60 episodes
- What happens when the future you imagined for your child starts to look completely different?
Kate Swenson, creator of Finding Cooper’s Voice, joins us for an incredibly honest conversation about autism, motherhood, caregiving, acceptance, and the complicated emotions parents are often afraid to say out loud.
Plus, Kate shares the story behind Finding Cooper’s Voice, her advocacy work, her upcoming book, and why caregivers need community and support just as much as the people they care for.
00:00 “God, You Picked the Wrong Person”
01:19 Meet Kate Swenson of Finding Cooper’s Voice
03:21 How Autism Changed Kate’s Life
09:56 The Unexpected Story Behind Kate’s First Book
11:03 Kate’s New Autism Guide for Families
20:09 The Reality of Planning for an Autistic Child’s Future
21:43 Why Honest Autism Moms Get Called “Negative”
22:53 Two Things Can Be True About Autism
27:31 Parenting vs. Caregiving: What’s the Difference?
38:52 When Younger Siblings Begin to Pass Them
40:59 Grieving the Life You Imagined for Your Child
41:55 Kate Swenson Opens Up About Her Lowest Point
44:08 Learning to Accept the Future You Can’t Control
51:51 Why Caregivers Have to Put the Torch Down Sometimes
52:32 Finding Community Through the More Than Project
If you are interested in advertising on this podcast email advertising@pionairepodcasting.com
To request Lise & Nicci to be on your Podcast, Radio Show, or TV Show, reach out to talent@pionairepodcasting.com
This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Views expressed on this podcast solely reflect those of the host and do not reflect the views of Pionaire. - Our listeners get a FREE MONTH of Primal Queen plus FOUR FREE GIFTS at
PrimalQueen.com/SIS. #ad
No one really prepares you for what perimenopause and menopause can actually feel like.
In this episode we get candid about their personal experiences with menopause from unexpected body changes, exhaustion and hot flashes to mood swings, sleep problems, changing sex drives and the impact it can have on relationships and marriage.
But the conversation doesn't stop there. We also discuss learning when to protect your private life, dealing with judgment on social media, faith and raising children with their own beliefs, and why wisdom sometimes means knowing what doesn't need to be shared with the internet.
00:00 What Menopause Really Feels Like
03:20 Perimenopause Symptoms We Weren’t Prepared For
05:57 How Menopause Affects Sex Drive and Libido
07:15 How Menopause Can Affect Marriage and Relationships
09:03 Menopause Mood Swings, Exhaustion and Sleep Problems
13:20 Our Experience With Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
15:09 Estrogen, Progesterone and Testosterone During Menopause
17:10 Exercise, Weight Gain and Body Changes During Menopause
18:36 The Truth About Menopause Belly Fat
19:37 Why Sleep and Rest Matter More During Menopause
22:05 Motherhood and Getting Older
23:37 The Positive Side of Menopause No One Talks About
26:30 What We Wish We Knew Before Perimenopause
31:35 How Much of Your Life Should You Share Online?
33:59 Protecting Your Children’s Privacy on Social Media
35:17 Being Authentic Online Without Oversharing
39:00 Why You Shouldn’t Believe Everything You See Online
45:23 Finding Faith on Your Own Terms
48:06 AI, Social Media and Thinking Critically Online
53:41 Who Should We Interview Next?
If you are interested in advertising on this podcast email advertising@pionairepodcasting.com
To request Lise & Nicci to be on your Podcast, Radio Show, or TV Show, reach out to talent@pionairepodcasting.com
This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Views expressed on this podcast solely reflect those of the host and do not reflect the views of Pionaire. - What is the real truth about women in sports? Olympic medalist Elana Meyers Taylor gets honest about the realities of being a female athlete in a male-dominated world.
But this episode goes far beyond the ice. Elana shares her deeply personal journey from being a Georgia softball player to becoming the most decorated Black athlete in Winter Olympics history. She also opens up about the raw, unrelenting reality of special needs motherhood, raising two deaf boys including her oldest son who has Down syndrome.
If you are interested in advertising on this podcast email advertising@pionairepodcasting.com
To request Lise & Nicci to be on your Podcast, Radio Show, or TV Show, reach out to talent@pionairepodcasting.com
This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Views expressed on this podcast solely reflect those of the host and do not reflect the views of Pionaire. 57: Holly Simon GETS REAL about Breast Cancer, Raising a Son w/ Down Syndrome & DEFYING Expectations
2026-09-03 | 1h 2 mins.What happens when the world tells you to feel sorry for your child... and you decide to prove them wrong?
This week on Talk To Me Sis, we’re joined by Holly Simon, mom to social media sensation and 21 Pineapples founder Nate Simon. Holly and Nate have built a community of more than 1 million followers by doing something surprisingly simple: being completely, unapologetically themselves.
But their story started long before the followers, viral videos, and Hawaiian shirts.
When Nate was born with Down syndrome, Holly remembers doctors telling her they were “sorry.” His first year was filled with serious medical challenges, uncertainty, and moments when she didn’t know what the future would look like. Instead of accepting the limitations others placed on her son, Holly decided to change the conversation.
In this candid conversation, Holly opens up about motherhood, confidence, surviving life’s hardest chapters, learning to stop worrying about what other people think, and the power of owning your story.
Follow Holly and Nate:
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@makenatethegreat
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natethegreatandmom/
21 Pineapples: https://21pineapples.com/
03:27 — Plot Twists of the Week
14:48 — Meet Holly Simon
16:15 — Who Was Holly Before Motherhood?
19:13 — “I’m Sorry” — The Words That Changed Everything
19:58 — When Doctors Almost Missed That Nate Was Dying
21:09 — The Fight to Keep Nate Alive
24:08 — “What the Hell Does Down Syndrome Mean?”
25:36 — The Moment Holly Became a Warrior
26:48 — Turning Pain Into a Mission
30:00 — Raising Nate: The Reality No One Prepared Her For
35:00 — From Motherhood to Finding Herself Again
40:00 — The Hardest Chapters Behind the Scenes
45:00 — Surviving Life’s Biggest Challenges
47:54 — Holly’s Secret to Confidence & Authenticity
48:47 — What Do You Want Your Legacy to Be?
50:24 — Who Nate Is Today
55:00 — The Power of Letting People Be Themselves
58:00 — What Holly Wants Every Mom to Know
If you are interested in advertising on this podcast email advertising@pionairepodcasting.com
To request Lise & Nicci to be on your Podcast, Radio Show, or TV Show, reach out to talent@pionairepodcasting.com
This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Views expressed on this podcast solely reflect those of the host and do not reflect the views of Pionaire.- In this episode, we are joined by our sons from Netflix's Love on the Spectrum: Connor and Tanner! The guys share massive life updates, including the sweet story of how Connor met his new girlfriend, Sarah, and his upcoming trips to Hollywood for a brand-new history podcast. Tanner reveals the details behind his new kids' show, his adventures as an uncle, and his proven strategies for living independently.
We also have an honest conversation about life after reality TV, navigating brand deals, and how these incredible guys are kicking down doors for neurodivergent representation in the media.
00:00 - Connor on Finding Love After Heartbreak
04:09 - Tanner's Life Updates & Travels
05:47 - How Connor Met His Girlfriend, Sarah
09:08 - Tanner's New Kids' Show: Tanner Tries
11:14 - Connor's New History Podcast
12:36 - Best Advice for Handling Work Stress
20:29 - Tanner on Being an Uncle to Baby Chief
25:32 - Life After 'Love on the Spectrum'
30:26 - Tanner's Advice for Living Independently
33:47 - Brand Deals & Neurodivergent Creators
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About Talk To Me Sis
Talk To Me Sis is a heartfelt and honest podcast hosted by two moms, Lise Smith and Nicci Smith, who first connected through the hit Netflix show Love on the Spectrum, but their bond goes far beyond reality TV.
United by their journeys of raising sons with autism (Connor Tomlinson and Tanner Smith), they dive into real conversations about motherhood, relationships, personal growth, and everything in between.
With humor, vulnerability, and unfiltered storytelling, Talk To Me Sis is a space where no topic is off-limits. Whether discussing love, parenting, or life’s unexpected turns, they invite listeners to laugh, cry, and connect, just like sisters do.
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