The [Inclusion] Conversation - Foster Youth Voices Month, with Andrew Bridge

The [Inclusion] Conversation with Shelise Gieseke

Welcome to The [Inclusion] Conversation Podcast! Our guest this episode is Shelise Keum Mee Gieseke, educator, editor, and mentor, in conversation with our host, Grace Yung Foster.  We are thrilled to close National Adoptee Awareness Month (#NAAM) with Shelise's voice and story. Her experience and perspective is a great way to wrap up this important month to elevate Adoptees and our narratives in a topic area we don't discuss enough - the workplace and job searching as an Adoptee. This podcast dives into the world of work, careers, and life for Adoptees, Fosters, our allies, parents, child welfare professionals, policy experts, and all within the Adoptee and Foster's orbit. Shelise has been involved in the adoption community for over a decade as an educator, editor, and mentor, including working at Adoption Mosaic as the Head of Operations until earlier this year, and now as a Course Facilitator, and also had the honor of editing the blog Land of Gazillion Adoptees and the Gazillion Voices online magazine. Shelise is an intercountry, South Korean, interracial adoptee. She was adopted as an infant and raised by a white family in Minnesota. She has three siblings who are her parents’ biological children. She has been to Korea to search for her family, but did not find them. In her free time she likes to watch k-dramas, go to taekwondo with her family, and pretend she is going to learn to speak Korean. We dive into Shelise’s journey as an Adoptee, her experiences as a person working in the Adoptee space and how she;s evolved, and not as a person who is job searching and what that is like for her as an Adoptee, and why we need resources like The Inclusion Initiative for this very reason - to support Adoptees and Fosters as they navigate the world of work.  We end the show with “Rapid Fire” questions which brings levity and also some fun facts about our guest. This is an incredible episode and we hope you enjoy learning about our guest.  Shelise Keum Mee Gieseke https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelise-keum-mee-gieseke-834b35225/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelise-keum-mee-gieseke-834b35225/]   https://adoptionmosaic.com/team [https://adoptionmosaic.com/team]  Follow her on Insta: @skmg_adoptee  Like the show? Please follow, rate, and review us. Want to submit an idea or suggest a guest? Submit the form below, or email us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠contact@theinclusioninitiative.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Find us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theinclusioninitiative.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Guest Submission Form: ⁠https://www.theinclusioninitiative.com/podcast⁠ Want to support The Inclusion Initiative?⁠ ⁠⁠Wear or gift our merch⁠⁠⁠,⁠ ⁠⁠sponsor the podcast⁠⁠⁠, or⁠ ⁠⁠give a financial gift⁠⁠⁠ to support our work in elevating Adoptees and Fosters and our allies. -------- Our executive producer is Grace Yung Foster. This show is brought to you by The Inclusion Initiative Media Studio.

The [Inclusion] Conversation - Foster Youth Voices Month, with Andrew Bridge

Welcome to The [Inclusion] Conversation Podcast! It’s Foster Youth Voices month! We are thrilled about our guest who is a Foster and also a lawyer who advocates for Foster Youth in the system currently so that they have a voice. Today we hear from our host, Grace Yung Foster and our guest, Andrew Bridge, Children's Rights Lawyer, Author NYT Bestseller Hope's Boy and National Bestseller The Child Catcher, Lived Experience Foster Care, and Keynote Speaker.  In this episode we explore Foster narratives, belonging, loss, and how our foster care experiences do not define us. This podcast dives into the world of work, careers, and life for Adoptees, Foster Care Alumni, our allies, parents, child welfare professionals, policy experts, and all within the Adoptee and Foster's orbit.  Andrew Bridge, is a Children's Rights Lawyer, Author NYT Bestseller Hope's Boy and National Bestseller The Child Catcher, Lived Experience Foster Care, and Keynote Speaker *********************** In this episode, we cover:  Foster Youth Voices Month Loss, grief, healing, and owning our narratives as Foster Belonging and identity Life transitions and reclamation as a Foster His book, “The Child Catcher” and its origin story The privilege of having opportunities other Fosters do not, and the guilt, responsibility we feel, but also the opportunity to serve and elevate our community because of it Allyship Links: https://www.andrewbridgeauthor.com/ [https://www.andrewbridgeauthor.com/]  https://www.amazon.com/Child-Catcher-Fight-Justice-Truth/dp/B0D12VT8KB/ref=sr_1_1 [https://www.amazon.com/Child-Catcher-Fight-Justice-Truth/dp/B0D12VT8KB/ref=sr_1_1]  https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-bridge-667860210/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-bridge-667860210/]  *********************** Like the show? Please follow, rate, and review us. Want to submit an idea or suggest a guest? Submit the form below, or email us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠contact@theinclusioninitiative.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Find us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theinclusioninitiative.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Guest Submission Form: ⁠https://www.theinclusioninitiative.com/podcast⁠ Want to support The Inclusion Initiative?⁠ ⁠⁠Wear or gift our merch⁠⁠⁠,⁠ ⁠⁠sponsor the podcast⁠⁠⁠, or⁠ ⁠⁠give a financial gift⁠⁠⁠ to support our work in elevating Adoptees and Fosters and our allies. -------- Our executive producer is Grace Yung Foster. This show is brought to you by The Inclusion Initiative Media Studio.

The [Inclusion] Conversation with Dr. Julie Lopez, Founder & CEO, Viva Partnership & Dr Julie Lopez.com

Welcome to The [Inclusion] Conversation Podcast! Our guest this episode is Dr. Julie Lopez, Founder & CEO, Viva Partnership & Dr Julie Lopez.com, in conversation with our host, Grace Yung Foster.  This podcast dives into the world of work, careers, and life for Adoptees, Fosters, our allies, parents, child welfare professionals, policy experts, and all within the Adoptee and Foster's orbit. Dr Julie Lopez is an award winning clinician and entrepreneur who has dedicated her life to fostering the highest potential in people, communities and businesses. She is the founder and CEO of a few businesses, a sought after speaker and author and volunteers for causes close to her heart.  We dive into Julie’s Adoptee experience, and how that has informed her practice as a neuropsychologist and is the heart of Viva’s mission and vision - to create a World Empowered to Heal. This includes a world with widespread knowledge that change is possible, access to cutting edge neuropsychology and compassion for normal responses to trauma. In this episode we discuss the trauma of relinquishment and how Adoptees and Fosters carry that physically and also subconsciously and how that manifests into physical and mental forms of stress. We talk about how we can move through that, acknowledge it, and create internal systems and practices to heal and thrive.  If you are an Adoptee, Foster, or anyone who has experienced events where you want support in your path towards healing, work with Dr. Julie and her amazing team. Links are below.  We end the show with “Rapid Fire” questions which brings levity and also some fun facts about our guest. This is an incredible episode and we hope you enjoy learning about our guest.  Dr. Julie Lopez https://www.vivapartnership.com/ [https://www.vivapartnership.com/]  https://drjulielopez.com/ [https://drjulielopez.com/]  Follow her work: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-julie-lopez/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-julie-lopez/]  and @drjulielopez  Like the show? Please follow, rate, and review us. Want to submit an idea or suggest a guest? Submit the form below, or email us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠contact@theinclusioninitiative.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Find us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theinclusioninitiative.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Guest Submission Form: ⁠https://www.theinclusioninitiative.com/podcast⁠ [⁠https://www.theinclusioninitiative.com/podcast⁠] Want to support The Inclusion Initiative?⁠ ⁠⁠Wear or gift our merch⁠⁠⁠,⁠ ⁠⁠sponsor the podcast⁠⁠⁠, or⁠ ⁠⁠give a financial gift⁠⁠⁠ to support our work in elevating Adoptees and Fosters and our allies. -------- Our executive producer is Grace Yung Foster. This show is brought to you by The Inclusion Initiative Media Studio.

The [Inclusion] Conversation - Foster CareAwareness & Pride Month, with Amnoni Myers

Welcome to The [Inclusion] Conversation Podcast! Happy Pride month! We are thrilled our first guest in June is both a Foster Alum, and also a member of the LBTQIA+ communities. Today we hear from our host, Grace Yung Foster and our guest, Amnoni Myers (They/Them), MPA, Founder, Launch Ahead, and the Best Selling Author of You Are the Prize. They are also a Foster Alum.  In this episode we explore Foster narratives, belonging, loss, and how our foster care experiences do not define us. We also  This podcast dives into the world of work, careers, and life for Adoptees, Foster Care Alumni, our allies, parents, child welfare professionals, policy experts, and all within the Adoptee and Foster's orbit.  Amnoni Myers is a dynamic, passionate, and fierce public speaker and child welfare advocate who helps you rethink what it means to thrive beyond adversity. Amnoni is the founder of a tech startup called Launch Ahead, and is the Best Selling author of their book You Are The Prize: Seeing Yourself Beyond the Imperfections of Your Trauma. *********************** In this episode, we cover:  Foster Care Awareness Month Loss, grief, healing, and owning our narratives as Foster Belonging and identity Life transitions and reclamation as a Foster Their book, “You are the Prize” and its origin story The privilege of having opportunities other Fosters do not, and the guilt, responsibility we feel, but also the opportunity to serve and elevate our community because of it Father’s Day Amnoni’s Links: http://www.amnonimotivates.com/ [http://www.amnonimotivates.com/]  https://www.launchahead.co/ [https://www.launchahead.co/]  https://www.amazon.com/You-Are-Prize-Yourself-Imperfections-ebook/dp/B09R3VNZJB [https://www.amazon.com/You-Are-Prize-Yourself-Imperfections-ebook/dp/B09R3VNZJB]  @moni_laren *********************** Like the show? Please follow, rate, and review us. Want to submit an idea or suggest a guest? Submit the form below, or email us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠contact@theinclusioninitiative.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Find us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theinclusioninitiative.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Guest Submission Form: ⁠https://www.theinclusioninitiative.com/podcast⁠ Want to support The Inclusion Initiative?⁠ ⁠⁠Wear or gift our merch⁠⁠⁠,⁠ ⁠⁠sponsor the podcast⁠⁠⁠, or⁠ ⁠⁠give a financial gift⁠⁠⁠ to support our work in elevating Adoptees and Fosters and our allies. -------- Our executive producer is Grace Yung Foster. This show is brought to you by The Inclusion Initiative Media Studio.

The [Inclusion] Conversation - Celebrating AANHPIHM with Jenna Lee Kim

Welcome to The [Inclusion] Conversation Podcast! Today we hear from our host, Grace Yung Foster and our guest, Jenna Lee Kim,  an American, transracial Korean adoptee living on Jeju Island, Korea. In this episode we explore what it means to be Asian American as a transracial Adoptee, and how we celebrate our identities while honoring that the truth of our relinquishment and loss is hard and we are also appreciative of the opportunity we have to embrace our intersectional identities.  This podcast dives into the world of work, careers, and life for Adoptees, Foster Care Alumni, our allies, parents, child welfare professionals, policy experts, and all within the Adoptee and Foster's orbit.  Jenna Lee Kim is an American, transracial Korean adoptee living on Jeju Island, Korea. In the country of her birth, she explores belonging and the intersectional identities of others. By inquiring about your story, she learns more about her own. Through community engagement and storytelling, she aims to amplify the experiences of others, foster connections, and empower adoptees navigating their journeys of discovery and truth seeking. No one travels this journey alone. Previously, Jenna served as the first female mayor of Royersford, PA (2018–2023), worked in higher education for a decade, and holds an MS in education from Bucknell University and a writing degree from Susquehanna University. She offers virtual workshops, 1:1 advising for transracial adoptees or their parents, and speaking engagements on intercountry adoption and identity. Her retreat, Rejuvenate on Jeju with Jenna, provides Koreans returning to Korea with a personalized day of reflection and renewal. *********************** In this episode, we cover:  AANHPIHM (Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Heritage Month) The transracial Adoptee experience as an Asian person Being a Korean Adoptee expat on Jeju Island  Life transitions and reclamation as an Adoptee Mental Health Awareness Month The complicated reality of the birth search Jenna’s Links: JejuWithJenna@gmail.com [JejuWithJenna@gmail.com]  @mayor.jenna.explores   Jenna’s Podcast: https://tr.ee/5cg4qAZy2H [https://tr.ee/5cg4qAZy2H]  JennaLeeKim.substack.com [http://jennaleekim.substack.com]  linktr.ee/jennaleekim [http://linktr.ee/jennaleekim] *********************** Like the show? Please follow, rate, and review us. Want to submit an idea or suggest a guest? Submit the form below, or email us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠contact@theinclusioninitiative.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Find us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theinclusioninitiative.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Guest Submission Form: ⁠https://www.theinclusioninitiative.com/podcast⁠ Want to support The Inclusion Initiative?⁠ ⁠⁠Wear or gift our merch⁠⁠⁠,⁠ ⁠⁠sponsor the podcast⁠⁠⁠, or⁠ ⁠⁠give a financial gift⁠⁠⁠ to support our work in elevating Adoptees and Fosters and our allies. -------- Our executive producer is Grace Yung Foster. This show is brought to you by The Inclusion Initiative Media Studio. ************************ Episode’s Sponsor This episode is brought to you by: Rejuvenate on Jeju with Jenna For Korean Adoptees often, a return to Korea isn't simply "a vacation." Along with excitement, a trip to Korea can bring up complex emotions for Adoptees.  Navigating cultural differences, a potential birth search, and stress over travel, these all can impact our peace on our return to our birth country. Adoptees, whether it's your 1st visit or your 20th, you deserve an opportunity to reflect, reclaim your narrative, and find inner peace. Join Jenna on Jeju Island. She is a Korean Adoptee who is navigating her own journey of reunion and self-discovery. She provides a safe, compassionate, and understanding environment. Email Jenna at JejuWithJenna@gmail.com [JejuWithJenna@gmail.com] to plan your personalized day retreat today!