Rockin the Difference
by Chandra Neal/Single Mom/Special Needs Mom/Special Needs Sports Program Board Member
Latest episode
Episode 33: Nashville: Big Breakthroughs and a Whole Lot of Heart
Episode 33: Nashville: Big Breakthroughs and a Whole Lot of Heart
About this podcast
Hello There! Welcome to Rockin the Difference, a podcast meant to share the experiences and information with those on their journey in the special needs world. I am your host, Chandra Neal, a mom of a young adult with special needs.
My intent is to create a community where we can connect, be real and share in the humor and the tears, challenges and triumphs of what it’s like traveling down this path that is so unique as a special needs parent.
Together, we can encourage and support each other as we are all Rockin the Difference!
Episodes
The newest 20 of 34 episodes
- Episode 33: Nashville: Big Breakthroughs and a Whole Lot of Heart · 31 min · Season 2 Episode 33Nashville was more than just a fun getaway for Ryan and me. It was a trip filled with laughter, new experiences, unexpected breakthroughs, and some pretty special reminders of…
- Episode 32: When Independence Gets Messy · 22 min · Season 2 Episode 32The Independence I Asked For I spent 23 years fighting for Ryan’s independence. Now that he’s an adult, he’s giving me exactly what I asked for… and it’s driving me a little…
- Episode 31: The Reason Behind Rockin The Difference; An Interview with Ryan · 41 min · Season 2 Episode 31Today is one of my favorite episodes yet. ❤️🎙️ For the first time, I’m talking with the person who inspired this entire podcast… my son, Ryan, AKA Biscuit So often, people hear…
- Episode 30: The Friends Who Walk This Journey With Me · 50 min · Season 2 Episode 30NEW EPISODE: The Friends Who Walked This Journey With Me When people talk about raising a child with special needs, they often focus on the parents. But what about the friends…
- Episode 29: Beach Getaway Conversations · 1 min · Season 2 Episode 29No experts. No scripts. No agenda. Just five special needs parents, three incredible individuals with disabilities, a beach house, and some honest conversations about life…
- Episode 28: Beyond What You See with Tiffany V. Easterbrook · 53 min · Season 2 Episode 28Beyond What You See | Featuring Tiffany V. Easterbrook What if everything you thought you understood about someone… was only a fraction of the story? In this special episode…
- Episode 27: Deciding to Homeschool with Tiffany Henry · 1 h 3 min · Season 3 Episode 27What happens when the traditional path no longer feels like the right one for your child? In this episode, I sit down with my friend Tiffany Henry as she opens up about the…
- Episode 26: When Plans Change: Pivoting as a Special Needs Parent · 13 min · Season 3 Episode 26This episode wasn’t planned. I found out my mother-in-law passed away just days before I leave on a big trip with my mom. And as a special needs parent, moments like this hit…
- Episode 25: Love, Care, and Financial Clarity: Planning Ahead for Our Special Needs Children with Jennifer Brown · 1 h 30 min · Season 3 Episode 25In this episode of Rockin’ the Difference, I sit down with Jennifer Caryn Brown—financial advisor and adoptive mom to a child with special challenges—for an honest and empowering…
- Episode 24: Shedding Skin - What 2025 Asked of Me · 12 min · Season 2 Episode 24As 2025 comes to a close, this episode of Rockin the Difference reflects on a year of profound change, challenges, and growth. I share what it meant to navigate major caregiving…
- Episode 23: Meet Josh Bridegewater - The Spina Bifida Skater · 53 min · Season 2 Episode 23Today on Rockin the Difference, we’re talking with someone whose story rewrites what resilience can look like. Josh Bridgewater is the oldest skateboarder with spina bifida — a…
- Episode 22: No Sight, All Vision: A Chat with the Lamarra Family · 41 min · Season 2 Episode 22💫 What do you get when you mix courage, comedy, two white canes and 3 canines? Meet Brennan (21) and Mina (17) — two siblings who are blind, bold, and breaking barriers every day…
- Episode 21: Russel Burke: Finding Purpose after Paralysis · 1 min · Season 2 Episode 21🎙️ Episode 21: Russel Burke: Finding Purpose after Paralysis In this powerful and deeply moving episode of Rocking the Difference, I sit down with my friend Russ…
- Episode 20: The Hidden Work Behind Parenting a Special Needs Adult · 17 min · Season 2 Episode 20✨ New Episode of Rockin’ the Difference ✨ Being a special needs parent means carrying an invisible load that most people never see. In this solo episode, I take you behind the…
- Episode 19: Beyond Borders: Our Brazil Journey; Challenges and Big Wins · 25 min · Season 2 Episode 19In this episode of Rockin the Difference, host Chandra Neal shares the behind-the-scenes story of preparing for international travel with her adult son, Ryan, who is blind and…
- Episode 18: Defying the Odds: A Father’s Fight for His Son and the Rare Disease Community with Christopher Velona · 1 h 5 min · Episode 18n this powerful episode of Rockin’ the Difference, I sit down with my dear friend Chris Velona — a devoted father, rare disease advocate, and founder of Project Sebastian, a…
- Episode 17: What I Would Tell My Younger Self · 19 min · Season 2 Episode 17In this episode, I open up about the early years when first learned my son had special needs—and all the emotions that came with it: grief, fear, uncertainty. If I could sit with…
- Episode 16: Love Beyond Limits: A Family’s Journey Through Life, Loss, and Legacy" · 1 h 4 min · Season 2 Episode 16In this heartfelt episode of Rocking the Difference, I sit down with an incredible mom, Becky, and her two adult daughters, Hannah and Nicole, to honor the life and legacy of…
- Episode 15:Helping Special Needs Kids Advocate for Themselves – When They Don’t Speak Up · 16 min · Season 2 Episode 15Today we’re talking about something so many special needs parents struggle with—helping our kids learn to advocate for themselves. I’ve personally been dealing with this forever…
- Episode 14: Breaking Free: Overcoming Shame, Embracing Identity, and Rising Strong with Amanda Casarella · 1 h 22 min · Season 2 Episode 14On today’s episode of Rocking the Difference, I am honored to welcome an incredible guest whose story is one of resilience, transformation, and the power of self-belief. Amanda…
