The Foster Friendly Podcast

In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, Tristian Smith shares his profound journey through the foster care system, detailing the challenges he faced, including multiple placements and the emotional toll of transitioning between homes. He reflects on the impact of these experiences on his personal development and academic success, as well as the importance of supportive foster parents. Tris...

In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, hosts Kristin Allender and Travis Vangsnes interview Sophia Pantoja who shares her experiences growing up in the foster care system. Sophia discusses her journey from entering care at age ten due to her parents' drug addiction to her experiences in various foster homes and a group home. She reflects on the challenges she faced, including behavioral i...

This episode kicks off the Foster Friendly Podcast’s "aging out" series with Sensei Dave Armstrong, a foster care and juvenile justice alum, former Air Force veteran, mentor, author, and advocate. Dave shares how instability, trauma, and survival shaped his early years, and how two consistent adults helped redirect his life toward service, discipline, and purpose. Travis, Kristin, and Dave discuss...

In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, hosts Travis Vangsnes and Kristen Allender reflect on the impactful leadership of Brian Mavis (co founder of America's Kids Belong) who is taking on a new ministry role and stepping out of the organization and the podcast. They share his memorable quotes and leadership principles that have shaped AKB's work in the nonprofit sector, emphasizing the im...

In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, Travis and Courtney celebrate the show’s 100th episode while welcoming Kristin Allender as the podcast’s new cohost. As Courtney prepares to step away, Kristin shares her background as an adoptee, social worker, longtime Executive Director of Tennessee Kids Belong, and now CEO of America's Kids Belong. She reflects on a career that has taken her from...

In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, the team bids farewell to Courtney, who is stepping down from her role as cohost of the podcast and being on staff at America's Kids Belong. The conversation reflects on her contributions, the new chapter in her life, and the impact she has made on the podcast and the foster care community. Travis and Brian share their memories and surprise tributes...

In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, hosts Courtney Williams and Travis Vangsnes engage in a heartfelt conversation with Judy Wright, a foster parent who, alongside her late husband, fostered 55 children, many of whom were medically fragile. Judy focuses on telling the incredible story of fostering Jaden, a two month old medically fragile baby who Judy was told would not survive, born w...

In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, co-hosts Travis Vangsnes and Courtney Williams welcome Corey McKinney, a thought leader in peer pressure and bullying, to discuss his journey as a foster parent and mentor. Corey shares his experiences in basketball, the challenges of fostering, and the importance of instilling hope and structure in the lives of foster children. He emphasizes the nee...

In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, hosts Courtney Williams and Travis Vangsnes welcome Shenandoah Chefalo, an author and advocate for trauma-informed systems change. Shenandoah shares her personal journey through foster care, emphasizing the complexities of grief and loss experienced by children in the system. The conversation explores the impact of systems on grief, the challenges of...

In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, Brian, Travis, and Courtney celebrate the podcast’s two-year anniversary while reflecting on the impact of sharing real foster care stories and experiences. The conversation explores the realities of foster care from both the perspective of foster parents and those learning about the system from the outside. The hosts discuss the different types of f...

In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, co-hosts Brian Mavis and Courtney Williams engage with Paula Yost, an attorney and licensed clinical medical health clinician, who shares her journey of advocacy for children in foster care and those with special needs. The conversation explores the impact of personal experiences, such as preeclampsia, on advocacy work, the complexities of navigating...

In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, host Brian Mavis speaks with Dr. John DiGarmo and Jen Lilley about their experiences in foster care and advocacy. They discuss their personal journeys, the challenges faced in the foster care system, and the importance of community support. The conversation also highlights their upcoming book, ' Called to Foster ,' which aims to provide an honest gui...

In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, hosts Courtney Williams and Travis Vangsnes welcome back Laura, the Foster Parent Partner, a well-known figure in the foster care community, to discuss her new book, 'First Time Fostering.' The conversation explores the complexities of foster care, the importance of realistic expectations for prospective foster parents, and the balance between honest...

In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, host Brian Mavis and co-host Courtney Williams welcome Felicia Curcuru, CEO and co-founder of Binti, a technology platform designed to streamline the foster care licensing process . Felicia shares her personal connection to the foster care system, stemming from her sister's challenging experience in adopting two children. This motivated her to create...

In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, hosts Brian and Courtney welcome Charell Starr, a former foster youth and advocate. Charell shares her personal journey through the foster care system, discussing the challenges she faced, her reunification with her mother, and her experiences in boarding school. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the unique circumstances of each child in...

In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, hosts Brian, Courtney, and Travis discuss the I Belong Project, a program aimed at helping children in foster care find families. This is a unique episode because some of the stories shared on this episode come from our staff on the ground in various states across the country. The hosts listen and react and also share their own personal stories and i...

In this conversation, Patton Dodd shares insights from his memoir about fatherhood (The Father You Get) , exploring his relationship with his father and the impact of father figures in one's life. The conversation also explores the complexities of father figures, personal expectations, and the importance of presence in parenting. Patton discusses his own journey of becoming a dad, the emotional ch...

In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, hosts Courtney Williams and Travis Vangsnes welcome Kayla Moffitt, a dedicated mother of five and a TBRI practitioner. The conversation begins with Kayla sharing her journey from being a youth pastor to becoming a foster parent, highlighting the challenges and joys of welcoming five siblings into her home overnight. Kayla discusses the emotional comp...

In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, host Travis Vangsnes and co-host Courtney Williams welcome Jeanette Yoffe, a clinical psychotherapist and advocate for foster care and adoption. Jeanette shares her personal journey through foster care and adoption, emphasizing the importance of understanding grief and loss in children. She discusses the significance of open adoption, the need for co...

In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, host Brian Mavis and co-host Courtney Williams interview Jamie Finn, a prominent figure in the foster care community. Jamie shares her personal journey into foster care, the impact on her biological children, and the importance of self-care for foster parents. They discuss her book ' God Loves Kids ', the need for supportive communities, and the chal...

In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, Tyler Hunter shares his profound journey through foster care and adoption. He reflects on the challenges he faced, the coping mechanisms he developed, and the importance of community and support in his life. Tyler emphasizes the transformative power of foster care, the significance of forgiveness, and the need for advocacy in the child welfare system...

In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, hosts Brian, Courtney, and Travis welcome listeners to 2026 and discuss the new rhythm of the podcast. They reflect on the importance of understanding foster care, the emotional journey of becoming a foster parent, and the realities of handling goodbyes. The conversation emphasizes the need for a support system, the reasons families may quit fosterin...

In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, hosts Courtney Williams and Travis Vangsnes welcome Andrea Forringer and Sarah Davis, from Jackson's Gift, an organization dedicated to supporting youth aging out of the foster care system who are enlisting in the military. The conversation explores the life of Andrea's adoptive son, Jackson, who faced numerous challenges in his early life, including...

In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, hosts Travis and Courtney, along with guest Bethany Hall, discuss the complexities of navigating the holidays for children in foster care. They explore the emotional challenges, the importance of managing expectations, and strategies for preparing both parents and extended family for the unique dynamics that arise during this time. The conversation e...

In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, host Courtney Williams engages with cybersecurity experts Chad Rychlewski and Kae David to discuss the critical importance of protecting children in the digital age. They explore various topics including digital footprints, the risks associated with social media, and the necessity of open communication between parents and children. The conversation e...