Conversation & discussion on contemporary Adoption & Fostering
Episodes
Saturday Apr 17, 2021
Saturday Apr 17, 2021
Welcome to Conversations from the Adoption & Fostering podcast.
This week we are talking to Shushma an adoptive parent. Shushma's story is unconventional in relation to fostering and transracial adoption and certainly raises questions about finding the right family for children regardless of how that looks. It's a short episode and you can find a link to Shushma book and social media here:
If you would like to share your story, then please do contact us on our social media platforms, or via email aandfpodcast@gmail.com
You can also listen to the podcast:
Saturday Apr 10, 2021
Saturday Apr 10, 2021
In this episode we speak to Sandy Harper who is looking to carry out research on the impact of fostering on foster carers. We're also joined by, friend of the show and foster carer, Ema Mortimer to offer some lived experience and insight.
Sandy would like to hear from foster carers about what stresses and challenges they experience, and what strengths, resilience, and reflective abilities they have to be able to persevere. If you'd like to be involved it the research it is an anonymous study and you need to email Sandy at alexandra.harper@hmc.ox.ac.uk
We chat about the general experience of foster carers and some of the specific challenges and difficulties that are often faced by carers. We also engage in humour, banter, talk about fridge inspections and Tim the hamster, you know the usual stuff!
As always we're very happy to hear from you all and if you want to get in touch please email us at aandfpodcast@gmail.com or through our Twitter or Facebook page.
As always, thanks for listening and you can also listen to the podcast:
Friday Apr 02, 2021
Friday Apr 02, 2021
In this, a podcast special, Scott and Jacob interview the author of the book 'Foster Boy'. Rhian is a social worker in CAHMS and this is her first book reflection her knowledge and experience of children's experiences in care.
You can buy the books here
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fosterboy-Rhian-Taylor/dp/183816202X
https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Fosterboy-by-Rhian-Taylor-author/9781838162023
If you would like to share your story or experience, then please do contact us on our social media platforms, or via email aandfpodcast@gmail.com
You can also listen to the podcast:
iTunes here Spotify here Google here
Thursday Apr 01, 2021
Thursday Apr 01, 2021
This was the first episode in our mini series - “How’s your Lockdown Hun”. There were some slight audio issues for Scott in this episode, and therefore we have attempted to improve the sound quality… however, it still sounds like Scott is in a tin can in outer space. Polly Penter is our first guest, and more than makes up for Scott’s audio. Sharing her experience of the last year, how it has impacted her, as well as touching briefly on keeping in touch remotely with all of her parents and family. As ever, Polly was a fab guest, and lots of laughs to be had too, over what is a serious topic.
If you would like to share your story, then please do contact us on our social media platforms, or via email aandfpodcast@gmail.com
You can also listen to the podcast:
Saturday Mar 27, 2021
Saturday Mar 27, 2021
Hi, in this episode we get the smashing Dr Marie Kershaw on to answer listener's questions. It'a a lighthearted but really helpful and informed conversation and we were delighted to have her back on after a four year gap! Thanks for all the questions we received, we hopefully were able to consider them all in the ones we asked and as Marie notes, without more specific information it's hard to give specific personalised answers. However, we do manage to open up some ideas and thought on solutions and what may be going on.
As always we're very happy to hear from you all and if you want to get in touch please email us at aandfpodcast@gmail.com or through our Twitter or Facebook page.
As always, thanks for listening and you can also listen to the podcast:
Thursday Mar 25, 2021
Thursday Mar 25, 2021
In our final “How’s your Lockdown Hun?” Scott chatted to childhood friend, Westend star and adult adoptee Shone White. Talking candidly like friends would in the Pub (remember them) they talk all things Lockdown, and how it has affected Shona and her counterparts in the arts. As ever, the technophobe Scott couldn’t work out how to do various things, including sharing the photo from 1980 of the two of them in Primary School, but be assured, Shona was open and honest about how the Lockdowns have affected her, and how it will continue for years to come.
As ever, this is their perspectives and views, some listeners may see similarities in some of their experiences.
If you would like to share your story, then please do contact us on our social media platforms, or via email aandfpodcast@gmail.com
You can also listen to the podcast:
Saturday Mar 20, 2021
Saturday Mar 20, 2021
Welcome to Conversations from the Adoption & Fostering podcast.
This week we are talking to Thelma a graduate of the Pause Programme. Thelma shares some of her experience of being in care and having some of her children in care. Thelma is also works as a peer mentor with Pause and supports other parents with similar experiences.
It's a short episode but it touches on emotive issues so please be mindful of that.
If you would like to share your story, then please do contact us on our social media platforms, or via email aandfpodcast@gmail.com
You can also listen to the podcast:
Thursday Mar 18, 2021
Thursday Mar 18, 2021
In what can only be described as experimental podcasting Scott has branched out on his own to chat to a few folks with lived experience of adoption and fostering to as how they've faired in Lockdown.
In episode 2 of “How’s your Lockdown Hun?” – we have fixed Scott’s audio issues…. and Scott chatted to Daniel, an adopted adult. The plan was to talk about how lockdown has been for Daniel and his family, and there is certainly some messages in there about how Daniel coped with it all, however, the conversation was really influenced by Daniel not finding out he was adopted until he was 26 years old. Daniel is only 35 now. I am sure you can imagine how interesting this conversation was, and it certainly wasn’t the plan to talk as deeply about all of the experiences of Daniel – however, it was definitely a story that we all need to hear. Catch Daniel on Twitter @dnlbshp
Next week Scott is joined by “friend of the show”, West End Star, Adult Adoptee, Scott’s childhood friend – Shona White (@SingingHaggis). Next Wednesday – LIVE and FREE at 8pm.
In what can only be described as experimental podcasting Scott has branched out on his own to chat to a few folks with lived experience of adoption and fostering to as how they've faired in Lockdown.
If you would like to share your story, then please do contact us on our social media platforms, or via email aandfpodcast@gmail.com
You can also listen to the podcast:
Saturday Mar 13, 2021
Saturday Mar 13, 2021
This week we speak to the CEO of Adoption Focus Anna Sharkey, Scott had asked her on to speak to us in relation to early permanence and foster to adopt. Anna runs the Triangle Project as part of Adoption Focus and she speak with authority in relation to the work that they do, how and why the do it and detail about some of the challenges. Anna is generous in sharing some of her personal story and her link to adoption as well.
We also get time to reflect on the 'Moonpig incident' and even though we're a bit 'meh' we were surprised to get a direct apology on Twitter. Slightly odd as we didn't even complain. To add to this there's talk of wildlife shenanigans, a nerf gun and more.
As always, thanks for listening and you can also listen to the podcast:
Wednesday Mar 10, 2021
Wednesday Mar 10, 2021
Welcome to Conversations from the Adoption & Fostering podcast.
This week we are talking to Whitney, a 22 year old Care Experienced Adult. We came across Whitney on Social Media, when she posted openly and honestly about her experience of being permanently excluded from education, with images of reports and information (that she had carefully concealed personal details on), and were intrigued by Whitney’s openness and honesty.
Whitney tells me all about her earlier life, and her early experiences of social workers and professionals being in her life, but unaware why, her foster care experience, homelessness, mental health, being educated in a Pupil Referral Unit (PRU), and her experiences of the court system, police, and ultimately prison.
Whitney also discusses her sibling being adopted, and how the severing of this link has affected her, and continues to.
There is much more discussed in Whitney’s story, these are just some of the topics we explore.
As ever, this is Whitney’s story, and her experience, and some listeners may see similarities in some of their experiences, but Whitney was clear that she wanted to share in the detail she has, and is fully supported in that from her Support Network.
If you would like to share your story, then please do contact us on our social media platforms, or via email aandfpodcast@gmail.com
You can also listen to the podcast: