The GoodHard Story Podcast

Episode 126 - Martin Deacon on the “Weird and Wonderful” Gift of Disability
What if our disabilities might give us as much—or more—as they take from us?
Disability gives us the gift of dependence. That’s the mantra of Martin Deacon, the CEO of Teach Every Nation, who began to lose his vision when he was just twelve years old. In our conversation, Martin shows how his disability transformed an ordinary life into an extraordinary one.
Mentioned in this episode:
Hippo Lakes - https://visit.hippolakes.com/hopeheals

Teach Every Nation - https://teacheverynation.org/

Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara

Hope Heals Camp - https://hopeheals.com/camp

MEND Coffee & Goods - https://www.mendcoffee.com/

More from Katherine:
Follow @hopeheals on Instagram

Receive monthly reflections from Katherine - http://hopeheals.com/hopenote

About Hippo Lakes:
Hippo Lakes is a luxury safari resort nestled in South Africa’s malaria-free Waterberg region. Guests enjoy five nights in a private game reserve surrounded by incredible wildlife, beautiful landscapes and thoughtfully designed accommodations.
From daily game drives and curated experiences to meals, transportation and more, the Hippo Lakes team is committed to making every part of your stay seamless and unforgettable. Best of all, the Travel Concierge team handles the details so guests can arrive, slow down and experience the beauty of the African bush.
Through January 1, 2027, 15% of all booking payments made through Hope Heals' special Hippo Lakes booking link will go toward helping fund families to attend Hope Heals Camp in 2027.
If you’re interested in planning a stay at Hippo Lakes, you can use the link below to get started. The Hippo Lakes team takes care of the details, from transportation and accommodations to experiences during your stay.
You’ll work directly with one of their amazing Travel Concierges, who will help plan an experience that feels personal to you and your family.
Learn more and begin planning your stay: https://visit.hippolakes.com/hopeheals

Show Notes

What if your suffering is not a curse on your children, but instead an inheritance of breathtaking value?
In this deeply personal conversation, I sat down with my son James the day before he left for college. James opened up about the reality of growing up with a mom who has disabilities and how the experience has formed him into a person who shows up helpful and grateful. I reflected on one of the heaviest questions of my life: has my suffering been a burden to the people I love, especially my children? I also got to offer James the truths I wish someone had given me at his age—about God, about pain, and about the story he gets to write with his own life.

Mentioned in this episode:
Hope Heals Camp - https://hopeheals.com/camp

MEND Coffee & Goods - https://www.mendcoffee.com/

Samford University Micah Fellows Program - https://www.samford.edu/programs/undergraduate/micah-fellows/

Micah 6:8

More from Katherine:
Follow @hopeheals on Instagram

Receive monthly reflections from Katherine - http://hopeheals.com/hopenote

Watch this conversation on YouTube

What good and beautiful thing can we be sure of, no matter what happens?
That’s the question guiding author, professor, and theologian Kate Bowler. Her academic research and her lived experience of suffering have confirmed for her that it’s possible to be joyful and sad at the very same time.
In our conversation, Kate shared how she’s committed to being surprised by joy and embracing uncertainty as an antidote to anxiety.
Mentioned in this conversation
Blessed: A History of the American Prosperity Gospel by Kate Bowler

Joyful Anyway by Kate Bowler

Everything Happens Podcast with Kate Bowler - https://katebowler.com/podcasts/

Psalm 4:1

The GoodHard Story Podcast Ep. 26 with Kate Bowler - https://hopeheals.com/podcast/the-joyful-rebellion-with-kate-bowler/

More from Katherine:
Follow @hopeheals on Instagram

Receive monthly reflections from Katherine - http://hopeheals.com/hopenote

Watch this conversation on YouTube

If The GoodHard Story Podcast has encouraged you, consider joining us on Take the Next Step.

Each week, Amy Julia Becker interviews disability experts, advocates, and parents about practical next steps for families with disabilities to build connection, belonging, and delight—at home and in community.

Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Take the Next Step is a part of the Hope Heals Network, a collective of Christian thought leaders offering honest conversations and hopeful wisdom to help people flourish in the good and hard parts of their stories.

My guest today doesn’t get a break from physical pain. And because she’s living with pain that never ends, she stopped waiting to find joy on the other side of her suffering. 
K.J. Ramsey is a therapist and author inviting people into the lifelong process of acknowledging and recovering from trauma of all kinds. She joined me to talk about loving the bodies that feel like they’re failing us, resisting the deeply human urge to rush past our pain, and exercising agency in uncontrollable circumstances.
Show Notes
What we mentioned:
The Place Between Our Pains: A Memoir of What Joy Can Survive by K.J. Ramsey
Say Yes Scott Erickson - https://youtu.be/DkOP2K1ohTQ?si=P8rNfxmrGo4Tcwha
This Too Shall Last: Finding Grace When Suffering Lingers by K.J. Ramsey
Where to find K.J. online:
Website: kjramsey.com
Instagram: @kjramseywrites
For more messages of hope, free resources, and opportunities to connect with me: https://hopeheals.com/
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopeheals/⁠
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Get to know us:
⁠⁠Hope Heals⁠⁠: https://hopeheals.com/spaces
⁠⁠Hope Heals Camp⁠⁠: https://hopeheals.com/camp
⁠⁠Mend Coffee⁠⁠: https://www.mendcoffee.com/
Instagram⁠: https://www.instagram.com/hopeheals/