A Little Something Extra

Tampa Bay Bucs defensive back Dee Delaney, and wide receiver Deven Thompkins join the podcast in studio!! Dee and DT(Deven) have really inspiring stories to tell. While being NFL players and teammates, both Dee and Deven are also parents to kids with Down syndrome! Deven’s story begins at just 19 years old, he talks about his experience having a son with Down syndrome in college and how he embrace...

In honor of World Down Syndrome Day, the extremely talented Kevin Iannucci and James Keith join the podcast!! Kevin and James are both actors who starred in the 2023 comedy Champions, A Bobby Farrelly comedy centered around a college basketball coach who was ordered to coach a special needs basketball team. Both Kevin and James KILLED IT in their roles, so they joined us to talk about it! Kevin an...

On this week’s episode of A Little Something Extra, we are joined by Love on the Spectrum star Tanner Smith and his amazing mom, Nicci! Love on the Spectrum is a show that follows various individuals on the autism spectrum on their search for love. Tanner was a breakout star in season 2, no doubt due to his upbeat personality and his incredibly positive outlook on life. In his own words, Tanner is...

Season 3 of A Little Something Extra is starting off with a bang, featuring John and Mark Cronin the father/son duo behind John’s Crazy Socks! If you are not familiar with their story, this is the perfect place to learn it. Mark (father) tells us about his journey, both as a professional and as a father of a son with Down syndrome. John then tells us the story behind his crazy sock empire! Their s...

Jennifer McCormick joins the show!! On this week’s episode, we are celebrating the beauty of motherhood by featuring parent blogger and influencer, Jennifer McCormick. Jennifer has a three-year-old with Down syndrome, named Riley. Riley falls right in the middle of, soon to be, 5 kids! Making all her siblings her biggest fan and advocates in the world. We talk about the impacts that a child with D...

Britain’s Got Talent Semi-Finalists Nathan and Joanne join the podcast to talk about their amazing journey! Joanne and Nathan are a dancing duo who won over the hearts of Great Britain on the latest season of Britain’s Got Talent. This incredible journey began back in 2019 in one of Joanne’s dance classes. Nathan is an adult with Down Syndrome who has always been interested in dance and performing...

Jennifer Hogan Jones, known on social media as My Beautiful DS Journey, joins the show! Jennifer is a super mom who has been sharing her Down syndrome journey on social media. When she received her prenatal diagnosis that her son, Hudson, had Down syndrome, she thought her world would fall apart. Being a mom of 3 other daughters, she didn’t know how the family would take it. Well fast forward 4 ye...

Houston and Katie Vandergriff join the show!! Houston is an adult with Down syndrome who is a professional photographer and world traveler. His mother, Katie, and him run the platform “Downs and Towns”, where people can view his beautiful photography and see his life journey! This episode is so important because it shows the power of following one’s passion. No one should be held back from followi...

The mother-daughter duo behind Candidly Kind, Grace, and Carrie Key join the show! Grace is a 22-year-old entrepreneur who so happens to have Down syndrome. Grace has a passion for art, fashion, and cosmetology so, like any great entrepreneur, she is channeled that passion into her business! Candidly Kind’s message is to spread light, love and acceptance through Grace’s original art. Then a percen...

Author, influencer, sister, and sibling advocate; Erin Johnson joins the show this week alongside her brother, Matt! This episode goes out to all the amazing sibling advocates out there. Erin is the older sister of her brother, Matt, who has Down syndrome. Erin and Matt share a story that a lot of people can relate to. Just a brother and sister who share lots of love, laughs, and appreciation for...

Heather Rodriguez and Bill Alsid from GiGi’s Playhouse Syracuse join the show! Heather has been a friend of GiGi’s Playhouse and a die-hard advocate for Down syndrome for 10 years. Bill is a participant at GiGi’s Syracuse but is better known for his beautiful personality and his ability to make anyone smile. This episode is for those who are looking for a way to give back without knowing where to...

Actor and model, Sophia Sanchez and her mom Jennifer join the show! This week's episode is a super special one, because we are joined by an incredible mother-daughter duo. Sophia Sanchez is a 14-year-old with Down syndrome who is paving the way for others in her work as an actress and model. Sophia is starring in the upcoming film, Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. A role she recei...

GiGi’s Playhouse Cleveland’s very own Lizz Maxwell and Missy Gibel join the show! We are back highlighting playhouses in celebration of 20 Years of Believing at GiGi’s Playhouse!! These 2 have pretty amazing stories to share, it was hard to fit them both in! Missy was on the team that started the 3rd playhouse to ever open back in 2006 in Chicago! She is a strong momma bear that just wanted to cre...

Ellen Boyer, founder and president of The Brett Boyer Foundation, joins the show! This episode is a bit heavier than others, but so beautiful, inspirational, and important. Ellen talks with us about her journey of turning tragedy into inspiration. At just 7 months old, Ellen and her husband lost their beloved Brett to complications due to congenital heart disease. Ellen and her family turned the t...

Throughout 2023, GiGi’s Playhouse is celebrating 20 Years of Believing, with an emphasis on highlighting the incredible people that have helped change the face of the Down syndrome diagnosis. On this week’s episode of A Little Something Extra, we are highlighting the founder of our Phoenix location! Jennifer Gage joins us to talk about what inspired her to help in bringing a GiGi’s Playhouse locat...

With World Down Syndrome Day just around the corner, this week’s episode of A Little Something Extra feels a bit more special! To celebrate, we spoke with the founder of The Lucky Few, Heather Avis! Heather is a New York Times best-selling author, podcaster, and a Down syndrome advocate, working to create a more inclusive world where everyone belongs. The Lucky Few has grown from this concept of c...

On this week's episode of A Little Something Extra, we are joined by the absolutely incredible Madison Tevlin! Staring in the upcoming movie, Champions, premiering Friday, March 10th. Madison is a 21-year-old with Down syndrome, but she likes to say her diagnosis is the least interesting thing about her. I think after listening, anyone would agree! You may remember Madison from her viral video bac...

In this episode of A Little Something Extra, we are joined by someone who not only goes above and beyond to make an impact but who also celebrates going above and beyond to change the world. Andrew Moses is the Vice President of Business Development & Marketing at MorganFranklin Consulting. Though if you ask him, he identifies himself as a super-connector and thought leader, sharing the stories an...

On this episode of A Little Something Extra, we are joined by two really special guests to GiGi’s and the Down syndrome community! Our first guest is a former standup comedian, turned non-profit entrepreneur, who has used his expertise in the comedy industry to create an improved troupe called the Imporvaneers! This improv troupe is the first to ever solely consist of individuals with Down syndrom...

On today’s new episode of A Little Something Extra, we are joined by two incredible gentlemen all that way from Ireland! This father/son duo is paving the way for change on an international scale, traveling all around the world to show people the beauty of Down syndrome and all their unique abilities! Fionn and Jonathan join the podcast to discuss their 26-year journey, navigating the complex work...

This week’s episode takes us back to earlier this year when Nancy GiGi and Franco were joined by Dr. Brian Skotko at the National Down Syndrome Conference! Dr. Skotko is a Board-certified medical geneticist, serving as the Emma Campbell Endowed Chair on Down Syndrome at Massachusetts General Hospital. As the Director of the hospital’s Down Syndrome Program, he has dedicated his professional energi...

This episode of A Little Something Extra goes out to the siblings! The theme is Standing Up for Your Siblings, and do we have a guest that has gone above and beyond to do just that. We are joined by Jeanhee Hoffman, a sibling of a brother with Down syndrome, who founded GiGi’s Playhouse Raleigh. Jeanhee has an incredible story, that is filled with love and inspiration. Jeanhee and her brother, Sam...

We are finally back with a new episode of the A Little Something Extra podcast!! It has been a minute since we released a new episode, but we are kicking things off again with a great one! Nancy, GiGi, and Franco are joined by award-winning gospel/Christian rock artist Aaron Shust. Aaron is an award-winning talent in the music industry, a gifted writer, a profound minister, and most of all, a devo...

With the Super Bowl just around the corner, and our I Have a Voice Gala happening in nearly 2 weeks A little Something Extra is releasing a surprise episode today, as a little sneak peek of season 2! Nancy and GiGi were joined by former NFL wide receiver, Wendell Davis and Tom Serpento, Executive Director of the Retired Professional Football Players of Chicago . Wendell and Tom, and the rest of th...

This episode was the first podcast popup, recorded at the 2021 GiGi’s National Leadership Conference! This episode is so special and close to the GiGi’s heart because it focuses on the people of our organization. It features 18 interviews and 27 guests from the GiGi’s network. Nancy, GiGi and Franco talk with model and actor Amanda Booth. Author and influencer Kelle Hampton, Adult participants; Fa...