Shows
Foster Care, Adoption, and Beyond: Untold StoriesEpisode 21 | Foster Parent Trainings in LA County: Interview with Researchers Kathleen (Kate) Soto Gisler and Kaili FarhatSend us a textIn this episode we have guests Kaili Farhat and Kathleen (Kate) Soto Gisler present their master’s thesis on foster parent training programs in Los Angeles County. As home to one of the largest child welfare systems in the United States, LA County offers a wide range of trainings for foster parents. However, notable gaps remain in the content and scope of these offerings. Kate and Kaili's county-level analysis identifies these gaps and weaves in recommendations that can strengthen foster parent training efforts both within LA County and beyond. Kathleen (Kat...2025-07-1118 minFoster Care, Adoption, and Beyond: Untold StoriesEpisode 20 | Libertad?Send us a textWhat is freedom? This episode presents a profound critique of freedom drawing upon key concepts in Nichiren Buddism and the story of Tsunesaburō Makiguchi.Que es la libertad? Este episodio presenta una crítica profunda de la libertad por recurrir al Buddismo Nichiren y el cuento de Tsunesaburō Makiguchi. Support the showAbout Me Dr. Zayda Sorrell-Medina is a professor, social scientist, educator, and author. She is also a member and advocate of the foster, adoption, and homeless youth community and...2025-06-1114 minFoster Care, Adoption, and Beyond: Untold StoriesEpisode 19 | Foster Care License Requirements: Interview with Researchers Jasmine Mitchell and Maggie ReddingtonSend us a textHappy foster care awareness month! In this episode, child welfare workers and Maggie Reddington and Jasmine Mitchell disseminate their research from their master's thesis, which examines the exclusionary requirements of the U.S. foster care licensing process. If you've ever wondered, what is the process to become a foster parent, this episode is a must listen, shedding light on the approval process in different states.Support the showAbout Me Dr. Zayda Sorrell-Medina is a professor, social scientist, educator, and author. She i...2025-05-1124 minFoster Care, Adoption, and Beyond: Untold StoriesEpisode 18 | Becoming a Foster Parent: 5 Things I Wish I KnewSend us a textHave you ever thought about becoming a foster parent? Save yourself a headache and tune in to these five things you need to know before becoming a foster parent. Support the showAbout Me Dr. Zayda Sorrell-Medina is a professor, social scientist, educator, and author. She is also a member and advocate of the foster, adoption, and homeless youth community and a first generation college student. Consulting Dr. Zayda Sorrell-Medina provides consulting, s...2025-04-1119 minFoster Care, Adoption, and Beyond: Untold StoriesEpisode 16 | Cuento Infantil: Alas Para VolarSend us a textThis story is for children as much as it is for adults, inviting the listener to tap into their inner child to cultivate imagination. Alas para volar means wings to fly in Spanish. This is a special episode release to recognize International Multilingual Day on March 27th. I practice multilingual parenting, and this story that I share with you is one that I created for my trilingual toddler.Support the showAbout Me Dr. Zayda Sorrell-Medina is a...2025-03-2708 minFoster Care, Adoption, and Beyond: Untold StoriesEpisode 17 | Child Story: Wings to FlySend us a textThis story is for children as much as it is for adults, inviting the listener to tap into their inner child to cultivate imagination. Alas para volar means wings to fly in Spanish. This is a special episode release to recognize International Multilingual Day on March 27th. I practice multilingual parenting, and this story that I share with you is one that I created for my trilingual toddler.Support the showAbout Me Dr. Zayda Sorrell-Medina is a...2025-03-2707 minFoster Care, Adoption, and Beyond: Untold StoriesEpisode 15 | DEI ExplainedSend us a textHave you ever wondered: What is DEI? There is a lot of misinformation about what it is and what it is not. In this episode, I present a basic definition of DEI in lay terms.Stay tuned for the special episode release on March 27th in recognition of International Multi-lingual Day! I will be sharing a cuento infantil, or child story.Support the showAbout Me Dr. Zayda Sorrell-Medina is a professor, social scientist, educator, and author. She is also a member and...2025-03-1118 minFoster Care, Adoption, and Beyond: Untold StoriesEpisode 14 | Podcast Name ChangeSend us a textThis podcast is an official announcement regarding the podcast's name change, from "The Voice" to "Foster Care, Adoption and Beyond: Untold Stories", also revealing in more detail what this podcast is about and what you can expect.Support the showAbout Me Dr. Zayda Sorrell-Medina is a professor, social scientist, educator, and author. She is also a member and advocate of the foster, adoption, and homeless youth community and a first generation college student. Consulting Dr. Zayda Sorrell-Medina provides...2025-02-2203 minFoster Care, Adoption, and Beyond: Untold StoriesEpisode 13 | Self-Love: A Lifelong JourneySend us a textHow can I love myself? What is self-love? This episode provides a basic definition of self-love and strategies to embark on a life long journey of self-love. Support the showAbout Me Dr. Zayda Sorrell-Medina is a professor, social scientist, educator, and author. She is also a member and advocate of the foster, adoption, and homeless youth community and a first generation college student. Consulting Dr. Zayda Sorrell-Medina provides consulting, speaking engagements, trainings, workshops, and more. Learn more by c...2025-02-1114 minFoster Care, Adoption, and Beyond: Untold StoriesEpisode 12 | A Poem Dedicated to Birth MomsSend us a textThis episode presents a poem and song dedicated to all birth mothers, and especially birth mothers who had their child taken away. This episode is inspired by my experience as a former foster and homeless youth, adoptive parent, and professor of social work. Share this episode with someone who you believe can resonate.Support the showAbout Me Dr. Zayda Sorrell-Medina is a professor, social scientist, educator, and author. She is also a member and advocate of the foster, adoption, and homeless...2025-01-1107 minFoster Care, Adoption, and Beyond: Untold StoriesEpisode 11 | Supporting First Generation College StudentsSend us a textThis episode sheds light on the role of caring adults in paving the way for first generation college students and tips for success for first gen college students. Support the showAbout Me Dr. Zayda Sorrell-Medina is a professor, social scientist, educator, and author. She is also a member and advocate of the foster, adoption, and homeless youth community and a first generation college student. Consulting Dr. Zayda Sorrell-Medina provides consulting, speaking engagements, trainings, workshops, and more. Learn more b...2024-12-1118 minFoster Care, Adoption, and Beyond: Untold StoriesEpisode 10 | Foster Adoption Micro-aggressionsSend us a textThe foster-adopt community experience a heap of invasive and rude questions. Have you ever wondered what this is called? It's called a foster-adoption micro-aggression. This episode draws on research and personal experience to discuss this concept in more depth.Support the showAbout Me Dr. Zayda Sorrell-Medina is a professor, social scientist, educator, and author. She is also a member and advocate of the foster, adoption, and homeless youth community and a first generation college student. Consulting 2024-11-1119 minFoster Care, Adoption, and Beyond: Untold StoriesEpisode 9 | Overcoming Foster Care and Homeless Youth StigmaSend us a text In this episode, I draw upon my personal story to shed light on overcoming stigma, shame and secrecy as a former foster and homeless youth and other intersecting identities.Support the showAbout Me Dr. Zayda Sorrell-Medina is a professor, social scientist, educator, and author. She is also a member and advocate of the foster, adoption, and homeless youth community and a first generation college student. Consulting Dr. Zayda Sorrell-Medina provides consulting, speaking engagements, trainings, workshops, and more. Learn m...2024-09-2417 minFoster Care, Adoption, and Beyond: Untold StoriesEpisode 8 | Foster Care and Adoption: Invisible OppressionSend us a textThis episode sheds light on the invisible oppression that individuals face with experience of foster care, adoption, youth homelessness. It is a call to action to for my listeners to take action to begin dismantling their oppression.Support the showAbout Me Dr. Zayda Sorrell-Medina is a professor, social scientist, educator, and author. She is also a member and advocate of the foster, adoption, and homeless youth community and a first generation college student. Consulting Dr. Zayda Sorrell-Medina provides...2024-08-1407 minFoster Care, Adoption, and Beyond: Untold StoriesEpisode 7 | Embracing My Unconventional FamilySend us a textThis episode reveals the beauty and hiccups of having an unconventional family. I reflect upon my own unconventional family living with my Puerto Rican Jewish mom and Chinese siblings as a high school teenager. I conclude with tips and words of encouragement on how we can better understand our unconventional family from a strengths based approach.Support the showAbout Me Dr. Zayda Sorrell-Medina is a professor, social scientist, educator, and author. She is also a member and advocate of the foster, adoption, a...2023-11-2618 minFoster Care, Adoption, and Beyond: Untold StoriesEpisode 6 | Staying Positive: Smell the Sopa de Calabaza and Corn TortillaSend us a textThis episode invites listeners to foster gratitude and positive energy despite prevailing life challenges. As a former homeless youth, I tried to see the glass half full, which kept me going towards my master plan of going to college despite my adversity. This episode draws from tender moments during my homeless adventures to illustrate this point.Support the showAbout Me Dr. Zayda Sorrell-Medina is a professor, social scientist, educator, and author. She is also a member and advocate of the foster, adoption...2023-09-0718 minFoster Care, Adoption, and Beyond: Untold StoriesEpisode 5 | Supporting TeenagersSend us a text In this episode, I draw upon my experiences as a runaway teenager and social work educator to share tips on how parents can better support their teenager. Especially when the teenager is not your biological child, it is ever more critical to take a trauma-informed approach. Support the showAbout Me Dr. Zayda Sorrell-Medina is a professor, social scientist, educator, and author. She is also a member and advocate of the foster, adoption, and homeless youth community and a first generation college student. 2023-07-1513 minFoster Care, Adoption, and Beyond: Untold StoriesEpisode 4 | Black Hair, Gender, and PrideSend us a textDrawing upon an experience from as a homeless youth, this episode interrogates black hair and gender norms. I share how listeners may foster pride over conformity and shame.Support the showAbout Me Dr. Zayda Sorrell-Medina is a professor, social scientist, educator, and author. She is also a member and advocate of the foster, adoption, and homeless youth community and a first generation college student. Consulting Dr. Zayda Sorrell-Medina provides consulting, speaking engagements, trainings, workshops, and more. Learn more...2023-05-2414 minFoster Care, Adoption, and Beyond: Untold StoriesEpisode 2 | White Diamond: How Foster and Adoptive Parents Can Honor Their Child’s ParentsSend us a text This episode invites you to think of ways to honor, acknowledge, and recognize your child's family of origin. This is especially relevant if you are a foster or adoptive parent, legal guardian, social worker, educator, or family friend. In this episode, I share how I visited my biological mother who I hadn't visited in forever. Before we departed, she gave me her White Diamond perfume, which I used anytime I wanted to remember by mother. I conclude with key takeaways. Support the showAbout Me2023-05-1418 minFoster Care, Adoption, and Beyond: Untold StoriesEpisode 3 | Becoming a Homeless Youth in the United StatesSend us a textThere are millions of homeless youth in the United States, which represents a critical social problem to be addressed by social workers, scientists, policy makers, nonprofits, and other professionals. In this episode, I share my story on how I became a homeless youth in the U.S. and share strategies on how you can support this population. Support the showAbout Me Dr. Zayda Sorrell-Medina is a professor, social scientist, educator, and author. She is also a member and advocate of the foster, a...2023-05-1421 minFoster Care, Adoption, and Beyond: Untold StoriesEpisode 1 | Reframing Your Adversity StorySend us a textThis episode invites you to reframe your adversity story. As a product of the 1980s crack epidemic in the United States, I was separated from my birth mother and went into foster care. This story shares how I now understand my story decades later. I conclude with an empowering message that challenges us to reconceive how we perceive our adversity stories.Support the showAbout Me Dr. Zayda Sorrell-Medina is a professor, social scientist, educator, and author. She is also a member and a...2023-05-1412 min