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Welcome back to another episode of the unSeminary podcast. We're talking with Andrew Hopper, Lead Pastor of Mercy Hill Church in North Carolina. Planted in 2012 with just 30 people, Mercy Hill has grown into a multi-campus, fast-growing church known for its gospel clarity and sending culture. In this conversation, Andrew shares why adoption and foster care have become central expressions of Mercy Hill's mission—and how those practices flow directly out of the gospel. He also unpacks the heart behind his book, Chosen: Building Your Family the Way God Builds His. Is your church unsure how to engage big social needs without drifting from the gospel? Are you looking for a way to mobilize people beyond church walls while keeping discipleship front and center? Andrew offers a clear framework for doing both. Doing good as a sign of the kingdom. // Andrew addresses a common tension churches feel between community engagement and disciple-making. Mercy Hill refuses to treat these as competing priorities. Acts of service—whether foster care, adoption, or family restoration—are not the kingdom itself but signposts pointing to it. Meeting tangible needs creates openings for gospel conversations. These ministries don't replace evangelism; they amplify it by demonstrating the heart of God in visible ways. A church’s collective heartbeat. // Mercy Hill's deep involvement in adoption, foster care, and family restoration didn't start as a top-down strategy but emerged organically from the gifts and passions within the church. Many leaders and members have adopted children themselves, shaping the church's collective heartbeat. Rather than attempting to address every social issue, Mercy Hill chose to focus deeply on a few—believing churches are most effective when they lean into the specific good works God has prepared for them. This focus has mobilized hundreds of families and created a powerful witness in their community. Rope-holding and shared responsibility. // Not everyone is called to adopt or foster, but everyone can hold the rope. Drawing from the William Carey analogy, Mercy Hill equips members to support families on the front lines through prayer, childcare, meals, financial help, and presence. Over time, they've learned that rope-holding works best when built on existing relationships rather than formal assignments. The goal is to ensure no family fights alone in what Andrew describes as intense spiritual warfare. Big vision with baby steps. // Mercy Hill isn't afraid to cast a bold vision—whether for global missions, adoption, or church planting—but they pair that vision with accessible next steps. Prayer nights, giving opportunities, short-term service, and relational support allow people to grow into greater obedience over time. High challenge without guilt creates healthy discipleship. Why Andrew wrote Chosen. // Andrew wrote Chosen: Building Your Family the Way God Builds His not to promote a program, but to give churches a theological foundation for engaging adoption and foster care. The book weaves together Andrew's family story, Mercy Hill's journey, and a deeply gospel-centered motivation rooted in Scripture. Designed to be used individually or in groups, Chosen includes discussion questions and practical guidance for churches or small groups wanting to explore this calling in community. Andrew's prayer is that the book would catalyze thousands of Christian families to participate meaningfully in caring for vulnerable children and families. Gospel-driven motivation. // Underneath everything is Andrew's conviction that gospel motivation outlasts guilt. Behavior rooted in grace goes further than behavior driven by pressure. Adopted people adopt people. Chosen people choose people. That theological clarity fuels Mercy Hill's sending culture, their community impact, and their ongoing growth. To explore Andrew's resources on adoption, foster care, and grab his book, Chosen, visit andrewphopper.com/chosen or follow him on Instagram @andrewphopper. You can learn more about Mercy Hill Church at mercyhillchurch.com. Thank You for Tuning In! There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, but you chose unSeminary, and I'm grateful for that. If you enjoyed today's show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the left hand side of this page. Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, they're extremely helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and you can bet that I read every single one of them personally! Lastly, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live! Thank You to This Episode’s Sponsor: Portable Church Your church is doing really well right now, and your leadership team is looking for solutions to keep momentum going! It could be time to start a new location. Maybe you have hesitated in the past few years, but you know it's time to step out in faith again and launch that next location. Portable Church has assembled a bundle of resources to help you leverage your growing momentum into a new location by sending a part of your congregation back to their neighborhood on Mission. This bundle of resources will give you a step-by-step plan to launch that new or next location, and a 5 minute readiness tool that will help you know your church is ready to do it! Click here to watch the free webinar “Launch a New Location in 150 Days or Less” and grab the bundle of resources for your church! Episode Transcript Rich Birch — Hey friends, welcome to the unSeminary podcast. We have got a multi-time guest on, and you know what that means. That means that I really respect, deeply admire, and want you to listen up, and today is no exception. Excited to have Andrew Hopper with us. He is the lead pastor of a church that they should be following, that you should be following. He’s a lead pastor of Mercy Hill Church with five locations, if I’m counting correctly, in North Carolina, and is repeatedly one of the fastest growing churches in the country. I love this church on many levels. They’re centered on the gospel and have a radical commitment to sending people to the nations. They have a desire to make disciples and multiply churches. Andrew, welcome to the show. So glad you’re here.Andrew Hopper — Man, I’m so pumped to be here. Love the podcast. Really appreciate it, man.Rich Birch — Yeah, I’m honored that you would come back. For folks that that don’t know Mercy Hill, give me a bit of a kind of an update. Tell us a little bit about the church.Andrew Hopper — Yeah.Rich Birch — Maybe update us from last time you were on.Andrew Hopper — Yeah, man. So just real quick, planted in 2012. We had 30 people, all you know kind of young professional age, and man, just really believe that God could do something incredible ah through, you know just through our our open hands, and he did.Andrew Hopper — And so it’s been 13 years. It’s crazy. We’ve been sort of pushing the same boulder up the same mountain for 13 years, just flywheel kind of concept and keep pushing. And ah the Lord has done an incredible thing, like you said, five campuses. And man, just moved into a new home and hub. That was from last time we had a chance. That’s been really great. Andrew Hopper — We were in a rented location for a long time as our main like broadcast campus. We’re a video-based multi-site. And so um it’s ah it was a three or four-year journey to raise the money and build this new facility. But we’re in, and the Lord has really blessed that with tons of new people, highest baptisms, sent ones, first time guest numbers, all everything that we’ve done. This has been a, you know, we’ve gone been on a ride – praise God for that. It’s it’s, um, it’s for his sake and his renown, but this year has been unlike the others. So it’s been…Rich Birch — Yeah, you were saying beforehand, it’s like 30 or something like 30 some percent year over year growth. That’s insane to keep up with.Andrew Hopper — It is man. And the, and the giving does not, uh, you know, the giving doesn’t happen.Rich Birch — Reflect that yet.Andrew Hopper — So it’s, it’s like, we’re trying to do ministry on a budget of a church that’s 3000, but a church that’s running 4,500. And it’s like, how do you do that effectively without killing everybody?Rich Birch — Nice.Andrew Hopper — All your staff, I mean, so, but we’re, we’re learning, man, we’re figuring it out. It’s fun. We got, we just planted our sixth church. So that’s apart from the campuses. This is first time, Rich, we’ve planted a church in our own city.Rich Birch — Oh, nice. That’s cool.Andrew Hopper — It’s been really, a really cool dynamic and it’s been fun. He’s doing great. Man, it was a college student that we met when he was 19 years old at North Carolina AT&T 10 years later. He’s an elder here. He’s done a lot of different things. And man, he goes and plants a new church in Greensboro about five minutes from one of our campuses and they’re doing great.Rich Birch — Wow. Yeah, that’s so good. Well, the thing, there’s lots I love about Mercy Hill, but one of the things that I’ve loved about your church from the you know the chance we’ve had to journey a little bit over the years about it is you just have real clarity around the mission, this idea of making disciples, multiplying churches. It’s like that has been rock solid from the beginning. When you think about we want churches to have discipleship at its core, this idea of a church that actually grows people up in their relationship with Christ. What matters most at the foundation? How are you keeping that so foundational to you know what’s happening at Mercy Hill?Andrew Hopper — Yeah, I think um I think that we always sort of bought into kind of what we see in Acts 2 as a little bit of a flywheel. We call it gather, group, give, go. A lot of churches have something like that.Andrew Hopper — The the difference, I think, at Mercy Hill a little bit than what I see ah in in in a lot of churches that we help mentor and coach is that 2020 hit and everybody was like, man, what is a church? What is discipleship? What are we going to do now? And and people were kind of… And I do think it was and it wasn’t, you know, it wasn’t just me. I mean, our, you know, our executive pastor Bobby, he was really integral in this. We sort of really doubled down on no, I kind of think the church is going to come back. Rich Birch — Right.Andrew Hopper — And I kind of think what we were doing is sort of what our church is set up to do. It kind of a brand thing. We are sort of a big box sending brand. And that, you know, for us, when we look at Acts 2, we’re like, dude, the gathering, there’s no more there’s no more important hour for discipleship and evangelism. And I know there’s a lot of things written against that. And people are kind of almost like downplaying it. Andrew Hopper — We’re just like, man, we just don’t believe it. We believe people need to be in a group. You know, we they need generosity is lead step in discipleship, give. And we got to teach people that there’s a mission bigger than themselves. And if we do that, it’s going to funnel more people into the gathering. Andrew Hopper — So I think fundamentally what I would say, we need to get, you know, we could talk about our value, you know we can talk about values to gospel and [inaudible] identity, but I think landing on you know, it’s very hard now to, to not get a word salad book form or thing. When you ask somebody, how are you making disciples? It can just be like…Rich Birch — Right. Very vacuous. Who knows what that means? Yeah.Andrew Hopper — For us, it’s just been a very clear, simple process.Rich Birch — Right.Andrew Hopper — Like, man, we believe if someone is in the gathering, if they’re in relationship, if they’re being pushed on generosity, and if they’re living for a mission bigger than themselves, that’s a current of maturity that will move them. They just get in the stream, they’ll move.Rich Birch — Yes. Yeah. Yeah. It’s so good.Andrew Hopper — that’s kind of So you know for us, I think that’s as, you know we’ve we’ve tried to simplify things there.Rich Birch — Yeah. And, and your last episode, I’ve pointed a ton of people to it, uh, to really, and we really unpack a lot of what you talked about there in more detail.Andrew Hopper — Right. Yeah.Rich Birch — You’re going to want to go back and, uh, and listen to that. You’ve reached as a church, you’ve reached a lot of people who don’t grow up in church that it’s like, there’s a lot of people who are there. You know, we used to say we ain’t your mama’s church, but mama didn’t go to church, you know? So, you know, and it’s been a long time that people were there. What challenges have you seen, you know, helping move people from curiosity into real ongoing discipleship? So like, I think there are, we’re seeing a swell of attendance across the country. People are like, oh, I’m kind of interested in this, but we got to move them from just, oh, this is something interesting to like, oh, I’m actually want to grow my relationship with Jesus.Andrew Hopper — Yeah, I mean, and it’s it’s funny too, Rich, you probably have a better bird’s eye view of this than I do. But I feel like churches that have been faithfully growing for like the last 10 years, they’re not really doing a lot different now. Or even though there’s this big swell happening, what I do think is that some churches have sort of decided like, oh, clarity does matter.Rich Birch — Yes. Yeah, that’s true.Andrew Hopper — And don’t try to be friends with the culture. We’re going to speak in and be prophetic. And, you know, even even to the you know Proverbs 25:26 says, you know, there’s there there’s no there’s no benefit in a muddied spring. You know, it’s like you got to be sort of you got to figure out if we’re going to be clear.Andrew Hopper — So, I you know, for me, I think like and you’re right, we do reach most of the people that we reach that are in the camp that you’re talking about our college age. We reach a lot of people, though, ah that are, you know, they’re they’re coming back to the faith because they’re a southerner.Rich Birch — Sure.Andrew Hopper — You know, they they kind of they kind of were, you know, they they did have some church in their background. They’re coming back. Their kids are not only born, but they’re realizing they’re sinners and they don’t have answers. They’re trying to figure that out.Rich Birch — Right. Right.Andrew Hopper — They’re coming back to church.Andrew Hopper — And, you know, I think the biggest thing that moves people from like interest into a decision point is just being very clear on this is what the gospel is. This is the life it compels you to. Are you going to be in or out?Andrew Hopper — One of the things we say at Mercy Hill a lot is like, man, if you’re if you’re just intrigued, you know, if you’re interested, you’re not going to stay at Mercy Hill because we’re never going to let you, you’re going to get pushed every week. And it’s like, man, people are not really in or like that. I’m not going to do that. You know, they’re just like, no I’m not going to sit here and get like pushed every single week on something I don’t really… And the flip side is when people say, all right, you know what? Stake in the ground. I’m in.Rich Birch — Yeah, we’re doing this, yep.Andrew Hopper — I wanna look like this, I want to build my life on this. It’s like, well, now, you know, it’s it’s man, I’m hopefully, you know, putting tools in the belt every single week to live that life.Rich Birch — Yeah. Yeah, it’s good. I do think there was a time where people wandered into our churches where I don’t think that happens as much anymore. I think people, when they arrive, they come with questions, with live active questions that they’re trying to wrestle with, kind of regardless of where they’re they’re at in their journey.Andrew Hopper — Yeah.Rich Birch — And they’re what you to your point around, you know, there’s no benefit in a muddy stream. People aren’t looking for anything that sounds like, well, what do you think? Because the reason why they’re there is because they’re asking questions. And so, you know, they’re they’re looking for clarity, like I think you’re saying. Rich Birch — Well one of the things I love about your church is there’s a high commitment to, you’re you’re you’re tearing down what I think is a false dichotomy. Sometimes I think when churches come to this idea of outreach or making a difference in their community, there’s this there can be this gap or false dichotomy between doing good in our communities and making disciples. Like we gave that up at some point. We were like, you can’t, you know, we can’t do both of those things for some reason. Why, why did we do that? Why did we, as churches say, we can’t both make a difference in our communities and also make disciples?Andrew Hopper — Yeah, I think it’s, I actually have a lot of sympathy for the fundamentalist leaning. I know it sounds a little bit weird. Rich Birch — No, that’s fine.Andrew Hopper — Churches that led from the, you know, from the good do good in your city kind of thing. I don’t think they’re right, but I do have sympathy for that because I understand how quickly that sort of, you know, is so hijacked by liberal, by theological liberalism to where it’s finally man we’re digging wells and wherever but we’re not talking about who the true source of living water is. Like we don’t want to be offensive we just want to do good without speaking the whole you know you know live your life as a Christian only use words if necessary, whatever, you know. And and I so I understand why people kind of fled and have fled that.Andrew Hopper — Like, you know, I’ve even had our church before when I when I talk about adoption or we we have a ministry, and a ministry called No More Spectators. We’re like moving people towards community ministry. And we had people kind of going on like, oh, my gosh, this seems like a sign of like churches start going this way and then they lose the gospel.Andrew Hopper — And I’m like, well, the reason you’re kind of feeling like that is because a lot of churches have done that. You know, you’re not [inaudible] like that just out of nowhere. Now, of course, I think it’s a little bit immature and we’ve got to push through. The way we talk about it, Rich, is, man, we want to do good in our community as signs of the kingdom coming.Andrew Hopper — They are not building the kingdom. You know, if we go repaint a house or house a homeless person, one day that person would parted with that house, whether they, you know, get messed up and leave or whether they do great and then would die one day, you know.Andrew Hopper — Or, if we have, ah you know, if we go and, and you know, we’re going to, for example, we have ah ah a family in our church that they need a ramp built because, man, the the brother is struggling with MS and he’s, they’re they’re fighting it like Christians do. We’re going to go do that. You know, we’re going to go build that ramp. That ramp’s going to rot and die one, you know, rot and rot away one day. And, you know, whether it’s 100 years from now or whatever.Andrew Hopper — Like it’s not literally the kingdom. But when the outside world sees us engage and, you know, our church will talk about this primarily when we think about community ministry, we think about it in terms of adoption, foster care and families count, which I can talk to you about. I think it’s bringing a sign of the kingdom that is to the community around us to say, hey, this is not the gospel. But it sure points to the gospel. Rich Birch — Right, right.Andrew Hopper — You know, it’s a pretty good signpost of like, yeah, there’s a kingdom coming where kids aren’t separated from their parents, you know. And and so that’s kind of the way that we think about, it’s not, you know, it’s not the kingdom. It’s a sign of the kingdom that is coming.Rich Birch — Yeah, let’s let’s dive in. So adoptions, foster care, families count. These are not small issues. Like you started with like putting a ramp on, painting somebody – those are like, okay, I can organize my head around that. And then we jump to what I think are obviously significant. How, it can be easy, I think, for church leaders it can be easy where, you know, we got a lot of fish to fry in our own backyard. When you see big problems like that, help us unpack that. Why do you as a lead pastor, why are you passionate about these issues? Why are these the things that you’ve chosen?Andrew Hopper — I think it’s, man, I think it’s great. I mean if you can’t if you don’t mind I’ll go back and give you a little bit of context. I’m a context [inaudible]… Rich Birch — Yeah, absolutely. Let’s do it. Yeah. Andrew Hopper — …number one so I always want to frame it in where we’ve been. But the short answer to the question is I think that every church because it is made up of individual believers that have individual gift matrix, you know they’re they’re gifted the church is gifted in a unique way because the people which are the church are gifted in a unique way, right? Andrew Hopper — And so to me, you know, slapping, you know, a top down every single church has to to manifest signs of the kingdom in X way, which, for for example, I’m not to pick on it, but like, you know, the whole diversity church kind of movement. I love you know, if that’s your brand, that’s awesome. That’s great. Go, go bring signs of the kingdom in that area. But you know what people do is they take their thing and then slap it on every single church. You know, this is the sign of the kingdom that you have to manifest.Andrew Hopper — I don’t think that. It takes every kind of church to reach a city because there’s all you know, there’s every kind of people in the city. Right? For us, though, and I think for a lot of churches that that maybe are are made up a little bit like we are, I think there is a lot of meat on the bone for adoption, foster care, families count ministry. And I think churches could be greatly helped by latching on to maybe, you know, something in particular, maybe this, maybe this specifically. How we got there, Rich, was we had we had, you know, huge movement in our church in 2019. I was very convicted.Andrew Hopper — Some of the exponential stuff was coming out, you know, mobilizing people outside the walls of the church. And I really was, man, I was just really affected by that. And I don’t want the dichotomy, you know, I don’t want, well, you your people serve in the church and not outside the church. It’s like, no, most people serve outside the church. If you watch them, they are serving inside the church as well. It’s it’s like a it’s like, man, you know, just just because serving inside the church is not the finish line, don’t demonize it because it is a starting place.Rich Birch — That’s good.Andrew Hopper — So it’s like, I don’t like that kind of whole thing. But but it did affect me to say, OK, what are we doing to push to the outside? So we we we did a thing. You would have loved this, man. But it except for the fact that it didn’t really work that good. OK, it was awesome.Andrew Hopper — It was, we still have the domain name – nomorespectators.com – I had the tagline: Jesus didn’t die to create spectators. He died to create servants, not spectators, workers, not watchers. We, man, you could go to nomorespectators.com and, you know, it was like, it was like a funnel for all of these community ministry opportunities in our city. So it was, you know, people from the housing, you know, authority type stuff would post things. And it was, it was all this kind of, it had a bunch of stuff in it. Andrew Hopper — In the end of the day, great idea. It was a little too complex. Our people latched on to the foster care, pregnancy network, you know, ended up being families count, Guardian ad Litem and adoption. So our guy that was over all that at the time our sending director, which is hard for me to have a good idea that ends up dying hard, okay that’s just tough for me.Rich Birch — You had a great sticky statement and everything. Come on.Andrew Hopper — I’m the king of sunken cost bias. Okay. Like, I’m like, dude. And so finally around 2020, he came to me and he said, bro, I know this is hard for you. Cause it was like a two year initiative. He’s like, this is hard. He said, No More Spectators needs to just turn into Chosen. And it needs to be like, you had this idea for 30 different things. It just, this needs to be our niche, man. You know, we we don’t do a lot of these other things, but we do this really well.Andrew Hopper — And it was hard for me. Ultimately, it was great wisdom by them, not me. And we started going down that road. And partly, I think it’s because, Rich, is heart is near to my heart. I have an adopted daughter. A lot of our staff have adopted kids. We just have a guy right now. Our associate director of first impressions at the Rich campus is in Texas right now, you know, bringing their daughter home.Andrew Hopper — I mean, so it’s just, and so it’s sort of started to morph into, and the the the big thing I’ll say, and I, you know, I’ve been talking a lot here, but the big thing I’ll say is, if you think about the way I just ah described all that, it doesn’t start with the need in the community. It starts with the gift matrix of the church. The poor we will always have with us. Like there there is no there’s no scenario until Jesus comes back that there’s no kids that need to be adopted, you know.Rich Birch — Right, right.Andrew Hopper — And it’s just the reality of it. And so there’s always going to be need in the community. It’s more about, okay, what are the Ephesians 2:10 works that your church, because the church is made up of people who are individually called, what are the you know what are those works that God has set out for your church? Rich Birch — That’s good.Andrew Hopper — And, you know, so for us, we just felt like, dude, this is a a heartbeat thing. Our people got more, they get more fired up. The greatest thing I’ve ever been able to mobilize our people for prayer for is go to the abortion clinic and pray. I mean, a thousand people on their face in the pavement. It’s like, it just strikes a chord with our church and who we are. So we wanna run after that.Rich Birch — Yeah. Well, I love that. And we’re going to dig out a bunch of this, but let’s think about it first from a perspective of somebody who’s maybe attended your church. They just started. They’re they’re relatively new, you know. The idea of something as weighty as adoption or foster care, that’s a big ask. And you know when you yeah how do I experience that as someone who’s just new? What are some ways that I could get plugged in? What does that look like? That, that, cause I, I’m hard, it’s hard to imagine that I go from zero to, to, you know, adoption, you know, how do I end up or flying to Texas to, you know, pick up a kid. That’s a lot. Help me understand. How are you, cause I know you guys are so good at moving people along from kind of where they are to where you’re hoping to – what’s that look like? What’s the kind of, how do you bring people along in this?Andrew Hopper — Man, totally. I think you’re right. I think it’s a combination of big vision on one end and then baby steps on the other. But the big vision matters.Rich Birch — That’s good.Andrew Hopper — Like we don’t want to be scared of the big vision. So, you know, for example, our weekender process, which I know you talked about some, you know, that weekender process, you know, people literally for years, we would give them a passport application in the weekender process. Because we’re like you’re at this church you’re probably going to be overseas at some point on a mission trip. And so to me it’s like people are like dude that probably scares the crap out of people. And it’s like well, I mean we want to make sure they know what they’re getting into, you know. We’re not telling them they got to do that tomorrow… Rich Birch — Right.Andrew Hopper — …but that is the, and then and then there’s all these baby steps, right? Like hey come to you know, every February we do Sent weekend. Come to the prayer night. Like that’s a baby step. That’s not you getting on a plane to go to Nepal. But you know hey we’re doing this missions offering at the end of the year, like maybe get you know. So there’s all these I would say that our the way we think about Chosen ministry, which again: adoption, foster care, families count, and rope holding, which is a big part of this discussion… Rich Birch — Okay. Andrew Hopper —…is that way. It’s big vision on the front end so we’re never going to tell somebody, hey you know, I know you could never do this. Like I’ll never…I think people can do it and they should. Or or you know more Christians than are should. At the same time we’re also not guilting anybody. Like so I’m I you know the the first thing I’ll tell people is like, hey, you know we start talking about adoption. I always say always say, hey, we have not lined up a bunch of little kids in the lobby for you to take one home today, okay. And then I’ll tell them, that’s next week.Rich Birch — That’s great.Andrew Hopper — Okay, so yeah but and we we try hard to like put some levity in it. Man, we’re not everybody’s not going to do that. In fact, a minority, of a small minority is going to do it. But everyone can be involved and there are baby steps.Andrew Hopper — So we try to highlight giving, man. Like if you someone adopts from Mercy Hill, we pay 25% of their adoption. Okay.Rich Birch — Wow. Yep.Andrew Hopper — If they’re a member and they’re in a community group, they get 25%. All right, well, you know, we’re going to connect that. Like, man, you you are never going to adopt. You feel like that’s, but it’s like, well, I give $100 a month to the church. Rich Birch — Right.Andrew Hopper — Well, hey, what? You know, you’re you are you are supporting.Rich Birch — We’re making a difference.Andrew Hopper — We do parents night out, you know, for all of our foster and adoptive parents. We do it quarterly. It’s like, hey, those are opportunities to come and serve, man. You can serve the meal you can do. We do rope holding, which I know we’ll probably talk about. But but the the idea of rope holding is just like, man, I’m not going to do this, but I can be in the corner for somebody. They’re in my community group. I want to be their first call if they need a babysitter or they need, you know, a gift card, or whatever they need.Andrew Hopper — So I think, man, we try to do big vision. You know, we’re going we’re going to set a huge vision, you know, for 2030 for 2030. Actually, we just hit our vision for 2025, which is 200 adoptive or foster families. There’s a lot of ways people can be involved with it.Rich Birch — So good. There’s, I think thing I would encourage friends who are listening in, you really should be following Mercy Hill, Andrew, because I do think you’re a very unique communicator where you, and you just described it. And I think to you, it’s just like, that’s just what you do. But this idea of like, you’re calling people to a high bar, but you’re not leveraging shame, guilt. you know, it’s, and I think so many times our language can kind of lean in that direction. Or we can, if we really are trying to push people towards something, or we can just undersell the vision. You know We can be like, oh, it’s not that it’s not that big of a deal. You know It’s not for everybody. So I would encourage people to listen in.Rich Birch — Talk to me about rope holding. How is that, what’s that look like? Unpack what that looks like a little bit.Andrew Hopper — Yeah, so rope so the the the rope-holding analogy, which a lot of your listeners probably gonna already know this, but you know William Carey, Andrew Fuller, William Carey, father of modern missions, he’s he he he makes the statement, “I’ll dangle at the end of the rope in the pit, if you’ll hold the rope,” talking to Fuller. And Fuller held the rope for him. Like, you know, Carey the mission field, Fuller’s raising money, preaching sermons, organizing mission boards. So that’s kind of the picture. Right.Andrew Hopper — So we say, all right, not everybody is going to go down into the pit of foster care adoption, even even families count. I mean, these are these are massive spiritual warfare battlegrounds you know um which is one of the reasons why our church wants to be involved so much. I mean you if you want to talk about getting to the you can do all the rhetoric in the world, brother, you want to get to the very bottom of societal issues, you you be involved in somebody’s story that’s trying that’s trying to get their kids back from the foster care system. You’re trying to help them with that. I mean, every you could fatherlessness, poverty, drug abuse. I mean, everything you can think, you know.Rich Birch — Right.Andrew Hopper — So this this is just spiritual war. So what we tell people is like, hey, man. If we got people that are mobilizing for for adoption and foster care, we better have people in their corne,r because the enemy is going to bring his war machine.Rich Birch — Right.Andrew Hopper — And we see it all the time. I mean, you’re going to see, you know, a family steps in to adopt and you’re going to start seeing them, you know, there can be sickness. They can have marital problems. They can have financial things that come up. They can begin to believe lies, frustrations. I mean, There’s just so they can become, you know, their their heart can start getting hard toward the system. I mean, there’s so many things that come at them. And so what we say is we need people in their corner, right. Andrew Hopper — Now, it’s funny because like the way our church has operated was at first we said, all right, we’re going to we’re going to do, you know, the the community group is going hold the rope for the people. And and that that was fine. The problem is when we really kicked off this ministry, so many people got involved that it became overwhelming to the group. So we said we got to start this… Rich Birch — Right. Andrew Hopper — …rope holding ministry. The rope holder ministry is good. It’s like, what does a rope holder do? They kind of do whatever the person needs them to do. Rich Birch — Right. Andrew Hopper — So there are examples of the rope holding ministry going really well, where it’s like, hey, man, they’re they’re helping with ah child care with the other kids when they’re going to foster care appointments in court. And or, hey, we’re we’re helping you do some things around the house whenever you’re overseas doing your adoption, which is going to put you three weeks in country. You know, there are some good examples like that. Andrew Hopper — But the other thing that we’ve learned is, you know, foster care and adoption families that are that are walking through this, they’re going through a very trying time. And to just pair them with somebody they don’t know and say, hey, look, here’s your supporter, it can be a little bit like, oh, that’s awesome, and then they never reach out to them.Rich Birch — Right.Andrew Hopper — They never reach out – the rope holder’s ready.Rich Birch — Right.Andrew Hopper — But it’s just like, dude, I don’t I don’t know you. And this is a hard time.Rich Birch — Who are you? Yeah, yeah.Andrew Hopper — And so what we’re trying to figure out now as we reboot that rope holder idea is, you know, how how do you kind of integrate relationships they’ve already had? Almost like, hey, do you have this massive pool of people called rope holders? Or when an adoptive family comes up, you say to them, hey, who can we shoulder tap, rope holder for you.Rich Birch — That’s good.Andrew Hopper — And then we’ll train them.Rich Birch — Oh, that’s cool. Yeah.Andrew Hopper — But not have this pool, but say for you, we’ll put them in. So that’s kind of what we’re, so as part of our reboot for 2030, you know, that’s sort of what’s in our mind right now.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s cool.Andrew Hopper — We have a whole playbook for the way we’ve done it, which anybody, you know, if anybody wants any of those things, they can go to AndrewPHopper.com/chosen. And I can send you any of that stuff we have, but on the rope holder side, you know, just full transparency, we’re still, you know, kind of, of you know, and I’m sure it’ll always be that way that we make an improvement.Rich Birch — Yeah, always trying to make it better. Yeah. And I want to, yeah, at some point in this journey, you decided, hey, we’ve got to put this vision and framework into writing, like we and you actually ended up writing a book, and friends who are listening in, I want to encourage you to pick up a copy of this book. Listen, we’re almost half an hour in. I know you’re interested in this. This is the kind of thing you, Andrew’s a trusted leader. He’s, I’ve had a chance to take a peek at the book. This will be super helpful for you. But, but that’s a lot of effort to put this together into a book. What pushed you from just leading this ministry to ultimately saying, hey, I want to capture this into a resource that could help other people?Andrew Hopper — Well, you know, Rich, I never really saw myself as like a writer, just like a practitioner, man. Let’s just keep keep working on the thing and going.Rich Birch — Right.Andrew Hopper — And truthfully, I got approached. Hey, would you have any interest in writing? You know, New Growth Press is the one that’s editing this book and putting it out. And it was funny, though, because the second I was asked, I was like, man, I know what we should do [inaudible] that should be what we should do. It’s it’s our it’s it’s my story’s family story with our special needs child that we’ve adopted. It’s our church’s journey. But more important than either of those two things, it’s a grounding in the gospel-centered motivation. Because I think that is what is so important. We don’t do guilt motivation. And you know, cute kids and sad, cute kids and and sad stories are good reasons, but they you need a great reason, because it’s hard. Rich Birch — That’s good. Yep.Andrew Hopper — You know, and the great reason is of course, adopted people adopt people. And so we delve way into the helplessness of our spiritual condition, how God adopted us and then how, you know, that provides a deep motivation for us to go and do the same for others.Rich Birch — Can you unpack that a little bit more? Because I think this is, ah to me, a core part of the book that I think is really helpful. Even if you’re maybe listening in, you’re thinking, okay, I’m not sure adoption or foster care is necessarily the thing, but you unpack this idea of gospel rather than guilt. And can you talk us through, you know, how, yeah, just talk us through that part, that concept a bit more. Just double click on that a little bit.Andrew Hopper — Yeah. So, you know, when we think about behaviors that flow from the Christian life, there’s really only two ways to think about it, right? Like one of them is we try to do things in order that God would approve of us, you know, that he would, you know, he would, ah he would, he would let us in his family, you know, those those types of things. And we, you know, this is for a lot of Baptistic world, which I am, this was kind of like, wow, this is really revolutionary, but that was 20 years ago – Keller and all that. You know, we just started understanding what more of a gospel center motivation. Andrew Hopper — Of course, the other way to think about Christian behaviors is you are part of the family because of what Christ has done for you. And the family has a culture. The family works a certain way. There’s fruit that will pop out in your life, not so that you can gain entrance into the vine. That’s not how it works. Like, ah you know, you don’t you don’t produce fruit to get in the vine. You produce fruit because you’re in the vine. Andrew Hopper — And so, you know, when we think about like like Titus 2, for example, we think about how the grace of God appears to all men, teaching us not just salvation, but teaching us to obey his commands. So there’s something about salvation that and is inherent to the gospel-centered motivation of of of going out, living the Christian life. You know, it’s it’s kind of the John Bunyan idea when they said, man, if you, you know, if you keep preaching this gospel message, people are going to do whatever they want to do. And he said, no, if I keep preaching this gospel message, people are going to do whatever God wants them to do. Rich Birch — Right.Andrew Hopper — You know, and so I think what we’ve done in this book is just say, hey, that that is true universally in our Christian life. Like if I’m not tithing and I’m stingy, I can do motivation in two ways. Number one, how dare you, you piece of trash that you never, you know why would you never give? Look what God, you know, blah blah blah, blah, blah, guilt, guilt, shame, shame. Right. Andrew Hopper — Of course, the other way to say is like, man, what kind of riches has God given you in the gospel? And what kind of inheritance do you now have as a son of the king? It’s like, all right, that’s powerful, you know, and it will it will take us places that guilt never can. Guilt will work for a while. You can put fire under somebody and it’ll move them. But if you put it in them, they’ll run through a wall, you know. Rich Birch — So true.Andrew Hopper — And so it’s like it’s like, hey, OK, so you could do it with all these different things. We’ve tried to take this book and do that with adoption to say, all right.Rich Birch — Right.Andrew Hopper — We know James 1:27, we need to care for the fatherless and the orphan. We understand. I mean, dude, there ain’t, when you talk about metaphors, there’s two big ones, marriage and adoption, you know? And so if you want to do adoption well, we can do it from two motivations. One motivation is look how many kids need. That’s all and that’s all true. That moves my heart. You know, look, can you believe this story of this kid? And that’s fine.Andrew Hopper — Of course, you could do guilt, too. Like, how dare you, you know, have this nice, happy family and not go adopt a little poor orphan kid. You know, you could do guilt. All those things will be fine. They’ll put fire under you a little bit. But if you want to put the fire in someone that is going to carry them through the long haul of all this stuff, I think it’s better to start with: All right. There’s kids that need to be chosen. Were you chosen?Andrew Hopper — You know, so like one of the you know, one I’ll give you an example. We know of a family here in the tribe. They’ve got an awesome son that is 20-something years old, kids got Down syndrome, and they adopted him from Ecuador. And his story was one day a carpenter was working on this building and he heard cries coming out of a dump, like a trash heap. This child had just been born and been left you know with his deformities had just been left for the dumpster. Andrew Hopper — And they brought him to the orphanage. And next thing you know, you know about three or four years later, he got adopted by this family that we know. And that family’s father, he said, Eddie’s story is my story. I was pulled from a trash heap by a carpenter. And if you it’s like that is powerful. Rich Birch — Right. Yes.Andrew Hopper — You know, when you start thinking about, man, in my sin, I was one who had no part and parcel in the kingdom of God. I was headlong in rebellion. I had rejected. I was not a son. And God lavished his love upon me, that I would be called his child. And if if that has happened to me spiritually, how could I not want to do that? Or at least help those. you know I’m not saying that’s a call for everybody, but be involved in others that are doing that as well.Andrew Hopper — And so that’s what we say. Adopted people, adopt people, chosen people, choose people. And hey, I didn’t answer your last question. Rich Birch — That’s fine.Andrew Hopper — Okay. Your last question was, why did we write the book? Very simply, I think more people just need to think about what I just said. You know, and I think churches do. And I think that if, you know, a lot of churches have adoption-minded people and a little bit of of fuel in that fire might create some really cool ministry in that church. And this book lays really well for being like, man, make it a small group resource for eight weeks. You know, it’s got questions at the end of each chapter.Andrew Hopper — Like my my prayer is that this book would catalyze tens of thousands of Christian adoptions. Rich Birch — Wow. Andrew Hopper — And that’s why we wrote the book.Rich Birch — Yeah. It’s and I thought the same thing as I was looking through it, that this would be a great resource for a small group, a great resource as a staff training thing. Because again, I think there’s two things happening on two levels. From my perspective, there’s what you’re actually talking about – adoption, but then there’s how you talk about it. And I think even both of those, I think could be interesting as a as a staff team to kind of unpack and think about. How do we ensure that what we’re doing is so gospel-infused. That’s part of why i love you as a communicator. I think you do such a good job on that. It’s just fantastic. So I would strongly encourage people to pick it up.Rich Birch — Help me understand the connection. So Mercy Hill is known for, or at least from my perspective, known as a sending church. You know, the thing, one of the and I’ve told again, I told you this before, you’re the first church leader I’ve ever bumped into that has connected new here guests to number of missionaries sent. This like idea of like this funnel of how do we move people all the way along to that? I think that’s incredible. How does that kind of sending culture and adoption, how does that fit together? How does that help kind of fuel the flywheel of what’s happening at Mercy Hill?Andrew Hopper — Well, you you helped me think about this when you came and did our one day for our for our Breaking Barriers group, you know, for the pastoral trainings that we do. Because in your church growth book, you talk about how, ah you know, community ministry is used as an evangelism tool. I’m not, I’m probably butchering the way you talk about it.Rich Birch — Yep. Yep. Oh, that’s good. Yep. That’s great.Andrew Hopper — That was like a big light bulb for me because because we we definitely do that, but we have not leveraged the communications of that.Rich Birch — Right.Andrew Hopper — And so, um you know, for us now, what we’re trying to really think about is how does our adoption of foster care ministry and rope holding and families count ministry, how does that create open? We call them open doors, right? Rich Birch — Yep.Andrew Hopper — Like, how does it create open doors, questions in the community, where people come in? And we’ve seen it. You know, so like when we’re talking about the sending culture, that pipeline starts when new people get interested in faith, they get interested in church.Andrew Hopper — And, you know, like, for example, we we had a guy, we just did a historic video. Man, he’s saved, baptized, serving now, ah or, you know, family, young family, prototypical Mercy Hill guy, like, man, just you know blue collar heart, white collar job, just that. I mean, just everything we talk about. Right. He’s our he’s kind of our guy. And the way he got connected was his boss had signed up to be a rope holder. And it just blew his mind. Like, why would a guy take limited time and go help these families? I mean, he of course, he thought it was a good thing. But it really intrigued them. Andrew Hopper — And so we’ve tried to we’re trying to leverage more of the communication side. It’s tricky. You don’t want to be like, hey, look at us you know in the community. At the same time, I’m like, man, this year, you know when we’re going to do a pretty significant upgrade to some of the there our foster care system has, there’s a house that has a backyard and the backyard is where families come to play with kids, play with their kids they’re trying to get back from the foster care.Rich Birch — Right. Yep.Andrew Hopper — And we’ve said like, you know what, man, if these parents are putting in, that needs to be like the best, the best backyard, and you know?Rich Birch — Right. Yeah, absolutely. 100%.Andrew Hopper — And so, you know, we’re, we’re going to do a significant investment in some, you know, whatever…Rich Birch — Play structures and yeah. Andrew Hopper — …like a, you know, whatever, like a pergola type thing. They’re going put a shed out there. All going to connect it, pavers, all that stuff is what we want to do. And, you know, we’re, we’re looking at that and I’m going like, yeah, I mean, I get it. Like you don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, but at the same time, that’s not for us. That’s for people that are interested to say like, why would a church do that? You know, like why do they care so much?Andrew Hopper — And it’s because, Hey, sign of the kingdom. We want to build families through adoption. We want to restore families through foster care and families count. This is part of that. So we’ve tried to we’ve tried to use it as a way. And I would really encourage church leaders to think about that. Like, hey, is your community ministry actually an evangelism strategy?Rich Birch — Right. Yeah, that’s good. Love that. And yeah, I would encourage you continue to encourage you to think through those things because I do think that there’s, we’ve seen that there’s huge opportunity for folks who don’t normally attend church. They’re interested the way I’ve said in other contexts is they see it as a good thing. We see it as a God thing. We’re not going to fight them over the semantics of it at the front end. Because like you say it’s it’s the kingdom puncturing through that grabs their attention and you’re like oh what what you know what’s going on there? It’s a first step – how do we encourage those people? Rich Birch — Like on that backyard project, I no doubt if you’re rallying a bunch of guys to go work there, I know that there are guys in your church who have friends who they could invite who don’t attend church who maybe would never walk in your church who’d say, hey, will you come and work for a Saturday for a couple hours and swing a hammer and help us do this thing? Let me explain what this is about.They absolutely would show up, right? 100% they’d show up and and they’ll get intrigued by that. And they’ll be like, oh, what’s going on there? That’s that’s fantastic. Rich Birch — Well, friends, unabashedly, I want you to pick up copies of, not just a copy, copies of this book. So where do we want to send people to pick up copies, that sort of thing?Andrew Hopper — Yeah, man, they can just go to andrewphopper.com/chosen. Rich Birch — Perfect. Yep.Andrew Hopper — The book’s out so they can pick up a copy. I mean, it’s also just like on Amazon or whatever, but that link will take you straight to New Growth Press.Rich Birch — Right.Andrew Hopper — So, yeah, man, would love it. Would love to hear from anybody who’s using it well in a church context um to catalyze Christian adoption.Rich Birch — Love it. Anything else you want to share just as we close and how can people track, go to the website, other places we want to send them as we close up today.Andrew Hopper — Also on Instagram, we have a lot of stuff on Instagram, andrewphopper on Instagram. Yeah, the last thing I would say as a closing thought, Rich, is you know, the Christian adoption boom has sort of happened 20 years ago. People started talking about this a lot more. And now you can feel in some of the podcast world and all that, there’s a bit of a backlash, not not to don’t do it, but also like, hey, no one told us how hard this was going to be. Andrew Hopper — You’re dealing with traumatic situations, kids that have been brought, you know, I mean, it’s, it’s crazy. One thing I try to do in this book is I try to say, Hey, that’s not a good reason to take our ball and go home, you know.Rich Birch — That’s good.Andrew Hopper — Instead we just need to try to shoot as straight as we can. And I do that in this book, man. It is hard. It’s you’re on the front lines of spiritual war. I mean, it’s almost like, dude, the, the, the greatest transfer of faith from one generation to another happens in the home. We love it when adults get saved. I get that. But let’s be honest. Statistically, where does it normally happen? Right. Rich Birch — Yeah. Kids. Andrew Hopper — And so if you got a home that’s broken apart, that Christians are trying to put back together, what did we think Satan was going to do? You know, and so instead of taking our ball and going home, let’s just call it what it is, and then ask the Lord to steel our spine… Rich Birch — That’s good. Andrew Hopper — …and to move forward with the mission. So, yeah, man, I’d love for people to pick it up. And I appreciate the time to talk about it today.Rich Birch — Andrew, thanks so much. Appreciate you. Just want to honor you for the work you do. You’re a great leader. And I love how God’s using you and your church to make a difference. Thanks for being on the show today.Andrew Hopper — Thanks, brother.

In this powerful and informative episode of The People's Podcast by Ismail, I sit down with Fauzia Deen, an activist lawyer and civilian board member of the Fairfax County Police Civilian Review Board in Virginia. Fauzia brings deep insight into the role of civilian oversight in policing and the ongoing work required to build accountability, transparency, and trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Our conversation explores Fauzia's personal journey into activism and law, what motivated her to serve on the civilian review board, and the real challenges faced when civilians are tasked with holding powerful systems accountable. She breaks down how the board functions, why civilian involvement matters, and what meaningful police reform looks like beyond slogans and headlines. This episode is an honest, necessary discussion about justice, civic responsibility, and the importance of community voices in shaping public safety. Fauzia Deen's work reminds us that change often happens at the local level-and that informed, engaged civilians play a critical role in that process. Professional Summary Purpose-driven leader with 20+ years of cross-sector experience in law, wellness administration, government relations, and culturally responsive community engagement. Proven ability to build strategic partnerships, launch public-facing programs, and lead mission-based initiatives that uplift diverse communities. Former Wellness Director, Deputy Director of Outreach & Government Relations, and Guardian ad Litem, known for advancing interfaith understanding and strengthening community wellness infrastructure. Skilled in program development, state and county collaboration, cultural competency, and public-access readiness planning-positioning me to support the Diyanet Center of America in expanding its gym, spa, and cultural spaces to the public while honoring Islamic values. Core Competencies * Strategic Community Engagement * Wellness Program Leadership * Interfaith & Cross-Cultural Outreach * Government Relations & Public Sector
Partnerships * Mission & Vision Alignment * Program and Policy Development * Grant & Bond Preparation Support * Public Education & Speaking * Trauma-Informed Practice * DEI & Community Wellness Professional Experience Deputy Director, Outreach & Government Relations Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center - Falls Church, VA | 2015-Present Professional Experience Deputy Director, Outreach & Government Relations Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center - Falls Church, VA | 2015-Present * Built and maintained strategic partnerships with county agencies, healthcare systems, public schools, and cultural institutions to improve access for underserved and immigrant communities. * Led interfaith engagement and represented the Center at government meetings, civic forums, and multicultural coalitions. * Designed and facilitated public-facing programs on senior wellness, domestic violence prevention, youth mentorship, safety awareness, and community education. * Coordinated high-impact cultural events-including the Solidarity Cup of Tea and Taste of Islam-that uplifted Muslim identity while fostering cross-cultural dialogue. * Collaborated with Fairfax County's Health Department, Police Department, and Equity Committees to address racial disparities in health, safety, and outreach effectiveness. * * 6:27 * •ll 5Gc * ••• * Coordinated high-impact cultural events— including the Solidarity Cup of Tea and Taste of Islam-that uplifted Muslim identity while fostering cross-cultural dialogue. * Collaborated with Fairfax County's Health Department, Police Department, and Equity Committees to address racial disparities in health , satety, and outreach effectiveness. • Evaluated county-level public-private partnerships as a member of the Fairfax Consolidated Community Funding Advisory Committee. Guardian ad Litem (GAL) State of Indiana | 2008-2014 * Represented vulnerable youth and older adults in court proceedings involving family safety, elder protection, and reunification. * Partnered with schools, social services, law enforcement, and community programs to build long-term support systems. * Conducted trauma-informed assessments and developed care plans centered on family stabilization. * * 6:27 * ••• * Corporate Wellness Director * Spiece Lifestyle Medical Center - Fort Wayne, IN | 2000-2007 * Directed operations of a major regional wellness and fitness center. * Designed preventive health and wellness initiatives, including intergenerational health programs and culturally responsive wellness education. • Managed staff, developed membership programs, and promoted community-wide wellness engagement. Clinic Manager MED I QWIK Urgent Care - Fort Wayne, IN | 1990-2007 * Supervised clinical operations while ensuring culturally sensitive care for diverse patient populations. * Established referral systems with hospitals, community groups, and mental health providers. * Law Clerk to Magistrate C. Bobay * Allen County Family Court - Indiana | 2005. * * 6:27 * ••• * Law Clerk to Magistrate C. Bobay * Allen County Family Court - Indiana | 2005 * Researched statutes related to guardianship, elder law, domestic violence, and family protection. * Supported the court in community engagement strategy and case reviews. Education Juris Doctor - Western Michigan Law School Bachelor of Science in Business & Marketing - Indiana University * Dean's List | Coursework in Social Psychology Certifications & Specialized Training * Conflict Management & Diversity -
Certified Facilitator * Domestic Violence & Protective Orders
(Fairfax Courts) * "Challenging Racism" Graduate * Justice for Juniors - Trauma-Informed
Mentorship. * * 6:28 * ••• * First Muslim woman appointee, Fairtax
Police Civilian Review Panel * VOICE - Interfaith advocacy on housing, education, and safety * Moms Demand Action - Legislative outreach * Interfaith Council of Greater Washington - Cultural dialogue & hate prevention * Toastmasters Trainer - Public speaking training for underserved youth * Tour Facilitator - Interfaith educational tours * Women's Empowerment Program Designer - Survivor support * ICNA Relief Women's Programs & other civic engagement organizations Professional Affiliations * NACOLE * Sisters of Salaam Shalom * Fairfax Health Department Multicultural
Action Committee * Interfaith Communities for Dialogue * Indiana Bar - Attorney in Good Standing

     Slam The Gavel welcomes back Theo Chino from the state of Illinois. Theo was last on Season 5, Episodes 128, 143, 164, 187, 192, 204, 206, 217 and Season 6, Episodes 252 and 322. Today we discussed the monsters you can't run and hide from. The monsters that exist to parents and their children lurking behind every corridor in the family courts, that seek to suck parents dry of their children's college funds. Along with Guardian ad Litem's (third party parasites) and judges who twist a child's word and destroy parents. There are also the monster's people create by trusting others with information that will later be used against them whether it is real or made up.    Happy Halloween all!To Reach Theo Chino:  theo@alliedra.com and billingassetrecovery.comSupportshow(https://www.buymeacoffee.com/maryannpetri)Maryann Petri: dismantlingfamilycourtcorruption.comhttps://www.tiktok.com/@maryannpetriFacebook:  https://www.youtube.com/@slamthegavelpodcasthostmar5536Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guitarpeace/Pinterest: Slam The Gavel Podcast/@guitarpeaceLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryann-petri-62a46b1ab/  YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@slamthegavelpodcasthostmar5536  Twitter https://x.com/PetriMaryannEzlegalsuit.com   https://ko-fi.com/maryannpetrihttps://www.zazzle.com/store/slam_the_gavel/about*DISCLAIMER* The use of this information is at the viewer/user's own risk. For information only and no affiliation with legislation, bills or laws. Not financial, medical nor legal advice as the content on this podcast does not constitute legal, financial, medical or any other professional advice. Viewer/user's should consult with the relevant professionals. Reproduction, distribution, performing, publicly displaying and making a derivative of the work is explicitly prohibited without permission from content creator. Podcast is protected by owner. The content creator maintains the exclusive right and any unauthorized copyright.Support the showSupportshow(https://www.buymeacoffee.com/maryannpetri)http://www.dismantlingfamilycourtcorruption.com/

Most people assume a caring family and a good doctor's note will steer a loved one through a crisis. The hard truth in North Carolina: only a judge can declare incompetence, the evidence bar is high, and family conflict can put strangers in charge of the most personal decisions. We unpack the four biggest guardianship nightmares—thin medical proof, missing powers of attorney, contested petitions, and defaulting to third-party guardians—and show how to navigate each one with strategy, clarity, and compassion.We start with the legal spine of guardianship: the petition, the “clear, cogent, and convincing” standard, and why medical records and recent physician affidavits carry outsized weight. From there, we explain court-ordered multidisciplinary evaluations, the Guardian ad Litem's independent role, and how to build a credible record when access to files is limited. Then we turn to prevention. Solid general durable and healthcare powers of attorney do more than name agents; they can eliminate the need for guardianship, guide the court to respect prior choices, and keep decision-making with the people you trust. When families clash, we share what courts look for—risk of blocked visitation, fiduciary red flags, and persistent hostility—and why that often leads to professional guardians for the estate and DSS for the person.Along the way, we offer practical steps: how to prepare evidence, propose limited guardianship when appropriate, and craft estate planning that anticipates real life—successor agents, communication plans, and safeguards that reduce courtroom risk. If you want to protect autonomy, avoid unnecessary litigation, and keep care decisions close to home, this guide gives you the roadmap.If this helped you think differently about guardianship and planning, subscribe, share this episode with someone who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest question so we can cover it next time.

In this episode, Robert A. Evans, Ph.D. and Dr. Michael Bone, Ph.D. discuss the role of the Guardian ad Litem in custody cases with parental alienation. Please visit www.naopas.com or www.drbobevans.com for more information on parental alienation and Dr. Evans.

April is recognized as National Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness about the importance of safe, supportive environments for all children. In this episode, we spotlight the NC Guardian ad Litem Program and its vital role in advocating for children involved in the state's foster care system.The episode features conversations with three leaders from the Guardian ad Litem Program:Carolyn Green, Regional AdministratorBrittany McKinney, Staff AttorneyMatthew Wunsche, Appellate CounselTogether, they discuss the urgent need for volunteer child advocates, volunteer attorney advocates, and interns to support the growing need of abused and neglected children in North Carolina's court system."When I came over to Guardian ad Litem I learned that so many children are under the radar while in the court system," said Green on the podcast. "I hope that people will give of their time and make a difference in a life. When you commit until a child gets back to a safe, permanent home, you can't beat that feeling." The episode serves as both a call to action and an informative look into how volunteers can support the best interests of children experiencing abuse, neglect, or abandonment.To learn more about becoming a Guardian ad Litem volunteer or intern, visit volunteerforgal.org.

Dr. Thomas Engel joins Steph to talk about the concerns of children in child dependency and how Christians can make a big impact in caring for these children.   Bio: Dr. Engel has been a member of the LCMS at various churches since the age of 4. He is an Eagle Scout, an alumnus of the Virginia Military Institute, and a veteran of the U.S. Army. He has also worked professionally as an EMS paramedic and an industrial saturation diver. He has an MBA and is a Doctor of Human Services with a focus on the concerns of children in child dependency. He has served children as a Child Protective Investigator, Guardian ad Litem supervisor, case manager supervisor, member of Florida's Critical Incident Rapid Response Team, ICPC Deputy Administrator, ICAMA Deputy Administrator, foster parent, and adoptive parent. Resources: Email us at friendsforlife@lcms.org LCMS Life, Health and Family Ministries: lcmslife.org For resources on the family: lcmslife.org/family An LCMS Guide to Supporting Foster Families: https://lcmslife.org/resource/lcms-guide-to-supporting-foster-families/  Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.

   Slam the Gavel welcomes back Dr. Bandy X. Lee to the podcast. Dr. Lee was last on the podcast Season 4, Episode 23 (1-31-2023). Today we discussed Dr. Bandy Lee's lawsuit with impeachment initiative to bring transparency to the Star Chamber-like family court (Press Release).     Family courts are nefariously secretive, like the Star Chamber in England, which had been abolished approximately four centuries ago. Transparency is ESSENTIAL for deterring family court abuses which include judicial bias, witness perjury and CPS/Guardian ad Litem one-sided interviews.     Dr. Bandy Lee's lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey challenges the constitutionality of the dark secrecy cloud that hangs over family courts nationwide. The Judge in Dr. Lee's case censored her for writing about family court proceedings, ordering it to be removed from the internet and holding her in contempt under the threat of imprisonment is she should speak or write about the serious health and financial abuses she has professionally witnessed. A PRIOR RESTRAINT IN BLATANT FASHION OF THE VIOLATION OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT.     Both Dr. Lee and her constitutionally acclaimed Attorney, Bruce Fein are available to the media.To Reach Bandy Lee:  bandylee.com***** Supportshow(https://www.buymeacoffee.com/maryannpetri)Maryann Petri: dismantlingfamilycourtcorruption.comhttps://www.tiktok.com/@maryannpetriFacebook:  https://www.youtube.com/@slamthegavelpodcasthostmar5536Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guitarpeace/Pinterest: Slam The Gavel Podcast/@guitarpeaceLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryann-petri-62a46b1ab/  YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@slamthegavelpodcasthostmar5536  Twitter https://x.com/PetriMaryannEzlegalsuit.comhttps://ko-fi.com/maryannpetri*DISCLAIMER* The use of this information is at the viewer/user's own risk. Not financial, medical nor legal advice as the content on this podcast does not constitute legal, financial, medical or any other professional advice. Viewer/user's should consult with the relevant professionals. Reproduction, distribution, performing, publicly displaying and making a derivative of the work is explicitly prohibited without permission from content creator. Podcast is protected by owner. The content creator maintains the exclusive right and any unauthorized copyright infringement is subject to legal prosecution. Support the showSupportshow(https://www.buymeacoffee.com/maryannpetri)http://www.dismantlingfamilycourtcorruption.com/

    Slam the Gavel welcomes William Danh to the podcast. William has been fighting for his rights to see his daughter for years. His daughter was born in 2012, and didn't even know he had a daughter until 2023 when the mother called him up looking for child support. A paternity test was done. However, the mother, living under various addresses had applied for $20,000 in TANF that was granted. But now that she cannot be located, they are coming after William for the $20,000.00    Despite William's efforts, the courts, Dept. of Child Support Enforcement, CPS and his daughter's Guardian ad Litem have repeatedly ignored his questions. For over a year William has pleaded with them for information on his daughter's whereabouts and safety. They wouldn't answer him. Meanwhile, seven years ago, her mother abandoned her in a home with known drug abuse and neglect. Tragically a four year-old child (daughter's half-brother)  was murdered in that home. Article written in WUSA9, "3 Family Members Arrested For Murder of a 4-year-old Boy in Manassas," By Matt Pusatory on January 30th, 2025.    It wasn't until after this tragedy that the system finally acknowledged William, but only because they couldn't ignore the huge mess they created. As of now, the whereabouts of the mother is unknown and is not held accountable, CPS continues to ignore William and Dept. of Child Support Enforcement is focusing on the money they think William owes.To Reach William Danh:  Danh.w@yahoo.com***** Supportshow(https://www.buymeacoffee.com/maryannpetri)Maryann Petri: dismantlingfamilycourtcorruption.comhttps://www.tiktok.com/@maryannpetriFacebook:  https://www.youtube.com/@slamthegavelpodcasthostmar5536Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guitarpeace/Pinterest: Slam The Gavel Podcast/@guitarpeaceLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryann-petri-62a46b1ab/  YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@slamthegavelpodcasthostmar5536  Twitter https://x.com/PetriMaryannEzlegalsuit.comhttps://ko-fi.com/maryannpetri*DISCLAIMER* The use of this information is at the viewer/user's own risk. Not financial, medical nor legal advice as the content on this podcast does not constitute legal, financial, medical or any other professional advice. Viewer/user's should consult with the relevant professionals. Reproduction, distribution, performing, publicly displaying and making a derivative of the work is explicitly prohibited without permission from content creator. Podcast is protected by owner. The content creator maintains the exclusive right and any unauthorized copyright infringement is subject to legal prosecution. Support the showSupportshow(https://www.buymeacoffee.com/maryannpetri)http://www.dismantlingfamilycourtcorruption.com/

The Daily Shower Thoughts podcast is produced by Klassic Studios. [Promo] Check out the Daily Dad Jokes podcast here: https://dailydadjokespodcast.com/ [Promo] Like the soothing background music and Amalia's smooth calming voice? Then check out "Terra Vitae: A Daily Guided Meditation Podcast" here at our show page [Promo] The Daily Facts Podcast. Get smarter in less than 10 minutes a day. Pod links here Daily Facts website. [Promo] The Daily Life Pro Tips Podcast. Improve your life in less than 10 minutes a day. Pod links here Daily Life Pro Tips website. [Promo] Check out the Get Happy Headlines podcast by my friends, Stella and Mickey. It's a podcast dedicated to bringing you family friendly uplifting stories from around the world. Give it a listen, I know you will like it. Pod links here Get Happy Headlines website. Shower thoughts are sourced from reddit.com/r/showerthoughts Shower Thought credits: Happy_Da, JiN88reddit, reticente, InfernalOrgasm, tpb772000, , factobacillus, JLaws23, rokit2space, post-ale, 2muchonreddit, Havingfun922, ImDraconLion, Litem, anongentry, steikul, Sloth_Monk, BarCzar68, Hazard_4, , Flanktotheright, No_Voice_3525, SilasMarner77, Irtaza12, dipshitten, Taric25, Eastern_Newt_5829, ArmpitNostril Podcast links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZNciemLzVXc60uwnTRx2e Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/daily-shower-thoughts/id1634359309 Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/daily-dad-jokes/daily-shower-thoughts iHeart: https://iheart.com/podcast/99340139/ Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a5a434e9-da18-46a7-a434-0437ec49e1d2/daily-shower-thoughts Website: https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/dailyshowerthoughts Social media links Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DailyShowerThoughtsPodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DailyShowerPod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DailyShowerThoughtsPodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dailyshowerthoughtspod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of our Your Divorce Case series, Seth and Pete explore the crucial role of Guardian Ad Litems (GALs) in custody cases. This episode breaks down how these court-appointed representatives work to protect children's interests during custody disputes, while navigating complex legal challenges like hearsay rules that can limit their effectiveness.The discussion centers on when and why courts appoint GALs, how they gather and present information, and their impact on custody decisions. Seth and Pete examine the limitations GALs face when presenting evidence from teachers, medical professionals, and other third parties, offering practical solutions for overcoming these obstacles. They also provide valuable insights into how parents can effectively work with GALs, including proper communication strategies and the importance of showing balanced perspectives about custody challenges.Questions we answer in this episode:When should you request a Guardian Ad Litem in your custody case?How can hearsay rules affect your GAL's effectiveness?What role do GALs play in the court's final custody decisions?Key Takeaways:Understanding hearsay rules is crucial for effective GAL testimonySuccessful GAL relationships require honest, organized communication from parentsCourts heavily weigh GAL recommendations, though they're not bound by themThis episode provides essential knowledge for parents navigating custody disputes. Whether you're considering requesting a GAL or have been assigned one, understanding their role, limitations, and the legal framework they operate within can significantly impact your case's outcome. Seth and Pete's practical advice offers valuable guidance for parents in the divorce process.Links & NotesSchedule a consult with SethGot a question you want to ask on the show? Click here! (00:00) - Welcome to How to Split a Toaster (00:27) - The Guardian ad Litem (02:09) - Hearsay (04:52) - Truth of the Matter Asserted (06:43) - Exceptions to Hearsay Rule (09:05) - When to Use a GAL (10:48) - Connecting with the Kid (12:37) - Difference from a Therapist (14:32) - Impact (16:25) - How Do You Deal with the GAL? (17:55) - Coaching (20:14) - The Kid's Opinion (21:45) - Cost (23:04) - Common Mistakes (24:18) - Qualifications (26:41) - Wrap Up

Colleen Rue, also known as the Voice of the Mountain, joined Scott Jones and guest co-host Kim Grykuliak. Colleen discussed her career in the legal system supporting victims and her personal athletic endurance journey. We spoke about experiences of 29029 Everesting from how she got involved with this amazing event, what she enjoys most as MC and Scott and Kim's perspective as participants. COLLEEN'S BIO (Emcee & Announcer Focus) Colleen Rue is a seasoned endurance athlete and dynamic media professional with a rich and varied career. She brings expertise and passion to her work, helping others achieve their goals and push their limits. Her unique skill set allows her to forge deep connections between people and brands, enhancing events and experiences with her engaging presence. Colleen's ability to foster personal growth and build lasting bonds is at the heart of her work. Whether she's motivating athletes to cross the finish line or captivating an audience with her words, she creates meaningful experiences that resonate long after the event is over. BIO NOTE As I mentioned, my original career was as a paralegal where I worked for small family law firms and large international firms: from family law to antitrust. I spent many years supporting Southern Utah's Guardian ad Litem, who represented abused and neglected children in the court system. I also served as the Victim Advocate for Iron County, Utah, USA working out of the Iron County Attorney's Office.

The Daily Shower Thoughts podcast is produced by Klassic Studios. [Promo] Check out the Daily Dad Jokes podcast here: https://dailydadjokespodcast.com/ [Promo] Like the soothing background music and Amalia's smooth calming voice? Then check out "Terra Vitae: A Daily Guided Meditation Podcast" here at our show page [Promo] The Daily Facts Podcast. Get smarter in less than 10 minutes a day. Pod links here Daily Facts website. [Promo] The Daily Life Pro Tips Podcast. Improve your life in less than 10 minutes a day. Pod links here Daily Life Pro Tips website. [Promo] Check out the Get Happy Headlines podcast by my friends, Stella and Mickey. It's a podcast dedicated to bringing you family friendly uplifting stories from around the world. Give it a listen, I know you will like it. Pod links here Get Happy Headlines website. Shower thoughts are sourced from reddit.com/r/showerthoughts Shower Thought credits: Someone_Pooed, a-bowl-of-noodles, Happy_Contest_1635, Giant_War_Sausage, RippleTiger, FliesOnRedShit, uvaspina1, gryph06, hskfmn, WindowAfraid5927, Litem, Mister_McGreg, CleanBy-election24, skippy_mcdippy, ClappedCheek, Cuesport77, daninlionzden, Expensive_Ad6082, RamenRat, , Ramachandrann, PT_Scoops, essray22, UncleCoyote, Seedpound, Jonahwho665, GingerDan123, OldTimeyMedicine, SingLikeTinaTurner, -TheDerpinator- Podcast links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZNciemLzVXc60uwnTRx2e Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/daily-shower-thoughts/id1634359309 Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/daily-dad-jokes/daily-shower-thoughts iHeart: https://iheart.com/podcast/99340139/ Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a5a434e9-da18-46a7-a434-0437ec49e1d2/daily-shower-thoughts Website: https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/dailyshowerthoughts Social media links Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DailyShowerThoughtsPodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DailyShowerPod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DailyShowerThoughtsPodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dailyshowerthoughtspod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Team Lally Real Estate Radio Show, we interview Amphay Champathong of Estate Planning Group Hawaii. Amphay demystifies estate planning. We discover the difference between a will and an estate plan, the misconceptions that may leave families unprotected, and the steps to create or update your trust. Amphay also shares fascinating insights about celebrities like Aretha Franklin and the Black Panther who lacked proper estate plans.We also have our Experts We Trust. Duke Kimhan of Hawaii Pacific Property Management discusses essential steps when transitioning property managers and the challenges of inheriting problem tenants. Bradley Maruyama of Allstate Insurance offers advice for anyone shopping for insurance: understand exactly what you're buying, especially your coverage details, and communicate property updates to your agent to ensure your policy reflects your needs.Who is Amphay Champathong?Amphay arrived in Hawaii with his family after spending a couple of years in a camp. He grew up in Kalihi, attended Kalani High School, and went on to complete his college education at the University of Hawaii. He holds a BA in Sociology, a Master's in Social Work, and a Juris Doctorate from the William S. Richardson School of Law. As a member of the Hawaii State Bar Association, he practices in Estate Planning and serves as a Guardian-ad-Litem, making significant contributions to our community.Estate Planning Group of Hawaii lives on their statement "Our Promise is Your Peace of Mind." Whether you are in the need for Estate Planning, Probate Administration, Medicaid Planning, Asset Protection, or assistance with a Conservatorship or Guardianship Proceeding, they deliver on this promise by utilizing their years of experience, vast knowledge, steadfast integrity, compassion, and open communication to foster their clients' “peace of mind.”To reach Amphay, you may contact him in the following ways:Phone:  (808) 218-9301Email: amphay@epghawaii.comWebsite: https://www.epghawaii.com/

This week on the Team Lally Real Estate Radio Show, we interview Amphay Champathong of Estate Planning Group Hawaii. Amphay demystifies estate planning. We discover the difference between a will and an estate plan, the misconceptions that may leave families unprotected, and the steps to create or update your trust. Amphay also shares fascinating insights about celebrities like Aretha Franklin and the Black Panther who lacked proper estate plans.We also have our Experts We Trust. Duke Kimhan of Hawaii Pacific Property Management discusses essential steps when transitioning property managers and the challenges of inheriting problem tenants. Bradley Maruyama of Allstate Insurance offers advice for anyone shopping for insurance: understand exactly what you're buying, especially your coverage details, and communicate property updates to your agent to ensure your policy reflects your needs.Who is Amphay Champathong?Amphay arrived in Hawaii with his family after spending a couple of years in a camp. He grew up in Kalihi, attended Kalani High School, and went on to complete his college education at the University of Hawaii. He holds a BA in Sociology, a Master's in Social Work, and a Juris Doctorate from the William S. Richardson School of Law. As a member of the Hawaii State Bar Association, he practices in Estate Planning and serves as a Guardian-ad-Litem, making significant contributions to our community.Estate Planning Group of Hawaii lives on their statement "Our Promise is Your Peace of Mind." Whether you are in the need for Estate Planning, Probate Administration, Medicaid Planning, Asset Protection, or assistance with a Conservatorship or Guardianship Proceeding, they deliver on this promise by utilizing their years of experience, vast knowledge, steadfast integrity, compassion, and open communication to foster their clients' “peace of mind.”To reach Amphay, you may contact him in the following ways:Phone:  (808) 218-9301Email: amphay@epghawaii.comWebsite: https://www.epghawaii.com/

Lindsey, Joni, and Robert rundown several appellate opinions from October 2024.Contact to get on the Guardian ad Litem pro bono mailing list: Samuel Alexander samuel@alexanderappeals.com.In re: Amends. to R. Regulating Fla. Bar 6-10.3, FSC (CLE credit for pro bono hours).McLane Foodservice Inc., v. Wool, 3d DCA (punitive damages).BAM Trading Servs., Inc. v. Florida, Off. Fin. Regul., 1st DCA (en banc) (prior panel rule; judicial review of emergency suspension orders). Wheeler v. Dovey, 2d DCA (attorneys' fees).Ragan v. State, 3d DCA (single-homicide rule; double jeopardy). Sills v. Motor Care Concepts, II, 6th DCA (timeliness of motion for rehearing).United States v. Maher, 2d Circuit (Fourth Amendment; private search doctrine).Davis v. State, 1st DCA (competency hearings; fundamental error).Thank You SponsorsThis podcast is supported by Stafi. Stafi provides trained, vetted, and experienced virtual legal assistants and paralegals who will take routine tasks off your plate so you can focus on growing your firm and maximizing revenue. SAVE $500 off your first month with Stafi by using referral code Summarily when you schedule your free initial consultation. Go to getstafi.com/schedule-a-call, select the date and time for your consultation, and enter referral code Summarily on the event details page.This podcast is also sponsored by BetterHelp and The Law Office of Scott N. Richardson, P.A. Use the link BetterHelp.com/Summarily for 10% off your first month of BetterHelp.Send your questions, comments, and feedback to summarilypod@gmail.com.Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not an advertisement for legal services.  The information provided on this podcast is not intended to be legal advice.  You should not rely on what you hear on this podcast as legal advice. If you have a legal issue, please contact a lawyer.  The views and opinion expressed by the hosts and guests are solely those of the individuals and do not represent the views or opinions of the firms or organizations with which they are affiliated or the views or opinions of this podcast's advertisers.  This podcast is available for private, non-commercial use only.  Any editing, reproduction, or redistribution of this podcast for commercial use or monetary gain without the expressed, written consent of the podcast's creator is prohibited.

This week on the Team Lally Real Estate Radio Show, we interview Amphay Champathong of the Estate Planning Group of Hawaii. Amphay explains what estate planning is and he also talks about having trust and the best way for families to access assets.We also have our Experts We Trust with their Tips of the Week. Duke Kimhan of HI Pacific Property Management talks about getting people to commit to taking care of their properties. He also lists some of the top questions a homeowner would want to ask a property manager they are looking to hire. Todd Niizawa of LoanDepot gives tips on using a temporary interest rate buydown.Who is Amphay Champathong?Amphay came to Hawaii with his family as refugees from Laos, after spending a couple of years in a refugee camp. He grew up in Kalihi, attended Kalani High School and completed his college education at the University of Hawaii. He has a BA in Sociology, Masters in Social Work and Juris Doctorate at the William S. Richardson School of Law. He is a member of the Hawaii State Bar Association, practicing in Estate Planning and serving as a Guardian-ad-Litem.Estate Planning Group offers a wide range of services tailored to their client's unique needs.They have the experience and dedication to guide their clients whether in estate planning, navigating probate, establishing guardianship, conservatorship or ensuring the future of a special needs family member. By working with Estate Planning Group, you're making the right choice to safeguard your family's future.To reach Amphay Champathong, you may contact him in the following ways:Phone: (808) 218-9301Email: amphay@epghawaii.com | ampchamplaw@gmail.comWebsite: epghawaii.com | ampchamplaw.com

This week on the Team Lally Real Estate Radio Show, we interview Amphay Champathong of Estate Planning Group of Hawaii. Amphay dives deep into the world of estate planning and its crucial importance. He breaks down the essentials of wills, trusts, and probate, with a special focus on special needs planning. Amphay also shares his personal story about a family member with special needs and highlights common mistakes families make.We also have Duke Kimhan from Hawaii Pacific Property Management. Duke emphasizes the importance of interviewing multiple property managers, their communication guarantee, and what a property manager should do to meet client expectations. Additionally, Myra Beams, Adrienne's mother, who is our guest in the studio, shares her experience talking to her own mother about setting up a trust in line with Amphay's insights.Who is Amphay Champathong?Amphay arrived in Hawaii with his family as refugees from Laos after spending a couple of years in a refugee camp. He grew up in Kalihi, attended Kalani High School, and went on to complete his college education at the University of Hawaii. He holds a BA in Sociology, a Master's in Social Work, and a Juris Doctorate from the William S. Richardson School of Law. As a member of the Hawaii State Bar Association, he practices in Estate Planning and serves as a Guardian-ad-Litem, making significant contributions to our community.Estate Planning Group provides their clients personalized service to help them achieve their goals. Whether safeguarding assets, caring for loved ones, or finalizing an estate, they support their clients with honesty, transparent communication, and empathy. Estate Planning Group recognizes that estate planning must be tailored to each individual. Every plan they create is customized, reflecting the core of their approach. They comprehend their clients' distinct needs and develop personalized strategies to ensure a secure future. These strategies provide clients with the peace of mind they need in case unforeseen events occur.To reach Amphay, you may contact him in the following ways:Phone: (808) 218-9301Email: ampchamplaw@gmail.comWebsite: www.ampchamplaw.com/

This week on the Team Lally Real Estate Radio Show, we interview Amphay Champathong of the Estate Planning Group of Hawaii. Amphay explains what estate planning is and he also talks about having trust and the best way for families to access assets.We also have our Experts We Trust with their Tips of the Week. Duke Kimhan of HI Pacific Property Management talks about getting people to commit to taking care of their properties. He also lists some of the top questions a homeowner would want to ask a property manager they are looking to hire. Todd Niizawa of LoanDepot gives tips on using a temporary interest rate buydown.Who is Amphay Champathong?Amphay came to Hawaii with his family as refugees from Laos, after spending a couple of years in a refugee camp. He grew up in Kalihi, attended Kalani High School and completed his college education at the University of Hawaii. He has a BA in Sociology, Masters in Social Work and Juris Doctorate at the William S. Richardson School of Law. He is a member of the Hawaii State Bar Association, practicing in Estate Planning and serving as a Guardian-ad-Litem.Estate Planning Group offers a wide range of services tailored to their client's unique needs.They have the experience and dedication to guide their clients whether in estate planning, navigating probate, establishing guardianship, conservatorship or ensuring the future of a special needs family member. By working with Estate Planning Group, you're making the right choice to safeguard your family's future.To reach Amphay Champathong, you may contact him in the following ways:Phone: (808) 218-9301Email: amphay@epghawaii.com | ampchamplaw@gmail.comWebsite: epghawaii.com | ampchamplaw.com

This week on the Team Lally Real Estate Radio Show, we interview Amphay Champathong of Estate Planning Group of Hawaii. Amphay dives deep into the world of estate planning and its crucial importance. He breaks down the essentials of wills, trusts, and probate, with a special focus on special needs planning. Amphay also shares his personal story about a family member with special needs and highlights common mistakes families make.We also have Duke Kimhan from Hawaii Pacific Property Management. Duke emphasizes the importance of interviewing multiple property managers, their communication guarantee, and what a property manager should do to meet client expectations. Additionally, Myra Beams, Adrienne's mother, who is our guest in the studio, shares her experience talking to her own mother about setting up a trust in line with Amphay's insights.Who is Amphay Champathong?Amphay arrived in Hawaii with his family as refugees from Laos after spending a couple of years in a refugee camp. He grew up in Kalihi, attended Kalani High School, and went on to complete his college education at the University of Hawaii. He holds a BA in Sociology, a Master's in Social Work, and a Juris Doctorate from the William S. Richardson School of Law. As a member of the Hawaii State Bar Association, he practices in Estate Planning and serves as a Guardian-ad-Litem, making significant contributions to our community.Estate Planning Group provides their clients personalized service to help them achieve their goals. Whether safeguarding assets, caring for loved ones, or finalizing an estate, they support their clients with honesty, transparent communication, and empathy. Estate Planning Group recognizes that estate planning must be tailored to each individual. Every plan they create is customized, reflecting the core of their approach. They comprehend their clients' distinct needs and develop personalized strategies to ensure a secure future. These strategies provide clients with the peace of mind they need in case unforeseen events occur.To reach Amphay, you may contact him in the following ways:Phone: (808) 218-9301Email: ampchamplaw@gmail.comWebsite: www.ampchamplaw.com/

Interview with WaPo Journalist Peter Jamison: NPR Fresh Air: Homeschooling is surging, but lax regulation can leave kids vulnerable to abuse, January 18th, 2024The Report Susanna Mentioned: Report on Mathew Tirado Learn about becoming a Guardian Ad Litem or Child Appointed Special Advocate in Your State  (00:00) - Homeschool fails (00:42) - Intro with Terrence Massey (01:31) - What is Guardian ad Litem? (02:26) - Homeschool and child welfare (06:50) - Homeschooling, abuse, neglect, and the media (13:08) - Discipline and abuse (16:20) - Preserving families (18:49) - Break (19:56) - Educational neglect (33:24) - Common sense regulations on homeschooling (40:13) - We want the kids to be alright (44:44) - Outro

Nicole Kobis is a Partner and Divorce and Family Law Attorney at Lindabury, McCormick, Estabrook & Cooper, P.C. She has over ten-years' experience representing individuals as they navigate the challenges of divorce, including custody, spousal support, child support, equitable distribution, and domestic violence. She served as law clerk in the New Jersey Superior Court, where she gained a unique perspective into the judicial system, providing valuable insights to her clients. Nicole is also frequently appointed by the Court as a Guardian ad Litem for children in contested custody matters and as an attorney for alleged incapacitated individuals in guardianship proceedings. Connect with Nicole and Lindabury McCormick for advice about navigating the divorce process, from filing to finalization. Web: Lindabury.comFB: Lindabury, McCormick, Estabrook & Cooper, P.C.IG: @Lindabury_LawLI: Nicole KobisLI: Lindabury, McCormick, Estabrook & Cooper, P.C.YT: Lindabury, McCormick, Estabrook & Cooper, P.C.X: Lindabury McCormick

Send us a Text Message.Have you ever wondered who stands in the legal trenches for children caught in the complicated web of family court? Our esteemed guest, Stephanie, a former domestic violence attorney, now champions the voices of these young souls as an Attorney for the Child in New York's family courts. With a heart as fierce as her legal prowess, she shares her transformative journey from aiding domestic violence survivors to advocating for children's rights. Her insights draw back the curtain on the crucial roles and responsibilities of Attorneys for the Child, Guardians ad Litem, and Minors Counsel. We navigate the sensitive landscape of attorney-client confidentiality and the strategic finesse required to represent children's true wishes against a backdrop of opposing parental desires.Navigating the choppy waters of family court becomes an art form, as Stephanie illuminates the challenges faced when advocating for the best interests of children. Our conversation brings to light the intricate dance of rapport-building with young clients and the delicate handling needed when parents interfere with their children's relationships with their court-appointed attorneys. Stephanie recounts tales of courtroom advocacy, where the nuanced combination of oral and written persuasion can sway a judge's decision, reflecting on the pivotal impact these recommendations have on a child's emotional well-being.As we pull back the bow on the profound role of Attorneys for the Child in family court, Stephanie's experiences reveal how critical their input can be in shaping the outcomes of legal battles. Parents, take note: the appointment of an AFC might be the key to ensuring your child's perspective isn't lost in the legal shuffle. Stephanie provides invaluable advice on navigating the nuances of sibling representation, handling sensitive information with care, and the importance of giving children a safe space to express their concerns, even when they're reluctant. It's a heart-to-heart with a legal defender of childhood innocence that will leave you appreciating the unsung heroes of the family court system.

In the turbulent seas of high-conflict custody battles and family disputes, a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) serves as a lighthouse, guiding decisions in the best interest of the children involved. It's crucial to understand when a GAL is needed, and what their role is. This podcast delves into the circumstances that necessitate the involvement of a GAL, unraveling their purpose and shedding light on their pivotal role. Our journey begins with an exploration of the situations that trigger the appointment of a GAL, understanding their objectives, and the critical part they play in steering court decisions towards the welfare and best interests of the children.Engaging with a Guardian ad Litem can be a perplexing maze for both parents and children. As we navigate this complex path, our podcast aims to empower you with the knowledge and tools necessary to support your children compassionately and effectively through this process. We will explore strategies for fostering open communication, maintaining a stable and supportive environment, and preparing your child for interactions with the GAL. By demystifying the GAL's role and functions, we provide parents with actionable insights to facilitate a smoother experience for their children, ensuring their voices are heard and their well-being is prioritized throughout the legal process.Elle Barr is an experienced family law attorney with a deep commitment to serving children and families. She has experience representing clients in all family law matters, with an emphasis on serving as a court appointed GAL.More ways to connect with Elle:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/elle-barr-252b14104 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elle.barr.gal/Twitter: https://twitter.com/ElleBarrGAL Enroll with Our Family Wizard: 30 day free OFW trialGAL Resources Referenced in Episode:ACE's Resource: https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/aces/index.htmlNadine Burke Ted TalkACE's Aware: https://www.acesaware.org/Children's Bill of Rights: https://emeryondivorce.com/childrens_bill_of_rights_in_divorce.phpJourney Beyond Divorce Resources mentioned in this episode:Book a Free Rapid Relief Call: http://rapidreliefcall.com  Soberlink:  www.soberlink.com/jbd 

Dr. Brian Morin is currently CEO of Soteria Battery Innovation Group, a company that is developing and promoting broad adoption of a technology that will eliminate lithium battery fires, reduce weight of lithium ion batteries and reduce cost. The company has formed a consortium of companies to help mature the technology and bring it to market, whose members include NASA, Mercedes, DuPont, Teijin, Applied Materials and over 120 others. He is also President & COO of Dreamweaver International, a company that developed a piece of the Soteria architecture, a high performance battery separator that can dramatically improve the safety of lithium ion batteries while reducing costs. Brian has also served on several boards and foundations, including as Vice President and Director of NAATBatt International, the Technical Advisory Board of Advanced Functional Fabrics of America, the External Advisory Board for the Clemson University Department of Materials Science and Engineering and the Foundation Board for the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics. Brian has over 200 international patents and applications on subjects ranging from advanced molecular metals to high performance fibers to plastic additives. He has several billion dollars in sales of products based on his inventions, which are used in brands such as Nike, Head, Freescale Semiconductor, Intel, IBM, Rubbermaid and others. He sees his strength as leading the commercialization of innovative technology. He has also written a novel, A Matter of Faith, served as a Guardian ad Litem for children in the foster care system in South Carolina and leads a small group of 12th grade boys at his church.

L'application prisée des adolescents est menacée d'interdiction aux États-Unis. Le Sénat doit, en effet, se prononcer prochainement sur un texte voté la semaine dernière par la Chambre des représentants qui contraindrait ByteDance, maison mère chinoise de la plateforme, à vendre TikTok pour continuer ses activités sur le sol américain. Que révèle ce différend qui dure depuis des années ? Faut-il y voir une nouvelle étape de la guerre commerciale entre les États-Unis et la Chine ? En quoi TikTok serait-il plus nocif que les autres réseaux sociaux ? Pour en débattre :- Katia Roux, chargée de plaidoyer «Libertés» pour Amnesty International France, et spécialisée en Technologies et Droits humains- Serge Abiteboul, informaticien, chercheur à l'ENS Paris et directeur de recherche à l'Inria (Institut national de Recherche en Sciences et Technologies du Numérique). Coauteur du livre Nous sommes les réseaux sociaux, et Vive les communs numériques, éditions Odile Jacob- Vincent Lefrere, maître de conférences en Économie à l'Institut Mines-Télécom, Business School, LITEM. Actuellement à Boston, au Massachussetts Institute of Technology (MIT) à Boston (Téléphone).

L'application prisée des adolescents est menacée d'interdiction aux États-Unis. Le Sénat doit, en effet, se prononcer prochainement sur un texte voté la semaine dernière par la Chambre des représentants qui contraindrait ByteDance, maison mère chinoise de la plateforme, à vendre TikTok pour continuer ses activités sur le sol américain. Que révèle ce différend qui dure depuis des années ? Faut-il y voir une nouvelle étape de la guerre commerciale entre les États-Unis et la Chine ? En quoi TikTok serait-il plus nocif que les autres réseaux sociaux ? Pour en débattre :- Katia Roux, chargée de plaidoyer «Libertés» pour Amnesty International France, et spécialisée en Technologies et Droits humains- Serge Abiteboul, informaticien, chercheur à l'ENS Paris et directeur de recherche à l'Inria (Institut national de Recherche en Sciences et Technologies du Numérique). Coauteur du livre Nous sommes les réseaux sociaux, et Vive les communs numériques, éditions Odile Jacob- Vincent Lefrere, maître de conférences en Économie à l'Institut Mines-Télécom, Business School, LITEM. Actuellement à Boston, au Massachussetts Institute of Technology (MIT) à Boston (Téléphone).

This week's guest is Kathy Maresca (Porch Music, Touch Point Press, October 2022) In her debut novel, set in 1950's Gainesville Florida, Kathy utilized stories from her Seminole family history to tap into a story of racial inequities, Southern culture, country music, and religious hypocrisy. Her research included not only books and museums, but also her own memories of working at Six Gun Territory, a local theme park, and absorbing the rhythm of Native American dances. When it came to marketing, her most effective tool turned out to be contests, where she used her awards to publicize her book. Her least effective? A blog tour which failed to correctly target her ideal reader.    A native Floridian, Kathy Maresca grew up with a grandmother of Seminole heritage. Kathy served in the Air Force, working at the Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel and then in special operations at Hurlburt Field, Florida. She edited for the University of Florida and taught English, journalism, and drama. While she was teaching, Kathy became ill with trigeminal neuralgia. She then earned a master's degree, became credentialed as a rehabilitation counselor, and served as the Director of Patient Services for the Trigeminal Neurgalgia Association. Kathy recently finished her second novel, Sky Kiss, and is working on a prequel to Porch Music. She has been a Guardian ad Litem and has taught classes for a prison fellowship ministry. Kathy lives in North Carolina with her husband, Keith. They enjoy traveling and spending time with their toy fox terriers.   To learn more about Kathy, click here.  

     Slam the Gavel welcomes Nichole Maroun to the podcast. Nichole had been facing domestic violence and stalking for years.  There is no accountability in Family Court and it's one LIE after another. She was not able to afford counsel and she was defending herself in Family Court.     One of the factors in Nichole's case was a binding agreement, a prenuptial agreement where the ex  was the one who had the prenup  drawn up for his own protection, and she would get the marital home mortgage free. However, Judge  Theresa Bisenius refused to enter the prenup into evidence and proceeded to give her ex everything he asked for.      Nichole did not file an appeal, as she had only 14 days to move out of the home where she had lived for 14.5 years. For the last 3.5 years, Nichole has had NO MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIP with her children because Judge Bisenius  issued a full - reversal of custody back to her ex and a NO CONTACT ORDER.       It took time for the sale of the home, eight months, to get the funds from the sale of the house. She then left the state of Massachusetts  as there was less risk of being stalked by her ex.     There was a secondary hearing, at which time the judge ordered supervised visitation. Nichole filed a Motion to Reconsider as the visitation was not affordable and there was nothing warranted to have supervised visits....     There is also questionable Guardian ad Litem transcripts, where there are parts in the transcript that are missing. We discussed this in-depth as this is a continued problem within the Family Court. To Reach Nichole Maroun:  dismantlingfamilycourtcorruption.comThis episode of Slam the Gavel is sponsored by CPSprotect Consulting Services. Child Protective Services cases are among the most frightening experiences any parent can endure- don't face them alone! With UrgentAssist by CPSprotect, you get the peace of mind to raise your children as you see fit and the personalized assistance of their team of expert child welfare consultants- former CPS investigators themselves- right when you need it. Get started absolutely free at cpsprotect.com/register. *DISCLAIMER* The use of this information is at the viewer/user's own risk. Not financial, medical nor legal advice as the content on this podcast does not constitute legal, financial, medical or any other professional advice. Viewer/user's should consult with the relevant professionals for specific advice related to their own situation.Supportshow(https://www.buymeacoffee.com/maryannpetri)http://www.dismantlingfamilycourtcorruption.comCould you please sign and share the petition:  https://www.change.org/p/remove-judge-elizabeth-kelly-from-the-bench-permanentlySupport the showSupportshow(https://www.buymeacoffee.com/maryannpetri)http://www.dismantlingfamilycourtcorruption.com/

     Slam the Gavel welcomes Nichole Maroun to the podcast. Nichole had been facing domestic violence and stalking for years.  There is no accountability in Family Court and it's one LIE after another. She was not able to afford counsel and she was defending herself in Family Court.     One of the factors in Nichole's case was a binding agreement, a prenuptial agreement where the ex  was the one who had the prenup  drawn up for his own protection, and she would get the marital home mortgage free. However, Judge  Theresa Bisenius refused to enter the prenup into evidence and proceeded to give her ex everything he asked for.      Nichole did not file an appeal, as she had only 14 days to move out of the home where she had lived for 14.5 years. For the last 3.5 years, Nichole has had NO MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIP with her children because Judge Bisenius  issued a full - reversal of custody back to her ex and a NO CONTACT ORDER.       It took time for the sale of the home, eight months, to get the funds from the sale of the house. She then left the state of Massachusetts  as there was less risk of being stalked by her ex.     There was a secondary hearing, at which time the judge ordered supervised visitation. Nichole filed a Motion to Reconsider as the visitation was not affordable and there was nothing warranted to have supervised visits....     There is also questionable Guardian ad Litem transcripts, where there are parts in the transcript that are missing. We discussed this in-depth as this is a continued problem within the Family Court.  To Reach Nichole Maroun:  dismantlingfamilycourtcorruption.com *DISCLAIMER* The use of this information is at the viewer/user's own risk. Not financial, medical nor legal advice as the content on this podcast does not constitute legal, financial, medical or any other professional advice. Viewer/user's should consult with the relevant professionals for specific advice related to their own situation.Supportshow(https://www.buymeacoffee.com/maryannpetri) http://www.dismantlingfamilycourtcorruption.com Could you please sign and share the petition:  https://www.change.org/p/remove-judge-elizabeth-kelly-from-the-bench-permanently Supportshow(https://www.buymeacoffee.com/maryannpetri)http://www.dismantlingfamilycourtcorruption.com/ Support the show --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/maryann-petri/support

This week we discuss what happened to Grant Solomon. He and his family have endured so much at the hands of his father. We want to shed some more light onto this case and how this family was failed by the system time after time. Please listen with an open mind. Disclaimer: Many things discussed in this episode are our opinions. We state as many facts as we can prove, but everyone is innocent until proven guilty in all cases. Crimes & Closets is a true crime podcast production of Skoldon, LLC. Sources: Guardian ad Litem report attached to this website:  https://www.anglicanwatch.com/shocking-report-makes-clear-the-extent-of-aaron-solomons-misconduct/ Forensic Report of Car Medical Examiners Report from ER https://medium.com/@saintdymphna/i-dont-believe-you-mrs-solomon-on-gaslighting-spiritual-abuse-and-murder-in-the-south-a00acd6cb796 https://medium.com/honestly-yours/stalked-by-a-monster-f9c8182bbb3e https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/tennessean/name/grant-solomon-obituary?id=8570135 https://www.thenewstn.com/news/williamson-county-family-exchanges-litigation-over-accusations-of-child-abuse-murder/article_4e0c95c4-c890-11eb-a417-cf5b79d77d40.html Gracie's Cryfor Help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpNRNuaFhAk https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/high-school/2020/07/20/grant-solomon-grace-christian-academy-baseball-player-dies-car-accident-community-mourns/5476454002/ https://www.nashvillepost.com/aaron-solomon-withdraws-defamation-suit/article_38e106f1-94da-51aa-bdb4-64ddc18e48ba.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_56KJIGXEk&t=18s --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/crimesandclosets/message

Kristen Solomon, Director of Operations for Florida's Guardian ad Litem office is the guest on todays episode.  She shares in detail Guardian Ad Litem's purpose, and the different opportunities available for volunteering.  This agency is so extremely important in our communities. If you are interested in learning more about different ways to become involved with Florida's Guardian ad Litem please use the link below.https://guardianadlitem.orgThanks for listening! Follow us on Instagram!

How do you help your child dealing with divorce? Who better to ask than Elle Barr, a veteran Guardian ad Litem! Wait till you hear all of Elle's wonderful advice and suggestions to make this time easier and less stressful for your kids. Learn more: https://www.divorcedgirlsmiling.com/how-to-help-a-child-deal-with-divorce/

Overcoming Cult Manipulation and an Impossible DivorcePeter Young joins hosts Seth Nelson and Pete Wright to share his harrowing experience getting sucked into a cult led by his wife's "Uncle Robert", trying to save his marriage and protect his kids, and the messy divorce that followed.Peter's StoryPeter met his wife Paige when he was working as a sports broadcaster in Idaho. Paige had been born into a cult led by "Uncle Robert" and was completely under his control. Though skeptical at first, after 20 years of marriage Peter eventually got pulled into the cult mentality as well. When Paige ultimately chose loyalty to Uncle Robert over staying married, it led to a nasty divorce and parental alienation of their children.Peter describes how Uncle Robert used manipulation, paranoia, and ideological indoctrination to gain total control over Paige and eventually himself. Even after Paige filed for divorce, Peter fought hard to save his marriage and protect his kids from her cult delusions. With the help of a guardian ad litem, Peter was granted custody of their minor children. But the divorce process was dragged out through endless frivolous motions from his ex-wife.Key TakeawaysThe role of a Guardian ad Litem in high-conflict custody casesStrategies for dealing with a spouse who files endless frivolous motionsHow to navigate a divorce when your spouse is representing themselves (pro se)The long-term trauma of parental alienationTips for saving money during an expensive divorce processImportance of being the "bigger person" and avoiding conflictQuestions AnsweredHow can you save money when a spouse files endless frivolous motions during divorce?What advice does Peter have for others going through a difficult divorce?How to handle co-parenting with an ex who is manipulative or abusiveAbout PeterPeter Young is an author and former sports broadcaster. After getting sucked into his wife's cult and going through a messy divorce, he wrote a memoir about his experience called Stop the Tall Man, Save the Tiger. He continues sharing his story to help others.Links & NotesStop the Tall Man, Save the Tiger by Peter YoungPeter Young's websiteSchedule a consult with SethGot a question you want to ask on the show? Click here! (00:00) - Welcome to How to Split a Toaster (00:27) - Meet Peter Young (01:38) - Marrying Into a Cult (05:22) - Ghost People in a Divorce (06:27) - Weaponization of Spouse (07:36) - Growing Relationship with Uncle Robert (09:25) - She Asks for Divorce (11:46) - Getting Involved in the First Place (14:21) - The Moniker 'Uncle Robert' (16:05) - Transition Out During Divorce (17:41) - Getting a GAL (19:14) - GALs and Parental Alienation (20:57) - Still Dealing With It (24:01) - The Divorce Process (26:21) - Uncle Robert's Influence on the Divorce (28:03) - Parental Manipulation (30:04) - Dealing With a Pro Se Attorney (35:11) - Dealing With Costs and Time (38:15) - Perspective (40:38) - Finding His Book (44:38) - Listener Question (51:00) - Wrap Up Establishing trust with Co-Parents can be difficult when alcohol abuse is involved. Use Soberlink as an opportunity to improve co-parenting arrangements. Visit their site to learn more and get a promo code for $50 off.

Episode Notes Nina Angela Lee is a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist, an international speaker, singer-songwriter, and author of the Amazon bestselling book, "21 Ways to Support Those Who Are Grieving." Nina's losses, her mother's death when she was 12 and her son's passing after a 17-year illness inspired her passion to help others find hope and healing. Apart from her work in grief recovery, Nina has also spent several years being a voice for abused and neglected children as a Guardian ad Litem for the State of Florida. She is the President of Women of Worth (WOW Utah), a nonprofit mentoring program that empowers women to rebuild their lives after surviving traumatic life events. Numerous acts of kindness have blessed my life over the years, and each one has left a beautiful impression on my heart, reminding me that good and compassionate people are out there, spreading love and light wherever they go. Each act of kindness, no matter how small, can create a ripple effect of positivity and make a meaningful impact in someone's life. It can brighten their day, lift their spirits, and restore their faith in humanity. And in a world where negativity and hardship abound, these small gestures of kindness can make all the difference.

     Slam the Gavel welcomes Ryan Kolar to the podcast. Ryan's case began with 50/50 shared custody of his then ten year old daughter with a proven ABUSIVE ex-wife.    However, when she REMARRIED, his daughter reported molestation from the  STEPFATHER while Ryan, a survivor of sexual abuse himself, saw patterns emerging of the grooming of his daughter. Through the well-oiled machinery of the 'family court' system he then LOST CUSTODY 17 months ago after reporting the ABUSE to DCFS.  Opposing counsel, the Guardian ad Litem as well as the school system spun a web of deceit, creating a false narrative that the judge ruled a temporary suspension of his parenting rights that still haven't been restored a YEAR after Ryan PROVED his innocence and the COLLUSION is court documents.    Ryan explained that this is a systemic corruption issue. Judges have full discretion. They don't have to honor our civil rights. Ryan wanted to understand WHY, but there is no WHY. It was extortion get money out of both parents.  The abusive one will defend their reputation with money. The protective parent will fight to death for their children with money. It doesn't explain WHY that lawyers and judges choose to do this to children. There is nothing in the human soul that  would make them want to let little children to get molested or worse. We discussed Title IV-D funding and how this  contributes and compounds the problem within the 'family court.' They are letting you PROVE the case against the abuser and you are doing your job FOR THEM.    The next phase is to erase her father out of her life and destroy his life.  The judge is refusing to let him present evidence of molestation by the Stepfather.  The GAL is of no help, knowing this ABUSE was happening and did NOTHING. If the judge doesn't rule on anything, then Ryan can't appeal it and get JUSTICE. Parents aren't getting their day in court. The judge would not let witnesses speak in his case. Ryan thoroughly explained his case and how the school also got involved and disturbed evidence. This is such a big case that he cannot get an attorney to take it on. And there is millions to be made.   Ryan will be a return guest on Slam the Gavel.To reach Ryan: @keko_coalition on Instagram and donutsandbroccoli.comThis episode of Slam the Gavel is sponsored by CPSprotect Consulting Services. A Child Protective Services case is one of the most frightening experiences for any parent. Don't face it alone. Face it with confidence! With UrgentAssist by CPSprotect, you can have access to former CPS investigators to make sure you preserve your rights and protect your family. If you're facing CPS involvement and aren't sure where to turn, their child welfare consultants can help you.  Visit cpsprotect.com/subscribe and enter the coupon code: SlamTheGavel for 60% off your first year of UrgentAssist AVAILABLE in ALL 50 STATES.Supportshow(https://www.buymeacoffee.com/maryannpetri)http://www.dismantlingfamilycourtcorruption.com/Support the showSupportshow(https://www.buymeacoffee.com/maryannpetri)http://www.dismantlingfamilycourtcorruption.com/

Delilah Nuñez, Esq. shares her experiences working as a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) and advocating for laws protecting GALs.  .   

JoHanna "J" Thompson is the Co-Director of the Florida Restorative Justice Coalition. Her career has been dedicated to creating collaborative spaces across an intersection of networks, fostering relationships, and maintaining a vision to increase the capacity of influencers, community organizations, programs and campaigns working toward equitable social and transformational justice.She lends lived experience and expertise as a Social Impact Strategist, PublicAdministrator, Organizer, Guardian ad Litem, Therapeutic Foster Parent, Interventionist, Restorative Justice Practitioner, facilitator, trainer, and Healer.A self proclaimed agent of change and persuasion, J's personal commitment and approach to life aligns with community accountability, Structural Reconstruction, and the belief that “one day change gonna come.”Learn more about the Florida Restorative Justice Coalition and the upcoming Down South Restorative Justice Conference at FRJA.orgSupport the showSend us feedback at media@amplifyrj.comJoin our Amplify RJ Community platform to connect with others doing this work!Check out our latest learning opportunities HERERep Amplify RJ Merch Connect with us on:Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Threads, YouTube, and TikTok!SUPPORT by sharing this podcast, leaving a rating or review, or make a tax-deductible DONATION to help us sustain and grow this movement

This week, we conclude our conversation with attorney and Guardian ad Litem Keith Jones. In this episode we discuss the Guardian ad Litem report, participation in mediation, and participation in trial as an expert witness.Thanks for listening!  If you have questions, comments, or concerns, please email us at podcast@coparentacademy.com.  To learn more about becoming the best coparent you can be, visit coparentacademy.com.

This week we begin a two-episode conversation with attorney and Guardian ad Litem Keith Jones. Keith has nearly 30 years' experience as an attorney and Guardian ad Litem and was kind enough to share his experience and expertise with us. This week's episode is an introduction to the concept of a Guardian ad Litem, including what one is, when one is appointed, how they conduct their investigation, and how they are paid. In next week's episode, we conclude our conversation with Keith as we discuss the Guardian ad Litem report, participation in mediation, and participation in trial as an expert witness.Thanks for listening!  If you have questions, comments, or concerns, please email us at podcast@coparentacademy.com.  To learn more about becoming the best coparent you can be, visit coparentacademy.com.

Susan and Judy Wilson I am so excited to bring you this LIVE taping from the Wild Goose Festival.  Susan and Judy Wilson lit up the Goose Cast and my heart as they told us a love story for the ages.  They shared such courage, such love, and such hope.  In these politically charged moments of our lives it was a breath of fresh air to remember that LOVE does not die and as a community we CAN rise up and refuse to go back into the closet! Judy Wilson was born in the aftermath of WWII. Her dad had been a pilot and was in law school. He read case law to her, which she thought forever scarred my life choices. She was a military brat, the eldest of 5, and raised in the Presbyterian Church. Thus, Judy was a rule follower who could successfully negotiate division of an uneven number of cookies among her siblings. When Judy went to college she met Anne, and learned that there was such a thing as sex between women, and beer is pretty good stuff.  Judy decided she really wanted to be "normal" so she married a man, actually twice, and had 2 children. Judy met Susan in law school, and decided the heck with that being normal stuff. We were in classes and several organizations together, and fell deeply in love. We became a law school scandal, which was fun. (sarcasm implied.) Thirty years later, we have had an incredible life together. We became very involved in the nonprofit world, starting a Family Visitation Center, where children could safely be exchanged by parents in conflict. We have been on several boards, mostly involving children's issues. I worked as a Guardian ad Litem attorney representing children in abuse and neglect cases. That was an amazing experience that allowed me to argue cases in front of both the NC Court of Appeals and the NC Supreme Court. My last job was with Legal Aid's Senior Law Project advising old folks like myself. Judy is now retired, spending an inordinate amount of time crocheting and buying yarn. We have 9 grandchildren and are actively part of their lives. Although my early church years left me with conflict about my sexual orientation, I have found a home in the Episcopal Church, specifically The Cathedral of All Souls, where we have attended since 1991. I am an usher, volunteer at the church office, and participate in Bible study.   Susan Wilson  grew up mainly in Atlanta, Georgia and briefly in Germany and Buffalo, NY (which is why she knows- and I quote- “What Hell is like when it freezes over.”  Susan has a Masters Degree and a Doctor of Jurisprudence, from the University of Georgia and a Masters in Journalism. Susan and Judy, her now wife  were at UGA at the same time getting their Masters Degrees, and yet never met.  It wasn't until several years later that they met in law school where they became the local legal community scandal their third year when they fell in love. Susan reports, “We are less a scandal these days than little old ladies in comfortable shoes who are very much still in love and extremely comfortable with each other.”  Because of my lovely wife, we have two children and 9 grandchildren.  They have lived in the Asheville, NC area since graduating in 1991.  Susan has worked for the County trying Child Support, Juvenile abuse, and neglect cases for about a decade before going into a domestic law private practice where she was also a Guardian ad Litem for both children and adults. Susan ceased her domestic law practice in 2013 and switched to Elder Law - mostly Wills, and Powers of Attorney.  Much of her Elder Law practice was pro bono through a couple of local legal aid offices. Susan stopped practicing law completely in 2022. For the past 10 years, Susan has worked as an Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) Navigator through the Council on Aging of Buncombe County.  They provide unbiased free help to people getting insurance through the Marketplace.  Since we don't get paid by any insurance company, we can talk to people about all of the insurance options that are available and can help them complete the application correctly to minimize problems. Along the way  Susan has been one of the founders of two juvenile restorative justice programs and the Family Visitation Center in Asheville.  Susan was also on several boards and served on the Asheville VA institutional review board (IRB) overseeing medical research projects. Susan has always had a deep spiritual connection to the creator.  When she was quite young,  she told my parents that she played with Jesus up in heaven before she was born, reporting “I established a relationship with the Trinity before I was born.” Susan grew up Methodist and switched to Episcopalian when she fell in love with her now wife, Judy.  They journeyed with All Souls (also know as All Sorts) as it explored Human Sexuality and came to accept same sex relationships. Their current Priest is a lesbian so clearly, “we did something right!” Connect with Judy! Judy Wilson on FaceBook Click the link below to: Learn More about The Wild Goose Festival!   

In honor of April being recognized as Guardian ad Litem Volunteer Appreciation Month, the April episodes of All Things Judicial highlight the North Carolina Guardian ad Litem program (GAL). In this episode, we interview five attorney advocates who are staff or contractual attorneys in the GAL program. These attorneys are an essential part of a collaborative model, that along with volunteers and staff, ensure that abused or neglected children in North Carolina receive GAL legal advocacy services. GAL Advocacy Supervisor Ruth Griffin moderated the interviews where attorneys shared about their experiences in serving as advocates, ways to improve the system of representing abused and neglected children in court, and how they cope with the sometimes difficult circumstances in their cases."Especially in the courtroom, I always try to make sure that (the chiild's and GAL's) voice is heard," said attorney Vernon Cloud on the podcast. "Letting people know that I represent the child and to contact me first ... is a constant battle."

Susan Guthrie, Esq. welcomes returning guest, billion-dollar divorce attorney Beth McCormack as she shares scenarios from cases that show how to do divorce right!  This episode is enlightening!   Beth takes her role in supporting her clients seriously. She focuses on the entire family unit and is a proponent of collaborative divorce. Rather than hearing an episode that shares the benefits of collaborative divorce,  Susan invited Beth to share examples from the many cases she has handled, offering concrete ways in which going collaborative has helped families navigate divorce with thoughtfulness and compassion.  Topics and Golden Nuggets include: What a collaborative approach to divorce entails The various members of the collaborative divorce team Beth shares two stories from high-conflict or complex cases which we resolved through collaborative divorce **************************************** About this week's special guest:  Beth McCormack Beth is an equity partner at Beermann LLC here in Chicago, and her practice focuses on: highly complex family law matters with vast experience in complex litigation, mediation and collaborative law. Beth also represents children, when appointed by the court, Beth appreciates the sensitivity surrounding high net-worth, high-profile, and child-related matters, with each requiring a very different skill set. As one of the most influential attorneys in Chicago, Ms. McCormack has naturally become a mentor to many professionals in the legal community. Her peers consistently nominate her as a Best Lawyer, Super Lawyer, and Leading Lawyer. Most recently, Beth was named top 50 women Super Lawyers. Her work ethic and community involvement have earned her accolades within the legal community, and beyond, Find our more about Beth:  https://www.beermannlaw.com Email:  BMcCormack@beermannlaw.com Instagram:  @bethfmccormack Check out Beth's previous appearances on Divorce and Beyond: Lessons from a Billion Dollar Divorce Attorney GAL  AMC  OMG – Demystifying the Role of Guardian ad Litem and Attorney for the Minor Children Part One and Part Two Mentioned in this episode: Download a free copy of Susan's newest e-book: Building the Practice of Your Dreams. You'll enjoy one full month of tips for building a successful practice! Access the e-book today!  ***************************************** THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:   SOBERLINK Thriving in divorce and beyond means not having to worry about the safety of your children when it comes to co-parenting. With alcohol abuse on the rise, many co-parents are turning to the system committed to providing proof, protection, and peace of mind. Soberlink's alcohol monitoring system is the most convenient, reliable, and reasonable way for a parent to provide evidence that they are not drinking during parenting time. Soberlink's real-time alerts, facial recognition, and tamper detection ensure the integrity of each test, so you can be confident your kids are with a sober parent. With Soberlink, judges rest assured that your child is safe, attorneys get court-admissible evidence of sobriety, and both parents have empowerment and peace of mind.  Pull back the curtain on the mysteries of parenting time and trust The Experts in Remote Alcohol Monitoring Technology™ to keep you informed and your kids safe and secure. To download the addiction and children resource page that I developed with Soberlink, visit www.Soberlink.com/Susan   ___________ HOLLIS HARDIMAN, CDFA Merit Financial Advisors Hollis Hardiman is a certified divorce financial analyst and wealth manager who can provide guidance and support throughout the divorce process.  Hollis is highly trained and experienced in analyzing all aspects of divorce finance, including property division, spousal and child support, estate planning, and investment tax considerations. She works closely with you and your legal team to ensure you receive a fair settlement considering your financial needs and goals Regardless of where you are in the divorce process, Hollis can provide the insights and tools to make informed decisions and secure your financial future.  Schedule your complimentary consultation with Hollis by emailing hhardiman@meritfa.com. Be sure to tell her you heard about her on Divorce & Beyond! ********************************************************************* SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE!  https://divorcebeyond.com/Sponsorship-Info ******************************************************************* MEET OUR CREATOR AND HOST: SUSAN GUTHRIE®, ESQ., the creator and host of The Divorce and Beyond® Podcast, is nationally recognized as one of the top family law and divorce mediation attorneys in the country.  Susan is the Vice Chair of the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution and is a sought-after keynote speaker, business and practice consultant, coach and trainer. You can find out more about Susan and her services here:  https://neon.page/susanguthrie Internationally renowned as one of the leading experts in online mediation, Susan created her Learn to Mediate Online® program and has trained more than 25,000 professionals in how to transition their practice online.  Susan recently partnered with legal and mediation legend, Forrest "Woody" Mosten to create the Mosten Guthrie Academy which provides gold-standard, fully online training for mediation and collaborative professionals at all stages of their careers.   Follow Susan Guthrie and THE DIVORCE AND BEYOND PODCAST on social media for updates and inside tips and information: Susan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susaneguthrie/ Susan on Instagram @susanguthrieesq ********************************************************************* We'd really appreciate it if you would give us a 5 Star Rating and tell us what you like about the show in a review - your feedback really matters to us!  You can get in touch with Susan at divorceandbeyondpod@gmail.com.  Don't forget to visit the webpage www.divorceandbeyondpod.com and sign up for the free NEWSLETTER to receive a special welcome video from Susan and more!! ********************************************************************* DISCLAIMER:  THE COMMENTARY AND OPINIONS AVAILABLE ON THIS PODCAST ARE FOR INFORMATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY AND NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING LEGAL ADVICE.  YOU SHOULD CONTACT AN ATTORNEY IN YOUR STATE TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE WITH RESPECT TO ANY PARTICULAR ISSUE OR PROBLEM.

Subscribe in a reader Winning a Custody Battle – Tips for a GAL (Guardian ad Litem) investigation, today on this episode we will be talking about Tips for a GAL (Guardian ad Litem) investigation What to expect during a GAL investigation Protecting your parenting rights during a GAL – PRE – CLR investigator How to […] The post Winning a Custody Battle – Tips for a GAL (Guardian ad Litem) investigation – Ryan Kalamaya appeared first on Narcissist Abuse Support.

In honor of April being recognized as Child Advocacy Month, the April episodes of All Things Judicial will highlight the North Carolina Guardian ad Litem program (GAL). In today's episode, we interview six child advocate volunteers who serve on the front lines of advocating for abused and neglected children in court. These volunteers are just a few of the over 5,000 North Carolina child advocates who give of their time, energy, and heart to help improve the lives of children and youth. GAL Advocacy Supervisor Ruth Griffin moderated the interviews where volunteers shared about their motivation for serving as advocates, and the process of how they became involved in the program."Anybody can volunteer ... we have such a great need with so many kids in the system that they need someone to stand up for them," said GAL volunteer Loretta on the podcast. "If you are concerned about kids, open up your heart and go see the GAL program in your district and give it a try."

On this episode, we build with Kathy Fehling. Kathy began her career in sales and worked up through management, often becoming the first woman to hold leadership positions in the company's she work for. Then, in the middle of the night, Kathy decided it was time to start her own company. Over the next 20+ years she became an extremely successful executive recruiter – helping multi-billion dollar companies find their next CEO. In this episode, we explore her journey on what it was like to be a woman in a man's world, starting her own company and the trials and tribulations along the way. Towards the end of the episode, we unearth what led her to retirement and what everyone should know about entering that phase of their life.Enjoy!Show NotesBook Rec: Retirement Roots - Robert LauraBook Rec: Ruthless Elimination of Hurry - John Mark ComerCompassion InternationalGuardium ad Litem

Jasmine Cresswell was born in Wales and educated in London, England.  Recruited by the Foreign Service, she was assigned to the British Embassy in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  While in Rio, she met and married Malcolm Candlish and together they immigrated to the United States where he had been offered a job with Colgate Palmolive at corporate headquarters in New York City.  Malcolm's career took him to Australia, Canada and five different American states.  Jasmine tagged along with their growing family.  They finally settled on the West Coast of Florida where  Jasmine, now widowed, is fortunate enough to live close to all four of her children,  along with eight of her twelve grandchildren and three great grandchildren.   Originally intending to pursue a career in academia, this became impossible due to her frequent long-distance moves.  Instead, as a lifelong lover of fiction, Jasmine decided to write a novel since a writing career could be pursued from anywhere in the world. Her first book was published by British publisher Robert Hale in 1978.  Her final suspense trilogy was published by Mira Books in 2010.  In the thirty intervening years she published more than seventy novels with publishers such as Berkley, Signet, Harlequin and Mira. During her active writing career, Jasmine always sought the companionship and expertise of other writers.  An early member of  Romance Writers of America, Jasmine was for two years the editor of Romance Writers Report, the monthly journal of the organization.  In addition to eight wonderful years as a member of Rocky Mountain Fiction writers, Jasmine and four of her writer friends (including RMFW member Maggie Osborne)  founded Novelists, Inc., a national organization for multi-published authors of popular fiction. In retirement, she volunteers as a Guardian ad Litem, enjoys water aerobics, reads voraciously and loves spending time with her family, especially the great grandchildren who are -- of course -- amazing. As RMFW celebrates its 40th years, we are chatting with members who were around at the very beginning and this is one of those conversations. For video versions of this podcast, subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBP81nfbKnDRjs-Nar9LNe20138AiPyP8 Mark Stevens' website: https://www.writermarkstevens.com/ Intro Music by Moby Gratis: https://mobygratis.com/ Outro Music by Dan-o-Songs: https://danosongs.com/

The most common question we hear is "Is it better to stay together for the kids?" This week licensed clinical and forensic psychologist, Dr Malissa Tigges joins Michelle Dempsey-Multack to discuss what is best for children when it comes to divorce. Dr Malissa explains that it is proven that children thrive in a household where they receive love and support from both parents, but when there is constant tension and no model of love it can have negative impacts on them. Michelle and Melissa touch on: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) How being in a verbally abusive household can cause long term relationship problems That children only need one stable parent to thrive AND MUCH MORE Dr. Malissa Tigges is a forensic and clinical psychologist recognized for her work on a number of high-profile and high-conflict cases. She provides consultation services and clinical evaluations for the family, dependency, and criminal Courts, as well as private law offices. Dr. Tigges is an experienced expert witness in the areas of child abuse and neglect, custody disputes, estrangement and parental alienation, risk assessments, and sentence mitigation. She is also a skilled psychotherapist, Guardian ad Litem, and Parent Coordinator. Today, Dr. Tigges owns and operates multiple private mental health practices in Florida, where she supervises doctoral level psychology trainees who provide critical therapeutic services to children and families referred by the Family Court. In her spare time, she enjoys going on adventures with her family and serving on the Advisory Board of KidSide, Miami.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's Divorce with Respect Week! Attorney Deb Noonan and Therapist, Jennifer Luise Champagne of CCND join Susan Guthrie, Esq. to share insights into why divorcing with respect is essential to your BEYOND!  As families move through the divorcing process, parents are often focused on their emotions over their soon-to-be ex. Respect and kindness are the furthest things from their minds. Yet, the reality of divorce is that it's not just about what is happening today. It's also about looking toward the future. How you divorce today will have so much to do with how you live your life beyond divorce.  Leading divorce professionals from The Connecticut Council for Non-Adversarial Divorce join Susan for this impactful conversation about respect, integrity, and divorce.  Deborah Noonan, JD, is an experienced family law attorney who for the past 20 years has limited her practice to divorce mediation and Collaborative Divorce.  Jennifer Luise Champagne, MA, is a licensed professional counselor whose career has been devoted to the emotional and parenting issues of divorce.  Respectful insights from this episode include: Deb and Jennifer share their thoughts about what a respectful divorce looks like The challenges of maintaining respect during divorce  Re-establishing integrity with your ex-partner and co-parent after separation Some helpful interventions or tools for when parties are having a hard time remaining respectful What you can expect from Divorce with Respect week from CCND, including online events and workshops Respect can be in short supply throughout the divorce process. But, it is possible to obtain. Listen to this episode to hear how to divorce in a respectful and dignified way!    Access Episode Transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/003WnBcyxZ0   About this week's special guests: Deborah Noonan, JD, and Jennifer Luise Champagne, MA Deborah Noonan, JD is an experienced family law attorney who for the past 20 years has limited her practice to divorce mediation and Collaborative Divorce.  After spending a number of years litigating divorces, and witnessing firsthand the harm contentious divorces cause families, especially children, Deborah decided to focus her family law practice on alternative methods of dispute resolution. As a mediator and collaborative attorney, Deborah works with clients to assist them in working out a settlement agreement in a cooperative and mindful problem-solving process that places great emphasis on reducing conflict, keeping children the focus, and empowering the parties to control the outcome of their divorce.  Deborah helps clients create quality solutions to meet their and their family's individualized needs, bringing outside professionals, such as therapists and divorce financial specialists, into the process to promote a more holistic result. Deborah has had extensive mediation and Collaborative Divorce training and has presented on both topics at seminars and conferences. Website: http://divorcemediatect.com The Connecticut Council for Non-Adversarial Divorce: https://gooddivorcect.com CCND's Divorce with Respect Week: https://gooddivorcect.com/divorce-with-respect-week/ Jennifer Luise Champagne, MA is a licensed professional counselor whose career has been devoted to the emotional and parenting issues of divorce. Over the past 35 years, she has focused her work with parents as they address the changing needs of their family; coaching parents as they share the decision to divorce with their children, creating parenting plans for the time of separation, and addressing communication challenges that impact parents and their children. Jennifer has received extensive training in mediation and collaborative divorce, as well as in co-parenting and parenting coordination. She is in private practice with offices in Shelton and on the shoreline in Madison and is an adjunct professor at Quinnipiac University School of Law.   Jennifer is the current president of the Connecticut Council for Non-Adversarial Divorce and belongs to several collaborative practice groups within the state. Website:  http://www.jenniferluisechampagne.com The Connecticut Council for Non-Adversarial Divorce: https://gooddivorcect.com CCND's Divorce with Respect Week: https://gooddivorcect.com/divorce-with-respect-week/   Also mentioned in this episode: Rainbows For All Children GAL – AMC – OMG!  Demystifying the Role of a Guardian ad Litem or Attorney for the Minor Child Part One with Leading Attorney, Beth McCormack, Part 1 GAL – AMC – OMG!  Demystifying the Role of a Guardian ad Litem or Attorney for the Minor Child Part Two with Leading Attorney, Beth McCormack, Part 2 Parent Coordination Primer Part One of a Two-Part Episode with Attorney/Mediator, Carolyn Kalos Parent Coordination Primer Part Two: Navigating the Process with Carolyn Kalos on Divorce & Beyond #241 If you want to see the video version of the podcast episodes they are available on The Divorce & Beyond YouTube Channel!  Make sure to LIKE and SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss a single episode! THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR: Divide & Thrive Divorce Planner Divorce is hard. Divide & Thrive makes planning for one EASY. The #1 regret I hear from people who've gone through a divorce is that they didn't PREPARE in advance. There is no do-over in divorce, so planning early in the process is a GAME CHANGER. Divide & Thrive's divorce planner takes the guesswork out of what to do. Their planner has helped THOUSANDS of people throughout the U.S. AND Canada save TIME and MONEY during divorce, and have PEACE OF MIND. Their PROGRAM guides you through HOW to set divorce goals, tackle your BUDGET with easy-to-use financial planning tools, STREAMLINES your essential document collection, and SIMPLIFIES asset cataloging.  Recommended by divorce attorneys, mediators, AND financial advisors, the easy-to-use planner helps you address the emotional AND business sides of divorce, and create your best next chapter. Check out www.divideandthrive.net for reviews and a peek inside the planner. Use the code SUSAN22 for 20% off! ******************************************************************* MEET OUR CREATOR AND HOST: SUSAN GUTHRIE®, ESQ., the creator and host of The Divorce and Beyond® Podcast, is nationally recognized as one of the top family law and divorce mediation attorneys in the country.  Susan is a member of the Executive Council of the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution and is the Founder of Divorce in a Better Way® which provides a curated selection of resources and information for those facing divorce and other life changes.  Internationally renowned as one of the leading experts in online mediation, Susan created her Learn to Mediate Online® program and has trained more than 18,000 professionals in how to transition their practice online.  Susan recently partnered with legal and mediation legend, Forrest "Woody" Mosten to create the Mosten Guthrie Academy which provides gold standard, fully online training for mediation and collaborative professionals at all stages of their career.   Follow Susan Guthrie and THE DIVORCE AND BEYOND PODCAST on social media for updates and inside tips and information: Susan Guthrie on Facebook @susanguthrieesq Susan on Instagram @susanguthrieesq Susan on Twitter @guthrielaw ********************************************************************* SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE! If you would like to sponsor the show please reach out to us at  divorceandbeyondpod@gmail.com for pricing and details!!! ********************************************************************* We'd really appreciate it if you would give us a 5 Star Rating and tell us what you like about the show in a review - your feedback really matters to us!  You can get in touch with Susan at divorceandbeyondpod@gmail.com.  Don't forget to visit the webpage www.divorceandbeyondpod.com and sign up for the free NEWSLETTER to receive a special welcome video from Susan and more!! ********************************************************************* DISCLAIMER:  THE COMMENTARY AND OPINIONS AVAILABLE ON THIS PODCAST ARE FOR INFORMATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY AND NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING LEGAL ADVICE.  YOU SHOULD CONTACT AN ATTORNEY IN YOUR STATE TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE WITH RESPECT TO ANY PARTICULAR ISSUE OR PROBLEM

Are you ready to hear some of the most memorable moments and juicy details from today's leading experts featured on the Divorce And Beyond podcast?  — August kicks off with a special two-part episode from Host and Top Divorce Attorney, Susan Guthrie.  A few weeks ago, she ran a post on Instagram that shared a recent Buzzfeed article that contained a bunch of divorce attorneys' craziest cases. The post was so popular that Susan decided to create a podcast episode devoted to some of the most memorable cases and experiences from past guest experts of the show. In this episode, experts and friends, such as Bill Eddy, Kate Anthony, and Dr. Elizabeth Cohen, share their most memorable cases or clients with us. They also share an important lesson or takeaway that they learned from the experience. There are some amazing insights for everyone, as well as some juicy stories too.  Many of our experts wanted to participate in this special series, so we produced a two-part episode to fit all their wisdom and experiences.  You'll hear Part One today and then tune in again on Thursday for Part Two. Some of the most memorable cases and topics include: Lessons learned from a stunning divorce case involving a husband and wife, spanning over ten years, as told by High Conflict Expert Bill Eddy A true example of “once a cheater, always a cheater…” is exposed as Eric Broder retells his most memorable divorce case moment The Divorce Doctor, Dr. Elizabeth Cohen reflects on a case with a challenging client and the slow process of excavating the client's experiences and feelings versus leaning into the story about her ex-partner “We make mistakes, but we are not a mistake.” Billion Dollar Divorce Attorney Beth McCormack shares her time as a child advocate of a young girl who was experiencing parental alienation, how she was able to help, and later watched the young girl grow up and succeed in life Plus, you'll hear insightful and astounding experiences shared by Kate Anthony, Tracy Malone, and Karen and Catherine of My Divorce Solution! Listen in to hear the amazing case details, takeaways, and wisdom from today's top divorce professionals!  ***************************************** This episode featured knowledge and wisdom from these special guests:  Bill Eddy Eric Broder Dr. Elizabeth Cohen Beth McCormack Kate Anthony     Tracy Malone Karen Chellew & Catherine Shanahan of My Divorce Solution Episodes mentioned: Divorce & Beyond May Headlines Round Up with Susan Guthrie and Special Guest, Beth McCormack GAL – AMC – OMG! Demystifying the Role of a Guardian ad Litem or Attorney for the Minor Child Part One with Leading Attorney, Beth McCormack  GAL – AMC – OMG! Demystifying the Role of a Guardian ad Litem or Attorney for the Minor Child Part Two with Leading Attorney, Beth McCormack Get Ready to BIFF Your High Conflict Ex with Bill Eddy  Yes, You CAN Mediate a High Conflict Divorce with Bill Eddy  Divorcing a Narcissist or Borderline? How to Protect Yourself with Bill Eddy  Thinking About Divorce?  Your Top 5 FAQs Answered by Leading Divorce Attorney, Eric Broder  Is it Over?  Should You Stay?  Should You Go?  Find out with Kate Anthony  What to Expect When Divorcing a Narcissist: If You Are Aware, Then You Can Prepare with Tracy Malone  Tackling the Top 5 Financial Roadblocks of Divorce Part Two with Karen Chellew & Catherine Shanahan of My Divorce Solution  Also mentioned: Buzzfeed article  The Light on the Other Side of Divorce, by Dr. Elizabeth Cohen The Divorce Survival Guide podcast from Kate Anthony Divorcing Your Narcissist: You Can't Make This Sh** Up!  by Tracy Malone ************************** THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR: SOBERLINK Back-to-School season is coming up which can be difficult for those going through a divorce.  This is especially true when alcohol and child safety is a concern.  On Divorce & Beyond, my mission includes bringing you the latest insider knowledge and information from top experts with regard to your divorce, especially during these changing times.  That's why I've partnered with Soberlink to help create and offer resources to help you navigate the upcoming back-to-school season.  Soberlink is a remote alcohol monitoring technology created to help prove sobriety in custody cases. The system includes a high-tech breathalyzer device with facial recognition that allows you to receive real-time updates from monitored co-parents anytime, anywhere allowing for swift intervention for improved child safety.  They have helped hundreds of thousands of people document proof of sobriety in real-time for peace of mind in child custody cases.  Soberlink is currently offering free Back-to-School & Divorce packets that include an expert Q&A with me, Back to School Checklist, Communication tips, and more. Request your free packet today at www.soberlink.com/susan ******************************************************************* MEET OUR CREATOR AND HOST: SUSAN GUTHRIE®, ESQ., the creator and host of The Divorce and Beyond® Podcast, is nationally recognized as one of the top family law and divorce mediation attorneys in the country.  Susan is a member of the Executive Council of the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution and is the Founder of Divorce in a Better Way® which provides a curated selection of resources and information for those facing divorce and other life changes.  Internationally renowned as one of the leading experts in online mediation, Susan created her Learn to Mediate Online® program and has trained more than 18,000 professionals in how to transition their practice online.  Susan recently partnered with legal and mediation legend, Forrest "Woody" Mosten to create the Mosten Guthrie Academy which provides gold standard, fully online training for mediation and collaborative professionals at all stages of their career.   ***************************************************************************** SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE! If you would like to sponsor the show please reach out to us at  divorceandbeyondpod@gmail.com for pricing and details!!! ********************************************************************* Remember to follow Susan Guthrie and THE DIVORCE AND BEYOND PODCAST on social media for updates and inside tips and information: Susan Guthrie on Facebook @susanguthrieesq Susan on Instagram @susanguthrieesq Susan on Twitter @guthrielaw If you want to see the video version of the podcast episodes they are available on The Divorce & Beyond YouTube Channel!  Make sure to LIKE and SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss a single episode! Finally, we'd really appreciate it if you would  give us a 5 Star Rating and tell us what you like about the show in a review - your feedback really matters to us!  You can get in touch with Susan at divorceandbeyondpod@gmail.com.  Don't forget to visit the webpage www.divorceandbeyondpod.com and sign up for the free NEWSLETTER to receive a special welcome video from Susan and more!! ***************************************************************************** DISCLAIMER:  THE COMMENTARY AND OPINIONS AVAILABLE ON THIS PODCAST ARE FOR INFORMATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY AND NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING LEGAL ADVICE.  YOU SHOULD CONTACT AN ATTORNEY IN YOUR STATE TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE WITH RESPECT TO ANY PARTICULAR ISSUE OR PROBLEM