Kyle Shepard, writer of The Resilient Mental State Substack, joins Inchstones for a powerful conversation about resilience, caregiving, and communication in the world of autism and neurodiversity. Together, we explore how parenting children with profound autism reshapes our understanding of growth, emotional regulation, and adaptability. Kyle shares deeply personal insights on the challenges and breakthroughs of caregiving, while highlighting the importance of celebrating inchstones—those small but meaningful steps forward. This dialogue underscores the strength found in community, the role of curiosity in navigating uncertainty, and the everyday resilience that defines families living with autism.

• (00:00:00) - Interview With Kyle Shepherd
• (00:00:30) - Cognitive Resilience in the Military
• (00:06:21) - On Autism and the Spectrum
• (00:12:17) - On the Concept of Typical Parents
• (00:16:06) - Anger and Control of My Feelings
• (00:23:16) - How to Manage Your Emotions
• (00:28:56) - The Importance of Self-Care for Parents
• (00:36:54) - Your Wife's Mother Intuition
• (00:42:16) - How Were You Raised?
• (00:49:05) - The Importance of Interactivity
• (00:53:00) - How do you become a more flexible person?
• (00:54:33) - The Power of Consistent Care
• (00:59:20) - One Autism Child's Speech Breakthrough
• (01:04:52) - Coming soon: The Byproduct of Writing

On the Inchstones Podcast, host Sarah Kernion sits down with Kate Lynch to unpack the realities of neurodiversity and the often-overlooked struggles of parents raising profoundly autistic children. Their conversation sheds light on the systemic gaps in caregiving, the urgent need for inclusive education, and the power of community in navigating the challenges of autism. Through honest reflection and lived experience, they highlight how every child’s journey --- measured in inchstones, not milestones --- deserves recognition and respect. Together, Sarah and Kate call for a cultural shift toward acceptance, advocacy, and the celebration of differences, offering hope for a future where neurodivergent voices and families are truly supported.

You can find and follow Kate's work on her Substack: Atypical Kids, Mindful Parents.

• (00:00:00) - Inch Zones: The Neurodiversity Community
• (00:06:12) - What Would Be the Level of Support for a profoundly autistic Child?
• (00:13:33) - One parent's story of autism and advocacy
• (00:18:13) - "They Won't Pay Taxes"
• (00:19:56) - Steve Ford on His Autism Comments
• (00:24:31) - Sarah on Being a Parent With a Different Child
• (00:29:17) - On Autism and the Teacher
• (00:34:15) - Autism and the support it needs
• (00:35:03) - Autism and the Struggle

Navy SEAL veteran Sam Alaimo joins Inchstones host Sarah Kernion for a conversation that bridges two worlds: combat and caregiving. Together, they explore how the endurance, intuition, and community forged in military life parallel the realities of raising children with profound autism. Their dialogue dives into the power of choice in the face of adversity, the way grief reshapes identity, and the resilience required in motherhood. With honesty and depth, Sam shares how lessons from the battlefield illuminate the daily challenges of profound nonspeaking autism and neurodiversity, offering a perspective that redefines what strength and meaning look like when measured in inchstones.

• (00:00:01) - Sam Alaimo on What Then?
• (00:02:10) - How Do You Get Back From the SEAL
• (00:04:26) - In the Elevator With a Marine
• (00:07:32) - In the Elevator With Motherhood
• (00:11:51) - The Need for a Team
• (00:16:55) - On the Importance of Freedom
• (00:21:49) - The Science of Knowing Your Child
• (00:23:48) - In the Elevator With Autism on
• (00:26:28) - How I Learned To Love My SEAL Experience
• (00:30:36) - What is something now that you can, you know, even the
• (00:32:52) - In the Land of Loss
• (00:35:43) - The Caregiver Mother