Hope on the Hard Road Special Needs Podcast

Medical Series:  "Reframing the Journey with Medical Needs" with Colleen Swindoll Thompson We are so excited to have Colleen Swindoll Thompson back on the podcast today to talk about her families Journey with Medical Needs.   Colleen is no stranger to trauma and trials. Her experiences with difficult circumstances of life  has given her an unwavering passion to encourage and equip caregivers and t...

”2024 Preview” with Eric and Christen Freund   Thanks for listening to today’s episode! Today we preview what is coming up on the podcast for the new year.  We are excited for what this year has in store and know you will be blessed by all the stories and insights.   Eric and Christen Freund are co-founders of Hope on the Hard Road Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to connecting, encouraging, and bringi...

”Surviving the Holidays” with Eric and Christen Freund   Thanks for listening to today’s episode! Today we share some insights on how to survive the holiday season with your family.  We want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Eric and Christen Freund are co-founders of Hope on the Hard Road Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to connecting, encouraging, and bringing hope to families on th...

Ministry Series: "Shine Ministry" with Garett Wall Today we are talking about Special needs ministry. We are so blessed to have Garett Wall on the podcast with us. Garett serves as the Connections Minister with Shine Disabilities Ministry at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky, where he faithfully shepherds kids, teens and adults with disabilities and their families. As the father o...

Ministry Series:  ”Bethesda Ministry” with Jill Miller We are continuing our ministry Series and are excited to have Adaptive Curriculum Writer Jill Miller join us on the podcast. Jill has a passion to expand the horizons of individuals with disabilities. After her daughter Kim was born with multiple disabilities, Jill employed her training as an educator—including a BA in Elementary and Special E...

Ministry Series: ”Reframing Special Needs Ministry” with Colleen Swindoll Thompson We are beginning our Ministry Series and we are excited to be talking today with Colleen Swindoll Thompson. Colleen is no stranger to trauma and trials. Her experiences parenting a child with multiple disabilities have given her an unwavering passion to encourage and equip ⁠caregivers and their families with truths...

Future Planning Series: “Blissful Seeds” with Rita Saliba We are Continuing on with our Future Planning series talking today about creative job opportunities. And we have an incredible interview today with Rita Saliba founder of the local nonprofit Blissful Seeds, Inc. Blissful seeds is a strength-based business tailored to launch the entrepreneurial journey of young neurodivergent adults, propell...

Future Planning Series: “Creating Residential Opportunities” with Jess Ronne Jess Ronne is an author, speaker, podcast host at Coffee with Caregivers, associate producer of the Unseen Documentary. She is founder and executive director of The Lucas Project, a non-profit dedicated to providing recognition, resources and respite support for special needs families. She and her husband Ryan live in Mic...

Future Planning Series: “SSI supports” with Wendy Dumlao Hi guys, we’re in our future planning series and so glad to have attorney Wendy Dumlao back on the podcast.   Today Wendy is talking about SSI. Wendy is an incredible advocate for families of children with special needs. You are going to love her caring, fun, and engaging way of presenting the insights that bring hope as we plan for the futu...

IEP Series: “IEP Supports” with Crystal Sanford We’re starting our IEP series this fall with Crystal Sanford.  Crystal is a local Educational Consultant, IEP Advocate, Speech Pathologist and business owner. She is also an author and podcaster, cancer survivor, and mother to an autistic tween. Crystal's passion is advocating alongside families, helping them to persistently pursue the supports that...

Season 3 Intro: We are so excited to be back for another season of podcast episodes This season we have episodes filled with incredible insights from experts on topics such as future planning and heart felt stories from families like ours. We’re so excited for this season. We know you’ll find encouragement, connection, and hope for the road ahead. So please take a second to follow us and you won’t...

Dad's Searies Season 2 Wrap Up Wow what a season of podcast episodes filled with incredible insights from experts and heart felt stories from families like all of ours. This season we had experts sharing on topics such as Special Needs Ministries for churches, Supports for families like The Regional Center, Medi Cal, IHSS, and future planning resources like limited conservatorship, SSI and Cal Abl...

Dad's Series: “The Additional Needs Blogfather Part 2” with Mark Arnold We continue our Dad series with author, speaker, advocate, ministry director and co founder Mark Arnold, also known as the Additional needs Blogfather.  Mark brings a wealth of knowledge and experience working with churches all over the UK.  He is also a dad of a son with Autism, so he understands the joys and challenges of a...

Dad's Series: “The Additional Needs Blogfather Part 1” with Mark Arnold We begin our Dad series with author, speaker, advocate, ministry director and co founder Mark Arnold, also known as the Additional needs Blogfather.  Mark brings a wealth of knowledge and experience working with churches all over the UK.  He is also a dad of a son with Autism, so he understands the joys and challenges of a rai...

Mom's Series: "Gathering Dandelions" with Melissa Maimone Melissa Maimone is a speaker and the author of  “The Radiant Midnight:” and “Gathering Dandelions:”. She is also the mom of an adult daughter with special needs. Melissa teaches women that an authentic life in Christ can be messy and magnificent at the exact same time. With her unique blend of theology, humor, and insight, Melissa provides...

Mom's Series: "Unexpected Blessings" with Sandra Peoples Hey guys, we’re so excited your joining us today. It’s the start of our Mom series and Sandra Peoples is back and sharing with us mom to mom in this episode. Sandra is the author of Unexpected Blessings and the special needs ministry consultant for the Southern Baptist of Texas Convention. Lets listen in as she shares her story. Sandra Peopl...

Medical Diagnosis Series “Rising Above a Medical Diagnosis” with Becky Davidson You are really going to enjoy listening to this episode. Becky Davidson is the Co-founder and President of Rising Above Ministries in Cookeville Tennesee. Becky is a mom of an adult son with special needs and is passionate about supporting and encouraging special-needs families, just like us. Along with her late husban...

Medical Diagnosis Series "Living with a Rare Medical Diagnosis" with Jolene Philo We’re excited to share this next episode with you. We’re beginning our medical diagnosis series with awarding winning author and speaker Jolene Philo. Jolene Philo grew up in a caregiving family and raised a son with medical special needs. As a teacher, she created an inclusive classroom for children with disabilitie...

Family Series: Parent Panel Hey guys, We are so excited to share this podcast episode with you! We are continuing on in our Family Series with a special parent panel interview from our recent Date Night event. Let me pause and say that if you missed this event be watching for more marriage resources coming soon.  Each of these couples are an amazing example of Marriage in the Midst of hard circums...

Family Series: ”Marriage in the Midst” with Bill and Pam Farrel Today we are continuing our Family Series with an exciting podcast episode. It’s the 2nd part of a 2 part episode featuring the hilarious and heartfelt Bill and Pam Farrel. The Farrels are international speakers, and authors of over 50 books including the best-selling “Men are like Waffles, Women are like Spaghetti”. They are relation...

Family Series: ”Marriage in the Midst” with Bill and Pam Farrel Today we are kicking off our Family Series with an exciting podcast episode. It’s the 1st of a 2 part episode featuring the hilarious and heartfelt Bill and Pam Farrel. The Farrels are international speakers, and authors of over 50 books including the best-selling “Men are like Waffles, Women are like Spaghetti”. They are relationship...

Welcome Back! We’re so thankful that you’re listening to this podcast. As a family on the special needs journey we get it.  This road can be incredibly hard and isolating at times. That’s why this  podcast and our community was created.  We want to create to a space where you can find connection and encouragement and HOPE. And we’re so happy you’ve joined us. To start the New Year off we wanted to...

Special Needs Ministry Series: "Special Needs Ministry in the Church" with Sandra Peoples You’re not going to want to miss this episode. Continuing on with our series on Special Needs Ministry and the Church today we are talking with Sandra Peoples, author of “Unexpected Blessings” and Special Needs Ministry Consultant of the Southern Baptist of Texas Convention. As a pastor’s wife and both a sibl...

Special Needs Ministry Series: “The Additional Needs Blogfather” with Mark Arnold You guys are going to love today’s episode from our Special Needs Ministry Series. Mark Arnold brings a wealth of knowledge and experience working with churches all over the UK.  He has a passion to see churches worldwide embrace the special needs community and develop programs to meet their needs.  Let’s get started...

Future Planning Series "CalABLE” with Kasey Superstar Kasey Superstar is back and we’re talking about CalABLE Accounts, a financial resource that families need to know about as they plan for their child’s needs. We are so glad that you’ve joined us and once again you’ll want to take notes for this informative episode. Kasey has a passion to help support families like ours and it shows. As both par...