Overview of #653 - Hannah Strickland (Theo Von Podcast)
This episode features 9‑year‑old social media personality Hannah Strickland visiting Theo with her mother Dawn and sister Grace. The conversation is a mix of playful family banter, Hannah’s big personality and food obsessions (especially pasta), and a substantive discussion about the family’s experience with the rare genetic disorder cystinosis. Dawn also announces the launch of the Strickland Hope Foundation to support families facing pediatric chronic illness.
Who’s who / quick background
- Hannah Strickland — 9 years old (born 2016). Energetic, loud, loves pasta, wants to be a chef and open a restaurant called Seven Nights of Pasta.
- Dawn Strickland — Hannah’s mother; primary caregiver and organizer for the family; recently launched the Strickland Hope Foundation.
- Grace Strickland — Hannah’s sister, runs a baking channel called “Graceful Purposeful Art,” does cake commissions (examples: SpongeBob, Stranger Things).
- Joel and Jonah — Hannah’s older brothers. Joel has significant medical history related to cystinosis (two kidney transplants); Jonah plays with Hannah, is studying engineering.
Key topics and takeaways
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Family dynamic and personality
- Lighthearted, conversational tone: Hannah’s funny, blunt observations (likes big fat cats, hates the Grinch, loves Olive Garden and breadsticks).
- Typical sibling teasing and chores: Hannah says she does most of the cooking and cleaning; playful critique that some siblings “don’t do anything.”
- Aspirations: Hannah wants to be a chef; Grace bakes professionally/hobbyist and documents her baking online.
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Medical context: cystinosis (clarified)
- Dawn explains cystinosis as a lysosomal storage disorder in which cystine accumulates in cells and affects multiple organs.
- Family impact: chronic medications (including eye drops), G‑tube for feeding assistance, growth issues, and organ transplants for affected children (Joel: two kidney transplants; another sibling had a liver transplant).
- Hannah herself reports minimal daily symptom awareness: “I just drink water and then I go eat… sleep, watch TV, play.” The family stresses that Hannah’s relative normalcy is meaningful.
- Dawn’s perspective: prolonged diagnostic process for a child, the financial/psychological burden on families, and the need for better support systems.
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Strickland Hope Foundation
- Launched to help families affected by rare/chronic pediatric conditions.
- Intended supports: financial help (gaps beyond insurance), medical equipment, counseling/therapy, help with co‑pays, training or schooling to enable caregivers to work from home, and other practical services.
- Mission driven by Dawn’s own experiences with diagnosis delays, transplants and the stress of fundraising for care.
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Media, social content and viral life
- Hannah is known for viral clips; Grace produces cakes and posts content (channel name given).
- Anecdotes: hotel stories, “yes day” (Hannah bought Barbie accessories and a large doll), a viral Christmas shop clip was discussed.
Notable quotes & moments
- Hannah (on daily life): “I just drink water and then I go eat. Eat, sleep, eat, drink.”
- Dawn (on motivation for the foundation): the indignity of having to beg/GoFundMe for lifesaving care and the determination to remove that burden for other families.
- Family humor: Hannah wants a “fatter cat” the size of a chair; claims she’d throw unwanted pets into the pond for the alligators (playful Florida‑style banter).
- Grace’s baking: she documents cakes and makes custom toppers; Hannah helps taste and judge.
Practical / action items mentioned
- Strickland Hope Foundation — newly launched to support families affected by cystinosis and similar chronic pediatric conditions (search for the foundation by name for donations/support or updates).
- Follow Grace’s baking channel: “Graceful Purposeful Art” (cakes and baking content).
- Hannah’s future plans: restaurant idea “Seven Nights of Pasta” and a chef career (long‑term).
Sponsors & promotions mentioned on the episode
- Busboys (movie) — pre‑sale tickets available at busboysmovie.com; theatrical release April 17 (Theo Von and David Spade).
- Home Depot — Spring Black Friday savings ad (promo window noted in episode).
- Liquid I.V. — promo code: THEO for 20% off first purchase at liquidiv.com.
- Acorns — Acorns promo mentioned for new accounts (details in episode).
- Microsoft Copilot ad played during episode.
(These sponsor details appeared in the episode; check the companies’ sites or the episode description for valid promo links and up‑to‑date codes.)
Why this episode matters
- It balances lighthearted, relatable family moments with an important look at what life is like when a family navigates a rare pediatric illness.
- Dawn’s launch of the Strickland Hope Foundation is the main actionable development: a family converting personal struggle into structured help for others (financial/therapeutic/educational support).
- For listeners interested in pediatric rare disease advocacy, caregiving burdens, or family resilience, this episode offers a personal, practical perspective.
Resources & links (from episode)
- Busboysmovie pre‑sale: busboysmovie.com
- Strickland Hope Foundation — newly announced (search by name for the organization’s site/social handles)
- Grace’s baking channel: “Graceful Purposeful Art” (search on YouTube/social platforms)
- Sponsors mentioned: Liquid I.V. (code THEO), Acorns, Home Depot (promo dates given in ad copy)
If you want a shorter TL;DR: Hannah is a lively 9‑year‑old with big opinions and pasta dreams; her family has been deeply affected by cystinosis and organ transplants, and her mother Dawn has launched the Strickland Hope Foundation to help other families facing similar medical and financial challenges.