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Artwork for The Foster Friendly Podcast
Foster Care
Adoption
Community Support
Child Welfare
Parenting
Trauma-Informed Care
Trauma
Family Support
Mental Health
Community Engagement
Child Welfare System
Addiction
Reunification
America's Kids Belong
Foster Parent Attrition
Resilience
Family Dynamics
Sex Trafficking
Education
Church Leadership

Welcome to The Foster Friendly Podcast. We’re bringing foster care closer to home by sharing stories from the front lines. We're talking with former foster youth, foster parents and others who are finding unique and powerful ways to dramatically improve the experiences and outcomes for kids in foster care. The Foster Friendly podcast is brought to you by America’s Kids Belong, a nonprofit that hel... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes94Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Kids & FamilyBusinessParentingNon-Profit

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Artwork for The Foster Friendly Podcast

Latest Episodes

In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, co-hosts Brian Mavis and Courtney Williams engage with Paula Yost, an attorney and licensed clinical medical health clinician, who shares her journey of advocacy for children in foster care and those wi... more

In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, host Brian Mavis speaks with Dr. John DiGarmo and Jen Lilley about their experiences in foster care and advocacy. They discuss their personal journeys, the challenges faced in the foster care system, an... more

YouTube

In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, hosts Courtney Williams and Travis Vangsnes welcome back Laura, the Foster Parent Partner, a well-known figure in the foster care community, to discuss her new book, 'First Time Fostering.' The conversa... more

YouTube

In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, host Brian Mavis and co-host Courtney Williams welcome Felicia Curcuru, CEO and co-founder of Binti, a technology platform designed to streamline the foster care licensing process. Felicia shares her pe... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Paula Yost
Attorney and licensed clinical medical health clinician; advocate for foster youth
Independent attorney and advocate
Episode: Tumbleweeds to Triumph: Advocacy and Hope for Foster Youth with Paula Yost
Dr. John DeGarmo
Founder of the Foster Care Initiative; experienced foster parent and advocate
Foster Care Initiative
Episode: Keeping it Real: What Every Foster Parent Needs to Know with Dr. John DeGarmo and Jen Lilley
Jen Lilley
Award-winning actress and longtime advocate for children in foster care
Actor and Advocate
Episode: Keeping it Real: What Every Foster Parent Needs to Know with Dr. John DeGarmo and Jen Lilley
Felicia Kakura
CEO and co-founder of Binti
Binti
Episode: Innovating Child Welfare Systems with Felicia Curcuru
Charell Starr
Actor, TV host, author, advocate; Vice President of the CASA Board in New York City
CASA New York City
Episode: From Foster Care to Flourishing: An Actor, Author, and Advocate with Charell Star
Dana Gleason
IBP Project manager for Kentucky Kids Belong
Kentucky Kids Belong
Episode: Creating Belonging: Inspiring Stories From Our I Belong Project
Patton Dodd
Executive director of storytelling and communications for the HE Buck Foundation; author of The Father You Get, The Ones You Make, Believe In, and Become
HE Buck Foundation; Author
Episode: Overcoming Fatherhood Wounds and Being Better Fathers and Father Figures with Patton Dodd
Kayla Moffitt
Tennessee mom to five siblings, former foster youth and adoptive parent, TBRI practitioner
Independent foster/adoptive parent; advocate
Episode: Love Isn’t Enough: The Honest Realities of Foster Parenting with Kayla Moffitt
Jeanette Yoffee
Founder of Celia Center, mental health professional specializing in foster care and adoption.
Celia Center & Yoffe Therapy
Episode: Transforming Trauma Into Triumph: Practical Tips and Tools with Jeanette Yoffe

Hosts

Brian Mavis
Co-host and founder/leader focused on foster care advocacy and community involvement.
Courtney Williams
Co-host and foster mom active in storytelling and outreach.
Travis Vangsnes
Co-host and AKB staff member bringing practical perspectives from the field.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 71 ratings
  • The Power of shared stories

    What a powerful resource for foster families! Courtney, Brian and Travis bring much-needed honest and relatable stories that reflect real life joys, and challenges of fostering 👏💕

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kim SKW ZF
    United Statesa year ago
  • So helpful!

    These podcasts are so helpful for me as a foster parent! I’ve loved every episode!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Fostering Strong
    United Statesa year ago
  • Absolutely love!

    Absolutely love these podcasts!! Great guest speakers and information!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dp111207
    United Statesa year ago
  • Inspiring Action through Partnership

    Be ready to be pleasantly surprised that this is not an informational podcast, it is a transformational podcast, where voices that matter and are so often overlooked find a place behind the speakerphone of love, providing fresh perspectives and calling us to action no matter who we are or where we find ourselves in life, through partnership in our communities.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hannah MSN RN
    United Statesa year ago
  • Love it!

    Genuine. Curious. Timely. Thanks to the Foster Friendly team at AKB!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MamaKMiller
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Audiences value the hosts' authentic, compassionate approach and diverse guest lineup.
The show is seen as a strong resource for anyone involved in foster care or considering foster care, including families and community supporters.
The podcast is described as inspiring and action-oriented, with a focus on community partnerships and tangible impact.
Listeners praise practical, heartfelt storytelling that highlights real-world foster care challenges and successes.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Tumbleweeds to Triumph: Advocacy and Hope for Foster Youth with Paula Yost
Q: What are ACEs and why are they important for long-term health and education planning?
ACEs refer to adverse childhood experiences; understanding ACEs helps caregivers anticipate long-term health and educational needs, guiding preventative and supportive measures to mitigate trauma's effects over a person's life.
Tumbleweeds to Triumph: Advocacy and Hope for Foster Youth with Paula Yost
Q: What is an IEP and how does it help a child in foster care?
An IEP is an Individualized Education Plan, a legal document that provides educators with tailored supports, such as extra time on tests and access to necessary services, to help a child succeed academically despite learning or developmental challenges.
Keeping it Real: What Every Foster Parent Needs to Know with Dr. John DeGarmo and Jen Lilley
Q: What makes the book different from other foster care resources?
It blends two perspectives—Dr. DeGarmo's professional expertise with Jen Lilley's personal, motherly experiences—along with practical steps, real stories, and a hopeful yet realistic tone.
Keeping it Real: What Every Foster Parent Needs to Know with Dr. John DeGarmo and Jen Lilley
Q: How did you two decide to collaborate on a book about fostering?
We recognized the need to pair clinical insight with lived experience, providing a balanced view that helps potential foster parents move from hesitation to action, while also preparing them for the emotional journey.
Overcoming Fatherhood Wounds and Being Better Fathers and Father Figures with Patton Dodd
Q: Tell me about the journey of writing your book and what the core four-part structure is about.
Patton explains the memoir unfolds in four parts—The Father You Get, The Fathers You Make, The Father You Believe In, and The Father You Become—tracing how his own father, the father figures in his life, and his faith shaped his identity and healing.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Foster Friendly Podcast

What is The Foster Friendly Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A show focused on foster care that features a trio of hosts who are deeply immersed in the space. They explore real-world stories from foster youth, foster families, and professionals, using interviews with staff, parents, youth and subject-matter experts to illuminate outcomes, challenges, and innovative solutions. Episodes emphasize storytelling as a tool for driving empathy, engagement, and practical action—covering topics from matching and adoption to digital safety, trauma-informed care, and community collaboration. A notable strength is the use of multi-state case examples and a strong emphasis on community involvement, volunteerism, and accessible guidance for prospective foster families and advocates.

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How many listeners does The Foster Friendly Podcast get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Foster Friendly Podcast?

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How many subscribers and views does The Foster Friendly Podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Foster Friendly Podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Foster Friendly Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Foster Friendly Podcast:

1. Focus on the Family with Jim Daly
2. Behind the Curtain: Honest Conversations about Foster Care and Adoption
3. Fostering Change
4. The Forgotten Podcast
5. In Real Life: Foster Care Unfiltered

How many episodes of The Foster Friendly Podcast are there?

The Foster Friendly Podcast launched 2 years ago and published 94 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 Foster Friendly Podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Foster Friendly Podcast?

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What guests have appeared on The Foster Friendly Podcast?

Recent guests on The Foster Friendly Podcast include:

1. Paula Yost
2. Dr. John DeGarmo
3. Jen Lilley
4. Felicia Kakura
5. Charell Starr
6. Dana Gleason
7. Patton Dodd
8. Kayla Moffitt

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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