grownwoman
grownwoman
Podcast Description
grownwoman with Shannon Allen is a space for women who’ve had to step up, stand tall, and transform their lives when everything was on the line. Hosted by entrepreneur and grown founder Shannon Allen, this podcast dives into the real stories of women who faced health scares, heartbreak, and life-altering moments—and came out stronger.
Through raw conversations on resilience, reinvention, and the power of community, grownwoman explores what it truly means to build something meaningful—whether it’s a business, a legacy, or a new way of living. If you're navigating a big shift, reclaiming your power, or just need inspiration from women who’ve been there, this podcast is for you.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on themes of resilience, reinvention, and the strength of community. Episodes explore personal stories of women overcoming health scares, heartbreak, and life-altering events, such as the journey of Karen Guggenheim from grief to growth. Other topics include the science of happiness, leadership, and emotional well-being, emphasizing the importance of vulnerability and empowerment.
grownwoman with Shannon Allen is a space for women who’ve had to step up, stand tall, and transform their lives when everything was on the line. Hosted by entrepreneur and grown founder Shannon Allen, this podcast dives into the real stories of women who faced health scares, heartbreak, and life-altering moments—and came out stronger.
Through raw conversations on resilience, reinvention, and the power of community, grownwoman explores what it truly means to build something meaningful—whether it’s a business, a legacy, or a new way of living. If you’re navigating a big shift, reclaiming your power, or just need inspiration from women who’ve been there, this podcast is for you.
In this deeply personal and powerful episode of grownwoman, Shannon Allen sits down with her dear friend Kimberly Dasinger, who opens up about her granddaughter Penelope’s autism diagnosis – a journey that has transformed her view of love, motherhood, and resilience.
Alongside leading experts Dr. LaToya Green (behavioral health) and Dr. O’Neil Pyke (Jackson Medical Group), they unpack the challenges of navigating the medical system, the emotional toll of caregiving, and the urgent need for early intervention and advocacy in communities of color.
Kim shares her raw emotions, from the moment she first noticed Penelope’s delayed milestones to the heartbreak of hearing the diagnosis, and the fierce determination to ensure her granddaughter thrives. This episode is a testament to the strength of family, the beauty of neurodiversity, and the hope that comes with compassionate support systems.
⚠️ Content Note: This segment contains emotional discussions around caregiving stress, early autism diagnoses, and systemic challenges in healthcare.
KEY POINTS
[0:00] – Introduction
[1:11] – Kim shares Penelope’s story and how autism reshaped her family’s world.
[3:00] – Early signs: missing milestones, nonverbal cues, and a grandmother’s intuition.
[6:12] – Dr. Green: Why early diagnosis and therapy access matter most.
[8:47] – 1 in 36 children are diagnosed with autism – awareness is saving lives.
[11:45] – Dr. Pike: Advocacy and engagement are key to better healthcare.
[17:43] – Caring for the caregiver: therapy, support, and community.
[22:00] – Kim’s creative use of AI tools to help Penelope communicate.
[29:31] – AI in medicine: removing bias, focusing on compassion.
[33:20] – The Lemonade Center: holistic care for neurodivergent families.
[35:02] – Kim’s dream: a world where kids like Penelope can play and belong.
[47:50] – Teaching empathy, modeling kindness starts with us.
[53:03] – “Love is the best therapy.” A grandmother’s hope, a doctor’s mission.
QUOTES
“She’s the light of my life. She’s the most incredible little girl. She’s vibrant and happy, and, you know, just the best thing that’s ever, ever happened to me.” – Kimberly Dasinger
“The earlier you get the children the help they need, the better they are.” – Dr. Latoya Green
“We need to actually take away the stigma from a lot of these diseases that are so rampant that we’re pulling them out of the shadows. Autism is one of them, right?” – Dr. O’Neil Pyke
“I wouldn’t change who she is or her diagnosis or anything about her. What I want to do is make sure that she’s okay for the rest of her life.” – Kimberly Dasinger
GUEST RESOURCES
Dr. LaToya Green
Instagram | @drtoyagreen
Dr. O’Neil Pyke
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/oneil-pyke-md-mba-sfhm/
RESOURCES
Shannon Allen
Grown Website | https://www.grown.org/
IG | @shannonwalkerallen
🌱 Stay Connected & Explore More
🔗 Visit the Grown WebsiteGrown.org
📲 Follow Shannon on Instagram@shannonwalkerallen
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grownwoman is produced by EPYC Media Network
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