Danielle Murphy is a foster carer, writer, and advocate who has spent the past six years walking alongside children and young people in care. Through her lived experience, Danielle brings an honest and grounded voice to the realities of foster care — the deep love it invites, the uncertainty it holds, and the emotional labour required to keep showing up. She is the author of Hearts in Transition, a book written to reflect the stories so often left untold in foster care and to offer connection and support to other carers navigating similar paths.

In this conversation, Danielle and Megan explore what foster care really looks like beyond the surface. They speak candidly about the unpredictability of placements, the emotional toll of constant transitions, and the grief that carers and children carry — even when placements are short. Danielle reflects on how schools often struggle to understand the impact of trauma and transition on children in care, and why trauma-informed approaches are not optional, but essential. Together, they unpack how even a few weeks of safety, consistency, and care can leave a lasting imprint on a child’s life.

They also discuss what carers need in order to sustain this work — from genuine support systems and community, to honest recruitment practices and acknowledgment of the financial realities of fostering. Danielle shares why self-care is not a luxury for carers, but a necessity, and how building connection with other foster carers can be a lifeline. This episode is a deeply human conversation about holding love and loss at the same time, and what it truly means to care for children during seasons of transition.

You can find Danielle's book here.

Host: Megan Corcoran, Wagtail Institute

Wagtail Institute empowers schools and complex settings to become trauma-informed wellbeing communities of practice where everyone can thrive. We work alongside leaders, educators, and practitioners to respond to wellbeing challenges, enhance trauma-informed practice, and navigate pathways to healing. If you would like to work with Megan, head to our website or send an email: [email protected]

Music by Kabbilistic Village https://kabbalisticvillage.com/