The Playing Field Was Never Even | Karen Losi | Social Worker, Foster Parent, Community Advocate

What if the American Dream wasn’t broken - just never built for everyone? Karen Losi is a social worker, foster parent, and fierce community advocate who’s spent years on the front lines of public service. In this episode, she joins Kara to talk about what really shapes opportunity, how systems fail families, and why small changes can lead to huge impact. They discuss trauma-informed care, foster parenting, leadership in social work, and how to build communities that actually work for everyone. Whether you’re working in education, dreaming of a purpose-driven career, or just trying to make a difference where you are, Karen’s story is a powerful reminder that empathy is action - and action is what changes lives. Chapters: 00:00 Growing up in Boston with purpose 02:30 From retail career to social work pivot 05:00 Why the playing field was never level 07:30 What foster care really looks like 10:00 The myth of the “bad parent” 13:00 Trauma, resilience, and the power of one adult 15:30 The hidden cost of poverty 17:30 Why universal programs matter 20:00 The ripple effect of caring teachers 23:00 Advice for anyone thinking of fostering 25:00 What leadership looks like in hard systems 27:30 Defining success in service 29:00 What she’s building now and why The Powerful Ladies podcast, hosted by business coach and strategist Kara Duffy features candid conversations with entrepreneurs, creatives, athletes, chefs, writers, scientists, and more. Every Wednesday, new episodes explore what it means to lead with purpose, create with intention, and define success on your own terms. Whether you're growing a business, changing careers, or asking bigger questions, these stories remind you: you're not alone, and you're more powerful than you think. Explore more at thepowerfulladies.com and karaduffy.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices