Ten Compelling Podcasts About Foster Care and Adoption

I love podcasts and often subscribe to more than I can feasibly listen to in a week. In recent years as the rise of podcasts’ popularity as risen, there have been more and more options becoming available around the issue of foster care and adoption. What a gift! When my husband and I became foster parents 14 years ago, podcasts featuring foster and adoptive professionals, as well as the voices of foster and adoptive parents and adoptees, would have been such an asset as we felt like we were fumbling through those early days and figuring things out as we went. There are truly some fantastic resources available now in the podcast world and here are some recommendations that we hope may be a help to you:

• Creating a Family

Creating a Family is one of the longest running, most well-known podcasts available and their mission is to strengthen families through education and support for navigating infertility, adoption or foster care. Podcast episodes feature leading experts on infertility and adoption, as well as birth parents, foster and adoptive parents, and adoptees each week to bring a wealth of information on all aspects of adoption and infertility. Recent topics include Connected Parenting/Attachment, How to Raise an Anti-Racist Child, Issues Related to Transracial Adoption, Open Adoption, Living with Infertility, Parenting Children Who Have Experienced Trauma, and so much more.

• Real Mom Podcast

This is a podcast is hosted by Jamie Finn, from Foster the Family, and is geared towards biological, adoptive, and foster moms. Each episode features real conversations with women touched by foster care and/or adoption. It is helpful, meaningful, and shares so many important perspectives and truths about motherhood. This podcast is gospel-centered and encouraging.

• The Honestly Adoption Podcast

The Honestly Adoption Podcast features real voices, sharing hope and encouragement to parents on the journey of foster care and adoption. Hosts Mike and Kristin Berry, and Nicole Goerges share open and honest perspectives from the journey of foster, adoptive, and parenting children with special needs. In light of recent events, Honestly Adoption has recently been re-airing episodes that feature various people of color to highlight black voices specifically in the foster and adoptive community. Some of these episodes include Thoughts on Hair Care & Support for Transracial Adoptees, How a Former Foster Youth is Telling a Different Adoption Story, Raising a Multiracial Family, and Thoughts on Adoption from a Transracial Adoptee.

• Adoption Now

Adoption Now features guests who share their stories about the joys and challenges of the adoption journey. You'll hear from parents and families who've been through infant and international adoption, foster-to-adopt, and embryo adoption. These inspiring stories are told from the perspective of the adoptee, birth parent or adoptive parent. Several reviewers noted that they deeply appreciate that this podcast honors all parts of the triad so well.

• Around the World with the Archibald Project

Around The World with The Archibald Project’s hosts, Whitney and Nick, started The Archibald Project with the belief that caring for orphaned and vulnerable children is one of the most important jobs in the world. They observed however, that often people were too overwhelmed to get involved or lacked the support they needed to keep going. This podcast is a place where you can easily find answers, encouragement, and support. Recent episodes include Navigating the Complexities of Adoption with Cam Lee, Are You Afraid of Down Syndrome Adoption, When You Find Out Your Birth Mother is Alive, Do You Know What Birth Moms Go Through, and Race & Adoption Advice.

• Adoption Hacks

The Adoption Hacks Podcast celebrates and educates potential and current adoptive and foster families. Episodes will provide tips for those starting the journey, support for parents, and a look at programs for vulnerable children. The host and an adoptive mom, Kandace Lecocq, interviews professionals and moms and dads who have been there. Recent episodes feature increased care & understanding for birth moms, navigating unknowns in adoption, post adoption depression, and a journey through foster care.

• The Forgotten Initiative

The Forgotten Initiative seeks to support the foster care community through awareness, encouragement, and advocacy. Recent episodes include stories about The Battle for Control in Foster Care, Meeting Your Biological Parent: Expectations, Joys, and Disappointments, When Your Children Don’t Look Like You: Understanding Black Hair Care, Moved From Relative to Relative: A Journey Toward Healing After Trauma, and When Foster Care Leads to Adoption: Processing Big Emotions.

• Let’s Talk Adoption

Let’s Talk Adoption is another long-running adoption podcast that features new guests and topics each week relating to the adoption process, raising children, and pregnancy options. Let’s Talk Adoption’s goal is to bring hope and education to adoptive and birth parents, sharing the miracles created through a modern, open adoption. Past guests have included authors, attorneys, physicians, social workers, adoptive parents and birth parents.

• The Adoption Connection

If you are an adoptive mom looking for hope, practical tools and friends who understand, this podcast is for you. The hosts, Lisa and Melissa, are both adoptive moms. In addition, Lisa is a birth mother and Melissa is an adult adoptee.  Between the two of them, they represent all three parts of the adoption triad. They offer diverse perspectives and the issues discussed are educational, encouraging, and inspiring. Check out some of their recent episodes such as Resetting the Nervous System for Felt Safety, Ethical Orphan Care and Adoption, A Conversation about Race, and The Impact of Prenatal Trauma on Children.

• Born in June, Raised in April

Born in June, Raised in April’s host, April Diswoodie, shares her very personal experience as a transracial adoptee growing up in New England and explores adoption in all its many layers. Each episode is anchored in the months of the year, connecting poignant holidays, rituals, rites of passage, and celebrations to the meaning of legacy, family, and identity.

written by Amy Eudy BSW | Home Study Manager SC