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Rising Above with Becky Davidson is a place of encouragement, honesty, and hope for families navigating the unique joys and challenges of life with disability. Each episode offers heartfelt conversations, practical wisdom, and faith-filled insights to help you know you’re not alone on the journey. Becky shares stories from her own life as well as uplifting perspectives from guests who understand the road, equipping you with tools and inspiration to face each day with courage. Whether you’re seeking community, strength, or a fresh reminder of God’s faithfulness, this podcast invites you to rise above the struggles and discover joy in the midst of it all.
Episodes
Tuesday Aug 12, 2025
Tuesday Aug 12, 2025
About the Episode
In this powerful episode Becky is joined by Licensed Professional Counselor, Catherine Virden for an honest and insightful conversation about the impact of trauma and stress—especially within families navigating disabilities. Becky shares her personal path into counseling, how her lived experiences shaped her approach, and the importance of recognizing both big “T” and little “t” trauma.
Together, they explore how the nervous system responds to stress, introduce practical tools for managing trauma responses (fight, flight, freeze, and fawn), and emphasize the importance of listening to your body.
Whether you're a caregiver, parent, or simply someone seeking a deeper understanding of trauma, this episode offers clarity, compassion, and encouragement.
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Tuesday Aug 05, 2025
Tuesday Aug 05, 2025
About this Episode
Becky Davidson and friends continue their series on life in the disability world, focusing on soul care and self-care for parents. Discussion on redefining self-care beyond traditional notions like bubble baths, emphasizing "soul care" and daily practices that nurture the spirit. Insights into the importance of community and friendship, and how inviting others into your life can combat isolation. Personal stories about the challenges and joys of raising children with disabilities, including the significance of celebrating micro milestones. A candid conversation about the invisible load of mental health in disability parenting.
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Comparison Trap Small Group Study
Tuesday Jul 29, 2025
Tuesday Jul 29, 2025
About the Episode
In this episode of Rising Above with Becky Davidson, hosts Becky, Mandy, and Dusti share their experiences as parents of children with disabilities, exploring the emotional connections formed through shared stories. They discuss the use of ChatGPT in their lives, humorous hospital experiences, and the unexpected expertise they gain in medical situations. The conversation highlights the importance of laughter in parenting, the challenges of navigating medical emergencies, and the community support that helps them through tough times.
Tuesday Jul 22, 2025
Tuesday Jul 22, 2025
Title: Embracing the Journey
Description: Join us as we dive into an inspiring conversation with Mallory, who shares her heartfelt journey of adoption, family life, and finding joy amidst challenges. Discover the beauty of choosing joy, the surprises of international adoption, and the power of community support.
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Tuesday Jul 15, 2025
Tuesday Jul 15, 2025
Episode Title: Confident Hope in the Midst of Medical Trials
In this episode, Becky sits down with her friend Kim to share a deeply personal story about a recent medical challenge involving a scheduled G-Tube placement for Jon Alex that didn’t go as planned. Through their honest and heartfelt conversation, Becky opens up about how she found “Confident Hope” even in the midst of uncertainty and fear.
Together, Becky and Kim reflect on the power of friendship during life’s hardest moments—especially when facing medical struggles. They discuss the importance of showing up for one another, leaning on faith, and sharing the gospel during times of crisis. Their dialogue also touches on the delicate balance of advocating for loved ones while remaining grounded in grace and peace.
This episode is a powerful reminder of what it means to trust God through the unknown and walk with others in love and hope.
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Rising Above website/resources
Tuesday Jun 24, 2025
Tuesday Jun 24, 2025
This podcast honors a dear friend and supporter of Rising Above, Becky's sister, Susan. She unexpectedly passed two weeks ago, and we wanted to take an opportunity to honor her life and legacy through some of her messages of hope.
Tuesday Jun 17, 2025
Tuesday Jun 17, 2025
About the Episode
Dusti joins Becky to discuss By the Brook (coming up this weekend!) and the opportunity to join us virtually or at a host site!
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Tuesday Jun 10, 2025
Tuesday Jun 10, 2025
About Chris
Chris and Andrea from Nashville, Tennessee, adopted two babies from Russia in 1998. That began a lifelong journey, including an autism diagnosis for their son, Joshua, when he turned 18 years old. Chris discovered Jeff's book "Common Man, Extraordinary Call" to lead a group of special needs dads in 2020. This group spent two years carefully navigating this wonderful "trailblazing book" that digs deep into the heart of a dad with a special needs child. From those years of transformation and inspiration from Jeff's example, Chris wrote a small group study guide as a starting point for special needs dads called "The Journey with Our Kids". Today is a different story for Chris and Josh, a contentious and anger-filled childhood restored through God's mercy, Josh's forgiving heart, and Jeff's book.
About the Episode
In this conversation, Chris Riley shares his journey as a father of children with special needs, detailing the challenges and transformations he experienced through adoption, diagnosis, and emotional struggles. He reflects on the importance of connection, forgiveness, and the impact of a pivotal book that changed his perspective on parenting. The discussion emphasizes the significance of delighting in children and the journey of personal growth as a father. In this conversation, Chris Riley shares his journey of creating a supportive community for fathers of special needs children. He discusses the importance of understanding the unique communication needs of these children and how shared experiences can transform the lives of dads. Chris emphasizes the need for resources tailored to special-needs parenting and reflects on the lessons learned through his own parenting journey. He concludes with insights on finding joy in imperfection and the importance of humility in the parenting process.
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Common Man, Extraordinary Call
Tuesday Jun 03, 2025
Tuesday Jun 03, 2025
About Me (from Elizabeth)
My name is Elizabeth, and my journey started with me asking God what He wanted out of my life instead of me asking for doors to be opened. He clearly said “I want you to have children who you teach to know and love me but they will not ask come through you.” Then He sent me to China! I adopted this beautiful 11 month old baby who Chinese name was Ya Wei which is pronounced the same as Gods Yahweh. Every step of the journey was God! Three months home, we got an unexpected diagnosis of athetoid cerebral palsy. I grieved, cried, but also put on my big girl pants and tried to do the only thing I knew…to tackle it! I researched, embraced the world of therapies, and learned to be a servant! Every season was hard and sweet all at the same time. Then came a season of zero sleep! This was the hardest season. I just cried out to God. I felt the covenant between us and just cried out for help because I couldn’t function at all. We as a family were falling apart. Well he sent two people asking why she didn’t have a neurologist. At this point, I was questioning the journey! I knew God is good but this journey was not always feeling good. After the hard seasons, I have been praying about finding the joy in this journey in this season. God has pointed out so many joyful moments. It has taught me God truly cares about of it and to asks him for help!
About the Episode
In this conversation, Elizabeth Jones shares her profound journey of motherhood, focusing on her experiences with adoption and raising a child with special needs. She reflects on her initial struggles with infertility, her decision to adopt, and the challenges faced during the adoption process, particularly in China. Throughout her story, she emphasizes the importance of faith, joy, and the unexpected turns that life can take, ultimately leading to a deeper understanding of love and family. In this heartfelt conversation, Elizabeth shares her journey of adopting a special needs child, navigating the complexities of grief, faith, and the joy found in small milestones. She discusses the ongoing challenges of parenting a child with cerebral palsy, the importance of community support, and how her faith has been a guiding force through difficult times. Elizabeth emphasizes the significance of celebrating every achievement, no matter how small, and the transformative power of love and resilience in the face of adversity.
Tuesday May 27, 2025
Tuesday May 27, 2025
About Dustin
Dustin Rawls is married to Mandy Smith Rawls and has two children, Dylan 11 and Madison 14 who was born with Spina Bifida. Dustin serves as the Men’s Ministry director at his church and has a passion for discipleship. He works for the financial aid arm of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission and has never met an audience he didn’t love. Whether it was bowling a perfect 300, becoming the first ever homecoming king at MTSU, or finishing his fourth degree, clearly Dustin has a need to prove something that nobody else cares about.
About the Episode
In this engaging conversation, Becky Davidson and Dustin Rawls explore the emotional journey of parenting a child with special needs, the importance of community support, and the role of faith in our lives. The discussion highlights the significance of vulnerability, the need for open communication in relationships, and the joy found in caregiving. In this conversation, Dustin Rawls shares his journey of navigating the complexities of marriage and parenting a child with special needs. He discusses the transformative impact of faith on his relationships, the challenges faced in his marriage, and the importance of finding joy amidst difficulties. The dialogue emphasizes the significance of love, support, and faith in overcoming life's challenges.
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