In this episode of the Extra Lucky Podcast, Taryn and Jess sit down with Amanda Owen, a children's book author and nonprofit founder, to discuss her journey growing up with her brother Nick, who has a rare disability. Amanda shares her experiences as a sibling, her transition from teaching to founding Puzzle Pieces, a nonprofit that supports individuals with disabilities, and her insights on caregiving and community inclusion. The conversation highlights the importance of communication within families, the impact of Amanda's books, and the small steps individuals can take to create inclusive communities. Amanda emphasizes the need for resilience and the power of sharing stories to inspire others. 

Amanda recently published her first book, Rarely Different, to help disability parents navigate the beautiful, challenging and often unspoken uncertainty of raising both a neurotypical child along side a child with a disability.

You can pick up Amanda’s new book at https://piecesofme.org/my-memoir/ and find her on Instagram @piecesofmebyamanda where you can see all of her work.

Learn more about Taryn, Jess & the Extra Lucky Community on Instagram @extraluckymoms, @tarynlagonigro and @jessquarello

The Extra Lucky Podcast is produced by Andie Amit of Sprouting Productions.