58 episodes
Hope on the Hard Road Special Needs Podcast Hope on the Hard Road
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- Religion & Spirituality
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5.0 • 19 Ratings
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In this first podcast episode, Eric and Christen Freund, co-founders of the special needs nonprofit Hope on the Hard Road, Inc., share an interview called “Our Story”. In it the couple talks about their early years of marriage and parenting, their family’s journey with special needs, and their nonprofit. It’s an inspiring story of how they found hope in the midst of the hard and what lead them to start a nonprofit for families with children with special needs.
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"Rising Above as a Dad" with Steve Chatman
Steve Chatman: Dad Series
“Rising Above as a Dad Part 1” with Steve Chatman
We are so excited to have Steve Chatman on to the podcast today. Steve is the Vice President at Rising Above Ministries, a nonprofit in Tennessee that is dedicated to lifting up the special needs community. As both a ministry leader and a dad with special needs children, Steve brings a wealth of insight and experience to share with us on the podcast today. This is the first part of a two part series focused on dads. Let’s get started.
Steve is Vice President of Ministry Advancement & Pastoral Care at Rising Above Ministries. Steve is married to Lori Ann and they have 5 Children and 3 Grandkids. Steve has been ministering to families since 1993 and he loves to teach, counsel, encourage, entertain, and resource others. Before joining the staff at Rising Above, Steve and his wife Lori were active participants and volunteers for many years. As a dad with children with special needs (Steve and Lori have two daughters with Down Syndrome), he has a huge heart for the special needs community. As VP for Ministry advancement and Pastoral Care, Steve oversees our ministry to families as well as connecting with the local church and community organizations to help them better engage and serve the special needs community.
In his spare time he enjoys taking naps, watching movies with his family, eating donuts at the beach (or anywhere), playing fantasy football, and he hopes to one day play the banjo.
Contact
Rising Above Ministries
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"Shining as a Dad" with Garett Wall
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
Shine Ministry
502.253.8129
gwall@secc.org
Shine Ministry Facebook Page
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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.
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“Reclaiming Hope” with Angela O'Brien
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
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“Moms Retreat Panel” with Stacy Shradar, Andreina Carillo, Cheri Monis, Sandi Anderson , and Teri Stashak
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.
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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.
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"Stories from Siblings"with Joey and Stephanie Alarcon and Lynette Fuson
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.
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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.
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"Marriage in the Midst Part 2" with Eric and Christen Freund
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.
Email us
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Customer Reviews
So helpful!
This is such an amazing podcast that gives excellent information from experts in the field! This is such a great resource for parents, family members, educators, ministry workers, and anyone who wants to learn more about supporting children with special needs. Highly recommend!
Great resource!
I appreciate Christen and Eric’s willingness to share their own journey. They are honest and open about the challenges and the joys of parenting a child with special needs. These podcasts have great resources and ideas for families who need encouragement and hope.
Hope on the Hard Road
Eric and Christen Freund clearly put their heart and soul into providing hope via education and honest, open experiential insight.
While directed toward fellow parents and professionals that care for special needs children, this resource helps provides a better opportunity to empathize and understand/support this community of people for those of us who don't fit into the "parent/professional" category.
It takes so much to just get through life's business and challenges but it takes a special person to think outside of their own needs to really have a heart to help others. This is a tremendous resource and one that I hope gains the support and viewership needed to highlight its valuable tools to a growing part of our community.