Episode 180: How Caregiver Stress Impacts Our Bodies
Fostering Voices Podcast
Summary: In honor of Stress Awareness Month, our podcast delves into the crucial topic of stress reduction and self-care. While this is important for everyone, it holds even greater significance for caregivers of children with special needs and those working in social services fields. The toll of constant stress can adversely affect our health, leading to feelings of depression, anxiety, inadequate sleep, lack of physical activity, and imbalanced diets. These factors increase the risk of serious health conditions like heart disease and diabetes. But how do we address this challenge? Today,...
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Episode 179: What is Critical Memory Integration and How Can it Help?
Fostering Voices Podcast
Summary: Today, we’re delving into an exciting new therapy modality called Critical Memory Integration. This groundbreaking approach focuses on healing trauma by exploring unresolved critical memories and integrating them with neutral memories, fostering resilience in individuals. At the forefront of this creation, our incredible team of panelists joins us today. You might recognize one of our team members—Estefana Johnson—who shared her insights in our Valentine’s episode. Estefana is a cherished friend of Foster Arizona. Alongside Estefana, we have two remarkable psychologists: Dr....
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Episode 178: Learning and Growing Together - On Location at Foster Cooperative Training Day: Part 2
Fostering Voices Podcast
Summary: Welcome back to the Fostering Voices podcast! In today’s episode, we’re picking up where we left off last week. Our microphones are live on location at Foster Cooperative’s first training day of 2024, where we’re soaking up knowledge and growing together. 🌱 Last time, you had the pleasure of meeting some of our incredible presenters. This week, get ready to hear from three more remarkable human beings. They’ll share their stories, insights, and passion for fostering. 🎙️ So, without further ado, let’s dive into this enriching conversation! Buckle up, because here we...
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Episode 177: Learning and Growing Together - On Location at Foster Cooperative Training Day: Part 1
Fostering Voices Podcast
Summary: Today is all about something extra special! We've packed our gear and hit the road to bring you an exclusive behind-the-scenes experience. Right now, we're on location at Foster Cooperative's training day, immersing ourselves in a day of learning and growth. Foster Arizona, a beacon of support and empowerment, hosts these training events twice a year. And let me tell you, each time is a unique journey filled with eye-opening insights. Today, we're not keeping those gems to ourselves – we're bringing you along for the ride! Join us as we dive into various topics and explore valuable...
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Episode 176: All You Need is Love (Not!)
Fostering Voices Podcast
Summary: It’s officially Hallmark’s week of love! 🌟 When it comes to parenting kids with trauma, we often hear the words, “All You Need is Love.” But is that really true? This week, we dive deep into this question. We’re thrilled to have Estefana Johnson joining us in the conversation. Estefana, a clinical social worker, began her career working with youth in residential treatment facilities. She’s a mover and a shaker, bringing innovative approaches to trauma therapies. Plus, she’s a favorite trainer at our semi-annual Foster Cooperative training events. And let’s not...
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Episode 175: I Want to Foster! Now What?
Fostering Voices Podcast
Summary: Discover the profound journey of becoming a foster parent in a nation grappling with a staggering shortage. In this episode, we explore the critical issue of the national decline in foster parent numbers, intensified by a 60% drop since the onset of the pandemic. Arizona, mirroring this trend, has witnessed a drastic decrease from 5,559 licensed foster homes in 2019 to a mere 2,798 as of November 2023 – marking a nearly 50% loss. Against this backdrop, our guests, Elisia and Jade from Step Stone Youth Agency, shed light on the challenges and rewards of foster parenting. At a time...
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Episode 174: Moms Get Real
Fostering Voices Podcast
Summary: Welcome to the Fostering Voices podcast with your host Kim! Join us as we shake things up in this episode by delving into some authentic mom talk. We've given Brian the boot for now to bring you a heartfelt discussion on the joys and challenges of parenting within the realms of foster care and adoption. As a mom personally touched by these experiences, connecting with others who share similar journeys has been both empowering and deeply meaningful. In today's episode, we're joined by the wonderful Elisia and Ally, fellow moms navigating the unique landscape of foster care and...
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Episode 173: Kids’ Perspective on Foster Care and Adoption
Fostering Voices Podcast
Summary: Welcome back to the Fostering Voices podcast! Happy 2024, everyone! We're thrilled to kick off another year of heartfelt conversations and insightful stories. In today's episode, we have a special discussion with our 'bigs'—Maisey, Liesey, and Sam—sharing their unique perspectives on foster care and adoption. Join us as we delve into their experiences, gaining valuable insights into the world of fostering and adoption through their eyes. Thanks for tuning in, and let's embark on this journey of understanding and empathy together! Resource Links: Connect with us! Email:...
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Episode 172: Foster Care Land Between: Planning Your Future in the Unknown
Fostering Voices Podcast
Summary: As we wrap up 2024, we're diving into the complexities of foster care planning. Unlike the conventional New Year's resolutions, the foster care journey is a unique landscape filled with uncertainties. In today's raw and unfiltered discussion, it's just the two of us sharing our personal experiences without any guests. We want to pull back the curtain on the challenges and emotions that come with navigating the foster care land between. As we all contemplate what the coming year holds, those entrenched in foster care face a different set of considerations. Planning takes on a whole new...
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Episode 171: Laughing all the Way: Vehon Christmas Traditions
Fostering Voices Podcast
Summary: Welcome to a festive episode of our podcast, where we dive into the heartwarming world of holiday traditions and intentional joy. As we usher in the holiday season, we're joined by some special guests – the Vehon kids! In this intimate conversation, we explore how our family of 9 embraces the spirit of togetherness and crafts unique traditions that redefine the meaning of festive celebrations. Discover the magic of intentional joy and connection as we unpack the Vehon family's approach to the holidays. From crazy traditions that spark laughter to thoughtful rituals that deepen...
info_outlineThis week we discuss the books that we have read for Quarter 1! Most of them came strongly recommended to us, and we enjoyed them - so we hope you enjoy them as well!
By Johnathan Haidt, Greg Lukianoff .
Fantastic read of where we are in society with the children that we are raising, and who are currently in college and entering the work force. There are some parts that are VERY PAINFUL, but it all serves as a wake up call for us to really parent with intentionality and wisdom.
Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood
By Trevor Noah, and read by him in the Audible version. This book is one of our favorite biographies, and ranks up there with Kevin Hart's book that we read last year. It is heartfelt, funny, and thought provoking. As all good books should be!
Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High, Second Edition
By Kerry Patterson. This book was good and gives you courage to go ahead and have those crucial conversations you have been avoiding.
"The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place. ”
By Simon Sinek, this book is another winner by this award winning author. It is similar to the ideas of having a fixed mindset vs a growth one. Still a great read to help you to see if you are playing a finite game or an infinite one - in business, and in life.
Power Questions: Build Relationships, Win New Business, and Influence Others
By Andrew Sobel, Jerold Panas. This was a great read as well. On the podcast we unintentionally gave the intro of this book a bad rap, but we confused the intro with a different book that we read.
This is a great book and definitely helps us to stop talking, to start listening, and asking direct and powerful questions that will help unlock doors to conversations.
We also mentioned that the power of questions and having crucial conversations really showed up in 'It's a Beatiful Day in the Neighborhood', the newer movie about Mr. Rogers, starring Tom Hanks. That movie is also worth watching!
By Min Jin Lee, I mentioned this in a previous podcast, but I highly recommend it. A great work of fiction set during Japanese occupation in Korea.
By Shawn Achor, this is another great book that we highly recommend by this author. Our favorite part was when Shawn talked about struggling with depression in the midst of teaching about happiness at Harvard. How did he get out of that depression? Letting others in!
By Eckhart Tolle. Chris said this book was a bit too whimsical and didn't finish it. I will see if I get around to it.
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable
By Patrick Lencioni, this is one of Chris' all time favorite leadership books. Definitely worth checking out.
By Tom Satterly, Chris also enjoyed this book about the author and his trials and successes as a military serviceman, who was a part of the Black Hawk Down mission.
By David Goggins. Chris also recommends this book about David, who was a Navy Seal, but definitely did not start out as someone that you would think of as Seal material.
We hope you enjoy these books as much as we did. We are always open to hearing about your book recommendations!
Good Word of the Day
"From time to time in the years to come, I hope you will be treated unfairly, so that you will come to know the value of justice. I hope that you will suffer betrayal because that will teach you the importance of loyalty. Sorry to say, but I hope you will be lonely from time to time so that you don’t take friends for granted. I wish you bad luck, again, from time to time so that you will be conscious of the role of chance in life and understand that your success is not completely deserved and that the failure of others is not completely deserved either. And when you lose, as you will from time to time, I hope every now and then, your opponent will gloat over your failure. It is a way for you to understand the importance of sportsmanship. I hope you’ll be ignored so you know the importance of listening to others, and I hope you will have just enough pain to learn compassion. Whether I wish these things or not, they’re going to happen. And whether you benefit from them or not will depend upon your ability to see the message in your misfortunes."
-Chief Justice John Roberts at his son's 9th grade graduation.
We are all kind of in a time where maybe we are feeling lonely, and like we are failing - but there are great lessons to be learned. So we encourage you to learn them! Make a schedule - for you. And then for your kids. Think about some things you want to achieve, change, overcome - and do those things!
Thank you for tuning in for another week of the podcast. We wish you a great week, and hope you will tune in again next week!