Conquering Your Clownfish

Brady Murray
  • 4.7 (7)
  • PARENTING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Brady Murray, a proud dad to two sons who have Down syndrome, knows firsthand just how easy it is to become a clownfish parent. Inspired by Marlin, the anxious and overprotective father of Nemo in the Pixar animated film Finding Nemo, Conquering Your Clownfish is a fun and inspiring podcast that dives into the uplifting stories of parents and caretakers who have committed their lives to transforming disabilities into special abilities.

  1. JUL 30

    Finding Joy Outside of Parenting—Without the Guilt featuring Author, Amanda Griffith-Atkins

    n this powerful episode of Conquering Your Clownfish, Misty Coy Snyder sits down with therapist and author Amanda Griffith-Atkins, a mother navigating the complex realities of raising a child with Prader-Willi syndrome. Amanda opens up about the raw, unfiltered side of parenting a child with high support needs—the medical trauma that fuels hypervigilance, the guilt that creeps in with every “what if,” and the damaging weight of toxic positivity. She shares hard-earned wisdom from her new book, encouraging parents to allow space for grief and honest emotions while also carving out moments of joy beyond parenting. Through heartfelt stories and practical strategies like micro self-care and redefining success around love and safety (not milestones), Amanda offers a lifeline of hope and validation for families walking a similar path.

    37 min

  2. JUL 1

    From Shock to Sacred: The Unexpected Gift of Down Syndrome

    What happens when the picture-perfect plan of motherhood is shattered by an unexpected diagnosis? In this raw and revealing episode, Ashley Stringham opens up about the moment she learned her son Carter had Down syndrome — a moment that brought shock, grief, and an overwhelming sense of isolation. With brutal honesty, Ashley shares the emotional rollercoaster of denial, heartbreak, and eventual acceptance, inviting us into the messy, beautiful reality of parenting a child with special needs. But this isn’t just a story about Carter. It’s a call to every mother who’s ever felt like she had to hold it all together. Ashley explores the often-unspoken truth that self-care isn’t selfish — it’s survival. That it’s okay to cry. That it’s okay to grieve. And that progress, not perfection, is what real motherhood looks like. Through the power of community, Ashley found healing in the stories of other special needs moms. Her message is clear: advocacy begins at home, and joy can be found in the smallest victories — if we’re brave enough to stop comparing and start embracing the journey we didn’t expect. This episode will challenge the narrative, crack open your heart, and remind you that sometimes the most unexpected detours lead to the most profound love.

    35 min

  3. JUN 24

    What They Don’t Tell You About Down Syndrome… But Should

    In this episode of Conquering Your Clownfish, hosts Misty Coy Snyder, Ela, and Larry invite listeners into the raw and radiant journey of raising their daughter with Down syndrome—one that shattered their expectations, exposed the fear-based narratives still dominating the medical world, and ultimately gave rise to a global advocacy movement rooted in art. What began as confusion and isolation quickly transformed into connection and purpose. Ela and Larry didn’t just find beauty in their daughter—they captured it, painted it, and put it on display for the world to see. Through their art, they’ve made it impossible to look away from the truth: children with Down syndrome are not a tragedy to grieve, but a light to follow. They speak openly about the way limitations—imposed by doctors, systems, even well-meaning friends—can quietly crush potential. They spotlight the often-overlooked role of fathers, the fierce empathy that grows in siblings, and the community that every family deserves but so few actually find. This episode doesn’t sugarcoat the journey. Instead, it flips the script: what if the “hard news” isn’t the diagnosis, but the lies we’re told about what that diagnosis means? What if the real disability is in how society chooses to see? If you've ever been afraid of the unknown, or wondered how to turn pain into purpose—this one is for you.

    49 min

  4. JUN 17

    The Truth About Non-Speaking Autism: What We’ve Been Getting Wrong

    What if the child you thought couldn’t understand you had been listening all along? In this powerful episode of Conquering Your Clown Fish, Betsy Hicks-Russ—mother, advocate, and director of Autism Odyssey—opens up about her journey parenting Joey, a young man with non-speaking autism. For years, she was told Joey couldn’t comprehend the world around him. But everything changed when they discovered spelling to communicate—a method that unlocked Joey’s voice and transformed their entire relationship. Betsy challenges the narrative that non-speaking means non-thinking. With fierce honesty and vulnerability, she shares how the vest Joey wears in public serves as more than a tool for safety—it’s a call for empathy in a world that too often makes assumptions. She dives into why society still underestimates people like Joey, and why it’s time we stop. This conversation is a wake-up call to parents, educators, and anyone who’s ever judged what they didn’t understand. It’s also a love letter to the caregivers who keep showing up, even when Plan A fails—and who discover miracles in Plan B.

    34 min

  5. JUN 10

    From Diagnosis to the Cage: A Down Syndrome Story You’ve Never Heard

    What if everything the world told you about disability was wrong? In this powerful episode, Mitch Holeve shares the raw and transformative journey of raising his son Garrett, a trailblazer with Down syndrome who defied every limit—including stepping into the cage as a mixed martial artist. Mitch unpacks the emotional highs and societal hurdles of parenting a child with disabilities, exposing outdated perceptions and advocating for a world that expects more because our kids are capable of more. From volunteering at Eunie's Buddies and mentoring new parents, Mitch challenges us to stop settling for sympathy and start building support systems that empower. This episode is a call to action—for positivity, for inclusion, and for a shift in how we define success, strength, and belonging. To learn more about Eunie's Buddies, visit HERE.

    31 min

  6. JUN 3

    Adoption, Disability, and the Truth No One Talks About

    What if the very thing you feared most became the source of your deepest joy? In this raw and unfiltered episode, Amanda Ellard—mother, author, and fierce advocate—opens up about the life-altering journey of raising a child with Down syndrome. She doesn’t sugarcoat it. The grief is real. The trauma is real. But so is the joy—piercing, profound, and often found in the most unexpected places. Amanda speaks to the quiet battles adoptive parents face: the emotional exhaustion, the fear of failure, the invisible weight of parenting children with trauma. She challenges the narrative that love is always easy—revealing how trust must be earned, how vulnerability is non-negotiable, and how therapy and self-care are not luxuries but lifelines. This episode is a rallying cry: Every child—especially those the world too often overlooks—is worthy of celebration, belonging, and relentless advocacy. And perhaps the greatest transformation isn’t just in the child... but in us.

    30 min

  7. MAY 27

    The Gift We Never Expected: A Father’s Story of Down Syndrome and Redemption

    In this raw and riveting episode of Conquering Your Clown Fish, host Brady Murray sits down with Tim Ashcraft—Army aviator, father of four, and reluctant member of a club no parent asks to join: the parents of a child with a life-changing diagnosis. When Tim and his wife Ashley learned their youngest, Finley, would be born with Down syndrome, their world shifted in an instant. What followed wasn’t a tragedy—it was a transformation. With unflinching honesty, Tim shares the emotional rollercoaster of receiving Finley’s diagnosis, the weight of uncertainty, and the unexpected beauty that emerged on the other side. He opens up about the sacred power of faith, the fierce importance of community, and the real, messy, miraculous moments of parenting a child with special needs. From celebrating milestones most overlook to grappling with the complexities of family dynamics and adoption, Tim’s story challenges cultural assumptions about what makes a life valuable. This episode isn’t just about Down syndrome—it’s about what happens when you let go of the life you imagined and embrace the one you’ve been given. It’s about the kind of love that stretches you, surprises you, and ultimately saves you. Prepare to be moved, challenged, and reminded that sometimes the greatest gifts come wrapped in uncertainty.

    36 min

  8. MAY 20

    What Hollywood Gets Wrong: A New Script for Down Syndrome

    What if the stories the world needs most are the ones we rarely see on screen? In this powerful episode, we sit down with David and Jackson Hughens—a father-son filmmaking team on a mission to challenge the status quo of storytelling. Their journey began not on a film set, but in the heart of a community too often overlooked: individuals with Down syndrome. What started as a personal connection evolved into a calling—to create films that don’t just include people with disabilities, but center them as heroes, artists, and changemakers. From intimate mini-documentaries to the ambitious development of a feature film inspired by the magnetic and unforgettable Jay, the Hughens are flipping the script on what Hollywood thinks audiences want. They speak candidly about the uphill battle to secure funding, the emotional weight of telling stories that matter, and how their time in Armenia deepened their understanding of the global need for adoption and advocacy. This episode isn’t just about filmmaking—it’s about demanding better from media, amplifying underrepresented voices, and proving that individuals with Down syndrome don’t need to be “fixed” or pitied. They need to be seen.

    31 min
See All (67)

Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Brady Murray, a proud dad to two sons who have Down syndrome, knows firsthand just how easy it is to become a clownfish parent. Inspired by Marlin, the anxious and overprotective father of Nemo in the Pixar animated film Finding Nemo, Conquering Your Clownfish is a fun and inspiring podcast that dives into the uplifting stories of parents and caretakers who have committed their lives to transforming disabilities into special abilities.

Information

  • Creator
    Brady Murray
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    67
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Brady Murray
  • Show Website
    Conquering Your Clownfish