Fostering Change

This is a story about parents that faced an unknown situation with a tragic outcome. They lead us through the troubles they experience and how they manage to deal with everything. We meet Gideon and Jeanne, a couple full of positive energy and hope, who Through their story, they introduce us to their firstborn son Blaze. They named him after Blaise Pascal, which seems like an irony to them now, an...

On this episode of Fostering Change, Rob starts off talking about making his heart smile! His special guest Connie Going is always there for him when he needs to reach out! They start talking about the challenges of the Covid pandemic. Connie explains more about Family Blooms, and how they provide assistance for mothers. It's essential to empower mothers to reach supports on their own and to not b...

Daniel Hall was a boy whose mother had brain cancer and his father couldn’t take care of the 5 kids. His 2 brothers and himself were sent to an abusive foster home where he was beaten, starved and terrified of the situation but didn’t know how to get out of it. He was lucky enough to be adopted but unfortunately his brothers aged out of the system. By age 13, Dan was teaching college grads how to...

In this episode we are talking about Fostering Change, a platform where we speak about foster care and adoption with the CEO and president of the Dave Thomas foundation for Adoption, Rita Soronen. Rita’s foundation is expanding with their signature adoption program: Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program that started in 2004, and celebrated 10.000 adoptions last year. Through this platform, not only do th...

The problems in the foster care system are not only a problem in America but all over the world, and the fact that children leave foster care with a trash bag, a rubbish bag, or a bin bag is heartbreaking. Rob, the founder and CEO of the Comfort Cases organization explains the importance of taking the initiative and get involved!   A goodwill campaign, YDWD (“You Donate, We Deliver”) was oper...

Richard Krulik, CEO of Briggs & Riley, is the special guest this week on the Fostering Change Podcast. Rob and Richard talk about A Case for Giving event and the history of this charitable program. 700 is the average number of foster care kids entering the system each day in the US. None of those children are in foster care by a choice they made and not one of them would choose that for themse...

About the Guest: Willy Bolander - www.willybolander.com Father of 8 children, 7 adopted from foster care. Founder of non-profit, Go Foster! (2013-2019) In the Episode : Willy discusses his experience in recruiting and retaining foster parents via Go Foster! The idea was born as a research idea in Florida, where they discovered a huge need for improvements in the existing system. He talks about the...

Rob shares a story of how a teacher made a major impact on his life before introducing Kyle Tolsyka, music teacher, musician and the author of "Where do I fit?" Kyle, talks about his inspiration and motivation to write the book and hints that there might be another book in the future! After the break Kyle even reads the book! 🎥  Watch the full video episodes on YouTube! Head over to  Co...

Mike talks about activating endangered animals as heroes to inspire and teach youth. They talk about their two main heroes the Slow loris and the Red Panda. April 18 is a big event for Protectors of the endangered! Lot’s of fun activities are planned that will support the cause! protectorsoftheendangered.org 🎥  Watch the full video episodes on YouTube! Head over to  Comfort Cases on You...

Rob and Jessica take about what has been happening at Connect our kids over thee last year and how Covid has affected their operation.  Jessica talks about their co founder and the lack of technology in the foster care system. Currently it takes 8 days to end an extended family member, but with connect our kids technology the same process can be completed in 30 seconds! In the second half Rob...

Rob gives some background on how Ben has been giving back and how despite his fame and celebrity he has felt alone at times. Ben talks all about writing his book “Alone in Plain Sight” and explains his thoughts about “shared pain” Together they discuss ego and how to recognize and mange it. We also learn more about the origins and operations of Generous Coffee and generous movement! 🎥  Watch...

Rob Chats with Caroline Boudreaux from Miracle Foundation and what an impact they have made round the world.  Caroline recaps her trip to India that inspired the start of the Miracle Foundation. Her story includes an emotional recap of holding children in villages on Mother’s day. They discuss topic of OPC “Other People’s Children” and how everyone needs to realize every child matters. “It’s...

Rob sits back down with Bob Dalton from Sackcloth and Ashes to talk more about their partnership. Bob shares more about their partnership with Native American artists and leaders and his book. This is the second half of a 2 part series. Don't miss the first half of the story! 🎥  Watch the full video episodes on YouTube! Head over to  Comfort Cases on YouTube  to catch every inspiri...

Rob sits down with the CEO of Sackcloth & Ashes Bob Dalton. They discuss how Bob started Sackcloth & Ashes. Bob shares personal reasons why he made the transition from the non profit sector to the for profit sector, including an emotional discussion about his mother's journey. 🎥  Watch the full video episodes on YouTube! Head over to  Comfort Cases on YouTube  to catch ever...

In this episode, Rob reconnects with a longtime friend Noah Ehlert discuss a variety of subjects and discuss Noah's recent adventures as well as future aspirations. They discuss Noah's bike journey across the United states and some of the experiences he encountered along the way. It's a very emotional piece and definitely worth the listen as we learn about the trama youth in the foster care system...

On this week's episode, Rob is with special guest Barrie Carr. As Fostering change prepares to launch season 2 of the podcast, Barrie and Rob discuss the previous season and what to expect in the new season! Amazing guests, touching testimonials, intriguing ideas, and more! Get your BE A GOOD HUMAN shirts, hoodies, masks, and mugs in our Gifts That Give Back Shop at comfortcases.org/shop Subscribe...

On this week's episode, Rob and Dana talk to Rob C. and J-Hawk from Fall Forward Radio, a new podcast focused on highlighting people doing big things to help their communities. When Rob and Jay heard about Comfort Cases they knew they had to use their platform to help. They invited Rob Scheer to be one of the first guests on their podcast, and then they took to TikTok to raise money. Having never...

In this episode, Rob and Dana talk to siblings Stephanie and Beatriz who were separated during their time in foster care. With 8 years between them, they had very different experiences and only lived in the same household with a relative for a very short time. They are now very close and also maintain relationships with their other 4 siblings. Listen as they talk about the struggles their biologic...

To wrap up National Adoption Awareness Month, Rob and Dana talk to Amaya and Makai Scheer about their family and what it's like to be adopted. Listen as Amaya shares some of her earliest memories of being with Rob and Reece and Makai talks about how it feels to be part of a big family. 🎥  Watch the full video episodes on YouTube! Head over to  Comfort Cases on YouTube  to catch eve...

As part of our National Adoption Awareness Month series, this week’s podcast features author and foster care adoption advocate Marcy Bursac. Marcy adopted her two children from foster care and just released a book, The Forgotten Adoption Option , which serves as a guide to adopting from foster care. Marcy talks about why she decided to adopt from foster care, how she met her children, and how they...

This week we welcome Alexis and Justin Black back to the Fostering Change podcast. Alexis and Justin are newlyweds who both grew up in foster care. In their first novel, Redefining Normal: How Two Foster Kids Beat the Odds and Discovered Healing, Happiness, and Love , Alexis and Justin reveal how they overcame traumatic childhoods and developed a healthy relationship. Listen as they share some det...

November is National Adoption Awareness Month and we are looking forward to featuring guests with various adoption experiences. Today Rob and Dana welcome April Dinwoodie, a writer, coach, consultant, and host of the Born In June, Raised In April podcast . As a woman of color who was adopted into a white family, April offers her insight into the complexities of transracial adoption. Learn more abo...

This week Rob and Dana talk to foster care advocate and former pro-football player Gaelin Elmore. First removed from his parents’ home at 10 months old, Gaelin spent several years in and out of foster care. When he was 16, his high school football coach became his legal guardian. He earned a scholarship to play football in college and in 2017 he signed a contract with the Cincinnati Bengals. After...

On this week’s Fostering Change podcast, Rob and Dana talk to author and foster care survivor Sasha Martin. Sasha spent the first ten years of her life going back and forth between living with her mom and living in various foster homes. When she was 10 years old, she went to live with a family friend who became her permanent guardian. A few years later, they moved to Paris and then Luxemburg. Year...

On this week’s Fostering Change podcast, Rob and Dana talk to Foster Care Institute founder John DeGarmo. As a foster and adoptive father, author, and industry consultant, John offers his insight on a number of child welfare issues. He created the Foster Care Institute after experiencing frustration with the system and lack of support as a foster parent. His training programs are used by child wel...