Fostering Change

In this week's episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer talks with Debbie Riley, LCMFT CEO and Co-founder of the Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.), a nonprofit adoptive family support center in the DC metro area. A nationally recognized adoption expert and public speaker, Ms. Riley is a licensed marriage and family therapist with 40 years of professional experience, including extensive health care management, administration, design and development of nationally acclaimed adoption-competency trainings and services, direct delivery of specialized counseling services, and mental health advocacy and public policy development.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ Our country is experiencing a mental health crisis for youth

🖐️ C.A.S.E. is a national leader in developing training to build the workforce of both the child welfare and mental health professionals.

🖐️ We are building on what we have learned and developed over the past 25 years to create a National Demonstration and Teaching Clinic at C.A.S.E.

You can find out more about Debbie by visiting:

Website: www.adoptionsupport.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caseadopt/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CASEadopt

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caseadopt/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CenterforAdoptionSupportEducation

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/center-for-adoption-support-and-education/mycompany/

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

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Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

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In this week's episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer talks with Lauren Ruotolo. Lauren is the author of “Unstoppable in Stilettos”, inspirational speaker and award winning content producer. At 18 months Lauren was diagnosed with a rare disease called McCune Albright's Syndrome which left her walking with crutches full time at the age of 5 years old. After spending more than 20 years in magazine publishing and healthcare, Lauren now commits 100% of her time advocating for the 61 million people in the US and 1.2B globally who identify as disabled. Currently she is working with global corporations on why including disability in all your DEI, hiring and believes that all people matter. 

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ Inclusion Matters

🖐️ Segregation Started for Me at the Young Age of 5

🖐️ Self Love and Acceptance  -- The idea of accepting who you are, where you came from and how exist 

You can find out more about Lauren by visiting:

Website: www.laurenruotolo.net

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurenruotolo/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenruotolo/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/laurenruotolo

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Please note that this episode was initially scheduled to air in November, National Adoption Awareness Month. We acknowledge all, such as our guest Damon Davis, who continue raising awareness about adoption.

In this week's episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer talks with author and podcast host Damon Davis. Host of the "Who Am I Really?" podcast (www.whoamireallypodcast.com) Damon interviews people who share their stories of adoption and their attempt to find their birth families. He has interviewed nearly 200 adoptees from an array of life experiences from awful adoptions and amazing reunions to inspiring adoptions and unfortunate reunions.

In his autobiography "Who Am I Really? - An Adoptee Memoir" Damon shares his journey to becoming an adoptive parent and his emotions over the birth of his son, Seth. He opens up about the heartbreak of grappling with his adoptive mother's mental illness while balancing the joy of locating his birth mother working nearby. His journey took a twist when he located his biological father via DNA testing. 

Story Key Notes:

🖐️Who Am I Really? An Adoptee Memoir

🖐️Changing the Narrative about Adoption

🖐️While many children are very fortunate in our adoptions, let’s acknowledge that adoption starts with trauma.

You can find out more about Damon by visiting:

Website:Whoamireallypodcast.com

Facebook:facebook.com/waireally

Instagram:@damonldavis

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer talks with Ed Hajim. Ed recounts in his memoir, ON THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED: An Unlikely Journey from the Orphanage to the Boardroom, how he grew-up mainly in orphanages and in foster homes with no consistent family or support system. Feeling at times lonely, angry, jealous and poor. YET, despite huge obstacles, Ed Hajim became a Wall Street executive, a business tycoon of the highest order.

Ed learned to survive, to keep himself strong and focused. And step by step, he turned his life around, even graduating from the University of Rochester and later Harvard Business School. Ed’s life is a rags to riches American success story on every level – he used his inner voice, his one constant to get ahead in business and create a stable-family, home-life as an adult.

Get ready to be inspired and learn from Ed as he shares insight on not being a victim of circumstance, using disadvantages as advantages and always asking what’s next ON THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED!

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ On the Road Less Traveled

🖐️ Don’t be a victim of circumstances 

🖐️ Don’t let your environment define your future, even the pandemic 

🖐️ Stay forward motion

🖐️ Take disadvantages and turn them around, use them as advantages

You can find out more about Ed by visiting:

Website:https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/On-the-Road-Less-Traveled/Ed-Hajim/9781510764248

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-hajim-bba1a7204

Instagram: https://instagram.com/edhajimauthor?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

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In this week's episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer talks with Mike Provenzano, Actor and Spokesperson. Mike is a father of 4 boys who became an award winning actor later in life and has been at it for about 6 years now. Mike is someone who enjoys helping others any way that he can, be it advice or any other way. He lived in foster care as a child and always looking for ways to give back.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️”Roxy the Reindeer’s Magical Christmas Journey”

🖐️ Giving back and helping others

🖐️ Grew up in Foster Care

You can find out more about Mike by visiting:

Website: www.mikeprov.com

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/mikeaprovenzano https://pro.imdb.com/name/nm2697626?ref_=hm_nv_usr_profile

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mikeaprovenzano

Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeaprovenzano/

Twitter: @mikeaprovenzano 

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer talks with Cody Renegar, Hairstylist, Author and Artist.Cody is a hairstylist, fine artist, and author of the memoir "Changing the Stars." He currently lives in California with his husband, Terry. He has a son, Levi, who, with his partner, Alaya, has given Cody three grandkids. Cody is the hairstylist of choice for many Hollywood entertainment industry celebrities and A-listers. Los Angeles is his main stage, although he also maintains a large clientele in Washington, D.C., and Arkansas. He is a cosmetologist and master barber with twenty-five years of experience with unique cutting styles and techniques; he is a former cutting director for Aveda and Bumble & Bumble, Minneapolis. Cody began his career in 1996 in Arkansas. He moved to José Éber Salon on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills in 2004, where he had the honor of working alongside José on the main floor and in his own private barber shop, working with many high-profile clients. Cody has been featured in the documentary film Hollywood to Dollywood and the book Rainbow Relatives. A talented artist, Cody's paintings hang in private collections around the world.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ The power of hope, optimism, and resilience; how we are in charge of our own destiny (the foundation of Changing the Stars)

🖐️ Cody's experience in the foster care system and what he hopes to see change 

🖐️ Cody's career & personal evolution - Army, Father, Hair Stylist, Artist, Author

You can find out more about Cody by visiting:

Website: www.codyrenegar.com

Instagram: @hairbycodyrenegar (hair) & @codyrenegarart (art)

Facebook: @CodyRenegarOfficial (hair) & @artbycodyrenegar (art)

Tik Tok: @codyrenegar

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer talks with Rasie Bamigbade ,Leadership Coach, Author & Speaker. Rasie is a leadership coach, bestseller author of Lead In Your Truth  and Speaker. She helps business and corporate leaders lead their teams more effectively through self leadership. Closing the opportunity gap in leadership is at the core of Rasie's work. She does this through her successful coaching program and youth mentorship program.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ Clarity of where I am going - Goals

🖐️ Self Belief – Doing the work to build on self belief

🖐️ Lead In Your Truth – Accepting that you are different 

You can find out more about Rasie and her books by visiting:

Website: https://linktr.ee/rbjumpstartcoaching

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rb.jumpstart.coaching/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rasie-bamigbade/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsoWhVnw89NFbm6vwc4PB2g

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/rbjumpstartcoaching

Tik Tok: rb.jumpstart.coaching

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode of Fostering Change, we celebrate National Philanthropy Day by bringing on a return guest. Rob Scheer talks with Gideon Bernstein, Chartered Financial Analyst and Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy and the author of The Workbook for Giving: Exercises for identifying the resources, giving goals, and giving strategies for you and your family.

Gideon Bernstein has served as a trusted financial advisor to families in Orange County, California, for decades.

Currently a Principal and Chief Investment Officer at Leisure Capital Management, his passion is working with nonprofit boards, families, and private foundations to help them achieve their philanthropic missions. 

Gideon has served as a board member of numerous charitable organizations and as Vice President of Investments and Chairman of the Board for the Jewish Community Foundation of Orange County. He holds designations as a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP).  

Gideon is also the author of Giving: A Handbook to Happiness for the Modern Philanthropist.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ The Secret to Happiness: Its Giving.

🖐️ The new Workbook that was just published

🖐️ What inspired you to write the book?

🖐️ What does it take to be a philanthropist? NOT Millions of $!

You can find out more about Gideon and his books by visiting:

Website: www.thejoysofgiving.com

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

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In this week's episode of Fostering Change,  Rob Scheer talks with Ryan Hanlon, President & CEO, National Council for Adoption.Ryan worked in the field of adoption since 2004 and he is a social worker / adoption researcher previously at an adoption agency, but with NCFA since 2017.  We advance our mission through research, education, and advocacy. 

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ Families utilize post-adoption resources at relatively high rates.

🖐️ Private domestic adoption includes more situations where adoptive family and birth family have ongoing contact/relationship.

🖐️ Overall, parents report high satisfaction rate with their decision to adopt.

To learn more about the research report Rob & Ryan discussed, please visit:

https://adoptioncouncil.org/profiles

You can find out more about Ryan by visiting:

Website: www.adoptioncouncil.org

Instagram: @adoptioncouncil

Facebook: @adoptioncouncil

Twitter: @adoptioncouncil

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, November 1, 2022, we are so thrilled to launch our 4th Season of “Fostering Change.” Over the past 4 years, we have spoken with more than 150 Good Humans, who have shared their missions and inspiring stories For our premiere episode of Season 4 we could not be more excited to have Olympic Gold Medalist, Greg Louganis as our guest. Enjoy!

In this week's episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer talks with Greg Louganis, Louganis was adopted at 9 months by Frances and Peter Louganis, who lived in Lemon Grove, CA, just outside of San Diego. Teased and bullied as a child for the dark skin he inherited from his Samoan father and for his learning “differences,” he turned to what he could do well: sport. His first love was gymnastics and by nine years old, he was a “seasoned performer on the local talent show and convalescent-home circuit.”

Considered the greatest diver in history, Greg Louganis is the only male to win gold medals on both 3 meter springboard and 10 meter platform in consecutive Olympic Games (1984, 1988).

Across the globe, billions who watched either the 1984 or 1988 Olympics were enthralled by the poetry that was Greg Louganis: the beauty and power of his diving captured the world.

With a total of 5 Olympic medals, 5 World Championship titles and 47 national titles, more than any person in U.S. history, his records remain unbroken.

Today, as a coach, speaker, author, actor, activist and humanitarian he continues his tradition of excellence.

A trained actor, dancer, model and spokesman, Greg’s wide repertoire of skills keeps him in demand and in the public eye. 

As the undisputed GOAT of mindset, Greg shares his knowledge and wisdom through his meditation and mindfulness course, as well as through his books, interviews and speaking engagements.

Causes close to his heart include HIV/AIDS, LGBTQ+, Adoption/Foster Care, Mental Health/Addiction, Human Rights, Animals, Environmental Issues and Climate Change. 

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ Dogs/Animals

🖐️ HIV/AIDS/LGBTQ+

🖐️ Adoption/Foster Care Environmental Health & Wellness

🖐️ Mental Health

You can find out more about Greg by visiting:

Website: https://greglouganis.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greglouganis/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greglouganis

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/gregorylouganis

Twitter: https://twitter.com/greglouganis

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.