Conversation & discussion on contemporary Adoption & Fostering
Episodes
Saturday Dec 31, 2022
Saturday Dec 31, 2022
In this episode we invite Paula and Tris back onto the podcast and we reflect on some of the challenges, trials, tribulations, lessons and joys of 2022. We of course mention Scott's health incident and the Coates' latest grandchild as well as reflect on a broad range of issues including therapeutic support, what children really want and the top three podcasts of the year.
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 or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Friday Dec 30, 2022
Friday Dec 30, 2022
Here we go the most listened to podcast of 2022 by a fair way!
So, following the 'success' and brutal honesty of last year's spousal episode we invited our respective other halves onto the podcast as we start the new year. Last year we looked at the impact of adoption on relationships and this year we're focusing on Therapy. We consider the trials and tribulations of accessing therapy, what therapy works, the impact on our children and the benefit to us. As always, it's a fun and frank exchange we talk about our own experiences and some of the challenges we've faced.
As we mention in the podcast you can visit the noborderstraining website and access links to some of the resources or you can DM us if you've any questions.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Thursday Dec 29, 2022
Thursday Dec 29, 2022
In our roundup of the 2022 this was our second most listened to episode, again we see the experience of developing contact with birth parents as an issue that attracts interested.
In this episode we respond to a listeners question in relation to meeting adopted children's birth parents. We had a fantastic response on Facebook to the question and we also asked birth mother Charlotte (see this episode) to share her thoughts. We included her contribution via recorded message at the end of the podcast and really appreciate her contribution. Meeting parents can be a difficult for everyone involved and we unpick some of the issues and reflect on the shared comments and perspectives.
We also unpick some of the issues raised by the recent Somerset judgement and the impact on some prospective adopters and those with children just joined.
As always there's plenty of banter and inappropriate email shenanigans, as well we also announce an upcoming guest and ask for a little help from you.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Wednesday Dec 28, 2022
Wednesday Dec 28, 2022
It's the end of 2022 and we're re releasing the top three downloaded podcasts of the year. In third place we have Episode 132.
In this podcast we are joined by adoptive parent Elaine Amy, from that Twitter, and we open up a discussion in relation to adoptive parent’s responses to the changing landscape and criticisms of adoption. This is a conversation between adopters about adoption and that’s the focus of the conversation hence no adoptee voices.
We chat in relation to the questions of human rights, birth parent’s perspectives and our perspectives on the difficult issue of contact. We also discuss the challenges of supporting children when they have different views to their siblings as well as how our views have changed across our experience of being adopters .
It’s a fairly open discussion and looks at a range of topics that are a little less travelled, we would of course welcome any comments or thoughts on what we chat about.
We are always happy to hear from anyone who may have experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like to share your views of perspective please get in touch on Facebook, Twitter or email at aandfpodcasst@gmail.com
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Saturday Dec 24, 2022
Saturday Dec 24, 2022
In this our final normal episode of the year we rattle through a raft of news items (Adoption Agencies closure, ASLGB, ARG, PP+), Scott gives some 'hot takes' and we reflect on our interview with the Shadow Minster Helen Hayes.
We're going to round up the year in an upcoming episode.
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 or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
Listen/subscribe on iTunes here
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Saturday Dec 17, 2022
Saturday Dec 17, 2022
In this episode we speak to MP Helen Hayes the Labour shadow Minister for Children and Early Years.
We discussed a range of issues and Helen was able to give Labour's and her perspective on the care review and other issues that impact on children and families. Certainly we could have spoken for longer as the time went quick.
Helen was really keen to engage with people with lived experience in relation to the care review and you can contact her through her website or via helen.hayes.mp@parliament.uk
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 or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
Listen/subscribe on iTunes here
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Tuesday Dec 13, 2022
Tuesday Dec 13, 2022
Scott was asked onto LBC radio to comment and reflect on the comments by Stephen Fry over the weekend in relation to his views on not being a parent. Scott shares some of his experience and journey to parenting through adoption. He also shamelessly promotes the podcast! an absolute star.
It's always interesting to communicate the complexity of adoption and the nuances of parenting as an adopter to a mainstream audience and Scott does a cracking job of doing that.
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 or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
Listen/subscribe on iTunes here
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Saturday Dec 10, 2022
Saturday Dec 10, 2022
Welcome to conversations from the A&F podcast.
This is my first conversation in quite a while, and what a subject to come back to.
This week we talk to Zach and Alison. Regular listener Zach got in touch with us after listening to Al and I discussing the New Family Social podcast on “Consensual non-monogamy” recently.
Zach and his partner Alison are from Southern Carolina in the United States, and they wanted to talk to us about what they call “ethical non-monogamy”, not just about their relationship status, but also their journey through to adopting teenagers.
We were keen to interview Zach and Alison without judgement, but to also really try to get to the bottom of what “ethical non-monogamy” means to them and their family.
As ever, this is Zach and Alison’s story, and they talk openly about their status as a couple, but also they provide lots of information and statistics about the adoption process in South Carolina.
If you would like to be on an episode of the A&F Podcast conversations, then please do get in touch, either via our social on DM or by emailing aandfpodcast@gmail.com
Saturday Dec 03, 2022
Saturday Dec 03, 2022
Hello, in this episode we share an interview that we did with Robin Findlay from the National Union of Professional Foster Carers
He shares some of his experience of being a carer as well as the genesis of the NAPFC came about and the work that they do.
Prior to the interview we reflect on the conference, planned tour and the AUK's new service for adult adoptees.
If you're interested in us coming to do a live podcast near you then fill in this form.....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 or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
Listen/subscribe on iTunes here
Spotify here
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Thursday Dec 01, 2022
Thursday Dec 01, 2022
Breaking news the Adoption and Special Guardianship Leadership Board is to cease.
We unpick the news that we've got today, what does it mean, how did we get here and what next.
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 or twitter or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
Listen/subscribe on iTunes here
Spotify here
Google here