Episodes
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Episode 50: Poop Stuff, Moving to Mexico? Life update as a South Dakotan
In this episode, Joel and I give a typical, off-balance life update regarding our adopted son, our foster daughter, and our lives as newly South Dakotans.
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Episode 37: International Adoption (India!) Chats w/Bio & Adoptive Mom/Children's Author, Amanda Wall
Amanda Wall, a biological mother of 2 and adoptive mother of 2, as well as Children's book author, tells the story of adopting her two daughters from India. She has documented their experience in a book called Finding Family in a Far-Away Land. Check out her website and purchase the book at...
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Episode 36: Chat with Kinship Foster/Adoptive Mom, Erin Bouchard
Erin is our foster/adoptive mom friend from Canada, and I was pleased to chat with her about double home studies, kinship foster care, and children who have experienced trauma. Here's where you can find her: Love What Matters Article by Erin:...
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Episode 35: Interview with Adoption Attorney, Best-Selling Author, and Documentary Executive Producer, Natalie Chavis Fisher
Natalie Chavis Fisher is a best-selling author, third-generation attorney and executive producer for the feature documentary Foster Care: Perfect Imperfection. She is a leading expert in foster care adoption committed to helping improve the lives of vulnerable children and their caretakers.…
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Episode 34: Chats w/Kayla Bias about Maintaining Birth Order, Foster-to-Adopt Programs, and Inquiring on AdoptUSKids
Let me apologize in advance for my audio quality! I was so excited to chat with Kayla from Ohio. She and her husband have 3-year-old twin biological children and they've recently become licensed for foster care as well as their local foster-to-adopt program. They're also involved in the process…
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Episode 32: Conversation with Foster Parent, Will Myers, from The Foster Dad Podcast
I had the pleasure of speaking with Will from The Foster Dad podcast. He's a fairly new foster parent with tons of experience in his short time being involved in this crazy world! This episode is cross-posted to his platform as well. Check out The Foster Dad podcast on Instagram as well as all...
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Episode 31: Conversation with Foster Parent, Phil Wheeler, from Finding the Joys in the Journey Podcast
In listening to Phil's podcast, Finding the Joys in the Journey, I realized that he and his wife have so many similarities with Joel and I. In this cross-posted episode, we discuss each of our stories as foster parents. Check out Finding the Joys in the Journey on all major podcast platforms.
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Episode 30: Hallie Riggs from Simply Smiles - Caring For Lakota Children on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation
Hallie Riggs is the Clinical Director at Simply Smiles, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing bright futures for children, their families, and their communities. Hallie works with Lakota children living on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation in South Dakota. One of their recent...
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Episode 29: Chris & Ciera's Foster Care Story, Techless Wisephone, Infertility, & A Growing Family
In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Chris and Ciera, former foster parents in Texas. We discuss their foster care story as well as introduce listeners to a product they've created, the Techless Wisephone. The Wisephone is a stylish, smart, and SAFE alternative to cell phones for...
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Episode 28: Nashville Bombing, Ari Foster Updates, Resolutions/Bucket Lists w/Joel Ellis
Joel and I sit down for another closet chat to discuss what's happening in Nashville and provide updates for Ari's case.
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Episode 27: Simon Benn Shares His Experiences & Insight as an Adoptee & Parenting Coach
I was so pleased to meet and speak with Simon Benn. The insight he shares as an adoptee is invaluable. He describes what he remembers of his adoption as an infant, his childhood, and how those experiences shaped him as an adult. We discuss personal development, identity, familial honesty, and…
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Episode 26: All About Bethany Christian Services w/Kayla Reis, Jil Resendiz & Brooke Borchers
In this episode, Kayla, Jil and Brooke provide insight into the many facets of Bethany Christian Services. Many people associate their organization as an adoption agency but in reality, they offer so much more! Kayla, Jil and Brooke kindly offer their contact information for anyone hoping to…
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Episode 25: Interview w/Former Foster Youth, Child Welfare Advocate and Podcast Host, Pauline Goldsmith-Johnson
I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to sit down with a former foster youth who has taken her experiences with childhood trauma, foster care and adoption, to better serve the community through continued advocacy work. Check out her podcast, Foster Features, available on all major podcast...
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Episode 24: Interview w/Krislyn from Best Kids, Inc., a DC-based Foster Youth Mentoring Program
Krislyn Mossman is the Executive Director at Best Kids, Inc., a one-on-one volunteer mentoring organization providing services to youth in foster care. Get involved here: https://www.bestkids.org/get-involved.html
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Episode 23: Welcome to the Dad-isode w/Joel & Dale Felton
I gotta be honest - the idea of letting Joel and Dale loose in the podcast room was a little scary, but they absolutely killed it! They discuss their friendship, their families, and provide dad advice in this heartfelt conversation from two great dads.
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Episode 22: Interview w/Michelle Batten, MS from Hopeful Connections Parenting
Michelle Batten, MS, is a TBRI® Educator and ACPI Certified Parent Coach with a Master of Science in Human Development and Family Studies. She is also the owner of Hopeful Connections Parenting, a service available to parents nationwide in need of assistance in creating a healing home. Visit her...
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Episode 21: Interview w/author, foster/adoptive mom, bio mom and high school teacher, Ginger Baerg
In episode 21, I have the pleasure of sitting down with Ginger Baerg. Her family began with 3 biological children before she and her husband began fostercare. From fostercare, they went on to adopt 2 children, and she's authored a children's book (written from the perspective of her oldest son)...
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Episode 20: TikTok Famous, Traveling w/Infants, & Joel and Alex's Bucket Lists
I get to sit down for another joyous episode with my husband, Joel. We talk about my new-found TikTok fame, our recent trip with both babies, and what's on our bucket lists.
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Episode 18: We bought a house! Flying with babies, Ari update and weekend chats w/Joel
Joel and I take a break from our weekend to provide an update on our crazy busy lives. From buying a new house to working full time to fostering to everything in between, we definitely have a lot on our plates right now!
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Episode 17: Pregnancy Loss and Happily Ever After Adoption w/David & Michelle Saint Martin
Our friends across the pond, David and Michelle Saint Martin from the UK, tell their story of multiple pregnancy losses as well as the adoption of their son. Learn more by checking out their video journey on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/blueiesaint1
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Episode 16: Newly Licensed Foster Mom - Shelby Ballard from Iowa Talks Myasthenia Gravis & Foster Parent Training
I had the pleasure of interviewing newly-licensed foster mom, Shelby Ballard. Shelby lives in Iowa, and talks about her experience living with chronic illness, Myasthenia Gravis. She is the author of Chronically Caring blog, which can be found at www.chronicallycaringblog.com.
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Episode 15: Emancipation, Infertility/IVF & Foster Care with guest Hannah Nelson
I recently had the honor of interviewing Hannah Nelson. She graciously shares her story about being emancipated at 16, infertility and IVF, and being a foster parent.
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Episode 14: Interview with Treatment Foster Care Mama Stacy Roof
In this episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Stacy Roof, the mama of a treatment foster care home. She explains the difference between treatment foster care vs. traditional foster care, and tells her story as both a bio and foster mama.
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Episode 13: Pregnancy, Infant Loss and New Foster Parent Life w/Lydia Gerber
In this episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing the beautiful Lydia Gerber, a bio mama, NICU mama and a (fairly) new foster mama from the Minnesota/North Dakota area. She shares her journey about infant loss and entering the fostercare world.
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Episode 12: Foster Daughter Updates, (Not Funny) Jokes & Weeknight Chats w/Joel Ellis
In this episode, Joel and I have a casual chat about our foster daughter, our adopted son and what's going on this week!
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Episode 11: Interview with 22 Year Old, Single Foster Dad Corey Taylor
Corey Taylor was an absolute pleasure to speak with. He talks about his journey becoming an approved foster dad at only 22 years old, his current placement, and his experience on this crazy rollercoaster.
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Episode 10: Parenting During COVID, Isolation, Foster Update, Kentucky Bourbon & Random Chats w/Joel Ellis
In this episode, Joel and I sit down for a casual chat about what's going on in our world right now. Big thanks to Reuben Andrews for editing this weeks episode!
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Episode 9: Interview with Adoption Attorney Anne Austin - Expert in DCS/Private Adoptions, Adoption Assistance, Juvenile Law, TPR
This episode is jam-packed with information about DCS/private/independent/agency adoptions in Tennessee. I had the honor of interviewing the lovely Anne Austin, who provided loads of information based on her decades of expertise.
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Episode 8: Nashville/Mid-TN Tornado, Our Current Foster Placement, We're being put on a PIP!, Continuing Education for Foster Parents
In this episode, I recap recent events like the Nashville/Mid-TN tornado and the Evelyn Boswell case. I also tell the story about DCS threatening to put our foster family on a PIP (personal improvement plan), as well as discuss our current foster daughter placement.
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Episode 7: Interview on Adoption, Infertility, Pregnancy Loss & Foster Parenting w/Guest Barbara Goodman
In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Barbara Goodman. This amazing mama was adopted as a child and tells her story of adoption, infertility, pregnancy loss and foster parenting.
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Episode 6: Really Irritating Things, Holiday Chats
In this impromptu, casual episode, join me in discussing the things that are really irritating to me these days (long Starbucks orders, bad drivers and unclear packaging just to name a few), as well as a few things that I'm really loving.
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Episode 5: Adoption Day!
In this short bonus episode, we discuss all that happened during our recent adoption day! Big thanks to this weeks editor, Reuben Andrews.
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Episode 4: Guess the Baby Product, DCS Nashville Fails Big Time and Saturday Chats with Joel Ellis
On this episode, we discuss a huge DCS fail that recently hit the news, our frustration with foster care continuing education, our upcoming adoption (this week!!!) and Joel plays "Guess the Baby Product". Big thanks to this weeks editor, Reuben Andrews.