Helping My Child Thrive Post-High School (w/Jonathan Brush) Ep. 293
Release Date: 04/27/2026
Introducing In Case You Forget
The Forgotten Podcast
From The Forgotten Initiative comes a brand-new series created specifically for the Foster Care Caseworker. At The Forgotten Initiative, we’ve always believed that you shouldn’t have to carry the weight of this calling alone. For years, The Forgotten Podcast has been a place for our whole community to gather—but we know that those of you on the front lines carry a unique kind of weight. That’s why we’ve created something just for you. Hosted by Jami Kaeb and Jamie Finn, In Case You Forget is a space to breathe, to process the things that follow you home, and to remember the...
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Helping My Child Thrive Post-High School (w/Jonathan Brush) Ep. 293
The Forgotten Podcast
In this episode of The Forgotten Podcast, host Jami Kaeb 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...
info_outlineIn this episode of The Forgotten Podcast, host Jami Kaeb 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 as "thriving" and offers guidance on understanding the "creation of value" in the workplace and the irreplaceable power of community.
About the Guest
Jonathan Brush is the President and CEO of Unbound. As a first-generation homeschool graduate and a foster and adoptive dad of eight, he is passionate about preparing young adults for life and has spoken on the subject for over a decade.
In This Episode
- Defining success as “thriving” (living a meaningful, important life) rather than fame, fortune, or power.
- Exploring non-college career options in business (marketing, sales, technology/AI) and the trades (welding, plumbing, electrician).
- The shift from an "answers-based" paradigm to a "questions-based" paradigm in the modern job market, emphasizing the ability to quickly and effectively master complicated information (QE MCI).
- Why the inherent resilience and survival skills of foster children are valuable assets in the current market.
- Setting the “high expectation” that young people can thrive, combined with “infinite patience” to help them achieve it.
- Understanding work as the “creation of value” by showing up, working hard, treating others well, and “thinking like an owner”.
- How to cultivate natural curiosity and the ability to ask better questions by looking for “the game being played underneath the game”.
- The critical role of community in driving careers and the willingness to open your home despite imperfections.
Resources + Links
Learn more about The Forgotten Initiative
Learn more about what at TFI Advocate does