Shows
Coffee With CaregiversNavigating Special Needs Parenting: An Inspiring Journey with Russ EwellIn this insightful episode of Coffee with Caregivers, Jess sits down with Russ Ewell, a remarkable caregiver and father of three, including two sons with special needs. Russ shares his family's story, detailing their journey after discovering his eldest son had Down Syndrome at birth and later learning his second son had autism. He talks about the challenges they faced, the learning curve they navigated, and their innovative approaches to ensure their children's development and inclusion. Russ also discusses his work with the Bay Area Christian Church, his technology startup Digital Scribbler focused on inclusive software, and various programs...2025-04-2526 min
Abiding in Christ w/ Jim WoodInterview with Jessica Ronne, Caregiving with Grit and GraceProgram for 04/25/25 Jim Wood: Interview with Jessica Ronne, Caregiving with Grit and Grace2025-04-2425 minAbiding in Christ w/ Jim WoodInterview with Jessica Ronne, Caregiving with Grit and GraceProgram for 04/25/25 Jim Wood: Interview with Jessica Ronne, Caregiving with Grit and Grace2025-04-2425 min
Coffee With CaregiversPeg Kerswell: Raw Vulnerability in the Middle of Chaos, Addiction, and Severe Special NeedsPeg Kerswell is an author, advocate, and mother to a profoundly autistic daughter. She works for a local nonprofit organization that provides support to caregivers of children with challenges.Her debut book, Girl Storm: A Memoir of chaos, humor, and resilience in the path of profound autism, gives the reader an immersive and visceral account of raising a child with severe disabilities.In another life, she released two albums as musician Margaret Far. She was raised outside of Buffalo, New York, and currently lives in northern New Jersey with her husband and two cats.2025-03-2834 min
Building Strong Homes: Blueprints to Strengthen Your Faith and Family podcastEp. 121: Beauty from Ashes: How Grief, Loss and Caregiving Revealed God's Grace with Jessica RonneJessica Ronne has endured more heartache than most can even fathom. She found out when she was pregnant with her second son that he’d had a stroke in utero and would be profoundly disabled if she carried him to term. She and her husband made the decision to carry him to full term and let God handle the details. Lucas does have those disabilities, but Jess and her husband never wished they’d made a different choice. Then, several years and two more children later, Jess’s husband was diagnosed with a brain tumor and passed away at the ag...2025-03-2557 min
Made to Advance with Brian AulickThe beauty of committing to a messy life with non-profit founder Jess RonneJess Ronne is a mother of eight, author, and founder & executive director of the Lucas Project, a non-profit organization supporting special needs families. She shares her family’s incredible story of courage, tragedy, faith, and endurance.
Links & Episode Notes
Jess Ronne
The Lucas Project
Coffee with Caregivers
UNSEEN documentary
The Spirit of the Disciplines by Dallas Willard
Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster
Caregiving with Grit and Grace by Jessica Ronne
ReTreat - A Day of Rest, Renewal, & Rejuvenation for Caregivers & Those Who Care | The Lucas Project
Uncertain documentary
Made to Advance is a production of Engedi Church an...2025-03-191h 04
Significant Women with Carol McLeod | Carol Mcleod MinistriesCaregiving with Grit and Grace with Jessica RonneWelcome back to the Significant Women Podcast with Carol McLeod! On today’s episode Carol is joined by Jessica Ronne: author, speaker, podcast host, CEO of The Lucas Project, caregiver advocate and mom of 8. Jessica loves chatting about faith, grief, food, simplicity, blended families, gardening, special needs, clean living, and everything else in between. Jessica has faced the unexpected grief of being a young widow alongside the challenges of being a mother to a special needs child, but has found peace in saying, like Christ, “not my will by thine be done.” Listen in for encouragement from someone who knows w...2025-03-0738 minCoffee With CaregiversAlice Foran: Trailblazing for her daughter and the community for 39 years.About Alice:"I was raised with three siblings, Pake, Reba, and Susie McEntire, two hard working parents, Clark and Jackie McEntire. 11 first cousins, a grandpap, John McEntire, two maternal Grandparents, Elvin and Reba Smith, and one extra special hired hand Louie Sandman, on a working cattle ranch in se Oklahoma in the 50's thru 1980. There wasn't much our bunch couldn't accomplish or trouble we kids couldn't get into. With horses, cattle, rattle snakes, muddy ponds, a ropin' pen, dogs, and worn out pickups what would anyone expect. I wouldn't trade my life for anyone's in the world...2025-02-2835 min
Brave Together Parenting: a podcast for parenting disabilities and unique needs.STORY: The Hard and Holy Act of Caregiving with Jess RonneHello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's story episode, #206. These are true stories from a moment in the life of a caregiving parent. We hear a crafted story, and then have a conversation with our guests that goes deeper into their experience.In this conversation, hosted by Dr. Zoe Shaw, Jess Ronne shares her profound journey as a caregiver, navigating the challenges of raising a child with special needs while dealing with personal loss. She discusses the emotional and practical aspects of caregiving, the importance of community support, and the judgment faced from others in...2025-02-1934 min
Mornings with Seth and DebCaregiving with Grit and Grace: A Conversation with Jessica RonneAre you in a caregiving season of life? Caregiving can leave you feeling exhausted, isolated, stressed, and unappreciated. Jessica Ronne has had many seasons of caregiving and offers support and understanding for the living out of that sacred work. Jess joins Seth and Deb to share biblical encouragement and insight on the role of caregiver offering guidance on reframing the narrative away from our human perspective and developing an eternal perspective on this challenging season. Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshow/wdlmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.2025-02-0512 min
The Reconnect with Carmen LaBergeThe problem of letting AI do so much of our thinking - Adam Holz | Caring for caregivers - Jesscia RonneBeyond a future that looks like the movie Terminator, Plugged In's Adam Holz explores another existential concern around generative artificial intelligence in that by letting it do our "thinking," we lessen our own real thinking. Jessica Ronne, author of "Caregiving with Grit and Grace" and part of the documentary "Unseen," talks about how families with children that have special needs often forgotten by society and churches. What can we do to support them? Faith Radio podcasts are made possible by your support. Give now: Click here2025-01-1748 min
Dad to Dad PodcastSFN Dad To Dad 360 - Jessica Ronne of Holland, MI Mother of Eight, Author, Podcast Host & Founder of The Lucas Project,Our guest this week is Jessica Ronne of Holland, MI, author, speaker, podcast host, founder & executive director of the Lucas Project and perhaps most importantly, wife and the mother of eight, including one with special needs.Jess and her second husband, Ryan, have been married for 14 years and between them are the proud parents of eight children: four from her first marriage: Caleb, Lucas, Mable and Joshua, three from Ryan's first marriage: Tate, Mia, and Jada and Annabelle (9) who they had together. Their son Lucas suffered a stroke in vitro at 20 months; has global developmental delays, i...2025-01-1042 min
The Connected MomCaregiving with Grit and GraceGet you copy of Cultivating a Deeper Connection in a Lonely WorldAre you a caregiver? Do you feel exhausted and overwhelmed? Join Becky and Jessica Ronne as they discuss caregiving with grace and grit.Jessica's book: Caregiving with Grit and Grace: 100 Days of Hope and Encouragement-Wisdom and Refreshment for Every Season of LifeJess Ronne is an author, speaker, podcast host, documentary producer at caregiverdoc.com, and caregiver advocate. She is founder and executive director of The Lucas Project—a non-profit dedicated to providing recognition and respite for special needs families. Sh...2025-01-0233 min
Brave Together Parenting: a podcast for parenting disabilities and unique needs.Editor Pick Re-Run Ep140 Prune Your Life, Watch it Thrive with Jess RonneYou have to PRUNE to create room for real GROWTH, this is a sentiment gardeners understand but often busy parent caregivers forget. Are you making space in your life to experience peace? To exhale? To hear your own thoughts? In our busy world and even busier caregiving lives, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and out of touch with what we really require to thrive as human beings. On this episode, host Jessica Patay, speaks with our story teller, Jess Ronne, about getting in touch with ourselves, embracing our instincts and pruning anything from our...2025-01-0130 minCoffee With CaregiversGraham Caldow: A Deep Dive Into Future Planning for Your Adult ChildGraham Caldow is the father of daughter with additional needs and so has personal experience of the issues faced by parents and guardians and the fears they often have about their child’s future. He understands how the journey can be tough, frustrating, and lonely. He knows it’s sometimes hard to imagine a future, where they are secure, have self-dignity, have purpose to their lives and have a community around them.
From his own experiences he realized his daughter needed a life plan so that there was clarity on what his daughter wanted both now and in t...2024-12-2730 min
Faith Radio PodcastRonne, Jess - The Lucas Project {Caregiving with Grit and Grace} Guest: Jessica RonneOrganization: The Lucas ProjectPosition: Executive DirectorBook: Caregiving with Grit and Grace: 100 Days of Hope and EncouragementWebsite: jessronne.com, thelucasproject.org 2024-12-2317 min
Anchored by the SwordJess Ronne's Freedom Story!Today's episode is with Jessica Ronne—author, speaker, nonprofit executive director, documentary producer, and a mother of eight, including a son with profound disabilities. Jessica’s newest devotional, Caregiving with Grit and Grace, is a powerful resource of encouragement and hope for caregivers navigating the complexities of caregiving.
Jessica shares her journey of faith, beginning with her son Lucas’ diagnosis after a devastating stroke and the heartbreaking season of walking alongside her late husband through brain cancer. Through these experiences, Jessica’s relationship with God deepened as He shepherded her through unimaginable pain, strengthening her trus...2024-12-2025 minCoffee With CaregiversKelley Coleman: Permission to Advocate for Ourselves as Caregivers & Dealing with Shame from other FamiliesKelley Coleman is a feature film development executive turned author and advocate for parent caregivers and individuals with disabilities. Her book Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child: Your Guide to the Essential Systems, Services, and Supports draws upon over a decade of advocacy, gained through her own journey
parenting a child with multiple disabilities. Kelley lives in Los
Angeles with her husband, two boys, and her son’s trusty service dog.
To stay connected with Jess, head to www.jessplusthemess.com. If you are interested in being a guest please reac...2024-11-2347 minCoffee With CaregiversEileen Lamb: Severe Autism, The Price of Advocacy, and Sharing our StoriesEileen Lamb, author of "All Across The Spectrum" and “Be The One,” is the founder of The Autism Cafe. She’s also a photographer, podcast host and the Director of Social Media at Autism Speaks. Born in France, Eileen now lives in Austin, Texas, with her two sons, Charlie (11) and Jude (8), and their sister, Billie (1). On her blog, she shares the ups and downs of raising two children with autism, one with profound autism,
while being on the autism spectrum herself.
To stay connected with Jess, head to www.jessplusthemess.com. If you are interes...2024-10-2529 minCoffee With CaregiversJess Ronne : A Life UpdateTune in for a life update with Jess on new things she has been working on: book number 4, another documentary project, respite work, and more!
To stay connected with Jess, head to www.jessplusthemess.com. If you are interested in being a guest please reach out to info@thelucasproject.org. We'd love to hear what you think, so please rate and review! This episode is sponsored by True North Disability Planning, to make disability planning accessible to all. To find out more, visit www.truenorthdisabilityplanning.com.
2024-09-2843 min
Jennifer HandCOMING ALIVE CONVERSATIONS: Finding Hope – with Jessica RonneJenn is welcoming Jessica Ronne to the show today.2024-06-1027 minCoffee With CaregiversJason Hague: Spellers, Faith, and SurrenderJason Hague is an associate pastor of Christ’s Center Church, a mid-size church in Oregon, one of the least churched areas in the United States. He is a husband and a father to five children, including Jack, his seventeen-year-old son with non-verbal autism. Jason has written extensively on the subject of faith and autism, special needs families, and his own journey from grief to acceptance of his son’s condition. He blogs at JasonHague.com, and on his Facebook page, Jason Hague, writer. The success of his blog and the viral video he posted there, A Reflection of Achi...2024-06-0136 minCoffee With CaregiversCrystal Polk: Adoption, Time Saving Tips, and SupportCrystal Polk is a mental health therapist and Licensed Independent Social Worker in South Carolina, specializing in supporting parents of children with disabilities and medical needs through her practice, Better Tomorrow Therapy. Featured in the film "Unseen," Crystal's impactful work has gained recognition. While she may describe herself as a "nervous interviewee," Crystal thrives in her role on the other side of the chair as a therapist, where her passion for providing crucial support shines through. Her dedication to making a meaningful impact on mental health, sharing expertise, and contributing to the well-being of families facing unique circumstances is...2024-04-2737 minCoffee With CaregiversDebbie Weiss: Lifelong Caregiving, Grieving, and Overcoming ObstaclesDebbie, at 50, woke up to the realization that life was too short to be spent prioritizing others over herself. She ditched "I can't" for "Maybe I can," shedding her victim mentality and refusing to let struggles define her. Recently widowed, she's more determined than ever to share her message. Her debut memoir, "On Second Thought... Maybe I Can," earned praise from Jack Canfield, co-author of The Chicken Soup of the Soul® series. Through her memoir and engaging talks, Debbie courageously bares her soul, reminding others they're not alone. Life is tough, but she's proof that dreams are worth pursuing.2024-03-3039 minCoffee With CaregiversJessica Patay: Special Needs, Community, and Making A DifferenceJessica Patay is the founder and executive director of We Are Brave Together (WABT), a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that supports caregiving moms with children of all types of disabilities and neuro-diverse diagnoses. In addition, she is a sought-out speaker, podcast guest, writer and retreat coordinator, fundraiser, mother of three, social influencer, and a champion of self-care practices and their positive effect on motherhood. She is a contributing author to the forthcoming title, Becoming Brave Together: Heroic and Extraordinary Caregiving Stories from Mothers Hidden in Plain Sight. The book is set to release on May 1, 2024. Jessica excels at creating and...2024-02-2442 minCoffee With CaregiversRobert Freiri: Future Options, Pressing Issues, and Never Giving Up on our ChildrenRobert Freiri has been the Executive Director of Gateway Center of Monterey County since February 2020. Robert has been a nonprofit Executive Director for 25 years including seven years as a Habitat for Humanity Executive Director and a Nonprofit Manager for 35 years. He has also been a Non-Public School Principal. He has been involved in many community boards and committees including the Nonprofit Alliance of Monterey County (NAMC), Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, Loma Prieta Community Foundation, Loma Prieta School Oversight Committee, and the Role Model Program. Robert was a member of Leadership Monterey County Class of 2022 and Leadership San Benito...2024-01-2738 minCoffee With CaregiversBrandi Hurtubise: CMV Mama, Divide & Conquer, and Finding Purpose in CaregivingBrandi Hurtubise is a full-time caregiver to her daughter Samantha who was born in 2016 with Congenital Cytomeglovirus. As a result Samantha has spastic quad cerebral palsy, epilepsy, hearing loss, cortical vision impairment and microcephaly. She is non-mobile, non-verbal, and receives the majority of her schooling and services in their home in Buffalo, NY. Brandi is also a Mom to Sam's older and neurotypical brother MJ.
Congenital Cytomeglovirus (CMV) is the most common viral infection infants in the US are born with and unfortunately there is very little awareness despite how devastating outcomes can be. CMV during pregnancy c...2023-12-0934 minCoffee With CaregiversEric Jorgensen: Searching for Hope in a Difficult RealityEric Jorgensen is the Founder of True North Disability Planning, a national consulting company helping families, individuals and professionals navigate the maze of disability benefits, resources, and services. He has been helping his clients find answers since his retirement from the Navy in 2012. He was widowed the same year he retired. At the time, his 12 y/o autistic son, William, was completely dependent on his wife for everything. His frustration with the difficulty of figuring out what to do and navigating services for his son led him to start Special Needs Navigator.
Eric created a new category...2023-11-1840 minCoffee With CaregiversEric Alber: Flexible income options, feeling your feelings, and the new normal.Eric is a proud father to five daughters one of which has profound special needs. He is multi-passionate and involved in IV Vitamin infusions in Las Vegas while building a network marketing business in the health and well-being space. He is also the host of the “I Am Awesome” podcast. He finds joy in physical fitness, nutrition, outdoor activities, sports, biohacking, and getting to the root cause of disease. A follower of Christ, his faith underpins his purpose and he aspires to be a speaker and author. Eric and his beautiful bride, Michelle, will be celebrating their 27th year of marr...2023-11-0447 minCoffee With CaregiversLyn VanTol : Parent Caregiver & Advocate for College Inclusive Experiences.Lyn is the wife to Brett (psychologist at Pine Rest), mom to Adelyn (and Stephen) and Kylee, and Nana to Sammy. She received her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Calvin University and her Master's (and 3/4 of an Education Specialist) degree from Michigan State University, but is a loyal "Go Blue" University of Michigan fan. She currently serves as the Director of Family Ministries and Grand Haven's Covenant Life Church and as the Executive Director of Noorthoek Academy. Kylee has allowed her to experience God's grace and unconditional love in dynamic ways. Kylee was diagnosed with cerebellar hypoplasia at 3 1/2 yea...2023-10-2148 minCoffee With CaregiversKelli Stuart - Author, Parent Caregiver, and Cancer Survivor.
Kelli Stuart is a wife, mother of five, actress and filmmaker, an award-winning novelist and, most recently, a breast cancer survivor. Kelli and her husband, Lee, were thrust into their roles as caregivers when they adopted their youngest son, Sawyer, from China in 2018. Sawyer is a complex little boy with a laundry list of special needs. He also possesses the most magical smile this side of heaven. Kelli juggles the many needs under her roof alongside her own deep-rooted desire to create and craft stories. She doesn't always juggle well, but she does the best she can. You can...2023-10-0745 min
Girl CEOGirl CEO: Why Woman Should Invest feat. Jessica LaineHost Ronne Brown engages in a conversation with special guest Jessica Laine, a seasoned Forex Trader. In this episode, listeners can expect to gain valuable insights into the world of investing, with a particular emphasis on empowering women to take control of their financial futures.Ronne and Jessica dive into the importance of financial literacy and explore the unique challenges and opportunities that women face in the investment arena. They discuss strategies, share success stories, and provide practical advice for women looking to grow their wealth through investing.Tune...2023-10-021h 13Coffee With CaregiversCrystal Morrison: Using Science to Create Solutions for Disability, Trauma, and Invisible Needs.
Dr. Crystal G. Morrison is a highly regarded executive advisor, strategist, leader, scientist, and tech entrepreneur. While progressing in her career as a scientist, Dr. Morrison was also growing her family. She has three amazing teenagers. One of her children is autistic and has additional mental health diagnoses and two of her children were adopted and experienced extreme poverty and trauma early in their lives. As a mom, she’s spent almost 20 years navigating the complex system of care and advocating for her children. It’s been frustrating and overwhelming, and millions of parents and caregivers face the same feelings...2023-09-2333 minCoffee With CaregiversMichelle Crawford - solo caregiving, survival mode, and feeling trapped.Michelle Crawford is a single mom of two children living in Oklahoma. Her daughter was vaccine injured at four months old and now has seizures and significant developmental delays. In 2021 her world turned upside down when her estranged husband unexpectedly announced that he had shut down the business leaving her unemployed and with no where to turn for help. Since then, she has struggled to support her family while also being a full time caregiver to her 24 year old daughter. She says that she has been living in survival mode for the past two years struggling with feelings of...2023-09-0937 minCoffee With CaregiversCrystal Paine: adoption through foster care, time saving hacks, and family team work."how good it is when I can stop clinging to the illusion of control and just living and being present in today."
What a fun, informative episode with Crystal Paine (www.moneysavingmom.com) who is a New York Times bestselling author, a popular speaker, the host of The Crystal Paine Show, and the founder of one of the top personal finance blogs on the web, MoneySavingMom.com. Her desire is to help women across the globe live with more joy in their everyday lives. Her biggest passions are helping women understand how the Gospel can radically transform their lives,
raising awar...2023-06-1746 minCoffee With CaregiversKristin Pattison - Recovering autism, the staffing crisis and soothing versus self care."Nobody's going to fix this but you" I said to myself.
Kristian Pattison is an Arizona Mama who has two wonderful daughters, Alaina and Sasha. Alaina was around 6 months old when Kristin noticed that she was not making eye contact like the other babies were. This eventually led to an autism diagnosis, a long journey to "recover autism" and an eventual peace about the life that Alaina would lead. We also chat about the staffing crisis and how difficult it is to find competent long term care for our children and the concepts of...2023-05-1745 minBrave Together Parenting: a podcast for parenting disabilities and unique needs.Prune Your Life, Watch it Thrive with Jess RonneYou have to PRUNE to create room for real GROWTH, this is a sentiment gardeners understand but often busy parent caregivers forget. Are you making space in your life to experience peace? To exhale? To hear your own thoughts? In our busy world and even busier caregiving lives, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and out of touch with what we really require to thrive as human beings. On this episode, host Jessica Patay, speaks with our story teller, Jess Ronne, about getting in touch with ourselves, embracing our instincts and pruning anything from our...2023-05-0330 minCoffee With CaregiversJillian Benfield: In utero diagnosis & changing the way we think about disability.
He said, "You don't have to be a hero... you don't have to save the baby's life."
Jillian Benfield is a former journalist and news anchor. She holds a broadcast journalism degree from the University of Georgia. As a freelance writer, her essays about living an unexpected life have appeared on sites such as TODAY, Good Morning America, Yahoo! News, and ABC News. Jillian regularly advocates for the full inclusion of people with disabilities in her writings, in her community, and as a part of the National Down Syndrome Congress’s National Down Syndrome Advoc...2023-04-1539 min
Parenting Impossible – The Special Needs Survival PodcastMore Wisdom on Grit and Grace from Jess RonneIn this episode, Host Annette Hines welcomes back Author Jess Ronne to the show to discuss her newest book, Lovin’ with Grit and Grace that was just released in February. Jessica Ronne is an author, speaker, podcast host of Coffee with Caregivers, associate producer of the “UNSEEN” documentary, and caregiver advocate. She is founder and executive director of The Lucas Project, a non-profit dedicated to serving parent caregivers with recognition, respite, and resources. Jess and her husband Ryan live in Michigan with their eight children, including their son Lucas who has profound disabilities. Her story of beauty from ashes is det...2023-03-2343 minCoffee With CaregiversTonya Andrews : sleep deprivation, playing the med game, & why we must address the caregiver crisis."Sleep deprivation is one of the hardest things to endure as a parent caregiver." Tonya Andrews.
Tonya Andrews is a mom to 3 boys and her youngest is on the spectrum. She has been married for 12 years and lives in Ankeny Iowa and is the President of an autism non profit called L-Evated Coaching and Learning Services.
To stay connected with Jess, head to www.jessplusthemess.com. If you are interested in being a guest please reach out to hello@thelucasproject.org. I'd love to hear what you think, so please rate and review!2023-03-1147 minCoffee With CaregiversKassandra Lambert - advocate for predictable time off, restorative self care & fundraising for needsKassondra Lambert is a parent of a disabled 4 year old. Last year, she started a fundraising journey to fund a wheelchair accessible van. Through that experience, she saw the need to teach families how to fundraise online for medical expenses not covered by insurance. She's the founder of The Striped Stable which teaches copywriting and more to parents so that they can tell their stories in a way that connects with donors and helps them create community.
www.thestripedstable.com
To stay connected with Jess, head to www.jessplusthemess.com. If you are interested in be...2023-01-1634 minCoffee With CaregiversRon Sandison - Author, Autism, & Advocate."My Mom said, 'you're not educating, you're babysitting'"
Ron Sandison works full time in the medical field and is a professor of theology at Destiny School of Ministry. He is an advisory board member of the Art of Autism and the Els Center of Excellence. Sandison has a Master of Divinity from Oral Roberts University and is the author of A Parent’s Guide to Autism: Practical Advice. Biblical Wisdom published by Charisma House and Views from the Spectrum. He has memorized over 15,000 Scriptures including 22 complete books of the New Testament. Sandison speaks at over 70 events a year including 20 plus edu...2022-12-1539 minCoffee With CaregiversMary Barbera - ABA, Preparing for the Future, & Turning Autism Around"Don't panic (about the future). Get a will, get a special needs trust and have faith that it will work out."
Dr. Mary Barbera “fell” into the autism world in 1999 when her first-born son, Lucas was diagnosed with autism. Since then, Mary transformed from a confused and overwhelmed parent to a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst and best-selling author. After earning a PhD, Mary launched her first online course in early 2015 and later built additional courses and a membership program to help both parents and autism professionals.
Mary’s latest book Turn Autism Around, her online courses, weekly podcast and social media posts he...2022-11-1545 minCoffee With CaregiversAmy McCoy - autism advocate, children’s book author, & how laughter is the best medicine."You have to find ways to get laughter into your day because life is heavy."
Amy McCoy is an autism parent, children’s author and disability educator. Her debut children’s novel, Little Big Sister, shares the sibling perspective of growing up with a brother who has autism. Amy combines her expertise as a former elementary school teacher with her experience of parenting a child with autism as she visits elementary schools, libraries, bookstores, and parenting groups offering interactive presentations highlighting disability awareness. Amy’s children, Matthew and Kathryn, are the inspiration for her books and her work. Learn more at www...2022-10-1536 min
Talk Like a Mother: Parenting Autism PodcastS13: Visions of the Future E4: Interview with Jess RonneWe had the opportunity of chatting with the inspiring and amazingly driven Jess Ronne. We chat about her son Lucas and all of the lovely projects she has going on right now. One thing we can all take away from this interview is that we need to get back to caring for each other. Jess recently purchased a farm, Hope Farm, to provide a place for not only her son but several other families in the area. She highlights some of the challenges of being a caregiver in her documentary and throws herself into advocacy with her non-profit, The...2022-10-1041 minCoffee With CaregiversMelanie Oates: Single parent, long term respite, and choosing caregiving over a career.“I was moving up the corporate ladder and making an impact as a black female in tech. I am transparent with my employers and they know that I am a caregiver. It’s a double-edged sword because although they know I’m a caregiver, employers do not fully understand the magnitude of what that comes with. I became a single mother as well shortly after learning about my twin's diagnosis. Although I had many accolades in my career, I was at a fork in the road. My last job tried its best to support me as a caregiver, but after almost...2022-09-1635 min
Love Where You Are with Somer ColbertBlended with Grit and Grace with Jess RonneAuthor, speaker, podcast host, CEO of The Lucas Project, caregiver advocate and mom of 8 - any one of these is a full time job but my friend and guest of today’s show, Jess Ronne does them all! Jess has walked an incredible story of becoming a special needs mom, young widow and meeting her husband, Ryan, to become a blended family. She has learned how to ‘just keep livin’ when the unpredictable becomes reality and she has a heart to share God’s message of love and hope for families, caregivers and the unseen. In t...2022-05-0936 min
Coffee With CaregiversKate Swenson - Blogger at Finding Cooper’s Voice & Author of Forever BoyKate Swenson is the founder of Finding Cooper's Voice, a mother to four kids, a wife, and a proud Minnesotan. She writes and creates videos regularly about her life as a mother and an autism advocate for Facebook, Instagram, and her website, Finding Cooper's Voice. Her book, Forever Boy, A Mother's Memoir of Autism and Finding Joy, is available now and highlights the transformation that she went through after her son's diagnosis.
You can purchase Kate's book, Forever Boy on Amazon.
To stay connected with Jess, head to www.jessplusthemess.com. If you are interested in being a guest please co...2022-04-1532 min
Joy In The JourneyCaring for Caregivers with Jessica RonneIf you are a caregiver of a child with special needs, then you’ll probably relate to the feeling of being overwhelmed and never getting a break. Which begs the question: who is caring for the caregivers? Today’s guest, Jessica Ronne, is a true warrior and inspiration: she is a wife, mother to 8 kids, author, teacher, and founder of a non-profit dedicated to providing respite breaks for special needs caregivers, The Lucas Project. After losing her first husband to a long battle with brain cancer and suddenly becoming a young widow and mom to 4 child...2022-04-0527 minCoffee With CaregiversLindsay San - CEO of The Pampered ParentLindsay is the founder and owner of The Pampered Parent, a monthly self-care subscription box and supportive online community for moms of children with special needs. In addition to The Pampered Parent, Lindsay is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). As a BCBA, she works with individuals with a variety of developmental disabilities, as well as with their caregivers and families, to improve communication and social skills, foster independence, and reduce challenging behaviors. In Lindsay's free time, she enjoys exercising, traveling, watching TV with her husband, and playing with her dog, Shockey. To stay connected with Jess, head to ww...2022-04-0114 minCoffee With CaregiversFred Marvel - shaken baby syndrome, autism father & seeking answers.Fred Marvel is 40 years old, has been married close to 16 years and is the father of three boys. He was born and raised in Philadelphia where he works as a paralegal. His oldest son Aleks (11) was diagnosed with Autism, ADHD and sensory processing disorder. Fred started a podcast called the Spectrum Dad Podcast late last year because he wanted to help bring awareness to autism.
Connect with Fred on IG: @thespectrumdadpod
To stay connected with Jess, head to www.jessplusthemess.com. If you are interested in being a guest please contact me at jess@thelucasproject.org...2022-03-1835 minCoffee With CaregiversKatie Miniel: Thinking outside of the box with homeschooling autism, soap making & trying to find happiness in the middle of the struggles.Katie Miniel is a mom/24 hour caregiver to her daughter who is 17 years old. Her daughter has Autism, developmental delays and a seizure disorder. She is mentally between 4-7 years old and needs constant care due to impulsive repetitive aggressive behaviors. Katie and her husband started a soap making business for her 3 years ago to help build skills while she was not learning at school. This also became a way for the family to make extra money since Katie can not work and her daughter is no longer in school. They still struggle every day with meltdowns but try to...2022-03-0438 minBrave Together Parenting: a podcast for parenting disabilities and unique needs.This is Not a GiftWe talk a lot on the podcast about perspective… about how to zoom out and take good care of our momma hearts. But… what about the really, REALLY bad days, when you don’t want to hear any of the usual comforting words, when truisms and platitudes do more harm than good? What about the days you need to grieve? Today, Let Jess’s beautiful, raw, and honest words be a cry of catharsis - for you, for your partner, or for a friend of yours. Learn more about Jess: Website: jessplusthemess.comWebsite: https://www...2022-03-0221 minCoffee With CaregiversKim Albrecht: planning for the future & helping our children learn to live without us.Kim Albrecht is a southerner transplanted to California via the Midwest along with her husband and 2 teenage daughters, the oldest of which has level 3 non speaking autism.
She hosts the award winning LOMAH Disability Podcast, where over 100 expert guests have been interviewed on topics relevant to planning the future for teens and young adults with disabilities. The show deep dives into a single issue for 12 episodes and has covered disability housing, transitioning from school to adult services, financial planning, safety, technology, health, and more.
When not in the trenches of parenting, you can find her hunting sea glass, hiking a trai...2022-02-1158 minCoffee With CaregiversAngela Lofton: In utero diagnosis, the importance of real life community & why self care includes learning to say yes to help."Sometimes good enough is good enough"
Angela Lofton has over thirty years experience helping others find the best in themselves. From her days in college tutoring students with disabilities, corporate training and educating young people, she has always sought to help others discover the gifts and talents within themselves. She believes in lifelong learning and that through observations, engaging our senses and by being open to new experiences and people, we build social connections that support each of us to learn, grow and support one another. It is this passion that has driven her to create the & f...2022-01-2854 minCoffee With CaregiversMichele Thorne: Siblings on the spectrum, ABA, and permission to say you don't have to do it all.After both of her children were diagnosed with autism and she saw the need to provide parents with emotional, physical, and educational support, Michele Knowlton-Thorne founded DAMES LLC, which became Care for the Caregivers. As President of Care for the Caregivers, Michele plans to continue creating programs, apps, events, and support groups to help parents who are raising children with different health care needs.
Before founding D.A.M.E.S and Care 4 the Caregivers Michele worked as a geneticist at TGen and has an undergraduate degree in Molecular Biosciences and Biotechnology and a Master of Science Degree from Arizona S...2022-01-1458 min
Revival Town PodcastJESSICA RONNES4 EP.08 - Jessica Ronne is an author, speaker, podcast host of Coffee with Caregivers, and advocate. She is founder and Executive Director of The Lucas Project–a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing recognition, resources, and respite for special needs families. She's the producer of a new documentary called Unseen and has also been featured on NBC's Today Show and in numerous publications. Her newest book is called Blended With Grit & Grace: Just Keep Livin When Life is Unexpected. We are absolutely positive you will be inspired and encouraged by Jessica's remarkable story2021-12-2055 minCoffee With CaregiversKatie Emde - Raising Siblings on the Spectrum, Canada vs the U.S. for Resources, and a No Nonsense Approach to Advocacy."You shouldn't have to uproot your entire family because there isn't enough." Katie Emde.
What a great chat with Katie Emde. Katie lives in Saskatchewan with her husband and three beautiful kids and spends her days advocating for those on the autism spectrum. Her oldest son Avery was diagnosed with severe non-verbal autism and her youngest son Jackson was recently diagnosed on the spectrum.
When getting Avery diagnosed, she found everything to be extremely overwhelming & difficult to navigate and started advocating provincially for hundreds of families. She blogs online on Facebook & shares her family's journey at " A Journey For Avery."
To...2021-12-171h 06
Blended Kingdom Families PodcastBlending Families After Tragedy and Loss with Scott and Vanessa Martindale, and Special Guest, Jessica RonneWe are so excited to share this week’s episode, "Blending Families After Tragedy and Loss" with Scott and Vanessa Martindale, and special guest, Jessica Ronne. This podcast is for you if you’re looking for support as a caregiver, would like to learn how to support the caregiving community, or you’re in need of hope in the season of blending your family after tragedy and loss.Jessica and her husband, Ryan, are parents to 8 children one of which, Lucas, has profound special needs. She is an author, speaker, podcast host, documentary producer, caregiver, advocate, and execut...2021-11-2923 minCoffee With CaregiversLisa Dempsey - Group home placement, non profit work, & finding time to advocate for your child.Lisa Dempsey is the founder and CEO of the Forgotten Wishes Foundation, whose mission is to inspire a sense of belonging and be a source of joy for people with disabilities. Lisa belongs to a society of women who share the delights and dilemmas of raising children and caring for adults with special needs. She is a creator, explorer, and advocate and writes a blog about her experiences called Cluck Howl Crow. Lisa is happiest when she and her husband, Robert, are gathered around the kitchen table with their family. To refuel her mind and body, Lisa travels in...2021-11-261h 05Coffee With Caregivers"Doc" Hunsley - A terminal diagnosis, the death of a child, & new beginnings.Stephen “Doc” Hunsley, M.D. is the Executive Director and founder of SOAR Special Needs in Overland Park, Kansas. SOAR (Special Opportunities, Abilities, and Relationships) serves over 900 individuals with special needs through regular respite events and a Special Needs Day Camp. Doc is currently assisting over 400 churches locally, nationally, and globally in starting a Disability Ministry. Doc also organizes the Wonderfully Made Conference held annually every October in Kansas City. Doc is a retired pediatrician while his wife, Kay, continues practicing pediatrics. They are proud parents to three beautiful children: Luke, Mark and Sarah. The Hunsley’s middle child, Mark, is prese...2021-11-0553 minCoffee With CaregiversLiza Blas - Radical Self Care Guru.Join me as I chat with Liza Blas, a storyteller and the host of the Very Happy Stories podcast. She brings hope, empowerment, and validation to parents raising kids with unique challenges. Liza delivers inspiring stories and shares her best practices through her podcast, speaking engagements, and personal transformational coaching. Her stories are inspired by her personal experience navigating the complex conditions of her two children, including depression, anxiety, ADHD, OCD, ASD, Tourette’s Syndrome, and Lyme disease.
We chat about what it means to practice radical self-care, how to flip your mindset to one of empowerment and...2021-10-2246 min
Parenting Impossible – The Special Needs Survival PodcastEpisode 126: Caregivers Need Our Support with Jess RonneCaregivers are often the unseen and overlooked part of special needs care. In this podcast episode, Annette speaks with Jessica Ronne, an author, caregiver advocate, and mom of 8, about caregiver support, her caregiver nonprofit The Lucas Project, her blog “Jess + the Mess” and her 2 books “Sunlight Burning at Midnight” and “Blended with Grit and Grace.” Jess’ family story is one of heart break that leads to happiness. Her second child Lucas was born profoundly disabled due to a stroke in utero. A few years later, her first husband passed away from brain cancer leaving her a widow at 33 wi...2021-10-2051 minCoffee With CaregiversLisa Candara - Sanity Management, Labels, and Cycles of Grief and Joy."We have more power than we think"
Join me as I chat with Lisa Candera, a single mother to a teenage son with Autism, OCD and DMDD, a lawyer, and certified life coach for moms raising kids with autism.
Lisa teaches moms raising kids with Autism how to keep their cool while their child is melting down. To learn more about Lisa's coaching program and get on her email list for some upcoming FREE resources, visit her website at www.bethesolidobject.com.
You can also follow Lisa on Instagram @theautismmomcoach.
To stay connected with Jess, head to www.jessplusthemess.com. If y...2021-10-0845 minCoffee With CaregiversMisty Phillip - Author, Speaker, Podcaster, & Special Needs MamaMisty Phillip is a dreamer and a doer passionate about helping spark your soul message. She encourages people to use their story to give God glory. The Founder of Spark Media, Misty equips Christian Communicators and podcasters through virtual and live events, podcast network, magazine, and a thriving membership community. She is the host of the By His Grace Podcast ranked in the top 1.5 percent of all podcasts. Sought-after inspirational speaker and the author of the award-winning #1 Amazon New Release Bible Study, The Struggle is Real: But so is God, and the Spark Podcast Planner.
Website: MistyPhillip.c...2021-09-2441 minCoffee With CaregiversMe, Myself & I - An update on lifeHost, advocate & author Jess Ronne gives an update since the move from TN to MI on her personal life as a mom to 8 and parent caregiver to Lucas, her 17 year old son with profound disabilities. It’s been quite the journey over the past 10 years as she has moved 5 times in search of resources for him and her family. Have they found what they need? Tune in to find out.2021-09-1021 min
Let Your Ears Be the Gateway to Knowledge With Full AudiobookBlended with Grit and Grace: Just Keep Livin' When Life is Unexpected Audiobook by Jessica RonneListen to this audiobook in full for free onhttps://hotaudiobook.com/freeID: 529568
Title: Blended with Grit and Grace: Just Keep Livin' When Life is Unexpected
Author: Jessica Ronne
Narrator: Sarah Zimmerman
Format: Unabridged
Length: 06:39:09
Language: English
Release date: 08-31-21
Publisher: Christianaudio.com
Genres: Religion & Spirituality, Christianity, Counseling & Inspirational
Summary:
Ryan and Jess blended their families after losing their spouses to cancer in 2010. This has led to an unexpected and often hilarious journey. Blended with Grit and Grace invites you to walk alongside them and learn what it's like to have eight kids under one roof.
With wit and wisdom...2021-08-316h 39
Rich In Real Life PodcastValidating Your Damn SelfLadies, it’s time to realize that you don’t need to wait for the stamp of approval on your purpose and your gifts from anyone other than yourself! As Jessica and Ronne take a look back at their journey together during the inception of Jessica’s podcasting agency, Instapodcasts, you will uncover the true meaning of knowing your value in both your business and your personal lives. Tune in and learn how to not only stand in your worth but to speak it to those around you as well. So come join in on the dyn...2021-07-3046 minBrave Together Parenting: a podcast for parenting disabilities and unique needs.Trailblazer Moms! with Jess RonneContinuing the Brave Together series celebrating Trailblazing Moms, this week Jessica speaks with Jess Ronne, an author, speaker, podcast host, and caregiver advocate. Jess Ronne is founder and executive director of The Lucas Project—a non-profit dedicated to providing recognition, resources, and respite for special needs families. She and her husband Ryan live in Tennessee with their 8 children, including their son Lucas who has profound special needs. Her story of beauty from ashes has been shared on The Today Show, Daily Mail and Huffington Post and is detailed in her memoir Sunlight Burning at Midnight. To follow the...2021-07-2138 min
My Yes Is on the TableFinding Hope with Jessica RonneJenn is welcoming Jessica Ronne to the show today. Mentioned in this episode: Psalm 23 The Lucas Project Coffee With Caregivers (podcast) Respite for Families Finding Coopers Voice Blended with Grit and Grace Connect with Jessica: Website Facebook Instagram Caregiverdoc.com Connect with Jenn: Instagram ~ Facebook ~ Website DONATE to Coming Alive Ministries 2021-06-2825 minCoffee With CaregiversBrittany Vance - Brand Ambassador & Autism AwarenessBrittany Vance is a music journalist and both of her boys have special needs. Her youngest son Amari is a IG influencer and they work with national and local brands to help them become more Autism friendly. @lifeofamari2
She’s originally from Appalachia & believes that acceptance is the magic touch.2021-06-2536 minCoffee With CaregiversJessica Patay: Prader-Willi Syndrome, Non Profit Work, & Being Honest About the Future.Jessica Patay is a mother, wife, and advocate/cheerleader for Special Needs Mothers. She has been married to her husband, Chris, for 23 years and they reside in the Palos Verdes area in Southern California. They have two sons and a daughter, all teenagers. Their second son, age 17, was born with a rare, medically complex genetic disorder, called Prader-Willi syndrome.
Because Jessica is passionate about serving, mentoring, and inspiring other Special Needs Moms, she launched and leads a non-profit organization called We Are Brave Together. WABT provides resources, respite, support groups, mentoring and inspiration for moms caring for chil...2021-06-1148 minCoffee With CaregiversLisa Peña - Demanding accountability in our classrooms by building radical empathy.Dr. Lisa Peña is a coach’s wife and busy mom of three, including a daughter who has a unique subset of autism. Dr. Peña is from the Rio Grande Valley where she has served our country’s veterans as a clinical pharmacist for over ten years. She is a powerful public speaker and shows a particular passion in building radical empathy within the public school system. Dr. Peña is the co-founder of the nonprofit Labeled & Loved where she serves as Vice-President. She is an author and blogger and believes that impactful storytelling has the potential to change...2021-05-2851 minCoffee With CaregiversLauren Lowery : Rancher, Aicardi-Goutieres, & Coach"Sometimes you stand up and say this is how can can help. This is what we need. And this looks different for every caregiver."
Lauren and her husband live in Stillwater, Oklahoma with their 5 year old son Leo and 4 year old foster daughter. They run a cattle operation, and she serves as a life coach for special needs moms. Their son Leo has a rare genetic disorder called Aicardi-goutieres syndrome, which affects the brain, spinal cord, and immune system.
To learn more about Lauren's coaching, find her at www.lowerylifecoaching.com.
To stay connected with Jess, head to www.jessplusthemess.co...2021-05-1433 minCoffee With CaregiversStephanie Simoes: PANS, Clean Food, & Wine ConsultantStephanie Simoes is a wife & mother to four beautiful children from Pennsylvania and enjoys being a Cause Entrepreneur with ONEHOPE. She hosts private wine events to raise awareness and donations for different causes. Supporting medical research and support for special needs families is really important to her because she has three children who have been diagnosed with PANS. She is extremely passionate about raising awareness and believes that if her journey with PANDAS/PANS can help even just one other family, it is worth it. To learn more about One Hope Wine check out - Onehopewine.com/myshop/winewsteph To...2021-04-3041 minCoffee With CaregiversAmy Brown: Adoption, RAD, & Fetal Alcohol Syndrome"They (children with RAD) cannot trust the main caregiver."
Amy J. Brown is a wife,mom,writer, mentor and podcast host. She writes to encourage special needs moms. She shares honestly about her adoption story and parenting a child with Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).Amy mentors moms and believes that when we honestly share our stories we learn from each other, gather strength,and come away encouraged. But most importantly, we feel less alone.She lives in Michigan and is married to her high school sweetheart. She is the mother of six kids, who ar...2021-04-1542 minCoffee With CaregiversLaurie Hellmann - Author, Dating after Divorce, & Desperate for Respite"Let go and let God."
For years, Laurie Hellmann has fiercely navigated therapies, medications and countless medical and personal challenges with her 17-year-old, autistic son, Skyler. While continuing to fight for her son’s ongoing needs, she has become the voice for other families with a loved one on the autism spectrum. From sharing insights on how autism impacts an entire family – its influence on a marriage, neurotypical siblings, and life as a whole – Laurie invites others into her whirlwind life with the hopes of raising awareness about a cause near and dear to her heart. She is the...2021-04-0240 minCoffee With CaregiversKelli TenHaken: International Adoption, Being Proactive About Finding Care, & Releasing Guilt“We have to figure out how to thrive and not just survive.” Kelli
Kelli and her husband Mark have four kids-- Ruby, 12, Charlie, 11, Tabatha, 9 and Mona, 6. Through various circumstances, God placed adoption on their hearts and they chose to adopt their first child. They didn't know about Ruby’s special needs at the time, so the first couple of years with Ruby was quite a journey! Ruby has massive brain scarring on her brain, probably from a rough birth. Because of that brain damage, she has a cerebral palsy and a seizure disorder diagnoses. Cognitively, she functions like a 3-4 month ol...2021-03-1934 minCoffee With CaregiversCarly Laabs - Attainable Self Care for the Weary Caregiver"I didn't expect it to take a couple of years to [switch from] living in a constant state of crisis to re acclimate to normal life."
Carly is a Midwestern, wife and mother of four children, one of whom is a life-long survivor of chronic, pediatric, brain cancer. Over the last 10 years, she has experienced, first hand, what it means to raise a child with a critical, chronic illness and multiple, complex, special needs. She has also recognized a great need for resources that support parent caregivers, in their own self-care, as they navigate their child’s day to day nee...2021-03-0552 minCoffee With CaregiversSarah Blunkosky - Yogi, Learning Advocate, & Homeschooling Mom"Pity is the worst feeling for me as a caregiver."
Jess chats with Sarah Blunkosky, M.A., an integrative education consultant, certified peer-breastfeeding counselor, and registered Accessible yoga instructor specializing in family, children’s, special-needs, and prenatal/postpartum movement/embodiment. Her learning life spanned teaching high school social studies at Open High School in Richmond, Virginia to studying slavery and social history on a graduate school path that pivoted when her eldest daughter's intellectual disabilities and medical needs required an intensive lifestyle shift. She started Learning Heroine LLC in 2015. You can find her on Instagram and Facebook shar...2021-02-1941 minCoffee With CaregiversRachel Kang - Creator, Sibling Caregiver, & Truth Teller."I held on to that word "normal" and waited for it to happen."
Jess sits down to chat with her friend Rachel Kang, a New York native, born and raised just outside of New York City. Rachel is a mixed woman of African American, Native American, Dutch, and Irish descent, she writes prose, poems, and other pieces that whisper into the thin tension between faith and life. She is a graduate of Nyack College in New York where she obtained a degree in English with Creative Writing, and she is the creator of Indelible Ink Writers. Jess a...2021-02-0540 minCoffee With CaregiversAnnie Morgan - Angelman Syndrome & Showing up for Yourself."You matter just as much as your child."
Jess chats with Annie, aka “blessedforthismess” a mom to two kids, Ava & Brody. Her daughter Ava was diagnosed with Angelman syndrome in 2014 which led to Annie’s belief that we need to teach our kids that they are undefined by their circumstances. Annie is also passionate about advocating for the advocators & sharing the depths of her heart through her own journey as a mother to a child with a disability. Her motto is that “you are more than the circumstances that surround you.” To learn more, find Annie at www.blessedf...2021-01-2239 minCoffee With CaregiversNoelle Walker : Adoption, Cerebral Palsy, Cancer & CovidJess sits down in this episode with Noelle Walker who is a wife, mom, step mom, grandmother, and business owner. Her daughter Layla is 14 years old, has quadriplegic cerebral palsy, a seizure disorder, and is nonverbal. Layla is also an artist who paints with her eyes. Noelle stepped away from her graphic design career when her Layla was about four years old and now she’s a full time caregiver to Layla and also runs a skincare business from her home. To learn more about Noelle, find her on Instagram/specialneedsmamabear.
To purchase my book Sunlight Burning at Midnight https://amz...2021-01-0833 min
The Nothing Is Wasted PodcastEpisode 149 - Jessica RonneOur families are among the greatest gifts we can receive in life, but with that gift comes a risk. When pain strikes among these people who are so close to us, it hits us especially hard. Jessica Ronne knows this all too well. When her second child was born with severe special needs, it seemed like that was more trial than anyone should have to endure. Jessica’s journey, however, was just getting started. Only a few years later, Jessica’s husband lost his battle against a brain tumor, and Jessica found herself as a single mother to three children. Thro...2021-01-071h 06Coffee With CaregiversJolene Philo : Caring For a Father and a Son“When caregivers say they’re fine, they’re not telling the truth.” Jolene
Jess sits down in this episode and chats with Jolene Philo, the parent and daughter of loved ones with special needs and disabilities. Jolene is a former educator who created inclusive classrooms for all learners for 25 years. She’s also the author of several books about caregiving, special needs parenting, and childhood PTSD, including Sharing Love Abundantly with Special Needs Families: The 5 Love Languages® for Parents Raising Children with Disabilities, which she co-authored with Dr. Gary Chapman. Her award winning blog, www.DifferentDream.com, provides en...2020-12-1139 minCoffee With CaregiversCarrie Prater : Advocating for Dignity“Everyone deserves to use the restroom with dignity.”
Carrie In this episode, Jess chats with Carrie Prater, a mother of 4 children ages 12 to 25 years old and special needs advocate. Her son Gibson was born with Mowat-Wilson syndrome with a secondary diagnosis of Autism. This syndrome includes impairments ranging from mild to severe with Gibson falling in the moderate to severe range. Jess and Carrie talk about how important community is for the caregiver, some of the more challenging behaviors they’ve both experienced with their sons and Carrie’s groundbreaking initiative throughout superstores in the Midwest. To purchase my...2020-11-2754 minCoffee With CaregiversBecky Davidson: Founder of Rising Above Ministries; A Safe Haven for Special Needs Families“(Caring for my son) has directed my life’s work.” Becky
In this episode, Jess chats with Becky Davidson who is the Co-founder and President of Rising Above Ministries, a multi-dimensional outreach to families impacted by disabilities. She is passionate about supporting and encouraging special needs families around the world. She co-authored Common Man, Extraordinary Call with her late husband, Jeff Davidson.
Becky and her adult son with special needs, Jon Alex, live in Cookeville, Tennessee. Jess and Becky discussed their numerous similarities in life including both having lost their husbands to cancer and the joys a...2020-11-1338 minCoffee With CaregiversShannon Guerra: RAD - Reactive Attachment Disorder in Adopted Children"It is important for a child to have lots of healthy relationships with adults but a child with [attachment issues] they need to get the relationship with their primary caregivers down first.”
In this episode of Coffee with Caregivers, Jess sits down with author Shannon Guerra, an Alaskan, homeschooling mama of 8 kids via birth and adoption. She is the author of Upside Down: Understanding and Supporting Attachment in Adoptive Families, Oh My Soul: Encountering God in Unconventional, Honest (and Sometimes Messy) Prayer, and the Work That God Sees series. Jess and Shannon discuss what attachment disorder looks like...2020-10-2357 minCoffee With CaregiversCallie Daruk: Extreme medical needs after birth“I would feel like my son represented the pain.” Callie
“I’m supposed to love you and nurture you but right now when I am elbow deep in diarrhea, I am full of rage.” Callie
“Praise Jesus my baby lived so I’m not allowed to speak about the difficulties.” Jess
“Moms need to speak the truth so that we can see change.” Jess
“Somehow in my mind I was supposed to muscle through this.” Callie
“ I wish I would have raised my hand and said, I need help.” Callie
“You are just in a state of existence.” Callie
[I thought] “Yes, I’m glad he’s hom...2020-10-0936 min
Coffee With CaregiversSarah Broady: Dealing with Invisible Needs“We hear a lot – he doesn’t look like he has autism.”
In this episode of Coffee with Caregivers, Jess sits down with her friend Sarah Broady, a wife and mom to three boys including Sam who has autism. They chat (and laugh a lot!) about how they each crave community, how people often misunderstand her son Sam because he is high functioning, and how people can better accommodate caregivers like herself. Sarah is also a writer, advocate, speaker, and podcast host of A Special Hope. Her greatest passion is encouraging weary hearts. You can find her at www.ho...2020-09-251h 02Coffee With CaregiversVance and Kristy Goforth: When Autism Is Severe“People need to understand the pain and the suffering before we’ll see change.”
In this episode of Coffee with Caregivers, Jess chats with Vance and Kristy Goforth in an extremely vulnerable and honest conversation about life as a caregiver to Joshua, their son with profound special needs. They discuss the details from Joshua’s aggressive behavior to their mental health struggles as his caregivers and Vance’s eventual health problems which were stress induced. They also discuss why we need to desperately raise awareness for caregivers in order to gain the resources that are needed. To learn more ab...2020-09-1447 minCoffee With CaregiversRyan Ronne: An Adopted Father’s Special Needs Story “Don’t be afraid of THAT kid…Their needs are actually pretty simple.”
In this episode of Coffee with Caregivers, Jess sits down with Ryan, her husband and Lucas’s adopted dad. They talk about how Ryan felt the first time he met Lucas, his past, present, and future worries about caring for him and what stresses him out and how he tries to relieve that stress. In addition to caring for Lucas, Ryan is dad to 7 other children and enjoys flipping houses and fishing.2020-09-1426 minCoffee With CaregiversJess and Lindsay : Jess’s Story."The average person really has no idea how to help caregivers.” Lindsay Spitler
In this debut episode of Coffee with Caregivers, Jess sits down with one of her oldest and dearest friends Lindsay Spitler to discuss life as a caregiver to her 16 year old son Lucas who has profound special needs. In addition to caring for the Lucas, Jess has 7 other children, is married to her husband Ryan, is a published author, speaker, founder of the non-profit The Lucas Project and now podcast host. During this episode, Jess and Lindsay talk about the details of Lucas’s needs...2020-09-1433 minCoffee With CaregiversTrailerAn introduction to Coffee with Caregivers.2020-06-1701 min
HuskyHusky nyårsspecial 2019 med Jens Assur, Jessica Clarén och Sara Rönne, #223Under podcastens barndom tror jag att för de flesta innebar formatet "två eller fler kompisar som flamsar runt och snackar skit". Jag har istället under hela Huskys snart sjuåriga historia bejakat det mer pretentiösa formatet och siktat på väl förberedda samtal och intervjuer.Ibland måste man dock frångå det beprövade och ta saker på uppstuds - då bjuder man såklart in lite sköna och snabbtänkta bekanta för nästan två timmars mer eller mindre osammanhängande spridda samtal och spaningar om året som gått och om fenomen oc...2019-12-221h 57
Rich In Real Life PodcastGirlCEO Interview: A Conversation With My Mentor About My Business GrowthIf you don't know, now you know! In late July 2019 I was featured on The GirlCEO podcast with Ronne Brown. In April 2019, I hired Ronne Brown as a mentor shortly after I quit my corporate job just to make sure I had someone knowledgable in my corner to make sure I didn't fall short because this was serious. This interview is jam packed with my insecurities in starting my business, how I wasn't sure to charge people, my fears, my doubt, and so much more. Ronne literally helped me elevate my confidence and keep in there. ...2019-12-1749 min
Girl CEOTruth Be Told With Ronne Brown and Jessica HurleyWhile we all know Ronne brown spends a lot of her energy and time to teach each one of us how to maneuver entrepreneurship successfully, we sometimes forget the journey Ronne is on daily.Buckle up as your favorite GirlCEO opens up about her past, many business attempts, perseverance, building a devoted audience, her daily grind, and what she wants each new business owner to know about this journey! Follow GirlCEO on Instagram at @girlceoincFor more information on the Girl CEO Community click the link belowhttps://igniteyourbrand.m...2019-07-2545 min
Rich In Real Life PodcastWhy You Can't Skip The Process with GirlCEO Founder, Ronne BrownIf you don't know who Ronne Brown is, its time to get out from under the rock. This powerhouse female has a brand that is empowering women to be courageous and make the right moves through social media platforms to create a successful business. Ronne's GirlCEO brand has apparel for Entrepreneurs plus amazing planners that help keep CEO's organized. She recently launched her book, "From Mopping floors to making millions," where she talks about her story and provides a blueprint for every entrepreneur on exactly how to build a personal brand that sells. In this sh...2019-03-2621 min