Best Foster 50 Challenge Podcasts (2025)

This episode is a gentle yet powerful invitation to reclaim your attention, show up with intention, and speak up for what matters most– even when it feels the most challenging.

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50: What is Essential in Education? 8:55

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1M ago8:55

8:55

Thom Stecher reflects on what remains essential in education—building relationships, inspiring purpose, and serving the greater good—after more than 50 years of experience.

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49: Service is Healing 9:34

2M ago9:34

9:34

In this heartfelt episode, Thom Stecher shares a deeply personal story of injury, loss, and the unexpected healing power of service. Through reflection and lived experience, he reminds us that when our burdens feel heaviest, offering care to someone else may be the very thing that helps lighten our own.…

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Getting Pets Adopted from Foster Homes 24:50

2M ago24:50

24:50

Foster homes are great for pets, but they’re also a marketing goldmine. Learn about creating a process to market pets in foster homes and get them adopted- right from the couch. PLEASE NOTE: Office Hours have been changed due to the Memorial Day holiday. They will now be Mondays, May 5, 12, 19, and Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at 12pm PT/3pm ET. GUESTS:…

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How to Find New Fosters in Your Community 32:17

2M ago32:17

32:17

Tired of asking the same people over and over to foster? This episode is all about fresh recruitment ideas and proven ways to bring in new faces from all parts of your community. PLEASE NOTE: Office Hours have been changed due to the Memorial Day holiday. They will now be Mondays, May 5, 12, 19, and Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at 3pm ET/12pm PT GUESTS:…

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48: The Roots of SEL: Thom’s Version 23:58

2M ago23:58

23:58

Thom’s historical perspective on SEL. SEL has always been around; we’ve just called it something different.

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All About the Foster 50 Challenge 17:12

2M ago17:12

17:12

Welcome to the Foster 50 Challenge! Thank you for joining us on this important journey to grow your foster network programming. In our first episode, you’ll hear real talk about what actually works to build a foster program that scales and sustains. We’ll also discuss the important checkpoints of the Foster 50 program to prepare you for grant submi…

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Make Foster Onboarding Work for You 18:33

2M ago18:33

18:33

Let’s talk about low-barrier foster onboarding! What works, what doesn’t, and how to make it simple enough that people actually sign up and stay involved. PLEASE NOTE: Office Hours have been changed due to the Memorial Day holiday. They will now be Mondays, May 5, 12, 19, and Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at 12pm PT/3pm ET. HOSTS: Kristen Hassen, Princip…

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47: Diversity is Life 5:43

2M ago5:43

5:43

In this powerful episode, Thom Stecher draws on 51 years in education to unpack the growing discomfort around words like diversity, equity, and inclusion. With honesty and heart, he challenges the narrative and offers a grounding truth: diversity isn’t a debate—it’s a fact of life and an essential part of being human.…

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I have terminal cancer but 'I'm as happy as ever’ 9:02

6M ago9:02

9:02

By BBC Radio 4

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Best of Today: What should children learn? 39:51

9M ago39:51

39:51

The government has started a major review of the curriculum and assessment in England's schools, chaired by education policy expert Becky Francis. But how could we rethink England's curriculum and assessment? Today hears from schools across the country trying new ways of doing things from using AI in classrooms to a more skills based approach and l…

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Today Listener Series: Young people and politics 9:20

9M ago9:20

9:20

Earlier this year, the Today programme gave our listeners the chance to look at an issue that matters to them. Herbie and Ayesha both voted for the first time this year. They wanted to look at the disconnect they believe exists between young people and politicians. Listen to the other stories explored by our listeners this week on Radio 4 and BBC S…

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Today Listener Series: NHS Forensic Psychology centre in Liverpool 13:32

9M ago13:32

13:32

All this week we've been hearing stories brought to us by Today listeners. Dr Lisa Wright and Dr Mark Walton are both clinical psychologists, who work on Merseyside in the only NHS unit of its kind - where they are trying to cut criminal offending rates using therapy. It's not an alternative to prison - the NHS Forensic Psychology centre in Liverpo…

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Today Listener Series: Is university worth it? 17:02

9M ago17:02

17:02

Earlier this year, the Today programme gave our listeners the chance to look at an issue that matters to them.Anna and Chloe - along with Chloe's 19 year-old daughter Pearl - wanted to ask "University: Is it worth it?" and interrogate the value of a university education in 2024.As part of our coverage, Today has exclusively seen a blueprint for the…

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Today Listener Series: Where's my bus? 16:13

9M ago16:13

16:13

Earlier this year we gave listeners the chance to ask us to look at an issue for them. Martin and Sandra from Macclesfield, in East Cheshire called their application Where’s my bus? They both rely on the buses to get around and met on a Facebook group dedicated to their local bus service. The new government has plans to give local authorities more …

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Today Listener Series: The disappearing children 12:28

9M ago12:28

12:28

All this week the Today programme is looking at stories that have been brought to us by our listeners. Vanessa and Toby are parent governors at a secondary school in South London. They have noticed far fewer children and families where they live, and primary schools closing down as a result. Exclusive research for Today has shown that primary schoo…

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Garry Richardson's 50 years at the BBC 7:56

10M ago7:56

7:56

Garry Richardson has finished his last sports bulletin on Radio 4's Today programme - 50 years to the day since he started at the BBC. Garry is best known for his sporting interviews, but his career has ranged from climbing towers for Radio Oxford to singing with the great Buddy Greco. James Naughtie picks some of the highlights from Garry's half c…

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46: Fostering Resilience and Building Assets in Our At-Risk Youth EDUC 532 17:47

10M ago17:47

17:47

Scott Heydt and Jessie McFarland join Thom to discuss their graduate course on resiliency and asset building for at-risk youth. EDUC 532 is a part of Neumann University's Master of Science in Education with an emphasis in Social Emotional Learning program. More information can be found ⁠here⁠. This course is designed to move our students from risk …

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45: Culturally Responsive Teaching EDUC 505 16:22

11M ago16:22

16:22

Dawn Mader and Deb Moore join Thom to discuss their graduate course exploring culturally responsive teaching. EDUC 505 is a part of Neumann University's Master of Science in Education with an emphasis in Social Emotional Learning program. More information can be found here. This course will include provide students with a framework for becoming cul…

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Dr Clare Bailey Mosley: We want to honour Michael’s work 15:14

12M ago15:14

15:14

Radio 4 is marking Friday 12th as “Just One Thing Day” in celebration of Dr Michael Mosley’s life and legacy. Throughout the week, we’ve asked his friends and colleagues to tell us what change they might have made that was down to him. Speaking to Today’s Justin Webb, Dr Clare Bailey Mosley shares touching tributes, and reflects on his work, influe…

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44: Philosophical Foundations for Instructional Leadership EDUC 500 23:05

1y ago23:05

23:05

Mark Eisenhuth and Chris Palochak join Thom to discuss their graduate course exploring philosophical foundations for instructional leaders. EDUC 500 is a part of Neumann University's Master of Science in Education with an emphasis in Social Emotional Learning program. More information can be found here.…

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43: Wellness - Research, Practices and Policies for Teachers and Students EDUC 512 15:48

1y ago15:48

15:48

Chris Engler and Jessie McFarland discuss their educator wellness course and the importance of self-care. EDUC 512 is a part of Neumann University's Master of Science in Education with an emphasis in Social Emotional Learning program. More information can be found here.

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42: Big Feelings with Rebecca Louick 36:24

1+ y ago36:24

36:24

Thom sits with Rebecca Louick to talk about navigating the emotional landscape of feelings in school.

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The Today Debate: Is justice delayed, justice denied? 36:31

1+ y ago36:31

36:31

The Today Debate is about taking a subject and pulling it apart with more time than we have in the morning. Amid a significant backlog in crown courts in England and Wales and related problems in the system in Scotland and Northern Ireland, Today presenter Mishal Husain asks if justice delayed is justice denied? Joining Mishal on the Today debate p…

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41: Unifying Daniel Boone 26:49

1+ y ago26:49

26:49

In this episode, Thom sits with three student leaders to discuss the impact of student involvement in unifying school communities and the influence of the LifeSkills Conference throughout the process.

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Theresa May: 'During PMQs my blood sugar went up' 12:25

1+ y ago12:25

12:25

When Theresa May was diagnosed with type 1 in her 50s, she told the consultant: "I'm too old. I can't be”. Lady May says she would also eat Jelly Babies when her blood sugar dropped during meetings. The former Prime Minister has now chaired a parliamentary inquiry into the life-threatening consequences of having both type 1 diabetes and an eating d…

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Dame Emma Walmsley Guest Edits Today 1:14:34

1+ y ago1:14:34

1:14:34

The last of our Christmas guest editors is the CEO of the global biopharma company GSK, Dame Emma Walmsley. She wanted her programme to look to the year ahead with optimism. In these highlights from her programme hear Dame Emma in conversation with the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who urges politicians not to treat their opponents as enem…

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Professor Jason Arday Guest Edits Today 53:11

1+ y ago53:11

53:11

Professor Jason Arday is our latest Christmas guest editor. This year he was appointed as one of Cambridge’s youngest ever professors. A significant accolade by any measure but even more so when you consider that Professor Arday was diagnosed with autism and global developmental delay aged just three and didn't learn to speak until he was eleven or…

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Andrew Malkinson Guest Edits Today 49:45

1+ y ago49:45

49:45

Andrew Malkinson is Today's latest Christmas guest editor. He spent 17 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit before being cleared in July. He uses his programme to look at justice and how one can cope with being locked up unjustly. He speaks to John McCarthy, who was held hostage for more than five years in the 1980s. While in prison, the wo…

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Ellie Goulding Guest Edits Today 46:38

1+ y ago46:38

46:38

The singer and UN environment ambassador Ellie Goulding is the latest Today programme Christmas guest editor. Ellie uses her programme to explore her twin passions of music and nature, including looking at rewilding projects She tells Today's Martha Kearney that nature has helped her through difficult times in her life, including postnatal depressi…

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James May Guest Edits Today 44:51

1+ y ago44:51

44:51

James May, The Grand Tour and former Top Gear presenter, is Today’s latest Christmas guest editor. He looks at the future of driverless cars and why a culture change may be needed to end conflict between cyclists and motorists. James believes hobbies are good for people’s wellbeing so the Today team assembled a get together with hobby-mad listeners…

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Hanif Kureishi Guest Edits Today 1:05:31

1+ y ago1:05:31

1:05:31

The writer Hanif Kureishi - who is our second Christmas guest editor this year - had a life changing accident which paralysed him on Boxing Day 2022. He uses his programme to explore his adjustment to becoming disabled, including its impact on his family and his friendships. Hanif first enjoyed professional success as a writer 1985 with My Beautifu…

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Dr Nicola Fox Guest Edits Today 39:49

1+ y ago39:49

39:49

Dr Nicola Fox, Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate NASA is the first of our Christmas guest editors this year. Her programme looks ahead to the launch of the Peregrine Lunar Lander next year which will start the ground work for sending a crewed mission back to the Moon. Dr Fox, who revealed she was a fan of Duran Duran on he…

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'To see my mum again is an incredible thing' 23:27

1+ y ago23:27

23:27

The daughter of Yocheved Lifschitz, one of the hostages freed last night, has visited her mother in hospital in Israel and has told Today she "seems OK". In an interview with Today presenter Mishal Husain, Sharone Lifschitz said: "The nurses are just having a chat, they say she is very sharp and is very keen to share the information, pass on the in…

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Emma Raducanu on her return to tennis 11:19

1+ y ago11:19

11:19

Emma Raducanu burst onto the world stage back in 2021 when she went from being an almost unknown 18 year old tennis player to winning the US Open. She became the first British woman to secure a Grand Slam singles title since Virginia Wade at the 1977 Wimbledon Championships. The media interest in Emma has been huge worldwide due to her stratospheri…

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An experiment in "open justice" in the family courts 30:39

1+ y ago30:39

30:39

Judgements made in the family courts can affect families forever, including placing children in care or for adoption. After decades of calls for greater scrutiny of the family courts, at the end of January journalists gained access to report proceedings, in a landmark pilot scheme. Three court centres in Leeds, Carlisle and Cardiff allowed accredit…

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Michael Caine: I'm retiring from film 16:50

1+ y ago16:50

16:50

In the summer of 2014, Bernard Jordan made global headlines. He had staged a “great escape” from his care home to join fellow war veterans on a beach in Normandy, commemorating their fallen comrades at the D-Day Landings 70th anniversary. It was a story that captured the imagination of the world as Bernie embodied the defiant, “can-do” spirit of a …

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Why was my neighbour's body not found for two years? 9:55

1+ y ago9:55

9:55

Residents in a south London block of flats are considering legal action against a housing association, after their neighbour lay dead for two and a half years before her body was found, despite their efforts to raise the alarm. 58-year-old Sheila Seleoane, was a medical secretary, who was found in her flat in Peckham last year. For Sheila's neighbo…

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How could Sheila Seleoane remain undiscovered for so long? 17:05

1+ y ago17:05

17:05

Sheila Seleoane lay dead for two and a half years before her body was found - despite repeated efforts to raise the alarm. Sheila was a 58-year-old medical secretary who died in her South London flat in August 2019. In a final report by the BBC's Harry Farley, he goes back to speak to her neighbours. Today's Martha Kearney speaks to Ian McDermott, …

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How can a death go unnoticed in modern society? 8:06

1+ y ago8:06

8:06

Sheila Seleoane was found in her Peckham flat in February 2022 and had to be identified by dental records. Her neighbours initially made complains to their housing association, Peabody, about a foul stench and maggots in 2019 – but the housing association only made one “proactive attempt” to contact the tenant and cut off her gas. Miss Seleoane’s l…

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The Today Debate: Drug deaths in Scotland - is decriminalisation the answer? 36:22

2y ago36:22

36:22

The Today Debate is about taking an issue and pulling it apart with more time than we could ever have during the morning. Join Today presenter Mishal Husain, as in front of a live audience in Glasgow, a panel of guests discuss the problem of drug abuse and drug deaths in Scotland. Together they look at different approaches and ask whether decrimina…

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Martha's Rule: Challenging culture will make our hospitals safer 29:51

2y ago29:51

29:51

Martha Mills was 13 years old when she died in hospital two years ago, after failures by doctors to spot and treat her sepsis. Her parents are calling for hospitals to implement 'Martha's Rule', where patients and their families would be given the right to an urgent second opinion, if they feel their concerns are not being taken seriously by medica…

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'Life's Not Always a Beach' Guest Edit 35:46

2y ago35:46

35:46

Back in March, to mark 20 years of the Today guest editors we gave people the chance to apply in teams to make a programme with us. Thousands of you applied and this summer we have been featuring programmes guest edited by those successful teams of listeners. In the last in the series Vince, Fiona, Derek and Lucas invited us to Tenby in West Wales.…

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Sajid Javid: What can be done to help prevent suicide? 16:43

2y ago16:43

16:43

Former Health Secretary Sajid Javid lost his brother Tariq to suicide in 2018. It is the number one cause of death for young people and biggest killer of men under 50. In a personal report for the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, Sajid speaks to people in Bristol, where he grew up, whose lives have been affected by suicide and also speaks to the chief …

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Friendly Neighbours Guest Edit 33:05

2y ago33:05

33:05

Back in March, to mark 20 years of the Today guest editors we gave people the chance to apply in teams to make a programme with us. Thousands of you applied and every Saturday through August we’ll be featuring programmes guest edited by those successful teams of listeners. Today it was the turn of ‘Friendly Neighbours’. Sudi, Mike, Pol and Sophie a…

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Concert Band Guest Edit 38:10

2y ago38:10

38:10

Back in March, to mark 20 years of the Today guest editors we gave people the chance to apply in teams to make a programme with us. Thousands of you applied and every Saturday through August we’ll be featuring programmes guest edited by those successful teams of listeners. Today it was the turn of Anne, Moyra, Alan and Andrew who are all members of…

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The Nicola Benedetti Interview 11:18

2y ago11:18

11:18

Our programme is guest edited by Moyra, Anne, Alan and Andrew, four members of the Dunbartonshire Concert Band. For their programme they wanted to look at the contribution community music makes to society. The were very keen to hear from the violinist Nicola Benedetti. Not only is she a world acclaimed violinist, but she has campaigned for years fo…

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Good Grief Guest Edit 25:20

2y ago25:20

25:20

Back in March, to mark 20 years of the Today guest editors we gave people the chance to apply in teams to make a programme with us. Thousands of you applied and every Saturday through August we’ll be featuring programmes guest edited by those successful teams of listeners. Today it was the turn of Hannah, Cenya and Huzaifah. They are three friends …

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Messy Fostering Guest Edit 36:32

2y ago36:32

36:32

Back in March, to mark 20 years of the Today guest editors we gave people the chance to apply in teams to make a programme with us. Thousands of you applied and every Saturday through August we’ll be featuring programmes guest edited by those successful teams of listeners. Today it was the turn of Amy, Jo and Gig. They've called their team, Messy F…