Let's Talk: A Foster Adopt Minnesota Podcast

The Immigrant Experiences Reading & Resource Guide was created by Kelly Hooker, an avid book reviewer @kellyhook.readsbooks, alongside  Rawand  Amedi, mental health therapist and refugee from Kurdistan. Hear how they created this guide to foster understanding, build empathy, and open meaningful conversations across ages. Kelly and  Rawand  carefully selected stories for both children and adult...

 In this episode, your co-hosts Bridget and Kris interview each other about what they love (and don’t love) about hosting the podcast, favorite episodes, what’s they’ve learned along the way, and what they are looking forward to for the future of the Let’s Talk podcast. (27 mins) June 17, 2026 The post Our 150th Episode: Looking Back, Looking Forward appeared first on Foste...

Olivia Allery shares the historical and systemic factors contributing to violence in Indigenous communities. By exploring the impacts of colonial history, intergenerational trauma, and legal frameworks, we look at why certain cycles persist and what changes are necessary for progress. This episode is eligible for a Certificate of Completion. (27 mins) June 2, 2026 Resources from Olivia Allery The...

Hear from child welfare professionals, Brianna and Stephanie Coleman, about their years of experience working with children, adolescents, and adults with marginalized identities.  They  share the various types of safe care supports available in our communities and you will leave feeling encouraged to open your heart and home to LGBTQ+ youth. Next up is Mariah Rooney.  Mariah will share how to brin...

Whether you’re a parent, foster or adoptive  care giver, or a professional supporting families, this conversation invites you to pause, reflect, and walk away with a deeper understanding of how  culture , connection, and  care  come together in everyday parenting. Dr. Siek and Rawand Amedi bring their expertise in child development and mental health, while sharing insights rooted in cultural aware...

Since the end of World War II, over 500,000 children have been adopted from abroad by U.S. citizen parents with the promise of a secure life.  Yet, for many, that promise was broken by a legal oversight that denied them automatic citizenship.  Amanda Cho and Rachel Koelzer will share how this loophole started, the impacts and why it persists to day.  We will take an inside look at the  Protect Ado...

Youth  self – harm  is an increasing mental health challenge. Foster youth are especially susceptible to engaging in  self – harm . Charley Joyce, MSW, joins us to discuss the different forms of  self – harm , why foster youth  self – harm  and some considerations in how foster parents might respond to a youth that is  self – harm ing. (40 mins) April 8, 2026 This pod...

In this episode, we are joined by Heather  Van Brunt , Permanency Services Director at Foster Adopt Minnesota. She answers all of our burning questions about the HELP program and shares why it’s such a vital service to families in the adoption, kinship, and foster care community. (30 mins) March 25, 2026 This podcast is eligible for a Certificate of Completion if you complete a Post Podcast...

Pat Monson, JD & Charley Joyce , MSW are here to talk about the importance of preventative and attentive health care. This March, during National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month , Pat shares the tragic story of her daughter Rachel Ellingson. At age 33, Rachel was living her best life; yet for some time, she was suffering from bowel symptoms. Several doctors said she was too young for colorec...

Growing Together At Every Stage Part 6 – Ages 16 – 25: Guiding Them Toward Their True Selves In this six-part series, we are joined by family therapist and author Meg  Flynn, who brings us a wealth of knowledge from her work with families and kids for over three decades. In this era of high-pressure parenting and busy family life,  Meg  reminds us of how we can slow down, find the joy...

Growing Together At Every Stage Part  5 -4th to 9th Grade: Sense of Belonging and Healthy Community In this six-part series, we are joined by family therapist and author  Meg Flynn , who brings us a wealth of knowledge from her work with families and kids for over three decades. In this era of high-pressure parenting and busy family life, Meg reminds us of how we can slow down, find the joy in eac...

In this six-part series, we are joined by family therapist and author  Meg Flynn , who brings us a wealth of knowledge from her work with families and kids for over three decades. In this era of high-pressure parenting and busy family life, Meg reminds us of how we can slow down, find the joy in each stage, and focus on what really matters–safety, connection, and growth. Growing Together at...

In this six-part series, we are joined by family therapist and author  Meg Flynn , who brings us a wealth of knowledge from her work with families and kids for over three decades. In this era of high-pressure parenting and busy family life, Meg reminds us of how we can slow down, find the joy in each stage, and focus on what really matters–safety, connection, and growth. In Part 3 – Pr...

In this six-part series, we are joined by family therapist and author  Meg Flynn , who brings us a wealth of knowledge from her work with families and kids for over three decades. In this era of high-pressure parenting and busy family life, Meg reminds us of how we can slow down, find the joy in each stage, and focus on what really matters–safety, connection, and growth.   Part 2-Toddle...

In this six-part series, we are joined by family therapist and author  Meg Flynn , who brings us a wealth of knowledge from her work with families and kids for over three decades. In this era of high-pressure parenting and busy family life, Meg reminds us of how we can slow down, find the joy in each stage, and focus on what really matters–safety, connection, and growth.   Part 1- Babie...

Adoption is a unique experience, both enriching and challenging. Adoptive parents Dawn and Truman share how their practical, actionable strategies and lots of compassion for themselves and their children helped them navigate unique challenges, reduce stress, and create a calmer, more connected home life. From attachment to education, this conversation will help keep your world manageable. We&#8217...

Children in foster or adoptive care often carry invisible burdens of anxiety, trauma, or disconnection. In this episode, children’s mindfulness teacher Veronica  Moya  shares how soul-centered practices can help kids tap into resilience, self-love, and emotional intelligence. With practical tools and a fresh perspective,  Veronica  shows how mindfulness is not therapy, but mental hygiene that help...

In this episode, we are joined by Ron  and Melissa Moore .  Ron  and Melissa raised three biological children and adopted three siblings from foster care. They share how they came to be interested in adoption, their parenting philosophy, and many of the joys and challenges they’ve experienced on their parenting journey.  Ron and Melissa share how they support their children in being their be...

We sit down with Charley Joyce, MSW and Eric Monson, MBA to go beyond the textbooks for practical leadership strategies you can apply to your own career and life.  How do they navigate uncertainty?  What were their lessons learned?  And what wisdom would they share with their younger selves?  Tune in to transform your approach to leadership. (43 mins) October 22, 2025 This podcast is eligible for...

In this episode, we explore the fascinating world of primitive reflexes—the automatic movements present at birth that lay the foundation for motor, sensory, and cognitive development. Sherri e Wethey , occupational therapist, joins us to explain what primitive reflexes are, how trauma can interfere with their integration, and how treatment can improve motor skills, regulation, and higher-level lea...

Burnout in Child Welfare Professionals and Foster Parents Burnout is a process.  It is not necessarily tied to one specific instance.  In most situations, it is an accumulation of numerous stressful, and at times traumatic, struggles that are ongoing and remain unresolved.  Dr. Heather Siek and Charley Joyce address how to recognize, understand, and overcome or manage this burnout process. (44 min...

Chaya Milchtein joins Let’s Talk to share about her journey through foster care, identity and self-discovery and how this led her to building a successful career in the male-dominated industry of automobile ownership and maintenance. (47 mins) September 10, 2025 This podcast is eligible for a Certificate of Completion if you complete a  Post Podcast Test .   The post From Foster Care to...

Learn all about Beltrami Area Service Collaborative (BASC) and the power of collaboration in maximizing the health, education, and well-being of families in Beltrami County.  Kim Graham , Executive Director, and Kristina Ulve , School Engagement Case Manager, share the programs and services BASC supports, including mental health initiatives, educational programs, and early intervention services fo...

Jeremy Carney , MSW, PhD  and Charley Joyce , MSW know that child welfare work can be challenging.  Yet it offers a deeply rewarding career path for individuals passionate about making a positive impact in the lives of children, families, and communities.  Hear how their professional experiences have made a profound difference in their lives and for others! (47 mins) August 13, 2025 This podcast i...

Children and adults alike can be their own harshest critics, and our culture often perpetuates this.  But there is a powerful yet underutilized tool called mindful self-compassion. In this episode, we are joined by one of the experts in mindful self-compassion, Jamie Lynn Tatera . Jamie Lynn is a teacher, trainer, author, and the creator the Parent-Child Mindfulness and Self-Compassion Program. Sh...