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For a family raising a child with special needs, life can be difficult. There are many storms to weather and struggles to address, and we often feel isolated and alone due to the nature of our circumstances. Families have a need to connect and find resources, a need to be encouraged, and a need for hope as we walk down what can be a very hard road at times. Hope on the Hard Road Special Needs Podcast was created for this purpose. Our vision is to grow a thriving community, where families with children of all ages with special needs can feel connected, be encouraged, and find hope for the road ahead.
Episodes
Monday Apr 15, 2024
Monday Apr 15, 2024
Garett Wall: Dad Series
“Shining as a Dad” with Garett Wall
I’m so excited to have Garett Wall back with us today on the podcast. Garett joins us as we are in our Dads Series today. Garett is the Dad of a son with Down Syndrome and Autism so he really understands the journey. He serves as the Connections Minister with Shine Disabilities Ministry at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky. He faithfully shepherds kids, teens and adults with disabilities as well as supporting their families.
Garett is a graduate of Murray State University in Murray, KY, Garett worked for nearly 20 years in athletic media relations at both Murray State and the University of Louisville before God redirected his career path into disability ministry in 2019. A native of Dover, Tennessee, Garett is married to Becky and they have two children, Lily and Isaac.
Connect with Garett Wall
Connect with Us:
If you enjoy this podcast please share us with others and be sure to follow us so won’t miss an episode. We’d love to hear from you so please leave us a comment or rating and connect with us on social media or on our website.
Monday Apr 01, 2024
Monday Apr 01, 2024
Intro Angela O’Brien
Mom Series: “Reclaiming Hope”
Welcome back to our mom series. We’re excited to introduce you to Angel Obrien of the “Especially Organized Podcast”. Angela lives in Texas and is professional organizer who, as a mom of a daughter diagnosed with Down Syndrome, loves working with parents of children with special needs to create a calm and peaceful environment for themselves and their families. ladies you’re going to love this episode. So let’s get started.
Angela O’Brien is a wife, mother of two, professional organizer, certified Enneagram coach, and host of the podcast Especially Organized: Sensible Solutions for Special Needs Moms.
After graduate school, Angela spent time at several Fortune 500 companies in various sales, marketing, and brand management roles. When her daughter was born with Down Syndrome, she made the switch to stay-at-home mom to focus on her daughter’s extra needs.
In 2021, Angela started Your Space Reclaimed, a professional organizing business where she coaches busy women through their clutter so that they can reclaim the space, freedom, and energy to do the things they love to do.
In early 2023, Angela presented to a group of moms raising kids with Down Syndrome. She was so inspired by the conversation and the organizing needs of this community that she started a podcast to help special needs moms get organized and has shifted her business focus toward helping caregivers of kids with special needs get more organized in their daily life.
Angela lives in Dallas, TX with her husband of 26 years. She has volunteered in various roles at the Down Syndrome Guild of Dallas since 2005, including as a member of their Board of Directors. Currently, she loves to hold precious babies when she meets with new parents at the Down Syndrome Clinic at Children’s Medical Center Dallas and serves on the Board of Directors at her daughter’s beloved school, the Notre Dame School of Dallas.
Instagram (@yourspacereclaimed)
Facebook (Your Space Reclaimed)
Website Your Space Reclaimed Professional Organizing
Connect with Us:
If you enjoy this podcast please share us with others and be sure to follow us so won’t miss an episode. We’d love to hear from you so please leave us a comment or rating and connect with us on social media or on our website.
Monday Mar 18, 2024
Monday Mar 18, 2024
Moms Series:
“Moms Retreat Panel” with our panel of speakers: Stacy Shradar, Andreina Carillo, Cheri Monis, Sandi Anderson , and Teri Stashak (pictured left to right)
We’re so excited you joined us today. We are beginning our series for moms. With our Moms Day Out Retreat coming up in May, we wanted to share with you a little bit of last year‘s event. So sit back with your favorite drink in hand or plug in your headset as you run or drive to your next stop. Wherever you are we’re glad you’re listening in and we hope you enjoy as our moms panel shares from their experiences and their hearts.
Connect with Us:
If you enjoy this podcast please share us with others and be sure to follow us so won’t miss an episode. We’d love to hear from you so please leave us a comment or rating and connect with us on social media or on our website.
Monday Mar 04, 2024
Monday Mar 04, 2024
Family Series
"Stories from Siblings"with Joey and Stephanie Alarcon and Lynette Fuson
We’re excited that you are joining us today. We are continuing on in our family series with “Stories from Siblings”. Siblings each have their own journeys and their own stories to share. When special needs enters into the picture for a family each member of the family is effected. Siblings face a lifelong journey along side their brother or sister. One that often begins with their earliest memories and lasts long after their parents passing. The road they walk down can be filled with lots of hard choices and sacrifice but it can also be filled with lots of joy and beautiful blessings as well. Listen in as we share this 2020 recording from our sibling panel with Joey and Stephanie Alarcon and Lynette Fuson.
Sibling Panel:
Joey Alarcon is the youngest brother to Chris, who is diagnosed with Down Syndrome. He and and his wife Stephanie have been married for 10 years and have a young son and daughter and baby on the way. Both Stephanie and Joey are Special Education teachers with 4 combined credentials and a Masters degree in Education. Joey teaches Adapted PE in San Diego Unified School District and Stephanie is taking a break from teaching Special Education to focus on raising their little ones.
Lynette Fuson is married to Jaisen, a Navy Chaplain, and they are blessed with four sons and 2 beautiful daughter-in-laws. She is also the older sister to Missy, who is diagnosed with Down Syndrome.
Lynette has a degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Spanish from Wheaton College as well as a Certificate in Spiritual Direction. After teaching school for 10 years and serving alongside her husband in various churches, Lynette joined the Emmanuel Faith Community Church staff in 2013 where she is the Care & Counseling Director. She is passionate about helping people grow in their relationship with Jesus and live out of the fullness of who God made them to be.
Connect with Us:
If you enjoy this podcast please share us with others and be sure to follow us so won’t miss an episode. We’d love to hear from you so please leave us a comment or rating and connect with us on social media or on our website.
Monday Feb 19, 2024
Monday Feb 19, 2024
Marriage Series
"Marriage in the Midst Part 2" with Eric and Christen Freund
Welcome back to part 2 of 2 episodes on Marriage in our Family Series. Today we are talking about investing in your marriage. These episodes come from a recording of our “Marriage in the Midst” presentation at last year’s Date Night. For more on this presentation, head over to our store at Hopeonthehardroad.org where you can purchase the entire event video for just $5 today! Let’s listen in as we join today’s podcast.
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 the special needs journey through a variety of tangible resources and faith-based encouragement. College sweethearts, Eric and Christen have been married for 25 years and live in Southern California with their son Caleb and their daughter Abbey who is diagnosed with Autism.
Connect with Us:
If you enjoy this podcast please share us with others and be sure to follow us so won’t miss an episode. We’d love to hear from you so please leave us a comment or rating and connect with us on social media or on our website.
Monday Feb 05, 2024
Monday Feb 05, 2024
Marriage Series
"Marriage in the Midst Part 1" with Eric and Christen Freund
Welcome to part 1 of 2 episodes on Marriage in our Family Series. Today we are talking about Taking Care of Yourself. These episodes come from a recording of our “Marriage in the Midst” presentation at last year’s Date Night. For more on this presentation, head over to our store at Hopeonthehardroad.org where you can purchase the entire event video for just $5 today! Let’s listen in as we join today’s podcast.
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 the special needs journey through a variety of tangible resources and faith-based encouragement. College sweethearts, Eric and Christen have been married for 25 years and live in Southern California with their son Caleb and their daughter Abbey who is diagnosed with Autism.
Connect with Us:
If you enjoy this podcast please share us with others and be sure to follow us so won’t miss an episode. We’d love to hear from you so please leave us a comment or rating and connect with us on social media or on our website.
Monday Jan 22, 2024
Monday Jan 22, 2024
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 their families with truths and tools that help them live well regardless of life’s ever-changing circumstances. She founded Reframing Ministries, a division of Insight for Living Ministries, that focuses on providing a community that “gets it,” as well as hand-picked and heart-developed resources that help give you strength for today and hope for tomorrow. Her husband is her hero, and combined they have five witty, creative young adult children. She treasures time with her family, reading on quiet afternoons, and, when her body lets her after back surgery, fulfilling her never-ending wish to win yard-of-the-month through gardening.
Contacts:
Connect with Us:
If you enjoy this podcast please share us with others and be sure to follow us so won’t miss an episode. We’d love to hear from you so please leave us a comment or rating and connect with us on social media or on our website.
- Email us
- Website: hopeonthehardroad.org
- Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/hopeonthehardroad/
- Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/hopeonthehardroad/
- Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/2621447987943459/?source_id=105530184205752
- Free Youtube Resource Library https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsSAfvTkSy87X-fEqtVR2qvo7w9UQBuxz
Monday Jan 08, 2024
Monday Jan 08, 2024
”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 bringing hope to families on the special needs journey through a variety of tangible resources and faith-based encouragement. College sweethearts, Eric and Christen have been married for 25 years and live in Southern California with their son Caleb and their daughter Abbey who is diagnosed with Autism.
Connect with Us:
If you enjoy this podcast please share us with others and be sure to follow us so won’t miss an episode. We’d love to hear from you so please leave us a comment or rating and connect with us on social media or on our website.
- Email us
- Website: hopeonthehardroad.org
- Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/hopeonthehardroad/
- Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/hopeonthehardroad/
- Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/2621447987943459/?source_id=105530184205752
- Free Youtube Resource Library https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsSAfvTkSy87X-fEqtVR2qvo7w9UQBuxz
Photo Credit: Kiley Shai @kileyshaiphotography
Hope on the Hard Road, Inc
Hope on the Hard Road Inc. is a 501c3 nonprofit ministry dedicated to helping connect and encourage families with children of all ages with special needs through programs designed to support the unique needs of the individual, the family, and the community.
Check our or website