Carriers of Hope: A Conversation with Founders of Labeled and Loved Julie Hornok and Dr. Regina Crone

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This episode lit me up. I had the gift of sitting down with Julie Hornok and Dr. Regina Crone—co-founders of Labeled and Loved. Together, they’ve created something powerful for moms like us navigating disability and special needs: connection, purpose, and spaces where you don’t have to explain yourself.

Julie brings over 20 years of experience in the special needs world—as a mom, speaker, behavioral program facilitator, and author of United in Autism. You might’ve seen her featured on Focus on the Family, Today Parents, or even iHeartRadio. Her work-hard-play-hard energy is contagious.

Regina, a Ph.D. and board-certified behavior analyst, was inspired by her brother’s diagnosis. She owns Therapy & Beyond, and has spent decades presenting, writing, and supporting families across the country. Oh—and she lives on a farm in Texas with her crew, which includes chickens and cows. Her motto? “Go with the flow and eat chocolate.” Legendary.

We talked about what it looks like to grieve expectations and still find deep joy. About the hard moments that no one prepares you for—and the small but bold steps that can shift everything. And we dove into the retreat they created just for moms like us (recently featured on The Kelly Clarkson Show, by the way).

If you’re feeling stretched thin, isolated, or like you’ve lost pieces of yourself along the way, this one will speak directly to your heart.

Resources Mentioned:

• Labeled and Loved Retreat: October 10–12 in Dallas, TX
• Sisterhood Circles: In-person & virtual support groups
• United in Autism by Julie Hornok
• Therapy and Beyond (Dr. Crone’s clinic)
• Labeled and Loved featured on The Kelly Clarkson Show

Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
Website: https://www.kararyska.com/