Shows / Every Child Belongs
Every Child 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 and student ministries.
Episodes
- Every Child Belongs
You Don't Have to Do It Like Everyone Else
What if the goal isn't helping someone with a disability do things like everyone else, but helping them discover how they were uniquely created to do them?…
- Every Child Belongs
Beyond Children's Ministry: Making Room for Teens and Adults With Disabilities
What happens when a child with a disability grows up? For many families, support can feel abundant during childhood and then suddenly disappear as their child…
- Every Child Belongs
The Real Problem Isn't Disability. It's Isolation : Matt Mooney
What if the greatest challenge facing people with disabilities isn't disability at all? What if it's isolation? Matt Mooney, co-founder of Ninety-Nine…
- Every Child Belongs
Disability Was Never God's Plan B?
When Nadia Ibrahim Mossburg was growing up with cerebral palsy, she rarely saw someone like herself serving in the Church. That absence shaped her life, but it…
- Every Child Belongs
Why Disability Ministry Isn't Really About Disability
When churches think about disability, many immediately ask, "Do we have enough volunteers?" Jason Le Shana believes that's the wrong first question. As a…
- Every Child Belongs
How Disability Changed My Understanding of God : Amy Julia Becker
When Amy Julia Becker's daughter Penny was born with Down syndrome, everything she imagined about the future suddenly changed. Fear, grief, uncertainty, and…
- Every Child Belongs
The Church's Disability Blind Spot : Abby Howard
What if one of the largest unreached people groups in your community is hiding in plain sight? In this episode of Every Child Belongs, Kim Botto sits down with…
- Every Child Belongs
What No One Tells Moms of Disabled Children : Kara Ryska
What happens when motherhood looks nothing like you imagined? In this deeply honest episode of Every Child Belongs, Kim Botto sits down with author, coach, and…
- Every Child Belongs
What People Assume About Our Family Isn't True : Kayla North
What does belonging actually look like for families raising neurodivergent children, children with trauma histories, and kids with significant disabilities? In…
- Every Child Belongs
Disability Ministry Isn't What Most Churches Think : Ryan Faulk
What if the problem isn't that churches don't care… but that they don't know where to start? In this episode of Every Child Belongs, Kim Botto sits down with…
- Every Child Belongs
When "Bad Behavior" Is Trauma & How to Respond Differently : Lori Crosby
What if the "misbehavior" you're seeing… isn't misbehavior at all? Lori Crosby, licensed marriage and family therapist and co-founder of the Reach Hurting Kids…
- Every Child Belongs
When You Love Your Child But Don't Like Them : Lisa Qualls
What happens when you love your child… but being around them feels overwhelming? In this deeply honest conversation, Kim Botto sits down with adoptive mom…
- Every Child Belongs
What Belonging Really Requires : Dr. Curt Thompson
What does it really take for someone to feel like they belong? In this episode of Every Child Belongs, Kim talks with psychiatrist, author, and speaker Dr…
- Every Child Belongs
Trauma, Community, and Hope: Why We All Need Safe People : Meredith Shuman
In this episode of Every Child Belongs, Kim sits down with Meredith Shuman, founder of James Trail, trauma-informed trainer, therapist, adoptive mom, and…
- Every Child Belongs
Sensory-Friendly Haircuts for Neurodivergent Kids : Henry Tribes
Kim talks with Henry "Tribes", a Dallas barber known for sensory-friendly haircuts for neurodivergent kids and the inventor of the Weighted Cape. Henry shares…
- Every Child Belongs
Friendship First: The Simple Shift That Changes a Church : Ryan Wolfe
What changes a church more than a new program? Sometimes it's a friendship. Kim sits down with Ryan Wolfe, President of Ability Ministry, for a conversation…
- Every Child Belongs
Big Feelings, Little Kids, and a Gospel-Centered Preschool Ministry : Josh Zello
In this episode of Every Child Belongs, Kim talks with Josh Zello, founder of JesusLovesPreschoolers.com, about building gospel-centered, developmentally rich…
- Every Child Belongs
When Inclusion Feels Difficult: Practical Tools for Churches : Cortney Jenkins
In this episode, Kim talks with Cortney Jenkins, founder of Awe and Wonder, about practical, realistic ways churches can create spaces where kids with…
- Every Child Belongs
Inclusion Ministry for Teens and Adults : Stephanie Smith
In this episode of Every Child Belongs, Kim talks with Stephanie Smith, CEO and founder of Kingdom Inclusion, a ministry creating inclusive environments for…
- Every Child Belongs
A Good Family Is Better Than a Great Program : Brian Mavis
Kim talks with Brian Mavis, co-founder of America's Kids Belong, about foster care and why families are the key to changing long-term outcomes for kids from…
- Every Child Belongs
Why Nearly Half of Families Leave Church: New Research with Erik Carter
Dr. Erik Carter joins Every Child Belongs to talk about what belonging really means for families impacted by disability and why churches must move beyond…
- Every Child Belongs
Anniversary Episode: A Year of Stories, Strategies, and Hope
It's the one-year anniversary of Every Child Belongs and this episode flips the script. With Dave kicking things off, Kim Botto reflects on what the past year…
- Every Child Belongs
How Play Helps Kids Heal : Brianna Edwards
In this episode of Every Child Belongs, host Kim Botto sits down with licensed mental health counselor, registered play therapist, and author Brianna Edwards…
- Every Child Belongs
When Ministry Gets Personal: How Jenni Von Tobel's Story Changed Everything
What happens when years of serving families affected by disability suddenly becomes your story too? In this heartfelt conversation, Kim Botto sits down with…
- Every Child Belongs
Raising Stronger, Braver Kids : Sissy Goff
In this episode of Every Child Belongs, host Kim Botto welcomes bestselling author, counselor, and podcast host Sissy Goff. With over 30 years of counseling…
- Every Child Belongs
Parenting Through Faith & Advocacy: Camille Robinson's Story
In this episode of Every Child Belongs, host Kim Botto welcomes Camille Robinson, host of the Moments of Joy podcast and soon-to-be published author with…
- Every Child Belongs
How the Church Can Support Foster Families : Jami Kaeb
What happens when the Church shows up for those who often go unseen? In this powerful conversation, Kim sits down with Jami Kaeb (mom of eight and founder of…
- Every Child Belongs
Included and Indispensable : Ellie Axford
What if the Church wasn't just a place where kids with disabilities were cared for—but discipled, included, and seen as indispensable? In this inspiring…
- Every Child Belongs
What It's Like to Be a Little Person in a World That Wasn't Built for You
Jen Kendall on identity, parenting, public spaces, and raising kind kids. In this episode of Every Child Belongs, Kim Botto talks with longtime friend, mom…
- Every Child Belongs
How to Support Neurodivergent Kids: A Conversation with Dr. Chinwé Williams
What do you do when a child's behavior feels overwhelming—or misunderstood? In this honest and practical conversation, Dr. Chinwé Williams—licensed therapist…
- Every Child Belongs
Foster Care Impacts the Whole Family : Daniela Coats
On this episode, Kim Botto welcomes licensed clinical social worker Daniela Coats—founder of With Siblings and a powerful advocate for birth children in foster…
- Every Child Belongs
ADHD, Autism & Church: A Dad's Honest Perspective : Chris Heaslip
In this episode of Every Child Belongs, Kim Botto talks with entrepreneur and dad Chris Heslip, founder of PushPay and CEO of Amazing Life. Chris shares how…
- Every Child Belongs
Why Families with Mental Health Challenges Avoid Church (and How to Change That)
In this episode of Every Child Belongs, Kim Botto welcomes Dr. Steve Grcevich, a child and adolescent psychiatrist and founder of Key Ministry. With decades of…
- Every Child Belongs
Summer Reflection 2 : Kim Botto
It's the summer! Our routines change, the way we do things change, and so we're changing up Every Child Belongs for the month of July with a couple of…
- Every Child Belongs
Summer Reflection 1 : Kim Botto
It's the summer! Our routines change, the way we do things change, and so we're changing up Every Child Belongs for the month of July with a couple of…
- Every Child Belongs
Building Inclusive Churches for Kids with Disabilities : Sandra Peoples
In this episode of Every Child Belongs, host Kim Botto sits down with her friend and fellow advocate Sandra Peoples. Sandra shares her unique story of growing…
- Every Child Belongs
Community & Compassion Matter in Foster Care : Jamie Finn
In this heartfelt episode, Kim Botto is joined by Jamie Finn—foster and adoptive mom, author, and founder of Foster the Family. Jamie shares her candid journey…
- Every Child Belongs
Embracing Diversity in Faith & Disability : Dr. Terisha Lee
Welcome to Every Child Belongs, Kim Botto—an adoptive mom, grandma, and passionate advocate for children and teens with disabilities—explores how we can build…
- Every Child Belongs
Mailbag #2: Real Questions on Sensory Needs, Neurodivergence, Trauma & Church Challenges : Kim Botto
In this special mailbag episode, host Kim Botto and producer Dave dive into real questions from parents and church leaders who are walking alongside…
- Every Child Belongs
Building Spaces of Belonging : Chuck Mingo
In this inspiring episode of Every Child Belongs, Kim Botto welcomes longtime friend and changemaker Chuck Mingo. Chuck, a teaching pastor at Crossroads Church…
- Every Child Belongs
Curiosity & Consistency Matter : Dr. Dwonna
Kim talks with Dr. Dwonna Thompson-Lenoir (PsyD, LPCC-S), a seasoned psychologist and licensed professional clinical counselor, to explore how trauma impacts…
- Every Child Belongs
Rising Above : Becky Davidson
In this episode of Every Child Belongs, Kim welcomes Becky Davidson, co-founder of Rising Above, a ministry dedicated to supporting families raising children…
- Every Child Belongs
The Autism Pastor : Dr. Lamar Hardwick
Dr. Lamar Hardwick, also known as "Autism Pastor," joins Kim on Every Child Belongs to share his journey of being diagnosed with autism at 36 and how that has…
- Every Child Belongs
Endlessly Curious : Ryan North
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…
- Every Child Belongs
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…
- Every Child Belongs
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…
- Every Child Belongs
Every Child Matters : Beth Guckenberger
In this episode, Kim is joined by Beth Guckenberger—author, adoptive mom of 11, and co-executive director of Back2Back Ministries, an international…
- Every Child Belongs
Mailbag #1: Why Kids Do What They Do (And How We Can Help) with Kim Botto
Welcome to the very first Mailbag episode of Every Child Belongs! In this special Q&A format, Kim Botto is joined by friend and podcast producer Dave Little as…
- Every Child Belongs
The Adapted Way : Lexi
Kim talks with Lexi, a special education teacher and the founder of The Adapted Way, a business dedicated to helping churches break down behavioral and…
- Every Child Belongs
Building Inclusive Spaces : Rachel Caswell and John Gesenhues
Kim talks with two incredible educators, Rachel Caswell and John Gesenhues, about their elementary school's commitment to fostering an inclusive and welcoming…
Every Child BelongsReach Hurting Kids : Dr. Robert Crosby
In this episode, Kim is thrilled to welcome Dr. Robert Crosby, Executive Director of Reach Hurting Kids and a professor of psychology at California Baptist…
Every Child BelongsKIND Families : Kari Baker
In this episode, we sit down with Kari Baker, a former financial services executive and business owner who has transformed her career into one of advocacy and…
Every Child BelongsAdvocacy & Co-Regulation : Ashley Meier Barlow
In this episode, we're joined by Ashley Meier Barlow, a special education and estate planning attorney based in Kentucky. She's also the owner of The…
Every Child BelongsContinually Look to Include : Heather Meyer
Heather is a passionate advocate for inclusion and belonging, with experience that spans the roles of special education teacher, parent, and community leader…
Every Child BelongsRaising Autistic Disciples: Larah Roberts
As a mother of three, including a son with autism, Larah Robert's passion for disability ministry is deeply personal. Along with her husband Collin, Larah…