Polly Talks Adoption & Fostering

In this heartfelt episode of Polly Talks , Polly sits down with Louise Allen, a mum, foster carer, and care-experienced individual, to explore the foster care system from a truly unique perspective. Louise shares her personal journey openly and honestly, reflecting on her own experiences as a care-experienced child and the insights she’s gained as a foster carer. With warmth, honesty, and practica...

In this episode of Polly Talks, Polly is joined by Mandy, who worked within the Scottish Adoption and Fostering team as part of the Bluebird Project—an initiative supporting families with children in adoption, permanent fostering, or kinship care. Mandy reflects on her role as a Support Worker and the meaningful ways she walked alongside families throughout their journeys. She also speaks candidly...

🎙 Polly Talks Adoption and Fostering — Episode: Your Voice, Your Story with Chris Leslie This episode, Polly sits down with Chris Leslie from the Scottish Book Trust, the manager leading the inspiring Your Voice, Your Story programme. Together, they explore how storytelling can empower care-experienced young people and birth parents to share their journeys in their own words and in their own uniqu...

In this heartfelt episode for Foster Care Fortnight, Polly speaks with Darren, an adoptive dad, about the meaningful relationship he's built with his son's former foster carer. Darren reflects on the trust, respect, and mutual support that have helped create a sense of continuity for his son. It’s a powerful conversation about bridging families, honouring the past, and the shared commitment to a c...

In this companion episode for Foster Care Fortnight, Polly speaks with Sarah, the foster carer who cared for Louisa’s child before they were adopted. Together, they explore the emotional journey of fostering, the complexities of letting go, and the enduring connection that can remain between foster carers and adoptive families. Sarah reflects on the transition from foster care to adoption and shar...

In this special episode for Foster Care Fortnight, Polly sits down with Louisa, an adoptive mum, to talk about the powerful and often overlooked relationship between adoptive families and foster carers. Louisa shares her heartfelt experience of maintaining a bond with her child’s former foster carer, highlighting the vital role they continue to play in their child’s life. It's a conversation about...

Special Foster Care Fortnight Episode – Polly Talks Fostering and Adoption x WTAF  In this powerful crossover episode, Polly is joined by Jamie and Holly from the We Talk Adoption and Fostering (WTAF) podcast. Together, they share heartfelt reflections on their experiences growing up in foster care, the challenges they faced, and the deep, lasting bonds they’ve formed with their foster carers. Hon...

Polly Talks Adoption and Fostering – Featuring Nell Carpenter In this episode of Polly Talks Adoption and Fostering, Polly sits down with Nell Carpenter, author of Someday This Could Be Ordinary: Our Adoption Journey. Nell shares her raw and honest experience of adopting two children—an eight-year-old and a three-year-old—each with their own histories of trauma and resilience. She opens up about t...

In this episode, Dr. Polly Cowan talks with Dr. Sarah Suggs from Reading University about eating behaviours in care experienced children. Dr. Suggs shares her expertise on how early trauma, disrupted attachments, and experiences in care can deeply influence children’s relationship with food. This episode offers valuable insights into how we can better understand and support these children, particu...

In this moving episode of Polly Talks, Polly is joined by Rachel, a birth mother who has found crucial support through the Bluebird Flock groups, and Sarah, her dedicated support worker. Together, they share how the Bluebird Project has played a transformative role in Rachel's journey—offering a vital network for birth parents who have a child in foster, adoptive, or kinship care and another livin...

Polly Talks to Naomi & Vickie from Scottish Adoption & Fostering: The Bluebird Project In this powerful episode of Polly Talks..., Polly sits down with Vickie and Naomi from Scottish Adoption and Fostering to dive deep into the Bluebird Project—a vital support network for birth parents whose children are in foster, adoptive, or kinship care. The Bluebird Project was created with one core m...

Polly Talks with Simon Benn from Thriving Adoptees! In this episode of Polly Talks..., Polly sits down with Simon Benn, founder of Thriving Adoptees, for a powerful conversation about the lived experience of adoption. Simon shares his personal journey as an adoptee, exploring the emotional challenges, the search for identity, and the resilience that comes with navigating life after adoption. Simon...

This episode Polly Talks... to Amanda about how to enjoy a stress free Christmas, how to manage expectations and hopefully stop those melt downs.

Polly talks to is Rosalind Powell and her son Levi. Rosalind is author of the book How I Met My Son and is also Contributing Editor for HELLO! Magazine and has written for a wide selection of national newspapers and supplements including the Observer, Independent, Guardian, Sunday Times and Mirror, as well as magazines such as Red, for which she was a contributing editor, Grazia, Marie Claire and...

Polly talks to Jette, an Occupational Therapist at Scottish Adoption.

In this podcast Polly speaks to adopters and fostercarers about what happens during the introduction process.

Polly talks to Shonagh and Chelsea about the emotions of becoming a mother.

Polly talks to Chelsea and Shonagh about the Family Finding Process.

In this episode Polly talks to Shonagh and Chelsea about the Homestudy process and getting to the Adoption Approval Panel.

Polly, one of Scottish Adoption's Senior Practitioners in the Family Placement Team, talks to single adopters Shonagh and Chelsea about their journey to parenthood.