The transition from summer break to school in the fall can be challenging for any child. It can be even more difficult for children who have a hard time with change given trauma and attachment issues and their placement in…
Please listen to Part 1, You Don't Always Have the Words, before listening to this episode. In Part 1, Madilyne and her birth mother Aimee describe from their unique perspectives their experiences of Madilyne and her siblings being removed from Aimee's care…
In this episode, we are joined by Madilyne and her birth mother Aimee. Because of Aimee's untreated mental health concerns that led to addiction, Madilyne and her brother and sister were removed from Aimee's care and placed with their grandparents. Later, they…
The Immigrant Experiences Reading & Resource Guide was created by Kelly Hooker, an avid book reviewer @kellyhook.readsbooks, alongside Rawand Amedi, mental health therapist and refugee from Kurdistan. Hear how they created this guide to foster understanding, build empathy, and open meaningful conversations across…
In this episode, your co-hosts Bridget and Kris interview each other about what they love (and don't love) about hosting the podcast, favorite episodes, what's they've learned along the way, and what they are looking forward to for the future…
Olivia Allery shares the historical and systemic factors contributing to violence in Indigenous communities. By exploring the impacts of colonial history, intergenerational trauma, and legal frameworks, we look at why certain cycles persist and what changes are necessary for progress…
Hear from child welfare professionals, Brianna and Stephanie Coleman, about their years of experience working with children, adolescents, and adults with marginalized identities. They share the various types of safe care supports available in our communities and you will leave…
Whether you’re a parent, foster or adoptive caregiver, or a professional supporting families, this conversation invites you to pause, reflect, and walk away with a deeper understanding of how culture, connection, and care come together in everyday parenting. Dr. Siek and Rawand Amedi bring…
Since the end of World War II, over 500,000 children have been adopted from abroad by U.S. citizen parents with the promise of a secure life. Yet, for many, that promise was broken by a legal oversight that denied them…
Youth self-harm is an increasing mental health challenge. Foster youth are especially susceptible to engaging in self-harm. Charley Joyce, MSW, joins us to discuss the different forms of self-harm, why foster youth self-harm and some considerations in how foster parents might respond to a youth that…
In this episode, we are joined by Heather Van Brunt, Permanency Services Director at Foster Adopt Minnesota. She answers all of our burning questions about the HELP program and shares why it's such a vital service to families in the adoption,…
Pat Monson, JD & Charley Joyce, MSW are here to talk about the importance of preventative and attentive health care. This March, during National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, Pat shares the tragic story of her daughter Rachel Ellingson. At age…
Growing Together At Every Stage Part 6 - Ages 16 - 25: Guiding Them Toward Their True Selves In this six-part series, we are joined by family therapist and author Meg Flynn, who brings us a wealth of knowledge from her…
Growing Together At Every Stage Part 5-4th to 9th Grade: Sense of Belonging and Healthy Community In this six-part series, we are joined by family therapist and author Meg Flynn, who brings us a wealth of knowledge from her work with families and kids for…
In this six-part series, we are joined by family therapist and author Meg Flynn, who brings us a wealth of knowledge from her work with families and kids for over three decades. In this era of high-pressure parenting and busy family life, Meg reminds us…
In this six-part series, we are joined by family therapist and author Meg Flynn, who brings us a wealth of knowledge from her work with families and kids for over three decades. In this era of high-pressure parenting and busy family life, Meg reminds us…
In this six-part series, we are joined by family therapist and author Meg Flynn, who brings us a wealth of knowledge from her work with families and kids for over three decades. In this era of high-pressure parenting and busy family life, Meg reminds us…
In this six-part series, we are joined by family therapist and author Meg Flynn, who brings us a wealth of knowledge from her work with families and kids for over three decades. In this era of high-pressure parenting and busy family life, Meg reminds us…
Adoption is a unique experience, both enriching and challenging. Adoptive parents Dawn and Truman share how their practical, actionable strategies and lots of compassion for themselves and their children helped them navigate unique challenges, reduce stress, and create a calmer,…
Children in foster or adoptive care often carry invisible burdens of anxiety, trauma, or disconnection. In this episode, children’s mindfulness teacher Veronica Moya shares how soul-centered practices can help kids tap into resilience, self-love, and emotional intelligence. With practical tools and a fresh…
In this episode, we are joined by Ron and Melissa Moore. Ron and Melissa raised three biological children and adopted three siblings from foster care. They share how they came to be interested in adoption, their parenting philosophy, and many of the joys…
We sit down with Charley Joyce, MSW and Eric Monson, MBA to go beyond the textbooks for practical leadership strategies you can apply to your own career and life. How do they navigate uncertainty? What were their lessons learned? And what wisdom…
In this episode, we explore the fascinating world of primitive reflexes—the automatic movements present at birth that lay the foundation for motor, sensory, and cognitive development. Sherrie Wethey, occupational therapist, joins us to explain what primitive reflexes are, how trauma…
Burnout in Child Welfare Professionals and Foster Parents Burnout is a process. It is not necessarily tied to one specific instance. In most situations, it is an accumulation of numerous stressful, and at times traumatic, struggles that are ongoing and remain…
Chaya Milchtein joins Let's Talk to share about her journey through foster care, identity and self-discovery and how this led her to building a successful career in the male-dominated industry of automobile ownership and maintenance. (47 mins) September 10, 2025 This…
Learn all about Beltrami Area Service Collaborative (BASC) and the power of collaboration in maximizing the health, education, and well-being of families in Beltrami County. Kim Graham, Executive Director, and Kristina Ulve, School Engagement Case Manager, share the programs and…
Jeremy Carney, MSW, PhD and Charley Joyce, MSW know that child welfare work can be challenging. Yet it offers a deeply rewarding career path for individuals passionate about making a positive impact in the lives of children, families, and communities. …
Children and adults alike can be their own harshest critics, and our culture often perpetuates this. But there is a powerful yet underutilized tool called mindful self-compassion. In this episode, we are joined by one of the experts in mindful…
In this episode, Eileen Devine, licensed clinical social worker and founder of Brain First Parenting, shares how we can support individuals with challenging behaviors by moving away from rewards and consequences and toward a deeper understanding of the brain-behavior connection…
