RG26-43. Michelle Grace & I’m Right Here

October 26, 2026October 25, 2026Self Discovery Wisdom Podcast Leave a comment

Raising Our Gifted Children with Sara Troy and her guest Michelle Grace. On air from October 27th

As the world continues to become more digital, screen-time often replaces real, meaningful human connection. It’s easy to feel disconnected, even from our own children.
Michelle Grace, who was inspired to write I’m Right Here when she had her daughter via surrogacy, will talk about how she found a connection to her daughter through play and imagination. The book is a letter to her daughter and is a tool for all parents navigating connection with their children.

Becoming a mother awakened something deep within Michelle, helping her rediscover parts of herself she thought were lost. After years of feeling disconnected from her creativity, motherhood reawakened her imagination and opened a new chapter of self-discovery. Her journey through surrogacy led her to explore how parents and children build attachment, trust, and connection, with imaginative play becoming a bridge between her and her daughter. Her book, I’m Right Here, is both a love letter to her daughter and a tribute to her own mother. Having lost her mother to cancer at nineteen, Michelle found that becoming a mother deepened her understanding of her own mother’s love and the enduring legacy of maternal love across generations.

ITunes	SPotify+Video	Soundcloud
Amazon	Youtube Music	iHEART
Podvine	Podcasher	Podcast Addict
Mixcloud	Radio Public.	FM Player
Odysee	Youtube	BusyMumsmedia
DO ENJOY THE WISDOM	Thanks for listening	Feedspot

Michelle Grace is the author of I’m Right Here and My Wild Imagination, illustrated children’s books that invite families into a world where curiosity, connection, and creativity lead the way. Inspired by her own journey into motherhood, Grace writes stories that celebrate emotional connection, imaginative play, and the wonder of childhood. Raised in Brooklyn and now living in Manhattan with her daughter, Michelle draws inspiration from New York City’s creative energy, cultural diversity, and everyday magic. Her debut book, I’m Right Here, is a deeply personal love letter to her daughter. Through her work, Grace encourages parents and children to nurture imagination, build meaningful connections, and rediscover the joy of seeing the world through a child’s eyes.

AMAZON

Barnes & Noble

www.michellegraceofficial.com

www.instagram.com/michellegracestory

FIND ALL OUR INSPIRING SHOWS HERE

Discover the sites we share on linktr.ee/saratroy

BE OUR GUEST AND SHARE THE WISDOM

Self Discovery Wisdom is sustained by those who believe in conscious conversation. If this episode resonated with you, subscribe and, if you feel called, make a donation. Your support helps us keep amplifying voices that inspire growth, courage, and compassion. Thank you. Please join Our Forgotten Seniors anthology and help to bring this book to awareness.

RG26-43. A Child First, Down Syndrome Second

October 26, 2026October 26, 2026Self Discovery Wisdom Podcast Leave a comment

Raising Our Gifted Children with Sara Troy and her guest Tasha Shearer. On air from October 27th

Tasha says that raising a young child with DS is not unlike raising a neurotypical child in many ways, but there are some definitive differences that can often feel overwhelming and scary. By sharing our story about a loved one with down syndrome hopefully we can demystify and destigmatize people with DS and their families. Often the biggest barriers are not my child himself but the expectations and rigidity of those expectations that we hold in society.

Understanding Down Syndrome

Down syndrome is a genetic condition caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21. It can affect a person’s physical development, learning, and communication, but every individual has their own unique abilities, personality, and potential. With love, encouragement, understanding, and the right support, people with Down syndrome can live joyful, meaningful, and fulfilling lives.

Children with Down syndrome benefit from the same things all children need: love, belonging, encouragement, patience, stimulation, and opportunities to discover what they can do.

We sometimes focus so much on what a child might struggle with that we overlook their individuality and potential.

A child with Down syndrome is a child first. The extra chromosome is part of their biology, not the entirety of who they are. And this connects beautifully with the philosophy of self-discovery: seeing the person, not simply the condition.

They are not defined by an extra chromosome, but by who they are as individuals, with their own gifts, dreams, and contributions to our world.

ITunes	SPotify+Video	Soundcloud
Amazon	Youtube Music	iHEART
Podvine	Podcasher	Podcast Addict
Mixcloud	Radio Public.	FM Player
Odysee	Youtube	BusyMumsmedia
DO ENJOY THE WISDOM	Thanks for listening	Feedspot

Your body is built using a massive set of instruction manuals called chromosomes, which normally come in 23 pairs (46 total). In Down syndrome, a person inherits a full or partial extra copy of chromosome 21, bringing the total to 47. Having three sets of instructions instead of two causes those specific genes to work overtime, producing an excess of certain proteins. Because chromosome 21 carries hundreds of genes active in nearly all tissues during early development, this overload alters the signals shaping the brain, heart, digestive tract, and facial features all at once.

I have never intimately known someone with DS before having Louie, many things were a learning curve for me. I just want to normalize this genetic difference, normalize my family and this life.

https://www.facebook.com/NatShea

Down Syndrome Resource Foundation- https://dsrf.org

Canadian Down Syndrome Society- https://cdss.ca

America. National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS)

https://dsrf.org/resources/the-lowdown-podcast

FIND ALL OUR INSPIRING SHOWS HERE

Discover the sites we share on linktr.ee/saratroy

BE OUR GUEST AND SHARE THE WISDOM

RG26-41. “Eugene the Wayward Frog.” by Cornelius Wright

October 12, 2026October 12, 2026Self Discovery Wisdom Podcast

Raising Our Gifted Children with Sara Troy and her guest Cornelius (Neo) Wright. On air from October 13th

My “why” comes from a desire to turn ideas, stories, and opportunities into something that can genuinely impact people’s lives. Through CDJ Books and Eugene, the Wayward Frog, I want to remind people that having a dream is only the beginning—it takes courage to step beyond what is familiar, take responsibility for your choices, and pursue the possibilities that are waiting on the other side of fear. My goal is to build a publishing company that doesn’t just create books, but creates opportunities for authors, entrepreneurs, independent businesses, and everyday people to participate in something meaningful. Ultimately, I want to inspire people to believe in their ideas, believe in themselves, and have the courage to take the first step toward creating the life and future they envision.

ITunes	SPotify+Video	Soundcloud
Amazon	Youtube Music	iHEART
Podvine	Podcasher	Podcast Addict
Mixcloud	Radio Public.	FM Player
Odysee	Youtube	BusyMumsmedia
DO ENJOY THE WISDOM	Thanks for listening	Feedspot

I’m Neo Wright, an entrepreneur, author, and founder and CEO of CDJ Books. My journey has always been driven by a belief that ideas can become something much bigger when you’re willing to pursue them with persistence and purpose. That journey eventually led me into publishing and to the creation of Eugene, the Wayward Frog, a story that reflects many of the same themes I’ve experienced in my own life—dreaming beyond what is familiar, taking chances, learning from the journey, and finding your own way. Today, through CDJ Books, I’m building more than a publishing company; I’m creating a platform that brings books, authors, businesses, and new opportunities together. Behind the business, I’m simply someone who loves creating, connecting with people, and turning ideas that start as a vision into something real.

BUY HERE

www.cdjbooks.com

linkedin.com/in/cornelius-neo-wright

facebook.com/cornywright

FIND ALL OUR INSPIRING SHOWS HERE

Discover the sites we share on linktr.ee/saratroy

BE OUR GUEST AND SHARE THE WISDOM

RG26-29. Mike Canfield ED– Trouble? Take It On

July 20, 2026July 15, 2026Self Discovery Wisdom Podcast

Raising Our Gifted Children with Sara Troy and her guest Mike Canfield. On air from July 21st

My passion is helping children and families navigate life’s challenges in ways that build hope, resilience, and healthy relationships. Through stories, coloring books, and practical skill-building activities, I translate complex concepts such as emotions, behavior, trauma, and personal responsibility into language that children can understand and use. By bringing adults and children together through storytelling and creative activities, I create opportunities for meaningful conversations that strengthen connections and support positive growth. My work is designed to help families recognize that problems do not define who they are, and that with support, practice, and encouragement, every child and family has the ability to overcome challenges and build a brighter future.

ITunes	SPotify+Video	Soundcloud
Amazon	Youtube Music	iHEART
Podvine	Podcasher	Podcast Addict
Mixcloud	Radio Public.	FM Player
Odysee	Youtube	BusyMumsmedia
DO ENJOY THE WISDOM	Thanks for listening	Feedspot

My journey began in 1983 when my wife Beth and I became house parents for teenage boys who needed stability, guidance, and a place to belong. What started as a commitment to care for a few young people grew into a lifelong mission of supporting children and families facing adversity. Over the years, I served as a Child and Family Therapist, became a Washington State Aggression Replacement Training Trainer and Consultant, and took on leadership roles advocating for foster, adoptive, kinship, and biological families throughout Washington State. These experiences taught me that lasting change happens through relationships, practical skills, and the belief that every person has strengths that can be developed.

Today, as the Executive Director of Family Success Northwest, I continue that mission by creating trainings, conferences, books, and resources that help families build stronger connections and healthier futures. Behind the professional titles, I am a husband, caregiver, mentor, author, and lifelong learner who believes that people grow best when they feel understood, supported, and empowered. My work is deeply personal because it is rooted in decades of walking alongside children, parents, and caregivers as they navigate life’s challenges and discover their own resilience and potential.

AMAZON

https://familysuccessnw.org/#

facebook.com/familysuccessnw

alignable.com/bremerton-wa/family-success-northwest

facebook.com/mikecanfield55

linkedin.com/company/family-success-northwest

instagram.com/familysuccessnw

FIND MORE SHOWS OF ILLUMINATION HERE

All my links can be found on linktr.ee/saratroy

BE OUR GUEST AND SHARE THE WISDOM

All of our shows/interviews are done by donation; if you enjoyed this show, please support us here with either a one-time donation and subscribe. Thank you.

Please join Our Forgotten Seniors anthology and help to bring this book to awareness.

RG26-18. Dr Susan Blumberg & Marriage with a Neurodivergent Child

May 4, 2026April 29, 2026Self Discovery Wisdom Podcast

Raising Our Gifted Children with Sara Troy and her guest Dr Susan Blumberg, on air from May 5th

Today, we’re opening a conversation that touches the heart of many homes, the delicate dance between communication, relationships, and the realities of raising a neurodivergent child within a marriage.

There’s a common belief that having a child with special needs automatically places a marriage under greater strain, even leading to higher divorce rates. But the truth is more nuanced than that. It isn’t the child who defines the outcome—it’s how the couple chooses to walk the journey together.

When communication remains open, when both partners feel seen, heard, and supported, the relationship can deepen in ways never imagined. The challenge then becomes not just caring for the child, but consciously nurturing the partnership, making space for connection, understanding, and shared resilience.

This is about balance… about choosing each other as much as you choose your child, and recognizing that a strong relationship becomes one of the greatest gifts you can offer your family.

ITunes	SPotify+Video	Soundcloud
Amazon	Youtube Music	iHEART
Podvine	Podcasher	Podcast Addict
Mixcloud	Radio Public.	FM Player
Odysee	Youtube	BusyMumsmedia
DO ENJOY THE WISDOM	Thanks for listening	Feedspot

I’m a married mother of two young adult, twice-exceptional children. I’ve lived in Colorado for over 40 years, but I still think of myself as a New Yorker!

My background in cognitive behavioral therapy informs my work as a life coach, as I help people set goals, plan their journey, and achieve success. I worked as a licensed clinical psychologist for over 20 years, in mental health agencies, in private practice, and for the federal government overseeing child welfare and adoption services in the Rocky Mountain region. This has given me a solid and varied background, and extensive level of experience.

Working as a special education advocate for 40 years means I have honed my skills as a negotiator, my ability to collaborate, and my understanding of being a team member. I always put your child first. I have training from the Arc, Wrightslaw, and I was a member of COPAA, the Council Of Parent Attorneys and Advocates. I have sat on both sides of the IEP table, as a professional and a parent, which gives me an unique perspective. Though I am not currrently taking new clients, I am available for consultation as needed.

I am also the coauthor of multiple books, including Fighting for Your Marriage (2010, Markman, Stanley & Blumberg), 12 Hours to a Great Marriage (2003, Markman, Stanley & Blumberg) and Parenting a Child with Sensory Processing Disorder: a family guide to understanding and supporting your sensory-sensitive child (2006, Auer & Blumberg).

University of Denver, MA, 1983; PhD, 1991 Brandeis University, BA, 1980.

Certified Neurodiversity Professional

Certified Autism Professional