We thought this would be the perfect time to share a little bit of By the Brook 2026 with you!

Today’s episode is such a treat as we hear testimonies from three of the moms who shared part of their stories during this year’s By the Brook Weekend. These women opened their hearts and shared honestly about what God has brought them through, and we know their stories will encourage, inspire, and remind you of His faithfulness.

First, you’ll hear from Mikayla McKenzie, followed by Tracey Martin, and then, last but certainly not least, Meredith Cornish.

We’re so grateful these women were willing to share their stories with us, and we can’t wait for you to hear what they have to say. We pray this episode reminds you that you’re not alone, that God is faithful through every season, and that there is hope in every story He is writing.

Siege of the Soul with Brianne

Becky Davidson talks with Brianne, a special needs mom, former translational neuroscientist, and author of Siege of the Soul. Brianne shares her family’s journey through her daughter Sophie’s diagnoses of Down syndrome and type 1 diabetes, the grief of an unexpected future, and the daily realities of caregiving.

They discuss the importance of lament—honestly bringing grief, anger, and disappointment to God—and replacing shame with truth, remembering, “I am beloved.”

Brianne also shares the inspiration behind Siege of the Soul, a C. S. Lewis–inspired story that uses demon characters to expose the lies and fears that can take root after an unexpected diagnosis. Her hope is that special needs parents, especially those early in their journey, will feel less alone and more free to bring their unedited feelings to God.

Key takeaway: Name the grief, bring the lies into the light, remember the truth, and take one small step at a time.

Purchase Brianne’s book here: https://a.co/d/0g32mhdg

He's Just a Dude | Rising Above Podcast

In this exciting episode of the Rising Above with Becky Davidson Podcast, host Becky Davidson introduces a brand-new program called “He’s Just a Dude,” developed by Bralin Moss, one of Jon Alex’s caregivers and a member of the Rising Above team.

Bralin and Jon Alex are taking this program into schools and youth groups to help students see the person beyond the disability. Through real-life stories, humor, and honest conversation, they’ll share how people with disabilities want the same things we all do—friendship, respect, kindness, and to be included. (Interested in “He’s Just a Dude” coming to your school, church, or workplace? Click this link to learn more! https://www.risingaboveministries.org/hes-just-a-dude)

From time to time, Bralin will be taking over the podcast right here on Rising Above with Becky Davidson! He’ll be interviewing people with disabilities, along with their friends and caregivers, to hear their stories about friendship, connection, and how relationships grow through differences.

This week, Bralin is joined by Josh Cremeans for a meaningful conversation about their experiences as caregivers to Jon Alex. They’ll share their stories, talk about their relationship with him, and how they see Jon Alex as “just a dude.” It’s a fun and heartfelt conversation about friendship, connection, and seeing the person beyond the disability.

Becky shares how much she loves hearing the perspectives of Jon Alex’s caregivers and their heart for him. She shares how happy it makes her to know her son has such amazing young men in his life!

Want to bring “He’s Just a Dude” to your school or youth group? Find the link in the show notes to learn more!

Join us as we celebrate friendship, inclusion, and the amazing people who help us all rise above! ❤️

#RisingAbove #HesJustADude #DisabilityInclusion #Friendship #SpecialNeedsParenting #RisingAbovePodcast

Our podcast sponsors help us continue to bring hope to the special-needs community around the world. To learn more about sponsoring the podcast click this link >> https://forms.gle/Zi2SWGwP29arNDAm9

What Your Wife Needs from You | Rising Above Podcast

In this episode of the Rising Above Podcast, host Becky Davidson shares a special talk she gave to a group of dads at Rising Above’s Base Camp in the fall of 2024, titled “What Your Wife Needs from You.”

Becky reflects on her 26 years of marriage to her husband before his passing in 2017. Through the good moments, the challenges, and everything in between, their marriage grew stronger as they faced life together.

As parents, especially when caring for children with disabilities, it can be easy to get so focused on taking care of everyone else that we forget to take care of our marriage. Sometimes the conversations we need most are the ones we never get around to having.

In this heartfelt and practical talk, Becky encourages dads to think about what their wives need from them and reminds couples that they are on the same team.

Whether you’re listening as a husband, a wife, or a couple, Becky hopes this conversation gives you a starting point, helps put words to something you’ve been feeling, or simply opens the door to a meaningful conversation with your spouse.

Moms, send this episode to your husband and listen together if you can!

Let’s jump in! ❤️

#RisingAbove #MarriageAndParenting #SpecialNeedsParenting #WhatYourWifeNeedsFromYou #RisingAbovePodcast

To the dads raising children with disabilities, find community at Base Camp! Register here - https://www.risingaboveministries.org/base-camp

Becky Davidson talks with Garrett Holt, a junior at Cedarville University studying IT management, about life as the brother of Toby Holt, who has spina bifida and significant medical needs. The conversation focuses on sibling dynamics, family rhythms, and how growing up in that environment shaped Garrett’s patience, perspective, and relationships.

Garrett also shares how games, shared interests, and intentional conversation helped him build a stronger bond with Toby over time.

• Garrett’s current life in college - He is a junior at Cedarville University studying IT management because he wanted a people-focused path in the tech world.
• Family bonding through games - Board games, card games, video games, and sports have been a major part of the Holt family culture.
• What it was like being the second oldest - Garrett reflects on being in the middle of Connor, Toby, and Karis, and how that shaped his role in the family.
• Growing up with Toby’s medical needs - He remembers ambulances, hospital stays, surgeries, and the way those emergencies became part of the family’s normal.
• Homeschooling as a family adjustment - Garrett explains that homeschooling helped the family handle Toby’s frequent appointments and unpredictable medical schedule.
• Living with nurses in the home - He shares how having caregivers around the house affected privacy, comfort, and family dynamics.
• From sibling rivalry to intentional relationship - Garrett describes how his relationship with Toby evolved from butting heads to finding connection through shared interests like Star Wars, movies, and games.
• How Toby is often underestimated - He notes that people tend to focus on Toby’s physical limitations and miss his personality, curiosity, humor, and depth.
• What special needs siblinghood taught him socially - Garrett says he became less assumption-driven, more patient, and more aware that people’s situations are often invisible.
• Advice for younger siblings - His main advice is to be patient, ask questions, include the sibling more intentionally, and focus on who you’re with rather than just what you’re doing.

In this heartfelt episode, Jordan shares her journey of growing up alongside her sister, Ricki Rose, who has special needs. She opens up about the joys, challenges, and unexpected lessons that have shaped her perspective on family, sibling relationships, caregiving, and faith.

Jordan reflects on how her relationship with Ricki Rose has grown from early questions and uncertainty into a deep love and appreciation for her sister. From everyday family moments and shared adventures to difficult emotions and challenging circumstances, Jordan offers an honest look at what it means to be a sibling of someone with a disability.

Most importantly, Jordan shares how Ricki Rose has strengthened her faith and helped her see the world through a more joyful and compassionate lens. Her story is an encouragement to siblings and families navigating life with special needs, reminding us that every person is a blessing and that difficult seasons can become opportunities for growth.

• The unique dynamics of growing up with a sibling who has special needs
• How Ricki Rose has impacted Jordan’s perspective on life and relationships
• The joys and challenges that come with being a special needs sibling
• Learning patience, compassion, and empathy through family life
• How faith and prayer have shaped Jordan’s journey
• Navigating difficult feelings while still embracing a sibling with love
• The importance of intentional parenting and making every sibling feel seen and valued
• Encouragement for siblings and families beginning their own special needs journey
• Jordan’s hopes for the future and her desire to help others

Caris Holt on Being a Sibling to a Child with Special Needs

Becky Davidson talks with Caris Holt, daughter of Carrie Holt and sister of Toby, about what it means to grow up as a sibling to someone with disabilities and special needs. Caris shares how that shaped her family life, her faith, and her sense of identity, while also naming the grief, loneliness, and pressure that can come with the role.In this conversation, Becky and Caris discuss the hidden emotional load on siblings, the importance of being seen as an individual, and how counseling and faith have helped Caris process what she feels. Caris also shares the creative interests and church leadership that help define her beyond her family role.

Key topics

• Karis introduces herself as the youngest of four, with three older brothers, and shares the creative things she loves: fiction writing, fantasy, drawing, piano, music, horseback riding, and faith.
• She talks about leading third grade girls at church and how their openness has taught her that there is no such thing as a dumb question.
• Karis describes growing up in a home where nurses and care support were often present, which reduced privacy and made her feel more independent at a young age.
• She shares how being Toby’s sister has brought unexpected gifts, including family closeness, resilience, prayer, grief shared together, and special experiences through a nonprofit called A Kid Again.
• Becky and Karis discuss the visibility of Toby’s disability and how easy it is for others to reduce him to his wheelchair instead of seeing his humor, kindness, and compassion.
• Karis opens up about the pressure she felt to stay quiet, blend into the background, and not take up too much attention because Toby needed so much care.
• She reflects on learning to take up space, name her needs, and accept that she is also a person whose needs matter.
• Karis explains that special needs impact the whole family, not just the child with the diagnosis, and says siblings need to be asked how they are doing too.
• She shares how her parents supported her by making room for her own interests, friendships, and rest away from the demands of home.
• Karis describes how family, cousins, and church relationships have helped Toby feel included and have given both siblings a sense of belonging.
• She talks about how she and Toby have grown closer over time, including deeper conversations and shared interests like Star Wars.
• Karis explains how faith, especially trusting God’s faithfulness through hard seasons, has given her purpose and a deep relationship with Jesus.
• She shares how counseling has helped her put words to her experiences, identify triggers, and process emotions in a healthy way.
• Karis encourages other siblings who feel guilt, anger, or frustration to remember they are not alone and that they can bring those feelings to Jesus for healing.

In part two of this heartfelt conversation, Becky Davidson sits down with her friends Lisa Bryan, Tracey Martin, and Cynthia Barkley to talk honestly—and often hilariously—about the realities of raising sons with special needs.

From grief and caregiving to sensory challenges and some unforgettable poop stories, they share the moments that are both incredibly hard and unexpectedly joyful. Through laughter, tears, and plenty of “you just had to be there” moments, they talk about how friendship can sustain you when life feels overwhelming.

There’s something powerful about being with people who truly get it—people who understand the hard days without explanation, laugh with you when things get ridiculous, and remind you that even in the middle of the mess, there is still joy.

This two-part conversation is a reminder of the gift of friendship, the importance of perspective, and why having “your people” can make all the difference.

Our mission is to uplift the extraordinary voices in the special-needs community. Have a story to share? Fill out this form to be considered for the podcast! https://forms.gle/Zi2SWGwP29arNDAm9

If you’d like to learn more about how you can partner to make this podcast possible, https://forms.gle/Zi2SWGwP29arNDAm9