Behind the Capes Podcast

Kayla hosts the game as she and Kari answer a series of ridiculous, hilarious, and very medically-mom-specific “Would You Rather” questions. 😂 From hospital chaos and sleep deprivation to bodily fluids and those “I cannot believe this is my life” moments, the questions get increasingly unhinged—and somehow, there are rarely any good choices! Come laugh with us as we debate, defend our answers, and discover just how differently two medical moms can approach the same impossible choice. Because sometimes in medical motherhood, you just have to spin the wheel and hope for the least terrible option. 🎰💜

We're a month away from school starting again... and if we're being honest, we're feeling it. Summer has a way of stretching us in ways we don't always expect. The routines are gone, therapies and school supports take a break, and suddenly we're carrying even more of the mental load. While everyone else talks about vacations and lazy summer days, many medical moms are simply trying to make it through one day at a time. In this episode, we're checking in with each other and reflecting on what this summer has really looked like. We're talking about the moments we've survived, the expectations we've had to let go of, and the reality that sometimes the tank is running on empty. Kari shares what this season has looked like as a single mom raising medically complex kids, balancing every appointment, every schedule, every meal, every meltdown, and every moment without the built-in breaks that school provides. With a month still left before the first day of school, she's opening up about the exhaustion, the feelings of defeat, and the weight that can come with carrying so much for so long. This isn't an episode filled with perfect solutions—it's an honest conversation about a season that can feel incredibly isolating. If you're counting down the days until school starts again, feeling guilty that summer hasn't looked the way you imagined, or wondering if anyone else is barely hanging on, you're not alone. Whether you're parenting with a partner, solo, or somewhere in between, we hope this episode reminds you that it's okay to acknowledge when things are hard. You don't have to love every season of medical parenting to be an incredible mom. Sometimes surviving is enough. And sometimes the greatest gift we can give each other is the reminder that none of us has to survive it alone.

Can you believe it? Our little podcast is officially one year old! In this special birthday episode, we're taking a moment to celebrate this incredible community and reflect on the journey that brought us here. We'll look back at some of our favorite conversations, the lessons we've learned, the unexpected moments that shaped us, and the amazing people we've had the privilege of meeting along the way. Most of all, we want to celebrate you—the medical moms, caregivers, and families who have listened, shared, encouraged, and reminded us that none of us has to walk this journey alone. What started as a simple idea has grown into a community built on honesty, connection, and hope. Whether you've been with us since Episode 1 or you've just recently found our podcast, thank you for being part of this village. We're so grateful you've spent this first year with us, and we can't wait to see what the next year brings. So grab a cup of coffee (or reheat it for the third time!), join us as we celebrate our first birthday, and here's to another year of real conversations, shared experiences, and supporting one another through the beautiful, messy journey of parenting medically complex children. Happy Birthday to us—and thank you for celebrating with us! 💜

When you’re a medical parent, you become everyone’s steady hand—the calm voice in chaos, the problem-solver in emergencies, the one who holds it together when everything feels like it’s unraveling. In medical motherhood, there’s an even more heightened need for co-regulation with our children. Our kids often depend on us to help their nervous systems settle in ways that are constant, intense, and non-stop. But what happens when the person doing all the regulating is running on empty? In this solo episode, Kari talks openly about the invisible emotional labor of medical motherhood—the ongoing co-regulation with our children, the nervous system overload that comes with care giving, and the truth that we don’t always have the energy to regulate ourselves in the moment. Sometimes, we need help from others to come back down too. She explores what it looks like to notice your own stress while you’re actively trying to calm your child, why our bodies can stay stuck in survival mode long after the crisis passes, and why leaning on support systems isn’t a weakness—it’s a necessity. This isn’t about perfect coping strategies or adding one more thing to your list. It’s about awareness, compassion, and giving yourself permission to be human in a role that demands so much regulation from you. Because even the regulator needs regulation—and sometimes, that regulation has to come from outside of us.

In this episode, we sit down with Adrienne, a special needs mom from Virginia, to hear her family's journey, the lessons she's learned along the way, and her experiences advocating for her child. Adrienne shares the realities of raising a child with disabilities, navigating medical, educational, and support systems, and the importance of finding your voice as a parent. We also talk about the importance of finding your tribe. Special needs parenting can sometimes feel isolating, and the support you're looking for may not always be found in your local community. Adrienne shares how families often have to get creative in building connections, finding support through online groups, social media communities, and relationships with other parents who truly understand the journey. These connections can provide encouragement, practical advice, and a sense of belonging when you need it most. We also explore a newer tool that many families are beginning to use: artificial intelligence. Adrienne shares her perspective on how AI can help parents organize their thoughts, prepare for meetings, draft emails, research resources, and feel more confident when advocating for their children. While technology can never replace a parent's expertise and intuition, it can be a valuable tool for helping families communicate effectively and stay organized. Join us for an honest and encouraging conversation about special needs parenting, advocacy, finding community, and using every available resource to support our children. Whether you're just beginning your journey or have been advocating for years, Adrienne's story offers practical insights, hope, and inspiration for families navigating the world of special needs parenting. 🎙️💙✨  

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.