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If We Knew Then - A Down Syndrome Podcast

Kids & Family Podcasts

We are Stephen and Lori Saux and welcome to the If We Knew Then Podcast. We are parents of two children and one of them has Down Syndrome, Liam. When Liam was born we didn’t know very much about Down Syndrome and most of the information we did have didn’t seem very hopeful and positive. Well this podcast aims to share honest and useful conversations about supports, therapies, education and society as it pertains to Down syndrome advocacy and parenting. WEBSITE: https://ifweknewthen.com

Location:

United States

Description:

We are Stephen and Lori Saux and welcome to the If We Knew Then Podcast. We are parents of two children and one of them has Down Syndrome, Liam. When Liam was born we didn’t know very much about Down Syndrome and most of the information we did have didn’t seem very hopeful and positive. Well this podcast aims to share honest and useful conversations about supports, therapies, education and society as it pertains to Down syndrome advocacy and parenting. WEBSITE: https://ifweknewthen.com

Language:

English


Episodes

136. World Down Syndrome Day with Dr. Eric Rubenstein and his Co-Researcher Team

3/19/2023
Happy World Down Syndrome Day 2023! In celebration of our community, we are sharing a discussion we had this month with Dr. Eric Rubenstein and his co-researcher team. Dr. Eric is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at Boston University and his research team is comprised of six adults with Down syndrome who engage the research process to create their own project. The team is curious about the mental health of people with Down syndrome and designed a research project to...

Duration:00:44:23

135. Revisiting with Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Pediatrician Dr. Mona Patel Gera

3/12/2023
Dr. Mona is an attending physician in the Department of General Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California. She sat down with us to challenge the many medical myths and stereotypes surrounding children with Down syndrome. Health Supervision Guidelines:...

Duration:01:18:38

134. Your Dentistry Questions Answered - Dr. Jill Lasky

3/5/2023
Dr. Jill Lasky discusses the importance of Pediatric Dentistry, how to introduce dental care and specifics pertaining to the Down Syndrome community. We also discuss methods and tools for parents who want to support their children in making good dental health habits. Lasky Pediatric Dental Group: https://www.laskypediatricdental.com Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2023/03/05/134-your-dentistry-questions-answered-dr-jill-lasky/2/ Please follow us on Twitter...

Duration:00:43:27

133. Liam Turns 13: Let The Teenage Years Begin

2/19/2023
This week Liam turns 13. We recorded this episode on Valentine's Day with is fitting because love is the driving force of this family. Becoming a teenager is a milestone we have been looking forward to and we are thankful for all the ups and downs that have gotten us here. Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2023/02/18/133-liam-turns-13-let-the-teenage-years-begin/2/ Please follow us on Twitter @ifweknewthenPOD you can drop us a line on our Facebook page...

Duration:00:43:22

132. Black History Month: Revisiting Our Interview with Willie Dawkins

2/12/2023
For Black History Month we revisit a phenomenal episode we had with Willie Dawkins. We honor his story and his parents who gave him the foundation of love and support he needed to find his way through an unjust world and the advocates who came before us who fought for equality and laid the groundwork for our fight for inclusion. Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2023/02/10/132-black-history-month-revisiting-our-interview-with-willie-dawkins/2/ Please follow us...

Duration:01:09:07

131. The Things We Learn: The Evolution of An Advocate

2/5/2023
We talk today about how we learn to do things differently, the way we learn from our past, and how the seemingly smallest memories can hold so much in them, like the little lessons along the way. We also explore the need to accept when it’s easy, and how that can be a challenge in itself. Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2023/02/03/131-the-things-we-learn/2/ Please follow us on Twitter @ifweknewthenPOD you can drop us a line on our Facebook page...

Duration:00:46:28

130. Michael Sanford: An Advocate for Diverse Casting in Hollywood - Part 2

1/29/2023
This is the second half of a two part interview with casting director Michael Sanford about the work being done to make media more inclusive and diverse. We first met Michael when he cast our son, Liam, in the Lena Dunham movie SHARP STICK. Michael had seen Liam in a film made for the Disability Film Challenge where people with disabilities have a space to tell their own stories in the hopes that more spaces like that will be made in Hollywood. Disability Film Challenge:...

Duration:00:43:51

129. Michael Sanford: An Advocate for Diverse Casting in Hollywood - Part 1

1/22/2023
This is a two part interview with Hollywood casting director Michael Sanford about the importance of inclusion in everyone's life and the responsibility the film and television industry has to uphold a fabric of diversity that is reflective of our global society. Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2023/01/22/129-michael-sanford-an-advocate-for-diverse-casting-in-hollywood/2/ Please follow us on Twitter @ifweknewthenPOD you can drop us a line on our Facebook...

Duration:00:46:49

128. The Next Generation of Advocacy

1/16/2023
In this episode we discuss the hope we have for the future and the positive changes we see in the next generation of Down syndrome advocates. Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2023/01/16/128-the-next-generation-of-advocacy/2/ Please follow us on Twitter @ifweknewthenPOD you can drop us a line on our Facebook page @ifweknewthenPOD or visit our website https://www.IfWeKnewThen.com to send us an email with questions and comments. You can join our mailing list...

Duration:00:46:14

127. Revisiting A Loving Kindness Meditation with Paul Denniston

1/7/2023
We’ve talked about self-care on this podcast and the importance of parents and caregivers to find the time to take care of themselves. We are so grateful that Paul Denniston has once again gifted us, and our listeners, with a guided meditation. This time Paul will guide us through a wonderful Loving Kindness Meditation to help us with the many struggles we can face when we so often put others before ourselves. Paul’s Website: https://griefyoga.com Episode 22 - Paul’s 30 Minute Yoga Nidra...

Duration:00:27:16

126. Happy New Year: Revisiting The Practice of The Beginner’s Mind with Maezen Miller

12/31/2022
Happy New Year! We hope you are all having a wonderfully relaxing and safe holiday. Today in the spirit of the new year, we revisit an interview we had with Karen Maezen Miller about the practice of The Beginner’s Mind. Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2022/12/31/126-happy-new-year-revisiting-the-practice-of-the-beginners-mind-with-maezen-miller/2/ Please follow us on Twitter @ifweknewthenPOD you can drop us a line on our Facebook page @ifweknewthenPOD or...

Duration:01:02:56

125. A Season of Hope

12/20/2022
In this episode we talk about hope. Losing hope when challenges become overwhelming and finding it again on the other side. Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2022/12/19/125-a-season-of-hope-down-syndrome-advocacy/2/ Please follow us on Twitter @ifweknewthenPOD you can drop us a line on our Facebook page @ifweknewthenPOD or visit our website https://www.IfWeKnewThen.com to send us an email with questions and comments. You can join our mailing list there and get...

Duration:00:45:44

124. Revisiting with Caroline Bencze-Fernandez Part 2: At Home Tools and Supports

11/27/2022
Because we get so many questions from new parents, we wanted to revisit a couple of our very early episodes. In this Part 2 we re-air Caroline’s second appearance on the podcast where she dives a little deeper into the aspects of Early Intervention, what tools parents can use at home and how therapies for children with Down syndrome have changed over the years. Episode Transcript:...

Duration:00:31:20

123. Revisiting with Caroline Bencze-Fernandez Part 1: Early Intervention

11/20/2022
Because we get so many questions from new parents, we wanted to revisit a couple of our very early episodes. In this Part 1 we re-air an extremely informative interview with Child Development Specialist, Caroline Bencze-Fernandez where she explains the importance of Early Intervention, how therapies have changed throughout her 30 year career and what parents should know. Episode Transcript:...

Duration:00:26:21

122. Happy Anniversary: Things We’ve Learned Over 18 Years

11/8/2022
It’s our wedding anniversary and we take a minute to reflect on the past 18 years. Happy Anniversary! Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2022/11/07/122-our-anniversary-episode/ Please follow us on Twitter @ifweknewthenPOD you can drop us a line on our Facebook page @ifweknewthenPOD or visit our website https://www.IfWeKnewThen.com to send us an email with questions and comments. You can join our mailing list there and get alerts of future podcast episodes....

Duration:00:43:50

121. Down Syndrome Awareness Month 2022

10/28/2022
In this episode we discuss our journey with awareness. We explore how we are learning to cultivate what awareness means in our lives, the way in which awareness has changed over the years and its impact on our advocacy. Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2022/10/28/121-down-syndrome-awareness-month-2022/2/ Please follow us on Twitter @ifweknewthenPOD you can drop us a line on our Facebook page @ifweknewthenPOD or visit our website https://www.IfWeKnewThen.com...

Duration:00:40:43

120. The Secret Episode - Living For The Moments

10/21/2022
Stephen recorded a solo episode this week, unbeknownst to the family, to express some things that have been on his mind and as a nice surprise to Lori and the kids whenever they come across it. It’s kind of a time capsule episode focused on this present moment and how there is nothing as important as right now. Episode Transcript: https://ifweknewthen701833686.wordpress.com/2022/10/21/120-the-secret-episode-living-for-the-moments/2/ Please follow us on Twitter @ifweknewthenPOD you can drop...

Duration:00:22:53

119. Walking The Walk, Breaking Down Stereotypes - with Dr. Eric Rubenstein and Kaethe Sigelko

10/14/2022
This week we talked to Dr. Eric Rubenstein and one of his co-researchers, Kaethe Sigelko to discuss self advocacy and the importance of including people with Down syndrome in shaping our community. For everything they ever told you your child would not or could not do - sometimes it takes an example of what is possible to remember who we are and that every child’s life is one of possibility. Eric’s Website: https://sites.bu.edu/rubenstein Contact Kaethe: k.sigelko1415@gmail.com Episode...

Duration:00:51:11

118. The Best We’ve Got: The Carl Erskine Story with Ted Green

10/7/2022
Documentarian, Ted Green visits with us to discuss his most recent film “The Best We’ve Got: The Carl Erskine Story”. As a teammate and close friend of Jackie Robinson and then as the father of a person with Down syndrome, Carl played a pioneering role in two human-rights movements. Our guest, Ted Green switched to filmmaking in 2010 after 20 years as a newspaper journalist, and since then he has produced and directed eight documentaries. Other subjects include Holocaust survivor Eva Kor,...

Duration:01:07:03

117. Having The Patience To Be Where You Are - A Conversation with Karen Maezen Miller

9/30/2022
In this week's episode we are joined by Zen Buddhist Priest, Maezen Miller. We discuss having patience and letting go in order for it to all unfold. Believing and having patience can enable our children to be who they are, go where they go and do what they do, to become exactly who they are. Karen Maezen Miller: https://karenmaezenmiller.com Maezen’s Book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Karen-Maezen-Miller/e/B001JP2RQ0/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1 Steve & Michel Gleason Foundation:...

Duration:00:55:49