Family Series:

“The Significant Life of a Mom” with Jen Jones

Hey guys, thanks for joining us for the podcast today!

We are so excited to have author, speaker, podcast host, and entrepreneur, Jen Jones back with us today. Jen is the founder and CEO of Jen Jones Direct LLC, and the creative architect of the Significant Conference. She is also a certified health coach, having built a nationwide health and wellness business.

I first met Jen a few years ago when I saw her dancing with her family on Instagram. Fast forward to today’s episode and you are in for a treat. Jen is full of joy, and I just know you too will be inspired. Yet this is also a very real conversation today, between 2 moms in the same stage of life, raising 2 amazing young women in a world that isn’t always kind or inclusive, but a world that is worth helping change for the better. Ladies especially, you don’t want to miss this conversation, we talk about it all, yes menopause included!

Jen knows what it’s like to experience the unexpected and have to grow through life’s greatest challenges. And I’m so excited to share that Jen will be speaking at our Moms Day Out conference this May 1st -3rd . So hurry over to our website or socials and get your tickets today!

Let’s Iisten in to my conversation with Jen Jones.

Bio:

Jen Jones is the founder and CEO of Jen Jones Direct LLC, and creative architect of the Significant Conference. Through her books, courses, conferences, podcast and Significant Life groups, she equips and empowers women to create the life they love on the foundation of faith. Jen and her husband Marcus are living this great adventure with their four children in San Diego, California. Jen knows what it’s like to experience the unexpected and have to grow through life’s greatest challenges. She advocates for differently-abled kids and their parents because she is mom to a daughter with Down Syndrome. She helps families identify their core values and champions women to know and own their God-given worth to live a life of significance. She is a certified health coach, and has built a nationwide health and wellness business. She guides people on a path to help them take control of their health—mentally, physically and spiritually. She is in the personal transformation business. Jen has appeared as a speaker and coach in numerous conferences, retreats and podcasts, including ABC Family and the Live Out Loud Show. She is also the author of Thrive: Growing Through Life’s Greatest Challenges, Tribe: Building Your Family on What Matters Most, and The Five-Minute Marriage Mentor.

jen@jenjonesdirect.com

@jenjonesx4

facebook.com/jonestribe

https://jenandmarcusjones.com/marcus/

https://jenandmarcusjones.com/jen/

For a family raising a child with special needs, life can be difficult. There are many storms to weather and struggles to address, and we often feel isolated and alone due to the nature of our circumstances. Families have a need to connect and find resources, a need to be encouraged, and a need for hope as we walk down what can be a very hard road at times. Hope on the Hard Road Special Needs Podcast was created for this purpose. Our vision is to grow a thriving community, where families with children of all ages with special needs can feel connected, be encouraged, and find hope for the road ahead.

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: info@hopeonthehardroad.org

Website: https://hopeonthehardroad.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopeonthehardroad/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopeonthehardroad/

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2621447987943459

Free Youtube Resource Library: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsSAfvTkSy87X-fEqtVR2qvo7w9UQBuxz

Marriage and Family Series:

“Marriage and Caregiving” with Dan & Kara Ryska

Hey guys, welcome back to the Hope on the Hard Road Podcast. We are in our Marriage and Family series and we’re excited to introduce you to our guests, Dan and Kara Ryska.

Dan and Kara have been married for 22 years. Kara is the host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast, and Dan is a local high school Assistant Principal with 15 years of experience in education. They have four children, ranging from ages 7 to 17, including one son with diverse disabilities, encompassing physical, visual, behavioral, and medical challenges.

On this episode Dan and Kara sat down with us to share their story both from the perspective of a married couple as well as caregivers, a reality we know many of our listeners and viewers can relate to. So let’s get started and listen into the conversation.

Bio

Dan Ryska is a high school assistant principal with over 15 years of experience in education and a father of four uniquely different kids. Outside of work, he steps up to coach youth sports and fights the good fight against the creeping inertia of his 40s.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Kara Ryska is the host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast. Driven by their personal experiences, Kara has become an advocate for families facing similar hurdles, offering support through her role as a life coach. Her commitment extends beyond the microphone as the creator of "Pathway to Peace," a transformative group coaching community that has touched and changed countless lives. Kara's resilience and wisdom make her a sought-after speaker, sharing her insights on navigating the complexities of parenting children with special needs.

Ladies please join us for Moms Day Out this May 1-3 where Kara will be one of our amazing speakers. We hope to see you there! Tap the link for more info and to register:

https://hopeonthehardroad.regfox.com/moms-day-out-conference-may-2026

Contacts

www.kararyska.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-special-needs-mom-podcast/id1523926612

For a family raising a child with special needs, life can be difficult. There are many storms to weather and struggles to address, and we often feel isolated and alone due to the nature of our circumstances. Families have a need to connect and find resources, a need to be encouraged, and a need for hope as we walk down what can be a very hard road at times. Hope on the Hard Road Special Needs Podcast was created for this purpose. Our vision is to grow a thriving community, where families with children of all ages with special needs can feel connected, be encouraged, and find hope for the road ahead.

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: info@hopeonthehardroad.org

Website: https://hopeonthehardroad.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopeonthehardroad/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopeonthehardroad/

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2621447987943459

Free Youtube Resource Library: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsSAfvTkSy87X-fEqtVR2qvo7w9UQBuxz

"The Life of a Medical Caregiver" with Kara Ryska

Hey guys, Thanks for joining us today! We’re continuing on in our Medical Family Series with guest Kara Ryska, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast. As a devoted mother of four, ranging from ages 7 to 17, Kara's life has been shaped by her role as a mother of a multiple brain tumor survivor and a child with diverse disabilities, encompassing physical, visual, behavioral, and medical challenges.

Driven by her personal experiences, Kara has become an advocate for families facing similar hurdles, offering support through her role as a life coach. Kara’s resilience is inspiring and you’re absolutely gonna want to listen in or watch today’s episode.

Bio

Meet Kara Ryska, a compassionate and resilient force empowering families through her impactful journey as the host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast. As a devoted mother of four, ranging from ages 7 to 17, Kara's life has been shaped by her roles as a mother of a multiple brain tumor survivor and a child with diverse disabilities, encompassing physical, visual, behavioral, and medical challenges.

Driven by her personal experiences, Kara has become an advocate for families facing similar hurdles, offering support through her role as a life coach. Her commitment extends beyond the microphone as the creator of "Pathway to Peace," a transformative group coaching community that has touched and changed countless lives. Kara's resilience and wisdom make her a sought-after speaker, sharing her insights on navigating the complexities of parenting children with special needs.

Kara brings together strength and empathy, fostering a sense of unity among families navigating similar paths. Her dedication to creating a space of understanding and hope resonates in every episode of her podcast and within the transformative impact of her coaching programs. Kara Ryska is not just a podcast host; she is a beacon of inspiration, guiding others towards a life filled with purpose and peace.

Contacts

www.kararyska.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-special-needs-mom-podcast/id1523926612

For a family raising a child with special needs, life can be difficult. There are many storms to weather and struggles to address, and we often feel isolated and alone due to the nature of our circumstances. Families have a need to connect and find resources, a need to be encouraged, and a need for hope as we walk down what can be a very hard road at times. Hope on the Hard Road Special Needs Podcast was created for this purpose. Our vision is to grow a thriving community, where families with children of all ages with special needs can feel connected, be encouraged, and find hope for the road ahead.

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: info@hopeonthehardroad.org

Website: https://hopeonthehardroad.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopeonthehardroad/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopeonthehardroad/

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2621447987943459

Free Youtube Resource Library: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsSAfvTkSy87X-fEqtVR2qvo7w9UQBuxz

Medical Family Series:

“A Family’s Courageous Journey” with Steve and Melissa Bundy

Intro:

Today we begin our medical family series and you are about to be inspired by one family’s story.

Steve and Melissa Bundy have been married for 33 years and have two adult sons. Their oldest son Caleb was born with a rare chromosome deletion and subsequent multiple medical diagnoses.

Steve is the Senior vice president of International ministries at Joni and Friends International Disability Center and has been on staff for past 18 years. And Melissa is a part time wound care home health nurse. This incredible couple sat down with us to share their story. A courageous story where heartache is met with hope.

Let’s listen into our conversation with Steve and Melissa.

Bio:

Steve and Melissa Bundy have been married for 33 years and have two incredible adults sons. Steve is the Senior vice president of International ministries at Joni and Friends International Disability Center and has been on staff for past 18 years. Melissa is a part time wound care home health nurse.

Their 26 year old son Caleb was born with a rare chromosome deletion 2q37.1 partial terminal deletion. This missing piece of the chromosome means he has severe cognition delay, severe autism (unable to speak), apraxia of speech and body, and also a rare form of muscular dystrophy called Bethlem/Ulrich. They were given this diagnosis of the chromosome deletion at ages 10 months, autism at 2 years and muscular dystrophy when he was 12. Caleb has had a very difficult journey in life yet has had a family who has surrounded him with the love, support and advocacy he needed to be as functional and loved for who he is as much as possible.

Caleb’s younger brother Jaron is 22 years old and has been such a huge supportive sibling even in the most challenging of times. Jaron graduated this past year from Belmont University in Nashville, TN with a degree in music production and now has his own business producing music and teaching students in guitar,piano and music production at jaronmicahmusic.com.

Joniandfriends.org

For a family raising a child with special needs, life can be difficult. There are many storms to weather and struggles to address, and we often feel isolated and alone due to the nature of our circumstances. Families have a need to connect and find resources, a need to be encouraged, and a need for hope as we walk down what can be a very hard road at times. Hope on the Hard Road Special Needs Podcast was created for this purpose. Our vision is to grow a thriving community, where families with children of all ages with special needs can feel connected, be encouraged, and find hope for the road ahead.

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: info@hopeonthehardroad.org

Website: https://hopeonthehardroad.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopeonthehardroad/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopeonthehardroad/

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2621447987943459

Free Youtube Resource Library: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsSAfvTkSy87X-fEqtVR2qvo7w9UQBuxz

"Season Highlights & Happy Holidays" with Eric and Christen

Hey everybody Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

This season has had so many incredible episodes and there are so many more to come in the New Year!

Lets take a moment and listen in to some of the highlights. And don’t forget you can always get caught up on the episodes you’ve missed over the holidays. Find us where ever you listen to your podcasts or watch us on our YouTube Channel at Hope on the Hard Road

See you back here in the New Year!

Amanda Owen www.piecesofme.org www.puzzle-pieces.org @piecesofmebyamanda

Joel & Debbie Pearlman www.daniplan.com https://www.facebook.com/MyDaniPlan/ https://www.instagram.com/mydaniplan/

Heather Avis @heatheravis @theluckyfewofficial heatheravis.com

Kelly and Pamela Schlenz www.idyllwildpines.org autisticallyinclined.com @adventureswithnaiyagrace @Idyllwildpines

J Brad and Paulette Britton @RealWordsWithSam www.realwordswithsam.com jbradbritton@gmail.com

Dawnmarie Gaivin www.spellers.com www.spellersfreedomfoundation.org. dawnmarie@spellers.com www.underestimated.tv @spellers_freedomfoundation @spellers__ https://www.facebook.com/groups/spellerscommunity https://www.facebook.com/spellersfreedomfoundation https://www.facebook.com/spellersrev

For a family raising a child with special needs, life can be difficult. There are many storms to weather and struggles to address, and we often feel isolated and alone due to the nature of our circumstances. Families have a need to connect and find resources, a need to be encouraged, and a need for hope as we walk down what can be a very hard road at times. Hope on the Hard Road Special Needs Podcast was created for this purpose. Our vision is to grow a thriving community, where families with children of all ages with special needs can feel connected, be encouraged, and find hope for the road ahead.

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: info@hopeonthehardroad.org Website: https://hopeonthehardroad.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopeonthehardroad/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopeonthehardroad/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2621447987943459 Free Youtube Resource Library: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsSAfvTkSy87X-fEqtVR2qvo7w9UQBuxz

Spellers Series:

“Finding Their Voice: A Family’s Journey with Spelling” with J Brad and Paulette Britton

Today we continue our Spellers Series and are joined by Paulette and J Brad Britton. Paulette and J Brad have a 24-year-old autistic son with apraxia, named Sam. For years, his intelligence and humor were missed. That changed when he began using spelled communication to share his thoughts.

Paulette has spent years connecting cutting-edge autism research with the families who need it. J Brad, a leadership mentor and business executive, brings a father’s honest reflection to the conversation. He talks openly about what it means to lead, learn, and show up when your child’s needs don’t follow the rulebook.

Together, Paulette and J Brad have become thoughtful voices on “presuming competence”, advocating with compassion, and holding on to hope on the hard road.

Their story is featured in the upcoming book Real Words with Sam, which includes Sam’s own writing—his ideas, his humor, his voice. Let’s Listen in as we hear Paulette and J Brad’s Story

Bio:

Paulette and J Brad Britton are the parents of Sam, a 24-year-old autistic man with apraxia. For years, his intelligence and humor were missed. That changed when he began using spelled communication to share his thoughts. Paulette has spent years connecting cutting-edge autism research with the families who need it. J Brad, a leadership mentor and business executive, brings a father’s honest reflection to the conversation. He talks openly about what it means to lead, learn, and show up when your child’s needs don’t follow the rulebook. Together, Paulette and J Brad have become thoughtful voices on presuming competence, advocating with compassion, and holding on to hope on the hard road. Their story is featured in the upcoming book Real Words with Sam, which includes Sam’s own writing—his ideas, his humor, his voice. The book invites readers to see through a different lens and reconsider communication, connection, and belief.

Insta and Facebook: RealWordsWithSam www.realwordswithsam.com

jbradbritton@gmail.com

For a family raising a child with special needs, life can be difficult. There are many storms to weather and struggles to address, and we often feel isolated and alone due to the nature of our circumstances. Families have a need to connect and find resources, a need to be encouraged, and a need for hope as we walk down what can be a very hard road at times. Hope on the Hard Road Special Needs Podcast was created for this purpose. Our vision is to grow a thriving community, where families with children of all ages with special needs can feel connected, be encouraged, and find hope for the road ahead.

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: info@hopeonthehardroad.org

Website: https://hopeonthehardroad.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopeonthehardroad/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopeonthehardroad/

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2621447987943459

Free Youtube Resource Library: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsSAfvTkSy87X-fEqtVR2qvo7w9UQBuxz

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hope on the Hard Road, Inc. This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional, medical, or legal advice.