Specialness Pod

Specialness
  • 4.7 (3)
  • PARENTING
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Welcome to Specialness, the YouTube channel where love, resilience, and the extraordinary journey of parenting a special needs child take center stage. Hosted by Kim and Jeff Kribs, this heartfelt podcast-turned-video-series invites you into their world as they share their unique story, from adopting their son as a baby to navigating the joys and challenges of raising him into adulthood. Through candid conversations, touching anecdotes, and moments of humor, Kim and Jeff explore what it means to build a family filled with compassion and strength. Whether you're a parent, a family member, or s

  1. S2_Ep-10: We Thought We Had a Plan… Hopeful Plans vs. Hard Reality

    07/07/2025

    S2_Ep-10: We Thought We Had a Plan… Hopeful Plans vs. Hard Reality

    In this episode, we talk about the emotional aftermath of travel, how even the best vacations can take a toll—and what recovery looks like when you're caring for someone with special needs. From unexpected triggers to the slow return to normal, we share what it's really like behind the scenes.🌟 Special Shoutout:We want to take a moment to thank Special Soul Mama. If you're not already following her, you're missing out!👉 https://www.facebook.com/specialsoulmama/👉 https://www.instagram.com/specialsoulmamaShe’s a light—and we’re grateful to walk this road with her.If this episode resonates with you, please like, share, and comment. It helps more families like ours find this show. And don’t forget to subscribe!#MentalHealthAwareness #SpecialNeedsParenting #InvisibleStruggles #DisabilityAwareness #ParentingJourney #BipolarAwareness #AutismAndMentalHealth #MentalHealthMatters #SpecialnessPodcast

    55 min
  2. S2_Ep-9: We Thought We Had a Plan… Hopeful Plans vs. Hard Reality

    06/12/2025

    S2_Ep-9: We Thought We Had a Plan… Hopeful Plans vs. Hard Reality

    Buckle up—this is the one where everything went sideways.In this raw, emotional, and at times chaotic episode, Kim and Jeff recount a whirlwind 24 hours that took them from hopeful to heartbroken. What started as a routine trip to Houston turned into a spiral of medication issues, ER visits, and total emotional overload.🎙️ They open up about:* How quickly Cason’s behavior escalated* Their experience navigating the hospital system (again)* What it feels like when every plan you made unravels in real timeThis is the reality of parenting a medically complex, special needs child. It’s overwhelming, unrelenting—and rarely shown in this level of honesty.🔗 Watch, share, and don’t forget to subscribe for more unfiltered episodes of The Specialness Podcast.#MentalHealthAwareness #SpecialNeedsParenting #InvisibleStruggles #DisabilityAwareness #ParentingJourney #BipolarAwareness #AutismAndMentalHealth #MentalHealthMatters #SpecialnessPodcast

    57 min
  3. S2_Ep-8.5: Life Interrupted: When Everything Happens at Once

    06/06/2025

    S2_Ep-8.5: Life Interrupted: When Everything Happens at Once

    We’re calling this one Episode 8.5 — a special edition update from Jeff.Life doesn’t always go as planned — especially when you're raising a child with special needs. In this honest solo update, Jeff shares why there was no episode last week and what hit their family all at once:Kim’s melanoma diagnosis and emergency surgeryAnother frustrating Social Security denialA three-hour cardio-pulmonary test for CasonA high school graduation road tripThis isn’t just a delay. It’s a glimpse into the unpredictable, exhausting, and deeply human side of life behind the podcast.💬 New episode next week with Kim back in the chair — and some fun travel stories from Houston!🧡 Thanks for being here with us.🎧 Watch, listen, and subscribe

    6 min
  4. S2_Ep-8: Mental Health Awareness Month… for Families Like Ours

    05/20/2025

    S2_Ep-8: Mental Health Awareness Month… for Families Like Ours

    "It’s Mental Health Awareness Month… but where is the awareness?"In this powerful episode of Specialness, Kim and Jeff open up about the realities of living with mental illness in the family, especially when your child’s life is shaped by complex diagnoses like bipolar disorder, autism, and schizophrenia spectrum symptoms.💬 In this episode:✔️ Why Mental Health Awareness Month still feels invisible✔️ What people get wrong about depression, hallucinations, and “invisible” struggles✔️ The silent grief of watching life pass you by while you're stuck surviving✔️ The failure of our healthcare system to provide meaningful support✔️ Why mental health stigma is still costing lives—and what we wish more people understood✨ If you’ve ever felt unseen, unheard, or dismissed as a parent, caregiver, or individual living with mental illness—this one’s for you.📺 Watch now on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts!👉 Link in bio#MentalHealthAwareness #SpecialNeedsParenting #InvisibleStruggles #DisabilityAwareness #ParentingJourney #BipolarAwareness #AutismAndMentalHealth #MentalHealthMatters #SpecialnessPodcast

    48 min
  5. S2_Ep-7: The Disability System Is Failing Families Like Ours

    05/20/2025

    S2_Ep-7: The Disability System Is Failing Families Like Ours

    "We’ve done everything right. But that still wasn’t enough."For over two years, Kim and Jeff Kribs have been fighting to secure basic SSI benefits for their son, Cason—who is intellectually disabled, legally under guardianship, and cannot live independently.In this explosive episode of Specialness, they read aloud from the denial letters, dissect inaccurate evaluations from government-appointed doctors, and expose the broken system that so many special needs families are forced to navigate.💬 In this episode:✔️ The exhausting maze of paperwork, deadlines, and duplicate forms✔️ False claims made in official medical reports✔️ Why their son—who can’t even button his own shirt—is being told he can live independently✔️ What this says about how society treats disabled adults🎧 This episode isn’t just about Cason. It’s about a system that seems designed to wear families down until they give up.If you’ve been through this, or love someone who has—you are not alone.📺 Watch now on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts!👉 Link in bio#SSIDenial #SpecialNeedsParenting #DisabilityRights #ParentAdvocacy #MentalHealthAwareness #SSIReform #NeurodivergentSupport #SpecialnessPodcast #BrokenSystem #GuardianshipMatters

    1h 4m
  6. S2_Ep-6: Did He Just Say That? Our Response to RFK Jr. and the Autism "Destroyed Families" Comment

    05/02/2025

    S2_Ep-6: Did He Just Say That? Our Response to RFK Jr. and the Autism "Destroyed Families" Comment

    "Autism destroys families."That’s what Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said—and we had to respond.In this powerful and emotional episode, Kim and Jeff unpack their reaction to RFK Jr.’s comments about autism, disability, and the value of people who won’t “pay taxes” or “write a poem.”💬 In this episode:✔️ The truth about what life is like for their family and for Cason✔️ Why “destroy” is a dangerous word✔️ How stigma, lack of services, and government failure impact real families every day✔️ The difference between speaking truth and speaking harm✔️ Why Cason, despite all the challenges, is not a tragedyThis isn’t about politics—it’s about dignity, reality, and the stories behind the statistics.🎧 If you’re a parent, caregiver, advocate, or simply someone trying to understand this world better—this episode is for you.📺 Watch now on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts!👉 Link in bio#AutismAcceptance #SpecialNeedsParenting #RFKJr #Neurodiversity #MentalHealthAwareness #DisabilityAdvocacy #ParentingJourney #SpecialnessPodcast

    56 min
  7. S2_Ep-5: The Truth About Raising Siblings in a Special Needs Home - Specialness Pod

    04/23/2025

    S2_Ep-5: The Truth About Raising Siblings in a Special Needs Home - Specialness Pod

    "We were doing everything we could for our special needs son… but what about his brother? "In this heartfelt episode of Specialness, Kim and Jeff open up about the emotional journey of raising their neurotypical son, Jackson, while navigating the chaos of parenting a child with severe special needs. 💬 In this episode: ✔️ How sibling jealousy, resentment, and isolation showed up ✔️ The emotional toll on Jackson—and what he remembers most ✔️ The turning point when everything finally shifted ✔️ What they wish they could’ve done differently ✔️ How faith, therapy, and time brought hope and healing ✨ This episode is for every parent who worries if they’re doing “enough” for the sibling in the background—the quiet one, the angry one, the one who seems like they’re just “fine.” 🎧 Listen to their story of heartache, survival, and—eventually—connection. 📺 Watch now on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts! 👉 Link in bio #SpecialNeedsParenting #SiblingStruggles #NeurotypicalSiblings #MentalHealthAwareness #ParentingJourney #DisabilityAwareness #SpecialNeedsFamily #SpecialnessPodcast

    58 min
  8. S2_Ep-4: The Hidden Impact on Siblings of Special Needs Kids - Specialness Pod

    04/08/2025

    S2_Ep-4: The Hidden Impact on Siblings of Special Needs Kids - Specialness Pod

    "When you’re raising a child with special needs, the whole family feels it."In this emotional episode of Specialness, Kim and Jeff open up about what it was like raising their younger son, Jackson, alongside his older brother Cason, who has complex special needs.💬 In this episode:✔️ How guilt shaped their parenting decisions✔️ The trauma Jackson experienced from a young age✔️ The survival strategies they used to protect both their boys✔️ Why Jackson grew up walking on eggshells—and how they helped him heal✨ This isn’t just a story about parenting a special needs child—it's a story about how siblings are affected, the guilt parents carry, and the silent burdens families live with behind closed doors.If you're raising a family touched by special needs, this one will hit close to home.#SpecialNeedsParenting #SiblingJourney #Neurodiversity #MentalHealthMatters #FamilyDynamics #ParentingJourney #DisabilityAwareness #SpecialNeedsSiblings #SpecialnessPodcast

    1 hr
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Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Welcome to Specialness, the YouTube channel where love, resilience, and the extraordinary journey of parenting a special needs child take center stage. Hosted by Kim and Jeff Kribs, this heartfelt podcast-turned-video-series invites you into their world as they share their unique story, from adopting their son as a baby to navigating the joys and challenges of raising him into adulthood. Through candid conversations, touching anecdotes, and moments of humor, Kim and Jeff explore what it means to build a family filled with compassion and strength. Whether you're a parent, a family member, or s

Information

  • Creator
    Specialness
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Specialness
  • Show Website
    Specialness Pod