Shows
Fostering Futures℠Foster Youth EP 9 - Adaptation, Loss, and Strength: Aubrey Carballo’s StoryIn this episode, Athena Cordero sits down with Aubrey Carballo, Service Specialist at Desert Mountain Children’s Center and a former foster youth, to share her powerful and deeply personal story.Aubrey reflects on entering the foster care system at a young age, navigating multiple placements, and adapting to constantly changing environments, beliefs, and family dynamics. She shares what it was like to experience separation from her siblings, reunification with her mother, and the realities that followed challenging the expectations she once held onto as a child in the system.Through her journey, Au...
2026-06-0336 minFostering Futures℠Foster Youth EP 8 - Supporting Foster Youth Through Trauma and TransitionIn this episode of Fostering Futures with CAHELP, Athena Cordero sits down with Mark Todhunter, Behavioral Health Counselor Supervisor at Desert Mountain Children’s Center, to explore the mental health realities of foster youth.Mark shares his decades of experience working with children in foster care, offering powerful insight into how removal, placement changes, and ongoing uncertainty deeply impact a child’s identity, sense of safety, and ability to form connections. He explains how foster youth often experience both trauma and ongoing grief and loss losing not only their families, but also their homes, schools, rout...
2026-05-2731 minFostering Futures℠Foster Youth EP 7 - Helping Students Show Up: Child Welfare and Attendance in ActionIn this episode of Fostering Futures with CAHELP, Athena Cordero sits down with Renee Castillo, Director of Child Welfare and Attendance at Apple Valley Unified School District, to explore how attendance, stability, and student well‑being are deeply connected.Renee shares her experience across nearly three decades in education, including lessons learned from her time in Vermont and how those insights shaped her work supporting students today. The conversation breaks down the true role of child welfare and attendance moving beyond compliance to focus on connection, trust, and removing barriers that prevent students from accessing sc...
2026-05-2044 minFostering Futures℠Foster Youth EP 6 - Supporting Foster Families Beyond Placement with Tawnie Rice From On the RiseIn this episode of Fostering Futures with CAHELP, Athena Cordero speaks with Tawnie Rice, Administrator at On the Rise Foster Agency in Barstow, California. Tawnie shares her unique perspective as both a former foster youth and a social work professional who has worked her way up through nearly every role within the agency.Tawnie walks listeners through what foster family agencies do, how they differ from county placements, and why additional layers of support, such as trained visitation monitoring, advocacy, and trauma‑informed services can make a critical difference for foster children and fa...
2026-04-2243 minFostering Futures℠Foster Youth EP 5 - From Foster Care to Leadership: Paul Durham and the SBCSS Foster Youth ProgramIn this episode, Athena Cordero sits down with Paul Durham, Program Coordinator for the Children Deserve Success Team at San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools (SBCSS), to explore what it truly takes to support foster youth through education, stability, and connection.Paul shares his dual perspective as both a system leader and someone who personally experienced foster care, offering powerful insight into the realities that foster youth face, including frequent school changes, housing instability, and the emotional toll of starting over again and again. He explains how San Bernardino County has built a coordinated, prevention‑fo...
2026-04-1545 minFostering Futures℠Episode 17 - When the World Isn’t Built for You: Neurodiversity & Mental HealthIn this episode, Athena Cordero sits down with Jennifer Cork, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Doctor of Social Work, author, and keynote speaker who is also as autistic. Jennifer brings both professional expertise and lived experience to a powerful conversation about neurodiversity, mental health, and what autistic individuals truly need to thrive, especially during life transitions.Jennifer shares her journey from elementary education into social work, disability services, and eventually private practice, where she now works almost exclusively with neurodivergent children, teens, and adults. She explains why many of the challenges her clients face, such...
2026-04-0834 minFostering Futures℠Episode 16 - Understanding the Spectrum: Navigating Autism with CAHELP ExpertsIn this episode of Fostering Futures, host Athena Cordero welcomes Jennifer Rountree, a Program Specialist, and Melissa de Silva, an Intervention Specialist, both from the California Association of Health and Education Linked and Professions (CAHELP). With over two decades of combined experience in Special Education (SPED), Jennifer and Melissa dive into the complexities of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in honor of Autism Awareness Month. The conversation centers on understanding autism not just as a medical diagnosis, but as a neuro-developmental disability that uniquely impacts social communication and behavior across a broad spectrum of needs.They...
2026-04-0142 minFostering Futures℠Foster Youth Series EP 4 - Beyond the District Office: A Superintendents Story of Foster Care and AdoptionIn this episode, Athena Cordero sits down with Derrik Delton, former Superintendent of the Oro Grande School District, to discuss the unique intersection of educational leadership and foster parenting. With 30 years of experience in education, ranging from a Special Education (SPED) teacher to an administrator across all grade levels, Derrik shares how his professional background informed his personal decision to become a foster and, eventually, an adoptive parent. The conversation highlights the innovative programs within the Oro Grande district, such as Riverside Prep, and the critical importance of creating supportive environments where foster youth can thrive both...
2026-03-2531 minFostering Futures℠Foster Youth Series EP 3 - From Grief to Grace: A Foster Parent’s CallingIn this episode, Athena Cordero sits down with Maria Bamba, a foster parent whose journey began through a family crisis and evolved into a lifelong calling. What started as stepping in to care for her nieces during an emergency became a five‑year journey of fostering teen girls, navigating trauma, building structure, and creating a home rooted in faith, love, and accountability.Maria shares the deeply personal story that led her to fostering from her sister’s medical emergency, to becoming a single foster parent, to later walking through profound grief after the loss of her...
2026-03-1841 minFostering Futures℠Episode 15 - Resolving Conflict Without Losing Control: A Parent’s Guide to ADRIn this episode, Athena Cordero welcomes mediator, law professor, and conflict‑resolution expert David Dowling for a thoughtful conversation about Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and how families and schools can navigate conflict in special education more constructively. Drawing on his professional expertise and his personal experience as a parent of a child on a 504 plan, David breaks down what ADR really means, why the word “alternative” can be misleading, and how communication, negotiation, facilitated IEPs (Individual Education Program), and mediation fit along a spectrum of dispute resolution.David explains how parents can retain voic...
2026-03-0450 minFostering Futures℠Episode 14 - Quiet Isn’t Always Calm: Misconceptions About Infant BehaviorIn this episode, Athena Cordero sits down with Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Behavioral Health Counselor Supervisor, Lina Myrvold, to unpack what infant mental health really means and why it matters far earlier than most people realize. Lina breaks down core misconceptions about babies (“they won’t remember,” “quiet means fine”), explains how attachment forms from birth, and describes how caregivers’ own histories and emotions shape infant development. She then walks listeners through early behavioral cues, co-regulation, and how infants communicate long before words.The episode also spotlights Strong Start, a multidisciplinary early-interv...
2026-02-0458 minFostering Futures℠Episode 12 - Inside the IEP Process: Through the Eyes of ParentsIn this episode, Athena Cordero sits down with Monica Rodriguez and Iván Campos to unpack the realities of navigating the IEP (Individualized Education Program) process as parents and professionals. They share candid stories about early signs, assessments, and the emotional journey from suspicion to diagnosis. The conversation explores what an IEP really is, why collaboration matters, and how families can advocate effectively without feeling overwhelmed. From practical strategies to emotional resilience, this episode offers guidance for parents, educators, and anyone supporting a child with unique learning needs.HighlightsMonica shares her 20...
2026-01-071h 01Fostering Futures℠Episode 10 - From Red to Green: How Emotional Intelligence Shapes How We Show UpIn this insightful and practical episode, host Athena Cordero welcomes Tarron Riley, longtime supervisor and clinician at Desert Mountain Children’s Center (DMCC), for a deep dive into emotional intelligence (EI). What it is, why it matters, and how to use it in real life. Drawing on two decades of clinical work with adolescents, anger management, and family systems, Tarron demystifies EI as a set of learnable abilities: recognizing emotions (in ourselves and others), understanding their causes and consequences, using emotions to meet the moment, and regulating them effectively.Together, Athena and Tarron un...
2025-11-0550 minFostering Futures℠Episode 9 - From Paraeducator to Superintendent: Leading a School District in the MountainsIn this candid and uplifting conversation, host Athena Cordero sits down with Manny Marquez, Superintendent of Bear Valley Unified School District, to explore what servant leadership looks like in a close-knit mountain community. From his start as a paraeducator to 25 years of growing alongside the district he loves, Manny shares how sincerity, accessibility, and emotional intelligence shape every decision he makes. He pulls back the curtain on a superintendent’s day-to-day—being on campuses, taking parent calls on the spot, and navigating “surprise” responsibilities like facilities, contracts, and construction. Manny also recounts the district’s coordinate...
2025-10-1540 minFostering Futures℠Episode 8 - Beyond the Numbers: How PBIS & MTSS Help Schools ThriveIn this candid, practical episode, host Athena Cordero sits down with Dr. Kent McIntosh (University of Oregon; Co-Director, National Center on PBIS) and Angie Mgbeke (Project Manager, Prevention & Intervention at CAHELP) to talk about what it really takes to help schools thrive right now. They cut through post-COVID noise, staff turnover, community tensions, initiative overload and focus on a simple formula: relationships first, data always, teams over heroes. Kent shares how to look at discipline and equity data before making assumptions, while Angie explains how coaching-plus-follow-up (not one-and-done PD) turns plans into practice...
2025-10-011h 03Fostering Futures℠Episode 7 - The Superintendent’s Perspective: Serving Military Families with Care and CourageIn this inspiring, people-first episode, host Athena Cordero welcomes Jesse Nájera, Superintendent of Silver Valley Unified School District, for an open, practical conversation about leading a small, military-connected district with heart. Together they unpack how relationships, recognition, and student wellness—not just programs or test scores—drive real outcomes for kids.Jesse traces his path from Spanish/ELD teacher to superintendent and shares what makes Silver Valley unique: high student mobility, deep partnerships with Fort Irwin, and a culture that refuses to hoard good news. He outlines the distr...
2025-09-1752 minFostering Futures℠Episode 6 - Supporting Students Beyond the Stall: Rethinking Bathroom Breaks in SchoolIn this insightful and heartfelt episode, host Athena Cordero is joined by Crystal Kudrle, Occupational Therapist at Desert Mountain SELPA, for an open and practical conversation about a surprisingly overlooked topic in education — bathroom breaks, pelvic health, and student well-being. Together, they shine a light on how something as simple as restroom routines can profoundly impact focus, behavior, and emotional safety in the classroom.Crystal shares her journey as an OT and her personal experience with pelvic health that led her to advocate for breaking the taboo around toileting. Fr...
2025-09-0333 minFostering Futures℠Episode 5 - Emotional and Mental Load Athletes Carry While Juggling SchoolIn this powerful episode host Athena Cordero is joined by Naomi Hill, Intervention Specialist at Desert Mountain Children’s Center, for an open and moving conversation about the mental health needs of youth athletes. Through humor, heart, and real-life stories, they shine a light on what student athletes are really carrying on and off the field.Naomi shares her journey from group homes to classrooms to soccer sidelines, and how managing her daughter’s team opened her eyes to the emotional weight student athletes often shoulder in silence. What started as a simple support group evolved into a sa...
2025-08-2049 minFostering Futures℠Episode 4 - Demystifying Social Emotional Learning (SEL)In this heartfelt episode of Fostering Futures with CAHELP, host Athena Cordero is joined by Scott Heitman, Executive Director of Special Services at Oro Grande School District, for an honest and insightful conversation about Social Emotional Learning (SEL). Together, they work to demystify what SEL really means moving it out of binders and buzzwords and into everyday human connection.Scott shares real stories from his time as a teacher, principal, and district leader that show how simple acts of kindness, presence, and genuine care can build meaningful relationships with students and staff. From...
2025-08-0636 minFostering Futures℠Episode 1 - Potty Talk: "What Kids Wish We Knew About Pelvic Health"Crystal Aden has been an Occupational Therapist for over ten years. She started her education locally at Victor Valley College (VVC) before then transferring to Loma Linda University where she obtained her Bachelor’s degree and Master of Occupational Therapy. She is a Nationally Board-Certified Occupational Therapist and is licensed to practice in multiple states. As an Occupational Therapist, she has worked for Desert Mountain Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) for over ten years serving special needs children in the schools while supporting districts, educators, and parents. In this episode of Fostering Futures, host Athena Cordero sit...
2025-04-1628 min
El Azar EligeRetórica visual, puesta en escena y arquetipos - El Azar Elige Ep4 - Temporada 2Retórica visual, puesta en escena y arquetipos. En esta descripción encontrarás el link a las fotos, libros y recursos mencionados durante el episodio. El Azar Elige es un podcast de fotografía contemporánea latinoamericana en el que Santiago, Martina y María Inés exploran imágenes a través de los sentidos, las ideas y el juego.
En este episodio:
… Jugaron los siguientes libros:
“Llegando a los 50” de María Teresa García, auto-editado en el 2000.
“Depresión en Zaruma” de Fabiola Cedillo, de la colección AñZ editado por Editorial Ra...
2022-12-111h 02
Explore the Latest Full Audiobooks in Fiction, Contemporary WomenLone Wolf by Jodi PicoultPlease visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/369981 to listen full audiobooks. Title: Lone Wolf Author: Jodi Picoult Narrator: Mark Zeisler, Natalia Payne, Nick Cordero, Celeste Ciulla, Louis Changchien, Andy Paris, Angela Goethals Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 12 hours 58 minutes Release date: February 28, 2012 Ratings: Ratings of Book: 4.2 of Total 131 Ratings of Narrator: 3.74 of Total 23 Genres: Contemporary Women Publisher's Summary: A regular at the #1 spot on the New York Times best-seller list, Jodi Picoult crafts stories about family, love, and redemption. Here Picoult tells the tale of Edward Warren, an estranged son who faces a monumental decision when his father is left comatose...
2012-02-2805 min