A Little Something Extra

Kim and Jen, Co-Founders of the new dating platform for adults with Autism, join the show! The Mix is a new platform for helping adults with autism find love or friendships in a safe and fun community! Kim and Jen have been working in the Autism community for a long time. Kim is a school psychologist and Jen is a social worker and BCBA. In their experience, they both noticed the lack of resources available to people with disabilities after high school, especially the lack of resources that help develop social skills and relationship building. So, they created a platform to help people with autism meet new people, build relationships and just socialize in a safe environment! In this episode we talk all about; the inception of this idea, the current environment for people with autism and other disabilities, how the platform works and the importance of love and relationships in the lives of everyone! This episode is so important because it sheds light on a new resource that so many desperately need. To learn more about The Mix, check them out on social media @TheMixDating or visit their website at www.themixdating.com   See the video version of the episode here.

We are joined on this episode by Courtney and Thomas Hawthorne III, or T3! You may have seen him on social media when a video of him hitting a home run went MEGA viral! We saw the clip and knew we had to get them on to share their story! Thomas is your everyday 9-year-old kid, but also has a condition called Osteogenesis Imperfecta, or brittle bone disease, which is a genetic bone disease that causes fragile bones that easily break. Though T3 has this diagnosis, he still loves sports, playing with friends, playing video games and exploring the world! His mom, Courtney, created his platform to share his story and show the world that even when diagnoses can cause limitations, life should still be lived to the fullest! In the episode, we hear the story of his diagnosis from his mom’s perspective. She talks about how she never expected to be on this turbulent journey and how the family has fully embraced it. We also discuss the impact that sharing milestones in life can have on people’s perceptions. T3 then tells us a bit about his joys, dreams, and aspirations in life! This heart-filled episode shows us that, regardless of what life throws at us, we can all hit it out of the park! See the video version of this episode here

 This episode features an amazing mother! Katrina Placzek and her daughter, Dallas, can be seen all over social media spreading awareness about the importance of understanding and inclusion! Dallas was diagnosed at 2 years old with Cerebral Palsey, but her diagnosis sure hasn’t stopped her from living her best life! Katrina, Dallas’ mom has been an amazing advocate for her daughter, sharing her journey and helping spread the importance of inclusion! This has led her to creating a non-profit called The Recess Project! In this episode, we hear all about Dallas and Katrina’s story. Starting with Dallas’ diagnosis and the fear it brought to her young mother. We then dive into how amazing Dallas’s life has been along with some of the limitations that inspired her mom to step in! Katrina then shares her journey starting The Recess Project, a non-profit that helps in creating more inclusive playgrounds for kids with disabilities. It is an amazingly humble episode, that will touch anyone’s heart! We hope you enjoy it! See the video version of this episode here.

Advocate and non-profit entrepreneur, Reilly Cate Ferguson, joins the Show!! At just 13 years old Reilly walked into GiGi’s Nashville to volunteer her time, having no connection to disabilities. The experience was so impactful on her that at just 15, she started her own non-profit serving people with Down syndrome! As founder and president of Brushfield International, she is on a mission to enhance the global Down syndrome story by providing community, hope, and support to people impacted by Down syndrome! In this episode, Reilly tells us the story of her journey, starting with her time volunteering at GiGi’s Nashville, her inspiration to start Brushfield International, and how she has been able to balance life as only a freshman in college! She shares what she has learned so far, how her connection to Down syndrome was formed, a beautiful message to the world, what the future holds for her, and of course her inspirational ‘something extra’! This episode is all about being a change-maker and how it doesn’t matter your background, the key is just finding your purpose! With this one, we hope to inspire more people to live like Reilly! See the video version of this episode here

Listen to a tasty new episode of the podcast as Shawn Askinosie of Askinosie Chocolate joins the show! An author and chocolatier, Shawn shares his inspirational journey of how he left the courtroom (practicing law for twenty years!) to follow his true passion in life. Shawn swaps stories with us about what it means to run an ethical chocolate company, how he found his passion, and how he helps others find their passion. Shawn even explains how all of us doing “a little something extra” every day has the power to change the world. It’s a fun, inspiring episode. Grab your favorite sweet treat and give it a listen! Watch the video version of this episode here.

Dive into our latest episode of the podcast with Mary Borman, aka “Mermaid Mary”! Back by popular demand, Mary brings a wave of fresh stories that’ll leave you hooked!  Catch up with Mary as she talks about her life both in and out of the water. A competitive swimmer, model, public speaker, and self-advocate, Mary wears many hats (or fins)! Mary sits down with Nancy, GiGi, and Franco to discuss her triathlon training, the importance of nutrition, and she even shares some model-worthy tips!  This episode is a boatload of fun! Don’t miss out, tune in now!   See the video version of this podcast here.

NEW EPISODE OUT NOW!! In this special episode of the podcast, Franco takes the solo hosting reins, but he’s far from alone. Multiple members of the GiGi’s Playhouse Hillsborough Youth Board join the show! Comprised entirely of teenagers, the Hillsborough #GenerationG Youth Board is leading the way on inclusion and acceptance for the next generation. They sit down with Franco to discuss how their initial involvement as volunteers sparked a greater passion, and how they’re working to promote inclusion, understanding, and plenty of fun and lively events in their community! They even share how something as simple as (so-so) face painting can help promote kindness and acceptance! This episode is both entertaining and inspiring -- you won’t want to miss it! Watch the video version of this episode here.

Connor Tomlinson, breakout star from Love on the Spectrum season 2, joins the show!! Joining Connor are his mom, Lise, and brother, Ben. Love on the Spectrum did such an amazing job capturing the dynamic of this amazing family, and we wanted to bring that same energy to the podcast! If you have not seen Love on the Spectrum, it will surely be your next binge. For those who have, you saw Connor steal the show by being his most authentic self. From being a one-liner machine (which you can find all over his new merch) to his love for movies and lore, how could you not want to hang with this guy? In this episode we talk about his experience on the show and how it has transformed his life overnight. He tells us about his perspective on autism and its “the next step in human evolution.” We walk through his experience being on the show and his plans for dating in the future. Lise and Ben give us some interesting insight into the family growing up with a brother/son with autism. Connor tells us about his interests and, of course, some perspective on the Game of Thrones vs Lord of the Rings debate. It’s a perfect episode for celebrating Autism Awareness Month and the amazing people blessed by it! We hope you enjoy it!   Watch the video version of this episode on our website.

Tampa Bay Bucs defensive back Dee Delaney, and wide receiver Deven Thompkins join the podcast in studio!! Dee and DT(Deven) have really inspiring stories to tell. While being NFL players and teammates, both Dee and Deven are also parents to kids with Down syndrome! Deven’s story begins at just 19 years old, he talks about his experience having a son with Down syndrome in college and how he embraced the responsibility to create an amazing life for his children. Dee talks about his family’s experience having a beautiful daughter with Down syndrome at the age of 25, balancing that with an NFL career and embracing the diagnosis from the beginning. Earlier this year, both Dee and Deven participated in NFL’s My Cause My Cleats campaign, rockin’ GiGi’s Playhouse on their cleats! In the episode we discuss the campaign and the opportunities that came with it. We then dive into the impacts these young men are making and will continue to make for the Down syndrome community and beyond in promoting and creating acceptance for all! It’s a really special episode in the way you can see the realization in both these men regarding the impact they can make in this world. We absolutely loved hanging out with them and hope you enjoy it as much as we did! Watch the video version of this episode here

In honor of World Down Syndrome Day, the extremely talented Kevin Iannucci and James Keith join the podcast!! Kevin and James are both actors who starred in the 2023 comedy Champions, A Bobby Farrelly comedy centered around a college basketball coach who was ordered to coach a special needs basketball team. Both Kevin and James KILLED IT in their roles, so they joined us to talk about it! Kevin and James are both really impressive guys. Kevin is an experienced actor who has Down syndrome. He was featured in multiple roles leading up to Champions, with this being his breakthrough role! James’s path is a bit different, being a Special Olympics athlete who took this on as his first acting role, but you would never have known! In the episode, we discussed their experience on set with the big stars, their acting methods behind the scenes, and their interests and hobbies outside of acting; we did some podcast karaoke to a certified classic, learned their ‘Little Something Extra’ and of course heard some of GiGi’s TIPPSS! It is a super fun episode filled with a lot of laughs and a lot of heart. Like us, you’ll surely want to be best friends with these dudes when it's over! Enjoy!! See the video version of the episode here.

On this week’s episode of A Little Something Extra, we are joined by Love on the Spectrum star Tanner Smith and his amazing mom, Nicci! Love on the Spectrum is a show that follows various individuals on the autism spectrum on their search for love. Tanner was a breakout star in season 2, no doubt due to his upbeat personality and his incredibly positive outlook on life. In his own words, Tanner is polite, he has a good personality, and he is a kind young man! His mom, Nicci, is equally as amazing. Only seeing a few short snippets of her on the show, this podcast takes a deeper dive into her experience raising Tanner, Tanner’s transition into adulthood, and his newfound fame. She is legit a super mom, whose story and words of wisdom need to be heard! In this episode, we talk with Tanner and Nicci about his experiences dating, his life at Clemson Life, the experience of growing up with Autism, parenting advice, some words of inspiration, and, of course, some…TIPPSSSSSSS on spreading joy! We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did! See the video version of this episode here.

Season 3 of A Little Something Extra is starting off with a bang, featuring John and Mark Cronin the father/son duo behind John’s Crazy Socks! If you are not familiar with their story, this is the perfect place to learn it. Mark (father) tells us about his journey, both as a professional and as a father of a son with Down syndrome. John then tells us the story behind his crazy sock empire! Their story takes us from their humble beginnings of hand-delivering socks, door to door, to them becoming one of the largest sock companies in the world! This story, fueled by a lack of opportunity and value seen by the world, leads us to a greater discussion about the importance of developing careers for those with Intellectual disabilities. Finally, it wouldn’t be A Little Something Extra without some laughs, moments of inspiration and dare I say…TIPPSSSS! We hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

Jennifer Hogan Jones, known on social media as My Beautiful DS Journey, joins the show! Jennifer is a super mom who has been sharing her Down syndrome journey on social media. When she received her prenatal diagnosis that her son, Hudson, had Down syndrome, she thought her world would fall apart. Being a mom of 3 other daughters, she didn’t know how the family would take it. Well fast forward 4 years and those dark moments are a thing of the past. Jennifer talks with us about the reason behind sharing her story and the light that is spreading across the lives of so many. Tune into the episode to hear all about how Jennifer is changing the way the world views Down syndrome by celebrating Hudson’s life and showing people the beauty of the DS diagnosis. See the video episode at, https://gigisplayhouse.org/alittlesomethingextra

Houston and Katie Vandergriff join the show!! Houston is an adult with Down syndrome who is a professional photographer and world traveler. His mother, Katie, and him run the platform “Downs and Towns”, where people can view his beautiful photography and see his life journey! This episode is so important because it shows the power of following one’s passion. No one should be held back from following their passions, especially because of a measly extra chromosome, and Houston channels that energy! In this episode, we talk about Houston’s travels (most recently to Egypt), how he found his passion, and what he did to pursue it. We, of course, hear some incredible words of inspiration from his mother and some really beautiful “Something Extras”! We hope you enjoy it! To watch the video version of this episode, click here.

The mother-daughter duo behind Candidly Kind, Grace, and Carrie Key join the show! Grace is a 22-year-old entrepreneur who so happens to have Down syndrome. Grace has a passion for art, fashion, and cosmetology so, like any great entrepreneur, she is channeled that passion into her business! Candidly Kind’s message is to spread light, love and acceptance through Grace’s original art. Then a percentage of proceeds go to various non-profits that support that same mission of spreading love and acceptance! In the episode, we talk with Grace and her mom Carrie about their journey, from Grace’s birth and the mindset Carrie had in that moment through today and the incredible woman she has become! We get some amazing words of inspiration from both Carrie and Grace, of course, we dive into each of their “something extra’s,” and we finish off with GiGi’s Tips on being creative. We hope you enjoy it!! Watch the full episode here: https://gigisplayhouse.org/alittlesomethingextra/s2-e14-a-little-something-extra-with-grace-and-carrie-key/

Author, influencer, sister, and sibling advocate; Erin Johnson joins the show this week alongside her brother, Matt! This episode goes out to all the amazing sibling advocates out there. Erin is the older sister of her brother, Matt, who has Down syndrome. Erin and Matt share a story that a lot of people can relate to. Just a brother and sister who share lots of love, laughs, and appreciation for each other. Erin wanted to share her sibling story with the world to show the beauty of having a brother with Down syndrome and how amazing the journey is as an adult. Matt is now the uncle to a niece and nephew, and he could not handle the job any better! In the episode, Erin and Matt share their sibling journey, giving us some valuable life lessons that any of us can learn from! We also talk about the impact that Matt has had on Erin outside of their relationship, such as her career, her experience as an author, even her decision to adopt a child with Down syndrome with her husband. Of course, we learn Matt and Erin’s Little Something Extra, and GiGi finishes things off with some tips on “loving your family”. We hope this one gives a little perspective on the importance of family! You can find Erin and Matt on social media @Erinadvocates Watch the video version of this epsoide here.

Actor and model, Sophia Sanchez and her mom Jennifer join the show! This week's episode is a super special one, because we are joined by an incredible mother-daughter duo. Sophia Sanchez is a 14-year-old with Down syndrome who is paving the way for others in her work as an actress and model. Sophia is starring in the upcoming film, Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. A role she received not because of her diagnosis but for her talent! Sophia is also the inspiration behind the new book You Are Enough: A Book About Inclusion. Jennifer Sanchez begins their story detailing her family's journey in adopting Sophia from a Ukranian orphanage after she gave birth to a son with Down syndrome. Then walks us through Sophia’s amazing rise into the beautiful inspiration she is. The theme of this episode is The Power of Family and boy do the Sanchez’s know all about that! Catch their amazing story, some beautiful words of wisdom, a couple “something extra’s” and GiGi’s famous TIPSSSS on this fun-filled episode! We hope you enjoy!! Watch the video version of this episode here.

Ellen Boyer, founder and president of The Brett Boyer Foundation, joins the show! This episode is a bit heavier than others, but so beautiful, inspirational, and important. Ellen talks with us about her journey of turning tragedy into inspiration. At just 7 months old, Ellen and her husband lost their beloved Brett to complications due to congenital heart disease. Ellen and her family turned the tragedy into their life mission to celebrate Brett and others with Down syndrome while also raising awareness and funding to research solutions for congenital heart disease. This episode is a beautiful testament to her daughter and a testament to everyone who has faced tragedy/adversity in life. As we can learn from Ellen, it’s not the adversity that defines who you are, it’s how you respond to it. Watch the video version of this episode here.

With World Down Syndrome Day just around the corner, this week’s episode of A Little Something Extra feels a bit more special! To celebrate, we spoke with the founder of The Lucky Few, Heather Avis! Heather is a New York Times best-selling author, podcaster, and a Down syndrome advocate, working to create a more inclusive world where everyone belongs. The Lucky Few has grown from this concept of celebrating those lucky enough to be influenced by a Down syndrome diagnosis to a lifestyle brand and organization that is synonymous with the Down syndrome Diagnosis. The Lucky Few concept has now become a global storytelling movement, shifting narratives to create a more inclusive world where everyone belongs.   In this episode, Heather talks with us about her incredible journey as a mother of 3 kids, 2 having Down syndrome, and the perspective it has given her when it comes to celebrating who we are. We then dive into the mission of The Lucky Few and the global impact it has made on the Down syndrome diagnosis and the members of its community. GiGi also shares some tips on living your best life, and of course, we learn the Little Something Extra of a world-class changemaker. A perfect episode for celebrating a perfect day of recognition! We hope you enjoy it! You can also watch the video here:https://gigisplayhouse.org/alittlesomethingextra/

On this week's episode of A Little Something Extra, we are joined by the absolutely incredible Madison Tevlin! Staring in the upcoming movie, Champions, premiering Friday, March 10th. Madison is a 21-year-old with Down syndrome, but she likes to say her diagnosis is the least interesting thing about her. I think after listening, anyone would agree! You may remember Madison from her viral video back in 2012 of her singing “All of Me” by John Legend. Well, she didn’t stop there! Fast forward to today, and she is an actress, model, influencer, and advocate. She continues to show the world that no diagnosis should hold you back from following your dreams. We hope you love this one as much as we did! See the video version here: https://gigisplayhouse.org/alittlesomethingextra/