Diamond Kobylinski describes how he literally had to unpack his survival mechanisms from growing up in the foster care system after being adopted.  Diamond also shares about how his relationships developed over time with his adoptive moms, Amy and Jessica. And how an unexpected medical event impacted those relationships.  Learn more at JustAsSpecial.com.

Diamond describes how growing up gay in the foster care system made his life extra-intense.  As a teenager, Diamond was faced with an important decision when he learned a family of two moms was interested in adopting him.  Since this recording, Diamond has closed Hope for Colorado.  Fact Check: Currently there are more than 400,000 kids in foster care in the United States. Every year, 23,000 kids age out without any family to call home.  Learn more at www.JustAsSpecial.com.

Longtime foster parent and foster parent trainer, Kaleo George, discusses how each of her 3 kids are impacted by their family's foster care journey.

Longtime foster parent and foster parent trainer, Kaleo George, opens up about the messiness of foster care. In opening up about her personal experiences as a foster mom, Kaleo also paints a picture of how to navigate foster parenting in a way that honors both the complexities and families involved — and the beauty that arises when you show up to stand alongside someone in the messiness of life. To see photos of Kaleo and her family, visit www.JustAsSpecial.com.

This is the second episode of our This Foster Care Life miniseries where we bring you multiple perspectives around the same topic. Today's topic is how past trauma affects today's brain.  In this episode, you will hear from: - Diamond Kobylinski, a self-described former gay foster youth, who describes how coming out affected his emotional state. - Kaleo George, a longtime foster parent and foster parent trainer, about how her past trauma impacts her foster parenting. - And more!

Bruce LeClaire, a member of the Rosebud Sioux tribe, has spent more than 20 years being an advocate for native youth in the foster care system.  He joins us to discuss how culture is a guiding star for native youth. We also discuss culture clashes with mainstream America, the Indian Child Welfare Act, and much more.

Cultural Ties is the first episode of our This Foster Care Life miniseries where we bring you multiple perspectives around the same topic. Our fellow Emmy Tither, being Peruvian and British, personally relates to the idea of cultural ties making them the perfect host for this episode. You will also hear from: Bruce LeClaire, a Rosebud Sioux Tribe member and long-time foster care professional; Brittany, a foster mom in a multi-racial family; and Kenisha E. Anthony: a former kid in care.

In-demand therapist Patti Swope describes how she became mom to one of her former patients, Mattie Baker (a former foster youth and one of our fan-favorite podcast guests). Patti specializes in the power of secure attachments and she walks us through how she and Mattie overcame trigger cycles and skepticism from the foster care system to become family for each other. Learn more at JustAsSpecial.com.

Decolonize Everything invited us to talk about decolonizing family — especially as it relates to foster care. In this episode, we push the boundaries of family; reframe foster care; and confront the power dynamics and savior complex in foster families. Learn more at www.JustAsSpecial.com.

We talk foster care parenting and volunteering, radical honesty and transparency, pets we’ve had to return, mind reading, and tons more with the Discussion Combustion podcast. Big thanks to Kevin and Arthur for inviting us on their podcast to help spread foster care awareness and to let our listeners get the chance to know a different side of Just As Special podcast hosts, Natasha and Rachel. View the video version of this podcast at https://www.justasspecial.com/discussion-combustion.