Conversation & discussion on contemporary Adoption & Fostering
Episodes
4 days ago
4 days ago
We explore why positive attention matters more than we often realise and explore the simple, realistic ways carers and parents can build connection into everyday moments. We also recognise that as adults, we need a bit of positive dosing too, so it’s worth thinking about this in your own life with friends, family and colleagues as small positive interactions matter for everyone.
As always you can connect with us through the following -
Website- www.bettermebetterus.co.uk
Instagram- BMBUltd
Facebook – Better Me Better Us
Email – info@bettermebetterus.co.uk
7 days ago
7 days ago
Hello and welcome to conversations from the AandF podcast.
In this episode I speak to a former guest Mary-Joy Johnson founder of Wildways therapy and an integrative psychotherapist whose work focuses on supporting adoptive parents. This is a really helpful conversation considering the impact of trauma on parents and considers where that comes from as well as changing the narrative of self care to one of community care. I hope you find it useful and if you want to know more of the work she does you can access Mary-Joy’s website here
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
Saturday Mar 28, 2026
Saturday Mar 28, 2026
Hello and welcome to the second podcast from our Canada road trip. In this episode we reflect on a few of the conversations we had with the team from Interwoven Connections. They support families formed though adoption, fostering, kinship and customary care and have a huge knowledge base around FASD and CPV (AFCCA). We were given much to think of and we unpack it as well as being a little giddy at being in the same room for the 8th day in a row!
You can listen to Tanya Dugay's interview from my Churchill Fellowship here.
As always, if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
Saturday Mar 21, 2026
Saturday Mar 21, 2026
Hello and welcome to the this Canada road trip podcast, in this first episode we stitch together our 'on the road' recordings as we jollied our way around Ontario and Quebec in Canada.
It's pretty flippant and catches on the road with a few instant reflections on Canada, each other and some of the people we met. In the next episode we unpack our time in Smith Falls and Ottawa with a few members of the Interwoven Connections team as well as some broader issues.
Scott also recorded an interview with the Hamilton FASD Collaborative and we'll be releasing that soon.
As always, if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
Saturday Mar 14, 2026
Saturday Mar 14, 2026
Hello and welcome to the AandF podcast.
In this episode we’ve a recording of a Walking with Families peer support group sessions with social worker Rachel Staff. Rachel has broad experience of working with and supporting parents of teenagers. In this session she unpacks some of that insight with adoptive parents and considers the impact of early adversity on normal teenage challenges.
You can connect with Rachel here
If you’re an adoptive parent and would like to join the Walking with Families Facebook community here or the online sessions here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
Tuesday Mar 10, 2026
Tuesday Mar 10, 2026
This month we explore identity. With International Identity Day, International Day of Happiness and Mother’s Day all taking place this month, we reflect on how identity develops and how our experiences and relationships shape the way we see ourselves.
We talk about the importance of checking things out with someone rather than making assumptions, and how creating safe, supportive spaces allows children and young people to explore who they are and feel able to be their authentic selves.
Website- www.bettermebetterus.co.uk
Instagram- BMBUltd
Facebook – Better Me Better Us
Email – info@bettermebetterus.co.uk
Saturday Mar 07, 2026
Saturday Mar 07, 2026
Hello and welcome to the AandF podcast.
In this recording adoptive parent and founder of FASD Ireland shares his family's story and unpacks the realities, challenges and some of the solutions to parenting a child with FASD
This is a different kind of episode, in January Tris Casson Rennie joined one one the peer support group sessions that I host with Walking with Families. We are a community of adoptive parents who are living with challenging behaviour and Tris is an adoptive parent and the founder of FASD Ireland. In this session he was able to unpack Feotal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder - FASD- with us and help us make sense of behaviour and what can help with that. He gives a pocket sized training then answers some of the questions from the community.
You can find out more of the work that Tris and his husband Scott do here FASD Ireland.
If you’re an adoptive parent and would like to join the community. Below is the link to the joining form, we meet weekly online on Monday lunchtimes as well as during the month in the evenings.
https://forms.office.com/e/drdn16BLZ2
We also have a FB group that will be part of the community and you can join that here.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1620682492650215/
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
Saturday Feb 28, 2026
Saturday Feb 28, 2026
Hello and welcome to conversations from the AandF podcast.
In this episode I speak to Richard McCombe an adoptive parent. He shares his family’s experience of adoption including the challenges that they have faces caring for children with complex needs and complex behaviour. Richard lives in Scotland and the different aspects of that experiences are also shared.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
Saturday Feb 21, 2026
Saturday Feb 21, 2026
Hello and welcome to this special edition of the Fostering and Adoption podcast
On the 12th February Patch held their first in person conference in Liverpool bringing together adoptive parents, adult adoptees and professionals from the adoption arena. Fiona Wells is the founder and a driving force behind Patch and here is a recording of her morning keynote presentation on the “Journey of the Child.”
If you want to know more about the work of Patch you can find that here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
Saturday Feb 14, 2026
Saturday Feb 14, 2026
Hello and welcome to the A&F podcast with Scott Casson-Rennie AMBII and Al Coates.
This was recorded the day of the Children's Minister's announcement on the Adoption & Special Guardianship Support Fund and the announcement of a consultation. So, after a little banter we get right into it and unpack our views on it. Frankly we pull no punches and throw caution to the wind of ever getting Josh Mac on the podcast.
We also unpack the announcement for an extra 10,000 carers and after a short pause we get onto the issue of is foster caring a job!
Below is the link to the FASD Ireland conference. A limited number of Early Bird tickets are now available - secure your place today: www.fasdireland.ie/conference
If you're an adoptive parent and are wanting to join the 'Walking with Families' online FB group you can join here
or
if you want to sign up to the weekly online support meetings for adopters caring for children with challenging behaviour you can do so here
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com