Barely Braided: A Disorderly Parenting Podcast

Episode 54: Parenting Disciplining Styles, Rating Top 2022 Baby Names

Episode 53: A Special Visitor for Christmas, Inspire Implant, & Panks

Episode 52: Reading Reviews + Tips For a New Caseworker

Episode 51: It's Ari's Adoption Day!!!

Episode 50: Poop Stuff, Moving to Mexico? Life update as a South Dakotan

In this episode, Joel and I give a typical, off-balance life update regarding our adopted son, our foster daughter, and our lives as newly South Dakotans.

Episode 49: Welcome to the Black Hills, South Dakota! + TPR Trial

Episode 48: Hola from Tulum!

Episode 47: Alex and Amy After Dark

Episode 46: TikTok Live Podcast, Joel Tries a Ponytail, Christmas, Random Updates

Episode 45: Life Update w/One of Our Favorite Foster Dads, Corey Taylor!

Episode 44: What I Wish I Would Have Known & Couch Chats w/Joel

Episode 43: Rita Soronen, CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption

Episode 42: Racism and Prejudice in Foster Care and Adoption

Episode 41: Tips for Air Travel with an Infant or Toddler (or Two!)

Episode 40: Doozy number twozey! Foster care updates w/the one & only, Joel

Episode 39: This one's a doozy! Foster care updates and more with Joel and Alex

Episode 38: Joel & Alex Couch Chats, Foster Updates, DCS Inefficiencies, Our Lives!

Episode 37: International Adoption (India!) Chats w/Bio & Adoptive Mom/Children's Author, Amanda Wall

Amanda Wall, a biological mother of 2 and adoptive mother of 2, as well as Children's book author, tells the story of adopting her two daughters from India. She has documented their experience in a book called Finding Family in a Far-Away Land. Check out her website and purchase the book at www.amandawall.org .

Episode 36: Chat with Kinship Foster/Adoptive Mom, Erin Bouchard

Erin is our foster/adoptive mom friend from Canada, and I was pleased to chat with her about double home studies, kinship foster care, and children who have experienced trauma. Here's where you can find her: Love What Matters Article by Erin: https://www.lovewhatmatters.com/when-will-i-be-adopted-by-another-family-he-couldnt-accept-he-was-safe-adoptive-mom/ Trauma Informed Parenting FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/watch/Trauma-Informed-Parenting-101773102021813/ Trauma Informed Parenting Websi...

Episode 35: Interview with Adoption Attorney, Best-Selling Author, and Documentary Executive Producer, Natalie Chavis Fisher

Natalie Chavis Fisher is a best-selling author, third-generation attorney and executive producer for the feature documentary Foster Care: Perfect Imperfection. She is a leading expert in foster care adoption committed to helping improve the lives of vulnerable children and their caretakers. Natalie believes broken systems break children and has dedicated her life to help foster healing. She has been honored with the Congressional “Angel in Adoption” award for her work in child welfare. Find her ...

Episode 34: Chats w/Kayla Bias about Maintaining Birth Order, Foster-to-Adopt Programs, and Inquiring on AdoptUSKids

Let me apologize in advance for my audio quality! I was so excited to chat with Kayla from Ohio. She and her husband have 3-year-old twin biological children and they've recently become licensed for foster care as well as their local foster-to-adopt program. They're also involved in the process of inquiring about adoptive children on AdoptUSKids.org. Feel free to reach out to her with any questions at kayla.b.bias@gmail.com .

Episode 33: Joel and Alex Talk Brand Cults, Grandpas, Ari Updates, Parenting, and The Gateway Process

Episode 32: Conversation with Foster Parent, Will Myers, from The Foster Dad Podcast

I had the pleasure of speaking with Will from The Foster Dad podcast. He's a fairly new foster parent with tons of experience in his short time being involved in this crazy world! This episode is cross-posted to his platform as well. Check out The Foster Dad podcast on Instagram as well as all major podcast platforms.

Episode 31: Conversation with Foster Parent, Phil Wheeler, from Finding the Joys in the Journey Podcast

In listening to Phil's podcast, Finding the Joys in the Journey, I realized that he and his wife have so many similarities with Joel and I. In this cross-posted episode, we discuss each of our stories as foster parents. Check out Finding the Joys in the Journey on all major podcast platforms.

Episode 30: Hallie Riggs from Simply Smiles - Caring For Lakota Children on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation

Hallie Riggs is the Clinical Director at Simply Smiles, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing bright futures for children, their families, and their communities. Hallie works with Lakota children living on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation in South Dakota. One of their recent projects is a Children's Village which aims to provide housing and care for up to 36 children in their community. Reach Hallie by emailing hallie@simplysmiles.org or visit their website at www.simplysmile...

Episode 29: Chris & Ciera's Foster Care Story, Techless Wisephone, Infertility, & A Growing Family

In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Chris and Ciera, former foster parents in Texas. We discuss their foster care story as well as introduce listeners to a product they've created, the Techless Wisephone. The Wisephone is a stylish, smart, and SAFE alternative to cell phones for children and teens. It allows essential functions like calling and texting, with a sleek, stylish design. View the Wisephone here: https://techless.com/

Episode 28: Nashville Bombing, Ari Foster Updates, Resolutions/Bucket Lists w/Joel Ellis

Joel and I sit down for another closet chat to discuss what's happening in Nashville and provide updates for Ari's case.

Episode 27: Simon Benn Shares His Experiences & Insight as an Adoptee & Parenting Coach

I was so pleased to meet and speak with Simon Benn. The insight he shares as an adoptee is invaluable. He describes what he remembers of his adoption as an infant, his childhood, and how those experiences shaped him as an adult. We discuss personal development, identity, familial honesty, and more. To contact Simon, email simon@simonbenn.co.uk or visit his website at www.simonbenn.co.uk .

Episode 26: All About Bethany Christian Services w/Kayla Reis, Jil Resendiz & Brooke Borchers

In this episode, Kayla, Jil and Brooke provide insight into the many facets of Bethany Christian Services. Many people associate their organization as an adoption agency but in reality, they offer so much more! Kayla, Jil and Brooke kindly offer their contact information for anyone hoping to reach them with further questions: Kayla Reis (Therapeutic Foster Care): kreis@bethany.org Jil Resendiz (Transitional Foster Care): jresendiz@bethany.org Brooke Borchers (Foster Parent Licensing): bborchers@...

Episode 25: Interview w/Former Foster Youth, Child Welfare Advocate and Podcast Host, Pauline Goldsmith-Johnson

I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to sit down with a former foster youth who has taken her experiences with childhood trauma, foster care and adoption, to better serve the community through continued advocacy work. Check out her podcast, Foster Features, available on all major podcast platforms.