Episodes

After entering foster care at just two months old, QpidLuv the World Bender spent his entire childhood in the system—moving through approximately 20 foster homes before eventually aging out. He grew up without the security of a permanent home, separated from his biological siblings and repeatedly forced to adjust to new families, new rules and new surroundings. Over time, he learned not to unpack completely because another move could always be coming. In this deeply personal episode of From Fo...

Every adoption story has multiple perspectives—but we don't often hear directly from birth mothers. In this deeply moving episode of From Foster to Forever, Rachel Fulginiti speaks with Janet Munro, host of the Roots and Branches Adoption Stories podcast, about placing her son for adoption in 1970, searching for him nearly five decades later, and the extraordinary reunion that changed both of their lives forever. Janet shares what it was like to be a young unmarried woman facing an unplanned p...

What happens when a foster-to-adopt family channels their journey into creativity, imagination, and storytelling? In this heartwarming episode of From Foster to Forever, Rachel sits down with father-daughter writing team Mark and Genevieve Marino to share the remarkable story of how their family was formed through foster care adoption—and how that experience inspired the creation of the whimsical Mrs. Wobble's Tangerine House book series. Inspired by friends, Mark and his wife always dreamed o...

What happens when a school employee opens her home to two brothers in foster care just days before Christmas? In this heartfelt episode of From Foster to Forever, host Rachel Fulginiti sits down with foster parent Susan Devine, who shares her powerful experience fostering two brothers through the child welfare system and supporting their eventual reunification with their father. Unlike many foster-to-adopt stories, Susan's journey highlights another important goal of foster care: helping famili...

What does it take to break the cycle of trauma and create a forever family? In this powerful episode of From Foster to Forever, host Rachel Fulginiti sits down with foster care advocate, author, and Comfort Cases founder Dr. Rob Scheer. Rob's story begins in foster care. As one of ten children removed from his biological family, he entered the foster care system carrying his belongings in a trash bag—a reality still faced by many foster youth today. After aging out of care, overcoming trauma, a...

What happens when a white foster-to-adopt family adopts a Black teenager in a small rural community with very little diversity? In this deeply honest and thought-provoking episode of From Foster to Forever, Rachel talks with foster and adoptive mom Kat Parvin about transracial adoption through foster care, parenting adopted teens, navigating racism in schools, and the realities of raising a Black daughter in a predominantly white town. Kat shares how her family’s foster care journey quickly tu...

We're diving deep into the heartwarming yet challenging journey of foster care and adoption with Ron Platt, a trailblazer in LGBTQ+ parenting. Ron's story kicks off with his own experiences navigating the foster system and how he became an adoptive dad to a young boy who faced incredible adversity. With a mix of humor and honesty, we explore the ups and downs of their relationship, the expectations he set, and the real struggles of raising a child who’s been through the wringer. Plus, Ron shares...

Host Rachel Fulginiti is joined by returning guests Jen Lilley—a successful Hollywood actress who followed a deep calling to foster and ultimately fostered to adopt two children—and Dr. John DeGarmo, a nationally recognized foster care expert who has fostered over 60 children and adopted multiple children. In this episode they share insights from their new book, Called To Foster: An Honest Guide to Getting Started, offering a raw, honest, and practical roadmap for anyone considering foster care...

Today, we’re unpacking the fascinating world of birth order and its impact on family dynamics, especially when it comes to fostering and adoption. We've got Dr. Robert Hurst, a total whiz on this topic, joining us to dish out insights from his book, "Life's Fingerprint." It’s not just about knowing who's the oldest or youngest; it's all about how those positions shape our personalities and relationships within blended families. We’ll explore why adopting a younger child can help keep the peace a...

Why do so many children—especially those in foster care or adoption—struggle with food, weight, and self-regulation? In this episode of From Foster to Forever, Rachel sits down with Kami Moussavi, founder of Step Together, to uncover the real root causes behind childhood eating issues, ADHD, and addictive behaviors. This conversation goes far beyond diet and discipline. Together, they explore how trauma, emotional suppression, and dopamine shape a child’s relationship with food, screens, and s...

Thinking about foster care or adoption—but unsure how to prepare financially? Dealing with challenging finances already? In this episode of From Foster to Forever, I sit down with financial coach Dylan Snowden to talk about one of the most overlooked (and often overwhelming) parts of the journey: money. We get real about the hidden costs of growing a family, how to plan for the unknown, and why understanding your finances before a child enters your home can make all the difference. Whether yo...

She was fostering two toddlers and still waiting to adopt — so she decided to have a baby on her own... When Maryanne Grant first came on the show, she was in the middle of a long, uncertain foster-to-adopt journey with two young siblings. Now she’s back with a life update — and so much has changed. In this episode, Maryanne shares what it’s really like to wait years for adoption finalization, how the appeals process can delay permanency, and how she made the decision to become a single mo...

In this powerful and deeply insightful episode of From Foster to Forever, I sit down with child therapist and author Stacy Schaffer to explore what foster and adoptive parents really need to understand about childhood trauma, attachment, and healing. Stacy specializes in play therapy, a transformative approach that helps children express emotions they don’t yet have the words for. Through tools like sand tray therapy, somatic release, and creative expression, she offers a window into how chil...

Foster care can bring a whirlwind of emotions, and today we're diving deep into the complexities that come with it. We’re chatting with Emily McDaniel, a seasoned foster care provider who's opened her heart and home to 21 kids over the years. Right off the bat, she highlights the tough truth that a lot of rejection in foster care is self-imposed, and that it's a wild ride to support families in crisis. As we peel back the layers, Emily shares her journey from wanting to run an orphanage to becom...

Dyslexia isn’t just a reading problem—it’s a whole brain vibe! In our chat today, we dive into some eye-opening insights with Russell Van Broecklin, a dyslexia researcher who's got the lowdown on how dyslexia works and why it’s not as straightforward as folks think. He lays down the truth that while dyslexics might read and write slower, their brains are firing on all cylinders when it comes to thinking. So, if you’ve got a kiddo who’s struggling, don’t sweat it! Russell shares some killer strat...

In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Rachel sits down with functional medicine physician and adoptive father Dr. Aaron Hartman to explore how early trauma, environmental factors, and holistic healthcare can shape the lives of foster and adopted children. Dr. Hartman shares the story of adopting his daughters through foster care and how his journey parenting a child with complex medical needs transformed his medical practice. Together, Rachel and Dr. Hartman discuss navigating the healt...

Recognizing our superpower as parents is the name of the game today, and it’s not about having all the answers. Our presence alone can be a game-changer for our kids, especially those who come from foster care and carry their own unique traumas. We’re diving deep with Jenny Hornby, a licensed counselor and trauma expert, who’s got some serious insights on how to help kids process their feelings in a safe way. We chat about EMDR therapy, which Jenny describes like taking a train ride through thei...

Today, we hear the heartfelt journey of David and Jill, who took the leap from being childless to adopting two beautiful siblings through the Foster to Adopt process. They share openly about how infertility led them to this path and speak about how this experience has transformed them into better people and deepened their love in ways they never imagined. From navigating the emotional rollercoaster of uncertainty, to the joys and challenges of raising toddlers who came from a tough background, t...

This episode is a deep dive into the world of foster care - specifically, fostering a teen as a single woman. Our guest, Emily Ellett, shares her personal journey as a foster parent with candor and insight, shedding light on the realities, challenges, and heartfelt moments that come with it. We tackle the common misconceptions surrounding these kids and how the truth often varies from what’s painted for potential foster parents. Emily's experiences reveal the rollercoaster of emotions that come ...

Flexibility and openness are the name of the game when it comes to fostering and adopting, and our guest, Nikki, really drives that point home today. She’s got a heartwarming story about her journey through foster care, navigating the ups and downs with grace and humor. From dealing with unexpected placements straight out of the hospital to fostering a medically fragile baby, Nikki shares the real scoop on what it’s like to open your home and heart to kids in need. We also dive into how her fami...

Kanika Vasudeva joins us today to dive into the mystical realm of the Akashic Records and the art of energy expansion. We kick things off by exploring what the Akashic Records really are—think of them as a cosmic library filled with everything about your life and soul's journey. Kanika encourages us to embrace our curiosity and even our skepticism, reminding us that accessing this wealth of knowledge is not just for the “gifted” but is open to anyone willing to explore. We chat about how tapping...

Martha Chaput drops some real talk with us today about the rollercoaster of fostering and adopting children. She shares her heart-wrenching experiences of loving and letting go, highlighting how important it is to make decisions centered on the child's well-being, even when it’s tough. We dive into the nitty-gritty of navigating the foster system, the moments of joy, the heartbreak, and the blessings that come from opening your heart to these kids. Martha’s candid reflections will make you laugh...

This week, we’re diving deep into the whirlwind journey of foster care and adoption with our guest, Bonnie Butler. She shares her story of going from contemplating stepping back from the foster system to unexpectedly adopting a sibling group of six kids—yeah, you heard that right, six! We talk about the real struggles and triumphs of blending families, navigating trauma, and finding emotional balance in the chaos. Bonnie’s insights on emotional intelligence for foster parents are gold, especiall...

Mary Fields shares her deeply personal journey of resilience and healing on the podcast, emphasizing that kindness can be a powerful tool for change. Growing up in the foster care system, she faced immense challenges that could have turned her bitter, but instead, she found strength in the support of kind individuals along the way. As an author of the memoir "Forever and a Day," Mary opens up about her experiences, including the struggle of reconciling her past trauma with her present as a mothe...