Joni and Friends Ministry Podcast

Stephanie Daniels, our host of the Joni and Friends Ministry Podcast, is gearing up for Season 8. Join her each week this summer to hear from inspiring guests who will encourage you right where you are. Whether you're looking for practical ways your church can embrace people living with disability, you are personally facing a new disability or diagnosis, or you serve as a caregiver, you’ll discover hope through your hardship as you listen!

Amber Smith, wife of former country music artist, Granger Smith joins Stephanie Daniels to share about her book, The Girl on the Bathroom Floor: Held Together when Everything is Falling Apart. Amber shares her deeply personal experience of losing her three-year-old son, River, and God’s faithfulness to her in the pit of despair. Her story will encourage you to hold onto the hope that God is near, even when it feels quiet, and that the bathroom floor is not the end—it’s just the beginning.

Shawn Thornton, our Joni and Friends President and Chief Ministry Officer returns to the podcast to share his experience and insight on disability ministry in the church. Raised with disability in his immediate family, Shawn has a unique perspective on how the church should care for people who live with disability. Hear how God has used his personal experience to grow him as a pastor and prepare him to reach the global church through his role with Joni and Friends.

Vaneetha Risner is no stranger to suffering. Having lived through polio, the loss of a child, and multiple miscarriages, she has wrestled with God and learned to trust in his goodness. Vaneetha joins Stephanie Daniels to share about her journey and how she has continued to hope in God through the darkness of deep pain. Their encouraging conversation will remind you that God sees you and reassure you that you never have to suffer alone.

Army Chaplain and special needs dad Matt McCraney joins Stephanie Daniels to talk about how the body of Christ can better embrace people living with disabilities. Bringing personal, biblical, and academic perspectives, Matt identifies barriers that keep disabled people from finding their places of belonging in the church and he offers practical ways Christians can better demonstrate the love of Jesus to those living with disability.

Author, speaker, and special needs mom Jess Ronne joins Stephanie Daniels to talk about her family’s story of beauty emerging from the ashes. She also offer insight into tangible ways to support families facing difficult seasons. Jess is the founder of The Lucas Project, named after her son with profound disabilities, which provides recognition and respite for parent caregivers. She and her husband Ryan, both of whom lost spouses to cancer before blending their families, have eight children, an encouraging story of finding hope through hardship, and a heart to serve others coping with deep and complex suffering.

Larah Roberts, a dedicated mom, wife, and Christ-centered disability advocate, joins Stephanie Daniels to talk about raising children with autism as thriving followers of Jesus. Larah shares from her own family’s experience and her wisdom as the founder of the organization Raising Autistic Disciples. Don’t miss Larah’s heartfelt encouragement for individuals, churches, and communities to fully include, support, and disciple families navigating life with disability.

Maggie Bushway is a picture of overcoming hardship and radical trust in God. After surviving childhood brain cancer, and still living with seizures and autoimmune diseases, Maggie uses her pain to tell stories that give hope to others. Maggie joins host Stephanie Daniels on the podcast to talk about her journey and how she has seen God make pearls out of the deep suffering in her life. Don’t miss this encouraging conversation that will help you discover purpose, hope, and deeper faith amid any struggle you may face.

Joni and Friends staff member Ricardo Diaz joins host Stephanie Daniels to talk about how the ministry empowers and mobilizes our amazing volunteers to bring hands-on help and Gospel hope to people living with disability worldwide. With contagious enthusiasm, Ricardo shares how investment in training, encouragement, and cultivating a sense of belonging among volunteers translates into life-changing impact, for the volunteers themselves and the people we serve. Don’t miss this energizing conversation—and be sure to explore the many ways you can volunteer with Joni and Friends!

Sarah Fuller joins Stephanie Daniels to share her story of God’s faithfulness in calling her into missions, special education, and disability ministry. As a mom, Sarah has invited her children into service opportunities—often volunteering with Joni and Friends—which has shaped their hearts and the trajectories of their lives. Sarah shares how God uses everything from childhood dreams to disappointments to deep experiences of grief to guide and direct the steps of those who love and trust him.

Have you ever felt like unwelcome disruptions are an off-ramp from God’s purposes in your life? When illness, trouble, and tragedy strike, it can be easily to question what the Lord has in store—and how he will work for good in the midst of hardships that pull you “off track.” Mandy Meehan returns to the podcast to share how God has led her through unexpected chronic illness to a path of healing, which now includes serving others as a certified nutritional expert. Tune in to hear how Mandy has leaned on God as her unshakeable refuge, and how you can find peace and healing amid your own struggles.

Struggling with mental health can be part of being human in a broken world. Disciples of Christ have never been promised a trouble-free life. As many faithful believers, including Joni Eareckson Tada, can attest, grappling with depression and other mental health challenges, and even crises, is often part of the Christian walk. Our guest today, Joni and Friends staff member Kali Lilienthal, shares her story of how God has worked through medical and mental health professionals, community, Scripture, and prayer to turn her season of difficulty with depression and anxiety into one of deepening faith in Jesus. Don’t miss this encouraging conversation, which will remind you that you and your loved ones are never alone, even as you walk through dark valleys.

Roberta Dunn and her husband Steve didn’t think they could handle raising a child with a disability. But when their son Todd was born with Down syndrome, they trusted God to show them the way forward. Roberta joins host Stephanie Daniels on the podcast to share about her journey as an advocate and special needs mom on a powerful kingdom mission. Tune in to hear from Roberta and Todd about how to trust in Jesus through the challenges of life.