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Artwork for The Fearless Fostering Podcast

The Fearless Fostering Podcast

Cathleen Bearse
Foster Care
Adoption
Mental Health
Self-Care
Foster Parenting
Trauma
Parenting
Community Support
Reunification
Child Welfare
Fostering
Grief
Family Dynamics
Motherhood
Community Building
Emotional Support
Support Systems
Burnout
Guilt
Trauma-Informed Care

Podcast by Cathleen Bearse

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes236Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Kids & Family

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Artwork for The Fearless Fostering Podcast

Latest Episodes

I'm so excited to share this episode with you!  I'm chatting with Laura, the Foster Parent Partner, aka @foster.parenting on Instagram.  Laura has been an amazing resource for foster parents at all stages of the journey for many years through the con... more

It’s 2 a.m.

The house is finally quiet. Everyone’s asleep. You should be asleep.

But instead, you’re lying in the dark, replaying that moment from earlier today. Or yesterday. Or last week. Or maybe even months ago.

The thing you said during the m... more

No one told me that foster care would require me to hold space for people I’d never met – people whose choices I didn’t understand, whose lives looked nothing like mine, and whose connection to my child would always run deeper than biology alone coul... more

I remember sitting in the foster parent training before our first placement, imagining the story ahead of us.

I had a version of it in my head — hazy around the details, but clear in shape. A child would come. We would love them fiercely. There woul... more

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Recent Guests

Madison Tyler
A pediatric dietician and foster/adoptive mother.
Nourish With Connection
Episode: Trauma-Informed Nutrition with Madison Tyler
Charell Star
Former foster youth and author of 'Trashbag Tales & Other Stories From An Accidentally Happy Life'
Author
Episode: Trashbag Tales and Accidental Happiness with Former Foster Youth Charell Star
Gaile Osborne
Advocate with the Foster Family Alliance of North Carolina
Foster Family Alliance of North Carolina
Episode: Racial Inequity in the Foster Care System with Gaile Osborne
Ashton Brye
Foster Mama extraordinaire, content creator, and designer.
Episode: Foster Care and the Enneagram with Ashton Brye
Beth Hewitt
Foster and biomama committed to supporting reunification efforts in foster care.
Episode: Supporting Reunification with Compassion and Grace with Beth Hewitt
Abby Mortensen
Foster mama who shares her journey and experiences in the foster care system.
Episode: The Joys and Hardships of Foster Care with Abby Mortensen
Melody Welles
Former foster youth and adoptee, advocates for foster youth and adoptees
Episode: What Adoptive Parents Need to Know with Melody Welles
Joan Ulsher
Author and CASA advocate, former foster child and military veteran
Episode: What is a CASA with Joan Ulsher
Dr. Kate Truitt
Psychologist and neuroscientist specializing in traumatic grief
Truitt Institute
Episode: Tackling Different Types of Trauma with Dr. Kate Truitt

Host

Cathleen Bearse
Host of The Fearless Fostering Podcast

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 44 ratings
  • An affirming place for foster parents

    Cathleen speaks truth to things I think and feel often as a foster mama. I appreciate her normalizing the struggles and joys of serving the kids in our care.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    kateofseattle
    United States2 years ago
  • Loved Erin!!

    The fostering episode was great with Erin!! She’s so lovely!! :)

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Loves music, hates spotify
    Canada3 years ago
  • Foster Mom Friend in Your Phone

    Sometimes the journey of fostering seems so lonely if there’s no one in your close circle who’s done it or is in the weeds. Being able to plug into the Fearless Fostering Podcast helps me know that I’m not alone as well as answering questions I’ve had or haven’t even thought of yet. Thanks for sharing your heart with us!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CarrieTran
    United States4 years ago
  • Makes me feel a little more sane

    Love love love! A podcast that gives me quality advice and comfort! Love!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    hanwoulddothat
    United States4 years ago
  • Foster mom + therapist is the best combo!

    There’s no podcast quite like it foster and adoptive moms to my knowledge. Having the professional experience as a therapist and lived experience of a foster and adoptive mom makes this always worth a listen!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    kristencrew
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners repeatedly credit the show's balance of empathy and real-world tips for staying sane while caregiving.
Guests consistently bring new resources and perspectives that expand support networks for families.
Therapist-backed insights make difficult topics feel reachable and practical.
Cathleen's guidance feels like talking to a trusted friend who actually gets the challenges of fostering.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Social Emotional Learning Made Simple with Monkey Minds SEL
Q: What would be the first thing you'd want parents to try after listening to this episode?
The first thing to try is being willing to be silly and model the change you want to see, engaging kids in everyday activities that provide learning opportunities.
Social Emotional Learning Made Simple with Monkey Minds SEL
Q: What's your advice for a shift that parents can make when they're feeling reactive or not regulated?
Parents should recognize their triggers and narrate their emotional processing to their kids to model emotional regulation and growth.
Social Emotional Learning Made Simple with Monkey Minds SEL
Q: How does trauma in children change the way we should interpret and respond to their behavior?
One needs to approach the child's behavior with understanding, noting that all behavior is a form of communication arising from cues, cravings, and past experiences.
Social Emotional Learning Made Simple with Monkey Minds SEL
Q: What's one skill or practice that you think every family should start with?
Families should start with changing dinner time conversations to focus on mindfulness and helping others, asking where they saw help today or how they could help someone else.
Social Emotional Learning Made Simple with Monkey Minds SEL
Q: What do you feel like from your perspective, kids are struggling with emotionally right now the most?
Kids are struggling with anxiety, depression, social skills problems, isolation, and loneliness. But underneath these symptoms, there's often a lack of self-awareness and skills to manage their emotions.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Fearless Fostering Podcast

What is The Fearless Fostering Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A compassionate, practitioner-led series that centers foster and adoptive families, blending therapy-informed guidance with lived experience. Episodes often tackle high-stakes caregiving moments—trauma, grief, boundary-setting, and navigation of visits with bio families—while offering practical steps, self-compassion, and community resources. Noteworthy traits include a therapist-host who openly shares personal foster parenting journeys, a strong emphasis on repair and presence, and episodes that mix actionable strategies with heartfelt storytelling, making it a steady resource for caregivers seeking resilience, mindfulness, and actionable outcomes.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Fearless Fostering Podcast?

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How many listeners does The Fearless Fostering Podcast get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Fearless Fostering Podcast?

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How many subscribers and views does The Fearless Fostering Podcast have?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Fearless Fostering Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Fearless Fostering Podcast:

1. Focus on the Family with Jim Daly
2. Culture Apothecary with Alex Clark
3. Behind the Curtain: Honest Conversations about Foster Care and Adoption
4. The Forgotten Podcast
5. BibleProject

How many episodes of The Fearless Fostering Podcast are there?

The Fearless Fostering Podcast launched 8 years ago and published 236 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Fearless Fostering Podcast?

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Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Fearless Fostering Podcast?

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What guests have appeared on The Fearless Fostering Podcast?

Recent guests on The Fearless Fostering Podcast include:

1. Madison Tyler
2. Charell Star
3. Gaile Osborne
4. Ashton Brye
5. Beth Hewitt
6. Abby Mortensen
7. Melody Welles
8. Joan Ulsher

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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