E10 — From Frustration to Connection: If your home feels tense or chaotic, connection might be a missing piece. Recording artist Sho Baraka joins Amy Julia Becker to share how his family moved from daily breakdowns and aggression to a home marked by peace. Sho reflects on his story of parenting two sons with autism and the surprising power of proximity—how simply being with our kids can open doors to communication, trust, and calm.

00:00 Introduction to Sho Baraka

03:07 Navigating Communication with Nonspeaking Children

11:14 The Power of Proximity

13:25 Moving from Aggression to Peace

18:52 Marriage and Family Life

21:55 Practical Tools for Families

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Words, 2006: https://youtu.be/VImB2ALPQic?si=ej0PI35tdMPCN1RW
• Sho on the GoodHard Story podcast with Katherine Wolf: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=512teMbA_gw
• Dr Marion Blank: https://dmlearninglab.com/about-us-2/
• ASD Reading: https://www.asdreading.com/

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JOIN the conversation on Instagram: @amyjuliabecker

LISTEN to more episodes: amyjuliabecker.com/shows/

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ABOUT OUR GUEST:

Sho Baraka has spent the last 18 years traveling the world as a recording artist, consultant, speaker and writer. He is a co-founder of The And Campaign and founding member of the internationally known hip-hop consortium 116 Clique and record label, Reach Records. Sho served as a visiting professor at Wake Forest University & Warner Pacific University and is currently an editorial director at Christianity Today. Sho is also working with MyBLVD to build a community called "Good Culture". A space that will galvanize cultivators around story, art & ideas. Sho lives in Atlanta, GA with Patreece, his wife of 22 years, and their three children. Sho and Patreece have two boys on the autism spectrum and find themselves as ambassadors and advocates in the Autism community.

Sho Baraka (@amishobaraka) • Instagram photos and videos

https://substack.com/@goodculture

https://www.shobaraka.com/

https://www.youtube.com/shobarakashow

https://www.facebook.com/shobaraka

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Take the Next Step is produced in collaboration with Hope Heals. Hope Heals creates sacred spaces of belonging and belovedness for families affected by disabilities to experience sustaining hope in the context of inclusive, intentional, inter-ability communities. Find out more about our resources, gatherings, and inter-ability communities at hopeheals.com. Follow us on Instagram @hopeheals.

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