Summary:

Happy 2026! In this reflective kickoff episode, Brian and Kim look back on 2025 through their shared perspective as the Vehons—an honest conversation about a year that taught them deeply, stretched them unexpectedly, and surprised them with moments of real joy.

Together, they unpack what 2025 revealed: the lessons that shaped them, the challenges that pushed them beyond their comfort zones, and the places where joy showed up in meaningful ways. From there, they turn the corner toward the new year, naming what they are intentionally carrying forward into 2026—and what they are choosing to leave behind.

You will hear Brian's and Kim's personal "keepers," the mindsets and practices worth holding onto, including a renewed commitment to focus in and freak out less. You will also hear their "tossers," the habits, pressures, and patterns that no longer deserve space in the year ahead.

This episode closes with clear, grounded takeaways—offering listeners encouragement, perspective, and a thoughtful framework for reflecting on their own year and stepping into what comes next with greater clarity and intention.

Resource Links:

The Wingfeather Saga

The Hope Institute of CUSD Gilbert, Arizona

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Email: [email protected]Facebook: @FosteringVoicesPodcast Instagram: @FosteringVoices Web: www.fosterarizona.org

Summary:

In this episode, you're invited into a personal, honest conversation about what really happens when you say yes to trauma parenting. Peter Mutabazi joins you for a heartfelt discussion about why fostering doesn't just change the lives of children—it changes the adults who step in for them. If you're fostering now or considering stepping into this world, this episode speaks directly to you.

Peter shares how his journey began as a ten-year-old homeless child in Uganda and how the kindness of others shaped the man he is today. He opens up about becoming a foster parent to more than forty-seven children, adopting three, and discovering that trauma parenting reveals parts of yourself you didn't know were there. You'll hear how expectations collide with reality, how hidden scars surface, and how triggers you thought you buried suddenly demand attention.

Together, you'll explore the uncomfortable but transformative truth: caring for kids with trauma often brings your own wounds into the light. Peter walks through how bias, fear, and old pain can unexpectedly show up—and how choosing unconditional love helps you grow through it rather than run from it.

This episode also offers practical reflections for anyone preparing to foster, helping you think through what it really means to bring a child's trauma into your daily life, and what it requires from your heart.

If you're ready for a real conversation about the cost and beauty of trauma parenting, this episode is for you.

Resource Links:

Peter Mutabazi

Now I Am Known - YouTube

Foster Arizona - foster and adopt page to learn how to get involved Foster Arizona | Foster & Adobt

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Email: [email protected]Facebook: @FosteringVoicesPodcast Instagram: @FosteringVoices Web: www.fosterarizona.org

Summary:

In this week's episode of Fostering Voices, Kim and Brian dig into the recent presidential executive order released on November 13th: Fostering the Future for American Children and Families. After receiving many questions about what the order means for the foster care community, Kim and Brian break down the key components, highlight potential benefits, and raise important concerns.

They begin with an overview of the order's call to modernize the child welfare system, including improved data collection, better information sharing, and enhanced collaboration with non-government partners. They also discuss the ethical risks of increased technology and data use, and the ongoing gaps that the order does not address—such as declining foster parent numbers and the limited support for caregivers navigating safety plans.

The conversation then shifts to the proposal to create a national platform for youth, which could expand access to funding for education, workforce development, and financial literacy. While these additions may offer meaningful support, Kim and Brian also explore the challenges, including the lack of focus on root causes, the risks of poorly applied funding, and the reality that educational barriers remain steep for youth in care.

Finally, the hosts examine the section aimed at maximizing partnerships with Americans of faith. They discuss how increased awareness and reduced discrimination could help more families step forward, while acknowledging the complexities for children and caregivers whose beliefs may differ.

Join the conversation as Kim and Brian unpack what this executive order could mean for youth, families, and the future of foster care.

Resource Links:

Executive Order: Fostering the Future for American Children and Families

Fostering the Future for American Children and Families – The White House

The future of AI in government services and global risks: insights from design fictions

Brief Family First Prevention Services Act

Arizona's Invisible Achievement Gap: education outcomes of students in foster care in the State's public schools

Arizona's Invisible Achievement Gap | FosterEd

ARS 8-921 Arizona State Legislature

https://www.azleg.gov/viewdocument/?docName=https://www.azleg.gov/ars/8/00921.htm

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Email: [email protected]Facebook: @FosteringVoicesPodcast Instagram: @FosteringVoices Web: www.fosterarizona.org

Summary:

This week, we're diving into a topic that many of us would rather avoid—how stress and trauma affect our bodies. If you're like Kim, it's not a conversation you're eager to have, but it's one that matters deeply if we want to live as our healthiest, most authentic selves.

Joining the discussion is our friend and regular guest, Estefana Johnson, who helps unpack what happens "when the body says no." Together, we explore the hidden ways internal stress and unresolved trauma can shape our health, behaviors, and overall wellbeing.

From understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and their lifelong impact, to recognizing the subtle signs that our nervous system is struggling, this episode sheds light on the deep connection between emotional wounds and physical health.

We'll also talk about what it means to take ownership of your future—how to reduce stress-related risks, support those you love, and make small, intentional choices that lead to lasting healing.

Tune in for an honest, compassionate conversation about breaking free from the toll of stress and building resilience for the life you were made to live.

Resource Links:

Book: When the Body Says No: Exploring the Stress Disease Connection by Gabor Mate, M.D.

When the Body Says No: Exploring the Stress-Disease Connection

TEDMED Talk: How Childhood Trauma Affects Health Across a Lifetime by Nadine Burke Harris

Nadine Burke Harris: How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime | TED Talk

ACEs Quiz

Take The ACES Quiz - American SPCC

Book: The Gift - 14 Lessons to Save Your Life by Edith Eger

The Gift: 14 Lessons to Save Your Life: Eger, Dr. Edith Eva: 9781982143091

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Email: [email protected]Facebook: @FosteringVoicesPodcast Instagram: @FosteringVoices Web: www.fosterarizona.org

Summary:

This week, we're diving into an important and often overlooked topic — when grandparents step into the role of parent. In 2024, Duet reported that more than 64,000 grandparents in Arizona are raising their grandchildren, and census data shows the state ranks above the national average for grandparents providing care. For every one child raised by kin within the foster care system, there are eight being raised by kin outside of it.

In this episode, we're honored to talk with Oralia, a grandmother navigating the challenges and joys of raising her grandchildren, and Lisa from Duet, a local nonprofit dedicated to supporting grandparents and kinship caregivers. Together, we explore what drives grandparents to step up, the unique struggles they face, and the community resources making a difference.

Tune in for a heartfelt conversation about resilience, love, and the power of family across generations.

Resource Links:

Duet: Partners in Health and Aging Help For Grandparents Raising Grandchildren | Duet

Grandfacts - State Fact Sheets for Grandfamilies https://www.grandfamilies.org/Portals/0/State%20Fact%20Sheets/Arizona%20GrandFacts%20State%20Fact%20Sheet%202021%20Update.pdf

NCRC - Resources for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Resources for grandparents raising grandchildren » NCRC

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Email: [email protected]Facebook: @FosteringVoicesPodcast Instagram: @FosteringVoices Web: www.fosterarizona.org

Summary:

This week on the podcast, we wrap up our series on substance use with an honest and compassionate conversation about supporting young adults who are struggling with addiction. Joining us again are Kim McWilliams and Sarah Grado, who bring both personal insight and professional experience to this deeply important topic.

We begin by exploring why this issue is so relevant today—looking at current statistics, the driving factors behind them, and the real-life experiences of youth that go beyond the numbers. From there, we shift to the power of connection on the other side of addiction: what healthy connection looks like, how to hold loving boundaries, and how to tell the difference between enabling and supporting.

Finally, we turn our attention to those who walk alongside someone battling addiction. Kim and Sarah share practical ways supporters can stay healthy, find hope, and access meaningful resources and peer support. Whether you're personally impacted or seeking to understand more, this episode offers clarity, compassion, and encouragement for anyone navigating the journey of addiction and recovery.

Resource Links:

NotMyKid

Recovery Support Groups for Addiction: One Size Does Not Fit All

Find Help - Celebrate Recovery

Where to Get Started Support Groups for Families of Addicts – Guide 2025

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Email: [email protected]Facebook: @FosteringVoicesPodcast Instagram: @FosteringVoices Web: www.fosterarizona.org

Summary:

In our last episode, we explored how substances affect infants. But what about adolescents? Is marijuana really a big deal for today's youth, and what do parents and communities need to know to keep them safe?

In this episode, we welcome Kim McWilliams, an award-winning licensed counselor, and Sarah Grado, Executive Director of Not My Kid, a local Arizona nonprofit dedicated to substance use prevention and recovery. Together, they shed light on the realities of marijuana use among teens, the ripple effects it creates at school, at home, and among peers, and how communities are seeing the impact.

Kim and Sarah share their personal journeys—what drives their passion for helping families and youth—and offer valuable insights on identifying warning signs, understanding the law, and recognizing the connection between substance use and adverse childhood experiences.

Most importantly, they highlight the role of education: the information families need, the support available, and how communities can work together to strengthen and protect our youth.

This is a must-listen for parents, educators, and anyone invested in the wellbeing of the next generation.

Resource Links:

NotMyKid

Tell Your Children: The Truth About Marijuana, Mental Illness, and Violence: Berenson, Alex: 9781982103675: Amazon.com

Treatment Considerations for Youth and Young Adults with Serious Emotional Disturbances and Serious Mental Illnesses and Co-occurring Substance Use

How to Quit Smoking Weed (Marijuana)

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Email: [email protected]Facebook: @FosteringVoicesPodcast Instagram: @FosteringVoices Web: www.fosterarizona.org

Summary:

From the very first breaths of life, some babies face challenges most of us can hardly imagine. Born substance-exposed, these newborns often enter the world in pain, their tiny bodies working through the effects of addiction before they even have a chance to begin.

In the Phoenix Valley, Jacob's Hope is stepping into that story with compassion and care. Their mission is twofold: to nurture newborns who are substance-exposed and to walk alongside mothers who are fighting to overcome addiction, offering them the support they need for a healthier future.

Today, we're joined by two remarkable women who have dedicated their lives to this work. Lyndsey Mathiowetz, with over 24 years of NICU experience, is an expert in neonatal abstinence syndrome and helped launch the transformative "eat, sleep, console" approach. Alongside her is Lyndsey Steele, Associate Director of Jacob's Hope, who brings more than 18 years of experience serving vulnerable populations.

Together, they share stories of resilience, breakthrough, and hope, reminding us that even in the hardest beginnings, healing is possible.

Resource Links:

Jacob's Hope: www.jacobshopeaz.org

Casey Family Programs: What are some developmentally appropriate interventions for infants and children affected by prenatal substance exposure?

VIDEO: Specialized Care NOW to Improve Long-Term Effects of Drug Exposure - Cami Barr:

https://vimeo.com/740502030?share=copy#t=397.673

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Email: [email protected]Facebook: @FosteringVoicesPodcast Instagram: @FosteringVoices Web: www.fosterarizona.org

Summary:

School is back in session, and for parents raising kids who need extra support, the start of the year can bring more than just new routines; it can stir up anxiety, frustration, and countless questions about navigating the system to get the right resources.

In this episode, we sit down with Joey Taylor, an education advocate, foster parent, and adoptive parent whose journey is as inspiring as it is unique. Raised and educated in Arizona, Joey's path has taken him from the halls of jail to the desks of exceptional students, and into the homes of families in crisis. His experiences have fueled his passion for ensuring children in foster care not only survive but thrive in their educational journeys.

Join us as we talk with Joey about the challenges families face when advocating for their kids, the resilience of children navigating difficult circumstances, and practical ways to push for meaningful change in schools. Whether you're a parent, teacher, or advocate, this conversation will give you insight, encouragement, and a reminder that you are not alone in this work.

Resource Links:

Arizona Department of Education: Special Education Resources for Parents and Families | Arizona Department of Education

Advocacy31Nine

Encircle Families

Wrightlaw Dyslexia Strategies Strategies to Get an Appropriate Educational Program for Children with Dyslexia and Other Learning Disabilities

Disability Rights Arizona

Fat Belongs to the Lord Episode 02

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Email: [email protected]Facebook: @FosteringVoicesPodcast Instagram: @FosteringVoices Web: www.fosterarizona.org

Summary:

In this episode, Brian and Kim dive into the struggles parents face when life feels stuck in worry about our kids, our future, and the unknown. Drawing inspiration from Dr. Edith Eger's wisdom, they remind us that "you're going to be 50 anyways," so why not keep moving toward growth and possibility?

Together, they unpack what it means to get back on the "dream train," exploring how parents can rediscover passions and live without regrets. This conversation isn't about pretending life is all sunshine and rainbows, no trolls are left behind here, but about choosing courage, clarity, and purpose.

Whether you're exhausted from parenting, worried about what's ahead, or simply longing for more meaning in your day-to-day life, this episode offers practical steps to move forward: find what excites you (dream), define your current reality, and design a path toward the future you want.

Join Brian and Kim for encouragement, honesty, and a reminder that it's never too late to start dreaming again.

Resource Links:

The Gift: 14 Lessons to Save Your Life: Eger, Dr. Edith Eva: 9781982143091

The 100-Day Goal Journal: Accomplish What Matters to You

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Email: [email protected]Facebook: @FosteringVoicesPodcast Instagram: @FosteringVoices Web: www.fosterarizona.org