Foster Tales

Today, I am joined by Tamesha Scott, who is an artist, author, and community leader at Kids in the Spotlight. Tamesha works tirelessly to help youth create their dreams through art. Her journey is one of resilience. Her passion is contagious. She and I dive into some of her journey through the foster care system, the power of manifesting, and how she got started with Kids in the Spotlight.

You can follow Tamesha on Instagram @rose.and.mary

To purchase Tamesha's book, "The Homegirl Who Can Cook", follow the link below to Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Clean-Eating-Recipe-Book-Homegirl/dp/1098951611

Foster kids are resilient. Celebrity hairstylist Natasha Minzie, is no exception. Natasha was placed in foster care at the age of 6. She tragically lost her mother, father, and sister to AIDS. Her upbringing in the foster care system has molded her to be an active leader for change in the foster care community.

Dec 1 is also World AIDS Day. We dedicate this episode to Natasha's angels who watch over her. We honor those who we have lost and will work to tirelessly remove any stigma of the HIV/AIDS virus. Learn more about HIV/AIDS : https://www.hiv.gov

To learn more about Natasha, follow her on instagram @HairbyNatashaMinzie

Randal Wells is the host of the Foster Tales Podcast. Please like and subscribe. If you are a former foster youth, or have a resource you would like to provide to the foster tales podcast, please send an email to [email protected]

On today's episode, I am joined by Mikey Doucet who is a foster care advocate and content creator of the Youtube Series "Divided Voices". You can find out more about Mikey and his web series on Youtube, Instagram, and Facebook @MikeyDoucet

On today's episode, the roles are reversed. I, Randal Wells, am being interviewed by my Season 3 guest (and best friend), Teagen Rose. From 3 seasons of doing this podcast, there are so many questions that you all had about who I was, and while I have shared some of my story throughout, some of you requested to learn more about me.

Randal Wells is a remarkable individual who has triumphed over immense adversity to become a singer, songwriter, entertainment professional, and a passionate advocate for Foster Care.

Born in Bridgeport, CT, Randal's early life was marked by hardship as he, along with his mother and grandmother, had to flee their home to escape his abusive father's battle with alcoholism. Tragically, at the tender age of 6, Randal lost his mother to breast cancer and was thrusted into the child welfare system, leading to a tumultuous adolescence filled with frequent moves from one foster home to another.

Throughout these challenging years, Randal faced the unjust label of a juvenile delinquent and found himself in multiple correctional facilities, never residing in one place for more than two years. Even his grandmother, who cared deeply for him, felt she was unable to provide the stability he needed. In the midst of this turbulent journey, Randal discovered solace in the art of creating and writing music.

At the age of 15, Randal found himself in a low-security group home, where he would eventually age out of the foster care system and embark on his mission to advocate for foster youth. The living conditions were deplorable, forcing Randal to take medication to suppress his appetite. Undeterred, he would travel long distances, enduring a three-bus commute to school while working part-time jobs. Remarkably, he maintained a stellar 4.4 GPA and emerged as a leader within various school organizations.

Randal's advocacy journey began when he volunteered as a local representative for Florida's State Youth Advisory Board, a coalition of foster youth from every county in the state. These young advocates participated in initiatives and projects that informed and impacted Florida's government and political leaders. Randal's dedication and leadership skills led to his election as the President of the State Youth Advisory Board of Florida. In this role, he tirelessly represented every foster youth in the state during congressional and legislative sessions. During his tenure, Randal played a pivotal role in lobbying for and ultimately passing Florida's "Road to Independence Act," which extended foster youth benefits from age 21 to 23, impacting thousands of foster youth every year.

During the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, Randal's passion for advocacy led him to launch the Foster Tales Podcast. Collaborating with guest speakers and fellow advocates, he brought the foster care experience to a global audience. Foster Tales resonated with people worldwide, streaming in over 27 different countries and earning recognition as one of the top podcasts in its genre. Randal's dedication did not go unnoticed, as Foster More honored him with the title of Content Creator of the Year for his impactful online presence and advocacy work on behalf of foster youth around the globe.

Today, Randal holds a prominent corporate position in the entertainment industry, a testament to his unwavering determination and resilience. He continues to create and release inspiring music, all while serving as a content creator, mentor, and a passionate community activist. Randal Wells embodies the spirit of overcoming adversity and using one's journey to inspire and uplift others on their path to success.

To learn more about me:

@IamRandalWells on all social media account

Randal Wells on Apple Music, Spotify, and Alexa

@FosterTalesPodcast on FB and Instagram

On today's episode I am joined by Los Angeles new anchor, Christine Devine. She is the host of the KTTV Fox 11 news segment, Wednesday's Child. She has won 16 Emmys, including the prestigious Governors Award. The news segment has lead to roughly 500 adoptions in the Southern California region. Christine comes armed with a wealth of resources in the Foster Care community and helps shine a light on how we all can be involved. 

To learn more about Christine you can connect with her on instagram at @DevineNews

To see the latest Wednesday's Child you can visit FoxLA for current and archived stories. 

Randal Wells hosts the Foster Tales podcast. Foster Tales is ranked in the top 10 of all Foster Care and Adoption podcasts throughout the world. Please like and subscribe. Make sure to leave a rating wherever you are listening to this podcast. If you have a guest in mind, please e-mail [email protected]. You can also follow us on Instagram/Facebook @FosterTalesPodcast

On today's episode I am joined by Fabian Movilla (@Faybn). Fabian is a member of the Christian-based organization Youth For Christ. Youth For Christ (YFC) is a worldwide movement working with young people, by creating community through ministry. Fabian learned about YFC-Miami through an underground hip-hop event called Catalyst. During our discussion, Fabian and I talk about the importance of prevention of Foster Care, what to expect a YFC event, and how these spaces are cultivating community. 

For More Information:

YFC Miami

https://www.miamiyfc.com/

Youtube Link For YFC We Believe In Youth Promo

https://youtu.be/-QOfm4HIZms

Link for We Believe in Youth fundraiser:

We Believe in You(th) - 2022 (qgiv.com)

The Foster Tales Podcast is hosted by Randal Wells. Foster Tales is ranked in the top 10 Podcasts throughout the world in the Foster Care and Adoption categories. Please follow us on social media @FosterTalesPodcast

On today's episode, I am joined by Forrest Lang, the author of "Angel Blue: a Song of Redemption". Forrest's book, centers around his experiences in foster care and serving the military in Iraq. Our conversation is one of reflection and direction. We discuss what inspired his journey into writing, and create a realistic narrative of unpacking trauma after being in care. 

To order a copy of Angle Blue, you can head over to http://www.angelbluebook.com or visit his social media @AngelBlueBook

Just seconds into the conversation, you can tell Baiinga's energy is infectious. Baiinga is an amazing creative, actor, writer, producer, role-model, and so much more. He is proof that not all foster care stories end in tragedy. Baiinga has taken his talents and partnered with Kids in the Spotlight, an organization that is helping foster youth heal & grow through the power of storytelling and filmmaking. Through our conversation, we learn about his goals and aspirations in Hollywood, and how he is combining his passion with lived experience. 

You can follow Baiinga on social media @BaiingaB and to learn more about Kids in the Spotlight, you can head to http://www.kitsinc.org

Today I am joined by the self-proclaimed "Educated Chingona" , better known as, Sandra. This San Diego native, is using her social media platform to create community, empower, educate, and inspire. We dive into some of her upbringing, and how she fell in love with the education system. Sandra provides us solutions for the future of foster care, and how small changes, can make for big impact. 

You can follow Sandra on her social media on Instagram @EducatedChingona and @Chingonaology