Rashidah Cartwright started a weekly podcast in September for mothers of children with autism, like herself. She called it “Autism for Badass Moms.”
The Tinton Falls mom never imagined the podcast would be nominated for a Webby Award — deemed the “internet’s highest honor” — just seven months later.
“I was like, in so much shock,” she said. “This must be one of those vivid dreams.”
Earlier this month, Cartwright was nominated for “Best Individual Episode” for podcasts in the 28th annual Webby Awards. The nominated episode was her first one, titled “There is Nothing More Badass than Being an Autism Mom.”
The Webby Awards, established in 1996, are the leading international awards for the internet, recognizing excellence in websites, videos, advertising, podcasts, games, AI and more.
“Nominees like Rashidah are setting the standard for innovation and creativity on the internet,” said Nick Borenstein, the general manager of the Webby Awards. “It is an incredible achievement to be selected among the best from the nearly 13,000 entries we received this year.”
Cartwright is also eligible to win a Webby People’s Voice Award, which is voted online by fans through Thursday. Winners will be announced Tuesday.
“The podcast is just meant to basically rewrite the narrative for the autism mom,” she said. “I want you to know that we have a lot of strength, we have resilience.”
Cartwright started the podcast because she didn’t see many resources highlighting the emotional journeys of mothers whose children are diagnosed with autism.
“A lot of the focus tends to be on our children and our children’s needs, and I think what happens is society forgets that the autism mom also is struggling emotionally,” she said.
Episode topics include navigating an autism diagnosis in a marriage, divorce or single motherhood. Other episodes have explored cycles of grief and isolation. Mental and emotional health are also discussed.
Some mothers of children with autism struggle with depression and anxiety and wrestle with feelings of guilt, shame and blame, Cartwright said. They also worry about the future and who will take care of their child when they’re gone, she said.
“Basically our day is like a whole slew of emotions,” she said. “We don’t just feel sadness one day. You can go through a whole mix of emotions.”
She experienced some of those emotions firsthand when two of her four children were diagnosed with autism. “When I initially got the diagnosis, I felt a lot of guilt,” she said. “I felt like it was something I did that caused my first child to have the diagnosis.”
Multiple diagnoses are also common, she said.
Of her two sons who have autism, one also has partial blindness in one of his eyes and is nonverbal, while the other is also diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD.
The podcast is designed to encourage mothers that they’re not alone. Each episode usually features a different mother of a child with autism.
Cartwright has had mothers from the United Kingdom and Canada booked for upcoming episodes, and has scheduled episodes out until July, she said. She’s made 31 episodes so far.
Cartwright, a licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor who has also worked in the mental health field for 18 years, said she wouldn’t be able to do her work without her husband, who is a stay-at-home dad.
“I’m just so honored to have been nominated,” Cartwright said of her Webby nod. “This has never been just about me. This has been about just the recognition of all of the autism moms out there who are getting through each day in a badass way.”
Voting for the Webby People’s Voice Award is open until Thursday. Fans can cast their votes at vote.webbyawards.com.
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Brianna Kudisch may be reached at bkudisch@njadvancemedia.com.
