADHD
    • The science behind calming the mind and reducing overwhelm
    • Real-life ways hypnotherapy can improve daily functioning
    • Misconceptions about hypnosis and what it actually does
    • Tools for parents, educators, and professionals supporting neurodivergent individuals
    Whether you're a parent, educator, clinician, or someone navigating autism yourself, this episode offers practical strategies, powerful insights, and a new perspective on supporting neurodivergent minds. If you're looking for ways to reduce anxiety, improve emotional regulation, and support individuals with autism, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.
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    29 mins
  • Stem for Every Mind with Kenneth Mims

    Stem for Every Mind with Kenneth Mims
    Mar 3 2026
    What happens when hands-on learning meets individualized education? Real engagement. Real growth. Real outcomes. In this episode of All Abilities, No Filter, we sit down with special guest Kenneth Mims to explore the powerful impact STEM education and hands-on learning can have for children on the autism spectrum and students with other disabilities. We break down why traditional worksheet-based instruction often falls short — and how robotics, engineering challenges, problem-solving activities, and experiential learning can unlock attention, motivation, communication, and independence. You’ll hear practical strategies, real-world examples, and honest insight into:
    • Why STEM increases engagement for neurodiverse learners
    • How hands-on learning builds executive functioning skills
    • The connection between movement, regulation, and cognition
    • Ways educators and parents can bring STEM into everyday learning
    • How individualized instruction transforms outcomes
    Whether you're a parent, educator, therapist, or administrator, this episode will challenge the way you think about learning — and give you tools you can use immediately. Because when we design education for how students learn best, not just how curriculum is written, every mind has the opportunity to thrive.
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    33 mins
  • When Parenting Becomes Survival Mode: With Paul Voss

    When Parenting Becomes Survival Mode: With Paul Voss
    Feb 2 2026
    When Parenting Becomes Survival Mode is a reality many families know all too well. In this episode of All Abilities, No Filter, we’re joined by Paul Voss, a father of eight whose life changed when his youngest child was diagnosed with autism. Paul shares the raw, behind-the-scenes truth of parenting through years of exhaustion, sleep deprivation, and emotional burnout while still showing up for a full family. This conversation isn’t about perfect parenting or clinical theory. It’s about what actually happens when families are pushed into survival mode, and what helped Paul move from constant chaos to a calmer, more intentional home. Along the way, he shares practical changes that didn’t just support his autistic child, but improved life for the entire family including siblings with ADHD. In this episode, we discuss:
    • Parenting during extreme exhaustion and sleep loss
    • Why common advice often doesn’t work in real life
    • How small environmental changes can create big shifts
    • The emotional weight parents especially fathers carry silently
    • Finding hope without minimizing how hard autism can be
    This episode is for parents who are tired, overwhelmed, and wondering if it ever gets better. You’re not alone, and survival mode doesn’t have to be permanent.
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    51 mins
  • Service Dogs Changing Lives: Inside Paws With a Cause

    Service Dogs Changing Lives: Inside Paws With a Cause
    Jan 15 2026
    In this powerful Season 2 premiere, we sit down with Becky and Michelle from Paws With a Cause, an organization dedicated to pairing highly trained service dogs with individuals who need them most. Becky and Michelle take us behind the scenes of how service dogs are trained, matched, and integrated into the lives of children and adults with disabilities—and the profound, life-changing impact that partnership can have. We talk honestly about the misconceptions surrounding service dogs, the commitment required from families, and the emotional moments that make this work so meaningful. Whether you’re a parent, educator, clinician, or simply someone who believes in inclusion and access, this episode will leave you inspired by the incredible bond between humans and service dogs.
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    47 mins
  • Safety Through Understanding: Emergency Response and Autism

    Safety Through Understanding: Emergency Response and Autism
    Dec 11 2025
    When seconds matter, understanding makes all the difference. In this powerful episode, we sit down with Jennifer Kaufman—school principal, autism advocate, and grandmother to a child on the spectrum—to explore how first responders can dramatically improve outcomes for autistic individuals through training, awareness, and compassionate response. Jennifer shares real experiences from both sides of the table, offering a rare dual perspective on what families, educators, and emergency personnel all need to know. She also highlights her work with First Response on Autism, an organization transforming the way police, firefighters, EMTs, and other first responders approach autism-related emergencies. Listeners will learn:
    • The hidden challenges autistic individuals face during crisis situations
    • Why traditional emergency response methods can unintentionally escalate behaviors
    • Practical strategies first responders can use to create safety, calm, and trust
    • How families can prepare their loved ones for emergency interactions
    • The critical role of communication, sensory awareness, and trauma-informed response
    • What "safety through understanding" really looks like in the field
    Whether you're a parent, educator, clinician, or first responder, this conversation delivers essential insight into building a safer, more prepared, and more empathetic world for autistic individuals.
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    49 mins
  • Dropping The Gloves: Ending the Parent-Teacher Battle in Special Education

    Dropping The Gloves: Ending the Parent-Teacher Battle in Special Education
    Nov 28 2025
    In this episode of All Abilities, No Filter, we dive deep into one of the most powerful—and often overlooked—factors in a child’s special education journey: the relationship between parents and the special education teacher. A strong, respectful partnership can transform the entire IEP process, leading to better communication, stronger interventions, and a more united team supporting the child. But when this relationship breaks down, the impact is felt immediately—and the child pays the price. We explore: ✨ What happens when parents and teachers build trust and communicate openly ✨ How collaboration strengthens IEP planning, problem-solving, and consistency between home and school ✨ The real consequences when the relationship is strained, disconnected, or adversarial ✨ The different “types” of parent–teacher relationships—from highly collaborative teams to high-conflict partnerships ✨ Practical steps BOTH sides can take to strengthen communication, respect, and alignment Whether you’re a parent navigating special education, a teacher working to build trust with families, or an advocate supporting teams through the IEP process, this episode gives honest insight into what makes these relationships work—and what happens when they don’t. At the end of the day, the relationship between parents and special educators isn’t just a professional interaction. It’s a partnership that directly shapes a child’s success. And when we get it right, everyone wins—especially the student.
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    49 mins
  • It Takes a T.E.A.M. With Special Guest Bailey Payne

    It Takes a T.E.A.M. With Special Guest Bailey Payne
    Nov 14 2025
    In this influential episode of All Abilities, No Filter, Brandon Clark interviews Bailey Payne, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Bailey shares her unique backstory that led to her lifelong career transition into treating children with autism. During her transformative career undertaking, Bailey identified reasons why interventions weren't as effective as they could be. The solutions she came up with are surprisingly simple. This led Bailey to developing TEAM: Training Educators and Managing Behavior. Within this episode, Bailey breaks down her teamwork approach to practical and sustainable outcomes for home, school, and community interventions. Bailey has a wealth of knowledge and experience. She is relatable and passionate, making her content easy to digest for all listeners. For parents, educators, and advocates, this is an episode you don't want to miss!
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    50 mins