The Seeds We Plant with Tori Hope Petersen

Author and national speaker Tori Hope Petersen joins host Micaela Tracy to talk about the people who shaped her: the court advocate who said "I'm not going anywhere," the foster mom Tanya who let her be a kid without turning every moment into a lesson, and her own decision to become a healed person instead of a hurt one. For anyone wondering whether small acts of consistency really matter, Tori's answer is clear: the seeds you plant today shape generations you may never see. Content note: Tori reflects on childhood abuse and family instability. Listener discretion advised. In This Episode 00:00 Cold open 00:30 Welcome and episode framing 01:00 Tori's story: foster care, reunification, and re-entering at 12 07:00 The court advocate who said "I'm not going anywhere" 1 3:00 The group home and a perspective shift 16:00 Choosing to be a healed person, not a hurt one 20:00 Tanya's house: not every moment is a teaching moment 28:00 Adoption and learning to receive family 34:00 Generational impact: the long game of showing up 37:00 Tori's books and where to find her work 38:00 Reflection and close Standout Quotes "Not every moment needs to be a teaching moment. Some moments just need to be: I'm here for you." "I don't want to be a hurt person that hurts people. I want to be a healed person that helps heal people." "You're not just breaking cycles for one person. It impacts generations." About Our Guest Tori Hope Petersen is a national speaker and author of Fostered and Breaking the Patterns That Break You. She grew up in the foster care system and was later adopted. Today she is also a foster mom, adoptive mom, and biological mom, and writes and speaks about identity, healing, and breaking generational patterns. Resources and Links Fostered and Breaking the Patterns That Break You by Tori Hope Petersen, available wherever books are sold Voices for CASA Children National CASA/GAL Association for Children About the Show By Their Side: Advocating for Children in Foster Care is produced by Voices for CASA Children. Season 3, "Understanding Every Voice in the Room," features practical, human conversations with professionals and people with lived experience. Hosted by Micaela Tracy. New episodes biweekly. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the guests and host and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of VOICES or its affiliates. Content Warning: This episode may include discussions of sensitive topics that could be triggering for some listeners.