🎙️ Episode Summary

This episode of Tha Village Podcast highlights what it truly means to be a father who stands on business.

Cowboy Loochie — former NFL and college standout — shares how he’s transformed his journey into purpose, now leading the charge through the Hype4Life Foundation to advocate for the autism community.

From using his platform to raise awareness, provide resources, and support families, to leading with faith, discipline, and real action — this conversation is rooted in guidance, leadership, and motivation.

It’s bigger than football. It’s bigger than one family.

It’s about understanding that our children are blessings, and when fathers step up and come together, we create real impact in our homes and our communities.

This is what THA VILLAGE is all about. 🏡🎙️

On this episode of Tha Village, we sit down with Josh Newman — a devoted husband and proud father — who pulls up and really educates the fellas… and the audience.

From exploring alternative treatments like MERT (Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy) to making the tough decision to relocate his family just to access the resources his child deserved

— Josh breaks down the reality many families face when support systems fall short. Coming out of Kentucky, where resources were limited, his journey is one of sacrifice, strategy, and relentless love.

We also tap into their family’s growth, welcoming a new addition, and what perseverance truly looks like when you refuse to quit on your child.

This isn’t just a conversation… it’s a real-life story of pressure, purpose, and triumph.

💯 If you’re a parent, especially in the autism community — this one is going to hit home.

🎧 TAP IN NOW — streaming on ALL platforms YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music

🎙️ Tha Village Podcast – Episode 8 featuring Tonya Baradaran

In this impactful episode of Tha Village, we sit down with Tonya Baradaran, author of Spectrum of the Cars, for a real, transparent, and solution-driven conversation centered around autism, advocacy, and intentional parenting.

Tonya opens up about her journey as a mother navigating the autism spectrum with her son—sharing firsthand experiences on education, early intervention, and what it truly means to lean in instead of pulling back. She emphasizes the importance of preparation, from building strong IEP strategies to showing up fully equipped as an advocate—sometimes even having the meeting before the meeting to ensure her child gets the best support possible.

This episode goes beyond awareness—it’s about action, accountability, and empowerment. Tonya provides practical insight for parents, especially fathers, on how to stay present, informed, and proactive in their child’s development.

🔥 Exclusive Drop: Tonya also announces a brand new book release dropping Easter Sunday, continuing her mission to educate, inspire, and equip families within the autism community.

This episode is a must-watch for parents, educators, and anyone looking to better understand how to support children on the spectrum while building stronger families and communities.

🧩 Key Themes:

• Advocacy in action (IEPs, preparation, resources)
• The power of leaning in as a parent
• Education + early intervention
• Real-life parenting strategies
• Building confidence in neurodivergent children
• Community, support, and legacy

💙 This isn’t just a conversation—it’s a blueprint for showing up.