Shows
Don't Cut Your Own BangsPain as a Professor: Growing Through Life's Challenges with Ashlyn ThompsonWelcome back to 'Don't Cut Your Own Bangs!' In this lively and heartfelt episode, Danielle Ireland chats with Ashlyn Thompson from the Parent Empowerment Network. Ashlyn shares her journey from growing her nonprofit organization to the emotional rollercoaster of her daughter's complex medical journey. Get ready to explore how pain can be an unexpected teacher, the magic of community support, and why tapping into creativity can be your secret weapon against anxiety. Filled with laughs, valuable insights, and touching moments, this episode is a treasure trove of wisdom and joy. Tune...2025-06-231h 03
Empowered by Hope"Keep Your Head Up": Dr. Tasha Faruqui on Anticipatory Grief, Joy, and a Mother’s Fierce HopeSend 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 Your Head Up: A Mother’s Story of Chasing Joy in the Face of Grief, releasing September 16, 2025.Dr. Faruqui's second daughter, Soraya, was born w...2025-06-1658 min
Moms Like Me Podcast by SupportNowEmpowering Parents: Ashlyn Thompson's Advocacy with Parent Empowerment NetworkWelcome back to The Moms Like Me podcast! In this heartfelt episode, host Jordan is joined by Ashlyn Thompson, a mom and community leader who is making a tremendous impact. Ashlyn is one of the co-founders of the Parent Empowerment Network, an organization dedicated to supporting families with children who have medical needs. Ashlyn delves into her compelling personal journey, from her childhood experiences to becoming a third-generation parent advocate. She shares the profound challenges and inspiring moments that led her to create an impactful nonprofit. Listen as Ashlyn discusses the importance of providing emotional triage and building a...2025-04-0135 min
Empowered by HopeThe Silver Lining for Siblings: How Siblings of Medically Complex Kids Grow in Strength & CompassionSend 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 beauty that emerges in these siblings' lives. Through heartwarming stories like seven-year-old Nora proudly telling her class about her sister's rare condition on Rare Disease Day, or Cole developing an extraordinary voice...2025-03-1135 min
Empowered by HopeWhat Matters Most: A Medically Complex Adult Reflects on Childhood & Parental LoveSend 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, complications, and hospital stays—but more importantly, growing up surrounded by love. She reflects on the biggest gift her parents gave her: they love...2025-03-0448 min
Empowered by HopeICU/NICU Survival: Mindset Tools from Coach & Medical Mom Leah DarrowSend 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 demands of family life. Through her programs like Power Made Perfect and Motivated Mompreneur, Leah sheds light on how a Christ-centered approach can empower individuals to thrive and overcome life's obstacles.Leah...2025-02-1839 min
Empowered by HopeFeeding Matters: Jaclyn Pederson's Journey to Recognition and Support for Pediatric Feeding DisordersSend 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 Matters has championed the recognition of pediatric feeding disorder as a standalone diagnosis, bringing a sense of acknowledgment and relief to countless families.This episode is a treasure trove for parents and...2025-02-1132 min
Empowered by HopeCreating Compassionate and Accessible Healthcare Systems with Melissa PaigeSend 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 workflows that enhance efficiencies in healthcare. Her unwavering passion for the well-being of patients fuels her relentless pursuit of breaking down access barriers and advocating for the highest quality care.In this episode, Melissa shares...2025-02-0435 min