The Imperfection Connection

Some people change your life before you ever meet them.
For many, that person is Emily Perl Kingsley.
The essay she penned, Welcome to Holland, has comforted millions of parents raising children with disabilities, reminding them they're not alone.
In this episode, Emily shares the heartbreaking advice she received after her son Jason was born with Down syndrome — to pretend he didn't exist. She also shares how Jason went on to become a published author, proving the experts wrong, and how her groundbreaking work as a writer on Sesame Street helped change the way generations of children see people with disabilities.
It's a conversation about hope, resilience, and the extraordinary impact one person can have.
🎧 Listen now.
#EmilyPerlKingsley #WelcomeToHolland #DownSyndrome #SpecialNeedsParenting #DisabilityAdvocacy #DisabilityAwareness #SesameStreet #JasonKingsley #TheImperfectionConnection

Father's Day means something different to everyone. For some, it's a chance to spend time with their fathers.  For others, it's a day of memories. 
 
In this belated special Father's Day episode of The Imperfection Connection, Patty and Gina celebrate "The Man Who Had Everything,"  who taught them some of life's greatest lessons through quiet strength, humility, and an unwavering devotion to their mother. 
 
Join them as they laugh, reflect, and share the values their dad passed on, including the importance of not taking yourself too seriously. 
Whether you're celebrating your dad, missing him, or simply thinking about a paternal figure who made a difference to you, we hope this heartfelt episode leaves you feeling grateful for the special person who touched your life. 
 

This week, Gina and Patty are joined by Dr. Grant Evans, a doctor of chiropractic medicine and their friend Jeanne, who shares her experience with stem cell therapy after dealing with debilitating shoulder pain (not just from bearing the weight of helping Patty and Gina with their podcast).
Together, they discuss stem cell therapy and other forms of regenerative medicine that may be an alternative to surgery.
If your aches have aches and getting out of bed feels like an Olympic event, you won't want to miss this episode with expert advice, real results, and, of course, plenty of imperfection and laughs.

In this episode of The Imperfection Connection, the Shut Up Sisters sit down with autism advocate and blogger Eileen Shaklee of Autism with a Side of Fries for an honest conversation about parenting an adult child with autism, navigating transition programs, and the fears that come with letting go.
Eileen shares what it feels like to see her 21-year-old son understood, happy, and supported as he builds a life of his own. She also opens up about her own recent autism diagnosis and how it helped her better understand herself, her son, and the unique ways autism can show up in women.
Whether you're parenting a child with autism, supporting a loved one on the spectrum, or simply trying to embrace your own imperfections, this conversation is filled with insight, hope, humor, and heart.

What happens when two sleepy, unkempt imperfect sisters and a very patient dog spend hours trapped in a car together? Find out as Patty and Gina hit the road for a seemingly endless drive to Massachusetts for a speaking engagement and family visit. Join the fun (and pain) as they battle traffic, roadside rubber, tough decisions, and fog (not weather-related).

Feeling stressed, anxious, or mentally foggy? Patty and Gina were right there with you until they banded together to try a new type of therapy — drum circle. Armed with zero rhythm, plenty of emotional baggage, and a very fun, kind, and PATIENT teacher, they found stress relief, connection, and of course, laughter. Join the fun as the sisters step way outside their comfort zone, lose the beat more than once, and discover that sometimes the best therapy is simply letting go and making a little noise.

In honor of Mother’s Day, Patty and Gina welcome two riveting, familiar, and imperfect guests for a funny, honest, and heartfelt conversation about motherhood, mistakes, and what happens when the person who taught you how to be a mother is no longer here. Grab your tissues — and your mom, if you’re still lucky enough to have her. And please excuse their unkempt hair. 

In this episode, Patty and Gina discuss how they learned the importance of health, especially as they've gotten older. Gina opens up about a new, debilitating condition that’s left her in severe pain and in a fog — far deeper than her usual fog, which is really saying something. 
The Sisters welcome a special guest, Josh Lieberman, from Restore Hyper Wellness, who introduces alternative therapies to help manage pain, reduce inflammation, promote wellness, and enhance mental clarity (Patty and Gina were sold on that). And because every podcast needs a hero, Patty takes one for the team and steps into a cryotherapy chamber for research purposes.

In a historic moment, Patty and Gina, the “Shut Up Sisters,” deliver on a long-awaited goal: getting back in the podcast saddle with their new podcast, The Imperfection Connection. Fueled by unprecedented world division — and the realization (thanks to their gray hairs) that they’re running out of time — they kick things off with a very special guest: Katie Gallagher, the inspiration behind Shut Up About Your Perfect Kid, who grew up with autism and is living proof that the road to happiness, success, and fulfillment doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. Listen or watch for laughs, inspiration, and of course, lots of imperfection.