The Secret Life of Sibs

Romila Santra
  • 5.0 (3)
  • KIDS & FAMILY
The Secret Life of Sibs

The Secret Life of Sibs is made for siblings of people with special needs, by a twin of someone with special needs. Join us for honest conversations with adult siblings from diverse backgrounds. Let's help redefine the expected sibling narrative. Life isn’t all sunshine and rainbows - it’s sunshine streaming through dark clouds and storms and it’s sometimes struggling to see the rainbow. Speaking that communal experience into the light can reach those of us otherwise alone in our circumstance.

Episodes

  1. 06/14/2023

    Episode 9: Micaela's Episode

    We're back after a long hiatus! Learn about Micaela’s experience as sister to her younger brother, who has autism and is non-verbal. Micaela shares her insights into how to maintain an individual identity as a sibling, manifestations of sibling trauma, the difficult family conversations at transition points, and more.  Here is a link to many resources for siblings of someone with special needs: https://www.siblingresources.org/resources. Sib20 and SibNet are fantastic Facebook communities with thousands of siblings!  Please contact munkasantra@gmail.com with any questions, concerns, or comments, or to inquire about being on an episode.

    51 min

  2. 04/18/2022

    Episode 8: Amanda's Experience

    Learn about Amanda's experience with her younger brother, who has various disabilities following an accident at an early age. She discusses raising children alongside caregiving for her brother, when family can and can't be there for you, and how siblings might maintain their sense of individuality and self-worth while caregiving. Here is a link to many resources for siblings of someone with special needs: https://www.siblingresources.org/resources. Sib20 and SibNet are fantastic Facebook communities with thousands of siblings!  Please contact munkasantra@gmail.com with any questions, concerns, or comments, or to inquire about being on an episode.  (Transcript coming soon!)

    48 min

  3. 01/30/2022

    Episode 7: Lakshmi's Experience

    Come listen to Lakshmi's experience with her older brother, diagnosed with autism. She discusses what it means to be a second-generation immigrant and a sib, South Asian stigmas concerning disability, and how to find a therapist with similar values to you. Here is a link to many resources for siblings of someone with special needs: https://www.siblingresources.org/resources. Sib20 and SibNet are fantastic Facebook communities with thousands of siblings!  Please contact munkasantra@gmail.com with any questions, concerns, or comments, or to inquire about being on an episode.  (Transcript coming soon!)

    37 min

  4. 12/20/2021

    Episode 6: Brandon's Experience

    Learn about Brandon's experience with his younger sister, diagnosed with Krabbe disease. He discusses how his family dealt with a dire prognosis, talks about the guilt that comes from being a sib, and shares what he would tell his younger self. Here is a link to many resources for siblings of someone with special needs: https://www.siblingresources.org/resources. Sib20 and SibNet are fantastic Facebook communities with thousands of siblings!  If you or someone you know is affected by Krabbe Disease, Krabbe Connect is a non-profit working to raise awareness and conduct research about the disorder: https://krabbeconnect.org. Please contact munkasantra@gmail.com with any questions, concerns, or comments, or to inquire about being on an episode.  (Transcript coming soon!)

    31 min

  5. 12/20/2021

    Episode 5: Kaitlyn's Experience

    Learn about Kaitlyn's experience with her younger sister, diagnosed with 1p36 deletion syndrome. She discusses how being a sibling led to qualities that she employs in her career, sheds light on her sister's rare genetic disorder, and shares how she dealt family health issues as a teenager. Here is a link to many resources for siblings of someone with special needs: https://www.siblingresources.org/resources. Sib20 and SibNet are fantastic Facebook communities with thousands of siblings!  If you or someone you know is affected by 1p36 deletion syndrome, here is a link to some resources: http://www.1p36dsa.org/online-community/. Please contact munkasantra@gmail.com with any questions, concerns, or comments, or to inquire about being on an episode.  (Transcript coming soon!)

    28 min

  6. 12/05/2021

    Episode 4: Simone's Experience

    Listen in on Simone's experience with her older brother, diagnosed with various mental health disorders. She discusses how sibling identities evolve over lifetimes, her take on society's expectation for siblings, and shares an original poem with us. Here is a link to many resources for siblings of someone with special needs: https://www.siblingresources.org/resources. Sib20 is a fantastic Facebook community of over a thousand siblings!  Please contact munkasantra@gmail.com with any questions, concerns, or comments, or to inquire about being on an episode.  (Transcript coming soon!)

    38 min

  7. 12/05/2021

    Episode 3: Andy's Experience

    Come hear Andy Lichtenstein tell us about his experience with his brother diagnosed with cerebral palsy. He talks about the ups and downs of full-time caregiving, how the relationship with his brother has evolved, and the simple power of having a sib community who just "gets it." Here is a link to many resources for siblings of someone with special needs: https://www.siblingresources.org/resources. Sib20 is a fantastic Facebook community of over a thousand siblings!  Please contact munkasantra@gmail.com with any questions, concerns, or comments, or to inquire about being on an episode.  (Transcript coming soon!)

    20 min

  8. 12/05/2021

    Episode 2: Kristen and Kara's Experience

    Come listen as twins Kristen Sellix and Kara Kushnir discuss their experiences with their younger sister with multiple diagnoses. They discuss how their family shaped their desire to be therapists and social workers, their hopes and fears surrounding romantic relationships, and their ongoing goals to advocate and support families affected by disability. Here is a link to many resources for siblings of someone with special needs: https://www.siblingresources.org/resources. Sib20 is a fantastic Facebook community of over a thousand siblings! Please contact munkasantra@gmail.com with any questions, concerns, or comments, or to inquire about being on an episode. (Transcript coming soon!)

    39 min

  9. 12/02/2021

    Episode 1: Kayla's Experience

    Join us as Kayla Shim speaks about her experience growing up with an older brother with autism. She discusses intersectionality of the immigrant and sibling identity, her experience moving away to college, the importance of being selfish, and more. Please contact munkasantra@gmail.com for any questions, concerns, or comments about the show, or for requests to be on an episode.

    34 min
  • 9 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

The Secret Life of Sibs is made for siblings of people with special needs, by a twin of someone with special needs. Join us for honest conversations with adult siblings from diverse backgrounds. Let's help redefine the expected sibling narrative. Life isn’t all sunshine and rainbows - it’s sunshine streaming through dark clouds and storms and it’s sometimes struggling to see the rainbow. Speaking that communal experience into the light can reach those of us otherwise alone in our circumstance.

Information

  • Creator
    Romila Santra
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2023
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2023 Romila Santra
  • Show Website
    The Secret Life of Sibs

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