The Different Ability® Podcast

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Different Ability® Podcast , Katey and her mom, Lynn, explore Chapter 17 of Embracing Your Different Ability® . They discuss how taking initiative, like learning Revit outside of the curriculum, shaped Katey’s confidence, leadership, and professional identity in college. Katey shares the challenges she overcame teaching herself with limited resources, the ro...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Different Ability® Podcast , Katey and her mom, Lynn, dive into Chapter 18 of Embracing Your Different Ability® . They explore the power of kindness, persistence, and human connection through stories that shaped Katey’s personal growth. From breaking down emotional walls through patience, to finding purpose and belonging in an unexpected work environment, th...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Different Ability® Podcast , Katey and her mom, Lynn, explore Chapter 19 of Embracing Your Different Ability® . They discuss how Katey’s experiences at UW-Stout prepared her for networking, taking risks, and confidently putting herself out there. Katey shares lessons learned from mentors, how to handle “not right now” responses with persistence and humility,...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Different Ability® Podcast , Katey and her mom, Lynn, explore Chapter 20 of Embracing Your Different Ability® . Katey reflects on a powerful moment that felt like her hand was being raised by Lynn herself and how that experience reshaped her perspective on public speaking and advocacy. Together, they discuss the role of vulnerability in sharing personal stor...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Different Ability® Podcast , Katey and her mom, Lynn, explore Chapter 21 of Embracing Your Different Ability® . Katey reflects on the profound impact her great aunt Lynn had on her life and advocacy journey, sharing meaningful memories that made her feel deeply seen and valued. They discuss the emotional experience of receiving a gift Lynn had set aside befo...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Different Ability® Podcast , Katey and her mom, Lynn, explore Chapter 22 of Embracing Your Different Ability® . They discuss how meaningful connections often open doors more effectively than traditional job applications and how taking bold steps can lead to unexpected opportunities. Katey shares insights on transitioning into new roles, navigating job loss,...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Different Ability® Podcast , Katey and her mom, Lynn, explore Chapter 23 of Embracing Your Different Ability® . They dive into the powerful role mentors play in shaping confidence, careers, and advocacy. Katey reflects on Doug’s advice to focus on making friends rather than just selling, how mentorship helped her navigate a career shift into sales, and why r...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Different Ability® Podcast , Katey and her mom, Lynn, explore Chapter 24 of Embracing Your Different Ability® . Katey shares the pivotal mindset shift that led her to embrace the concept of Different Ability® —reframing dyslexia from a limitation into a source of strength. Together, they discuss navigating misconceptions, finding purpose through life’s unexp...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Different Ability® Podcast , Katey and her mom reflect on Chapter 25 of Embracing Your Different Ability® and the power of personal storytelling as a catalyst for advocacy and change. Katey shares how speaking at her great aunt Lynn’s celebration of life shaped her confidence as a speaker and reaffirmed her purpose as an advocate. They discuss stepping outsi...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Different Ability® Podcast , Katey and her mom dive into Chapter 26 of Embracing Your Different Ability® , focusing on limiting beliefs, self-doubt, and the courage it takes to keep going—even when quitting feels easier. Katey opens up about the moments during the writing process when negative self-talk crept in and how her different ability both challenged...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Different Ability® Podcast , Katey sits down with her mom, Lynn, to explore Chapter 27 of Embracing Your Different Ability® . They discuss how Lynn’s perspective on learning disabilities has evolved since Katey’s diagnosis and the vital role of family, community, and support systems in navigating early challenges. Lynn shares advice for parents and caregiver...

Send us Fan Mail In this final episode of The Different Ability® Podcast for Season 6, Katey reflects on Chapter 28 of Embracing Your Different Ability® , sharing the courage it took to be vulnerable, the mix of emotions she experienced finishing the book, and the practical lessons she’s learned along the way. She discusses how to navigate fear, self-doubt, and external labels while celebrating ac...

Send us Fan Mail This week, I’m bringing back a powerful conversation from the archive: Dyslexia Struggles. As I prepare for the release of my book Embracing Your Different Ability® , it felt like the perfect time to revisit this episode where I open up about the real, everyday challenges I face living with dyslexia. From the frustrations to the behind-the-scenes moments people don’t always see, I...

Send us Fan Mail Re-releasing this episode because the message still matters. If you’ve ever been made to feel “less than,” this is your reminder: you are not alone! Let’s stand up to our bullies, grow in confidence, and embrace what makes us uniquely us - differences and all!  Stay in the loop with the new Different Ability® product I'll be launching! Sign Up Here ! Shop new products here !...

Send us Fan Mail In this heartfelt episode, I sit down with Patty Laushman — coach, educator, and neurodiversity advocate — to talk about her journey as a mom navigating years of uncertainty before learning her son is autistic. She shares what those first 8½ years were like, the challenges her family faced, and how one doctor’s words changed everything for the better. We also talk about her path t...

Send us Fan Mail In this powerful episode, I sit down with Kelly Berger and Avery Roberts , hosts of the Wheel Talk with Kelly & Avery Podcast , for an honest and uplifting conversation about living fully with congenital muscular dystrophy (CMD). Together, we talk about what it really means to grow up learning your body, your needs, and your voice — and how self-advocacy becomes a life-changin...

Send us Fan Mail In this powerful conversation, Kimberly Hendrix shares her journey through life’s hardest seasons — from marriage struggles and motherhood to building a decades-long business, raising a child with Down syndrome, and facing breast cancer. Through it all, she’s leaned on faith, resilience, and courage to rise stronger and advocate fiercely for her children, women, and families every...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of recording my audio book Embracing Your Different Ability® ! I share how the process has been going, what’s surprised me, what’s been harder than expected, and what I’ve loved most about bringing my book to life in my own voice. And because real life (and real recording) isn’t always perfect, I’m also sharing some bloopers from t...

Send us Fan Mail Life has been full and before I knew it, a month had passed without a new podcast episode. In this short, honest update, I’m sharing where I’ve been, why this pause wasn’t intentional, and what this season has been teaching me about grace, growth, and honoring the work behind the scenes. I also briefly touch on recording the audiobook for Embracing Your Different Ability® and teas...

Send us Fan Mail Today’s episode is a little different and a little more personal. On this Christmas Eve, I’m sharing a short sneak peek from the audiobook of Embracing Your Different Ability® . This excerpt comes from Chapter 9, where I talk about learning to embrace what I was good at in school—even when it didn’t look like what everyone else celebrated. From book talks and The Boxcar Children t...

Send us Fan Mail Grace Berios opens up about the emotional journey of discovering her youngest son, Teddy, has Down syndrome. From grief and uncertainty to life-changing travel and new perspectives, Grace shares how her family found hope, balance, and joy while raising kids of all abilities—and how it inspired her upcoming book, Raising Great, Even When… Grace's Bio Grace Berios is an author...

Send us Fan Mail We’re going way back to the early days of the podcast! I’m re-releasing Episode Three — an important chapter of my story and one of the most meaningful episodes from the beginning. In this throwback, I share what it was like to finally get my diagnosis and understand why I struggled for so long. It was a moment filled with relief, hope, and the feeling that I wasn’t “broken” — I j...

Send us Fan Mail We’re taking it way back! I’m re-releasing Episode Two — one of the very first episodes I ever recorded and the beginning of my Different Ability® story. In this throwback episode, I open up about the tough early years: the moments when I felt “dumb,” couldn’t understand why things were harder for me, and didn’t yet know there was a reason behind the struggle. It’s honest, emotion...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I sit down with Serena — a woman whose winding path shaped her into the strong, grounded, inspiring person she is today. She grew up attending a one-room schoolhouse, moved through different schools, and eventually headed to Pacific Union College to study interior design before returning to Oregon and changing direction completely. Serena married young, raised kid...

Send us Fan Mail Janet Mackay—high-energy speaker, founder of INPact Academy, and creator of the legendary “Drip That Rips”—returns to the show! We catch up on what she’s been building over the last few years, the powerful stories fueling her mission, and how the Drip That Rips movement continues to inspire students and adults around the world. Get ready for big energy, big heart, and big reminder...