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Artwork for Creating a Family: Talk about Adoption, Foster & Kinship Care

Creating a Family: Talk about Adoption, Foster & Kinship Care

Creating a Family
Adoption
Foster Care
Parenting
Trauma
Kinship Care
Child Development
International Adoption
Mental Health
Adoption Tax Credit
Parenting Strategies
Child Welfare
Open Adoption
Prenatal Substance Exposure
Family Dynamics
Child Trauma
Transracial Adoption
Fostering
Creating a Family
Domestic Infant Adoption
Trauma-Informed Care

Are you thinking about adopting or fostering a child? Confused about all the options and wondering where to begin? Or are you an adoptive or foster parent or kinship caregiver trying to be the best parent possible to this precious child? This is the podcast for you! Every week, we interview leading experts for an hour, discussing the topics you care about in deciding whether to adopt/foster or how... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes977Founded19 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ParentingBusinessKids & FamilyNon-Profit

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Artwork for Creating a Family: Talk about Adoption, Foster & Kinship Care

Latest Episodes

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Question: I’m new to raising my grandchild and still learning about trauma. People keep saying it changes a child’s brain, but I don’t really understand what that means. What does trauma actually do to the brain, and h... more

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Have you considered fostering? What might be holding you back? Join us for a conversation with Laura, the Foster Parent Partner, to explore what it takes to be ready to foster, what the licensing and placement process ... more

YouTube

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Question: How do I delicately share information about my child’s birth parent with my child, when we know their biological parent has a long history of arrest? They are not a safe adult for my child to maintain a relat... more

YouTube

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Join us for this interview with former NFL Running Back and Super Bowl Champion Ricky Watters. He is an adoptee, an adoptive dad, and author of a new children’s book on adoption, A Gift Called Shane.

In this episode, ... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Ricky Watters
Former NFL running back and Super Bowl champion, author of a children's book about adoption.
Episode: NFL Running Back Ricky Watters: How Adoption Shaped My Life
Casey Call
Associate Director of Education at the Karen Purvis Institute of Child Development, Associate Professor of Professorial Practices at Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University (Karen Purvis Institute)
Episode: Maintaining Secure Attachment While Disciplining Misbehavior
Tony Craddock
Prevention social worker with Wake County, North Carolina; Kinship In Action Support Group co-facilitator
Wake County Department of Social Services (North Carolina)
Episode: Celebrating & Supporting Men in Foster & Kinship Care
Lenette Serlo
Adoptive mom of four children impacted by prenatal substance exposure; founder of Generation O
Generation O
Episode: Raising Kids Impacted by Opioid Exposure to Thrive
Vernell Gore
Program Representative for Youth Villages in Eastern North Carolina
Youth Villages
Episode: How Can We Equip Foster & Kinship Youth for Adulthood?
Nick Sgarlata
Executive Director of Bridge to Brighter; Creating a Family Board member
Bridge to Brighter
Episode: How Can We Equip Foster & Kinship Youth for Adulthood?
Jeremy Walden
Married for 25 years, father of seven; teaches communication at Auburn University
Auburn University
Episode: Strategies for Maintaining a Healthy Marriage or Partnership (While Raising Adopted, Foster, or Relative Children)
Jera Walden
Married for 25 years, advocate with Big House Foundation; co-author of The Heart Work of Foster Care
Big House Foundation
Episode: Strategies for Maintaining a Healthy Marriage or Partnership (While Raising Adopted, Foster, or Relative Children)
Bryan Post
Adoptee; internationally recognized therapist; founder of Fear to Love LLC, bondify.ai and Leaf Wraparound
Fear to Love LLC; bondify.ai; Leaf Wraparound
Episode: Parenting with Love, Joy, and Connection with Bryan Post

Host

Tracy Whitney
Host of multiple series focused on adoption, foster care, and kinship care; shines in guiding conversations with experts and lived-experience voices.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 420 ratings
  • Most Influential Podcast In Our Adoption Journey

    For nearly two years, we were in the planning and waiting phase of what would become an open adoption with our child’s birth family. This podcast is one that educated me on so many things - trauma and adoption informed parenting, the values and challenges of an open adoption and the importance of listening to the stories of birth parents and adoptees. I attribute much of my understanding and intentionality with our open adoption to this podcast and others I learned about through guests on the sh... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    T. Ewinghill
    United States10 months ago
  • Great and Informative

    Great podcast, providing informative and insightful information!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    GF33
    United Statesa year ago
  • Our go to!

    Such a wonderful podcast. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    lisaversa01
    United Statesa year ago
  • My favorite foster care/adoption podcast

    I found you about a year ago while we were going through our home study. Your podcast has been so helpful! We are now foster parents of two teen girls and I have gone back and listened to almost all of your old episodes as well. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MackenzieAlexisMatthew
    United Statesa year ago
  • Excellent resource

    Essential content for adoptive parenting!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    hahaugan
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

High praise for practical, actionable guidance and expert insights.
Appreciation for the community and support the show provides to new and navigating families.
Positive notes about being a valuable, informative resource for adoptive and foster families; guests are knowledgeable and engaged.
Some listeners critique audio quality and occasional misalignment between topics and personal experiences in trauma-focused episodes.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

What Trauma Really Does to a Child’s Brain (and Why Behavior Can Be So Hard) - Weekend Wisdom
Q: What does trauma actually do to the brain and how does that show up in a child's behavior at home or school?
Trauma causes the brain to stay on high alert, affecting the bottom (survival) and middle (emotional) regions, which can lead to overreactions, strong triggers, and difficulties with attention and following directions; the guidance emphasizes understanding this as brain coping rather than willful misbehavior and offers practical steps to calm and connect before addressing rules.
Celebrating & Supporting Men in Foster & Kinship Care
Q: What role do other dads or male caregivers play in retaining men in these spaces?
Peer support groups, cross-generation mentoring, and open, welcoming spaces help new dads feel included and able to contribute, while seasoned fathers coach newcomers.
Celebrating & Supporting Men in Foster & Kinship Care
Q: What are some of the positive differences that you've seen when men are actively engaged in caregiving?
Children show fewer behavior issues, appear more grounded, more confident, and have visible support from both father figures and mothers, which translates into better development and school outcomes.
Maintaining Secure Attachment While Disciplining Misbehavior
Q: How can caregivers share power appropriately with children of different ages?
Provide age-appropriate choices, involve them in decisions at a level they can handle, and ensure the choices are ones you can live with, reinforcing trust and a sense of agency.
Maintaining Secure Attachment While Disciplining Misbehavior
Q: What is the purpose of discipline in the context of trauma-informed parenting?
Discipline is about teaching children how to live in relationships, regulate emotions, and grow with support, not just correcting behavior; it should combine nurture with clear structure and feedback.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Content centers on adoption, foster care, kinship arrangements, and parenting strategies for families navigating “hard places.” Episodes frequently feature experts in attachment, trauma-informed care, and adoption processes, delivering practical advice, real-world caregiving stories, and policy or financial guidance (e.g., tax credits, subsidies). The show stands out for its trauma-informed approach, emphasis on triad perspectives, and a strong resource orientation (lifebooks, tools, and community support) that aims to empower caregivers with concrete steps and vetted professionals. Listeners can expect actionable parenting strategies, family dynamics discussions, and updates on adoption-related issues, often framed through interviews with ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Calm Parenting Podcast
2. The Baffling Behavior Show {Parenting after Trauma}
3. Toddlers Made Easy with Dr Cathryn
4. The Lazy Genius Podcast
5. Raising Good Humans

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 19 years ago and published 977 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Ricky Watters
2. Casey Call
3. Tony Craddock
4. Lenette Serlo
5. Vernell Gore
6. Nick Sgarlata
7. Jeremy Walden
8. Jera Walden

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