Fostering Change

As we conclude our Best of Fostering Change series, we revisit one of our favorite conversations from Season 7 with Emmy Award-winning journalist and producer Pedro Andrade. Pedro is the creator and host of the HBO Max documentary series Somewhat Familiar, which follows his and his husband's journey to parenthood while exploring the many ways families are formed around the world. One episode of the series holds special meaning for the Fostering Change community. Pedro featured Rob Scheer and the Scheer family, sharing an honest and heartfelt look at foster care, adoption, and what permanency can look like in real life. In this conversation, Rob and Pedro continue that discussion, exploring how storytelling can broaden our understanding of family, elevate the voices of children in foster care, and inspire more compassionate conversations about belonging. Conversation Highlights How storytelling can reshape our understanding of family and belonging Why foster care deserves a place in global conversations about family Pedro's journey to parenthood through adoption The impact of featuring the Scheer family in Somewhat Familiar The role documentaries and media can play in reducing stigma and inspiring change Looking Ahead Thank you for joining us throughout our Best of Fostering Change summer series. Next week, we begin an exciting new chapter. Season 8 premieres with the same meaningful conversations, inspiring guests, and commitment to children and families, but under a brand-new name: Comfort Cases UnPacked We'll continue exploring the issues surrounding foster care while also unpacking the stories, challenges, solutions, and conversations that matter most. We hope you'll join us as we begin this exciting new season! Connect with Pedro Andrade Instagram: @pedroandradeTV Series: Somewhat Familiar with Pedro Andrade (HBO Max) Thank You for Listening If you've enjoyed these conversations, please follow, like, comment, and share the podcast. Your support helps us grow our audience and bring these important stories to more people. From all of us at Fostering Change, thank you for listening, for sharing this journey with us through seven incredible seasons, and for believing that every child deserves dignity, belonging, and hope. We'll see you next week for the premiere of Comfort Cases UnPacked.

With just two episodes remaining in our Best of Fostering Change series, we’re revisiting one of the most moving conversations from Season 7. Rob sits down with Lindsay Lendyak, South Carolina State Director for Isaiah 117 House, an organization transforming one of the most traumatic moments in a child’s life: the day they enter foster care. Rather than spending hours in a government office while caseworkers search for a placement, children are welcomed into a warm, home-like environment. There, they can enjoy a meal, receive clean clothes, play, rest, and simply be children. It’s a model built on dignity, compassion, and the belief that a child’s first hours in foster care shouldn’t add to their trauma. Conversation Highlights * What “Removal Day” is really like for children entering foster care * How Isaiah 117 House replaces fear and uncertainty with comfort, stability, and hope * The critical role trauma-informed volunteers play during a child’s first hours in care * Why supporting caseworkers and foster families strengthens the entire child welfare system * How Isaiah 117 House continues to expand its impact through community partnerships Looking Ahead There’s just one more Best of Fostering Change episode before we begin an exciting new chapter. This fall, we’ll return with Season 8 under our new podcast name: Comfort Cases UnPacked Same mission. Same meaningful conversations. A new name that better reflects our commitment to unpacking the issues, challenges, and solutions surrounding foster care and child welfare. We can’t wait for you to join us for this next chapter! Connect with Isaiah 117 House Website: isaiah117house.comYork County Facebook: facebook.com/isaiah117houseyorkcoscYork County Instagram: instagram.com/isaiah117houseyorkcoscYork County Linktree: linktr.ee/isaiah117houseyorkcoscGreenville County Linktree: linktr.ee/isaiah117housegreenvillescHorry County Linktree: linktr.ee/isaiah117househorrycosc Thank You for Listening If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, like, comment, and share Fostering Change. Your support helps us reach more people and continue these important conversations about foster care, adoption, and child welfare. Join us next week for our final Best of Fostering Change episode before we return this fall as Comfort Cases UnPacked. Thank you for listening—and thank you for being a GOOD HUMAN.

Our Best of Fostering Change series continues with an inspiring conversation that reminds us of the life-changing power of education.

Rob sits down with Shanté Elliott—a former foster youth, learning scientist, social entrepreneur, and founder of TasselTurn, an innovative organization helping foster and housing-insecure students graduate from high school and successfully transition into adulthood.

What began with a $300 grant has grown into a nationally recognized platform that combines mentorship, coaching, technology, and milestone-based incentives to help young people realize their potential. Through her own lived experience and groundbreaking research, Shanté is proving that when we invest in young people—and redesign systems to support them—extraordinary things can happen.

•

The educational barriers many foster and housing-insecure youth face

•

How TasselTurn is helping students stay engaged and reach graduation

•

Why technology can be a powerful tool for creating opportunity and accountability

•

How Shanté's own foster care journey inspired her life's work

•

The importance of believing in young people's potential—and building systems that help them succeed

We're now halfway through August, with just three more "Best of Fostering Change" episodes before we launch Season 8 this fall.

When we return, you'll hear the same meaningful conversations and inspiring guests—but under our new podcast name: Comfort Cases UnPacked. We can't wait to share this exciting next chapter with you!

Website:https://www.tasselturn.org/

Instagram: @tasselturn

LinkedIn: TasselTurn

If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to like, follow, comment, and share the podcast. Your support helps us reach more people, elevate important conversations, and advocate for children and families experiencing foster care.

Thank you for listening—and thank you for being a GOOD HUMAN.

Conversation HighlightsLooking AheadConnect with Shanté Elliott & Tassel Turn Thank You for Listening

As August begins, our Best of Fostering Change series continues with one of Season 7’s most popular and heartfelt conversations.

Rob welcomes back his good friend Peter Mutabazi—author, speaker, foster and adoptive father, and founder of Now I Am Known. Known to many as the “Foster Dad Flipper,” Peter has welcomed more than 40 children into his home and adopted three.

In this powerful conversation, Peter discusses his book, Love Does Not Conquer All, and shares an honest look at foster parenting and the deep commitment required to help children heal from trauma. He reminds us that while love is essential, healing also requires patience, consistency, trust, and the willingness to keep showing up—day after day.

Episode Highlights

• Why love alone isn’t enough—and what children in foster care truly need to heal

• How practical life skills can help children build confidence and independence

• The importance of every child having at least one trusted adult in their corner

• Why families should receive support before children enter foster care

• Navigating the heartbreak of saying goodbye—and maintaining meaningful relationships afterward

Looking Ahead

Only four more Best of Fostering Change episodes remain before we launch Season 8 this fall under our new name: Comfort Cases UnPacked.

You can expect the same meaningful conversations, inspiring guests, and unwavering commitment to children and families—now entering an exciting new chapter. We can’t wait to share it with you!

Connect with Peter Mutabazi

Website: https://petermutabazi.com

Organization: Now I Am Known

Book: Love Does Not Conquer All, available wherever books are sold

Facebook: Peter Mutabazi

Instagram: @fosterdadflipper

Thank You for Listening

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, follow, comment, and share the podcast. Your support helps us reach more people, raise awareness, and continue these important conversations about foster care, adoption, and child welfare.

Thank you for listening—and thank you for being a GOOD HUMAN.

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 https://www.youtube.com/@comfortcases

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

As our Best of Fostering Change series continues, we're revisiting an important conversation about a topic that's too often overlooked—but can have a profound impact on girls experiencing foster care.

Rob is joined by Yvonne Esipila Patron, Co-Founder and CEO of the PATESI Foundation, a global nonprofit working to end menstrual and postpartum poverty through education, access, and empowerment.

This episode also highlights the meaningful partnership between Comfort Cases and the PATESI Foundation. Through this collaboration, every Comfort Cases backpack distributed to girls ages 11 and older includes an emergency menstrual kit, helping ensure that no girl has to face menstruation without the basic products, dignity, and confidence she deserves.

Conversation Highlights

Why menstrual poverty remains an overlooked global issue

The unique challenges girls in foster care face during times of transition

How the Comfort Cases and PATESI partnership is making a tangible difference

Why postpartum poverty deserves greater awareness

The important role men and boys play in breaking stigma and supporting lasting change

Looking Ahead

There's much more to come.

This fall, we'll return with all-new episodes featuring inspiring guests and meaningful conversations—along with a new name for the podcast, which we'll announce very soon. Same mission. Same commitment to children and families. An exciting new chapter begins this September.

Connect with the PATESI Foundation

Website: https://www.patesifoundation.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patesifoundation

Instagram: @patesifoundation

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 https://www.youtube.com/@comfortcases

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our Best of Fostering Change series continues with an unforgettable conversation featuring Susan Chesnutt—a family law attorney, former child abuse investigator, and former foster youth whose life has come full circle through advocacy and service.

Susan has experienced the child welfare system from nearly every perspective. Raised in foster care herself, she later investigated child abuse cases for Florida's Department of Children and Families before earning her law degree and dedicating her legal career to representing children and families. Today, through The Chesnutt Law Firm and her podcast, From Foster Care to Family Law, she works to make the child welfare system more compassionate, transparent, and effective.

Conversation Highlights

How Susan's own foster care experience shaped her career in child welfare law

What really happens during a child protective services investigation—and what families should know

Why empathy and trauma-informed advocacy are essential in family law

The importance of protecting both children's safety and families' rights

Susan's vision for a child welfare system rooted in compassion, accountability, and healing

Looking Ahead

We're enjoying revisiting these memorable conversations throughout the summer, but there's even more ahead.

This fall, we'll return with all-new episodes featuring inspiring guests and important conversations—under a new podcast name we'll announce very soon. We can't wait to share what's next, so stay tuned!

Connect with Susan Chesnutt

Website: https://thechesnuttlawfirm.com

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 https://www.youtube.com/@comfortcases

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's Best of Fostering Change episode brings back one of our most powerful and personal conversations from Season 7.

We look back to September, at Rob's powerful conversation with Dr. Danisha Keating—author, speaker, educator, and former foster youth whose remarkable journey is one of resilience, healing, and hope.

At just 16 years old, Danisha was removed from her home, separated from her eight siblings, and given just five minutes to pack her belongings into a trash bag. Rather than allowing that moment to define her, she reclaimed her story—eventually earning her Ph.D., becoming the guardian of five of her younger siblings, and dedicating her life to helping others heal from trauma and find their own voice.

Conversation Highlights

Dr. Keating's journey from foster care to earning her Ph.D.

Healing from trauma and learning to reclaim your own story

The importance of finding your voice while honoring the stories of others

The challenges foster youth face in navigating systems that often tell their story for them

Why education became the foundation for hope, healing, and opportunity

Looking Ahead

All-new episodes return this fall with more inspiring guests and meaningful conversations.

While our mission remains the same, the podcast will soon have a new name that better reflects where we're headed. We'll be announcing all the details in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!

Connect with Dr. Danisha Keating

Website: https://danishakeating.com

Instagram: @drdanishakeating

Facebook: Danisha Keating

YouTube: The Dr. Danisha Keating Show

TikTok: @drdanishakeating

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 https://www.youtube.com/@comfortcases

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Throughout July and August, we're revisiting some of our favorite conversations from Season 7 as part of our Best of Fostering Change series.

This week's featured episode originally aired during the 2025 holiday season and showcases an extraordinary story of resilience, determination, and reinvention.

Carolyn Aronson, founder and CEO of It's A 10 Haircare, shares her remarkable journey from experiencing foster care as a child to building one of the world's most successful beauty brands. Today, It's A 10 Haircare is a global company valued at more than $1 billion, with products sold in more than 130 countries.

Beyond her entrepreneurial success, Carolyn is a passionate philanthropist whose work supports youth, foster care organizations, LGBTQ+ initiatives, disaster relief efforts, and workforce development. Her story is a powerful reminder that our past does not define our future—and that success is measured not only by what we achieve, but by how we lift others along the way.

Conversation Highlights

Carolyn's journey from foster care to founding a billion-dollar global company

Building It's A 10 Haircare through authenticity, perseverance, and innovation

How her childhood experiences shaped her leadership and philanthropy

The importance of giving back and creating opportunities for others

Lessons on resilience, entrepreneurship, and believing in yourself

Looking Ahead

All-new episodes will return this fall with more inspiring guests and meaningful conversations.

While the mission remains the same, the podcast will soon have a new name that better reflects where we're headed. We'll be announcing all the details in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!

Connect with Carolyn Aronson

Website: https://www.itsa10haircare.com

Instagram: @itsa10ceo

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 https://www.youtube.com/@comfortcases

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we wrap up Season 7 of *Fostering Change*, we’re joined by Kym Renner, President and CEO of the RennerVation Foundation and a longtime leader in child welfare and public service.

With more than 25 years of experience in Los Angeles County’s child welfare system, Kym brings a powerful perspective at the intersection of public policy, foster care, and community-based support. Alongside her brother, Jeremy Renner, she co-founded the RennerVation Foundation to create opportunities and meaningful support for foster and at-risk youth throughout Nevada.

This conversation is especially meaningful for Comfort Cases. Earlier this year, we partnered with the RennerVation Foundation for a Packing Party and community event in Lake Tahoe. Later this summer, Rob will spend time at Camp RennerVation meeting directly with campers and hearing about their experiences in foster care.

Together, these moments reinforce a simple truth: the best solutions begin by listening to young people themselves.

Conversation Highlights:

Why foster youth must have a voice in shaping the programs designed to support them

How public systems and community organizations can work together to create better outcomes

The impact of Camp RennerVation and the Foundation’s Pave Your Way program

Building meaningful support that feels accessible, welcoming, and relevant to young people

Why collaboration between nonprofits can create lasting change for youth in foster care

A Special Season Finale Message:

This episode marks the conclusion of Season 7 of *Fostering Change*.

Beginning next week and continuing throughout the summer, we’ll be revisiting some of our favorite conversations from this past season in a special “Best Of” series.

We’ll also be releasing our special six-part investigative series:

*The F Word: America’s Foster Care Crisis*

This limited series takes an honest look at some of the biggest challenges facing child welfare today while highlighting real solutions and practical ideas for reform. Featuring former foster youth, advocates, attorneys, policymakers, and frontline professionals, *The F Word* explores where the system is falling short and what we can do to help fix it.

Finally, we’re excited to announce that when we return with brand-new episodes in September, the podcast will have a new name:

*Comfort Cases UnPacked*

Same mission. Same meaningful conversations. Same commitment to children and families.

Just a new name that better reflects what we’ve always done: unpacking the issues, challenges, and solutions surrounding foster care and child welfare.

We can’t wait to share Season 8 with you.

Learn More:

Website: https://www.rennervationfoundation.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rennervationfoundation

Instagram: @officialrennervationfoundation

TikTok: @officialrvfoundation

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rennervationfoundation/posts/

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 https://www.youtube.com/@comfortcases

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, we celebrated Father's Day with a special conversation between Rob and his son, Tristan. This week, we're continuing that theme with a powerful discussion about what it means to show up for young people who need someone in their corner.

Rob is joined by Corey McKinney, a speaker, mentor, author, and former foster parent whose life has been dedicated to helping young people navigate some of life's toughest challenges.

Through his work with the Steve Harvey Mentoring Program and other youth-focused initiatives, Corey has spent more than three decades encouraging young people to overcome obstacles, believe in themselves, and build brighter futures. But some of his most meaningful lessons came through foster parenting.

In his book Foster Dad, Corey shares the joys, challenges, heartbreaks, and unexpected rewards of opening your home to a child in need. More importantly, he shares what can happen when a young person experiences consistency, encouragement, and unconditional support.

This is a conversation about mentorship, fatherhood, foster care, and the life-changing impact of simply being present.

Conversation Highlights

What inspired Corey to become a foster parent

The experiences that led him to write Foster Dad

The joys and challenges of opening your home to youth in foster care

Why attachment and connection are worth the risk

The importance of consistency and showing up for young people

How mentoring and foster parenting often intersect

Remaining connected to former foster youth long after placement ends

Why positive adult relationships can change the trajectory of a young person's life

About Corey McKinney

Corey McKinney is a professional speaker, mentor, author, and former foster parent dedicated to helping young people overcome gun violence, bullying, and peer pressure. A former Division I basketball player and longtime mentor with the Steve Harvey Mentoring Program, Corey has spent more than 35 years working with youth. He is the author of Coach Daryl's Colts and Foster Dad, inspired by his experiences as both a mentor and foster parent.

Why This Episode Matters

One of the most common questions prospective foster parents ask is: "What if I get attached?"

Corey's answer is simple: that's the point.

Children and youth in foster care need adults who are willing to invest in them, encourage them, and remain present through both good and difficult moments.

This conversation reminds us that foster parenting is not about being perfect. It's about being available. It's about showing up consistently and creating relationships that can last long after a placement ends.

Whether you're a foster parent, mentor, coach, teacher, or simply someone who cares about young people, Corey's story demonstrates the profound difference one committed adult can make.

🎧 Thank you for listening to Fostering Change. Join us next week for another conversation focused on creating brighter futures for youth experiencing foster care.

Connect with Corey McKinney

Website: www.coreymckinney.net

Facebook: CoreyMcKinney

Instagram: @TheCoreyMcKinney

TikTok: @TheCoreyMcKinney

LinkedIn: Corey McKinney

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 https://www.youtube.com/@comfortcases

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Father's Day approaches, this week's episode of Fostering Change is one of our most personal conversations yet.

For years, listeners have heard Rob Scheer share his family's story through the lens of a former foster youth, adoptive father, advocate, and founder of Comfort Cases. This week, he sits down with his youngest son, Tristan, for an honest and heartfelt conversation about family, foster care, belonging, and the journey they've shared together.

Tristan joined the Scheer family as an infant, alongside his older brother, Greyson, instantly transforming the family from two children to four. Today, at 17 years old, he's a high school junior, an accomplished football and track athlete, and a young man beginning to think about college, adulthood, and the future ahead.

Together, father and son reflect on growing up in a family built through foster care and adoption, what it was like being surrounded by advocacy and public service, and how Tristan defines family, belonging, and home.

More than a Father's Day episode, this is a conversation about love, resilience, healing, and the lasting impact of showing up for one another.

Conversation Highlights

Tristan's perspective on growing up in the Scheer family

What it means to be part of a family formed through foster care and adoption

Growing up around Comfort Cases, advocacy, and public service

The values Rob and Reece worked to instill in their children

How family is built through commitment, consistency, and love

Lessons learned from fatherhood, family, and shared experiences

Athletics, college aspirations, and Tristan's hopes for the future

Why belonging matters at every stage of life

Why This Episode Matters

This conversation reminds us that foster care is not ultimately about systems, policies, or paperwork.

It's about people.

It's about children finding stability, growing into young adults, building relationships, and creating futures for themselves.

As Father's Day arrives, we also recognize that families come in many forms. Some young people have traditional fathers in their lives. Others are guided by foster fathers, adoptive fathers, grandfathers, uncles, brothers, mentors, coaches, teachers, or caregivers who step forward when they're needed most.

And many are still searching for that connection.

To all those who show up, stay present, and help a young person know they matter: Happy Father's Day.

And to every young person experiencing foster care, may this conversation remind you that family is not defined by biology alone. Family is built through love, commitment, and the people who choose to stay.

🎧 Thank you for listening to Fostering Change. Join us next week for another powerful conversation focused on creating brighter futures for youth experiencing foster care.

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 https://www.youtube.com/@comfortcases

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who gets to tell the story of adoption?

For generations, adoption narratives have often been shaped by agencies, systems, and families. But increasingly, adoptees themselves are taking ownership of those stories and offering perspectives that are more complex, nuanced, and deeply personal.

This week on Fostering Change, Rob Scheer is joined by acclaimed author, educator, and activist Shannon Gibney, whose award-winning memoir, The Girl I Am, Was, and Never Will Be, explores transracial adoption, identity, race, belonging, and the lifelong process of understanding where we come from.

As an adoptee, Shannon brings lived experience to a conversation that challenges assumptions and invites listeners to think more deeply about identity, voice, and perspective. Together, Rob and Shannon explore how adoption stories evolve over time, why adoptee voices matter, and what it means to reclaim ownership of one's own narrative.

This is not a conversation about simple answers. It's a conversation about listening, understanding, and making space for experiences that have too often been left out of the discussion.

Conversation Highlights

How adoption narratives are evolving to include more adoptee-centered perspectives

The unique complexities of transracial adoption and identity formation

Why race, culture, and belonging remain important parts of the adoption conversation

How Shannon uses "speculative memoir" to explore memory, identity, and possibility

What it means for adoptees to reclaim and tell their own stories

Why listening to lived experience strengthens conversations about adoption and foster care

About Shannon Gibney

Shannon Gibney is an award-winning writer, educator, and activist whose work explores race, identity, family, and adoption. She is the author of several acclaimed books, including The Girl I Am, Was, and Never Will Be: A Speculative Memoir of Transracial Adoption, which received a Michael L. Printz Honor and a Minnesota Book Award.

In addition to her writing, Shannon teaches at Minneapolis College and was named Educator of the Year in 2023. Her work encourages readers and audiences to engage thoughtfully with questions of identity, belonging, and social justice.

Connect with Shannon Gibney

🌐 Website: Shannon Gibney

📧 Email: shannongibney@gmail.com

Closing Thought

Identity is not a destination. It is a lifelong journey.

This conversation reminds us that adoption is not a single event but an experience that continues to shape people across a lifetime. By listening to adoptee voices, we deepen our understanding of belonging, family, and the many ways people make sense of their own stories.

🎧 Join us next week for another powerful conversation as Fostering Change continues to explore the people, ideas, and experiences shaping the future of foster care and adoption.https://youtu.be/k8YuD5iw_uE

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 https://www.youtube.com/@comfortcases

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens to a child when they grow up in foster care… and no one ever comes for them?

Not when they’re five.

Not when they’re ten.

Not even when they’re fifteen.

This week on Fostering Change, Rob Scheer is joined by Jennifer Pinder, Executive Director of You Gotta Believe!, an organization that has spent the last 30 years proving that it is never too late for a young person in foster care to have a permanent, loving family.

As an adoptee herself, Jennifer brings both lived experience and professional leadership to this conversation — helping challenge the harmful belief that older youth are “too old” for adoption or permanency.

Together, Rob and Jennifer discuss why older youth are so often overlooked, the emotional realities of aging out of foster care alone, and how You Gotta Believe! is redefining what family can look like for teenagers and young adults in care.

At the center of this conversation is a simple but powerful truth: every child deserves belonging, commitment, and someone who will show up for them — no matter their age.

Conversation Highlights

Why do thousands of youth age out of foster care each year without permanent family connections

The misconceptions and fears that prevent many families from considering older youth adoption

How You Gotta Believe! focuses exclusively on permanency for older youth in foster care

Why lived experience matters in leadership, advocacy, and building trust with young people

What permanency and belonging truly mean for youth who have spent years in the system

About Jennifer Pinder

Jennifer Pinder is the Executive Director of You Gotta Believe!, a nonprofit dedicated to finding permanent families for older youth in foster care. Since joining the organization in 2020, she has led efforts in advocacy, communications, fundraising, and strategic growth as the organization celebrates its 30th anniversary.

An adoptee herself, Jennifer brings a deeply personal connection to the organization’s mission and works alongside a team that includes many individuals with lived experience in child welfare.

Connect with Jennifer & You Gotta Believe!

🌐 Website: You Gotta Believe!

📸 Instagram: @jennifer_yougottabelieve

💼 LinkedIn: Jennifer Pinder LinkedIn

Closing Thought

Family is not about perfection.

It is about commitment. Consistency. Showing up.

This conversation is a reminder that no young person should leave foster care believing they are unwanted or forgotten — and that it is never too late for someone to belong.

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 https://www.youtube.com/@comfortcases

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

As National Foster Care Awareness Month comes to a close, this episode of Fostering Change focuses on something deeply important: what happens when organizations stop working in silos and start working together for young people.

This week, Rob Scheer is joined by two Los Angeles-based leaders making a meaningful impact in the lives of youth connected to foster care: Beth Ryan, Executive Director & Founder of Stepping Forward LA, and Jorie Das, Executive Director of Friends of the Children Los Angeles.

Together, their organizations are helping young people navigate some of the most difficult transitions imaginable — aging out of foster care, finding stability, building community, and creating long-term support systems rooted in consistency and trust.

Beth Ryan’s work through Stepping Forward LA focuses on youth transitioning out of foster care, with programs centered around mentorship, housing support, internships, workforce readiness, and a first-of-its-kind app designed by and for foster youth.

Jorie Das leads Friends of the Children Los Angeles, which provides long-term professional mentorship to youth facing systemic barriers through a unique 12+ year commitment model focused on stability, prevention, and long-term success.

Throughout the conversation, Rob, Beth, and Jorie explore how collaboration between nonprofits can strengthen outcomes for youth — and why consistent relationships remain one of the most powerful tools for healing and success.

Episode Highlights

Why aging out of foster care remains one of the biggest challenges facing young adults

How mentorship and long-term relationships improve outcomes for youth

The importance of nonprofit collaboration instead of competition

How Los Angeles reflects both the scale of the foster care crisis and the opportunity for innovation

Why Foster Care Awareness Month must lead to meaningful action and engagement

About the Guests

Beth Ryan is the Executive Director & Founder of Stepping Forward LA, a nonprofit supporting youth aging out of foster care through mentorship, housing support, workforce development, and community-based solutions. As the organization approaches its 10-year anniversary, Stepping Forward LA continues expanding its impact across Los Angeles.

Jorie Das is the Executive Director of Friends of the Children Los Angeles, an organization providing long-term professional mentorship to youth facing systemic barriers. Under her leadership, the organization has expanded across Los Angeles County, helping youth and caregivers through a prevention-focused model built on consistency and trust.

Key Questions from This Episode

What prompted the creation of Stepping Forward LA and Friends of the Children Los Angeles?

What are the biggest challenges youth face when aging out of foster care?

Why does long-term mentorship matter so much?

How can nonprofits collaborate more effectively to support youth?

What role do community, housing, and workforce development play in long-term stability?

How can people move beyond awareness and take meaningful action?

Connect with the Guests

Stepping Forward LA

🌐 Website: Stepping Forward LA

📸 Instagram: @steppingforwardla

Friends of the Children Los Angeles

🌐 Website: Friends of the Children Los Angeles

📸 Instagram: @friendsla

Closing Thought

Real change rarely happens alone.

This conversation is a reminder that when organizations, mentors, communities, and advocates work together, young people experience something powerful: consistency, connection, and the belief that they are not navigating life alone.

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 https://www.youtube.com/@comfortcases

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer is joined by Christie Werts, a former foster youth, Army veteran, author, and adoptive mother whose life has come full circle through foster care.

Christie shares her journey in her book, Life’s Sad Story, God’s Love Story, tracing a path from childhood trauma and separation to healing, compassion, and building a family of her own.

This is an especially emotional conversation for Rob, who reflects openly on the painful experience of his own mother leaving him and his siblings — and the lasting impact that loss has had throughout his life.

Together, Rob and Christie explore how childhood trauma shapes identity, how healing can emerge in unexpected ways, and what it means to return to the foster care system — not as a child, but as a parent determined to create something different.

At the center of Christie’s story is compassion: a decision to foster and later adopt her husband’s ex-wife’s child in order to keep siblings connected and together.

And by the end of the conversation, Christie leaves listeners with a message that becomes the emotional heartbeat of the episode: this is ultimately a love story — about God, healing, and hope.

As Christie shares:

“There’s a love story ahead of you. And it’s gonna be ok.”

Episode Highlights

Christie’s journey from foster youth to foster and adoptive parent

The emotional impact of childhood separation and abandonment

How trauma and healing can exist side by side

A remarkable decision to keep siblings together through adoption

The role of faith, compassion, and second chances in rebuilding family

About the Guest

Christie Werts is a former foster youth, Army veteran, author, speaker, and mother of five whose life has come full circle through foster care and adoption. After experiencing trauma in the system as a child, she later returned to foster care as a parent, ultimately adopting a child connected to her own family.

Through her book, Life’s Sad Story, God’s Love Story, Christie shares a deeply personal journey of resilience, faith, healing, and compassion.

Key Questions from This Episode

What inspired you to write Life’s Sad Story, God’s Love Story?

How did your childhood experiences in foster care shape your life?

What led you to step back into foster care as a parent?

How did the decision to adopt your husband’s ex-wife’s child come about?

What did healing look like for you over time?

How have kindness and compassion shaped your family today?

What message do you hope listeners take from your story?

Connect with Christie

📱 TikTok:

@Cjthemom5

📘 Facebook / Instagram:

Christie Werts

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 https://www.youtube.com/@comfortcases

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer is joined by David Sussillo, a neuroscientist, author, and former youth who experienced a childhood marked by instability, poverty, and time in group homes.

His story begins in environments many children in foster care and group settings know all too well — uncertainty, trauma, and systems that don’t always provide the support they should. But his story doesn’t end there.

Through a combination of resilience, critical intervention, and moments where someone stepped in, David found a path forward. Today, he is a leading neuroscientist who has worked at Stanford, Google, and Meta, studying the very thing that shaped his life: the human brain.

His memoir, Emergence, is not just a story of survival — it is a powerful reminder of what can happen when even one opportunity changes the trajectory of a child’s life.

This conversation challenges us to ask a difficult but necessary question: how many children are out there right now, just one moment away from a different future?

Episode Highlights

Growing up in instability, poverty, and group home environments

How trauma shapes memory, identity, and development

The role of mentors, teachers, and small interventions

From survival to success in neuroscience and research

Reflecting on resilience, loss, and the paths not taken

About the Guest

David Sussillo is a neuroscientist, author, and adjunct professor at Stanford University. After a childhood marked by instability and time in group homes, he earned a PhD in computational neuroscience from Columbia University and has worked at leading institutions, including Google Brain and Meta.

His memoir, Emergence: A Memoir of Boyhood, Computation, and the Mysteries of Mind, tells the story of his journey from trauma to transformation.

Key Questions from This Episode

What led you to write Emergence now?

What was it like to revisit your childhood experiences through writing?

How did you navigate growing up in group homes and unstable environments?

Who were the people who helped change your path?

What role did small moments or opportunities play in your journey?

How do you reflect on your success alongside those who didn’t have the same outcome?

What would you say to a young person facing similar challenges today?

Closing Thought

Sometimes it doesn’t take everything changing — it takes one moment, one person, one opportunity.

And for a child navigating instability, that can be the difference between surviving and becoming something far beyond anyone's expectations.

Connect with David

🌐 Website:

https://www.davidsussillo.com

🐦 Twitter/X:

https://x.com/SussilloDavid

🔗 LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-sussillo-736a1290/

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 https://www.youtube.com/@comfortcases

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode kicks off National Foster Care Awareness Month — a time not just to reflect, but to act.

On today’s Fostering Change, Rob Scheer welcomes back Laura, The Foster Parent Partner, a therapeutic foster parent, mentor, and now author of First-Time Fostering, releasing May 12.

This conversation focuses on a question many people ask, but far fewer answer: what does it actually take to become a foster parent?

Not the idea of it — the reality.

Laura brings practical, real-world insight into what fostering looks like day to day, what new foster parents need to understand, and how to move from thinking about it to stepping into it. As a returning guest, she builds on her previous conversation with Rob to go deeper into the emotional, logistical, and human side of fostering.

As we begin National Foster Care Awareness Month, this episode serves as a starting point for those considering how they can be part of the solution.

Episode Highlights

Why National Foster Care Awareness Month should lead to action, not just recognition

The gap between thinking about fostering and actually saying yes

What foster parenting really looks like day to day

Common fears and misconceptions that hold people back

How support, mentorship, and community make fostering possible

About Laura

Known as The Foster Parent Partner, Laura is a therapeutic foster parent, content creator, and mentor who supports individuals navigating the foster care journey. Through her platform, she helps new foster parents move through the licensing process and prepare for their first placement with confidence.

Her new book, First-Time Fostering, is a practical, honest guide designed to equip future foster parents with the tools, expectations, and clarity needed to take that first step.

Key Questions from This Episode

What inspired you to write First-Time Fostering — and who is it for?

What makes this book different from others about foster care?

Why does Foster Care Awareness Month matter, and how should people respond?

What are the biggest fears that stop people from fostering?

What does fostering really look like on a daily basis?

What role does community play in helping foster parents succeed?

What should someone do if they’re on the fence right now?

Closing Thought

Awareness is only the beginning. What matters is what comes next.

Foster care doesn’t need more observers — it needs more people willing to step in, show up, and say yes.

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 https://www.youtube.com/@comfortcases

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer is joined by Jennifer Griffith, author of Both Sides of Then: Finding Love After Abandonment and host of the About Your Mother podcast.

This conversation centers on a deeply personal and universal question: how much of who we become is shaped by the relationship we have—or don’t have—with our mother?

Jennifer’s memoir explores abandonment, generational trauma, and the search for understanding and connection. While her story is not rooted in foster care, the themes resonate deeply. Many children in foster care experience separation from their biological parents, particularly their mothers, making this conversation especially relevant to identity, belonging, and emotional development.

Together, Rob and Jennifer explore how early relationships shape us, how patterns are passed down, and how telling the truth about our stories can open the door to healing and transformation.

Episode Highlights

How maternal relationships influence identity and self-worth

The lasting emotional impact of abandonment and separation

Understanding and breaking cycles of generational trauma

Why storytelling can be a powerful tool for healing

How these themes connect to the experiences of youth in foster care

About the Guest

Jennifer Griffith is an author, speaker, and host of the About Your Mother podcast, where she explores the stories that shape identity and relationships. Her debut memoir, Both Sides of Then: Finding Love After Abandonment, examines generational trauma, resilience, and the lasting influence of family history. Through her work, she encourages others to better understand their past and find meaning in the connections that define them.

Key Questions from This Episode

What did writing your story teach you about understanding where we come from?

Why is the “mother story” such a powerful lens for identity?

What does healing look like when relationships are complicated or absent?

How do early experiences of separation shape a child’s sense of self?

Where does healing begin for someone carrying a difficult family story?

Connect with Jennifer

🌐 Website: https://byjennifergriffith.com/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/byjennifergriffith/

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/byjennifergriffith/

Closing Thought

Understanding where we come from doesn’t always give us easy answers — but it can give us clarity. And sometimes, that clarity is the first step toward healing, growth, and a different path forward.

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 https://www.youtube.com/@comfortcases

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer welcomes back Jodi Grinwald, founder of Today is the Day, co-founder of Applaud Our Kids Foundation, and author of the new book Today is the Day: LIVE IT!.

Jodi is a returning guest to the podcast, and we’re excited to continue this important conversation around opportunity, connection, and impact.

Jodi’s work is grounded in a simple but powerful idea: if the table doesn’t exist, build it — and make sure others have a seat.

Her new book, Today is the Day: LIVE IT!, expands on that philosophy, encouraging readers to take action, lead with purpose, and create meaningful impact in their own lives and communities.

👉 Learn more and purchase the book: https://todayisthedayliveit.com/live-it

This episode also builds on a recent crossover conversation — Rob was a guest on Jodi’s podcast, Today is the Day Changemakers.

🎧 Watch Rob’s episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1rN8EtfTJM&t=501s

Through Applaud Our Kids, Jodi is helping children gain access to music, dance, and acting programs that might otherwise be out of reach. While her work is not exclusively focused on foster care, the connection is clear. Children experiencing instability or hardship often miss out on opportunities that build confidence, identity, and a sense of belonging.

This conversation explores what it means to create those opportunities — and why access, connection, and creative expression can change the trajectory of a child’s life.

Episode Highlights

What it means to “build the table” and create opportunities for others

Why access to the arts can be transformational for children

The role of connection in building confidence and long-term impact

How purpose can drive action, even when the path is unclear

Why opportunity and exposure matter for youth facing hardship

About the Guest

Jodi Grinwald is a leadership and connection strategist, speaker, and founder of Today is the Day Changemakers—a global platform and podcast that reaches listeners in more than 135 countries. She helps organizations strengthen the connections that power performance, shape culture, and accelerate growth.

She is also the co-founder and CEO of the Applaud Our Kids Foundation, expanding access to performing arts education for children ages 7–18.

Jodi is the author of Today is the Day: LIVE IT! along with 30 other leadership voices. The book is a powerful reflection on courage, leadership, resilience, and connection—calling individuals to step into purpose, create opportunity, and lead with intention.

Key Questions from This Episode

What does “build the table” mean, and how can people apply it in their own lives?

Why is access to the arts so important for children and youth?

How can programs like Applaud Our Kids support children experiencing instability?

What role does creative expression play in identity and confidence?

How can someone take the first step toward making a difference?

About Applaud Our Kids Foundation

The Applaud Our Kids Foundation provides access to performing arts education for children ages 7–18, helping them build confidence, discipline, and a sense of identity through creative expression.

Connect with Jodi

🌐 Websites:

TodayistheDayLiveIt.com

ApplaudOurKids.org

📸 Instagram:

@todayisthedayliveit

@applaudourkids

🔗 LinkedIn:

Jodi Grinwald

📘 Facebook:

Today is the Day Live It

Applaud Our Kids

Closing Thought

Creating change doesn’t always require building something new — sometimes it means opening a door that should have been open all along. This episode is a reminder that when we create space for young people to explore who they are, we help shape who they can become.

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 https://www.youtube.com/@comfortcases

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer is joined by Katy Encalade, President and CEO of Egg Donor & Surrogate Solutions, who has spent more than two decades helping to create and support families.

Katy brings a unique and deeply personal perspective to this conversation. She has been a foster parent, an egg donor, and a surrogate — offering a rare view across multiple paths of supporting children and building families. Her experience as a foster mom serves as a meaningful bridge, grounding this conversation in the realities of child welfare while expanding the lens to include other ways people can step in to help.

While Fostering Change often focuses on foster care, adoption, and permanency, this episode broadens that perspective. Katy encourages listeners to consider that there are many ways to support children and families — whether by opening your home, helping someone become a parent by choosing to be a surrogate or egg donor, or finding other ways to show up with compassion and responsibility.

Episode Highlights

How foster care, surrogacy, and egg donation connect through a shared purpose of supporting children and families

The importance of lived experience, including Katy’s time as a foster parent

Why stability, care, and belonging remain central across all family-building paths

The role of ethics, transparency, and trust in family-building work

Encouraging people to explore different ways they can help support children and families

About the Guest

Katy Encalade is the President and CEO of Egg Donor & Surrogate Solutions, an organization that has helped create more than 2,000 families worldwide. A former foster parent, egg donor, and surrogate, she brings both personal experience and professional expertise to her work. Katy has spent more than two decades advocating for ethical, transparent, and relationship-driven approaches to family-building, previously served as Board Chair of the Society for Ethics in Egg Donation and Surrogacy, and now serves as Board Chair of Families Out Loud.

Connect with Katy

🌐 Website: www.CreateAHappyFamily.com

📘 Facebook: Egg Donor & Surrogate Solutions

📸 Instagram: @createahappyfamily

🎵 TikTok: @createahappyfamily

🔗 LinkedIn: Katy Encalade

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 https://www.youtube.com/@comfortcases

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.