Show Notes
In this recast of the second ever episode of ‘The Skies We’re Under’ Lucy, Sarah and Rachel talk about some of the helpful and unhelpful ways they deal with times of stress and transition. This is not professional advice but an honest conversation about the trust of complex realities and how they try to live life well. Content warning: Very early on in this episode we talk about the fear and potential for childhood death, DNACPR, childhood cancer and stroke. They also do laugh a lot because this world we live in manages to have both sadness and laughter– despite the absurdity of it all. Please do not listen to this episode if this will not serve you well. They also discuss the importance of conversations about children’s end of life care. Details of resources are below. The following resources are discussed during the podcast:
ReSPECT documents and end of life discussions. Completing the stress cycle. You can listen to the brilliant podcast with Brene Brown, Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski, How to complete the stress cycle. Or read Emily and Amelia’s book. Affinity hub website: emotional support for parents of children with special needs. Day-by-Day: emotional wellbeing in parents of disabled children. Jo Griffin
Since this episode the podcast has gone from strength to strength and almost 130 episodes later there's still so much to discuss and share with our wonderful listeners, the families of people with complex disabilities and the many practitioners that support us. Moving forward we need your help to keep producing new episodes. You or your organisation can sponsor a season or advertise within an episode. Email us to find out more. Email your questions and comments to [email protected] and don’t forget to rate, review, share and subscribe - this increases our chance of being able to keep doing The Skies We're Under podcast.
More from The Skies We’re Under
Our final episode of Season 5 is Rachel, Sarah and Lucy give the slightly sweary warts and all version of life, stresses and loves of parenting a disabled child with the full expectations of summer Less support + Less equipment + Less routine + Higher expectations = Holidays Lucy swears more than normal, spoiler alert (none of us have managed a relaxing summer break yet) and we’re all a bit p****d about all the Instagram spam of leisurely summer family trips away.* Please rate, review and follow the podcast. You can also email [email protected] *There is much to be grateful for and we love our children Blah Blah Blah... Find more about Family Fund for financing holidays here and other grants available in the UK here. Find out about Camp Jojo here Thanks for listening and being a part of our podcast community. It would make our day if you could like, follow and review the podcast wherever you listen. For questions, disability hacks or to share your story, you can email [email protected] - we would love to hear from you. You can leave a message with us in a number of ways: Speakpipe here: https://www.speakpipe.com/TSWUpodcast (Please note calls need to be limited to 90 seconds) You can send us a voice note from your phone to our email address at [email protected] Or, if the thought of hearing your own voice gives you ‘the ick’, then send us an email to [email protected] Whatever way you choose to get in touch, we really want to hear your thoughts, views, musings, rants and confessions (we love a confession!) . ‘The Skies We’re Under’ is taking a pause as we shore up funding (hopefully) for another season. Until then, we hope the rest of your 2026 brings some fun, joy and smiles, whatever Skies You Are Under.
Rachel and her husband Tim talk all things travel. From child-free teen-dom in Turkey to the highs and lows of ‘holidays’ when you choose to make life even more complicated than it is at home. Whilst it doesn’t shy away from the genuine sh*t show that we’re often presented with, they also share numerous top tips and moments of joy, including: The Bendrigg Trust Hippocampe Make A Wish Foundation Canvas and Campfires; Center Parcs and Camp JoJo Thanks for listening and being a part of our podcast community. It would make our day if you could like, follow and review the podcast wherever you listen. For questions, disability hacks or to share your story, you can email [email protected] - we would love to hear from you. You can leave a message with us in a number of ways: Using Speakpipe here: https://www.speakpipe.com/TSWUpodcast (Please note calls need to be limited to 90 seconds) You can send us a voice note from your phone to our email address at [email protected] Or, if the thought of hearing your own voice gives you ‘the ick’, then send us an email to [email protected] Whatever way you choose to get in touch, we really want to hear your thoughts, views, musings, rants and confessions (we love a confession!) . ‘The Skies We’re Under’ continues to go from strength to strength with over 100 episodes already. There's still so much to discuss and share with our wonderful listeners, the families of people with complex disabilities and the many practitioners that support us. Moving forward we need your help to keep producing new episodes. Email us to find out more [email protected].
A special episode for The Skies We’re Under with Carrie Grant and Samantha Flynn, hosts of the Cerebra Podcast The Calm in the Complicated. As a part of Cerebra’s six-episode series, Rachel joined the conversation to explore the overwhelming life admin families face when raising a child with a brain condition. Together Carrie, Sam and Rachel unpack the emotional weight of endless paperwork and share practical, compassionate strategies to help parents feel less alone. This episode offers honest conversation, reassurance and practical strategies for managing the hidden second job that so often comes with parenting in the SEND world. A validating listen for any parent feeling overwhelmed by the systems surrounding their child. The episode covers:
Jo Holmes is our resident expert on all things communication (and put together this recast series). Blogger at Mummy Vs AAC, Speech and Language Therapist and parent of a daughter with complex needs. In this conversation she opens up about her relationship with laminators and gets real about the how she had to rediscover how to really connect with her daughter. TRIGGER WARNING – Please note – right from the start, we have discussions around end of life care plans and DNACPR. IF this is something that will be upsetting and triggering to you please skip this episode, or fast forward to 7 minutes. To find out more about Jo, and the resources she’s passionate about please go to: Mummy Vs AAC About Jo Resource Bank HOP | Hanging Out Program Interaction for People at Risk of Isolation Thanks for listening and being a part of our podcast community. It would make our day if you could like, follow and review the podcast wherever you listen. For questions, disability hacks or to share your story, you can email [email protected] - we would love to hear from you. If you have any ideas or resources might support us being able to continue the podcast we would also love to hear from you. We’d love to hear from you – we love sharing stories, we love hearing how things are going, the good, the bad, the snotty-crying ugly. You can leave a message with us in a number of ways: Firstly you can leave a message using Speakpipe here: https://www.speakpipe.com/TSWUpodcast (Please note calls need to be limited to 90 seconds) You can send us a voice note from your phone to our email address at [email protected] Or, if the thought of hearing your own voice gives you ‘the ick’, then send us an email to [email protected] Whatever way you choose to get in touch, we really want to hear your thoughts, views, musings, rants and confessions (we love a confession!) . ‘The Skies We’re Under’ continues to go from strength to strength with almost 130 episodes already. There's still so much to discuss and share with our wonderful listeners, the families of people with complex disabilities and the many practitioners that support us. Moving forward we need your help to keep producing new episodes. Email us to find out more [email protected].
Dr. Beth Moulam, Paralympian, researcher, advocate and award-winning all-round superhuman chatted with Rachel back in season 4. Beth shared her thoughts on the communication tools we all use, and the tools she uses. The challenges she faces (spoiler alert – it’s normally other people), and the joy she finds in creating new connections, and creating community around her, in the breathtaking number of fields she’s involved in. Rachel, Sarah and Lucy bring updates and reflections, there’s news from the Moths, and Lucy broke a TSWU record, by swearing right from the outset – having to bring “all your BLEEPING podcast BEEP to work is not the best way to start the day! You can find more about Beth on her website and you tube page. Since this recording she’s also written a book which is due in the Autumn and available for pre-order now. Thanks to the lovely folk at Liberator for sponsoring this week’s episode. You can find more about them and their work here. Thanks for listening and being a part of our podcast community. It would make our day if you could like, follow and review the podcast wherever you listen. For questions, disability hacks or to share your story, you can email [email protected] - we would love to hear from you. If you have any ideas or resources might support us being able to continue the podcast we would also love to hear from you. We’d love to hear from you – we love sharing stories, we love hearing how things are going, the good, the bad, the snotty-crying ugly. You can leave a message with us in a number of ways: Firstly you can leave a message using Speakpipe here: https://www.speakpipe.com/TSWUpodcast (Please note calls need to be limited to 90 seconds) You can send us a voice note from your phone to our email address at [email protected] Or, if the thought of hearing your own voice gives you ‘the ick’, then send us an email to [email protected] Whatever way you choose to get in touch, we really want to hear your thoughts, views, musings, rants and confessions (we love a confession!) . ‘The Skies We’re Under’ continues to go from strength to strength with almost 130 episodes already. There's still so much to discuss and share with our wonderful listeners, the families of people with complex disabilities and the many practitioners that support us. Moving forward we need your help to keep producing new episodes. Email us to find out more [email protected].