Coffee With Caregivers

Jessica E Ronne
  • 4.9 (43)
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Join Jess Ronne, author, speaker, and caregiver advocate as she chats with caregivers about the joys and trials of raising a child with disabilities. Jess is also the founder of The Lucas Project, a non-profit which provides recognition & resources for special needs families & associate director of the Unseen film. She & her husband Ryan live in Michigan with their 8 children, including their disabled son Lucas. Her story of beauty from ashes is detailed in her four books. To follow the ongoing saga she can be found at www.jessplusthemess.com

  1. Amy Julia Becker - Honesty, Humility, and Hope: A Path to Wholeness for Caregivers

    6D AGO

    Amy Julia Becker - Honesty, Humility, and Hope: A Path to Wholeness for Caregivers

    In this episode of Coffee with Caregivers, Jess sits down with author, speaker, and advocate Amy Julia Becker — mom to Penny, a 20-year-old with Down Syndrome — to explore what it truly means to be made whole. Drawing from her book To Be Made Well, Amy Julia shares how raising Penny dismantled her own hidden hierarchy of human value and opened her eyes to the freedom that comes from embracing vulnerability and need. Together, Jess and Amy Julia reflect on how disability has been one of the most powerful teachers in their lives — not just about their children, but about themselves. The conversation moves through themes of healing, distraction, and the mind-body connection, as Amy Julia describes how unprocessed stress and unspoken pain can manifest physically — and how honesty, humility, and hope can create a pathway toward wholeness. She and Jess also speak candidly to caregivers who are living in survival mode, offering practical wisdom about finding community in five-minute pockets of time, seeing your child as a gift rather than a deficit, and letting your body tell you what your heart hasn't yet found words for. Amy Julia's Links Website Book: To Be Made Well Podcast: Reimagining the Good Life

    35 min

  2. JAN 5

    Tyler Hudson: Hope and Advocacy - Living With the Challenges of Profound Autism

    In this episode of Coffee with Caregivers, Jess welcomes Tyler Hudson, an advocate and father of a son with profound autism. Tyler shares his family's journey from Texas to Australia, the challenges they faced with their son Lyric's regressive autism, and the impact of living in a rural area. They discuss the difficulties of elopement, nonverbal communication, and the transition to adulthood for children with autism. Tyler touches on the broader societal implications of the growing autism population and the need for more research and resources. The episode concludes with insights into his advocacy work and the importance of addressing all potential causes of autism.

    39 min

  3. 12/23/2025

    Jillian 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 Advocacy Coalition. Jillian and her husband, Andy, and their three children make their home on Florida’s Space Coast. Learn more atjillianbenfield.com. 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!

    34 min

  4. 10/11/2025

    Jason Hague: Spellers, Faith, and Surrender

    Jason 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 Aching Joy, led to his first book with NavPress in 2018. Aching Joy: Following God through the Land of Unanswered Prayer was warmly received by church and special needs communities. The book won a Cascade Award for best memoir in 2019. Jason has been a guest on numerous podcasts and radio shows such as Focus on the Family, and his writing has appeared in Christianity Today, Ann Voskamp, Fathom Magazine, and Finding Cooper’s Voice.  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.

    33 min

  5. 10/11/2025

    Debbie Weiss: Lifelong Caregiving, Grieving, and Overcoming Obstacles

    Debbie, 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. You can follow Debbie at: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@debbierweiss Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debbie.r.weiss/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/maybeican Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/debbierweissauthor Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/maybe-i-can-with-debbie-weiss/id1676123222 Website: www.debbierweiss.com Email: debbie@debbierweiss.com 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.

    35 min

  6. 10/11/2025

    Kelley Coleman: Permission to Advocate for Ourselves as Caregivers & Dealing with Shame from Other Families

    Kelley 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 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.

    43 min

  7. 10/11/2025

    Eileen Lamb: Severe Autism, The Price of Advocacy, and Sharing our Stories

    Eileen 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 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.

    27 min

  8. 10/11/2025

    Crystal Polk: Adoption, Time Saving Tips, and Support

    Crystal 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 evident in her love for being a therapist. Beyond her clinical practice, Crystal actively contributes to professional development by conducting training sessions at institutions like the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), underscoring her commitment to knowledge-sharing in the mental health community.   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.

    32 min
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4.9
out of 5
43 Ratings

About

Join Jess Ronne, author, speaker, and caregiver advocate as she chats with caregivers about the joys and trials of raising a child with disabilities. Jess is also the founder of The Lucas Project, a non-profit which provides recognition & resources for special needs families & associate director of the Unseen film. She & her husband Ryan live in Michigan with their 8 children, including their disabled son Lucas. Her story of beauty from ashes is detailed in her four books. To follow the ongoing saga she can be found at www.jessplusthemess.com

Information

  • Creator
    Jessica E Ronne
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    28
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jessica E Ronne
  • Show Website
    Coffee With Caregivers

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