This week’s episode is Part One of a special three-part series called Why This Work Matters, where I’ll be highlighting organizations that support children and families impacted by foster and kinship care and sharing why this work matters so deeply to me personally as a former foster youth.

In this episode, I’m talking about Least of These Carolinas, a faith based nonprofit organization serving children and families across North Carolina through programs like Bags of Hope, Shoes of Hope, Bridge Camp, Just Like You Scholarships, Life Boxes, and their Christmas initiatives.

I share reflections on why things that may seem small from the outside, like a duffel bag, a pair of shoes, a camp experience, or a handwritten note, can actually carry deep emotional impact for children in foster care.

This episode is a conversation about dignity, consistency, belonging, normalcy, and the importance of showing up for children and families in meaningful ways. I also share perspective on what people often miss about foster care and why support beyond the initial crisis matters more than many realize.

Thank you for listening, learning, and growing alongside me through these important conversations!

To learn more about Least of These Carolinas or get involved, visit: Least of These Carolinas 

In this first episode of the new In Real Time mini series, I wanted to sit down and talk more casually about some of the conversations, moments, opportunities, and reflections that have been happening lately throughout Foster Care Awareness Month.

I share my thoughts surrounding recent CMS conversations connected to foster care liaison positions, attending the foster care symposium with Least of These Carolinas, and why I believe using your voice and planting seeds truly matters.

This episode also includes reflections on:• stepping outside of my comfort zone to bring awareness into everyday conversations• future hopes of someday speaking directly to foster youth in local high schools• a conversation that sparked new thoughts about possibly writing books for foster youth• what guardian ad litems (GALs) are and how everyday people can become involved in supporting children in care• and why I personally believe some moments and conversations are not random

I also share this week’s Broken to Built Reflection Question, Rebuild Challenge, and closing prayer.

Thank you for continuing to grow, reflect, heal, and build alongside me!

Mother’s Day can bring so many different emotions depending on someone’s story.

For some, it feels joyful.
For others, it feels heavy.
Sometimes it feels healing, complicated, grief-filled, or somewhere in between.

In this episode, I wanted to create a space for every kind of mother and nurturing figure. The biological moms, stepmoms, foster moms, adoptive moms, single parents, women longing to become mothers, those grieving loss, and the people quietly showing up for others through love and care every single day.

I talk about the unseen pressure many parents carry, healing while parenting, breaking generational cycles, complicated relationships with mothers, miscarriage and loss, emotional safety, and the powerful impact of continuing to show up with love even on the hard days.

No matter what Mother’s Day looks like for you this year, I hope this episode reminds you that your story, your healing, your grief, your effort, and your love all matter too.

Happy Mother’s Day to every kind of mother, parent, and nurturing figure listening.

Until next time, keep growing, keep healing, and as always… keep building.

It has been one year of Built From Broken.

In this episode, I reflect on what this past year has looked like, from starting this podcast during a time of uncertainty, to the growth, healing, and unexpected opportunities that followed.

I share more about what was happening behind the scenes, how this journey has changed me, and what I have learned about faith, purpose, and starting before you feel ready.

I also share what’s ahead as we move into Foster Care Awareness Month, and introduce a new space where I will be going deeper by writing on Substack.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re not ready to begin something that has been placed on your heart, this episode is for you.

First Substack Article - What This Past Year Taught Me

May is Foster Care Awareness Month, and this episode is where it begins.

Most people don’t think about foster care unless it directly affects them.
But what happens when we take a moment to really understand it?

In this episode, I am opening the door to start the conversation for a deeper understanding of foster care. Not just what people think it is, but what it actually looks like beneath the surface. We talk about the lack of awareness, the scale of the system, and why this conversation matters more than most people realize.

We also explore the gaps in understanding and the ways people can begin to get involved, even in small, meaningful ways.

This is not about having all the answers.
It is about being willing to see something differently.

If you’ve never thought much about foster care before, this is where that awareness starts.

🎧 Listen, reflect, and consider one way you can take action this month.

In Part Two, we continue the conversation, moving into the more complex, emotional, and meaningful parts of my dad’s story.

From the relationship we built later in life to the things I understand differently now, this episode is about perspective, growth, and the love that remains even after loss, as we approach the five year anniversary of his passing this Wednesday.

We close this episode with a Broken to Built reflection question, a Rebuild Challenge, and a prayer to carry with you.

As we approach the five year anniversary of my dad’s passing this Wednesday, I’m sitting down to talk about him in a way I never have before.

In this episode, I’m joined by my stepmom, Cindy, as we begin to unpack who he was, what shaped him, and the parts of his story I didn’t fully understand growing up.

This is the start of a deeper conversation, one rooted in love, reflection, and seeing someone more clearly with time. This is Part One of a two part series.

In the final part of this Q&A series, I’m sharing reflections on personal growth, healing, and what it looks like to move beyond survival and actually live differently.

This episode touches on mindset shifts, breaking generational cycles, and parenting with intention, while also acknowledging that growth isn’t perfect and healing isn’t linear.

As we’re coming up on one year of Built From Broken, I would love to hear from you. What has this podcast meant to you? Whether you’ve been here from the beginning or just recently started listening, I want to know what’s stuck with you and how it’s impacted you.

You can send me a message, comment on any episodes, or use the Google Form through my link here: linktr.ee/_builtfrombroken

I would love to hear your thoughts and reflections!

In this Q&A episode of Built From Broken, I’m answering some of the most personal questions I’ve received about my relationship with my mom.

We talk about what it’s like growing up with a parent who struggles with mental illness, the confusion it creates as a child, and the understanding that comes with time.

I share how my perspective has shifted as an adult… from anger to compassion, from misunderstanding to awareness… while still acknowledging the very real impact it had on me.

This episode dives into:

• what people often misunderstand about mental illness in parents
• how I’ve learned to separate who my mom is from her illness
• the grief of the relationship we never got to have
• and the boundaries I’ve had to put in place to protect myself and my family

This is a conversation about love, loss, perspective, and healing… and how sometimes, two things can be true at once.

If this episode resonated with you, I’d love to hear from you.

Follow, share, or leave a review to help this message reach others who may need it.

This week on Built From Broken, I’m continuing the Q&A series and answering some of the most personal questions that came in during Season One.

We talk about what it feels like when people learn I was in foster care, how childhood triggers can carry into adulthood, how I truly feel when I look back on my childhood, whether it’s anger, sadness, or something deeper, and navigating the complex emotions I have toward my grandparents.

I also share a powerful moment from Vision Night with Least of These Carolinas and how even a glimpse into that reality can shift perspective. There is also an exciting personal update woven into this episode that I can’t wait to share.

This episode is honest, reflective, and a reminder that healing isn’t always simple… but it is possible.

If you want to learn more about Least of These Carolinas or how you can support what they’re doing, you can visit: https://lotcarolinas.com/