Every Child Belongs explores how we can create spaces where every child feels heard and valued, whether neurodivergent, differently abled, or they've experience...
Ryan is the co-founder of One Big Happy Home and the host of the Empowered Parent podcast, which is closing in on 200 episodes! One Big Happy Home equips churches, organizations, and parents with the tools they need to support kids from hard places. Side note, Ryan is absolutely hilarious—so be prepared for some laughs (and maybe a few coughs). In this episode, Ryan shares his passion for trauma-informed care and explains why it’s not just about helping kids at home, but also in schools, churches, and every environment they enter. The importance of consistency, how One Big Happy Home is making an impact through courses and training, and why churches play a crucial role in supporting families are just some of the topics covered. Listen in to hear his wisdom, insights, and maybe even a coffee-stained book recommendation! Every Child Belongs explores how we can create spaces where every child feels heard and valued, whether neurodivergent, differently abled, or they've experienced trauma. We'll hear from educators, parents, professionals, and more. Kim Botto is an adoptive mom, grandma, an advocate for kids and teens with disabilities, as well as a long-time leader of kids and student ministries.
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50:45
Building Belonging : Jess Berryhill
Kim reunites with her friend, Jess Berryhill! They first met a few years ago at a conference, where we were thrown together to help lead a meetup—and the rest is history. Jess is the student and disability minister at Mount Pleasant Church in Terre Haute, Indiana, and the work she’s doing is nothing short of incredible. She started out as a youth pastor, but when a handful of students with disabilities and neurodivergence started coming to her ministry, everything changed. Today, she leads a thriving community that gathers over 100 students each week! In this episode, Jess shares the unexpected journey that led her from studying experimental psychology to discovering her true calling in ministry. She tells the powerful story of Nick—a student with autism whose presence completely reshaped her approach to youth ministry. What started as an attempt to meet one student’s needs has now grown into something far bigger than she ever imagined. They talk about the challenges, the creativity, and the moments of transformation that have shaped Jess’s ministry, and how we can all play a role in creating spaces where every student belongs. Every Child Belongs explores how we can create spaces where every child feels heard and valued, whether neurodivergent, differently abled, or they've experienced trauma. We'll hear from educators, parents, professionals, and more. Kim Botto is an adoptive mom, grandma, an advocate for kids and teens with disabilities, as well as a long-time leader of kids in student ministries.
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40:55
Navigating Grief Together : Bethany Robertson
In this episode, Kim is joined by her dear friend Bethany Robertson, one of the best kids pastors Kim knows. Bethany serves as the kids pastor at Vineyard Cincinnati, and does amazing work when it comes to making sure every child belongs. She has an incredible gift for building up volunteers and creating a team that welcomes all kids with open arms. Beyond her work in ministry, Bethany is a mom to five precious kids, a wife, and very involved in her community. In this conversation, we dive into the importance of creating a place where kids can bring their hard stories. Bethany has personally walked through difficult seasons, and today, she shares her journey and the ways people came alongside her family to help them feel like they truly belonged. It’s a powerful conversation about faith, resilience, and what it means to create spaces where every child is seen and valued. Every Child Belongs explores how we can create spaces where every child feels heard and valued, whether neurodivergent, differently abled, or they've experienced trauma. We'll hear from educators, parents, professionals, and more. Kim Botto is an adoptive mom, grandma, an advocate for kids and teens with disabilities, as well as a long-time leader of kids in student ministries.
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46:03
Every Child Matters : Beth Guckenberger
In this episode, Kim has the absolute joy of welcoming her friend Beth Guckenberger. Their friendship goes back years, but Kim felt connected to Beth long before we met when she was in Ukraine adopting her 15-year-old daughter. Beth's book Reckless Faith (one of her many great books) became a lifeline, making Kim feel understood and pointing me to Jesus in the hardest moments. Beth has raised 11 kids and is soon to be a grandma of six, and alongside her husband, Todd, she serves as the co-executive director of Back to Back Ministries, an organization that cares for and advocates for vulnerable children around the world. Through Back to Back, Beth helped launch Trauma Free World, an organization dedicated to equipping people with trauma-informed care training. If you haven’t heard of Trauma Free World, you need to check it out—so much of what people know about trauma-informed care came from their resources. And in true Beth fashion, their online trainings are now completely free because she and her team believe so deeply in the power of this work. Beth is one of the most generous people Kim knows and can’t wait for you to hear her wisdom and heart in this conversation! Every Child Belongs explores how we can create spaces where every child feels heard and valued, whether neurodivergent, differently abled, or they've experienced trauma. We'll hear from educators, parents, professionals, and more. Kim Botto is an adoptive mom, grandma, an advocate for kids and teens with disabilities, as well as a long-time leader of kids in student ministries.
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47:02
Neurodivergence and Trauma FAQ with Kim
In this special episode of Every Child Belongs, Kim answers a variety of frequently asked questions. Every Child Belongs explores how we can create spaces where every child feels heard and valued, whether neurodivergent, differently abled, or they've experienced trauma. We'll hear from educators, parents, professionals, and more. Kim Botto is an adoptive mom, grandma, an advocate for kids and teens with disabilities, as well as a long-time leader of kids in student ministries.
Every Child Belongs explores how we can create spaces where every child feels heard and valued, whether neurodivergent, differently abled, or they've experienced trauma. We'll hear from educators, parents, professionals, and more.
Kim Botto is an adoptive mom, grandma, an advocate for kids and teens with disabilities, as well as a long-time leader of kids and student ministries.
South Africa