Rising Above with Becky Davidson

What happens when two longtime friends sit down over coffee and get real about life? In this episode, Becky Davidson is catching up with her friend Susan Lomax, a fellow special needs mom who has joined her on the podcast several times before. Together, they share honestly about the hard things they’ve walked through, the ways life has surprised them, and the hope that comes from having someone wh...

Siege of the Soul with Brianne Becky Davidson talks with Brianne, a special needs mom, former translational neuroscientist, and author of Siege of the Soul. Brianne shares her family’s journey through her daughter Sophie’s diagnoses of Down syndrome and type 1 diabetes, the grief of an unexpected future, and the daily realities of caregiving. They discuss the importance of lament—honestly bringing...

We thought this would be the perfect time to share a little bit of By the Brook 2026 with you! Today’s episode is such a treat as we hear testimonies from three of the moms who shared part of their stories during this year’s By the Brook Weekend. These women opened their hearts and shared honestly about what God has brought them through, and we know their stories will encourage, inspire, and remin...

He's Just a Dude | Rising Above Podcast In this exciting episode of the Rising Above with Becky Davidson Podcast, host Becky Davidson introduces a brand-new program called “He’s Just a Dude,” developed by Bralin Moss, one of Jon Alex’s caregivers and a member of the Rising Above team.  Bralin and Jon Alex are taking this program into schools and youth groups to help students see the person beyond...

  What Your Wife Needs from You | Rising Above Podcast In this episode of the Rising Above Podcast, host Becky Davidson shares a special talk she gave to a group of dads at Rising Above’s Base Camp in the fall of 2024, titled “What Your Wife Needs from You.” Becky reflects on her 26 years of marriage to her husband before his passing in 2017. Through the good moments, the challenges, and everythin...

Garrett Holt on growing up as Toby’s brother and learning patience in a special needs family Becky Davidson talks with Garrett Holt, a junior at Cedarville University studying IT management, about life as the brother of Toby Holt, who has spina bifida and significant medical needs. The conversation focuses on sibling dynamics, family rhythms, and how growing up in that environment shaped Garrett’s...

Caris Holt on Being a Sibling to a Child with Special Needs Becky Davidson talks with Caris Holt, daughter of Carrie Holt and sister of Toby, about what it means to grow up as a sibling to someone with disabilities and special needs. Caris shares how that shaped her family life, her faith, and her sense of identity, while also naming the grief, loneliness, and pressure that can come with the role....

In this heartfelt episode, Jordan shares her journey of growing up alongside her sister, Ricki Rose, who has special needs. She opens up about the joys, challenges, and unexpected lessons that have shaped her perspective on family, sibling relationships, caregiving, and faith. Jordan reflects on how her relationship with Ricki Rose has grown from early questions and uncertainty into a deep love an...

Polly Stokes on Caring for Hazel, Finding Peace, and Trusting God In this episode, Becky Davidson talks with Polly Stokes about caring for her 17-month-old daughter, Hazel, who has profound medical complexity following bacterial meningitis at birth. Polly shares honestly about the realities of medical caregiving, the emotional and spiritual challenges of watching her child suffer, and learning to...

Finding Joy in the Hard: Friendship and Motherhood Among Special Needs Moms- Part 2 In part two of this heartfelt conversation, Becky Davidson sits down with her friends Lisa Bryan, Tracey Martin, and Cynthia Barkley to talk honestly—and often hilariously—about the realities of raising sons with special needs. From grief and caregiving to sensory challenges and some unforgettable poop stories, the...

Finding Joy in the Hard: Friendship and Motherhood Among Special Needs Moms- Part 1 In this heartfelt and hilarious episode, a group of lifelong friends opens up about the joys, challenges, and unexpected moments that come with raising sons with special needs. Through laughter, vulnerability, and shared experiences, they explore what it means to navigate motherhood as their boys grow into young me...

What if your hardest parenting season is also part of God's greater purpose? Raising a child with special needs can feel lonely, exhausting, and uncertain. In this heartfelt episode, Cynthia Barkley shares her family's journey through a premature birth, an autism diagnosis, and years of advocacy, therapy, and unwavering faith. Her story is a powerful reminder that even in life's most difficult mom...

Episode Summary This week, we're doing something a little different, and I'm so excited to welcome my friend, Sherri Stickler, to the podcast! If you've ever been curious about herbal medicine or wondered how natural remedies can support your family's health, this conversation is for you. Sherri is a Registered Herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild and the founder of Synergy Herbal Works. A...

Finding Blessings and Building Resilience in the Journey of a Special Needs Parent In this heartfelt episode, Becky Davidson welcomes Joe and Cindi Ferrini, authors of The Special Needs Parent: A Guide to the Life You Never Expected, to share the remarkable story of their 45-year journey raising their son, Joey, who has cerebral palsy and an intellectual disability. Through honest conversations, p...

Tegan is a former Canadian resident and full-time engineer who now calls Pittsburgh home, where she's a full-time mom of three, always chasing sunshine and finding adventure in everyday family life. Known in the Rare and Mighty (RAM) community for her honest, "no sugarcoating" approach and her thoughtful exploration of special needs theology, Tegan shares the life-changing journey that began when...

Tim and Jen’s 27-year marriage and their family’s adoption journey, including three special needs adoptions from China, as well as the call that led them to Belize and the realities of adapting to a new culture as a missionary family. Tim shares what it has looked like to raise children with special needs while navigating healthcare, education, and ministry overseas, and he explains the story behi...

Tamecka shares her journey as a single mother raising a son with Down syndrome and autism, reflecting on the challenges of diagnosis, healthcare demands, and balancing work and caregiving alone. She highlights how faith and prayer helped her stay grounded through difficult moments. The episode emphasizes the importance of community support, advocacy for children with disabilities, and greater work...

In this uplifting episode, Becky sits down with Meredith Cornish, a mom of 15, to talk about faith, family, and finding joy in the midst of life's challenges. Meredith shares her journey of raising children with disabilities, growing her family through adoption, and trusting God's goodness through every season. Together, they discuss intentional parenting, creating peace in a busy home, supporting...

In this episode, we sit down with Will Spears, a high school senior with a heart for serving others. Will shares his personal story and explains why he is so passionate about supporting the special needs community. He talks about his efforts to raise funds and help students from Livingston Academy’s Special Education Department attend the Special Needs Prom hosted by Rising Above Ministries. Throu...

On this week's episode of Rising Above with Becky Davidson, Becky sits down with Bralin Moss, the newest member of the Rising Above team, to discuss his journey, his passion for the disability community, and his new role as Ministry Advancement Associate. A recent graduate of Tennessee Tech University, Bralin shares his heart for serving families living with disabilities and his excitement about j...

In this heartfelt episode, Becky Davidson talks with a father about the realities of raising children with special needs while balancing faith, family, and ministry. He shares his family’s journey following his daughter’s rare genetic diagnosis and the challenges and blessings that came with caring for a family member with severe autism. Through these experiences, he reflects on how their lives, p...

Brandon Jones, father to Rickie Rose, joins this deeply moving episode to share the realities, challenges, and unexpected blessings of raising a child with special needs. From the life-changing adoption journey from China to navigating the emotional weight of uncertainty and grief, Brandon offers an honest look at how faith, marriage, and community have sustained his family through every season. T...

If you’ve ever wondered what your husband might be feeling—but not saying—this episode is for you. Since so many of our listeners are special needs moms carrying the emotional and practical load of daily life, Becky Davidson invited Steve Chatman to help shed some light on what’s often going on in the minds and hearts of special needs dads. Together, they explore the emotions many dads struggle to...

The conversation between Becky Davidson and Patrick Sawyer is a heartfelt exploration of family, faith, and personal growth. Patrick shares his journey from being an athletic trainer to entering full-time ministry, highlighting the pivotal role his son Connor, who has Down syndrome, played in this transition. Patrick discusses the challenges and blessings of raising a child with special needs, emp...

This special Mother’s Day episode of Rising Above with Becky Davidson features a heartfelt conversation with guests Leslie Harrah and Brittnie Blackburn. Together, the three mothers open up about their journeys raising children with special needs, sharing both the struggles and the profound moments of joy that have shaped their lives. They reflect on how their expectations of motherhood have chang...