Beyond the Spectrum.. every age, every need

Caregiver Burnout: Bridging the Gap Between Accountability & Independence How do you support someone you love without sacrificing your own well-being? Caregiver burnout isn't always caused by doing too much—it can also come from the constant challenge of balancing compassion with accountability. In this episode of Beyond the Spectrum: Every Age. Every Need. , host Shawn Francis sits down w...

WHO TAKES CARE OF THE CAREGIVER? The Caregiver's Relationship with Food Relationships & Caregiving Series Caregivers spend so much time caring for others that they often forget to care for themselves. In this episode of Beyond the Spectrum: Every Age, Every Need, host Shawn Francis sits down with longtime friend and nutrition expert Lisa Underwood, MBA, MS, RD, LD, LN, to discuss one of th...

RELATIONSHIPS & CAREGIVING, PART 2 THE VERSION OF YOU THAT GOT HURT STILL NEEDS HEALING Many caregivers spend so much time tending to the needs of others that they lose touch with the parts of themselves that were wounded long before caregiving began. In Part 2 of our Relationships & Caregiving series, we continue the conversation about the most important relationship we will ever have—the...

Part 1 of the Relationships & Caregiving Series What happens when the person you care for most is everyone except yourself? In this first episode of the Relationships & Caregiving series, Shawn Francis explores why self-relationship serves as the foundation for every other relationship we build and maintain. Whether you're caring for a child with special needs, supporting a family memb...

"Someday" is the heaviest word in a caregiver’s vocabulary. We tell ourselves we’ll look at the guardianship papers someday. We’ll finalize the budget someday. We’ll address the long-term legacy someday. But when your calendar is a constant cycle of appointments and advocacy, "someday" becomes a trap—a way to manage the overwhelm while the weight of the unfinished business continue...

In this episode of Beyond the Spectrum, we sit down with Liza Maya and Sylvia Williams, the visionary founders of Soul Grain. Bringing together the expertise of a nutritionist and the artistry of a pastry chef, Liza and Sylvia are on a mission to redefine what it means to enjoy soulful, cultural flavors while prioritizing metabolic health. We dive deep into their entrepreneurial journey and the he...

Shawn & Maurice discuss the price of overthinking & the value of traveling outside the comfort zone both literally & figuratively, including the choice by Shawn & his wife to "bite the bullet" & take a vacation, putting their 19 year old son on the spectrum on plane for the first time!

Shawn & Susanna discuss the matter of hygiene & puberty, based on thier personal experience as parents to young adults with autism.

About this episode. For most parents, as their children grow, the parent becomes more of a consultant, stepping back & granting more independence. For those of us who are parents to neurodivergent individuals, this picture can look a little different. In som cases, extremely different. Shawn & Maurice discuss their own individual experiences and Shawn shares a recent social incident involv...

SUPPORT THE SHOW & EXPERIENCE UNIVERSAL DESIGN We are proud to partner with BILLY Footwear, a brand that truly embodies the spirit of Beyond the Spectrum. After a spinal cord injury, co-founder Billy Price set out to create shoes that were stylish, high-quality, and—most importantly—accessible to everyone. Get 10% OFF your purchase at checkout here:  https://billyfootwear.com/?ref=beyond-the-s...

SUPPORT THE SHOW & EXPERIENCE UNIVERSAL DESIGN We are proud to partner with BILLY Footwear, a brand that truly embodies the spirit of Beyond the Spectrum. After a spinal cord injury, co-founder Billy Price set out to create shoes that were stylish, high-quality, and—most importantly—accessible to everyone. Get 10% OFF your purchase at checkout here: https://billyfootwear.com/?ref=beyond-the-sp...

SUPPORT THE SHOW & EXPERIENCE UNIVERSAL DESIGN We are proud to partner with BILLY Footwear, a brand that truly embodies the spirit of Beyond the Spectrum. After a spinal cord injury, co-founder Billy Price set out to create shoes that were stylish, high-quality, and—most importantly—accessible to everyone. Get 10% OFF your purchase at checkout here:  https://billyfootwear.com/?ref=beyond-the-s...

SUPPORT THE SHOW & EXPERIENCE UNIVERSAL DESIGN We are proud to partner with BILLY Footwear, a brand that truly embodies the spirit of Beyond the Spectrum. After a spinal cord injury, co-founder Billy Price set out to create shoes that were stylish, high-quality, and—most importantly—accessible to everyone. Get 10% OFF your purchase at checkout here:  https://billyfootwear.com/?ref=beyond-the-s...

Shawn & Maurice discuss Caregiving from not only a man's perspective, but that of a black father & what that means in today's society, how it differs from other cultural perspectives & most important, the things that we all have in common.

Being a caregiver is one of the most demanding roles a man can take on. The Den is a support group created to provide male caregivers with a place to vent, find resources, and build community with others in the same boat. If you’re looking for a group of men who lead with empathy and shared strength, we’d love to hear from you.  Fill out the registration application here:  https://sites.google.com...

Support the show and save on your next pair of shoes! We’ve partnered with BILLY Footwear to bring you their revolutionary "flip-top" shoes that bridge the gap between fashion and function. • The Deal: Get an additional 10% OFF your final purchase price. • The Bonus: This stacks on top of any current site-wide sales! • Shop here:  https://billyfootwear.com/?ref=beyon

Shawn & Maurice each discuss what it means to them to be a man, how they each define masculinity, how society today defines both, & how it has affected they way they parent.. each as fathers to young adult men on the autism spectrum.

Susanna, Maurice, & Shawn have an open conversation about how being caregivers has & continues to affect relationhips in their lives.

Beyond the Spectrum is a mission‑driven podcast and video series that explores stewardship, gratitude, and practical frameworks for multiplying blessings across family, business, and community. Each episode blends heartfelt conversations with actionable tools, helping listeners move from reflection to repeatable routines that build trust, clarity, and connection. Rooted in inclusion and empowermen...

In the final episode of Just Two Dads, Shawn & Brian reflect on the creation of the show, express their tremendous gratitude, and discuss the decision to bring the show to an end, & share the exciting things that lie ahead for them collectively and individually.. including the upcoming announcement of a new show which will continue to serve the special needs community, expand on their miss...

From Compton, CA, Stacy McAlister is a proud father of two, a son on the autism spectrum and a daughter, who inspire much of his work and passion today. A graduate of Claflin University (Class of 2012), Stacy played Division II basketball at Chadron State College (2007–2009) and Claflin University (2009–2011) before going on to play professionally in England and Brunei. In 2016, Stacy founded 5-El...

Dr. Merle Griff is a nationally recognized intergenerational therapist, author, and caregiving expert with over three decades of experience helping families navigate the complexities of caring for loved ones of all ages. As the founder and CEO of SarahCare, a pioneering network of adult day care centers across the United States, Dr. Griff has redefined caregiving by creating innovative, holistic p...

AI-Jen Poo is the co-founder & Executive Director of Caring Across Generations, an organization committed to changing the way we define caregiving.

Ryann Sutera, M.S. CCC-SLP.. founder of Support the Spectrum, visits Shawn & Brian to discuss her passion for serving others through speech therapy, the rarely known practice of Gestalt Language Processing (GLP), the need to continue self-discovery, & so much more.

In the second of a two-part episode, Shawn & Brian continue their discussion about how Donald Trump's bill will affect the special needs/care-giving community. PLEASE NOTE-At the time of the recording of this episode, The Vigil to save Medicaid had yet to begin. As of the publishing of this episode..7/25/25, the vigil is 7 hours away from ending. Feel free to reach out to learn & share...