The Osborne Adventure Podcast is an inside look into our World Record setting sailing circumnavigation to raise Down syndrome awareness. Join us each week as we share an intimate look into our unique lifestyle, our views on adventure parenting, and the beauty and challenges of raising a child with Down syndrome.
Whether you're an avid sailor, an individual with Down syndrome, a parent of a child with special needs, or simply curious about life on the high seas we promise to inspire, educate, and ignite a spirit of adventure within you.
Subscribe to the Osborne Adventure Podcast!
If you prefer, you can also listen to the Osborne Adventure podcast on SPOTIFY or APPLE PODCASTS.
JOIN US FOR A New episode every thursday!
Incoming! Bogey Hydroflask at 4 O’Clock – Ep. 65
Val and I sit down and talk about something we don’t always say out loud, what it actually looks like to raise Ren. We share stories from the early days to where we are now, the things that were harder than we expected, the things that took time, and the moments that shaped how we parent. It’s just an honest look at our life, the parts that don’t always get shared, and everything that comes with it.
Just Ren – Ep. 64
Val and I sit down with our friend and neighbor Jen, a firefighter and mom whose daughters have become fast friends with our kids. What started as kids running back and forth between houses turned into something bigger. We talk about what it’s like for another family to step into our world, how naturally their kids have connected with Ren, and a school project that says more about what we’re doing than we ever could.
She Chose Down Syndrome – Ep. 63
I sit down with Hannah, Hailey, and Roake and just let them talk. No plan, no script, just kids sharing what it’s actually like to know Ren. What stood out wasn’t what they said about Down syndrome, it was how little they thought about it. To them, he’s not a diagnosis, he’s just Ren.
Do Little Holes Need Bigger Holes? – Ep. 62
Val and I get a little philosophical while sharing a few updates. There’s big news with the National Down Syndrome Society, and some not-so-big news involving cleaning, grinding, and epoxy. It’s a conversation about the rhythm of working on an incredible boat, learning not to panic when something unexpected shows up, and why I’m slowly learning that small holes don’t always need bigger ones.
Popcorn, Penguins, and Far Away - Ep. 61
The kids took over the microphone for this one. In this episode, you hear the expedition through their voices as we talk about sleeping on the boat, losing teeth at anchor, collecting shells from around the world, killer whales, penguins, and why “far away” is all Ren really needs to know. It’s unscripted, chaotic at times, and a real look at what this adventure feels like from the three people it will shape the most.
Stalked by a Raft of Sea Lions – Ep. 60
Life on the dock in British Columbia was never part of the plan, but it gave us something we did not realize we needed: time. Time to breathe, recover, and feel the excitement come back. In this episode, we talk honestly about burnout, unexpected detours, sea lions on paddleboards, Sunday dinners, and the gift of watching Ren step into real friendships in a way we have never seen before.
Missing the Deadline (I Made Up) – Ep. 59
On this episode of the Osborne Adventure Podcast, it is just me, talking honestly about missing a deadline I made up, and what that revealed about how much pressure I was putting on myself. November 2025 became a hard line in the sand, and missing it forced me to confront the difference between progress and performance.
I discuss revisiting the book A Voyage for Madmen and being reminded that this is the kind of adventure people used to undertake as individuals, not corporations or professional teams. There is no safety net beyond the choices we make every day. The timelines, the funding, and the mission all rest on us. This is our life, not a job. Despite missing some marks along the way, the mission itself has never changed.
Lions, Tigers and Freyja… Oh My! – Ep. 58
On this episode of the Osborne Adventure Podcast, we sit down with Maegan as she officially says yes to joining our family and stepping into the role of Ren’s DSP. What began as a quick text has turned into a life changing whirlwind that includes living together, taking sailing courses, and learning what daily life with our family actually looks like.
You will hear about spelunking in the lava beds, snow bound trips through Oregon, stand up paddling in 40º rain, water parks, and boat projects, all packed into just a few short weeks together. We talk about building trust with Roake and Freyja, learning Ren’s rhythms, and the difference between helping and allowing him to do things on his own. It is an honest conversation about commitment, integration, and figuring things out in real time, before the lines are cast off and the dock disappears.
Drill Bits, Redwoods, and a Million Dollar Drone Shot – Ep. 57
On this episode of the Osborne Adventure Podcast, Val and I finally sit down to give a long-overdue update. We discuss what it actually looks like to refit a boat while homeschooling, filming a docuseries, and trying to live a normal life at the same time, and why a lot of real progress doesn't look very exciting when you zoom out.
You will hear about a missed step in the Redwoods that almost turned into a call to search and rescue, what it took to fly a drone through a tiny opening in a 2000-year-old tree, and why, given even half a chance, Ren will still pack everything he owns and be ready to leave in five minutes. We discuss shifting family dynamics, homeschooling as a family, and why we are intentionally trying to slow things down at the moment. It is a fun, honest update from what sometimes feels like about three inches below the surface.
Dreaming Bigger with Kandi Pickard, CEO of the National Down Syndrome Society – EP. 56
On this episode of the Osborne Adventure Podcast, Val and I sit down with Kandi Pickard, CEO of the National Down Syndrome Society, for an open and honest conversation about parenting, inclusion, and what it means to dream bigger. From her son Mason’s story to the national advocacy work that’s reshaping opportunities for people with Down syndrome, Kandi brings both warmth and wisdom to every moment.
We discuss the fear, joy, and the everyday beauty of raising kids who change how we see the world. From seaplanes landing outside our window to Ren making a surprise appearance mid-recording, this is real life, unscripted and unfiltered.
Unicorns, Bigfoot, and the Myth of Down Syndrome – EP. 55
On this episode of the Osborne Adventure Podcast, Val and I sit down to celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Month the best way we know how, by talking about the myths we have heard, the truth we have lived, and the moments that made us laugh along the way. From the idea that people with Down syndrome are always happy (they aren’t) to the myth that everyone with Down syndrome looks the same (they don’t), we share what is actually true in our world with Ren.
You will hear about the letter A standoff, the epic starfish counting moment, and Ren’s plan to live with his friends one day. It is real life with a side of humor, honest, personal, and full of love for the kid who keeps us on our toes and reminds us not to take anything too seriously.
Pass the Snorkel, Class Is in Session – EP. 54
On this episode of the Osborne Adventure Podcast, Val and I share about our new educational docuseries, Adventure Without Boundaries. What began as a way to inspire kids with special needs has grown into a full classroom resource with lessons, sensory sections, and activities that teachers can adapt for every kind of learner. We talk about why we kept the series off social media, how teachers are using it, and the incredible feedback we’ve already received.
You’ll also get a peek at our next episode, where our family volunteers at a local salmon hatchery to learn about conservation, community, and the connection between adventure and responsibility. It’s fun, thoughtful, and all about showing kids, with and without disabilities, that curiosity belongs everywhere, even in the classroom.