Two years before Julie Fisher fell pregnant with her third child, the universe set her up.
She’d just made a friend whose daughter Amy had Down syndrome. Julie watched the playground, asked the questions, and quietly decided that if it ever happened to her family, she would want to know. Two years later, an ultrasound flagged a marker. An amniocentesis confirmed it. Then came five appointments with two different doctors pushing termination — until Julie yelled at them at 25 weeks that she wasn’t going anywhere.
In Episode 2 of Golden Threads, host Dan Dougherty sits down with Julie — author of five books, weekly radio host, founder of an annual disability expo, and mum to 19-year-old Darcy — to talk about advocacy that started before her son was even born, the stares that turned out not to be stares at all, and the line she takes everywhere: “Give people a chance and watch them shine.”
🎙️ IN THIS CONVERSATION
– Why Julie was already practising mother-bear advocacy at 15 weeks pregnant
– Five appointments, two doctors, and the 25-week yelling match that ended termination talk
– “He came into the world like a rock star” — Darcy’s birth, five weeks early, in front of a room of students
– From defence-mode to smiling back: how Julie changed the way her family moves through public spaces
– The five books, the weekly radio show, the annual expo — and the signature quote that travels with her
YOUTUBE CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction
01:28 The friendship that set everything up
02:59 The ultrasound, the amniocentesis, and the 25-week pushback
11:21 Darcy enters the world like a rock star
15:34 Schooling, “Darcy Day”, and a captain in his final year
23:01 Stares, smiles, and learning to smile first
33:33 Five books, a radio show, and an annual expo
53:38 “Give people a chance and watch them shine”
🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Ljf12pNJ27600dNAj3Cbg?si=2141b2c2ebc74dd3
About Kintsugi Heroes:
Kintsugi Heroes is a not-for-profit Australian podcast network sharing real stories of resilience, transformation, and lived experience. Inspired by the Japanese art of kintsugi — repairing broken pottery with gold — we believe our cracks are what make us stronger.
🌐 Website: kintsugiheroes.com.au
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Across Australia, many powerful stories of resilience and courage often go unheard. Golden Threads aims to change this by bringing honest conversations that delve into what it means to adapt and thrive in a world still learning about inclusion. This series shares powerful stories of individuals with disabilities and special needs, offering insights into human rights and the journey toward a more inclusive society. 💖