In this episode I sit down with Sarah Kernion, the force behind the INCHSTONES Substack and podcast. Sarah’s a mom to two kids with profound non-speaking autism, and she doesn’t hold back on the unfiltered truths of that world. We dive into how the glossy narratives around autism, like martyr moms and sanitized symbols like Autism Barbie, distort reality for families and keeping them trapped in exhaustion and isolation.

Sarah flips the script, showing how reorienting toward vulnerability, joy, and inch-by-inch progress can break free from those chains. We talk fused identities, envy vs. jealousy, defensive posturing as a signal for change, and why rest is essential infrastructure. It’s raw, fierce, and full of hope for anyone navigating mismatched realities.

Talking with Sarah always lights a fire for me; her authenticity cuts through the BS like nothing else. As someone obsessed with orientation, I loved how she tied it to everyday survival: rejecting scripts that erase one's humanity, choosing liberation over martyrdom, and using vulnerability to recalibrate more quickly. If you’re in high-stakes parenting (or any kind of chaos), this episode is a mirror: question the narrative, own the discomfort, and build your own path. Sarah’s living proof that reorientation leads to profound meaning.

Guest Bio: Sarah Kernion is a mom of three, advocate, and creator of Inchstones, where she shares radical truths about profound autism parenting. Drawing from Boyd’s OODA loop and her own experiences, she empowers caregivers to rewrite their stories. Check her out at inchstones.substack.com.

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Change the Game Podcast S1 E7: Reorienting Reality in Profound Autism Parenting

Change the Game Podcast