Foster Tales

Today, I am joined by Tamesha Scott, who is an artist, author, and community leader at Kids in the Spotlight. Tamesha works tirelessly to help youth create their dreams through art. Her journey is one of resilience. Her passion is contagious. She and I dive into some of her journey through the foster care system, the power of manifesting, and how she got started with Kids in the Spotlight. You can follow Tamesha on Instagram @rose.and.mary To purchase Tamesha's book, "The Homegirl Who Can Cook", follow the link below to Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Clean-Eating-Recipe-Book-Homegirl/dp/1098951611

Foster kids are resilient. Celebrity hairstylist Natasha Minzie, is no exception. Natasha was placed in foster care at the age of 6. She tragically lost her mother, father, and sister to AIDS. Her upbringing in the foster care system has molded her to be an active leader for change in the foster care community. Dec 1 is also World AIDS Day. We dedicate this episode to Natasha's angels who watch over her. We honor those who we have lost and will work to tirelessly remove any stigma of the HIV/AIDS virus. Learn more about HIV/AIDS : https://www.hiv.gov To learn more about Natasha, follow her on instagram @HairbyNatashaMinzie Randal Wells is the host of the Foster Tales Podcast. Please like and subscribe. If you are a former foster youth, or have a resource you would like to provide to the foster tales podcast, please send an email to FosterTalesPodcast@gmail.com

On today's episode, I am joined by Mikey Doucet who is a foster care advocate and content creator of the Youtube Series "Divided Voices". You can find out more about Mikey and his web series on Youtube, Instagram, and Facebook @MikeyDoucet

On today's episode, the roles are reversed. I, Randal Wells, am being interviewed by my Season 3 guest (and best friend), Teagen Rose. From 3 seasons of doing this podcast, there are so many questions that you all had about who I was, and while I have shared some of my story throughout, some of you requested to learn more about me. Randal Wells is a remarkable individual who has triumphed over immense adversity to become a singer, songwriter, entertainment professional, and a passionate advocate for Foster Care. Born in Bridgeport, CT, Randal's early life was marked by hardship as he, along with his mother and grandmother, had to flee their home to escape his abusive father's battle with alcoholism. Tragically, at the tender age of 6, Randal lost his mother to breast cancer and was thrusted into the child welfare system, leading to a tumultuous adolescence filled with frequent moves from one foster home to another. Throughout these challenging years, Randal faced the unjust label of a juvenile delinquent and found himself in multiple correctional facilities, never residing in one place for more than two years. Even his grandmother, who cared deeply for him, felt she was unable to provide the stability he needed. In the midst of this turbulent journey, Randal discovered solace in the art of creating and writing music. At the age of 15, Randal found himself in a low-security group home, where he would eventually age out of the foster care system and embark on his mission to advocate for foster youth. The living conditions were deplorable, forcing Randal to take medication to suppress his appetite. Undeterred, he would travel long distances, enduring a three-bus commute to school while working part-time jobs. Remarkably, he maintained a stellar 4.4 GPA and emerged as a leader within various school organizations. Randal's advocacy journey began when he volunteered as a local representative for Florida's State Youth Advisory Board, a coalition of foster youth from every county in the state. These young advocates participated in initiatives and projects that informed and impacted Florida's government and political leaders. Randal's dedication and leadership skills led to his election as the President of the State Youth Advisory Board of Florida. In this role, he tirelessly represented every foster youth in the state during congressional and legislative sessions. During his tenure, Randal played a pivotal role in lobbying for and ultimately passing Florida's "Road to Independence Act," which extended foster youth benefits from age 21 to 23, impacting thousands of foster youth every year. During the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, Randal's passion for advocacy led him to launch the Foster Tales Podcast. Collaborating with guest speakers and fellow advocates, he brought the foster care experience to a global audience. Foster Tales resonated with people worldwide, streaming in over 27 different countries and earning recognition as one of the top podcasts in its genre. Randal's dedication did not go unnoticed, as Foster More honored him with the title of Content Creator of the Year for his impactful online presence and advocacy work on behalf of foster youth around the globe. Today, Randal holds a prominent corporate position in the entertainment industry, a testament to his unwavering determination and resilience. He continues to create and release inspiring music, all while serving as a content creator, mentor, and a passionate community activist. Randal Wells embodies the spirit of overcoming adversity and using one's journey to inspire and uplift others on their path to success. To learn more about me: @IamRandalWells on all social media account Randal Wells on Apple Music, Spotify, and Alexa @FosterTalesPodcast on FB and Instagram

On today's episode I am joined by Los Angeles new anchor, Christine Devine. She is the host of the KTTV Fox 11 news segment, Wednesday's Child. She has won 16 Emmys, including the prestigious Governors Award. The news segment has lead to roughly 500 adoptions in the Southern California region. Christine comes armed with a wealth of resources in the Foster Care community and helps shine a light on how we all can be involved. To learn more about Christine you can connect with her on instagram at @DevineNews To see the latest Wednesday's Child you can visit FoxLA for current and archived stories. Randal Wells hosts the Foster Tales podcast. Foster Tales is ranked in the top 10 of all Foster Care and Adoption podcasts throughout the world. Please like and subscribe. Make sure to leave a rating wherever you are listening to this podcast. If you have a guest in mind, please e-mail fostertalespodcast@gmail.com. You can also follow us on Instagram/Facebook @FosterTalesPodcast

On today's episode I am joined by Fabian Movilla (@Faybn). Fabian is a member of the Christian-based organization Youth For Christ. Youth For Christ (YFC) is a worldwide movement working with young people, by creating community through ministry. Fabian learned about YFC-Miami through an underground hip-hop event called Catalyst. During our discussion, Fabian and I talk about the importance of prevention of Foster Care, what to expect a YFC event, and how these spaces are cultivating community. For More Information: YFC Miami https://www.miamiyfc.com/ Youtube Link For YFC We Believe In Youth Promo https://youtu.be/-QOfm4HIZms Link for We Believe in Youth fundraiser: We Believe in You(th) - 2022 (qgiv.com) The Foster Tales Podcast is hosted by Randal Wells. Foster Tales is ranked in the top 10 Podcasts throughout the world in the Foster Care and Adoption categories. Please follow us on social media @FosterTalesPodcast

November is National Adoption Month. Please be sure to share this episode to raise awareness about Foster Care, Adoption, and Child Welfare issues.  Today, I am joined by Sirrele Steinfield who is a business investor, dad, and a former foster youth. Our convo is one around a letter he wrote to his 2 year old daughter, Skylar. Our conversation is a heartfelt discussion about unpacking trauma, holding our elected officials accountable for helping foster youth, and how becoming a parent, helped Sirrele heal some of the wounds from his past. Sirrele's passion for helping those in need shines through. His theme song is "Beautiful" by Eminem. You can keep up with Sirrele online on Twitter @Sirrele_ or you can send him an email at sirrele@gitfitcode.com As a bonus, Sirrele left the below link of the physical letter he wrote to his daughter.  https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B0kG6XBubewrgR Randal Wells hosts the Foster Tales podcast. Foster Tales is ranked in the top 10 of all Foster Care and Adoption podcasts throughout the world. Please like and subscribe. Make sure to leave a rating wherever you are listening to this podcast. If you have a guest in mind, please e-mail fostertalespodcast@gmail.com

On today's episode, I am joined by Forrest Lang, the author of "Angel Blue: a Song of Redemption". Forrest's book, centers around his experiences in foster care and serving the military in Iraq. Our conversation is one of reflection and direction. We discuss what inspired his journey into writing, and create a realistic narrative of unpacking trauma after being in care. To order a copy of Angle Blue, you can head over to http://www.angelbluebook.com or visit his social media @AngelBlueBook

Just seconds into the conversation, you can tell Baiinga's energy is infectious. Baiinga is an amazing creative, actor, writer, producer, role-model, and so much more. He is proof that not all foster care stories end in tragedy. Baiinga has taken his talents and partnered with Kids in the Spotlight, an organization that is helping foster youth heal & grow through the power of storytelling and filmmaking. Through our conversation, we learn about his goals and aspirations in Hollywood, and how he is combining his passion with lived experience. You can follow Baiinga on social media @BaiingaB and to learn more about Kids in the Spotlight, you can head to http://www.kitsinc.org

Today I am joined by the self-proclaimed "Educated Chingona" , better known as, Sandra. This San Diego native, is using her social media platform to create community, empower, educate, and inspire. We dive into some of her upbringing, and how she fell in love with the education system. Sandra provides us solutions for the future of foster care, and how small changes, can make for big impact. You can follow Sandra on her social media on Instagram @EducatedChingona and @Chingonaology

Today, I am joined by Georgette Todd. Georgette was placed in foster care at 14. She has gone on to further her education and work with many organizations that impact foster youth. She currently works with 'Connect Our Kids', which is an organization that is pioneering technology, to find families and build connections for children in foster care. Georgette wrote a memoir called "Foster Girl, A Memoir" which is available for purchase on her website. You can learn more about Georgette at http://www.georgettetodd.com and Connect Our Kids at http://www.connectourkids.org.

David Ambroz is a child advocate, former foster youth, and the amazing author behind "A Place Called Home". In today's episode, we unpack many of themes in his memoir, and David provides us some simple solutions on how to impact change and bring awareness to Foster Care, by simply donating your small talk. You can learn more about David and "A Place Called Home" at https://www.davidambroz.com David is also the co-founder of Foster More. Foster More is one of the largest foster care advocacy groups in the country. To learn more about this amazing organization you can head to https://fostermore.org

Under Florida law, a guardian ad litem is a court-appointed representative, who is tasked with acting as the "next friend of the child." Today, I am joined by Dario, who is an active Guardian ad litem in the state of Florida. He gives us insight into why he joined this organization, and how his small investment, is yielding big results for the foster youth where he presides. To learn more about the GAL (Guardian Ad Litem) program head over to https://guardianadlitem.org and also Voices for Children at beavoice.org. Dario would like to give a special shout to Melissa for connecting the dots and I'd be remised if I didn't give a shoutout to my girlfriend Vicky for begging me to make this interview happen. Also large thank you to Old Navy for their back to school giveaway.

On the season 3 premiere, I am joined by actor and fitness coach, Teagen Rose. Teagen grew up in an adoptive transracial home. He tells us more about his upbringing, what foster care taught him, and how those experiences molded him into the role model that he is today. To learn more about Teagen, you can follow him on social media @TeagenRose or visit his website, http://www.teagenrose.com

When I started Foster Tales, I wanted to make sure I was able to highlight some amazing success stories of those who lived through foster care. Charity Chandler-Cole is not only a former-foster youth, but also a mother, a community leader, and the CEO of CASA LA CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate. Charity and I discuss what her upbringing was like and how she was able to find solace in some of her darkest moments. We also speak to how she got to become a CEO and what she views as the future of foster care. To learn more about CASA LA you can visit https://www.casala.org or on Instagram @CASA.LA Randal Wells hosts the Foster Tales podcast. Foster Tales is ranked in the top 10 of all Foster Care and Adoption podcasts throughout the world. Please like and subscribe. Make sure to leave a rating wherever you are listening to this podcast. If you have a guest in mind, please e-mail fostertalespodcast@gmail.com

On today's episode, I am joined by singer/songwriter D.R. Bridges. D.R.'s adoptive parent, housed a number of foster children through his upbringing. We discuss how his experience of interracial adoption shaped his world views and how he is looking to pay it forward in the future. To find out more about D.R., you can follow him on Instagram @D.R.Bridges

Today, I am joined by Robert, who is grad student, studying to be a Doctor in Physical Therapy. Robert who was adopted at a relatively young age, and really had no connection to his birth parents. Through an Ancestry.com DNA test, he was able to locate and reunite with his birth relatives. We speak about the closure this experience has afforded him and his family. To learn more about Robert, you can follow him @SullyRob on Instagram. 

Ángela Quijada-Banks is an NAACP Image awards nominated, best-selling Author, Spoken word Artist and Holistic Purpose coach. Our discussion, ventures into what inspired her book, 'The Black Foster Youth Handbook". To learn more about Ángela and her work, head over to www.originalsoulflower.com or on Instagram @originalsoulflower

Today, I am joined by Franco Vega of the RightWay Foundation. The RightWay foundation is non-profit in Los Angeles, CA that provides former foster youth resources to succeed. Through his own personal experiences in foster care, Franco is able to articulate how his career path became his life's purpose. To find out more information about The RightWay foundation head over to http://www.therightwayfoundation.org or on Instagram @therightwayfoundation

Today, I am joined by Julia, who recently completed the Half Ironman Triathlon and raised money for Foster Nation. Julia was placed into the foster care system at 15. She was separated from her 6 siblings. We discuss the impact these events had on her life, and how she's able to process what she lived through today. You can connect with Julia on IG @Juju_rose7

November is National Adoption Month. Let's help spread awareness to our friends and family by sharing an episode of Foster Tales. Today, I am joined by Maggie who is the co-founder of Foster Nation. We speak about her upbringing in the Foster Care system. She not only had to navigate care with a sibling, but also was tasked with learning a brand new language. She now is advocating for Foster Youth nationwide. We speak about how she is able to stay informed about the current issues in care, and how you can be inclusive to Foster Youth this holiday season. You can learn more about Maggie's work and organization at www.fosternation.org Randal Wells hosts the Foster Tales podcast. Foster Tales is ranked in the top 10 of all Foster Care and Adoption podcasts throughout the world. Please like and subscribe. Make sure to leave a rating wherever you are listening to this podcast. If you have a guest in mind, please e-mail fostertalespodcast@gmail.com

On Today's episode, I am speaking with Professor, Author, and Activist, Christian Greene. Christian grew up in foster-care in California. He wrote a book about his life experiences, about how he literally went from custody and became a graduate of UCLA. He is now is actively working with several organizations on behalf of Foster Kids everywhere. You can connect with Christian on IG at @christian423 and his book "Uncovering Your Worth: From Legal Custody to UCLA" is available online for purchase. Also, you can visit www.cancelthecontract.com

Jayde, grew up in care, with her sister, Chy (Previous Episode: Tale of 2 Sisters, Part 1). This episode is an honest depiction of how the foster-care system works. Jayde's story is nothing short of incredible. She's been placed in every living arrangement imaginable. She's survived every type of abuse. While her childhood was not easy, now as an adult, she's unpacking what happened to her, and giving us an honest dialogue about what her life and experiences were. To connect with A Sense of home you can go to: asenseofhome.org

Chy Mellow has gone from Foster Care to Fashion Model. Her upbringing wasn't the easiest. She's now using her platform to spread awareness and speak out about her personal experiences, while in care. She grew up with another sibling, Jayde, who you will hear from in Part 2. If you want to connect with CHY on IG, her handle is @Chy_mellow.

In the Season 1 Finale, I am talking with Chey. Chey is the founder of Jenni's Flower (Jennisflower.org). Chey, explains what connects her to the Foster Care World, and how she was unaware her upbringing made her eligible for scholarships, funding, and benefits. She talks about the different programs made available to her. Also, she talks about her partnership with the UCLA Pritzker Center and the work that she is doing to help benefit foster youth before they enter the system. If you want to follow Chey on Instagram, you can find her @_cheycatherine

Today, I am joined by Maegan, of CASA LA. CASA stands for "Court Appointed Special Advocate". This program is designed as mentorship for Foster Youth. This can range from new born babies, all the way until age 21. We discuss the importance of advocacy and how someone can get involved in their own community through CASA. An astounding 34,000+ youth are in the Foster Care in Los Angeles County, alone.  For more information visit https://CASALA.org or https://NATIONALCASAGAL.org for the national resource. 

On today's episode, I am joined by Jennifer Miller. Jennifer and her husband, are raising a family of 5. Of her 5 children, 2 are part of a sibling group. We speak about the struggle of adopting versus fostering. Our conversation paints a clear picture of what it's like to raise a child in care, and how many different people are involved in the decision-making process of a single foster youth. 

Today, I am joined by Victor Manalo of Downey Cares Collaborative. We speak about the importance of mentorship in the Foster Care Community and the launch of Operation Jumpstart in Downey, CA. Victor goes into detail about the program, and we have a dialogue regarding making real lasting change in the community through small interactive changes. You can learn more about Victor's organization and background at VictorManalo.com

On today's episode I am joined by Brittany, who grew up in South Florida's Foster Care system. We discuss the amazing heroes, who created a community and united other foster youth in Broward County. We dive into what the process was like of aging out of care, and how long it has taken for us to feel safe in secure in our every day lives.

On today's episode, I am having a conversation with Kacie, who is a foster parent, living in Ohio. We talk about her journey as a member of the LGBTQI+ community and how she has now fostered 14 children in her home. We speak about the stigma of foster parenting and how she comforts children, once they are placed in her care. 

Today, I am joined by Grammy-Nominated Educator Steff Reed. We talk about how to mirror music, with activism. Steff provides tips on writing music with a message. He also shares how he is changing the lives of New York City you with “The Power of Love Project”. You can follow Steff at @IAmSteffReed and visit ThePowerofLoveProject.org for more information.

On this week's episode, I'm having a conversation with my paternal cousin, Natasha. She and I reminisce on our earliest childhood moments. We also explore our family history with addiction and trauma.

On this week's episode, I'm sitting down with my Foster Brother, Paul, and discussing what it's like to live in a group home. We reminisce about our introduction and what our living arrangements really were like. We will also learn about how he entered the Foster Care System and what wisdom he can provide to a new generation of Foster Kids. You can follow him on instagram @P_Sneaks

Foster Tales is shining a light on those who have lived through, survived, and experienced the Foster Care, Adoption, and Child Welfare system first-hand. Hosted by Randal Wells. Randal interviews Program Director, Tanisha Merriweather of Turning Point, a non-profit community-based organization providing re-entry services to residents who were recently released from jail or prison reeneter society, within the city and county of Los Angeles, California. You can learn more at https://turningpointaod.com Randal Wells hosts the Foster Tales podcast. Foster Tales is ranked in the top 10 of all Foster Care and Adoption podcasts throughout the world. Please like and subscribe. Make sure to leave a rating wherever you are listening to this podcast. If you have a guest in mind, please e-mail fostertalespodcast@gmail.com