Are you thinking about adopting or fostering a child? Confused about all the options and wondering where to begin? Or are you an adoptive or foster parent or kinship caregiver trying to be the best parent possible to this precious child? This is the podcast for you! Every week, we interview leading experts for an hour, discussing the topics you care about in deciding whether to adopt/foster or how to be a better parent. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are the national ...
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This show is here to help you adopt. You'll find resources, inspiration and hope to build your family through infant adoption. This interview based show has guests ranging from adoptive families to authors, consultants, agencies, attorneys and more. We lay it all out on the table with each interview to give you tips, encouragement and a TON of knowledge of the adoption process.
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Real stories about the joys and challenges of the adoption journey. You'll hear from parents and families who've been through infant and international adoption, foster-to-adopt, and even embryo adoption. These inspiring stories are told from the perspective of the adoptee, birth parent or adoptive parent.
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Adoption STAR E-Marketing Coordinator speaks to adoption professionals about trending adoption topics such as the effects of the internet on infant adoption and open and semi-open adoption and much much more.
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Sometimes the very strategies meant to help children have the opposite effect. Join AEI’s Naomi Schaefer Riley and Ian Rowe as they look behind the headlines at the public policies and cultural agendas driving child welfare and education. Rowe and Riley bring to light practices that will make you ask, “Are you kidding me?”
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Sisterhood Through Infertility and Pregnancy Loss Did I do something to cause my miscarriage? What should I expect during fertility treatments? Was my pregnancy loss experience normal? Is my body against me? Is God punishing me? And the biggest question of all, does anyone understand what I'm going through? No matter what season you're in; loss, fertility treatments or taking a break from it all, this is the show for you. The Joy of Sunflowers Podcast is an ongoing collection of real and raw ...
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Sometimes Love Isn’t Enough: The Parenting Through Challenges Podcast - A practical yet heartfelt podcast for parents who are overwhelmed by unique challenges in parenting. Join Angie Grandt – The Adoption Coach – as she leads you on a journey to rebuild a relationship with your child – you know – the one who you promised to love unconditionally, but who keeps pushing you away and displaying such unsettling behaviors, and now you find you are so easily triggered by all their behaviors and ca ...
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This is where we say the things we can't say anywhere else to anyone else. Join certified life coach and stillbirth mom Jennifer Senn as she shares stories and has conversations about what life is like after suffering the loss of your baby and of the future you dreamed of before you heard those awful four words. Grief lasts a lifetime but you don't have to struggle with guilt, fear, and the isolation that is so common for loss moms. Navigating Baby Loss will give you inspiration and hope fro ...
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Born A Secret: Abandoned At Birth is A Foundling Podcast. You may be wondering what a foundling is. A foundling is an infant that was abandoned and was found and raised by someone else besides their mother or father. Each episode will cover a foundling's unique story. Of how they coped with life as a foundling and their pursuit to find out why their life started the way it did. The Born A Secret podcast hopes to inspire compassion among all sides of a search journey and to raise awareness fo ...
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Episode 67:Healing Through Self-Love and Forgiveness with Dr. Heather Browne
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Send Jen a Text Message In this episode, we welcome back Dr. Heather Browne, the author of 'Speaking with the Heart,' to discuss the importance of self-love and releasing guilt. Dr. Browne shares profound insights and real-life stories about dealing with the past, the impact of guilt, and how to move forward with compassion for oneself. She also di…
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Personal Story of Healing from Sexual Abuse
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Send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Join this inspiring discussion with two former foster youths who talk about their time in foster care and how that experience shaped them. Lanitta was a pregnant and parenting teen growing up in the North Carolina foster care system. In May of 2022, she joined the 2% population of former foster y…
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Have you ever wondered why you connect with some people better than others? This can be especially true with our kids - and can cause us parents so much distress, as we interpret this as "liking" one of our kids better than the others. Or have you ever wondered why things can be going so well with one person (or child) and then a 3rd or 4th person …
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How to Make and Use an Adoption Lifebook - Weekend Wisdom
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Send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. A Lifebook is the story of how your child came to be yours and the story of his life before he came to you. Adoption is only one aspect of your child, and at some point, his life merges into your life. However, he had a life before he came to your family, and his Lifebook tells this part of his s…
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Sarah Font on Substance-Exposed Infants in the US
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The dramatic rise in substance use disorders over the past decade has altered—indeed, destroyed—many American lives, but how does this epidemic affect children? And who is ensuring their safety? This week, Naomi and Ian are joined by Sarah Font, child welfare researcher and associate professor of sociology and public policy at Penn State, to discus…
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Evaluating Risk Factors in International Adoption
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Send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Are you considering adopting internationally. If so, you really should listen to this interview with the great Dr. Dana Johnson, MD, PhD. He is a Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Neonatology at the University of Minnesota Medical School. Dr. Johnson founded the International Adoption Cl…
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When I meet parents who are stressed, overwhelmed, or even at the end of their rope, I often hear a common theme: "I'll be happy when my child stops (you can fill in the blank here)," or "I'll stop feeling frustrated when my child does (fill in the blank)." This is a common human reaction. We all do it to some degree - it's our default way of think…
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Will the Pain of Infertility Go Away If I Adopt? - Weekend Wisdom
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Send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Question: We’re 5 years in trying to conceive and I’m TIRED. I have an opportunity to adopt an unborn baby girl. My question is, does it get any easier dealing with the infertility, the failure, the empty feeling? Does your heart stop breaking every month when you know you’re not pregnant? I’m so…
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Episode 66: Julie Shapiro: Navigating Grief and Empowering Change Through Aubrey's Advocate
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Send Jen a Text Message Julie Shapiro's Journey: From Devastating Loss to New Purpose Julie Shapiro recounts her deeply personal and heartbreaking journey through stillbirth, grieving during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the steps she took to create Aubrey's Advocate, a non-profit organization providing support for parents who have experienced similar…
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Send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Join us to talk with Cam Lee Small about his new book, The Adoptee's Journey: From Loss and Trauma to Healing and Empowerment. In this episode, we talk about: You wrote this book for Christian adoptees. Why that specific audience? Adoptees have been objectified, scrutinized, and infantized. Can y…
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Can I Adopt If My Husband Is Disabled? - Weekend Wisdom
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Send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Question: Hello! I’ve been listening to the podcast for a little while now as I consider my desire to adopt. I’ve had many models around me who adopted their children, and although the process is difficult, I have a desire to provide a home to children in need. It seems like now adoptions are dec…
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When facing a new challenge, where do you turn first for answers? In the past couple of decades, many of us would say the experts (or Google, lol!). We feel frustrated, overwhelmed, uncertain - and we turn to the experts. Don't get me wrong - there is value in knowledge, expertise, and specialized skills. However - you are the expert in your child.…
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Snowflakes Babies: Rodney and Mary Leah Share Their Embryo Adoption Story [S7E23]
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Rodney and Mary Leah are both attorneys in Alabama. For ten years, they walked the journey of infertility before welcoming twins, Dalton and Mary Elizabeth, through Snowflakes Embryo Adoption Program. They also serve on the board of Carrywell, a non-profit that helps couples walking through infertility, miscarriage and infant loss through groups an…
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Episode 65: Improving High-Risk Pregnancy Outcomes with Parijat Deshpande
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Send Jen a Text Message Parijat Deshpande is the founder and CEO of Ruvelle, the only trauma-informed wellness company specifically dedicated to improving high-risk pregnancy outcomes, reducing preterm birth, and supporting parents on the entire high-risk pregnancy journey. On a mission to end the high-risk pregnancy crisis, she has served and supp…
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Send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Do you want to help your adopted or foster child work through the big issues they may face in life? Join our discussion of the seven core issues with Allison Davis Maxon, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She is the co-author of Seven Core Issues in Adoption and Permanency, The Seven Core…
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You Know You're Ready to Start Thinking About Adoption When . . . - Weekend Wisdom
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Send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Are you in infertility treatment but possibly considering adoption? Dawn outlines what couples may be considering, which indicates they are ready to consider adoption. Resources: Parenting After Infertility Types of Adoption Affording Adoption This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. …
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The parents I serve, the parents I connect with, the parent I was... would all say something along this line: "I am giving all of my time, my attention, my energy, my (you can probably add more here!) to my one child - they are exhausting me!" But is giving your time, your attention, your energy, etc. the same as connecting with your child? Our kid…
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Episode 64: How do I live my life now that it feels so different?
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Send Jen a Text Message Losing a baby is one of the most devastating experiences anyone can go through. As a mother, the dreams you had for your child and the life you envisioned are shattered. It feels like a piece of your heart has been taken away, leaving you to navigate a world that suddenly feels unrecognizable. Life is different now, and the …
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Born From Our Souls: Aida Phillips Shares Her Adoption Story [S7E22]
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Aida Phillips and her husband longed to be parents but found that conceiving naturally was not possible for them. They began infertility treatments, which ultimately proved unsuccessful and took a significant toll on Aida both mentally and physically. She started looking into adoption, but her husband was hesitant, and EVEN MORE so when they met wi…
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Herbie Newell on Adoption Impacts in Real Time Post Dobbs
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How has the Supreme Court’s decision on Dobbs v. Jackson affected foster care and adoption in the United States during the past two years? This week, Naomi and Ian are joined by Herbie Newell, President & Executive Director of Lifeline Children’s Services, one of the largest adoption agencies in the United States. Herbie discusses how the recent li…
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The Fetishization of Female Asian Adoptees
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Send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Join us to talk with Dr. Kimberly McKee about her book, Adoption Fantasies: The Fetishization of Asian Adoptees from Girlhood to Womanhood. In this episode, we cover: This book explores how Asian women and girls, specifically Asian adoptees in the US, negotiate the sensationalism and fictional po…
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Send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. As a mom of four children through birth and adoption, I’ve been there and done that in terms of parenting. I’ve made more than my share of mistakes and have had my share of successes as well. I’ve also had the privilege of interviewing the top parenting experts over the last almost 17 years we’ve…
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At a recent in-person workshop I held for adoptive parents, we discussed how perceptive and intuitive our kids can be! When our face shows frustration, overwhelm, or unhappiness. Some of us even hear "why are you mad mom?" Let's chat about some strategies to actually have your face match your goal - the goal to create a peaceful, happy home where y…
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Embryo Twins: Michael and Naomi's Embryo Adoption Story [S7E21]
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After Michael and Naomi’s unsuccessful attempts to start a family, they were led to a fertility clinic where they were diagnosed with male-factor infertility. They were told IVF would be the only real option. The couple experienced a lot of grief and started praying about what to do to become parents. They started to research their options when God…
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Raising and Healing Abused and Neglected Kids with Dr. Karyn Purvis
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Send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Children adopted from foster care or from abroad have often experienced abuse, neglect, or trauma. These children require a different form of parenting. In 2015, we interviewed Dr. Karyn Purvis, author of The Connected Child: Bring Hope and Healing to Your Adoptive Family, and the founder and Dir…
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71. Writing About Pregnancy Loss with Author Morgan Martin
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In this interview I speak with the lovely Morgan Martin Author of Healing Empty Hands, we discuss her book and her loss experience. Speaker https://www.instagram.com/morganreneemcintyre/ (@morganreneemcintyre) Host https://www.instagram.com/heybeautifulmama/ (@heybeautifulmama)By Ella Rose
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My Foster Child Only Eats Junk Food - Weekend Wisdom
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Send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Question: My foster child only likes junk food and will not eat anything that doesn’t come out of a box. We aren’t fanatics, but we try to eat pretty healthily. I don’t want to feed the rest of my family the boxed junk, and I don’t want to feed him separate stuff. Help! Resources: Food Issues (Re…
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As Mother's Day approaches, how are you feeling? For so many of us, it can come with more disappointment than joy, more frustration than fun, more sadness than flowers. When raising children with intense emotions or behaviors, we may be in a position to just hope that nobody gets hurt, there aren't too many tears, or that we can survive the day. An…
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Adoption in 5 Months! Jordan Moreno Shares her Adoption Story [S7E20]
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Adoption doesn’t always have to be a daunting task! Jordan Moreno’s story tells us that the timeline might be faster than you think! Jose and Jordan have a beautiful adoption story, as they all are, but this one had an ease about it that will make anyone who is nervous feel at peace that everything can fall perfectly into place and QUICKLY!!! They …
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Episode 63: Mary Matt's Unforgettable Journey: Carrying Her Stillborn Baby Until the Miraculous Birth of His Twin
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Send Jen a Text Message I can never get enough of hearing other loss mom's stories and I love bringing their lives into the room because each one is so special and unique. Mary Matt bravely shares her incredible story of the birth of her twinless twin and how she carried him for many weeks knowing she would say hello and goodbye at the same time sh…
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Understanding the Child Welfare Experience from the Birth Parent's Perspective
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Send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. We talk a lot about the child's experience in foster care, but what is this experience like for the child's birth parents? You may be surprised! Join our conversation with Dr. Darcey Merritt, a professor at the University of Chicago School of Social Work who researches this topic. In this episode…
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70. Pregnancy After Loss and Having a Rainbow with Sarah Lingle the PAL Doula
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I'm so grateful to be bringing this first episode of season 2 to you. Sarah Lingle is such an amazing women and to have known her through this season of pregnancy after loss, delivery and then having our living babies with us has been such a blessing. I pray you find hope in this episode. Speaker @paldoula Host @heybeautifulmama Event @thejoyof…
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Red Flags When Choosing an International Adoption Agency - Weekend Wisdom
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Send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. What are the red flags that may alert that a potential agency may not have the child’s or your best interest in mind? Your adoption agency will guide your international adoption, so choose wisely. Dawn highlights some of the red flags to be aware of and Creating a Family has a 3-step process for …
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7: But I adopted my child is a tiny infant
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So often I hear parents describe their adoption experience, and share that their early adoption means that attachment difficulties are unlikely. I'm here to challenge that, to help you see things differently for the sake of your child. About your host, Angie Grandt - The Adoption Coach Angie Grandt is the Adoption Coach. She is also an early interv…
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RODS Heroes: Brady and Andrea Murray's Adoption Story [S7E19]
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Brady and Andrea Murray are the proud parents of eleven children, seven of which are adopted. After having a biological child diagnosed with Down Syndrome, the couple started RODS Heroes, which was founded in 2013. RODS Heroes inspires families to answer the call to adopt a child with Down Syndrome or other unique circumstances. As they were helpin…
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Episode 62: At The Right Time- Lessons in Loss with Nikki Scott
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Send Jen a Text Message My two favorite worlds came together when I got to interview Nikki Scott and talk about all things business, books, and how she navigated the loss of her sister and her husband and many dreams she had for her future along with them. Nikki is a salon owner and a loss mom who suffered one devastating loss after another. She wr…
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