Fostering Change

In this week's episode of Fostering Change, we celebrate National Philanthropy Day by bringing on a return guest. Rob Scheer talks with Gideon Bernstein, Chartered Financial Analyst and Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy and the author of The Workbook for Giving: Exercises for identifying the resources, giving goals, and giving strategies for you and your family. Gideon Bernstein has serv...

In this week's episode of Fostering Change,  Rob Scheer talks with Ryan Hanlon, President & CEO, National Council for Adoption. Ryan worked in the field of adoption since 2004 and he is a social worker / adoption researcher previously at an adoption agency, but with NCFA since 2017.  We advance our mission through research, education, and advocacy.  Story Key Notes: 🖐️ Families...

Today, November 1, 2022, we are so thrilled to launch our 4th Season of “Fostering Change.” Over the past 4 years, we have spoken with more than 150 Good Humans, who have shared their missions and inspiring stories For our premiere episode of Season 4 we could not be more excited to have Olympic Gold Medalist, Greg Louganis as our guest. Enjoy! In this week's episode of Fostering Change,&nbsp...

A Regional Manager at a Social Mobility Charity, Ambassador for Comfort Cases UK, Panel Advisor, Coach & Mentor with lived experience of going through the foster care system. Rosie has experience in both the private and non-profit sectors, and she is an advocate for positive change in society. She has a bachelor's degree in Law, a Postgraduate Certificate in International Business Law. She has...

In this week’s episode of Fostering Change Rob Scheer talks with Mindy Henderson, author, editor, speaker, advocate. Henderson is the author of THE TRUTH ABOUT THINGS THAT SUCK , A Motivational Speaker, Writer, Coach, Host of The Truth About Things That Suck podcast, guest contributor of “Morning Motivations” on CBS Austin’s “We Are Austin” lifestyle morning show and was recently named an “Austin...

Originally aired March 22, this is our first “Best of” episode, as we conclude Season 3. Rob Scheer talks with Anthony Trucks,Coach, Speaker, Author, Former NFL, CEO at Identity Shift. Anthony is an experienced president with a demonstrated history of working in the health wellness and fitness industry. Strong business development professional skilled in Athlete Development, Coaching, Sales, Footb...

In this week's episode of Fostering Change,  Rob Scheer talks with Jessica Rudolph, CEO & Founder of My Very Own Blanket. My Very Own Blanket is a non-profit organization started in December of 1999, dedicated to comforting children in foster care with a blanket they can call “their very own”, bringing them love, comfort and most of all a SMILE.  Her aspirations are to help spread mo...

In this week's episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer talks with Justin and Alexis Black. They are authors, speakers, business owners and part of the Forbes Next 1000 class of 2021. Together, they’ve published an award-winning, bestselling book titled Redefining Normal: How Two Foster Kids Beat The Odds and Discovered Healing, Happiness and Love that has impacted over 15,000 individuals and famil...

In this week's episode of Fostering Change,  Rob Scheer talks with Giovanna Ventola, an entrepreneur and self published children’s book author who lives in Chicago. She wrote the story of her rescue pup, “Waylon’s World” about Waylon’s journey to his forever home with her in the big city. It’s the first children’s book she’s written but she already has plans to add more to the series. Walyon...

In this week's episode of Fostering Change,  Rob Scheer talks with Callie Christensen and  Kelly Oriard. Callie and Kelly are Co-CEOs and Co-Founders of Slumberkins, a direct-to-consumer, e-commerce children's brand on a mission to promote emotional wellness and provide tools to help raise caring, confident and resilient children.  Callie and Kelly started their business with a culm...

In this week’s episode of Fostering Change,  Rob Scheer talks with Rick Ornelas, Bestselling author & Founder of I Spark Change. Rick Ornelas is a bestselling author, Ultimate Success Coach™, and founder of I Spark Change . He helps individuals gain clarity and guidance by eliminating the roadblocks preventing their personal and professional success so they can elevate their social impact...

In this week’s episode of Fostering Change,  Rob Scheer talks with Tony Hynes. Tony is an adoptee, former foster youth, author of “The Son with Two Moms:, Training Specialist at the Center for Adoption Support and Education, and PH.D. Candidate studying the well-being of adult interracial adoptees. Rob and Tony discuss The importance of discussing Intersectionality in adoptive/foster care com...

In this week’s episode of Fostering Change,  Rob Scheer talks with Keri Richmond,Executive Director at Unbelievably Resilient and Manager of Child Welfare Policy at American Academy of Pediatrics. Keri Richmond is a passionate advocate for children and families in both her personal and professional life. After being in Ohio’s foster care system off and on for four years, and being adopted int...

In this week’s episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer talks with Angelique Salizan, Policy Director of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI), and with their summer Interns, all who are or have been in foster care: Stormy Lukasavage, Christina Parker & Ryan Young. CCAI hosts its annual Foster Youth Internship ® Program every summer- where young adults who have spent tim...

In this week’s episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer talks with Harvey Gallagher, Chief Executive, Nationwide Association of Fostering . Harvey began his career volunteering to support disadvantaged children. He has worked for local authorities and national charities in the UK. He holds an MBA, is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, charity trustee, volunteer and chair of school governors. He...

In this week’s episode of Fostering Change,  Rob Scheer talks with Lindsey May, Program Coordinator at The Twig, & Nicole Britton, Director of Development at The Twig. They share the history of The Twig and how it remains a resource for children in foster care where their needs are met and provided with love and encouragement. “Twig” stands for: “The Way to Inspire and Give.” Twig shops a...

In this week’s episode of Fostering Change Rob Scheer talks with Joseph Toles, Licensed Mental Health Counselor. Rob and Joseph talk about Joseph’s life living as a former foster child, working in the system, and now adopting kids from the system. Story Key Notes: 🖐️ Joseph’s Experience in Foster Care and How it Informed Childhood Decisions and Choices 🖐️ How did Joseph’s Experiences Impact Career...

In this week’s episode of Fostering Change Rob Scheer talks with Keri Vellis, Biological, Adoptive, Foster Mom, Author & Advocate. Keri has 3 biological children & adopted three from foster care. She has fostered over 20 children, written 3 children’s books: Sometimes - for foster children; When I Was Little - for children who have suffered from trauma & abuse, and her latest book, Tum...

In this week’s episode of Fostering Change Rob Scheer talks with Jodi Grinwald, Founder & Change Agent, Today is the Day, LLC,CEO & Co-Founder, Zzak G. Applaud Our Kids Foundation. Jodi has over 17 years of experience as a not-for-profit (for-impact) organization expert and has won several benchmark awards. After working in leadership positions for two national not-for-profit (for-impact)...

In this week’s episode of Fostering Change Rob Scheer talks with Jen Lilley. In 2007, Lilley married Jason Wayne. In 2016, Lilley and her husband became foster parents through the organization, Childhelp. In June 2019, Lilley and Wayne adopted their two foster sons and in July 2019, she gave birth to a daughter. And just 2 months ago in May, she gave birth to another daughter! A star on both the s...

In this week’s episode of Fostering Change Rob Scheer talks with Mindy Henderson, author, editor, speaker, advocate. Henderson is the author of THE TRUTH ABOUT THINGS THAT SUCK , A Motivational Speaker, Writer, Coach, Host of The Truth About Things That Suck podcast, guest contributor of “Morning Motivations” on CBS Austin’s “We Are Austin” lifestyle morning show and was recently named an “Austin...

In this week’s episode of Fostering Change Rob Scheer talks with Shenandoah Chefalo,Owner/President of Chefalo Consulting: Trauma-Informed Specialist. Shebabdoah is a former foster kid, Author of Garbage Bag Suitcase: A Memoir and owner of Chefalo Consulting. They talk about Looking at the whole person and whole system transformation to create systems of healing.  Story Key Notes: 🖐️ Understa...

In this week’s episode of Fostering Change Rob Scheer talks with York Bradshaw, Ph. D. President, Urban Hunger Project , Inc. York Bradshaw had a long career at several universities, where he served as Professor of Sociology and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. His academic work focused on improving education and health in cities in both the U.S. and Africa. More recently, he served as an...

In this week’s episode of Fostering Change Rob Scheer talks with Susan Silverman, a rabbi, writer and activist. She is the author of Casting Lots: Creating a Family in a Beautiful , Broken World (Da Capo Press) a memoir that weaves the story of her family, formed through birth and adoption, with Jewish theology and ritual. Susan is the founding director of Second Nurture : Every Child Deserves a F...

In this week’s episode of Fostering Change Rob Scheer talks with Marcy Bursac, Adoptive Mom, Author, Podcast Host, and App Designer. Foster care adoption was Marcy's Plan A. She and her husband adopted a biological sibling pair. While remote schooling her children during the pandemic, Marcy began to see a gap between adults with a desire to adopt and the 115,000 adoptable children within the Unite...