Beautiful Shifts

Raising Three Kids with Down Syndrome – Kecia Cox on Adoption, Inclusion & Love

Kecia Cox is a mother of seven, including three incredible children with Down syndrome. In this heartfelt conversation, she shares her journey into special needs parenting, the unexpected paths that led to adoption, and the unique joys and challenges of raising twins. Kecia opens up about the mindset shifts she’s embraced along the way and the lessons she’s learned about inclusion, community, and love.
 
Her perspective on raising children with disabilities is both eye-opening and inspiring, and we couldn’t be more grateful for her willingness to share her story. We know you’ll walk away from this episode with a fresh appreciation for the beauty found in life’s unexpected turns.
 
Find Kecia and follow her family’s journey on Instagram: @lovemakesmiracles_ 
 
Watch the video they made in collaboration with @madewithlovethemovie on YouTube - Family adopts 2 kids with Down syndrome from Ukraine because of daughter with Down syndrome - watch here. The movie can also be watched as a 9 part series on @lovemakesmiracles. 

Radical Survivor: Finding Joy, Resilience, and Beauty in Life After Loss with Nancy Saltzman

Dr. Nancy Saltzman’s life is a testament to resilience, love, and the power of embracing joy despite unimaginable loss. A lifelong educator and award-winning principal, Nancy faced profound tragedy when she lost her husband and two sons in a small plane crash—after already battling cancer. In this heartfelt conversation, she shares her journey of survival, healing, and finding beauty on the other side of life’s hardest moments, as chronicled in her memoir, Radical Survivor.
 
With honesty, humor, and wisdom, Nancy offers insights into navigating grief, how to show up for people experiencing loss, and choosing joy even in the face of deep pain. She also speaks about her work with Soaring Spirits International, supporting widowed individuals worldwide. Whether you’ve faced loss or simply seek inspiration and insight on resilience and gratitude, this conversation is a powerful reminder of the strength of the human spirit.
 
Nancy is one of the most delightful and inspiring people we’ve had the honor of speaking with. We absolutely loved getting to know her and are so grateful she shared her family and story with us.
 
Find Nancy's book Radical Survivor here. 
Find Nancy online at nancysaltzman.com and on Instagram @nancysaltzman

Faith, Trauma & Brainspotting: Healing LDS Religious Trauma with Ashley Buckner

Raised in a small-town LDS community, Ashley moved away in 2008 and thought her faith transition was behind her, until opening her therapy practice in 2022 led her to an unexpected specialization: religious trauma, particularly within Mormonism. In this episode, Ashley shares her personal journey growing up in an inactive LDS family, leaving the church, and ultimately returning to Utah as a therapist now helping others navigating faith transitions and trauma. We also dive into what Brainspotting is, how it works to regulate the nervous system, and how somatic therapies are powerful tools for healing. 
 
Whether interested in the intersection of trauma and religion, exploring therapy and brainspotting, or both, this conversation offers insights into the healing process. Thank you to Ashley for sharing her story and therapeutic expertise in this thoughtful conversation!
 
Find Ashley online at ashleybucknerlmft.com and on Instagram @ashleyb_therapy. 

Turning Loss into Purpose: A Journey into Functional Medicine and Nutrition with Andrea Nakayama

In this episode, Andrea shares about the profound loss of her young husband to brain cancer in 2002 and how it reshaped her life. As a new mother navigating grief, she found herself on an unexpected path—one that led to a deep passion for functional nutrition and using food as medicine. What began as a personal search for healing became a calling to help others, changing the course of her career and life. 
 
Now a Functional Medicine Nutritionist, educator, and former CEO of Functional Nutrition Alliance, Andrea has guided countless individuals and trained thousands of practitioners in root-cause methodology and systems biology. In this heartfelt conversation, she shares how loss, motherhood, and purpose intersected to shape her work and how she now empowers others to take control of their health.
 
Find Andrea on Instagram @andreanakayama and online at andreanakayama.com. 

Parenting with Intention – Supporting Neurodiverse Kids and Ourselves with Cheryl Cardall

Parenting neurodivergent kids can come with unique challenges and opportunities for growth. In this episode, we sit down with Cheryl Cardall, a passionate mental health advocate, educator, and host of the Fight Like a Mother podcast. As a mother of five, Cheryl understands the complexities of raising children with extra challenges and neurodiversity such as ADHD and anxiety. After experiencing a lack of support and resources for families like hers, she created a welcoming community for parents seeking connection and guidance.
 
We delve into parenting, discussing how it's not just about our kids’ behavior but about our own actions and emotional regulation. Cheryl shares valuable insights on re-parenting ourselves, helping kids recognize self-regulation skills, and managing anxiety. We have a conversation about practical strategies for fostering emotional well-being and creating a supportive environment for both parents and children. Join us for this conversation that encourages intentional, compassionate parenting!
 
Find Cheryl on Instagram @cherylcardall

Finding Peace Through Embracing LGBTQ+ Children and LDS Faith Transition - Vickie Walker's Journey (Part 2)

In this continuation of Vickie Walker's story, she shares how her journey took another transformative turn when her children came out as LGBTQ+. Her oldest son, Jeremy, was the first to come out, followed by her son AJ - who survived the Trolley Square mass shooting - and later, her daughter, Alex. Having been deeply rooted in her LDS faith, these experiences led Vickie through a faith transition.
 
In this episode, Vickie opens up about the challenges and growth she experienced, the peace she found in embracing her children, and the sense of community she discovered through supporting the LGBTQ+ community. Her story is one of love, resilience, and finding healing through acceptance. 
 
Join us as we explore Vickie's path to peace, purpose, and unconditional love. 
 
Find Vickie on Instagram @vickiewalkers

Finding Healing After Tragedy: Vickie Walker's Journey Through Trauma and Resilience

In this episode, we sit down with Vickie Walker, founder and executive director of Circles of Comfort, to hear her deeply personal story of loss, trauma, and healing. Vickie's life changed forever on February 12, 2007, when her husband, Jeff Walker, was killed in the Trolley Square mass shooting, and her 16-year-old son, AJ, was critically injured. Vickie shares her journey through grief, the impact of trauma, and how she found healing through EMDR therapy. She also discusses the importance of being trauma-informed and how Circles of Comfort provides support to those affected by violent crime and sudden trauma. Her resilience and dedication to helping others have led to her being recognized nationally including features in People Magazine and Good Housekeeping. 
 
Join us for a heartfelt conversation about turning pain into purpose and finding light after darkness. 
 
Find Vickie on Instagram @vickiewalkers
Find Circles of Comfort at circlesofcomfort.org/.

Thoughts on Love & Belonging

This Valentine's week, we're talking about love and belonging. We share about our visit to The Other Side Academy, the rehab program that changed the life of our past guest, Dylan Gibson. The love and community we saw there were powerful reminders of what true belonging looks like. We also reflect on Brene Brown's insights and the importance of extending love and belonging to those around us. Hope this episode leaves you feeling inspired to spread a little extra love in your lives. Happy Valentine’s Day! ❤️

The Other Side: Overcoming Heroin Addiction, Trauma, and Finding Hope (Part 2) with Dylan Gibson

In the second half of this powerful two-part series, we pick up where Dylan's story takes a pivotal turn. After years of addiction, crime, and incarceration, Dylan faced a life sentence - until he made a decision that changed everything. Encouraged by the unwavering belief of his grandmother, he took a leap of faith and joined The Other Side Academy. Through accountability and the support of a community that refused to give up on him, Dylan committed to rebuilding his life with integrity and purpose. Now a staff member at TOSA, Dylan is paying it forward, helping others find the same hope and transformation that saved him.
 
Join us as we explore the moment Dylan chose to change, the struggles and victories of his journey, and the life he has built on the other side. The is a story of second chances, resilience, and the power of choosing a new path. 
 
Find Dylan on Instagram @dylandevongibson
 
Find The Other Side Academy @theothersideacademy and online at www.theothersideacademy.com. 

The Other Side: Overcoming Heroin Addiction, Trauma, and Finding Hope (Part I) with Dylan Gibson

Dylan Gibson's life spiraled from a childhood marked by trauma leading to years of drug addiction, crime, incarceration, and despair. In this first episode of a two-part series, we follow his journey from a turbulent upbringing and struggles with heroin dependency to rock bottom - when an unexpected act of love from a stranger and the unwavering belief of a family member spark hope. This pivotal moment leads him to The Other Side Academy, setting him on a life-changing path.
 
Join us for the first half of this raw, inspiring story of resilience, redemption, and the power of connection and second chances. 
 
*Episode trigger warning - childhood trauma and abuse
 
Find Dylan on Instagram @dylanddevongibson
 
Find The Other Side Academy @theothersideacademy and online at www.theothersideacademy.com.