Episode 276: More Than How Your Story Began (w/ Hope Watts)
Release Date: 08/18/2025
Helping My Child Thrive Post-High School (w/Jonathan Brush) Ep. 293
The Forgotten Podcast
In this episode of The Forgotten Podcast, host Jami Cave sits down with Jonathan Brush, CEO of Unbound and a foster and adoptive dad of eight, to discuss how to help young adults—especially those not pursuing a college degree—successfully transition into adulthood and thrive. The conversation addresses the unique challenges facing children from the foster care community, such as trauma and learning gaps, by focusing on resilience, practical career opportunities in a questions-based economy, and the necessity of high expectations paired with endless patience. Jonathan reframes success...
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Loving My Distanced Adult Child (w/Renaut van der Riet) Ep. 292
The Forgotten Podcast
In this episode of The Forgotten Podcast, Jami sits down with Renaut van der, Lead Pastor of Mosaic Church in Orlando, Florida, to discuss the difficult and often unspoken challenge faced by adoptive and foster parents: what to do when your adult child rejects you. Renaut and his wife, Brooke, are parents to eight children, including four adopted from Ethiopia. Renaut shares the deeply personal and painful experience of having two adopted daughters cut off relationship and label the family as "toxic" and "abusive". The conversation frames this experience using the prodigal child...
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Strengthening GenZ Mental Health (w/Stephanie Shackelford) Ep. 291
The Forgotten Podcast
In this episode of The Forgotten Podcast, Jami sits down with Dr. Stephanie Shackelford, a Senior Fellow at Barna Group, to talk about the power of relationships, purpose, and tech-free spaces for improving kids' mental health. Dr. Shackelford shares insights from her recent Barna report, Gen Z, Mental Health and Wellbeing. Dr. Shackelford discusses the six themes identified in her research for supporting Gen Z mental health, including the critical need for tech-free spaces and consistent rhythms for connection. She explains that the youth mental health crisis,...
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Understanding the Court Process (w/Cari Huddleston) Ep. 290
The Forgotten Podcast
Court is one of the most intimidating parts of the foster care journey—but you are not powerless in the process. Today, a Guardian ad Litem shares insight into how the court system works, how “best interest” decisions are made, and why your voice matters more than you may realize. Be encouraged: even when it feels confusing, your presence and partnership make a lasting impact.
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Obeying with Action Where You Are (w/Mary Perdue) Ep. 289
The Forgotten Podcast
On this episode of The Forgotten Podcast, host Jami Kaeb welcomes Mary Perdue—wife of former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue—to share her journey into foster care and her years as the First Lady of Georgia (2003–2011). Mary shares how fostering newborns awaiting adoption in the late 1990s opened her eyes to the broader foster care system and inspired her to make foster care her primary initiative while in office. She describes the cultural stigma and lack of awareness surrounding the system, her focus on educating communities that there are many ways to help beyond becoming a foster...
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Encouraging Foster Parents to Persevere (w/Tony Mitchell) Ep.288
The Forgotten Podcast
On this episode of The Forgotten Podcast, Host Jami Kaeb interviews Tony Mitchell, who entered foster care as a newborn, was adopted at age two into a loving but impoverished farm family, and grew up learning work ethic, faith, and integrity. Tony shares learning about his adoption around age 9–10, wrestling with identity and belonging while facing racial isolation and teenage rebellion, and later coming to faith in college after reading the New Testament. In his forties he located his birth mother to thank her for choosing not to terminate the pregnancy, and at 59 he was contacted by the...
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Addressing Fears About Teen Placements (w/Missy Bell) Ep. 287
The Forgotten Podcast
Our guest, Missy Bell, is the Director of San Diego for Olive Crest, an organization dedicated to preventing child abuse by strengthening, equipping, and restoring children and families in crisis one life at a time. In this conversation with Jami, she brings wisdom and insight into common fears parents have when deciding to adopt a teen and how to overcome them.
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Answering FAQ's About the Advocate Role (w/Jami + Holly) Ep. 286
The Forgotten Podcast
In this episode host Jami Kaeb and Holly Gnuse sit down together to talk about all things Advocates. What does it mean to be a TFI Advocate? They answer all of our frequently asked questions about the role including things like what's the time commitment, is training provided, and how do I start. Listen in as they share details about how TFI equips advocates just like you, all across the country to care for the vulnerable right where they live. More information on becoming a TFI Advocate: https://theforgotteninitiative.org/become-a-tfi-advocate/ Set up a call to learn...
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Linking Trauma Informed Care and the Gospel (w/Tera Melber) Ep. 285
The Forgotten Podcast
Join host Jami for a powerful conversation with experienced foster parent and trauma-informed care expert, Tera Melber. Tera, the founder of Resound Trauma Education, brings her extensive background—including a master’s degree in human services counseling and a commitment to integrating faith with the latest interpersonal neurobiology research—to the discussion. She shares her 20-year journey into foster care and adoption, highlighting the realization that parenting a child from early adversity requires a special set of skills and a Christian framework for care that wasn't always readily...
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Episode 284: Celebrating 10 Years of The Forgotten Podcast (w/ Jamie Finn)
The Forgotten Podcast
In this very special episode, our usual host, Jami Kaeb, is taking a turn in the guest seat. Stepping in to act as the host is our dear friend (and repeat guest) Jamie Finn! The Forgotten Podcast is celebrating 10 years of creating content that serves, equips, and encourages those in the foster care community, as well as exalts the name of Jesus. To help commemorate this milestone, Jami will be the one answering questions and filling us in on some of the most impactful moments from the last 10 years as we look ahead to what’s coming next. In this episode, Jami shares key lessons she’s...
info_outlineAdoption and foster care are often depicted in dramatic ways in the media.
Whether it’s an adult suddenly discovering the truth that they were adopted or a depiction of constant conflict between a child involved in the foster care system and their caregivers, media can easily give us a skewed perspective of what life is actually like for the real people navigating these situations.
That’s why it’s so important to listen to the real voices of children, families, and workers in the foster care community—not to chase sensational details, but to approach their stories with compassionate curiosity. When we do, we discover that each journey is unique, that many see their experiences as stories of strength rather than sorrow, and that every person’s life is far richer than a single chapter.
My guest for this conversation knows this firsthand. While adoption isn’t the defining feature of her daily identity, it has profoundly shaped her perspective.
Hope Watts was adopted through the foster care system as a young child. Today, she enjoys raising awareness about foster care and encouraging others with a message of quiet resilience.
In this episode, you’ll hear the importance of holding space for each other’s stories, some powerful encouragement for foster parents, how to meet people with compassion, and much more.
Find resources mentioned and more in the show notes for this episode: https://theforgotteninitiative.org/hope-watts-276/