Real talk, real tools, and real hope for families experiencing disability—a Hope Heals podcast hosted by author Amy Julia Becker. Culture often tells us that families with disability are a problem. At Take the Next Step, we see your family as a gift—to society and to your community. Your family matters. Your child matters. We need you here. Join Amy Julia each week for honest conversations with parents, therapists, and disability advocates about finding delight at home and belonging in community, plus practical steps toward a flourishing future. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, longing for connection, or unsure what’s next, you’re not alone. Tune in every Wednesday for direction and hope.
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The Power of Proximity in Disability Parenting with Sho Baraka
Episode 10
Wednesday, November 19, 2025 • Duration 26:07
E10 — From Frustration to Connection: If your home feels tense or chaotic, connection might be a missing piece. Recording artist Sho Baraka joins Amy Julia Becker to share how his family moved from daily breakdowns and aggression to a home marked by peace. Sho reflects on his story of parenting two sons with autism and the surprising power of proximity—how simply being with our kids can open doors to communication, trust, and calm.
00:00 Introduction to Sho Baraka
03:07 Navigating Communication with Nonspeaking Children
Sho Baraka has spent the last 18 years traveling the world as a recording artist, consultant, speaker and writer. He is a co-founder of The And Campaign and founding member of the internationally known hip-hop consortium 116 Clique and record label, Reach Records. Sho served as a visiting professor at Wake Forest University & Warner Pacific University and is currently an editorial director at Christianity Today. Sho is also working with MyBLVD to build a community called "Good Culture". A space that will galvanize cultivators around story, art & ideas. Sho lives in Atlanta, GA with Patreece, his wife of 22 years, and their three children. Sho and Patreece have two boys on the autism spectrum and find themselves as ambassadors and advocates in the Autism community.
Take the Next Step is produced in collaboration with Hope Heals. Hope Heals creates sacred spaces of belonging and belovedness for families affected by disabilities to experience sustaining hope in the context of inclusive, intentional, inter-ability communities. Find out more about our resources, gatherings, and inter-ability communities at hopeheals.com. Follow us on Instagram @hopeheals.
How to Handle Awkward Questions About Disability with Carrie Hahn
Episode 9
Wednesday, November 12, 2025 • Duration 27:42
E9 — Awkward questions about disability happen. Here’s how parents can respond. Carrie Hahn, a pediatric speech-language pathologist and mother, joins Amy Julia Becker to share actionable strategies to:
navigate conversations and correct misconceptions
make disability normal in play
help kids feel seen and respected without feeling singled out
00:00 Intro 03:14 Myths About Disability 05:33 Talking About Disability in Public 09:05 Challenging Assumptions of Incompetence 14:32 Making Disability Normal in Play 19:08 Turning Conversation Mistakes into Learning 23:38 Practical Tools for Caregivers
Carrie Hahn is a pediatric speech-language pathologist and mother. She has served children of a variety of ages in a variety of settings and has taken on additional endeavors of interest, such as an autism support group for caregivers, the distribution of a parent education newsletter, and giving talks at conferences for family advocacy groups. She creates and shares content related to disability and neurodivergence on her website and social media and uses her platform to promote education and advocacy. Hahn is the mother of two neurodivergent children, one of whom also has physical disabilities. Her book came out in July of 2024. Carrie’s professional and personal lives have intensified her passion for making a safer and less ableist world.
Introducing: Take the Next Step
Wednesday, September 10, 2025 • Duration 02:57
Welcome to Take the Next Step, a weekly podcast for families experiencing disability, offering practical guidance, encouragement, and hope.
I’m Amy Julia Becker, writer, speaker, and mom to Penny, my 19-year-old daughter with Down syndrome. Each Wednesday, I’ll bring you short, hope-filled conversations with fellow parents, therapists, and disability advocates. We'll explore how to:
Navigate the challenges of disability parenting
Create moments of delight, joy, and connection at home
Connect with a supportive community where your family belongs
Take small, doable steps toward a flourishing future
Our first season features Katherine Wolf, stroke survivor and disability advocate; therapist Sissy Goff; researcher Erik Carter; and author Jillian Benfield—plus many more!
If you’re a parent feeling overwhelmed, searching for connection, or wondering what comes next, you’re not alone. Your family is a gift. Your child matters. And we need you among us.
Take the Next Step is produced in collaboration with Hope Heals. Hope Heals creates sacred spaces of belonging and belovedness for families affected by disabilities to experience sustaining hope in the context of inclusive, intentional, inter-ability communities. Find out more about our resources, gatherings, and inter-ability communities at . Follow us on Instagram @hopeheals.
The Help Disability Parents Actually Need (But Rarely Ask For) with Jordan Arogeti
Episode 8
Wednesday, November 5, 2025 • Duration 25:20
E8 — Asking for help shouldn’t feel impossible. In this episode, Jordan Arogeti, CEO of SupportNow, joins Amy Julia Becker to talk about why asking for help can feel so hard, especially for disability families. They explore how SupportNow offers a simple path toward connection and lasting support.
00:00 Introduction to Support Now 05:11 Barriers to Connection and Asking for Help 10:07 How to Ask for Help 13:39 Real-Life Examples of Support Now 16:21 Understanding Support Languages 20:03 Next Steps for Getting Connected
What If I’m Just Exhausted? {Questions from Disability Parents} with Matt Mooney
Episode 7
Wednesday, October 29, 2025 • Duration 32:59
E7 — Q+R: How do I take care of myself and avoid burnout? How do I make sure siblings aren't overlooked? Is it okay to grieve? Where can my child build lifelong friendships? How do I stop feeling guilty? In this episode, Amy Julia Becker and Matt Mooney, co-founder of 99 Balloons, respond to your questions. Thank you to our audience for your thoughtful contributions!
Chapter List
00:00 Introduction 04:30 I’m so tired as a parent. How do I avoid burnout? 06:13 How do I make sure siblings aren't overlooked? 10:35 Is it okay to grieve? 17:16 Where can my child build lifelong friendships? 23:29 How do I let go of guilt and take the next step?
When Matthew Mooney and his wife Ginny were 30 weeks pregnant, they learned their son Eliot had trisomy 18. Eliot was born eight weeks later and lived for 99 days. The Mooneys founded 99 Balloons, a nonprofit supporting individuals with disabilities locally and globally.
Matt now serves on the 99 Balloons Board and lives in Fayetteville, Arkansas, with Ginny and their three children—Hazel, Anders, and Lena.
A writer, speaker, and consultant on disability and inclusion, Matthew is also an attorney and received his PhD in Theological Ethics at Aberdeen University. His work has taken him to Haiti, Mexico, Ukraine, Uganda, India, and beyond.
From Deficit to Delight: Changing the Disability Narrative with Heather Avis
Episode 6
Wednesday, October 22, 2025 • Duration 28:15
E6 — What if one powerful way to advocate for your child is simply to delight in who they are? Author and advocate Heather Avis talks with Amy Julia about learning to find joy in family life, even when the world isn’t built for disability. They explore:
Why delight can rewrite the disability narrative
What it takes to move from deficit to delight
The ripple effect of delight in our relationships and communities
How to lean into love and delight instead of anxiety and fear
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UPCOMING Q+R EPISODE: Record your question for our upcoming Question & Response episode: amyjuliabecker.com/qr/
Disability & Belonging: “We Aren’t Us Without You” with Erik Carter
Episode 5
Wednesday, October 15, 2025 • Duration 25:45
E5 — We all long to belong. But for many families experiencing disability, true belonging can feel out of reach. In this episode, researcher and advocate Erik Carter joins Amy Julia Becker to unpack how small steps toward inclusion and belonging can transform entire communities. They explore:
How families can foster communities of belonging
Common barriers that block belonging
The benefits for everyone when communities embrace belonging
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UPCOMING Q+R EPISODE: Record your question for our upcoming Question & Response episode: amyjuliabecker.com/qr/
Disability & Family: The Yes/No Filter Every Parent Needs with Jillian Benfield
Episode 4
Wednesday, October 8, 2025 • Duration 27:05
E4 — Overwhelmed by therapies, appointments, and never-ending “to-dos”? Author Jillian Benfield shares practical tools for families experiencing disability—offering parents guidance on setting limits, saying yes to what matters, and finding beauty in everyday life. Jillian and Amy Julia Becker explore:
Parenting and caregiving without burning out
Developing a yes/no filter
Turning routines into lasting habits
Creating a clear vision for your family
Honest gratitude as a tool for resilience
UPCOMING Q+R EPISODE: Record your question for our upcoming Question & Response episode: amyjuliabecker.com/qr/
00:00 Introduction 04:49 Overwhelmed AND Grateful 05:43 The Beauty of the Unexpected 07:26 Discerning a Vision for Your Family 11:10 Creating a Yes/No Filter 16:04 Acknowledgment of Limitations and Possibilities 17:15 The Difference Between Routines and Habits 20:34 Honest Gratitude 23:00 You Don't Have to Do It All
The Hospitality of Need: Disability and Interdependence with Kevan Chandler
Episode 3
Wednesday, October 1, 2025 • Duration 28:06
E3 — Many of us don't want to ask for help, but what if being needful isn’t weakness but a doorway to connection, friendship, and belonging? Kevan Chandler, coauthor of The Hospitality of Need, shares his personal story with Amy Julia Becker, reflecting on his experiences with spinal muscular atrophy, neediness, and the ways mutual care shapes his life. They explore:
What peer-to-peer caregiving looks like
How disability opens doors to friendship
Ways to start supportive friendships
How your view of need shapes connection
Why vulnerability and care are worth the risk
Connect to Community download: A one-page guide to help families experiencing disability map out the connections that matter most. With simple prompts, you’ll identify the peers, mentors, experts, and supports—both within the disability community and in your wider circles—that create strength, encouragement, and belonging for your family. Get the guide:
Parenting Kids with Disabilities: The Power of Delight with Sissy Goff
Episode 2
Wednesday, September 24, 2025 • Duration 26:39
E2 — What if delight is one of the greatest gifts you can give your child? In this episode, Amy Julia Becker talks with therapist and author Sissy Goff, LPC-MHSP, about how parents—especially those raising children with disabilities—can bring delight into everyday family life. Together, they explore:
What gets in the way of delighting in our children
How to shift focus from deficits to strengths
Why a parent’s own sense of being delightful matters
How honesty about both joy and sorrow helps children build resilience
Simple, practical ways to start delighting in your kids today
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UPCOMING Q+R EPISODE: Record your question for our upcoming Question & Response episode: amyjuliabecker.com/qr/
Take the Next Step is produced in collaboration with Hope Heals. Hope Heals creates sacred spaces of belonging and belovedness for families affected by disabilities to experience sustaining hope in the context of inclusive, intentional, inter-ability communities. Find out more about our resources, gatherings, and inter-ability communities at hopeheals.com. Follow us on Instagram @hopeheals.
Jordan Arogeti is on a mission to change the way we support friends and families in hard times. As CEO and Co-Founder of SupportNow—a free platform that simplifies giving funds, meals, and time—she’s helped raise over $5 million for families across all 50 states. Her background in tech sales, passion for women in leadership, and personal experience as a mom of three shaped the vision behind SupportNow. A graduate of the University of Georgia, Jordan lives in Atlanta with her husband Scott, and their three kids; Nace (6), Remi (5), and Hayes (2).
Take the Next Step is produced in collaboration with Hope Heals. Hope Heals creates sacred spaces of belonging and belovedness for families affected by disabilities to experience sustaining hope in the context of inclusive, intentional, inter-ability communities. Find out more about our resources, gatherings, and inter-ability communities at hopeheals.com. Follow us on Instagram @hopeheals.
Take the Next Step is produced in collaboration with Hope Heals. Hope Heals creates sacred spaces of belonging and belovedness for families affected by disabilities to experience sustaining hope in the context of inclusive, intentional, inter-ability communities. Find out more about our resources, gatherings, and inter-ability communities at hopeheals.com. Follow us on Instagram @hopeheals.
Heather Avis is a New York Times bestselling author, public speaker, podcaster, and a Down syndrome advocate. She is the founder of and chief visionary officer at The Lucky Few, an advocacy organization dedicated to shouting worth, shifting narratives, and reimagining what it looks like when we create spaces of belonging. She lives in Southern California with her husband Josh and three kids, Macyn, Truly, and August and two Goldendoodles, Maeby and George Michael.
Take the Next Step is produced in collaboration with Hope Heals. Hope Heals creates sacred spaces of belonging and belovedness for families affected by disabilities to experience sustaining hope in the context of inclusive, intentional, inter-ability communities. Find out more about our resources, gatherings, and inter-ability communities at hopeheals.com. Follow us on Instagram @hopeheals.
Erik Carter, Ph.D., is professor and Luther Sweet Endowed Chair in Disabilities. His research and writing focus on principle-driven and research-based strategies for promoting full participation, relationships, and valued roles for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). He serves as Executive Director of the Baylor Center for Disability and Flourishing, which aims to promote the thriving of people with disabilities and their families. He joined the Baylor faculty in 2023. http://www.erikwcarter.com
Jillian Benfield is a former journalist and news anchor. She holds a broadcast journalism degree from the University of Georgia. Her freelance 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 and 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 at JillianBenfield.com.
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Take the Next Step is produced in collaboration with Hope Heals. Hope Heals creates sacred spaces of belonging and belovedness for families affected by disabilities to experience sustaining hope in the context of inclusive, intentional, inter-ability communities. Find out more about our resources, gatherings, and inter-ability communities at hopeheals.com. Follow us on Instagram @hopeheals.
KEVAN CHANDLER is the founder of the nonprofit organization We Carry Kevan and speaks worldwide about friendship and disability. He and his wife, Katie, enjoy doing everything together, including growing vegetables and reading to each other.
Kevan was the second of his siblings to be diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy, type 2, a rare neuromuscular disease. In 2016, he and his friends took a trip across Europe, leaving his wheelchair at home, and his friends carried him for three weeks in a backpack.
An avid storyteller, Kevan is an author and speaker worldwide about his friendships and unique life with a disability, being a featured speaker for Tedx and Google, as well as various conferences, pharmaceutical companies, and universities.
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Take the Next Step is produced in collaboration with Hope Heals. Hope Heals creates sacred spaces of belonging and belovedness for families affected by disabilities to experience sustaining hope in the context of inclusive, intentional, inter-ability communities. Find out more about our resources, gatherings, and inter-ability communities at hopeheals.com. Follow us on Instagram @hopeheals.
Sissy Goff, M. Ed., LPC-MHSP, is the Executive Director of Daystar Counseling Ministries in Nashville, Tennessee, where she works alongside her puppy counseling assistant-in-training, Patches the Havanese. Since 1993, she has been helping girls and their parents find confidence in who they are and hope in who God is making them to be. Sissy is a sought-after speaker for parenting events across the country and is a frequent guest on media outlets including NBC News, CNN, Good Morning America, Inside Edition, and Christianity Today. She is the bestselling author of 14 books including her first full-color children’s book, Lucy Learns to be Brave: A Lesson in Courage. She is the co-host of the 11 million+ downloaded podcast, Raising Boys and Girls. A transplanted Razorback who lives in Nashville, you can follow Sissy on Instagram @raisingboysandgirls and @sissygoff and at www.raisingboysandgirls.com.
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Take the Next Step is produced in collaboration with Hope Heals. Hope Heals creates sacred spaces of belonging and belovedness for families affected by disabilities to experience sustaining hope in the context of inclusive, intentional, inter-ability communities. Find out more about our resources, gatherings, and inter-ability communities at hopeheals.com. Follow on Instagram at @hopeheals.
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