May 19, 2019
Hello & welcome to Adoptee Conversations from the adoption and fostering podcast.
In this new series we’re inviting adoptees to share their perspectives and views on all things adoption. We’ve no agenda and are looking to have open and frank conversation. In this, the first episode, I chat to Courtney from the United States and she shares her views and perspectives on adoption as well as parts of her story.
Please note, Courtney is open and honest about the impact of adoption on her and how this manifest in her life from a young age. Some of the detail of this may be upsetting for listeners who have experience of adoption from whatever perspective so we advise caution. If there’s any doubt then give it a pass or ask a friend to listen to screen it for you.
If you’d like to know more or have any questions for Courtney her twitter handle is @wordyramblings and she’d be more to answer questions.
We hope you find it interesting and if you’re an adoptee and would like to share your perspective or experience then please do direct message us at our twitter feed or on our facebook page.
May 18, 2019
This week we speak to Satwinder Sandhu from the International Adoption Centre as well as add a little wedding chat on then end for those that want the low down on Scott's nuptuals.
Satwinder has recently taken over the role as the Chief Executive of the IAC and Scott invited him in to speak about a subject that is not often the focus of the adoption community. There were some questions in relation to some aspects of the practice and some of the stereotypes that are hovering around. Satwinder is open and honest in relation to his experience as well as the positives and some of the challenges of the process. As he's new in the job we didn't go too hard on him!
At the end of the podcast we have a little catch up on the giddy details of wearing kilts, choke holds from Canadians and all that from Scott and Tris' wedding of the century.
As always a cheeky review on iTunes here would be appreciated.
May 11, 2019
This weeks episode is the recording of a conference workshop that I delivered at the Great North Ace Conference at the end of April for the ACE Network NE.
I was asked to speak to professionals about supporting parents, carers and families that live with children who can display challenging, violent and aggressive behaviour in a short workshop. Its a subject that I’d normally run over a minimum of a half day so I talk fast and sometimes skip over issues that I’d dig around in for a lot longer.
The book 'Lets talk about Childhood Challenging Violent or Aggressive Behaviour in the Home' can be bought here on amazon in paperback and on kindle.
I hope you enjoy it and as I note I will be starting some webinars on the subject in the near future.
May 4, 2019
In this week's episode Al interviews Betsy de Thierry and they discuss the roots of shame, types of shame and the impact on many children who have experienced trauma and challenges in their early lives. We've a book to give away that Betsy has written 'The Simple Guide to Understanding Shame in Children: What It Is and How to Help'
We've got a copy to give away so check our twitter feed, here, for details of how to do that.
There's a little banter too as we chat about some of the recent events online and the challenges of communicating with those around the adoption triangle.
As always, a cheeky review on iTunes here would be appreciated and if you're really keen you could vote for us at the Podcast awards here.
April 27, 2019
In this episode we speak to Garry and Kyle as they share their story of, firstly, fostering children with complex needs and then adopting them.
If you'd like to share your story then please get in touch through the Adoption & Fostering Podcast's facebook page here, or our twitter feed here.
April 20, 2019
In this episode Stephanie shares her story of adopting two little boys with her husband. She discussed the challenges of ethnicity and faith as well as the struggle to get appropriate support for her children.
If you'd like to share your story then please get in touch through the Adoption & Fostering Podcast's facebook page here, or our twitter feed here.
April 13, 2019
In this episode Al speaks to Twayna Mayne author of the Loco Parentis Podcast, comedian and adoptee about her experiences growing up in care and making the decision to be adopted in her mid teens. It a remarkable story and Twayna is open and honest about her experiences and views on transracial adoption amongst many other things.
Scott and Al tentatively discuss thoughts on transracial adoption then move onto the sad news that After Adoption have closed as well as bantering on the AUK survey, a bizarre WhatsApp group and a disastrous Radio 2 interview. It's a little longer than usual as Scott recounts a tale from his much publicised stag doo in the final 10 mins.
There the mixing is a little off this week as there's been a little software bother, fear not, we're on it. As always a cheeky review on iTunes here would be appreciated and if you're really keen you could vote for us at the Podcast awards here.
April 6, 2019
On the 29th March Al was invited to speak at the Adoption Matters Conference with Hettie Verhagen. In a spirit of cheekiness Al took his tape recorder and a bag full of C90s and headed off.
There was a raft of interesting speakers that managed to allude Al, however a few were cornered and Hettie Verhagen shares some excellent views on supporting families who live with violence and aggression. John Simmonds CBE was found in a sunny garden and spoke of collaboration and human ventures. Sir Mark Hedley, Patron of Adoption Matters, adoptive parent and retired high court Judge shares some views on the legal aspects of adoption.
You can hear that we were at a conference, background noise etc. and Sir John Timpson crashes one of the interviews. There’s traffic and train noises galore.
We hope you enjoy and as we visit different places we’ll try and do some more.
March 30, 2019
Earlier in the month we were asked if we'd ever had a podcast specifically on Panel. We haven't, so we opened up the floodgates, had Twitter poll and the opinions and views flooded in.
This is it, Scott and Al talk about their experiences as panel members, attending panels and, for Al, presenting to panel. We try to reflect a range of concerns and point raised by listeners including; the quality of assessment, the experience of panel members and Agency Decision Makers. We unpack the actual legislation and consider the impact of RAAs on all of that.
There's minimal banter and it's also the first full length podcast that we've recorded live in the same room together so that adds to the mix.
As ever get in touch if you want to ask a question, offer an opinion, slag us off or some such. If you're feeling warm and fluffy leaving us a nice review on iTunes could be your act of kindness for the day.
March 23, 2019
In this episode Anne shares her story of adoption a girl with her husband. Anne's came to adoption having a broad range of experience and she tells some of the challenges and some of the joys that they've experienced.
If you'd like to share your story then please get in touch through the Adoption & Fostering Podcast's facebook page here, or our twitter feed here.
