Why Us & Why Now?

Between the two of us, we've spent 35 years parenting 5 amazing, neurodiverse humans. After a decade of friendship and countless conversations about the hilarity & the hard of our parenting journeys, we decided it's high time we share our heartbreaking wins and life giving losses with all of you. Not only that, we're proud to share our kids with you in each and every episode, always with their dignity at the tippy top of our minds. There's no reason to go it alone friends, so here we are. Grab a beverage and go hide in a closet nearest you.

a black and white line drawing of a podcast microphone.

Our Friendship Story

We (Kristen and Gwen) met at a burger joint in Littleton, Colorado 10 years ago. We were there for an Autism mom support group, which Kristen had single-handedly birthed years prior. She was raising triplets, all diagnosed with Autism at various times in their childhoods, desperate for a community that could relate to her alien lifestyle. This group grew and became a safe space for Autism moms to speak openly, drink their beverages, and eat all the fried everything without shame.

Gwen, raising two kids through adoption and with various levels of neurodiversity, including Autism, silently observed Kristen throughout the night, noting her openness and soft nature, and appreciating her well-placed sarcasm and snark. She knew Kristen would become her person and she was correct. Kristen found in Gwen a safe place to find support and acceptance, and someone who entertains her endlessly. We quickly became part of each other's home team posse and have spent countless hours bonding over shared experiences and teaming up to advocate for our larger community.

Four years ago, Gwen moved to Michigan, forcing our bantering from live to over Marco Polo. Because we would literally resort to playing dead in our respective lives without the banter. Recognizing and sitting in the impossibly hard truths as well as peeing our pants laughing over these same truths are what keep us upright. Thanks for visiting! We couldn't be more pleased to welcome you.

Meet the "You Don't Want a Hug" Posse

Gwen Vogelzang

Founder & Host

Gwen's professional career follows a path so many special-ability parents' careers do. She started with 15 years of marketing and public relations management and when parenting children with neurodiversity became all-encompassing, she left her 9-5 career for one that morphed into serial entrepreneurship. She published a book with her son, Rylan (If I Squeeze Your Head I'm Sorry), co-ran an interior design company, launched an Airstream gathering space business, opened a diverse and inclusive children's bookstore (Marvelous Me books), and continued doing contract marketing work through it all. Like Kristen, Gwen also acted as a paid Fellow through UC Denver School of Medicine and led an adoption support group in Denver. Most recently, Gwen enrolled at Harvard to earn a master's degree in creative writing and literature.

Random Factoids:

Adoptive Mama Bird
Becoming freakishly obsessed with birds as she ages. And doing puzzles while listening to smooth jazz.
Organized to a fault
Thinks outside of every box
Sarcasm enthusiast & knows it's not usually a good trait
Gatherer of humans
Asker of intentional questions
Taker of Lexapro
Spiritual seeker
Hides from her kids in closets on the regular
Wears emotions on her sleeves and her face
Embraces healthy conflict
Partaker in lots of therapy
Manifester of many things, some of which stick

Kristen Kaiser

Founder & Host

Kristen was the Executive Program Director for The Joshua School, a school for students with autism and other developmental disabilities on the Front Range in Colorado, for 8 years. She oversaw the operations and programming for the preschool, school age and transition programs.

Since 2009, Kristen has also served as LEND Family Discipline Director at JFK Partners, UC Denver School of Medicine, teaching and mentoring multidisciplinary professionals on disability and the family experience. She has been involved in autism research, and developing and implementing family support programming for families newly diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

In 2008, Kristen founded the non-profit support organization The Living Spectrum, with over 900 online members state-wide and monthly live, in-person events in the Denver metro area.

She holds a Masters Degree in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health, BA in English from the University of California, Santa Barbara and an Masters Degree in English and American Literature from Harvard University.

Random Factoids:

Triplet mama
Teacher of young professionals
Literature indulging (but not above a good fantasy romance novel when overwhelmed)
Sensory-avoidant introvert
Lover of good beer
Addicted to going to school for things that won’t make me money
Camper
Writer
Singer of songs to my students
Mentor to some and forever humbled by my need for mentoring
Ever the diplomat (until I’m not…you know who you are),
Teller of stories and expert listener
Public health advocate
Devoted to my handful of dear friends and family

Gwen and her husband and two children are in the backyard in the summer, with trees behind them. There are three chickens attempting to fly in their faces, they have a look of surprise and amusment on their faces. Gwen is wearing a colorful flowered dress and a jean jacket.

Gwen's Fam

Tim (hubby of 20+ years), Rylan, 3 chickens (who now reside on a proper farm due to ALL the shit), Reagan, our now-in-our hearts beloved dog, Enzo, and newest Vogelzang member, Dudley Doolittle (Australian Labradoodle pictured below.) Rylan's tortoise Shelldon is not pictured but is talked about daily. Hourly.

Kristen and her husband Greg are standing on their backyard deck with their triplet sons. They all have their arms around each other. Kristen is wearing a coral colored shirt over a black dress.

Kristen's Fam

Greg (intrepid National Park Service Project Manager and bringer of all things adventure and fun), Hayden (tallest and alleged alpha triplet, expert dawdler), Jameson (middle child by one minute and ring leader of all pretend play), Graham (eldest statesman and leader of the Kaiser video game circuit), Simon (grumpy geriatric terrier that our world revolves around, not pictured here as he is hiding from all the children).