Best Infant Adoption Podcasts (2025)

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Practical Financial Strategies for Foster & Kinship Families 51:22

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2d ago51:22

51:22

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. How do you manage daily expenses and budgeting when you are a foster or kinship caregiving family? We speak with Nicole Valenzuela, a foster parent and founder of Fostering Finances, to learn about simplified budgeting practices and healthy mindsets for managing money. In this episo…

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Episode 219: When Grandparents Become Parents 44:50

3d ago44:50

44:50

Summary: This week, we're diving into an important and often overlooked topic — when grandparents step into the role of parent. In 2024, Duet reported that more than 64,000 grandparents in Arizona are raising their grandchildren, and census data shows the state ranks above the national average for grandparents providing care. For every one child ra…

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E131: Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness with Nichole Thompson 30:23

5d ago30:23

30:23

Welcome to Episode 131 of The Perfectionist’s Guide to Mothering! October is pregnancy and infant loss awareness month, and I thought it would be timely for us to have a conversation with a woman who has walked this road and found hope. My guest for today is Nichole Thompson. She is a faith-based writer and the author of The Miscarriage Journal. A …

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Should We Expand Our Special Needs Checklist to Include HIV? - Weekend Wisdom 12:32

6d ago12:32

12:32

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Question: My husband and I are considering whether we will open our special needs consideration to include children who are HIV+. We have already been approved to adopt from India, and as our home study update approaches, we are taking a good, hard look at the Special Needs list aga…

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Preventing Sexual Abuse 1:01:52

9d ago1:01:52

1:01:52

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. What strategies can parents and caregivers implement in their homes to help reduce the risk that their children may be sexually abused? Learn practical parenting tools from this conversation with Dr. Eliana Gil, the founder of the Gil Institute for Trauma Recovery and Education. She…

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Navigating Time Off from Work to Bond with a Newly Adopted Child 16:16

13d ago16:16

16:16

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Question: My husband and I are in the process of adopting a waiting child internationally. This is our first adoption and we will soon be waiting to be matched with a child. I teach in higher education and my schedule is coordinated about nine months out. I am working with my superv…

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Understanding Resilience and How to Build It 1:02:54

17d ago1:02:54

1:02:54

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Resilience is more than just bouncing back from a challenge. Join us for a conversation about building resilience in ourselves and our kids, understanding coping tools, and caring well for ourselves while raising kids who may have significant gaps in their resilience. We talk with K…

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Episode 218: Supporting Young Adults with Addiction 44:42

17d ago44:42

44:42

Summary: This week on the podcast, we wrap up our series on substance use with an honest and compassionate conversation about supporting young adults who are struggling with addiction. Joining us again are Kim McWilliams and Sarah Grado, who bring both personal insight and professional experience to this deeply important topic. We begin by explorin…

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Is It Too Soon to Look Through Foster Photo Listings? - Weekend Wisdom 18:08

21d ago18:08

18:08

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Question: We are currently going through our home study to adopt from foster care, and I'm wondering if it is too early to look at photo listings? I have been looking at photo listings for a long time, but now, when I read the bios, it feels real, and I get slightly attached. I'm cu…

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E130: The Beauty of Adoption 35:21

21d ago35:21

35:21

Today I have the privilege of chatting with Sherri Crandall.Sherri is an amazing lady and I’m so privilege that I get to work with her at The MomCo, where she is the Vice President of Global Ministries and Leadership Experience for The Mom Co. She is also an author and speaker for women’s eventsacross the country and internationally where she share…

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Is My Child At Risk for Human Trafficking? 1:07:27

24d ago1:07:27

1:07:27

By Creating a Family

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When You Don't Know Your Child's Racial or Cultural Heritage - Weekend Wisdom 15:10

27d ago15:10

15:10

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Question: We very recently brought home our second child through domestic infant adoption. We feel very fortunate, and our son is developing well; we are also settling into the new routine. We matched with our Son's birth mother through a local agency, and unfortunately, she decided…

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Tweens and Teens: Managing Tech & Mental Health 1:01:22

1M ago1:01:22

1:01:22

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Do you worry about the impacts that screen time, social media, or gaming have on your tween and teens' mental health? We spoke to Brittany Anderson, an author, certified play and narrative intelligence practitioner, and the founder of Renala, which helps families become creative, vi…

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Episode 217: The Impact of Marijuana on the Adolescent Brain 44:51

1M ago44:51

44:51

Summary: In our last episode, we explored how substances affect infants. But what about adolescents? Is marijuana really a big deal for today's youth, and what do parents and communities need to know to keep them safe? In this episode, we welcome Kim McWilliams, an award-winning licensed counselor, and Sarah Grado, Executive Director of Not My Kid,…

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My Child's Disrespect and Disobedience is Creating Resentment - Weekend Wisdom 18:47

1M ago18:47

18:47

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Question: I have resentment against my (soon-to-be adopted) child’s mom, who is an addict. I get frustrated with his disrespect & disobedience, and bitterness & resentment rise up. He also respects my husband way more than me. I am trying so hard not to let it show or to take it out…

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E129: Tips for Moms of High School Seniors 36:39

1M ago36:39

36:39

Welcome to Episode 129 of The Perfectionist’s Guide to Mothering! Today I have the privilege of chatting with Cindy Manko. She is an author, podcast host of The Listen-Love-Launch Podcast and is a life coach for moms of high school seniors. She has raised three children and has great wisdom and resources. Even if you’re momming little ones and seni…

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Ep 40 Perfectionism in Parenting: How to Let Go of Mom Guilt and Show Up With Love 12:18

1M ago12:18

12:18

Ever find yourself spiraling after a small parenting “fail”? Like that time you lost your cool, forgot something important, or—like me—had a full-on coughing fit in the middle of a live video? 😅 In this episode of Revive in 5, I’m getting real about what it’s like to navigate perfectionism in parenting and the stories we tell ourselves when things …

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Connecting with Teens 54:56

1M ago54:56

54:56

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Do you dread the teen years? Or, if you're in the midst of parenting teens, do you struggle to find ways to connect? This week, we interview Dr. Melody Aguayo, a parenting coach specializing in working with at-risk children and their families and the founder of Real Child Consulting…

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Episode 216: The Impact of Substance Use on the Infant Brain 39:36

1M ago39:36

39:36

Summary: From the very first breaths of life, some babies face challenges most of us can hardly imagine. Born substance-exposed, these newborns often enter the world in pain, their tiny bodies working through the effects of addiction before they even have a chance to begin. In the Phoenix Valley, Jacob's Hope is stepping into that story with compas…

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9 Things I Wish I Knew Before Adopting - Weekend Wisdom 13:44

1M ago13:44

13:44

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. I spent some time this week thinking about what I’ve learned from my experiences as an adoptive parent and the wisdom of others in our community. In reflection, I've created a list of the things I wish I knew before adopting. Resources: 8 Things I Wish I Had Known Before I Adopted F…

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How Can Kinship Caregivers Find the Resources They Need to Succeed? 1:12:15

1M ago1:12:15

1:12:15

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Kinship-led families have unique needs, and finding resources to meet those needs can be a challenge. Today, we're talking with Mike Heath, a Resource Specialist with the Coalition for Children, Youth & Families in Wisconsin. The Coalition is a Resource Center for birth parents, fos…

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E128: How to Parent in Troubling Times 14:12

2M ago14:12

14:12

Welcome to Episode 128 of The Perfectionist’s Guide toMothering! I originally had different content planned for this episodebut after the events of last week, felt compelled to record this episode instead. I hope you find it helpful and encouraging! You can connect with me via: My website: andreafortenberry.com Instagram: @andreafortenberry Get a M…

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Tips for Managing Your Picky Eater - Weekend Wisdom 13:31

2M ago13:31

13:31

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Today, we are tackling a question that comes up a lot for parents and caregivers in our community – what do you do with a picky eater? Resources: Food Issues My Foster Child Only Eats Junk Food Practical Solutions to Typical Food Issues with Adopted and Foster Kids Support the show …

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The Only Way Forward is Back with Jackson TerKeurst 43:41

2M ago43:41

43:41

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Jackson TerKeurst was born in Liberia and by the age of 7 was a war orphan living in dire circumstances. So how did he end up as an entrepreneur, leader, and now author? Join us for an inspirational conversation about identity, overcoming, and redemption from Jackson's new book, The…

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Episode 215: Empowering Children with Learning Disabilities 48:53

2M ago48:53

48:53

Summary: School is back in session, and for parents raising kids who need extra support, the start of the year can bring more than just new routines; it can stir up anxiety, frustration, and countless questions about navigating the system to get the right resources. In this episode, we sit down with Joey Taylor, an education advocate, foster parent…

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Travel Restrictions When Fostering - Weekend Wisdom 8:34

2M ago8:34

8:34

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Question: Are there travel restrictions when you are fostering? For example, my family lives out of state, but can I bring the child with me when I travel to visit family? Resources: Working as Part of a Foster Care Team Working with the Birth Parents for the Child's Best Interest B…

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Adopting Older Kids 1:08:51

2M ago1:08:51

1:08:51

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Are you considering adopting a child over the age of 5? Listen to this interview with Sarah Hansen and Simi Riesner. Sarah is the Director of International Advocacy at the Gladney Center for Adoption, with over 20 years of experience supporting adoptive families and children. She is…

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Fostering or Adopting as a Single Man - Weekend Wisdom 13:51

2M ago13:51

13:51

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Questions: I am a 58 single man and I am considering fostering. My first question is how much of a bias is there against men? What are the unique challenges that single foster dads face that discourage so many? What can we do to get more single foster dads to help families reunify, …

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How Do We Handle Weed and Vaping While Raising Adopted, Foster, and Relative Kids? 53:58

2M ago53:58

53:58

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Are you educated and informed on the issues around weed and vaping, including THC, nicotine, and the signs of addiction? Listen to this interview with Dr. Krishna White. She is an attending physician at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, with board certifications in Pediatrics…

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Episode 214: Keep Goaling! 41:19

2M ago41:19

41:19

Summary: In this episode, Brian and Kim dive into the struggles parents face when life feels stuck in worry about our kids, our future, and the unknown. Drawing inspiration from Dr. Edith Eger's wisdom, they remind us that "you're going to be 50 anyways," so why not keep moving toward growth and possibility? Together, they unpack what it means to g…

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How to Connect with an Expectant Parent During Pregnancy - Weekend Wisdom 6:26

2M ago6:26

6:26

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Question: I have listened to hundreds of adoption-related podcast episodes, but very few of them have talked about talking directly with a potential birth mother. We were matched with an expectant mother who wanted to be able to communicate with us directly. We agreed, believing tha…