Celebrate World Down Syndrome Day 👐

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Season 2: Episode 87 Description

Ten News Gets Extra: 👐We're celebrating World Down Syndrome Day by amplifying the abilities, talents, and accomplishments of such an amazing community. ✨ Host Bethany Van Delft sits down with actress and model Kassie Mundhenk to talk about her amazing career. 🏆 Everything you need to know about this summer's Special Olympics. And, test your musician knowledge on today's Trivia on the Ten. ✅

Sources

Chromosomes Fact Sheet (genome.gov)

National Association for Down Syndrome | Facts About Down Syndrome (nads.org)

Madeline's Story - Madeline Stuart Model

People With Down Syndrome Who Are Breaking Barriers (insider.com)

Chelsea Werner World Champion | (chelseaworldchampion.com)

Lily D. Moore - Biography - IMDb

Grace Strobel On Down Syndrome, Modeling, and Self-Care | HelloGiggles

https://www.2022specialolympicsusagames.org

Special Olympics vs. Paralympics | UCLA Disabilities and Computing Program

People With Down Syndrome Who Are Breaking Barriers (insider.com)

Links

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TRANSCRIPT:

Bethany Van Delft  0:02  

March 21st, is almost here and we're celebrating World Down Syndrome Day. We will be amplifying the abilities, talents, and accomplishments of an amazing community. I'm Bethany Van Delft. It's Saturday, March 19th and this is no ordinary episode of the Ten News, this is the Ten News Gets Extra. 

Sound Bit  0:22  

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. 

Bethany Van Delft  0:30  

Down syndrome is a natural occurrence where a person has three copies of their 21st chromosome. Let's back up and talk about what that means. Chromosomes are tiny threads that have our genetic information. They're in every cell of your body, and they carry the instructions for how to make you. Most of the time chromosomes come in pairs. So people have two copies of each of our 23 chromosomes. People with Down Syndrome have three copies of the 21st chromosome, which is why March 21st, or 3/21. is when we celebrate World Down Syndrome Day, I get to sit down and talk with a shining star actress and model Kassie Mundhenk to talk about her life and her amazing career. Thank you very, very much for joining us. We're big fans here at the Ten. How long have you been acting and have you always been a big acting fan? Like were you in drama club? And did you do plays in school?

Kassie Mundhenk  1:46  

Well, I started with Bobo for a project called a gray. It was a lot of fun. It was to act when I was little.

Bethany Van Delft  1:59  

So this is something you had in your heart for a long time. And then you got to get to live your dream and do it. That is such an inspiring thing. Yeah, I read that. Mayor of East town which is your show on HBO that that was your first speaking role. You have done roles before that, but this one was your first speaking role. What was that like?

Kassie Mundhenk 2:20  

Oh, it was like really fun having this really cool. Payroll because I met hate ruthless and have them on their cell. And they were so Murray way.

Bethany Van Delft  2:42  

Oh my gosh, there now you're all friends, are you? Yeah, we're fine. What set lifelike is it? I've heard set from some people that it can be like really, really, really long days. And I've heard from other people that it's like super exciting. And it goes by so quickly.

Kassie Mundhenk  2:59  

I love it because it's so exciting. 

Bethany Van Delft  3:04

What are some of the roles that you've played? Besides this role in Mayor of Easttown? What are some other roles that you've played?

Kassie Mundhenk  3:14  

Oh, I was a patient on New Amsterdam. Oh, wow. And Law and Order SVU, also a churchgoer on there too. And a student for Bo Burnham.

Bethany Van Delft  3:29  

In something with Bo Burnham. Yeah. Oh my gosh. Now. Now I'm fangirling because I'm also a comedian and I love Bo Burnham. That's so cool. Do you have of all these cool roles that you've played? Do you have a favorite?

Kassie Mundhenk  3:43  

My favorite? Yeah, my favorite is being Moira Ross in Mare of East Town.

Bethany Van Delft  3:49  

That's your favorite role, why is Moira your favorite?

Kassie Mundhenk  3:52  

Oh, showing myself as Moira Ross because she is all about wearing dresses and inclusion and having fun.

Bethany Van Delft  4:05  

I love that. That is so cool. I mean I think everything should be about inclusion. That is so cool. You're teaching the world how to be I love it. I also heard that you have modeled we have that in common I love it was that how was that for you? Is that so much fun?

Kassie Mundhenk   4:23  

It was a lot of fun modeling for Justice and smiling and being beautiful with some of their clothing.

Bethany Van Delft  4:30  

Tell me if this is a question people ask you when they find out that you model, you do get to keep the clothes?

Kassie Mundhenk  4:37  

Yeah. Well, I just did a photoshoot for Justice for their winter clothing line. It was four years ago when I did the first shoot for justice for their winter clothing line. I wore mermaid jammies for their winter clothing line. And I actually have the mermaid jammies.

Bethany Van Delft  5:09  

cool. I mean it's already such a fun job but that makes it even more worth it's getting to keep awesome stuff like mermaid jammies. Yeah, I heard another thing about you that you are the Self-professed roller coaster queen. What? What do you love about roller coasters?

Kassie Mundhenk  5:30  

I like going on them and going upside down and going on the turns and going fast.

Bethany Van Delft  5:37  

Okay? You're definitely braver than me. I get a little bit scared. Especially about the upside-down ones. Is there a roller coaster somewhere? Somewhere on our beautiful earth? That is your very favorite roller coaster?

Kassie Mundhenk  5:52  

Yeah. My favorite is going to be Mako in Orlando, Florida at Seaworld.

Bethany Van Delft  5:57  

He will in that one has lots of twists and turns and upside downs. Yeah. All right. So that's the one we should all try here at the 10 field trip. What other projects do you have coming up? Like we're big fans now? What can we check out next?

Kassie Mundhenk  6:11  

I have auditions, but I haven't heard back from them yet.

Bethany Van Delft  6:21  

So basically, we should just stay on the lookout because you're gonna be all over the place soon. We just have to keep our eyes open. I'm trying. Yes, you're doing girl you are doing all right. This is a fun part of the interview. Last question. What is your favorite fun fact? about absolutely anything?

Kassie Mundhenk  6:43  

I’ve been swimming in a mermaid tail for years and it’s very easy. 

Bethany Van Delft  6:52  

You can swim with a mermaid tail? That's amazing. Yeah. Oh my gosh. I hope that's something we get to see on Instagram. Oh, it's on Instagram. I'll be checking it out and following you. Well, thank you so much for your time. Cassie. We really really appreciate you being here. This is really exciting to get to talk to you. And please come back. Anytime you have another project you want to chat with us about we would love to have you Thank you. Kassie is a queen and a fearless wanted that. Cassie, if you ever want a roller coaster buddy hit me up. Since it's also Women's History Month, we want to celebrate some of the amazing women in girl activists in the Down Syndrome community who are expanding the boundaries of representation. Australian model Maryland Stewart is an activist for inclusion. The 21-year-old has walked in 11 fashion weeks been featured in dozens of magazines and started her own fashion line wow another fashion mogul Isabella spring Malta Hala is a designer from Guatemala. She is the first clothing designer with Down syndrome to have her work shown at London Fashion Week. Chelsea Werner is a four-time gymnastics national champion in a two-time world champion at the Special Olympics. She is also an actress and model and started an agent M commercial. Another actress amplifying representation is Lily de more. She plays Rebecca in the hit series. Never have I ever at 18 years old she enjoyed cooking, swimming, singing, cheerleading, and playing with her dogs and cats. I mean who doesn't. Lily also started an organization called H. E. L. P. which stands for helping everyone with love and passion and makes bags of food and toiletries available to people who are homeless. Cool. Grace Strobel is an anti-bullying activist, model skincare ambassador, and speaker who created a presentation called the grace effect. She encourages students to treat others with kindness and respect and break stereotypes that are speaking events. That's incredible. Do you know some of the Down Syndrome you want to shout out? Let us know. Visit the 10 news.com/contact and we might even have you on the show. This summer the Special Olympics USA Games will be held in Orlando, Florida. The Special Olympics are different from the Paralympics in that the Paralympics are fiercely competitive, and athletes have to qualify to compete. The Special Olympics can be pretty competitive too, but also celebrate sports as a way for athletes with intellectual disabilities to reach their full potential. If you haven't checked out a Special Olympics, you must every bit as exciting as the other Olympics. Up next, it's time for...

Various Voices  9:58  

What, what, what's the big idea?

Bethany Van Delft  10:02  

Trivia on the Ten. Suchi Desai is an accomplished musician who plays seven instruments and is the first person with Down syndrome to play at a famous New York City music venue. Can you guess which one it is? Is it a) Madison Square Garden b) Carnegie Hall or c) the Apollo Theater? Did you guess it? The answer b. Do you know the famous joke? We're tourists as a New Yorker? How do you get to Carnegie Hall? The New Yorker says, practice. And let me tell you that's exactly what Suchi Desai did. He plays B flat and bass clarinet, alto saxophone, violin, piano trumpet, and drums. He's performed in almost every state and in 13 different countries, and he has won many awards. Suchi Desai says each impossible mission can be made possible if you put your mind to it, and work hard without giving up. That's a lesson for all of us. Well, Ten'ers, that's our show. But before we go, here's a quick note for the grownups. Thanks for listening to the Ten News. Look out for our new episodes on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and extras on Saturdays. The Ten News is a coproduction of Small But Mighty Media and Next Chapter Podcasts and is distributed by iHeartRadio. The Ten News creative team is loving this five-star review. We got a quote, "my whole family listens to you almost every day, an amazing podcast, amazing people. Sincerely, Nathaniel. Why thank you, Nathaniel, that totally makes our day. Back to our creative team, which includes Tracey Crooks, Pete Musto, Ryan Willard, Logan Deyoung, and Tessa Flannery. And a little secret I contributed to writing this episode as well. Our production director is Jeremiah Tittle and our executive producers are Donald Albright and show creator Tracy Leeds Kaplan. I'm Bethany Van Delft, and thanks for listening to the Ten News. Happy World Down Syndrome Day! Spread the love and shout out how amazing people with Down syndrome are!