Fostering Change

Welcome back to a special Best of Fostering Change episode! This week, we revisit a powerful conversation originally aired in March, featuring two changemakers in the world of child welfare and LGBTQ+ advocacy: Kate Trambitskaya, CEO of Spence-Chapin Services to Families and Children, and Brian Rosenberg, founder of GWK Academy Family Building. Join host Rob Scheer for an honest and urgent discussion about how federal cutbacks are impacting foster youth, LGBTQ+ families, and other vulnerable communities—and how you can help make a difference. 🔍 Why This Episode Matters: 💡 Kate Trambitskaya is a returning guest who continues to lead efforts that support expectant mothers, children in institutional care overseas, and adoptees here in the U.S. 🌈 Brian Rosenberg introduces the future of GWK Academy—expanding from supporting gay and queer men to serving all LGBTQ+ individuals in their family-building journeys starting March 2025. 🛠️ How You Can Help: 🔥 Don’t just listen—take action. 💬 Leave a comment or question below. ❤️ Like, share, and subscribe to spread the message. 📩 Contact us at: fosteringchange@comfortcases.org 🌐 Learn more at: https://www.comfortcases.org 📲 Connect with Our Guests: Spence-Chapin Services to Families and Children Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spencechapin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spencechapinsvc/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/spencechapinsvc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/71342/ GWK Academy / Gays With Kids Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GaysWithKids Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gays_with_kids Instagram (GWK Academy): https://www.instagram.com/gwkacademy YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GWK LinkedIn (Brian Rosenberg): https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianrrosenberg/ 🎧 Subscribe for more powerful conversations that lead to real, lasting chang ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Happy July and welcome back to a Best Of episode of Fostering Change! In this lively and heartwarming conversation, host Rob Scheer reconnects with fan-favorite Doogie Sandtiger, also known as The Croc King — a man with a passion for comfort and color who has collected over 3,000 pairs of Crocs. You may have seen Doogie on The Today Show or follow him on social media. But beyond the viral Croc fame, Doogie's story is deeply personal. Like Rob — and many youth in foster care — Doogie never learned how to tie his shoes as a child. That’s where Crocs became more than footwear — they became a symbol of independence and identity. This episode is not just fun (we promise it is!), but it also delves into the real-life challenges faced by youth in foster care and how individuals like Rob and Doogie are working to make a difference. 👉 Know someone who should be a guest on Season 7 of Fostering Change? Email us at: info@comfortcases.org 🔗 Follow Doogie “The Croc King” on Social Media: 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/doogielicious 📸 Instagram: instagram.com/doogielish 🎵 TikTok: tiktok.com/@hardcroclife4me 💙 Thank you for listening and supporting Fostering Change! ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

BEST OF SEASON 6 — As we close out Season 6 and gear up for Season 7 of Fostering Change, we’re highlighting some of our most powerful conversations from the past year. With over 220 episodes behind us, we’re grateful to every guest and listener who has helped us grow this platform into what it is today. In this featured episode, Rob Scheer is joined by guest co-host Rita Soronen, CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, for an incredible conversation with Andrew Bridge — former foster youth, attorney, and author of The Child Catcher: A Fight for Justice & Truth. Andrew shares his story of surviving 11 years in Los Angeles County foster care, his rise to become a Harvard Law graduate and Fulbright Scholar, and his fight to protect children in broken systems. His new book, The Child Catcher, tells the true story of a legal battle to rescue youth trapped in a secretive and abusive institution in rural Alabama. 💥 Proceeds from The Child Catcher support CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) chapters nationwide. To support, visit AndrewBridgeAuthor.com and select your preferred chapter — 50% of pre-sale royalties will be donated directly. 📩 Have questions, comments, or guest suggestions? Email us at info@comfortcases.org — 📚 About Andrew Bridge Spent 11 years in foster care Graduated from Wesleyan University and Harvard Law School Led efforts to shut down abusive institutions Former CEO of The Alliance for Children’s Rights Co-founder of National Adoption Day and New Village Girls Academy NYT bestselling author of Hope’s Boy Serves on the Arizona Foster Care Review Board 📲 Follow Andrew: Facebook: facebook.com/andrew.bridge.9041 Instagram: @andrewbridgejd Twitter/X: @AndrewBridgeJD Threads: @AndrewBridgeJD 🔗 Learn More About The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption: Website: https://www.davethomasfoundation.org/ Instagram: @dtfa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaveThomasFoundationforAdoption/ ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Welcome to the Season 6 FINALE of Fostering Change! 🎉 What an incredible season it's been — filled with inspiring, motivating, and heartfelt stories. THANK YOU for being part of our journey, for tuning in each week, and for all your comments and reviews. We do this for YOU. 💙 📅 Coming Soon: Starting June 17, join us for our "Best of" Summer Series — a special collection of our favorite episodes. Whether you’re re-listening or discovering them for the first time, we hope these powerful stories inspire you all over again. 🔥 Mark your calendar: Season 7 premieres on September 2, and we’re returning to weekly episodes every Tuesday! More guests, more voices, and even more impact. Have a guest suggestion? Email us at: info@comfortcases.org 🎙️ Today’s Season Finale Guest: Dr. Kisha Davis There’s no better way to wrap this season than with the amazing Dr. Kisha Davis — family physician, public health leader, and a dear friend of Rob Scheer and the Comfort Cases family. Kisha shares the powerful legacy of her grandmother in her new biography: 📖 “The Making of a Pearl” – Buy the book on Amazon In this episode, you'll hear heartfelt stories of resilience, love, and history passed down over weekday breakfasts with her grandmother, Ida Pearl Green, who lived to be 106. Dr. Davis also discusses her work in the Quince Orchard community, her role as Montgomery County’s Chief Health Officer, and her involvement in the documentary Finding Fellowship — co-produced with her brother and previous Fostering Change guest, Jason Green. ✨ Don’t miss this powerful conversation about family, legacy, and leadership. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Kisha Davis: 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/kisha.davis2 📸 Instagram: @drkishadavis 🐦 Twitter/X: @kishadavismd 📱 Threads: @drkishadavis 💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/daviskisha #ComfortCases #FosteringChange #FosterCareAwareness ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Welcome to Fostering Change! Today marks the final installment of our special episodes for National Foster Care Awareness Month. We hope you've enjoyed the series—and, more importantly, learned something meaningful from each conversation. As always, we encourage you to share your thoughts in the comments and pass these episodes along to others. In today’s episode, we welcome back one of Rob’s favorite guests: Charell Star, who first joined us in Season 5. Charell gained national attention when she was featured in Humans of New York (link below), and she returns to discuss her powerful new book, Trash Bag Tales and Other Stories from an Accidentally Happy Life. The book offers readers a raw, heartfelt, and often humorous look at what it means to claim the joyful life you deserve. Charell is also the featured subject in the award-winning documentary Feeling Wanted, which chronicles her time in foster care and is now used as a training resource by child welfare organizations around the world. We absolutely loved this episode—and we’ve already invited Charell back for Season 7! 📚 Want to read Charell’s book? Find it at your favorite bookstore or purchase it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Trash-Bag-Tales-Stories-Accidentally/dp/B0F24H8DXS 📲 Connect with Charell: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charellstar/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charellstar/ Read her “Humans of New York” story: https://www.instagram.com/p/CUK7yfSrFT3/?hl=en 🎧 One more episode of Season 6 drops next week! After that, we’ll take a short break and share some “Best Of” episodes before returning with Season 7 this fall. 💌 Got thoughts or guest suggestions? Email us at: info@comfortcases.org Thank you for being a GOOD HUMAN. 💙 ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.