Tisha Campbell | Beyond the Diagnosis: Understanding Your Child When Their World Is Different From Yours | E69

What happens when the woman everyone knows for making them laugh finally takes off the mask? Tisha Campbell joins JoJo Simmons alongside her son, Xen, for a deeply personal conversation about the life behind her iconic roles, her autism advocacy, and the journey that inspired her book, The A Word. JoJo and Tisha open up about raising sons on the autism spectrum, navigating the emotions surrounding a diagnosis, and letting go of the futures they once imagined for their children. Xen shares what communication and sensory experiences feel like from his perspective, while Tisha reflects on fighting for support, setting boundaries, and learning to embrace who she truly is.

In this episode, JoJo, Tisha, and Xen discuss: 

(00:00) Introduction

(03:00) Tisha’s Unexpected Path to Stardom

(08:42) The Characters That Grew With Tisha

(12:50) Turning Personal Grief Into One Last Shot

(19:38) The Side of Autism We Rarely Hear About

(30:29) The Freedom of Finding Your Voice 

(37:12) Why Early Intervention Takes Persistence

(39:58) The Safety Conversation Parents Can’t Skip

(48:50) The Day Tisha Took Off the Mask

(57:58) The Courage to Show Up as Yourself