Fostering the Future Podcast

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A show about all things child welfare, dependency, adoption and foster care. Your hosts, Jack & Cat are veterans in the world of child welfare and excited to spend a little time each week chatting about how we can all do something to help kids in care.

Fostering the Future Podcast


    • Apr 3, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 41m AVG DURATION
    • 80 EPISODES

    Ivy Insights

    The Fostering the Future Podcast is a motivating and fun podcast that provides a joyous way to help people. With its focus on foster care, this podcast offers valuable insights and information for those interested in becoming foster parents or supporting foster families. The Christmas episode that discussed foster parents was particularly heartwarming and touching. The podcast episodes are not too long, making them easy to listen to and digest. Overall, this podcast is a must-add for anyone interested in the foster care system.

    One of the best aspects of The Fostering the Future Podcast is its ability to provide alternatives and other ways to help foster families for those who may not be ready or able to become full-time foster parents. This aspect is especially beneficial for individuals who are unsure if they can fully commit to fostering but still want to make a difference. The podcast also emphasizes the importance of helping these children who often have nowhere else to go, which can inspire listeners to take action.

    While there are many positive aspects of this podcast, one potential downside is that it may not cater to all listeners' interests or preferences. Some individuals may find the subject matter too specific or niche, limiting its appeal. Additionally, since it focuses solely on fostering, it may not provide as much variety compared to podcasts that cover a wider range of topics.

    In conclusion, The Fostering the Future Podcast is a wonderful resource for anyone interested in learning more about foster care and how they can support foster families. Its motivating and informative episodes offer valuable insights into the world of fostering, while also providing alternatives for those who may not be ready to become full-time foster parents. While it may not cater to everyone's interests due to its narrow focus, it remains an important platform for raising awareness and encouraging action within the foster care community.



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    Latest episodes from Fostering the Future Podcast

    Season 4 Episode 1 : Tech Hacks in Foster Care

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2024 29:35


    Jack reviews some tech hacks and shares software and devices that can help with parenting, coparenting, special needs parenting, and safety.

    Season 3 Episode 26 : Jennifer Anderson & Prosecuting Medical Abuse of Power – The Maya Kowalski Case

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2023 60:32


    Jack & Nichole chat with Jennifer Anderson about her firm’s representation of the Kowalski family and their journey to hold Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital responsible for their actions and the consequences of those actions.

    Season 3 Episode 25 : Caring for CRPS – The Maya Kowalski Case

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2023 55:56


    Jack chats with Sandy, a mom of a young man with CRPS – Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, about caring for a child with CRPS. We wanted to share this story with you so that we can all have a better understanding of what life was like for Beata Kowalski, while caring for her daughter, Maya.

    Season 3 Episode 24 : Maya Kowalski’s Story of Medical Abuse of Power

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2023 52:59


    Jack & Lynn chat about the Maya Kowalski case, as documented in Take Care of Maya and the recent televised trial.

    Season 3 Episode 23 : Medical Abuse of Power (Jack’s Story) in Foster Care

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2023 38:12


    Jack chats with guest Michelle – a nurse practitioner about medical abuse of power and false abuse reports. What happens when medical systems use their power and influence to not only negate parental rights to their children’s medical decisions but to even remove the guardianship of parents by placing children under the care of the […]

    Season 3 Episode 22 : A Comeback Story with Jackie Polk

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2023 59:33


    Mac & Jack chat with Jackie Polk, a reunified sober mom about her turning her whole life around from a story of domestic violence captivity and substance abuse to a reunified mom helping other moms with her story of resilience and overcoming some of the biggest obstacles of life. Jackie has come back from what […]

    Season 3 Episode 21 : Going Bananas for Foster Families with Emily Cole

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2023 52:06


    Jack & Nichole hang out with Emily Cole, the owner of the Savannah Bananas to chat about baseball, kids, fostering, and their new organization Bananas Foster. Follow them on Instagram for The Savannah Bananas and Bananas Foster and watch their videos on YouTube here.

    Season 3 Episode 20 : Keeping Babies Safe in Utah & Maryland

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2023 69:04


    This episode was developed in partnership with Safe Babies, a program of ZERO TO THREE. Kim brings guest, Andria Peek from ZERO TO THREE, back to talk more about Safe Babies, a program of ZERO TO THREE. They are joined by Jessica Lertora, who serves as ZERO TO THREE's Community Coordinator in Frederick County; and […]

    Season 3 Episode 19 : More Sorry Than Safe in Foster Care Part 4

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2023 43:24


    Cat & Jack continue their chat with Melissa Bright who experienced a devastating false child abuse charge where her children were removed from her care due to overlooked medical information and a “better safe than sorry” attitude. Many of us heard about her story on the Do No Harm Podcast, but we bring her in […]

    Season 3 Episode 18 : More Sorry Than Safe in Foster Care Part 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2023 42:15


    Cat & Jack continue their chat with Melissa Bright who experienced a devastating false child abuse charge where her children were removed from her care due to overlooked medical information and a “better safe than sorry” attitude. Many of us heard about her story on the Do No Harm Podcast, but we bring her in […]

    Season 3 Episode 17 : More Sorry Than Safe in Foster Care Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2023 36:15


    [TW: ORIGINAL AUDIO FROM A CHILD REMOVAL] Cat & Jack continue their chat with Melissa Bright who experienced a devastating false child abuse charge where her children were removed from her care due to overlooked medical information and a “better safe than sorry” attitude. Many of us heard about her story on the Do No […]

    Season 3 Episode 16 : More Sorry Than Safe in Foster Care Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2023 40:47


    [TW: ORIGINAL AUDIO FROM A CHILD REMOVAL] Cat & Jack chat with Melissa Bright who experienced a devastating false child abuse charge where her children were removed from her care due to overlooked medical information and a “better safe than sorry” attitude. Many of us heard about her story on the Do No Harm Podcast, […]

    Season 3 Episode 15 : Understanding CBCs – Meet Tory

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2023 39:35


    Jack & Sam chat with CBC VP of Placement Resources, Tory Wilson with FSS in Florida about how the CBC functions in privatized states like Florida and about the transition of Florida Circuit 6 from Eckerd to FSS.

    Season 3 Episode 14 : The Adoption & Abandonment of Natalia Grace Part 4

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2023 15:19


    Jack & Cat are back to discuss more about the abuse and neglect of Natalia Grace

    Season 3 Episode 13 : The Adoption & Abandonment of Natalia Grace Part 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2023 30:10


    Jack & Cat are back to discuss more about the abuse and neglect of Natalia Grace

    Season 3 Episode 12 : The Adoption & Abandonment of Natalia Grace Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2023 45:24


    Season 3 Episode 11 : The Adoption & Abandonment of Natalia Grace Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2023 43:42


    Cat & Jack discuss the curious case of Natalia Grace, We discuss how the docuseries on Netflix addresses the situation as well as how a careful examination of facts and documents paints a very particular story of both the adoption, abuse, and abandonment of an orphan from Ukraine. Please be advised that this episode discusses […]

    Season 3 Episode 10 : Abuse of Power in Foster Care – BOLDFAM

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2023 55:02


    Cat & Jack chat with Deric from Boldfam – the viral social sensation who has recently undergone an interaction with CPS in Texas due to an abuse call from a doctor.

    Season 3 Episode 9 : Types of Court Hearings In Foster Care

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2023 37:36


    Jack & Nichole discuss the types of court hearings that happen in a dependency case in foster care. One of the most intimidating things about becoming a foster parent or for a parent entering into a dependency case is all the initials, and legal jumbo, and all the different types of hearings, so we wanted […]

    Season 3 Episode 8 : Behavior Hacks in Foster Care

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2023 29:58


    Cat & Jack chat about some hacks for handling behaviors that may be caused by the trauma kids in foster care experience, and also children with neurodiversity.

    Season 3 Episode 7 : Strong Early Connections in Foster Care

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2023 39:11


    Cat & Jack chat with Andria Peek, a Technical Assistance Specialist with Safe Babies, a program of ZERO TO THREE about strong early connections in foster care and how the Safe Babies approach can optimize them.

    Season 3 Episode 6 : Adoption

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2023 40:24


    Jack, Nichole, & special guest Coryn discuss the various avenues of adoption, including: international adoption; domestic private adoption, foster care waiting child adoption, or adoption of a foster child who was unable to be reunified.

    Season 3 Episode 5 : Safe Baby Courts In Foster Care

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2023 43:12


    Jack & Cat chat with Andria about Safe Baby Courts (also known as early childhood court or baby court or infant toddler court)

    Happy Easter

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2023 0:43


    Season 3 Episode 4 : Exploitation of Kids In Foster Care

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2023 42:23


    Season 3 Episode 3 : Shazam Movie Review In Foster Care

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2023 36:29


    Season 3 Episode 2 : Brittany Dawn Update in Foster Care

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2023 20:40


    Jack & Cat are back for more Brittany Dawn snarking in episode 2. Join us in a short update on the trial and latest placement news for Brittany Dawn

    Season 3 Episode 1 : Brittany Dawn or Brittany Done? in Foster Care

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2023 54:52


    Jack & Cat discuss the Brittany Dawn scandals and their suitability to be foster parents. From police brutality of a black man, to scamming people suffering from eating disorders, and of course the lack of true accountability – it is a worrying question.

    Season 2 Episode 13 : Instant Family Movie Review In FosterCare

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2022 48:38


    Jack & Nichole chat about one of their favorite fostercare and adoption movies – instant family.

    Season 2 Episode 12 : Sisco’s Adoption after 70+ Foster Placements

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2022 56:14


    Nichole & Jack chat with nichole’s teen son Sisco about his time in foster care group homes after 4+ years and 70+ foster homes.

    Season 2 Episode 11 : Lucas and Looking on the Bright Side in Foster Care

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2022 26:58


    TW: Child Abuse in foster careJack & Nichole & Jack Jr, chat with Nichole’s son Lucas who discusses being abused in foster care, and shares his sweet optimism and resilience.

    Season 2 Episode 10 : Grow Into You for Aged Out Kids in Foster Care

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2022 55:16


    Jack & Nichole chat with Erin NeSmith from Grow Into You Foundation for aged out kids in foster care.

    Season 2 Episode 9 Outtake

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2022 3:24


    We mentioned a Starbucks Christmas drink in episode 9 and later looked up what it was called (Juniper Latte), we were cracking up reading this article about it. While it didn’t make the cut for the episode – we figured we would share the description of this Starbucks Juniper Latte in a bonus episode.

    starbucks outtake starbucks christmas
    Season 2 Episode 9 : Turning the Tables with Teens in Foster Care

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2022 47:52


    Jack & Nichole sit with Papo and chat with him about his experience growing up in the foster care system in Philadelphia and how he turned the table by helping teens in foster care by working in a group home and connecting with the kids through his own foster experiences.

    Season 2 Episode 8 : Equine Therapy in Foster Care

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2022 54:45


    Jack and Nichole chat with Lisa from Emerald M Ranch in Brooksville that specializes in equine (hippo) therapy to help children who have experienced trauma (foster children) and children with medical needs.

    Season 2 Episode 7 : Lifehacks for Foster Parents

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2022 32:29


    Season 2 Episode 6 : A Trauma Informed Courtroom in Foster Care – Meet Judge Lynn Tepper – Part 3/3

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2022 30:48


    Cat, Jack, & Nichole continue their chat with Sr Retired Judge Lynn Tepper about her experiences in the courtroom and her evolution to creating a trauma informed courtroom. If you have not yet listened to part 1 and 2, we recommend you listen to those episodes before this episode.

    Season 2 Episode 5 : A Trauma Informed Courtroom in Foster Care – Meet Judge Lynn Tepper – Part 2/3

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2022 46:41


    Cat, Jack, & Nichole continue their chat with Sr Retired Judge Lynn Tepper about her experiences in the courtroom and her evolution to creating a trauma informed courtroom. If you have not yet listened to part 1, we recommend you listen to that episodes before this episode.

    Season 2 Episode 4 : A Trauma Informed Courtroom in Foster Care – Meet Judge Lynn Tepper – Part 1/3

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2022 50:53


    Cat, Jack, & Nichole chat with Sr Retired Judge Lynn Tepper about her experiences in the courtroom and her evolution to creating a trauma informed courtroom. Stay tuned to next week for part 2

    Season 2 Episode 3 : Black Single Foster Mom of Teens

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2022 49:05


    Jack chats with Ryan, a black single foster mom who can be found on instagram as @black_single_foster_mom about becoming a foster parent during a pandemic, race dynamics, and fostering teens as a single mom.

    Season 2 Episode 2 : Foster The Teens in Foster Care

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2022 45:07


    Jack chats with Brittany, the single fostermom behind the social account “foster the teens”.

    Season 2 Episode 1 : Meet The Hosts… Again

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2022 32:00


    Now that we have dragged a couple special hosts into our equation and are starting a new season – we are excited to spend some time letting you get to know all of us a little better.

    Episode 36 : Understanding Judges in Foster Care – Meet Luke

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2022 35:43


    Jack & Cat sit with Judge Luke to get a better understanding of the role of a judge in dependency and foster care.

    Episode 35 : Breathwork in Foster Care

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2022 47:42


    Jack and Brenna (from episode 33) talk about how breathwork and yoga can help build resiliency to heal and withstand trauma.

    Holiday Hiatus

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2021 0:18


    Just an update that we are on a holiday hiatus until after the new year. But we are working in bringing you some amazing content we have for you!

    Episode 34 : Jack’s Former Foster Youth – Meet Smooshie

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2021 16:55


    Jack & Mac chat with Mac’s daughter and Jack’s former foster daughter about what being in foster care was like for her.

    Episode 33 : The Targeted Child in Foster Care – Meet Brenna

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2021 62:52


    Cat, Jack, and Nichole sit with Brenna to discuss her history as the targeted abused child in her biological home, going through the dependency system in New Jersey, and what it looked like to travel the path of abuse report to signed surrender paperwork. We were recently chosen as one of the Top 20 Foster […]

    Episode 32 : A Merry Foster Family Christmas

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2021 29:48


    Jack (fostermom) & Nichole (fostermom & gal) chat about ways to make Christmas easier on children who are in foster care and away from their families. Here are some ideas: Ask them and their family about any traditions they have and see what you can implement in your home so they don’t miss it, and […]

    Episode 31 : DCF Cancels CBC

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2021 58:56


    Nichole (fostermom & gal) & Jack (fostermom) sit and chat about local events concerning the state DCF cancelling the contract of the local CBC and the sheriff’s department opening a criminal investigation into the CBC. The community is anxiously awaiting information about what will happen in the next 60 days while we wait for DCF […]

    Episode 30 : The Generational Cycle of Foster Care – Meet Ellie

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2021 60:12


    Cat (Therapist) & Jack (Fostermom) talk to Ellie (a former foster youth) who has recently reunified with her son who was removed from her care and placed in foster care. Ellie had to overcome so many obstacles, including addiction, domestic violence, raising a son with special needs (autism), and learning how to advocate for herself. […]

    Episode 29 : Against All Odds in Foster Care – Meet Madeleine

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2021 42:56


    Mac (biomom) & Jack (fostermom) sit with Madeleine (former foster youth) and discuss her experience in the foster care system. Madeleine lived in group homes and bounced around until a therapeutic group home allowed her to move in with a relative. After a failed permanent guardianship situation, she still beat the odds and graduated high […]

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