Behind the Curtain: Honest Conversations about Foster Care and Adoption

Big news first: we’re taking a short breather so we can come back strong on December 2 with Season Three of Behind the Curtain. While we pause, we’re pointing you to two powerful replays and a brand-new support that can change the daily rhythm for foster and adoptive families. We start with a listener favorite: a candid look at foster care through the eyes of Brianna, a former foster youth, alongs...

Kate Angelo shares her transformative journey from foster care to bestselling author, revealing how small interventions changed her life trajectory and shaped her mission to help others heal from trauma. • Experiencing stability when a friend's family took her in through an independent living program after facing placement in a group home • Developing survival mechanisms that protected her du...

In part one, Kate Angelo shares her extraordinary journey from a chaotic childhood with exotic pets, parental kidnappings, and neglect to finding purpose after aging out of foster care. • Former foster youth who became a bestselling author and now runs a nonprofit for strengthening marriages and families • Grew up in extreme chaos with exotic pets including a lion, bobcat, and monkey while experie...

Brianna Groah and her former case manager Kinsey Howell share the raw reality of foster care from the perspective of a child who lived through it. With honesty and vulnerability, they reveal what makes the difference between mere survival and genuine healing in the system. • Life before foster care included living in tents in the Florida woods after fleeing CPS in West Virginia • The trauma of rem...

Educational advocate Trina Middleton shares her 30+ years of special education experience to help parents navigate the complex world of school advocacy for children with special needs, particularly in foster and adoptive families. • Recognizing red flags in struggling students: lack of motivation to learn, resistance to reading, and inability to complete homework independently • The importance of...

The Jantoyas, Elizabeth Janssen and Lisa Montoya, share their journey as best friends, foster and adoptive moms, and tireless advocates for children in the foster care system. They discuss how their friendship formed over fostering challenges and evolved into a community-building partnership that supports other foster families while creating meaningful change. • Elizabeth has 14 children (5 biolog...

This episode is Part 2 of Rebecca's conversation with Tammy Pulsifer. Here is the link to go back and listen to Part 1: Part 1 with Tammy Pulsifer Tammy Pulsifer, Director of Community Engagement at Safe Families for Children Tallahassee, shares how their organization builds support systems for vulnerable families to prevent children from entering foster care. The conversation explores the pr...

Tammy Pulsifer, Director of Community Engagement at Safe Families for Children in Tallahassee, shares how their organization prevents children from entering foster care by supporting families in crisis through community intervention and radical hospitality. • Born to missionary parents and raised internationally in Guam, Saipan, Korea, Hawaii, and England before settling in Tallahassee • Found pur...

Loryn Smith brings 30+ years of child welfare experience as owner of Finally Home Christian Adoption Services, sharing her journey of fostering 120 children and adopting many into her family. • Service without sacrifice is a counterfeit • Being faithful is our responsibility; outcomes belong to God • Finding freedom in being "just a character" in God's bigger story • Relationships w...

Rebecca and Olivia explore the concept of "trying softer" and how loosening our grip on control can transform our lives, especially in the demanding world of foster care and adoption. • Recognizing when we're trying too hard from a place of insecurity or fear of being "found out" as not good enough • Understanding how our tendency to meet everyone else's needs often c...

Stephanie Miller shares her journey as a single foster and adoptive mom to three young children, revealing both the exhausting challenges and profound joys of parenting alone. • Adopted a five-year-old last December and a 16-month-old around Halloween, while currently fostering another five-year-old • Drew inspiration from her cousin who fostered and adopted three siblings as a single mother • Ope...

Rebecca shares how intentionally noticing positive moments and seeking connection opportunities with her children is transforming her summer parenting experience, despite the challenging start. • Summer began with significant struggles, including a moment when Rebecca needed to leave the house after a lawn chair broke in her hands • Progress with one child who historically couldn't participat...

Rebecca Harvin and Courtney Studard share their hard-won wisdom on traveling with children of all ages, from essential packing strategies to entertainment tips that really work. We offer practical advice for making family travel more enjoyable, less stressful, and filled with meaningful memories rather than meltdowns. • Start children traveling young whenever possible - they adapt quickly and beco...

Jenn Ditges shares her powerful journey from infertility to motherhood through foster care and adoption, revealing how she came to mother six children after experiencing twelve pregnancy losses. • Always dreamed of being pregnant since witnessing her mother's pregnancy at age 8 • Received a spiritual promise of having six children while walking in Africa • Experienced twelve pregnancy losses,...

Jessica Miles shares her raw, powerful story of loving through the hardest seasons of foster care, demonstrating how her own difficult childhood prepared her to show up authentically for children experiencing trauma. She offers profound insight into what it means to love intentionally when behaviors are extreme and systems are failing. • Loving children the way she wished she'd been loved as...

Kate shares her journey from teacher to single foster parent, reflecting on the profound identity shift that occurs the moment a child enters your home and the unique challenges of navigating the system alone. • Background in early childhood and special education creating a strong foundation for advocacy • Building a house with kids in mind before even being licensed • The exact moment of becoming...

Welcome back to season two where we dive into the complicated reality of Mother's Day for foster and adoptive moms, exploring how joy and grief often coexist in our parenting journey. I share my personal struggles with balancing celebration, complicated emotions, and the mantra that helps me navigate it all: "two things can be true." • Mother's Day feels different when you shar...

Vulnerability and authenticity are explored through personal experiences of motherhood, therapy, and relationships. By unpacking the burdensome narratives around love and acceptance, the episode inspires listeners to reflect on their own stories and choose healthier paths toward autonomy. • Navigating the complexities of vulnerability in relationships  • The impact of books on parenting and bounda...

This episode focuses on the vital role of advocacy in supporting children, particularly in foster care and educational systems. We touch on personal experiences, the importance of knowledge about rights and relationships, and strategies for effectively advocating within complex systems. • Understanding the role and significance of PACE  • Navigating challenges in the foster care system  • Empoweri...

The episode delves into the transformative journey of foster care and adoption, highlighting the emotional complexities and realities faced by families involved. Megan Hampton-Pusey shares her experiences as a foster mother, addressing the importance of community support, the challenges of attachment, and the often-overlooked struggles of fostering.  • Insights into the emotional and psychological...

Our conversation today dives deep into the joys of foster care and adoption, sharing heartfelt stories of connection and triumph amidst the challenges. We explore the significant moments that define our experiences as foster parents, offer practical parenting strategies, and celebrate the little victories that shape our family narrative. • Navigating chaos after the holiday season  • The power of...

This episode highlights the transformative impact of Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) on families navigating foster care and adoption. By understanding emotional needs behind behaviors, caregivers can build stronger connections and foster healing, while also addressing their own emotional challenges in the process. • Introduction to TBRI and its importance in parenting • Definition and c...

Rebecca and Courtney answer questions submitted by listeners. This episode is off the cuff, unedited and offers an unfiltered view as Rebecca answers those questions. We discuss various aspects of adoption, including timelines, processes for domestic and international adoptions, advocacy for children, and ways to support families in this journey. • Exploring average timelines for different types o...

Through a conversation between Rebecca Harvin and Sarah Graves, listeners explore the essential support needed in foster and adoptive families’ journeys. The episode stresses the importance of vulnerability, empathy, and community involvement to help these families thrive amidst challenges. • Explores Sarah's background and journey into therapy and social work • Discusses the emotional challe...

Lori Serber's journey into foster care is a testament to the power of calling and the evolution of family dynamics. Lori had always felt drawn to fostering, though her husband Larry needed time to embrace the idea. Eventually, their family of five welcomed the transformative experience, navigating the multifaceted challenges and joys that fostering brings. Together, we explore how this decisi...