Beyond the Label Podcast

On the drive home from our family vacation, an unexpected song broke out in the back of the van. In this episode, we reflect on a small moment that meant a lot to us: hearing Milo join in with his sisters. We talk about the many ways Milo communicates—from singing and scripting to negotiating at the dinner table—and how his language continues to grow in ways we couldn't have imagined just a f...

In this episode, Ty shares a reflection on fatherhood. He references episode 45, "No Mom," where Lisa shares her perspective. You can listen to that here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2431776/episodes/18621023 Follow us on Instagram @beyondthelabel440 . Email us at beyondthelabel24@gmail.com Thank you to our friend Tom Evanchuck for the use of his song, "Sunshine," as our theme m...

"Big water. Big hotel." For weeks, Milo has been eagerly counting down to our family's annual beach trip. In this episode, we're sharing how vacations have changed over the years and reflecting on the progress that's easy to miss until you look back. Follow us on Instagram @beyondthelabel440 . Email us at beyondthelabel24@gmail.com Thank you to our friend Tom Evanchuck for...

A birthday party. A really hard moment. And questions we can't stop thinking about—but also can't answer. How do you balance your child's needs with the needs of those around them? What does inclusion look like when behaviors can be challenging and unpredictable? How do you keep showing up when there's no guarantee things will go smoothly? In this episode, we're reflecting...

We're sharing a fresh collection of glimmers—the small but meaningful moments that have brought us joy lately. These are the moments that remind us how much growth can happen over time. We're also reflecting on why we started this podcast in the first place: to give ourselves an outlet, to build community, and to be a source of comfort for other families walking a similar path. This epis...

There are moments when Milo feels relaxed, familiar, and fully himself. And then there are moments when the world feels much harder for him—and for us—to navigate. In this episode, we talk about how different environments affect Milo, why his hardest moments are often the most visible to strangers, and what it feels like trying to build community while always staying one step ahead. We also share...

Over the last few months, things with Milo have felt… good. Calm, even. But lately, old behaviors and triggers have started resurfacing, and we can feel our family entering another difficult cycle. In this episode, we share what it looks like when dysregulation returns to our home—the impact it has on all three kids, the impossible “space between” of parenting through it, and the uncertainty of ne...

In this episode, we talk about the complicated space between what Milo understands and what he doesn’t, and how difficult it can be to parent from that uncertainty. Follow us on Instagram @beyondthelabel440 . Email us at beyondthelabel24@gmail.com Thank you to our friend Tom Evanchuck for the use of his song, "Sunshine," as our theme music. Follow Tom on Spotify .  Thank you for being he...

We’re sharing our family’s experience with ABA — Applied Behavior Analysis — therapy over the last 3 years: what we knew about it going in, what surprised us about it, and how it has worked for Milo. If you’re looking for a formal overview of ABA and the research behind it, this isn’t it. But if you’re curious about one family’s real-life experience, we hope you’ll tune in. Topics discussed: ABA,...

Two kids. Two buses. Two very different days. In this episode, we share how Milo is beginning to understand that his sister goes to school—and he doesn’t—and what that’s looked like in one small, everyday moment that’s gotten a lot more complicated.  Episodes Referenced: E30: Before (School Update Part 1)   E31: After (School Update Part 2) Topics discussed: autism, communication, therapy, school...

In this episode, we talk about what progress really looks like in our life with Milo—and how it rarely looks the way we expected. From small but meaningful moments at the dinner table to the realities behind therapy goals and daily challenges, we share the tension of celebrating growth while still navigating how hard things can be. Because for us, progress isn’t a finish line; it’s something we’re...

In this episode, we share what it’s like to navigate the world with our son Milo, who is autistic. Through moments from a recent trip, we reflect on the contrast between the comfort of our home “bubble” and the unpredictability of public spaces. We talk about the unseen effort behind Milo’s behaviors, the challenges of being out in the world, and how brief interactions can shape understanding. We...

We're reflecting on the first moments we wondered if autism might be part of our son Milo’s story. We revisit memories of Milo as a baby—smiling, making eye contact, and seeming “typical”—and the relief we felt, alongside the quiet concerns we couldn’t fully explain. As time went on, we began noticing subtle differences, from speech delays to behaviors that didn’t quite add up. In this episod...

Building community has looked different for each of our kids. With Nora and June, connections with other families often happen naturally through school, activities, and everyday conversations. With Milo, it hasn’t always been that simple. We talk about how communication differences, special education settings, and the structure of school and therapy programs can sometimes make families like ours f...

A brief but meaningful interaction in a crowded Costco aisle left us thinking long after it ended. As Milo grows older, we sometimes find ourselves wondering how the world will respond to the ways he connects with others, especially when those interactions don’t always fit social expectations. We also share updates on Milo’s recent progress at therapy, including encouraging data from his annual IE...

For years, we’ve described Milo as being “stuck in a loop.” These days, that loop involves repeated questions about Llama Llama toys and birthday parties. In this episode, we reflect on how looping has evolved from something that trapped our family in cycles of anger and anxiety to something that’s become part of Milo’s daily rhythm—and often, how he communicates.  Topics discussed: autism parenti...

What happens when a simple carnival game becomes an impossible challenge for your family? We're sharing two stories about navigating arcades and fair games with our son Milo, who is autistic—and how those decisions impact our neurotypical daughters, Nora and June. From a yellow Baby Shark prize at the Geauga County Fair to an unfortunate claw machine incident at a birthday party, we open up a...

We’re sharing the full story behind Milo’s January surgery — including a tonsillectomy and turbinate reduction — and how we navigated it as parents of an autistic child who thrives on routine, predictability, and trust.  We rewind to early speech concerns, chronic congestion, adenoid removal, allergy testing, and the long road to understanding Milo’s needs.  We also share practical takeaways for f...

When Ty takes the girls to swim lessons, Lisa is home alone with Milo — something that once felt impossible. We're giving you a glimpse into the rhythms of our home and what it can feel like to parent an autistic child when you’re not the preferred parent.  Follow us on Instagram @beyondthelabel440 . Email us at beyondthelabel24@gmail.com Thank you to our friend Tom Evanchuck for the use of h...

For Milo's 7th birthday, we're reflecting on some of the highs and lows and lessons learned in the last year.  We reference this episode about Milo's 6th birthday:  E3: Cake Follow us on Instagram @beyondthelabel440 . Email us at beyondthelabel24@gmail.com Thank you to our friend Tom Evanchuck for the use of his song, "Sunshine," as our theme music. Follow Tom on Spotify ....

When Ty joins Nora at a friend’s birthday party, he finds himself in the middle of an all-out Nerf battle—with a room full of boys Milo’s age. It sparks an uncomfortable realization: what happens when you can play easily with other kids your son’s age… but not in the same way with your own child? Is it wrong to feel guilt—or even sadness—about that? Maybe it's just part of the emotional tight...

Camel or avocado? You never know. In this episode, we share a few small moments that show how much Milo has changed over the past year. What begins with a simple joke at the kitchen counter turns into a conversation about humor, communication, and emotional regulation. We talk about how Milo is not just expressing himself more clearly but also connecting with others through teasing and shared joke...

Tune in for a little message of gratitude to our listeners and a quick update on the future of the podcast. Follow us on Instagram @beyondthelabel440 . Email us at beyondthelabel24@gmail.com Thank you to our friend Tom Evanchuck for the use of his song, "Sunshine," as our theme music. Follow Tom on Spotify .  Thank you for being here!

In this episode, we’re unpacking all the emotions that come with receiving an unexpected phone call about your child—and why those feelings can linger long after the moment has passed. We’re also sharing a recent glimmer with Milo that definitely brightened our week!  We’ve got just one episode left before we wrap up Season 1. We’ll be taking a short break and returning in January with brand-new e...

About three years ago, before we’d even begun Milo’s autism evaluation, we decided to try something that felt “normal”: a fall family photoshoot. What followed was 15 minutes of chaos—apple-eating, shirt-lifting, tear-filled chaos—and a gallery of photos that captured much more than we intended. In this episode, we revisit that afternoon in the field, the pressure Lisa felt to “get it right,” and...