Specialness Pod
Specialness Pod is hosted by Kim and Jeff Kribs, who share their personal journey of adopting a son as a baby and raising him into adulthood with special needs. Through candid conversations, touching stories, and humor, the podcast explores themes of love, resilience, and the everyday realities of parenting a child with disabilities. It began as a YouTube channel and offers an intimate, heartfelt look at building a family grounded in compassion and strength. The show is meant for parents, relatives, and anyone moved by stories of devotion and perseverance.
Episodes
S3_Ep-09: When Special Needs Means Mental Illness, and No One Takes It Seriously
In the mental health world, there is no blood test. No x-ray. Just a subjective judgment that changes from one doctor's office to the next, and a family left to live with the consequences.Jeff and Kim get honest about the part of special needs parenting that society files under "dangerous" or "crazy" and refuses to take seriously. They walk through Cason's mental health
S3_Ep-08: The Special Needs Grief No One Talks About
When people hear the word grief, they think someone died. For special needs parents, the grief is different. It's the life you planned for and never got to live, and it doesn't fade. It compounds.In this episode, Jeff and Kim talk openly about the grief nobody in the special needs world seems allowed to name. The milestones that never come. The family gatherings where the gap becomes impos
S3_Ep-07: A Special Needs Mom Doctors Gave No Hope, Twice | Julia Erman (Part 2 of 2)
Part 2 of our conversation with Julia Erman, a special needs mom whose two children share an ultra rare diagnosis. This is the half about what she did with it.Julia found out her kids were dying on her birthday, over a Zoom call. In this episode she talks about the faith that gave her peace that same day, why suffering builds a muscle most people never have to grow, and how a conversation at a bac
S3_Ep-06: A Special Needs Mom Doctors Gave No Hope, Twice | Julia Erman (Part 1 of 2)
Our first ever guest. Julia Erman is a special needs mom, author, and founder of The Hazelnut Movement, and both of her children live with a diagnosis that only has a handful of documented cases in the world.In Part 1 of 2, Julia walks us through the beginning. A perfect birth that turned into a NICU emergency in 48 hours. A neurologist who took away every ounce of hope in two words. A second preg
S3_Ep-05: Who Has It Harder in a Special Needs Marriage?
A few weeks ago we posted a reel about the roles each parent plays in a special needs marriage. It passed 70,000 views and lit up our comments, so this week we're unpacking what we actually meant.Jeff said one of us drew "the short end of the stick," and it ruffled feathers. In this episode we clarify that comment, talk through the roles of breadwinner and caregiver, and get honest a
S3_Ep-04: Special Needs Parenting Took Away Our Ability to Plan the Future
We had plans.That sounds simple, but when you are raising a child with profound special needs, plans come with an asterisk.In this episode, we talk about the part of special needs parenting that is hard to explain to people who have never lived it. It is not just that your child’s future changes. Your future changes too.This conversation started with a reel that hit a nerve because so many parents
S3_Ep-03: The Pediatric Cliff: What Happens When a Special Needs Child Becomes an Adult?
When Cason started aging out of pediatric care, we thought the hardest part would be finding new doctors.We were wrong.The harder part was walking into the adult medical world and realizing how different everything felt. For years, pediatric specialists knew Cason, understood his history, and treated him like a whole person. Then suddenly we were in adult offices where the records had not always b
S3_Ep-02: Does raising a special needs child really lead to an 87% divorce rate?
After one of our Instagram reels reached more than 180,000 views, hundreds of parents shared their stories, challenged the statistic, and started one of the most meaningful conversations we've ever had.In this episode, we revisit that viral reel, correct the misinformation, and talk about what the research actually says.More importantly, we talk about what the comments revealed.Special needs p
S3_Ep-01: One Phone Call Changed the Next 10 Months of Our Lives
After nearly a year away, we're back.What was supposed to be a simple three-day getaway turned into one of the hardest seasons we've faced as special needs parents.The day before our trip, our son Cason suffered a devastating ankle injury that required surgery and months of recovery. What followed was nine weeks of around-the-clock caregiving, medication complications, mobility challenges,
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 he
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 experien
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-pulmonar
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
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 do
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✔️ H
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 emotio
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 surviva
S2_Ep-3: We Almost Gave Up… Then Came a God Wink - Specialness Pod
🎙 Specialness Podcast – Season 2, Episode 3What keeps a marriage alive when life gets unthinkably hard? For Kim and Jeff Kribs, it’s faith. In this deeply personal episode, they open up about how their belief in God has carried them through some of the darkest moments of parenting a child with special needs.From failed adoptions to brutal hospital nights, and even moments where they feared for the
S2_Ep-2: Raising a Special Needs Child: The Ongoing Grief No One Talks About - Specialness Pod
"We had dreams for our life, for our child, for our future… then reality hit."In this episode of Specialness, we open up about something every special needs parent feels—but not everyone talks about: grief. Grief for the child you expected, the life you imagined, and the milestones you’ll never experience.💬 In this episode:✔️ The moment we realized Cason’s life—and ours—would be differen
S2_Ep-1: 87% of Special Needs Marriages End in Divorce—Here’s Why We Didn’t - Specialness Pod
"The divorce rate for special needs parents is 87%. Here’s why we’re still standing."Welcome to Season 2 of Specialness! One of the biggest questions we get is: How have you stayed married for 30 years while raising a special needs child?The truth? It hasn’t been easy. The stress, the unknowns, the financial strain—special needs parenting tests a marriage in ways most people will never e
S1_Ep-9: Navigating Special Needs Adulthood: Guardianship, Medical Battles & Hope - Specialness Pod
"When your special needs child becomes an adult, everything changes—but not in the way you expect."In this episode ofSpecialness, we’re reflecting on the last five years of Cason’s life—from turning 18 to where he is today at 23. Adulthood brought new challenges we never saw coming, from securing guardianship to transitioning into adult medical care. We’re sharing the realities of what happens whe
S1_Ep-8: The System Isn’t Built for Special Needs Adults—Here’s Why - Specialness Pod
"When Your Child Turns 18: Guardianship, Medical Battles & The Harsh Reality of Adulthood""Becoming an adult means freedom—but what if your child will never be able to live independently?"In this episode ofSpecialness, we take you through one of the biggest transitions in Cason’s life—turning 18. But unlike most teens, Cason wasn’t preparing for college or getting his driver’s license. Instead
S1_Ep-7: 1 in 740 Million: Discovering a Rare Genetic Disorder - Specialness Pod
"What do you do when you’re told your child is 1 in 740 million?"In this episode ofSpecialness, we dive into one of the most pivotal moments in our parenting journey: receiving the results of Cason's genetic testing. The discoveries? A rare chromosomal deletion (15q25.2), unknown mitochondrial mutations, and a list of conditions that left us with more questions than answers.💡In this episode:The em
S1_Ep-6: New Meds, New Doctors: What Happens When Nothing Goes as Planned - Specialness Pod
“We never imagined we'd be here—new medications, new doctors, and facing words we hoped we'd never hear."In this emotional episode of Specialness, we dive deep into the life-changing moment when our son’s diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder became a reality. As his hallucinations worsened and fear took over his daily life, we were forced to make the difficult decision of trying Clozaril, a power
S1_Ep-5: The Day We Went to the Hospital - Specialness Pod
When your child is in crisis, you expect the hospital to step in immediately—but what happens when you’re left waiting?In this episode of Specialness, we recount a terrifying hospitalization where our son Cason faced lithium toxicity, a life-threatening condition. Despite clear symptoms, the stigma of being labeled a ‘psych patient’ delayed his treatment for hours. It was up to us to advocate rele
S1_Ep-4: The Last Option: Hospitalizing Our Child - Specialness Pod
What would you do if your child began hallucinating and acting completely unlike themselves?In this episode of Specialness, Kim and Jeff share the raw and emotional journey of navigating their son Cason’s worsening symptoms, from intense fear and hallucinations to a medical crisis that led to his first hospital stay. They reflect on the hard decisions they had to make, the struggles of managing a
S1_Ep-3: Buckle Up: Our Battle with Early Onset Bipolar - Specialness Pod
Parenting a child with special needs is a journey unlike any other. In this episode of Specialness, Kim and Jeff recount the emotional rollercoaster of discovering their son Cason’s diagnoses, from ADHD to pediatric onset bipolar disorder.This is a raw, heartfelt account of perseverance, unconditional love, and learning to advocate for your child when the road ahead seems uncertain.💬 In this episo
S1_Ep-2: When Joy Turns to Chaos: The Parenting Challenges We Never Expected - Specialness Pod
Becoming parents is supposed to be a joyful experience—but what happens when the challenges feel overwhelming?In this episode of Specialness, Kim and Jeff recount the early days of parenting their adopted son, Cason. From the excitement of bringing him home to endless crying, sleepless nights, and navigating behaviors they didn’t understand, their story offers a raw and relatable look at the early
S1_Ep-1: The Heartbreak That Brought Us Together - Specialness Pod
How do you move forward when life delivers the unimaginable? In this episode of Specialness, we open up about a tragedy that shaped the rest of our lives.Join us as we share the heartfelt story of how loss brought us together, taught us the power of connection, and prepared us for an even bigger journey ahead.💬 In this episode:Recognizing the signs of someone strugglingFinding connection through g
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