The Lighthouse Podcast

After an amazing season of sharing stories, we’re taking a pause on the Lighthouse Family Retreat Podcast. Thank you for listening, supporting, and being part of this journey! While we won’t have new episodes for a while, you can still revisit and share all our previous episodes. We’re looking forward to the next chapter of serving families impacted by childhood cancer. See ya later!  In this hear...

In this inspiring episode, hosts Chris Woodruff and Christy Richards sit down with special guests Elise Keel, Megan Beasley, and Seamus, a Duke athlete, to discuss the transformative work of Team Impact. Team Impact connects children facing serious illnesses with college athletic teams, fostering meaningful relationships that empower kids and inspire athletes. These connections create a community...

In this heartfelt episode of  The Lighthouse Podcast , hosts Chris Woodruff and Christy Richards sit down with Amy Jo Osborn, co-founder of the Austin Hatcher Foundation. Amy Jo shares the deeply personal journey that led her and her husband, Jim, to start the foundation after the loss of their first-born son, Austin, to cancer. What began as unimaginable grief grew into a mission to help other fa...

In this episode, we dive into the world of music therapy with Austin, a passionate advocate for the healing power of music. We discuss how music impacts children and teens and explore its therapeutic potential. Austin shares insights from his background in music and explains how the Sing Me A Story Foundation empowers children to tell their stories through song. Join us as we learn how the foundat...

Happy Childhood Cancer Awareness Month! We have gone GOLD this month, and we hope you are, too. We love wearing our first-ever childhood cancer awareness t-shirt. This September, we are sharing all sides of childhood cancer, from medical staff to family stories to incredible non-profits and so much more! In this episode, we sit down with Mariah Forster Olson to explore her inspiring cancer journey...

Welcome back to the Lighthouse Podcast! We are so glad you are joining us for the August episode. In this episode, we have a candid conversation with Juanita Prada, who opens up about their extraordinary journey from a young cancer patient to a resilient advocate. Juanita walked through Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) childhood cancer starting at age 10. She has been cancer-free since 2008 when...

In this episode, we sit down with Bryce Knight, who shares their compelling journey of resilience and strength through a family's unexpected challenges. Bryce opens up about her upbringing, family dynamics, and personal interests and provides a glimpse into her life before and after 2010. The conversation moves into the pivotal year when their family faced a significant upheaval, leading to th...

Welcome back to the Lighthouse Podcast! Today, we have the privilege of sharing the heartfelt journey of Nakiso and her family's battle with a challenging diagnosis. In October 2022, Nakiso began experiencing unusual fatigue, nausea, and a persistent stomachache. Despite multiple visits to her pediatrician and urgent care, it wasn't until a blood test at the emergency room on November 6th,...

Join us as we delve into the inspiring story behind the founding of the Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research. Our hosts sit down in person with Dean Crowe, the driving force behind Rally Foundation, to uncover the grassroots initiatives, community involvement, and cost-efficient strategies that have fueled the organization's mission to combat childhood cancer. From empowering volunte...

Welcome back to the Lighthouse Podcast! Last September, we had the privilege of attending a poignant gathering in Washington, D.C., called "CureFest." Amidst the inspiring atmosphere, we had the honor of encountering remarkable individuals and organizations. Today, we're thrilled to share a heartfelt conversation with Leia Hunt, one of the extraordinary souls we met at CureFest. Leia...

Welcome back to the Lighthouse Podcast! This is our March edition, but don't forget that we have 133 other episodes you can also listen to. Today, Chris and Christy have the privilege of talking with Pamela Jones. Pamela's daughter, Sarah, was diagnosed with T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at the age of 12. Before that diagnosis, back when Sarah was an infant, they had a miracle happen...

We are so thrilled to be starting season 8 of the Lighthouse Podcast! First and Foremost, we wanted to make you aware that our posting schedule is changing slightly. For this season, new episodes will drop on the first Tuesday of each month. We encourage you to go back and listen to the helpful episodes from Season 1 to 7.   Now, let us introduce you to our guests for the first episode of this sea...

Today, we're joined by Dan and Kate Hutson. Dan & Kate are the parents to 4 beautiful children, Audrey, Elijah, Jack & Greta. In August of 2021, their lives took an unexpected turn when their son, Elijah, began displaying unexplained bruising all over his body within a remarkably short span. On their 8th wedding anniversary, August 3, 2021, Elijah received the diagnosis of ALL, marked...

Welcome back to The Lighthouse Family Podcast as we welcome the incredible Mary Ann Massolio. As a mother of two, Jay and Kathleen, Mary Ann wears multiple hats—serving as the Executive Director of the 1Voice Foundation and dedicating herself to Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Social Work in Tampa Bay for almost three decades. Mary Ann's journey took a profound turn when her son, Jay, was diagno...

Welcome back to The Lighthouse Family Podcast! Today, we're privileged to welcome Chalene Skinner as our guest. Her journey is truly extraordinary, centered around her daughter, Easton. Easton's path began at birth, born with Down Syndrome, and took a significant turn at the age of 3 with a diagnosis of ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia), charting an unexpected journey for their family. Li...

Welcome to the Lighthouse Family Podcast. In this episode, we're honored to have Jamie Perkins as our guest. Jamie and her husband, Tommy, are loving parents to two amazing children, Griffin (14) and Julia (12). Their lives took an unforeseen turn when their son, Griffin, was diagnosed with Optic Nerve Glioma just before third grade. Fast forward to 2021, when the tumor's size doubled, req...

Welcome to another touching episode of the Lighthouse Podcast. Today, we are honored to have Brindley Drake as our guest. Brindley and her husband, Dillon, share a beautiful family with two amazing boys, Dalton and Cooper. Last fall, just before school started, their lives took an unexpected turn when Cooper began experiencing severe leg pain. A visit to the emergency room unveiled a heartbreaking...

Welcome back to the Lighthouse Podcast. In this episode, we have the privilege of talking with Dr. Susan Conradsen, a dedicated mother of two children, Annalise and Daken. Beyond her role as a mother, Dr. Conradsen is a licensed clinical psychologist and currently serves as an Associate Professor of Psychology, Director of the Signature Experience Program, and the Director of the Women's and G...

In this episode of The Lighthouse Family Podcast, we have the privilege of hearing from Dustin and Tatiana Rose. Together, they have a beautiful son, Max (4yrs old). Max was 3 1/2 years old when their world was forever changed. Max's initial medical concern, suspected scoliosis, led to an MRI revealing a Ganglioneuroblastoma mass near his spine, a diagnosis they never saw coming. Their path fo...

Welcome back to the Lighthouse Family Podcast. Today, we have the privilege of speaking with Martika Peterson, a devoted mother alongside her husband Damien, raising two beautiful children, Kaidence and Damien. In this episode, Martika shares a heart-wrenching journey that began with her daughter's severe headaches in October 2021. Their world took a devastating turn in September when Kaidence...

In this profoundly moving episode, we have the privilege of talking with Kelli Youngblood. Kelli and her husband Matt have two beautiful children, Emerie (10) and Lane (7). Their story began with an unexpected twist when Lane was playing soccer with his dad and suddenly experienced excruciating stomach pains. A trip to the hospital and a shocking diagnosis from the oncology team changed their live...

Welcome back to The Lighthouse Family Podcast. In today's episode we have the honor of speaking with Brent & Jade Campbell. Together they have three children, Haddie, Ruby & Judson. Brent serves as the pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Lahoma, OK, while Jade is a dedicated stay-at-home mom. In the early months of 2022, their world was dramatically altered when they received the heart-w...

Welcome back to The Lighthouse Family Podcast. In today's episode, we have the honor of speaking with Camille Connor. Camille and her husband, Bob, have a son, Stafford, and identical twin daughters, Caroline and Connor. Their lives took an unexpected turn in 2013 when Caroline received a diagnosis that would change their family forever—Juvenile Pilocytic Astrocytoma. Camille begins by express...

Welcome back to the Lighthouse Family Podcast, where today's episode is truly special. We have the pleasure of hosting one of our esteemed board members, Courtney DeFeo. Courtney and her husband, Ron, are the parents of two beautiful teenage daughters, Ella and Larson. She has a natural gift for communication and is passionate about writing, speaking, and providing parents with valuable tools...

Welcome back to the Lighthouse Podcast! In this episode, Chris and Christy embark on an incredible journey alongside Teka Dodd, a mother with an extraordinary story to share. Teka and her husband, Nathaniel, are the loving parents of four beautiful children: Chloe (13), Aryanna (11), Serenity (3), and Amelia (1). Their story takes an unexpected turn in 2016 when Teka receives a rare and life-alter...