This Unexpected Life

Carrie M Holt
  • 5.0 (9)
  • CHRISTIANITY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to This Unexpected Life, a podcast designed to equip and encourage parents and caregivers of children with disabilities so they can embrace their journey with hope, faith, and resilience. With over twenty years of parenting experience, Carrie M Holt is a story-telling companion for caregiving mothers, exploring the hope and healing found in Jesus Christ—one story at a time.

  1. 2D AGO

    When Suffering Isn’t Resolved: Finding Rest, Faith, and Living Life Open-Handed with Jen Potter

    What do you do when the suffering doesn’t end—and there’s no clear resolution in sight? In Part One of this heartfelt conversation, Carrie sits down with her friend Jen Potter to talk honestly about unresolved grief, long-term caregiving, and learning to live with open hands before God. Jen shares her journey of parenting a son with Spina Bifida and Autism, walking through cancer twice, and facing years of uncertainty that reshaped how she understands faith, rest, and surrender. Together, they explore what it looks like to trust God’s presence when answers don’t come, how grief and joy can coexist, and why true rest isn’t found in escaping our circumstances—but in being yoked to Christ right in the middle of them. This episode is for parents who are weary, frustrated, and still showing up—wondering how to keep going when the difficulties stretch on for years. February 10, 2026; Eps. 38 If you enjoyed the show, leave a 5-star review! Get my new resource: 5 Practices For Processing Grief Click here if you want to be a guest on the show Carrie’s Facebook or Instagram Find me on Substack My book: The Other Side of Special *This podcast features honest conversations with special needs parents and faith-filled guests. While I deeply value the stories and insights shared, the views and opinions expressed may not always reflect my own. Any resources listed are shared for reference, not necessarily a personal recommendation. I invite you to listen with spiritual discernment and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in what you hold onto and set aside.

    39 min

  2. FEB 3

    When Caregiving Feels Unseen: Finding God’s Presence in Lifelong Special Needs Parenting

    What happens when caregiving lasts far longer than you ever imagined—and no one is applauding? In this deeply honest episode, Carrie sits down with Beth Benson, a mother whose life has been shaped by infertility, trauma, adoption, autism, and decades of full-time caregiving for a son with a rare chromosome disorder. Together, they talk about the unseen cost of special needs parenting, the grief that accumulates quietly over time, and the moment Beth questioned whether God was truly good. Beth shares how years of survival led to trauma, how grief can “come out sideways” when it’s ignored, and how God met her in one of the most ordinary—and humbling—moments of caregiving to remind her that changing diapers, reading Dr. Seuss, and loving faithfully is worship. This episode is for the parent who feels invisible, exhausted, and stuck in a season that won’t end. It’s a reminder that God sees every unseen sacrifice and calls it precious. Eps. 37; February 3, 2026 Resources: Wild at Heart Podcast by John Eldredge If you enjoyed the show, leave a 5-star review! Get my new resource: 5 Practices For Processing Grief Click here if you want to be a guest on the show Carrie’s Facebook or Instagram Find me on Substack My book: The Other Side of Special *This podcast features honest conversations with special needs parents and faith-filled guests. While I deeply value the stories and insights shared, the views and opinions expressed may not always reflect my own. Any resources listed are shared for reference, not necessarily a personal recommendation. I invite you to listen with spiritual discernment and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in what you hold onto and set aside.

    35 min

  3. JAN 20

    The Long Wait: Trusting God Through Autism, Infertility, and Unanswered Prayers with Jenna Erlandson

    In this episode of This Unexpected Life, Carrie Holt talks with Jenna Erlandson,, a mother of six, about her journey through infertility, postpartum depression, and receiving an autism diagnosis for her son. Jenna shares how seasons of waiting, uncertainty, and loss of control shaped her faith and taught her to trust God’s faithfulness. This honest conversation explores special needs parenting, listening to maternal instincts, navigating mental health challenges, and finding hope and joy in unexpected places. If you are a Christian parent walking through autism, infertility, or a long season of waiting, this episode offers encouragement, truth, and hope. Eps. 36; January 20, 2026 Resources: Jenna’s Website If you enjoyed the show, leave a 5-star review! Get my new resource: 5 Practices For Processing Grief Click here if you want to be a guest on the show Carrie’s Facebook or Instagram Find me on Substack My book: The Other Side of Special *This podcast features honest conversations with special needs parents and faith-filled guests. While I deeply value the stories and insights shared, the views and opinions expressed may not always reflect my own. Any resources listed are shared for reference, not necessarily a personal recommendation. I invite you to listen with spiritual discernment and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in what you hold onto and set aside.

    45 min

  4. JAN 13

    When Special Needs Parenting Becomes Survival: Faith, Endurance and Autism Parenting with Celeste Shally

    What happens when special needs parenting moves beyond exhaustion and into survival? In this deeply honest and faith-filled conversation, Carrie M. Holt sits down with Celeste Shally, author of While We Wait: Clinging to Christ in the Trenches of Special Needs Parenting, to talk about the rarely discussed reality of long-term violence in special needs parenting—and the relentless suffering that comes with it. Celeste shares her journey as a mother to an adult son with autism whose escalating violent behaviors dominated their family life for over a decade. From living in constant fear, isolation, and hypervigilance, to questioning God’s goodness in the midst of daily trauma, Celeste opens up about what it truly means to reach the end of yourself—and cling to Christ because there is nowhere else to turn. January 13, 2026; Eps. 35 Resources: Celeste Shally’s Website While We Wait: Clinging To Christ in The Trenches of Special Needs Parenting Celeste on FB If you enjoyed the show, leave a 5-star review! Get my new resource: 5 Practices For Processing Grief Click here if you want to be a guest on the show Carrie’s Facebook or Instagram Find me on Substack My book: The Other Side of Special *This podcast features honest conversations with special needs parents and faith-filled guests. While I deeply value the stories and insights shared, the views and opinions expressed may not always reflect my own. Any resources listed are shared for reference, not necessarily a personal recommendation. I invite you to listen with spiritual discernment and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in what you hold onto and set aside.

    47 min

  5. JAN 6

    Finding God in the Autism Journey: Jeanetta Bryant on Hope, Healing, and Advocacy

    When Jeanetta Bryant’s daughter was diagnosed with autism, her world changed overnight. What began as heartbreak soon became a journey of faith, perseverance, and unexpected purpose. In this episode, Jeanetta shares how God met her in the middle of the unknown—guiding her through grief, growth, and the birth of her nonprofit, Abilities Workshop. Through her story, you’ll hear powerful reminders that God is present in every diagnosis, every setback, and every small step forward. If you’ve ever wondered where God is in your own unexpected journey, this conversation will encourage you to keep trusting the One who brings healing and hope even in the hardest places. January 6, 2026; Eps. 34 Resources: Jeanetta Bryan Website FB & IG If you enjoyed the show, leave a 5-star review! Get my new resource: 5 Practices For Processing Grief Click here if you want to be a guest on the show Carrie’s Facebook or Instagram Find me on Substack My book: The Other Side of Special *This podcast features honest conversations with special needs parents and faith-filled guests. While I deeply value the stories and insights shared, the views and opinions expressed may not always reflect my own. Any resources listed are shared for reference, not necessarily a personal recommendation. I invite you to listen with spiritual discernment and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in what you hold onto and set aside.

    43 min

  6. 12/09/2025

    When Fear Clouds the Future: An Advent Reflection for Special Needs Moms

    In this Advent reflection, Carrie M. Holt closes out the year with a powerful reminder for the special-needs mom who finds herself afraid. Drawing from the Christmas story—Zechariah’s uncertainty, Mary’s shock, and Joseph’s quiet fear—Carrie shares how God met each person right where they were, in their real-life moments of confusion and overwhelm. Through honest stories from her own month of unexpected struggles, Carrie points to the truth that God not only sees our tears and our long nights of tossing—but He dwells with us right in the middle of them. If you’re ending this year feeling anxious about your child’s future, worn from the weight of advocacy, or unsure how God fits into the foggy unknown ahead, this Advent message will remind you: No matter what you fear, God is near. December 9, 2025; Eps. 33 Resources: Scriptures Mentioned: Matthew 1, Luke 1-2 Music Provided by: Pixabay: Silent-night-lofi-version If you enjoyed the show, leave a 5-star review! Get my new resource: 5 Practices For Processing Grief Click here if you want to be a guest on the show Carrie’s Facebook or Instagram Find me on Substack My book: The Other Side of Special *This podcast features honest conversations with special needs parents and faith-filled guests. While I deeply value the stories and insights shared, the views and opinions expressed may not always reflect my own. Any resources listed are shared for reference, not necessarily a personal recommendation. I invite you to listen with spiritual discernment and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in what you hold onto and set aside.

    15 min

  7. 12/02/2025

    God With Us in the Unexpected: An Advent Reflection For Disability Mothers

    In this Advent reflection, Carrie M. Holt invites weary, overwhelmed, and tender-hearted special needs moms into the ultimate unexpected story—Christmas. Through a first-person narrative inspired by Mary’s journey in Luke and Matthew, Carrie draws parallels between Mary’s unexpected calling and the everyday realities of disability parenting: medical crises that interrupt holidays, the longing for peace, and the ache of carrying a story you never planned for. With soothing Scripture, honest storytelling, and gentle encouragement, this episode offers a pause in the chaos. Carrie reminds us that Emmanuel—God with us—is present in hospital hallways, IEP meetings, surgeries, sensory overwhelm, and our deepest fears. This Advent, may you find rest, hope, and companionship in the God who enters unexpected places through unexpected stories. Eps. 32; December 2, 2025 Date: 12/2/25 Resources: Be Born in Me by Francesca Batistelli Breath of Heaven (Mary’s Song) by Amy Grant  Joseph’s Lullaby by Mercy Me Scriptures Referenced: Matthew 1, Luke 1-2, Isaiah 9 & 40 If you enjoyed the show, leave a 5-star review! Get my new resource: 5 Practices For Processing Grief Click here if you want to be a guest on the show Carrie’s Facebook or Instagram Find me on Substack My book: The Other Side of Special *This podcast features honest conversations with special needs parents and faith-filled guests. While I deeply value the stories and insights shared, the views and opinions expressed may not always reflect my own. Any resources listed are shared for reference, not necessarily a personal recommendation. I invite you to listen with spiritual discernment and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in what you hold onto and set aside.

    18 min

  8. 11/18/2025

    Finding Rest in Caregiving: Burnout, Faith, and Letting Go with Jess Ronne

    In this profoundly moving conversation, Carrie M. Holt talks with author and advocate Jess Ronne about her powerful and unexpected story—one marked by disability, grief, resilience, surrender, and the refining work of God. Jess shares her journey from learning of her son Lucas’s profound disabilities, to walking with her late husband through terminal brain cancer, to unexpectedly meeting her second husband, Ryan. She opens up about the weight of long-term caregiving, the burnout that left her unable to get out of bed, and the painful process of releasing control when Lucas transitioned into a group home. Together, Carrie and Jess explore themes of grief that evolve through the journey, anger God can hold, the idolatry of identity, and the ongoing call to surrender in every season. Jess also offers encouragement to caregivers with limited support and explains why she believes rest, community, humility, and honesty are essential for survival. This is a conversation for every special-needs parent who feels exhausted, unseen, or afraid of the future—offering real hope, gentle truth, and the reminder that God is present in every season. Eps. 31; November 18, 2025 Resources: Jess Ronne’s Website Social Media FB & IG Caregiving With Grit & Grace  If you enjoyed the show, leave a 5-star review! Get my new resource: 5 Practices For Processing Grief Click here if you want to be a guest on the show Carrie’s Facebook or Instagram Find me on Substack My book: The Other Side of Special *This podcast features honest conversations with special needs parents and faith-filled guests. While I deeply value the stories and insights shared, the views and opinions expressed may not always reflect my own. Any resources listed are shared for reference, not necessarily a personal recommendation. I invite you to listen with spiritual discernment and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in what you hold onto and set aside.

    33 min
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5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Welcome to This Unexpected Life, a podcast designed to equip and encourage parents and caregivers of children with disabilities so they can embrace their journey with hope, faith, and resilience. With over twenty years of parenting experience, Carrie M Holt is a story-telling companion for caregiving mothers, exploring the hope and healing found in Jesus Christ—one story at a time.

Information

  • Creator
    Carrie M Holt
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    39
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 This Unexpected Life
  • Show Website
    This Unexpected Life