Happy New Year from all of us at Fostering Change! We hope you had a joyful holiday season filled with rest, connection, and moments that centered what matters most. As we step into 2026 together, we’re excited to continue bringing you meaningful conversations that uplift, educate, and inspire. Season 7 is already shaping up to be one of our most impactful yet — and we’re thrilled to kick off the year with today’s guest.

🎙 Introduction

This week, Rob Scheer is joined by Dr. Brandi Kelly, an award-winning educator, licensed clinical social worker, leadership coach, and founder of Spark HOPE Edu. For more than 20 years, Dr. Kelly has served children and families as a school social worker, principal, and superintendent, always guided by her belief in the transformative power of H.O.P.E. — Habits, Optimistic Outlook, Purpose, and Excellence.

Her approach blends emotional wellness, compassionate leadership, and practical tools that empower students — especially those experiencing trauma, foster care, or instability — to build resilience and recognize their inherent worth. Through Spark HOPE Edu and her coaching programs, Dr. Kelly now equips caregivers, educators, and community leaders to create environments where every child feels safe, supported, and capable of thriving.

Her message is the perfect way to begin a new year: intentional, uplifting, and rooted in the belief that we can all lead with hope.

Main Topic / Theme

How Dr. Kelly’s H.O.P.E. framework cultivates resilience, emotional wellness, and confidence in children — particularly those who have experienced trauma — by equipping the adults who support them to lead with compassion, clarity, and purpose.

Key Discussion Points

Resilience Through H.O.P.E.

How Habits, Optimistic Outlook, Purpose, and Excellence help youth overcome adversity and build self-worth.

Education + Healing

Why collaboration between educators, caregivers, and social workers is essential for children in foster or kinship care.

Leadership for Youth

Helping children see themselves as leaders regardless of their circumstances.

Coaching for Connection

Dr. Kelly’s January 2026 six-week cohort designed to help adults strengthen resilience and relational skills using the H.O.P.E. model.

Guest Bio

Dr. Brandi Kelly is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, award-winning educator, and founder of Spark HOPE Edu. Over her two-decade career, she has served as a school social worker, principal, and superintendent — earning multiple leadership awards. Her H.O.P.E. framework (Habits, Optimistic Outlook, Purpose, Excellence) provides a roadmap for helping youth—and the adults who guide them—build resilience and belonging. She is the author of Lead with H.O.P.E. and host of the Lead with HOPE podcast.

Connect with Dr. Kelly

Website: www.sparkhopeedu.com

Facebook: @LTW24

Instagram: @leadwithhope.23

LinkedIn: Dr. Brandi Kelly

✨ A New Year Note from Fostering Change

As we launch into 2026, we want to thank you — our listeners — for being part of this powerful community. We hope your holiday season was restful and meaningful, and that this new year brings purpose, possibility, and renewed hope.

We’re excited to continue this incredible Season 7 journey with you. Fostering Change returns next Tuesday with another inspiring conversation as we work together to support children, families, and caregivers across the country.

Here’s to a year of compassion, courage, and making a difference — one story, one act, and one child at a time.

Happy New Year, and thank you for being GOOD HUMANS. 🎉

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

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

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

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

As we close out an extraordinary year of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer welcomes Becky Santoro, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Foster Village Charlotte — a nonprofit reshaping foster care by focusing on the people raising and supporting children every day: foster, kinship, and birth families.

A former educator and foster parent herself, Becky witnessed firsthand how overwhelmed and isolated caregivers can feel. She also saw something powerful: children thrive when the adults caring for them are supported, equipped, and connected. That realization led her to co-found Foster Village Charlotte in 2018 — a community-driven model that has since expanded nationwide through a growing network of Foster Village affiliates.

Today, Becky and her team not only serve families across the Charlotte region, but also coach and mentor emerging affiliates across the U.S., helping communities build their own “village” of wraparound care. From practical resources to emotional connection to dignified, trauma-informed visitation spaces, Foster Village is reimagining what it means to care for children by caring for the caregivers who love them.

🎙️ In This Episode, Rob and Becky Discuss:

• Why Foster Village exists and how it bridges gaps between foster, kinship, and birth families

• The powerful connection between caregiver support and positive child outcomes

• The Connection Cottage — a trauma-informed, dignified visitation center helping families reconnect

• How Foster Village Charlotte coaches and mentors new affiliates nationwide

• The Foster the Movement year-end funding campaign supporting urgent needs into 2026

• What resilience, compassion, and community look like in action — and what gives Becky hope for the future

This uplifting conversation is the perfect way to wrap up 2025 — rooted in gratitude, connection, and the reminder that we build stronger futures when we build them together.

👤 Guest Bio

Becky Santoro is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Foster Village Charlotte, an organization providing holistic support for foster, kinship, and birth families. Since 2018, Becky has grown Foster Village Charlotte into a cornerstone of community care while mentoring new Foster Village affiliates across the country. Her work strengthens families, builds community, and empowers children to thrive.

🔗 Connect with Foster Village Charlotte

🌐 Website: https://www.fostervillagecharlotte.org

💙 Foster the Movement Year-End Campaign:

https://www.fostervillagecharlotte.org/foster-the-movement-2025

📘 Facebook: Foster Village Charlotte

📸 Instagram: @fostervillagecharlotte

💼 LinkedIn: Foster Village Charlotte

🎄 From Our Family to Yours — Happy New Year!

As we celebrate this holiday season, we wish you a New Year filled with hope, compassion, and community.

Thank you for listening, sharing, and helping raise awareness for children and families impacted by foster care.

✨ Fostering Change returns next Tuesday as we continue an incredible Season 7.

More powerful conversations. More inspiring leaders. More reminders of the change we can create together.

Until then — thank you for being GOOD HUMANS.

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

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

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

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

As we head into Christmas week, Fostering Change brings you an extraordinary story of resilience, determination, and transformation.

Rob Scheer is joined by Carolyn Aronson, founder and CEO of It’s A 10 Haircare — one of the most successful Latina-owned beauty brands in the world.

Carolyn’s journey began in foster care, where she learned independence, grit, and perseverance at a young age. From those early experiences, she built a career as a hairstylist and salon owner before creating a single product that would change the beauty industry forever. Today, It’s A 10 Haircare is a billion-dollar global brand, selling more than 10 million bottles annually in over 130 countries, and inspiring a new generation of entrepreneurs.

Beyond her business success, Carolyn is a devoted philanthropist whose generosity supports foster care organizations, youth empowerment, LGBTQ+ advocacy, disaster relief efforts, and workforce development programs. Her message is simple yet powerful: success isn’t measured only by what you build — but by how you give back.

In this inspiring conversation, Rob and Carolyn explore how her time in foster care shaped her vision, the creation and growth of an iconic global brand, and why purpose and philanthropy remain central to her work.

In this episode, Rob and Carolyn discuss:

How Carolyn’s early experiences in foster care fueled her ambition and compassion

The creation and explosive growth of It’s A 10 Haircare

Building a billion-dollar company rooted in authenticity, quality, and empowerment

High-profile collaborations with DJ Khaled, Fat Joe, Travis Kelce, Tyson Beckford, and more

Her commitment to philanthropy — from pandemic aid to wildfire relief to youth empowerment

The upcoming 20th anniversary of It’s A 10 in 2026

Carolyn’s forthcoming book on beauty, confidence, and perseverance

About Carolyn Aronson

Carolyn Aronson is a self-made Latina billionaire, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. After navigating the foster care system, she built It’s A 10 Haircare into a global beauty powerhouse now valued at over $1 billion. Her Rewind It 10 men’s line has earned national attention through celebrity collaborations, and she has donated millions in products and funding to causes nationwide. Carolyn continues to inspire through her message of grit, generosity, and reinvention.

Connect with Carolyn:

🌐 Website: www.itsa10haircare.com

📸 Instagram: @itsa10ceo

🎄 From all of us at Fostering Change, we wish a very Merry Christmas to those who celebrate, and a joyful and peaceful holiday season to all.

🎙️ Don’t miss our final episode of 2025, airing next week — a special year-end conversation you won’t want to miss.

🎧 If you enjoyed this episode, please like, comment, and share. Your support helps us continue lifting up stories that inspire real change.

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

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

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

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

This week on Fostering Change, Rob welcomes a cherished friend and longtime champion of Comfort Cases — actress, producer, author, and foster care advocate Jen Lilley.

While millions know Jen from her work in television and film, her most meaningful role has been off-camera: as a foster and adoptive mother deeply committed to supporting children and families in crisis. Jen recently served as emcee for the 2025 Fostering Futures Gala — her second time hosting Comfort Cases’ signature event — and continues to use her platform to elevate foster care awareness nationwide.

In this heartfelt conversation, Rob and Jen dive into themes of faith, courage, storytelling, and the transformational impact fostering has had on Jen’s life. They also explore her book, Wake Up Your Faith, and her upcoming 2026 release, Called to Foster?

In this episode, Rob and Jen discuss:

• Why Jen remains deeply committed to Comfort Cases and the foster care community

• Her book Wake Up Your Faith and the message she hopes readers embrace

• Called to Foster?, a forthcoming guide for prospective foster parents

• What fostering and adopting two children taught her about love, patience, and identity

• How Jen balances motherhood, advocacy, and a thriving entertainment career

• The responsibility and privilege of using her platform to inspire compassion

• Practical encouragement for anyone considering fostering or adoption

⸻

Guest Bio

Jen Lilley is an award-winning actress, producer, author, and passionate child welfare advocate. She has appeared in an Academy Award–winning film, starred in multiple Emmy-winning series, and featured in a wide range of beloved movies. Off-screen, Jen is a devoted mother to two children adopted from foster care and a powerful voice for families navigating the child welfare system. She is the author of Wake Up Your Faith and the upcoming Called to Foster?, arriving May 2026. Jen is also a treasured supporter of Comfort Cases and recently served as emcee for the 2025 Fostering Futures Gala.

⸻

Connect with Jen

Website: www.jenlilley.com

Facebook: facebook.com/JenLilleyOfficial

Instagram: @Jen_Lilley

X (Twitter): @Jen_Lilley

🎧 After you listen, please like, comment, and share the episode to help us continue raising awareness for children in foster care.

📅 New episodes of Fostering Change drop every Tuesday.

Questions or guest suggestions? Email dthalberg@comfortcases.org

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

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

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

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

As we move deeper into the holiday season, Fostering Change continues to shine a light on the small acts of kindness that create powerful, lasting impact. This week, Rob Scheer sits down with his longtime friend Luke Mickelson, founder of Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP) — a nonprofit built on one simple mission: “No kid sleeps on the floor in our town.”

What started in 2012, when Luke built a single bed for a family in need, has grown into a global movement. Today, SHP has 400+ chapters across 46 states and 4 countries, and has delivered nearly 300,000 beds to children who would otherwise be sleeping on the floor.

As Luke shares:

“When I found out a child was sleeping on a pile of clothes, it changed me. I realized I could sit there and do nothing, or I could get my feet on the ground and build another bed.”

SHP empowers communities to take action by building beds locally, training new chapters, and helping neighbors come together through service — proving that every community can solve this issue in its own backyard.

In this episode, Rob and Luke discuss:

How one small idea grew into a global movement

The often unseen crisis of child bedlessness

SHP’s “Humans Helping Humans” approach to volunteerism

What it takes to start a chapter in your own community

Why staying focused on a simple mission fuels sustainable growth

Luke’s story is a powerful reminder that transformative change often begins with a single decision to help someone else.

👉 Learn more & get involved:

Website: www.shpbeds.org

Facebook: facebook.com/SHPLuke

Instagram: instagram.com/lukemickelson

X: x.com/ShpLuke

🎧 After listening, please like, comment, and share the episode so more people can join the mission to ensure no child in your town sleeps on the floor.

For guest suggestions or questions, email dthalberg@comfortcases.org.

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

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

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

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

This week on Fostering Change, Rob Scheer is joined by Dionna Carter, founder of the Foster Teen Christmas Outreach, an initiative that began in 2019 and has now raised more than $1.3 million in gift cards for teens in foster care. As Dionna explains, “Teens are often forgotten during the holidays — everyone wants to buy toys for the little kids, but teens also want to feel included and seen.”

What started with one county has grown into a statewide movement, driven by simple generosity and community partnership. Each year, thousands of youth receive gift cards that offer dignity, autonomy, and a reminder that their community cares.

Dionna also leads the Foster Hope Holiday Fest, happening Sunday, December 7 in Columbus, Ohio — a resource fair designed to support youth preparing to age out of foster care. “We wanted to be a bridge,” Dionna shares, “because so many teens lose support networks as they age out. This event shows them that help is available.”

In this episode, Rob and Dionna discuss:

How a small idea grew into a statewide giving movement

Why gift cards matter for teens in foster care during the holidays

The impact of the Foster Hope Holiday Fest and how the community can participate

How listeners anywhere can start similar outreach efforts in their own counties

Dionna’s message is simple and powerful: “Even if you impact one youth, it is so worth it.”

Learn More & Support:

Foster Hope Holiday Fest – December 7, Columbus, OH

https://onedotchurch.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3054175

Website: www.dionnacarter.com

Instagram: @FlyAndShyyy

Facebook: Dionna Carter

LinkedIn: Dionna Carter

🎧 After you listen, please like, comment, and share the episode to help spread hope and support to teens who need it most this holiday season.

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

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

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

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

As we close out National Adoption Awareness Month, Fostering Change honors the advocates, parents, and changemakers who work to ensure every child waiting in foster care finds a permanent, loving family.

This week, host Rob Scheer welcomes back Marcy Bursac, nationally recognized adoption advocate, author, podcast host, and adoptive mom. After adopting siblings from foster care, Marcy founded The Forgotten Adoption Option, developed free tools used by over 12,000 prospective parents, and launched a national reading program to help normalize adoption conversations in schools.

Her new book, It’s Okay to Talk About Adoption, invites people to open their hearts and conversations—because when we talk about adoption, we help waiting children find families faster.

In this episode, Rob and Marcy explore:

Why conversations matter

“There are more than 100,000 children in U.S. foster care waiting for adoption—and many adults do not know adoption from foster care is often free. Awareness can change outcomes.”

The Forgotten Adoption Option

How her nonprofit breaks down barriers and helps families navigate adoption with clarity and confidence.

Her new book

“We need to give people permission to talk about adoption—without fear, stigma, or shame.”

Marcy’s message is powerful:

“Every time someone starts a conversation about adoption, a waiting child or sibling group moves one step closer to a permanent family.”

Book Release Update

It’s Okay to Talk About Adoption is now available in audiobook and eBook formats. Paperback pre-orders are open through January 15, 2026.

Purchase links:

Kindle: https://bit.ly/4oDvifp

BookBaby: https://store.bookbaby.com/book/it%E2%80%99s-okay-to-talk-about-adoption

Audiobook available on Apple Books, Google Play, Chirp, eStories, Hoopla, OverDrive, and Everand.

Learn More

Website: www.forgottenadoptionoption.org

Instagram: @marcybursac | @forgottenadoptionoption

After listening, please like, comment, and share our podcast. Your support helps expand the conversation and bring awareness to the thousands of children waiting in foster care.

As we conclude National Adoption Awareness Month, we invite you to keep talking—in your homes, schools, and communities. Every conversation helps move a child closer to belonging.

New episodes release every Tuesday. Questions, comments, or guest suggestions: dthalberg@comfortcases.org

Thank you for listening and for being a good human.

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

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

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

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

As Fostering Change continues our celebration of National Adoption Awareness Month, we’re highlighting the voices reshaping what adoption looks like in America—and making it more equitable, inclusive, and accessible for all families.

This week, host Rob Scheer sits down with Becky Fawcett, founder of Helpusadopt.org, a national nonprofit adoption grant program helping thousands of families overcome the financial barriers to adoption. What began in Becky’s New York City apartment in 2007 has grown into a multimillion-dollar organization that has transformed countless lives—and this month, Helpusadopt.org celebrates its 18th anniversary.

Becky’s own adoption journey—welcoming her daughters Jane and Brooke—inspired a lifelong commitment to changing a system that makes building a family so difficult for so many. Her mission is simple and powerful: every child deserves a loving, permanent home, and no parent should be prevented from adopting because of cost.

In this inspiring conversation, Rob and Becky discuss:

• The personal story behind Helpusadopt.org—and how one mother’s vision became a national movement for adoption equality.

• The staggering financial realities of adoption and how these costs prevent too many children from finding homes.

• What it means for Helpusadopt.org to reach its 18-year milestone—and how its impact continues to grow across all 50 states.

• The importance of inclusion and diversity in adoption: “Love makes a family—not money, not zip codes, not who you love or where you come from.”

• How you can help ensure that more families can adopt—and that every child waiting for a home has the chance to thrive.

Becky’s story reminds us that changing the world doesn’t always start in a boardroom. Sometimes, it begins at a kitchen table—fueled by love, determination, and the belief that every child deserves a family.

👉 Learn more about Becky Fawcett & Helpusadopt.org:

Website: www.helpusadopt.org

Facebook: facebook.com/helpusadopt.org

Instagram: @helpusadopt

TikTok: @helpusadopt

LinkedIn: Helpusadopt.org

🎧 Enjoying the episode?

Please like, comment, and share the podcast! Your support helps us reach more listeners who want to learn about these important topics.

New episodes of Fostering Change drop every Tuesday.

Questions, comments, or guest suggestions? Email us at: dthalberg@comfortcases.org

As we continue through National Adoption Awareness Month, visit comfortcases.org to learn more about our mission, our partnerships, and how you can make a difference—because when we invest in families, we invest in a brighter future for every child.

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:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

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

This November, Fostering Change continues our special series for National Adoption Awareness Month, celebrating families formed through adoption and raising awareness about the unique needs of children in foster and kinship care.

Throughout the month, we’re spotlighting extraordinary advocates, educators, and parents who are helping every child feel safe, seen, and supported.

We also invite you to join Comfort Cases’ 2nd Annual “Coats for a Cause” Drive, hosted by CNN’s Laura Coates.

Our goal is to collect 500 brand-new coats for youth in need this winter.

Every coat donated provides warmth, dignity, and comfort to a child or teen who needs it most.

Learn more and get involved at: https://www.comfortcases.org/lauracoates

🎙️ This Episode: Featuring Laura Adams, Founder & President of iCARE4 Adoptive And Foster Families (iCARE4AAFF)

With more than 30 years in education and nonprofit leadership—and as the mother of four daughters, including two adopted internationally—Laura Adams is on a mission to ensure that every school is equipped to meet the emotional and learning needs of adoptive, foster, and kinship children.

Through iCARE’s professional development programs and her innovative Connection Kits™, Laura is helping educators build trauma-informed, healing-centered schools where connection leads to confidence—and where children not only learn but thrive.

💬 In This Conversation:

• The urgent need for trauma-informed professional development in schools

“Adopted, foster, and kinship children make up nearly 15% of our classrooms, yet most educators have never received any formal training on how to support them.”

• Why connection—not compliance—is the foundation for learning

“Children who feel safe and seen are children who can learn.”

• How Connection Kits™ are transforming classrooms nationwide

• The power of collaboration between schools, families, and child welfare professionals

“When we work together, we create communities of belonging—and connected, we thrive.”

Laura’s insights remind us that healing often begins in the classroom.

By equipping teachers with shared language and the right tools, we can build schools that don’t just educate—but nurture.

🌐 Connect with Laura Adams & iCARE4AAFF

Website: https://icare4aaff.org

Facebook: https://facebook.com/iCARE4AAFF

Instagram: https://instagram.com/icare4aaff

LinkedIn: Laura Adams – iCARE4AAFF

🎧 After you listen:

Like, comment, and share this episode! Your support helps us reach more listeners and continue spreading awareness about these vital topics.

📅 New episodes every Tuesday — subscribe so you never miss an inspiring story.

Questions, comments, or guest suggestions?

Email us at dthalberg@comfortcases.org

💙 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:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

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

Welcome to the first episode of Fostering Change for National Adoption Awareness Month—a month dedicated to celebrating families formed through adoption and raising awareness of the thousands of children still waiting for their forever homes. As we move toward National Adoption Day on November 22, we’ll be sharing special conversations all month long.

We also invite you to visit comfortcases.org to explore how Comfort Cases is celebrating this important month through meaningful partnerships and programs—including our 2nd Annual “Coats for Comfort” Coat Drive, ensuring every child in foster care has warmth, dignity, and hope this winter.

Today, our host Rob Scheer welcomes back one of our favorite guests, Peter Mutabazi—author, speaker, and founder of Now I Am Known. Many of you know Peter as the “Foster Dad Flipper,” a man who has opened his home and heart to more than 40 foster children and adopted three. He joins us again to talk about his brand-new book, Love Does Not Conquer All, a raw and beautiful reflection on the realities of foster care, parenting children with trauma, and learning that love—while powerful—is only the beginning.

In this deeply moving episode, Rob and Peter discuss:

How to love children for who they truly are, not who we hope they’ll become.

Why every child needs at least one adult they can call, depend on, and trust.

How to prepare kids for independence by teaching life skills—“Every foster parent should give their kids the tools to survive when they’re on their own: laundry, banking, cooking, confidence.”

The importance of empathy and connection—“Empathy isn’t in our DNA,” Rob shares. “It must be taught.”

Peter’s wish for the system: “I wish I could foster a family before a child is taken—mentor parents the way we mentor kids. Imagine the change if we did for parents what we do in foster care.”

How to handle the heartbreak of goodbyes when a child leaves your home: “Be the uncle. Stay in their life. Don’t disappear.”

This conversation reminds us that parenting, in all its forms, is an act of courage, consistency, and unconditional care. And don’t miss the end—there’s a heart-warming surprise you’ll want to experience for yourself.

👉 Learn more about Peter Mutabazi and his mission:

Website: petermutabazi.com

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

Organization: Now I Am Known

Facebook: Peter Mutabaz

Instagram: @fosterdadflipper

🎧 After you listen to this episode, please remember to “like” and comment and also share our podcast. We look to you—our loyal listeners—to help us grow our audience so more people can listen and learn about these vital topics.

And remember: we’re back every Tuesday with a new episode of Fostering Change. If you have questions, comments, or guest suggestions, please email us at dthalberg@comfortcases.org.

As we celebrate National Adoption Awareness Month, we invite you to honor the families who open their hearts and homes—and to remember the thousands of children still waiting for theirs. Together, we can make sure every child knows they are seen, valued, and loved.

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:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

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

Advisory: This episode includes sensitive discussion about addiction, family estrangement, and emotional loss.

This week on Fostering Change, host Rob Scheer welcomes back two dear friends — Julie and David Bulitt — for one of the most personal and moving conversations of the season. Rob and his husband Reece have known the Bulitts for many years, and their honesty, humor, and heart have made them audience favorites.

Julie is a licensed clinical social worker with more than 30 years of experience in family therapy, and David is a leading family-law attorney in the D.C. metro area who has spent decades helping parents and children navigate painful transitions. Together, they’ve raised four daughters, built nearly 40 years of marriage, co-authored two acclaimed books (The Five Core Conversations for Couples and Secrets of Strong Couples), and co-host the podcast Conversations for Couples.

In this emotional and thought-provoking episode, Rob, Julie, and David explore what it means to lose a child while they’re still alive — to addiction, estrangement, or emotional distance — and how families can begin to heal.

Topics discussed include:

* Ambiguous loss: Grieving a child who is still living and learning to coexist with that pain.

* Addiction and family systems: How substance use can fracture relationships, redefine love, and challenge every parent’s hope.

* Parenting through heartbreak: “We can love our children fiercely and still have to let go,” Julie shares. “Healing doesn’t mean forgetting — it means finding peace with what is.”

* Balancing love and self-protection: “You reach a point where love also means protecting yourself and your family from chaos,” David reflects.

* Hope beyond the silence: Grace, therapy, and community as pathways to reconnection.

This episode is a testament to honesty, empathy, and the complicated beauty of parenthood. If you or someone you love is struggling with a similar loss, may this conversation offer comfort and understanding.

👉 Learn more about Julie & David Bulitt:Website: www.thebulitts.comPodcast: Conversations for CouplesFacebook: @TheBulittsInstagram: @thebulittsTikTok: @thebulitts

🎧 After you listen, please like, comment, and share this episode so more families can discover stories of resilience, hope, and healing.

We’re back every Tuesday with a new episode of Fostering Change.

Have a guest suggestion or feedback? Email us at dthalberg@comfortcases.org.

Next week, we kick off our National Adoption Awareness Month series — celebrating families built through love and the thousands of children still waiting for theirs.

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

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

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

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

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

⚠️ Advisory: This episode includes discussion of child abuse and family trauma.

Welcome to this week’s episode of Fostering Change, where host Rob Scheer speaks with Susan Chesnutt — a family law attorney, child welfare advocate, and former foster youth based in Vero Beach, Florida.

Susan’s journey is one of resilience and purpose. After growing up in the foster care system, she became a child abuse investigator for Florida’s Department of Children and Families (DCF), then earned her law degree and founded The Chesnutt Law Firm, focusing exclusively on child welfare and family law. She also hosts the podcast From Foster Care to Family Law: A Child Welfare Focus, where she and her guests unpack the toughest issues facing families today.

In this powerful conversation, Rob and Susan explore:

✅ Lived experience as a foundation for advocacy.

“I know what it’s like to feel powerless in a system that’s supposed to protect you. That’s why I fight so hard to make sure every child—and every parent—has a voice.”

✅ What really happens inside a DCF investigation.

Susan breaks down the process from the inside, reminding families that “you have rights, even when it feels like you don’t.”

✅ Why empathy matters in family law.

Her trauma-informed approach prioritizes safety, healing, and understanding over blame.

✅ A call for systemic change.

“We can’t fix the child welfare system until we start valuing families instead of labeling them. Real reform begins with compassion.”

Susan’s unique perspective—combining lived experience, government service, and legal advocacy—shows how justice and empathy must go hand in hand.

👉 Learn more about Susan Chesnutt:

🌐 thechesnuttlawfirm.com

🎧 After you listen: Please like, comment, and share this episode! Your support helps us reach more people and amplify these vital conversations.

🗓 New episodes drop every Tuesday.

Questions, comments, or guest suggestions? Please email us at dthalberg@comfortcases.org.

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

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

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

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

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CONTENT WARNING: ADULT/DISTURBING THEMES — ABUSE & VIOLENCE

Welcome to this week’s episode of Fostering Change. Our host, Rob Scheer, sits down with an extraordinary guest — Baron Li, co-owner of Four Tiers Contracting and founder of the CKMD Army.

Baron’s journey is one of unimaginable pain, resilience, and redemption. A former foster youth who endured 17 placements and severe childhood abuse — including being burned with a clothing iron and cigarettes at just three years old — Baron later survived an attempted murder-for-hire plot that left him shot nine times. Yet, through it all, he transformed trauma into purpose.

Today, Baron is building homes and hope through Four Tiers Contracting, employing and mentoring aged-out foster youth, and expanding CKMD Army — a nationwide movement uniting the foster care community with a 50-state resource network.

In this powerful and emotional conversation, Rob and Baron discuss:

How a childhood marked by violence and instability shaped Baron’s mission to help others rebuild their lives

His incredible survival story: “I was shot nine times, left for dead — but I chose not to be a victim. I chose to live, to forgive, and to give back.”

How Four Tiers Contracting provides aged-out foster youth with steady employment, mentorship, and a pathway to independence

The vision behind CKMD Army (Can’t Keep Me Down) — a 50-state foster care resource network empowering youth, families, and advocates nationwide

Why Baron believes resilience is forged through service — and that “purpose is the only thing stronger than pain.”

Baron Li’s story is a testament to the human spirit — proof that even after the darkest moments, there is light. Trauma can shape us, but it never has to define who we become.

👉 Learn more about Baron Li and his work:

All Links: linktr.ee/baronbli

LinkedIn: CKMD Army

🎧 After you listen, please “like,” comment, and share the episode. Your support helps us reach more listeners and shine a light on vital conversations like this.

Fostering Change releases new episodes every Tuesday.

Questions, comments, or guest suggestions? Please email us at dthalberg@comfortcases.org.

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

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This week on Fostering Change, host Rob Scheer welcomes Tracey Heisler, Executive Director of CASA of Somerset, Hunterdon, and Warren Counties (CASA SHaW) in New Jersey.

CASA—Court Appointed Special Advocates—ensures that children in the child welfare system have a voice in the courtroom and access to the support they need to thrive.

With nearly two decades of leadership at CASA SHaW, Tracey shares:

💬 How CASA changes lives: “Kids with a CASA do better in school, get services faster, and have someone in their corner when everyone else changes.”

⚖️ The danger of funding cuts that could silence advocacy for vulnerable children.

🤝 The critical role of volunteers and how you can step up to be that one stable, consistent advocate.

💙 Tracey’s personal journey from foster parent to nonprofit leader—and what it’s taught her about resilience and compassion.

Her message is clear: Advocacy isn’t optional—it’s essential. And CASA’s fight today is every child’s fight.

👉 Learn more about CASA SHaW and how to get involved:

Website: www.casashaw.org

Facebook: facebook.com/CASASHaW

Instagram: instagram.com/casa_shaw

Email: info@casashaw.org

🎧 Like, comment, and share this episode to help us spread awareness and inspire change.

📅 New episodes of Fostering Change drop every Tuesday!

For questions or guest suggestions, email: dthalberg@comfortcases.org

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Welcome to a special Best of Edition of Fostering Change! Originally aired during National Foster Care Awareness Month, this powerful conversation is worth revisiting.

In this episode, host Rob Scheer sits down with the incredible Charell Star—author, speaker, and foster care advocate. Many first discovered Charell through her moving feature in Humans of New York. Now she returns to share wisdom from her brilliant new book, Trash Bag Tales and Other Stories from an Accidentally Happy Life.

Her story is raw, funny, and deeply empowering—proving that resilience, joy, and self-discovery can grow from even the hardest beginnings.

👉 In this conversation, Rob and Charell explore:

How humor and honesty can reshape the way the world sees foster care stories

The journey behind Trash Bag Tales and turning pain into empowerment

Why the award-winning documentary Feeling Wanted is used in child welfare training worldwide

What it means to move beyond survival and claim the life you deserve

✨ Learn more about Charell Star:

📖 Book: Trash Bag Tales and Other Stories from an Accidentally Happy Life → https://www.amazon.com/Trash-Bag-Tales-Other-Accidentally/dp/1646639741

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

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charellstar

📖 Humans of New York Feature: https://www.humansofnewyork.com/post/618907346047008768

🎧 If you’re new to Fostering Change or a long-time listener, don’t miss this inspiring episode!

Please like, comment, and share to help spread these stories of hope and dignity.

New episodes release every Tuesday—stay tuned and thank you for being a GOOD HUMAN. 💙

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Welcome to this week’s episode of Fostering Change, hosted by Rob Scheer. 💙

Today’s guest is Dr. Danisha Keating—author, speaker, and former foster youth whose journey from heartbreak to healing is nothing short of extraordinary. At just 16, CPS workers separated her from her eight siblings and handed her a trash bag with five minutes to pack her life. By 24, she became the guardian of her five younger siblings, choosing resilience and purpose over despair.

Dr. Keating is the bestselling author of Taking My Voice Back: Healing What Broke Me and From Foster to PhD. In this powerful conversation, she and Rob dive into:

✨ How to heal from trauma, shame, and blame

✨ The importance of protecting your story while still speaking your truth

✨ The systemic barriers youth in foster care face—including files that hold pieces of their own lives

✨ Why education became her lifeline and how she stepped boldly into her future

Her story is proof that no matter what you’ve lived through, you have the power to write the next chapter. As Dr. Keating reminds us: “When you’re in foster care, the courts and the files decide your story — not you. That’s why I had to learn how to take my voice back.”

👉 Learn more about Dr. Danisha Keating:

🌐 Website: danishakeating.com

📱 Instagram: @drdanishakeating

📘 Facebook: Danisha Keating

▶️ YouTube: The Dr. Danisha Keating Show

🎵 TikTok: @drdanishakeating

🎧 Don’t forget to like, comment, and share this episode to help us reach more listeners.

We’re back every Tuesday with new conversations on Fostering Change. For guest suggestions or feedback, please email us at dthalberg@comfortcases.org.

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What started with one simple question—“What can I do with my old bras?”—turned into a global movement. 🌍

In this inspiring episode of Fostering Change, host Rob Scheer is joined by Dana Marlowe, founder of I Support the Girls and Accessibility Partners. Dana’s work provides dignity to marginalized women and youth through access to bras, new underwear, and menstrual hygiene products.

Together, Dana and Rob discuss:

✨ How to start a nonprofit and build strong partnerships with other grassroots organizations

✨ The importance of supporting youth and building confidence through dignity

✨ The powerful partnership between Comfort Cases and I Support the Girls

✨ ISTG’s upcoming 10-year anniversary in July 🎉

As a human rights advocate, Dana has dedicated her life to amplifying the voices of invisible populations while also making technology more inclusive for people with disabilities.

When she isn’t sorting hygiene products or striving for equity, you’ll find her cheering at her sons’ sports games, walking her Silver Lab, or even at early morning dance raves.

💙 Follow I Support the Girls:

Website: http://www.isupportthegirls.org

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isupportthegirls/?hl=en

Twitter/X: https://x.com/i_support_girls?lang=en

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@isupportthegirls

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@isupportthegirls?lang=en

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/29214127/admin/dashboard/

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Today is International FASD Awareness Day, a day that deserves our full attention. On this powerful episode of Fostering Change, host Rob Scheer is joined by Patricia (Patti) Kasper, a Neurobehavioral Coach and Trainer who discovered she had FASD as an adult.

Patti’s story is one of resilience and advocacy. After learning about her diagnosis, she shifted her work to focus on the 15 million U.S. adults living with undiagnosed FASD, bringing awareness, education, and hope to those who may not even realize how deeply FASD affects their lives.

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

✨ Patti’s personal journey of discovery and healing

✨ The hidden challenges of adults living with undiagnosed FASD

✨ How Rob’s own connection to FASD fuels Comfort Cases’ mission

✨ The importance of spreading awareness on International FASD Awareness Day

Patti is also the host of the podcast Living with FASD and author of Sip by Sip: Candid Conversation with Adults Living with FASD. You can find her book here: books.by/yourfasdcoach.

🔗 Connect with Patti Kasper:

Facebook: facebook.com/Patricia.Kasper.Your.FASD.Coach

Instagram: instagram.com/patriciakasperthefasdcoach

Threads: threads.com/patriciakasperthefasdcoach

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/patricia-kasper

Email: contact@patriciakasper.com

📢 After listening, please leave us a review—it helps us reach more people and continue these important conversations. Have guest suggestions or questions? Email our producer: dthalberg@comfortcases.org.

💙 Thank you for supporting Fostering Change. Together, we can bring dignity and hope to children and families everywhere.

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Welcome to Season 7 of Fostering Change!

Believe it or not, this is our 243rd episode — and it’s all thanks to YOU and your support. Starting this season, new episodes will drop every Tuesday, just like you requested!

👉 We’d love your help: after watching/listening, please leave a review. It takes just a minute and makes a huge difference with the “mysterious algorithm,” helping us share our incredible guests with even more people.

🌟 Today’s Guest: Bob Dalton

We’re kicking off Season 7 with our friend and Comfort Cases supporter, Bob Dalton — founder of Sackcloth & Ashes, the company behind stunning Italian-made blankets. For every blanket sold, one is donated to a local shelter. Bob and his team have already given countless blankets to Comfort Cases, and we couldn’t be more grateful.

In this episode, Rob and Bob dive into:

Why community matters now more than ever

How Sackcloth & Ashes is transforming giving with a one-for-one model

Bob’s exciting new app LOCL, designed to reconnect us with our neighbors, groups, and events nearby

💡 More About Bob:

Bob Dalton is an entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and social designer on a mission to reclaim human connection in the digital age. Named a Forbes Changemaker and CNN Champion of Change, he’s donated hundreds of thousands of blankets through Sackcloth & Ashes and now, through LOCL, is building digital tools to help people connect locally.

📌 Learn More:

🌐 sackclothandashes.com

🌐 locl.com

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Welcome to our final Best of Summer episode of Fostering Change! 🌟 Next week kicks off Season 7 (premiering Tuesday, September 2) and—by popular demand—we’re back to WEEKLY episodes.

This week, Rob Scheer is joined by:

👩‍💼 Jennifer Perry – Co-Founder of FosterMore & Executive Director of Children’s Action Network

📚 Lara Love Hardin – FosterMorey Award Winner & New York Times bestselling author of The Many Lives of Mama Love (an Oprah Book Club pick!)

Lara opens up about her journey through addiction, incarceration, and the painful separation from her children—and how she rebuilt her life through resilience, recovery, and storytelling. Together, Rob, Jennifer, and Lara shine a light on the foster care system, the power of second chances, and the urgent need to support youth in care.

🎧 Listen & Subscribe:

YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | wherever you get your podcasts!

💬 Share your thoughts in the comments—we’d love to hear from you!

📅 Don’t miss it: In honor of National Foster Care Awareness Month, new episodes will be released every Tuesday in May.

🌐 Learn more & support our mission: www.comfortcases.org

📌 More Information:

Children’s Action Network

FosterMore

📱 Follow & Connect:

Children’s Action Network: Instagram @childrensactionnetwork | X @childrensaction | Facebook Children’s Action Network

FosterMore: Instagram @foster_more | X @fostermore | Facebook FosterMore

Lara Love Hardin: Instagram @laralovehardin | Facebook Lara Love Hardin

📖 Get Lara’s book, The Many Lives of Mama Love, at your favorite bookstore.

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