In today’s episode, we’re thrilled to welcome Felipe Garza, whose extraordinary career path exemplifies the power of transformation and advocacy. Felipe takes us through his remarkable journey from his early days as a corrections officer to becoming, along with his wife, dedicated house parents in a group home. His experiences and continuous commitment to serving vulnerable populations paved the way for his role as one of Buckner's Vice Presidents.

Felipe shares insightful stories and lessons learned from his years of hands-on experience and training. His passion for preventive work and advocacy shines through as he discusses his role in supporting and empowering families and children who are orphaned or in distress. Join us as Felipe Garza offers a deep dive into the impact of compassion-driven work and the ongoing mission to make a difference in the lives of those in need.

Tune in for a compelling conversation about dedication, growth, and the transformative power of service.

I am excited to share my conversation with Denise Kendrick, the Founder and Executive Director of EmbraceTexas.org, a ministry dedicated to supporting foster, adoptive, and kinship care families. Denise and her husband, Bruce, have dedicated over a decade to fostering and have grown their family to include nine children through birth and adoption. Together, the Kendricks have navigated the complex world of foster care and have built a loving, adventurous family life centered around their passion for exploring the great outdoors.

Join us as Denise shares her journey from foster parent to advocate, offering insights into the challenges and triumphs of fostering and adoption. We’ll discuss the heart of EmbraceTexas.org’s mission, the impact of community support, and how the Kendrick family’s outdoor adventures play a role in their family life and ministry. Whether you’re a current or prospective foster parent, an advocate for children in care, or simply interested in learning more about the power of family and community, this episode is a must-listen.

Discover how the Kendricks are making a difference and find inspiration in their remarkable story of love, faith, and resilience.

Join us for an inspiring episode of the Mama Advocate Podcast as we sit down with Heather Gutierrez to explore the life-changing Matthews Protocol. Heather, a passionate advocate from Central Texas, has been deeply involved with the DMDD (Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder) community since 2013. In this episode, she sheds light on how this unique combination of medication is making a significant difference for those grappling with DMDD and FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder). Heather's dedication to helping struggling families is both profound and heartfelt. As a founding member of Revolutionize DMDD, she has seen firsthand the transformative effects of brain-based treatment on hundreds of children. Her empathetic approach and unwavering support have guided many towards greater stability and well-being. When she's not advocating for families, Heather enjoys quality time with friends and family and actively supports her child’s extracurricular activities. Tune in to hear her powerful insights and stories of hope, and learn how the Matthews Protocol could be a game-changer for those in need. Don’t miss this enlightening conversation—subscribe now and be inspired! 🌟 https://www.rdmdd.org/

🎙️ Today on the Mama Advocate Podcast: I am so excited to be back with part two with the Boundaries Queen herself, Victoria Priya! Formerly known as Vicki Tidwell Palmer, Victoria is a renowned Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner (SEP). She’s the founder of the Radiant Threefold Path and the brilliant mind behind the Boundaries Queen and Radiant Threefold Path podcasts, as well as the acclaimed Beyond Bitchy: Mastering the Art of Boundaries podcast.

Victoria is also the best-selling author of Moving Beyond Betrayal and has honed her expertise through training with leading figures in relationship and trauma work, including Pia Mellody, John and Julie Gottman, and Terry Real, among others. Her spiritual insights have been shaped by her studies with luminaries such as Ram Dass, Thich Nhat Hanh, and Byron Katie.

In this two-part episode, Victoria helps us understand the concept of the listening boundary and how we can effectively apply it in our interactions, especially as adoptive and special needs families navigating a complex world. Today’s episode is the heavier of the two, focusing on handling comments and opinions that others close to you have that are more hurtful or can even bring harm to your family.

Tune in for a conversation filled with practical advice, wisdom, and strategies to help you navigate boundaries with confidence and grace in your daily life.

https://www.victoriapriya.com

Find Boundaries for Dummies here.

Find Boundaries Queen podcast here: https://www.victoriapriya.com/boundariesqueen/

Expectation vs. agreement

🎙️ Today on the Mama Advocate Podcast: We are thrilled to welcome the Boundaries Queen herself, Victoria Priya! Formerly known as Vicki Tidwell Palmer, Victoria is a renowned Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner (SEP). She’s the founder of the Radiant Threefold Path and the brilliant mind behind the Boundaries Queen and Radiant Threefold Path podcasts, as well as the acclaimed Beyond Bitchy: Mastering the Art of Boundaries podcast.

Victoria is also the best-selling author of Moving Beyond Betrayal and has honed her expertise through training with leading figures in relationship and trauma work, including Pia Mellody, John and Julie Gottman, and Terry Real, among others. Her spiritual insights have been shaped by her studies with luminaries such as Ram Dass, Thich Nhat Hanh, and Byron Katie.

In this two-part episode, Victoria helps us understand the concept of the listening boundary and how we can effectively apply it in our interactions, especially as adoptive and special needs families navigating a complex world. Today’s episode is the lighter of the two, focusing on handling unsolicited comments and managing arguments with others.

Tune in for a conversation filled with practical advice, wisdom, and strategies to help you navigate boundaries with confidence and grace in your daily life.

https://www.victoriapriya.com

Find Boundaries for Dummies here.

Find Boundaries Queen podcast here: https://www.victoriapriya.com/boundariesqueen/

As the founder and director of The Arc’s National Center on Criminal Justice and Disability (NCCJD)—the first national center in the U.S. dedicated to addressing both victim and suspect/defendant issues—Leigh Anne has been at the forefront of transforming how the justice system engages with people with disabilities. She has overseen the creation of NCCJD’s acclaimed training program, Pathways to Justice®, and is dedicated to positioning NCCJD and The Arc’s extensive network as the premier resource for disability and justice information.

In this episode, Leigh Anne shares her extensive knowledge on how children with disabilities interact with the justice system. We explore the unique challenges they face, the gaps in current practices, and the innovative solutions that are making a difference. Join us for an insightful conversation about creating a more equitable and informed justice system for individuals with disabilities.

Tune in to gain valuable perspectives and learn how you can contribute to meaningful change in this critical area.

https://thearc.org/our-initiatives/criminal-justice/

In this episode of *Mama Advocate*, Tracey shares her heartfelt story of adoption and the profound challenges she faces in raising two children with Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD). Tracey opens up about her personal journey, offering a raw and honest look into the struggles and triumphs of navigating life with RAD. Her passion for elevating these stories shines through in her podcast, *RAD Talk With Tracey*, where she aims to create a sense of community and support. Join us as Tracey discusses the importance of understanding and empathy, ensuring that others feel less alone in their own journeys with RAD.

In today's episode of the Mama Advocate Podcast, Laura sits down with Kristen, a dedicated advocate for families in the foster care system. Kristen is not only a mother to four children—three biological and one adopted from foster care—but also brings 18 years of experience as a Licensed Speech Language Pathologist specializing in pediatrics and parent coaching.

Together with her husband Seth, Kristen has recently launched Hope Spring Community. This organization offers a compassionate environment for family visitations and provides extensive support services to foster care families. Kristen's unique blend of personal and professional insights equips her team to empower families in crisis, aiming to restore dignity and agency within a system often fraught with challenges.

Join Laura and Kristen as they discuss how Hope Spring Community is bringing hope and positive change to our foster care system.

Wendy Andersen is a wife and a mom who never meant to become a Force-to-Be-Reckoned-With. In 2009 a rare diagnosis for her 6 month old son turned her normal life upside down in just 36 hours. Today, Wendy’s mission is to advocate and support families of children who live outside the “box of normal”. As a mother of three children (two of which have disabilities/special needs), Wendy passionately advocates for families by speaking truth to power.

Find Wendy here:

https://wendyandersenpresents.com/

https://www.facebook.com/RedefineNormalwithWendyAndersen/

When acclaimed Life Coach Susanna Peace Lovell’s daughter was born, she brought some unexpected challenges, including autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, anxiety, and myriad food allergies. Looking for resources and support, Susanna struggled to find a map for the road ahead. After more than 17 years of hard work and triumph, this book is that map: the blueprint for special-needs caregivers that she’d wished for back then.   Filled with hard-won insights and practical advice, Your True Self Is Enough follows Susanna’s story from pregnancy through neonatal care through finding the right learning environments and therapeutic plans for her child. Throughout it all, Susanna came to learn that she and her daughter were both on their own journeys in life, and that they were both whole and complete individuals who did not need to be “fixed.” Her work instead was to advocate for her child to be seen for who she is, in all her glory.   Part memoir, part guidebook, Your True Self Is Enough should be considered required reading for all caregivers.   To learn more, visit https://www.susannapeacelovell.com/