Empowered by Hope

Send us a text, we want to hear from you! In this episode, Ashlyn sits down with Danielle Ireland—licensed therapist and host of Don’t Cut Your Own Bangs —for a real, unfiltered conversation about the internal pressure so many medical parents and caregivers carry. That constant voice that says you’re both too much and not enough…  that you should be doing more, even when you’re already doing every...

Send us a text, we want to hear from you! There’s a moment many medical parents know too well: the late-night scroll, the knot in your throat, the feeling that you need an answer and a hand to hold—right now. That’s where our story begins, with two moms, a Facebook group, a long hospital stay, and one honest message that turned fear into friendship. Co-hosts and close friends, Ashlyn Thompson &amp...

Send us a text, we want to hear from you! You know your child best. The challenge is proving it in a 15-minute appointment or during morning rounds at the hospital. In this episode, Emily talks with Amy Lamb, creator of My Health Journal , about a simple journaling system that helps caregivers track symptoms, medications, sleep, stress, and daily observations in one organized place. When patterns...

Send us a text, we want to hear from you! Some weeks call for a pause. Last week, we were scheduled to release a new episode sharing a valuable resource for medical parents. But with everything that unfolded in our country, it felt important to step back, take a breath, and model what we so often encourage within this community: giving ourselves space and grace when things feel heavy, and allowing...

Send us a text, we want to hear from you! January on Empowered by Hope is dedicated to something we talk about often but live out imperfectly: self-care. Or, as we prefer to name it in medical-parent reality, self-preservation — the small, necessary choices that allow us to be the parent advocates we want and need to be. This episode opens with a deeply personal conversation as we honor Emily K. W...

Send us a text, we want to hear from you! New year energy can feel fraudulent when you’re parenting through hospital stays, procedures, and constant logistics. We’re trading perfection for something truer: a simple ritual to release what hurts and a short list of keepers that actually help us breathe, love, and carry on. No grand resolutions, no reinvention—just small, honest choices that hold up...

Send us a text, we want to hear from you! This open conversation between co-hosts, Emily & Ashlyn, offers clear language, practical insight, and zero judgment for parents, caregivers, and anyone walking the tightrope of medical advocacy and family life. What changes when the caregiver’s well-being becomes the foundation of the family—not an afterthought squeezed into the margins? We dig into t...

Send us a text, we want to hear from you! A powerful new anthem is available for parents walking the complex medical journey with their children. Emily Whiting sits down with singer-songwriter Gina Brooklyn to unveil "Through Every Storm," a song created specifically for the Parent Empowerment Network community that captures the heartache, hope, and profound love that defines raising a m...

Send us a text, we want to hear from you! When you’re caring for a medically complex child, you need help —but it’s overwhelming and exhausting to field the constant “Let me know how I can help,” “Just call me if you need anything,” or “What can I do for you?” messages. The decision fatigue for parents in crisis is grueling. We desperately need the help, but our supporters need a clear path that e...

Send us a text, we want to hear from you! The journey of caring for a child with rare disease or complex medical needs often leaves parents and caregivers isolated in their experience. While friends and family genuinely want to help, many struggle with knowing how to truly support without overstepping or saying the wrong thing. Amy (Board) Bradford brings her decades of experience working with rar...

Send us a text, we want to hear from you! Child Life Specialist, Brittany Luther, brings over twenty years of expertise to answer these questions in this emotionally powerful conversation. She explains how children naturally communicate their fears and process trauma through play—whether that's with specialized medical toys from organizations like The Butterfly Pig or simply through creative...

Send us a text, we want to hear from you! MaryJenner, a nurse with a creative heart, founded The Butterfly Pig after writing a children's book about embracing differences—a theme that would become central to her mission of transforming pediatric medical experiences through play. Her company creates realistic medical simulation tools that children can use with their favorite stuffed animals, h...

Send us a text, we want to hear from you! How do you hold on to hope when you know your child is dying—and there’s no diagnosis, no cure, and no roadmap forward? Co-hosts, Ashlyn Thompson & Ashley Milbourne are joined by Dr. Tasha Faruqui—award-winning pediatrician, rare disease parent, and now debut author—who invites us into the heart of her story, which inspired her forthcoming memoir: Keep...

Send us a text, we want to hear from you! As parents of children with complex medical needs, our hearts often ache with worry about our other children. Are they getting enough attention? Will they feel less important? Do they resent their sibling's conditions? These questions haunt us during late-night hospital stays and therapy appointments. What we rarely discuss, though, is the remarkable...

Send us a text, we want to hear from you! Every parent of a medically complex child wonders: Will my child grow up knowing how deeply they are loved? Will they appreciate how hard I fought for them? In this episode, we bring you a powerful answer straight from someone who’s been there. Annelise Frazier, born with a rare and complex medical condition, shares her story of growing up with surgeries,...

Send us a text, we want to hear from you! Leah Darrow, renowned public speaker and mindset coach, joins Emily Whiting on the Empowered by Hope podcast to share her inspiring journey from faith-based public speaking to impactful mindset coaching. As mothers with children facing complex medical challenges, Leah and I connect deeply over our shared experiences in balancing personal passions with the...

Send us a text, we want to hear from you! Join us for an exploration of pediatric feeding challenges as we sit down with Jaclyn Pederson, the dynamic CEO of Feeding Matters. Through Jaclyn's personal journey and professional insights, we uncover the critical, yet often sidelined, issue of pediatric feeding disorders. In a world where validation for these struggles was once elusive, Feeding Ma...

Send us a text, we want to hear from you! Step into the empowering world of healthcare advocacy with us as we welcome the inspiring Melissa Paige, Co-CEO of the Healthcare Advocate Summit. A recognized expert in patient access programs and navigation, Melissa combines her extensive medical knowledge, diverse pharmaceutical expertise, and leadership skills to drive process improvement and redesign...

Send us a text, we want to hear from you! Today's guest is Carleigh Joseph-Olivas, a licensed perinatal social worker, full spectrum doula, maternal mental health therapist, and parenting coach.  Her passion for supporting women and families through the profound transformations of pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period makes her the perfect expert to guide us through today's to...

Send us a text, we want to hear from you! What if a simple bark could bring a little holiday miracle into your life—alerting you to an impending health crisis faster than any device? In this special holiday episode of Empowered by Hope , we’re spreading the spirit of giving and hope as we explore the incredible work of Medical Mutts Service Dogs with Liz Boskovich, Director of Development. Discove...

Send us a text, we want to hear from you! Discover the journey behind the rebranding of our organization to the Parent Empowerment Network, where our mission to uplift caregivers of children with complex medical needs remains steadfast. In this episode, we reveal the thoughtful process of selecting a new name that truly reflects our dedication to supporting those in the parent role. Uncover the si...

Send us a text, we want to hear from you! The ceaseless demands of caregiving could be captured in the powerful metaphor of "death by a thousand paper cuts." Join us as we open up about the raw emotions and daily challenges faced during National Family Caregiver Appreciation Month. Ashlyn and Emily share their deeply personal stories, revealing the overwhelming cycle that comes with mana...

Send us a text, we want to hear from you! Jamie Olson, publisher of "Uniquely You Magazine," joins us to share her transformative journey from isolation to empowerment. Her story begins with her raising her 12-year-old son with autism, epilepsy, and nonverbal communication, and her relentless quest to find community and resources. Dive into how her involvement with Purposeful Living Inc....

Send us a text, we want to hear from you! We're thrilled to spotlight Gabie Benson, owner and founder of Sprout Fundraising , our insightful fundraising and leadership coach, who has been pivotal in elevating our nonprofit endeavors with her expert guidance and empathetic approach. Have you considered starting a nonprofit in honor of your journey with your child's medical challenges? If...

Send us a text, we want to hear from you! "What did I do wrong?"  "How did I cause this?" "Is this my fault?" Some form of this question is the first thing to cross the mind of almost every single parent at what we refer to as "the moment of impact" - the moment a parent learns their child is not ok and requires medical intervention. Take a trip back with us...