All Our Brave Hearts Podcast

Danny reflects on his journey to being "semi-famous" in the speller community - a significant change from his pre-spelling life of silence and being overlooked. He shares how it feels to be a public figure, and we chat about considerations and decisions along the way. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit allourbra...

From a tale of wandering off in a hotel to the bigger issue of Dignity of Risk, we share stories and thoughts about helping Danny experience a more autonomous - and fulfilling - life, even when it makes the rest of us a little nervous! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit allourbravehearts.substack.com

An episode on processing grief, including finding profound beauty amidst the pain. This might be an episode to save and come back to later if you're feeling vulnerable today! Danny shares how he experiences and copes with grief as we both face the recent loss of a beloved dog. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit...

Intro note from Tara: We recorded this in early December 2025, and I only got around to finishing editing it today, in April. How fitting that this episode is about the passing of time! I have 3 other episodes in the editing queue, and Danny’s eager to record more, so we’ll have a more steady steam of episodes coming up! D: Hi all and welcome to All Our Brave Parts! It is the last weeks of 2025. S...

This is a bit of a heavy episode, so please take care and listen only if you're feeling resilient today. Danny wanted to watch and respond to a recent problematic video by a speaking autistic creator mocking letterboard users. Please note that this was his informed choice. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit allo...

Happy holidays! We have 2 episodes for you before the end of the year. This episode is on friendship - how Danny's friendships blossomed with spelling, his advice to anyone about the types of friends we deserve to have & to be, and a little gossip from Danny "pot stirrer" Whitty. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, vis...

Danny surprises Tara with some tough questions, and we discuss our raw, honest feelings about our reality. This is a bit heavy, so we advise you to only listen if you're feeling resilient today! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit allourbravehearts.substack.com

People are very fired up in autism land, and it often relates to the conflict between speaking autistics and parents of nonspeaking autistics. There is so much that is very confidently proclaimed about our disability as nonspeaking autistics. But the glaring problem in all of this is: no one seems to care that our voices are rarely consulted or included. This is a public episode. If you would like...

Danny shares about what he experiences when he works to de-escalate his dysregulation, including insights on the benefits of therapy and mindfulness. Let us know if this is helpful for you! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit allourbravehearts.substack.com

We're back for a special episode on communication equity (regular episodes resume in May!). Spelling is an amazing gift to nonspeakers and their loved ones, but there are many barriers to access to spelling. This is particularly pronounced for BIPOC communities, as well as low-income communities. We share perspectives and focus on the Communication Equity campaign by Spellers & Allies Advocacy Net...

Happy holidays! As the year ends, so does the first season of All Our Brave Hearts. We reflect on this first year of the podcast, share brave things we've done recently, and provide a sneak peek of Danny's schemes for season 2 - including more interactions with our listeners. Thank you for being with us, and stay tuned for more to come in ~March 2025! This is a public episode. If you would like to...

Inspiration! Disabled folks are too aware that we are apparently a fountain of inspiration to non-disabled folks. The problem is that this often leaves us feeling worse about our situation, which is rarely helped by people who so casually claim inspiration from us. At the same time, we appreciate that Danny's work and story do inspire people in meaningful ways. So what is the difference?  We discu...

As our theme song says, "we are all needing more kindness and care." It's Election Day, and we share thoughts on how the hate and conflict in recent years is a sign that people are hurting and need more care. Danny shares his dismay over the dominance of hateful rhetoric, and we chat about how we can foster more care in the world. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with ot...

Understanding and transforming our fears might be one of the most daunting, but meaningful, things we can do as humans. We chat about how we're working to face fears and to release our clinging to narratives that ultimately harm us. Setting boundaries, striving for more agency, releasing control, practicing acceptance, working toward challenging goals (freediving and riding the train alone), and d...

Another brief break (unplanned), and back with another Q&A episode (keep those questions coming)! We touch on access to talk therapy for spellers, building motor skills and strength, and the oneness of the universe. Thank you for submitting questions! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit allourbravehearts.substack...

Keeping it short & sweet this episode! We've been both exhausted and having a tough time lately, and it seems like many people in our lives have been, as well. So, Danny decided to talk about a "few of our favorite things"! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit allourbravehearts.substack.com

Sorry, sincerely sorry. This episode is about apologizing! This is such an important practice that can help both the giver and receiver of the apology, and it is critical for maintaining thriving relationships. We share how we approach apologies and what we need in an apology, and Danny chats about the implications of his disability in all of this. You won't be sorry you listened! This is a public...

We discuss the importance of dignity of risk, and how disabled folks have a right to choose to take risks. Taking risks, and learning from the mistakes and successes that come with those risks, is essential for growth. We chat about some of the ways we work to ensure that Danny has the dignity of risk in his life, and how tricky that can be for (overprotective) support teams. This is a public epis...

Q&A time! Danny answers questions about learning languages, dealing with trauma, dancing, and traveling. Please send along more questions for future Q&A episodes! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit allourbravehearts.substack.com

An episode on a topic near to our hearts - siblings! We celebrate the joys of being a trio of close-knit siblings - we all cherish one another and benefit so much from our connection. We also discuss the challenges and dynamics of sibling relationships where one sibling is disabled, and how siblings can be important models for allyship and for helping diminish ableism in the world. Shout-out to Ep...

Our hearts are still brave, don't worry! We've been busy and are happy to finally return with Episode 10, on the topic of learning to dream and plan for a new life. Danny's life - and our whole family's life - changed drastically when he gained access to communication. But what does this "happily ever after" look like? How can people who are facing a new chapter of their lives adapt and learn to n...

Following our episode on "What is Worth?": Many nonspeaking autistic folks who gain communication are revealed to be remarkably intelligent - definitely something to celebrate and cultivate further! However, we want to pose the question to listeners: what if they weren't so intelligent? Would that change how people feel about or advocate for them? This is a public episode. If you would like to dis...

Hi again! We are back, and we are happy about it! In this episode, Danny wanted to explore how we value other people. We chat about how he has often been made to feel disposable or not worthwhile because he is disabled, and how a more holistic view of "prosperity" that values community and interdependence is better for all of us. Includes 2 poems written by Danny on the concept of "worth." This is...

This is our last recording before Tara's extended trip, which will be our longest time apart since we started Spelling to Communicate together. We discuss the dynamics between us, and the inequalities in the relationship between Danny as a disabled person and Tara as an able-bodied support person, and how to balance Tara's role as a support person with her other passions in life. We'll take a mont...

Episode 6: Danny shares a few of his heartfelt poems on the theme of togetherness - on how love saves him, how love spans years and miles, and how love makes whatever universe we end up in seem beautiful. He speaks a bit to the power of poetry, and Tara shares more about his process and the privilege of having a family poet. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other su...