The Care Experience Podcast: Recent Episodes
Peter Lane
Feb 11, 2020
This Podcast is explores the experiences of people who grew up in the care system from all over the world. It is presented by a care-leaver Thomas Mongan and an Advocate Peter Lane. It is brought to you by EPIC empowering people in care, an Irish Advocacy and Participation Charity. The Podcast aims to raise awareness and fight stigma by giving a platform to people who know the most about the care-system: the people who experienced it first hand.
We have the great privilege of introducing Aisling Bruen and Dr Rory Hearne in a special collaboration with the Podcast: Reboot Republic. During this recording, Peter talks to Aisling and Rory about the current housing crisis and how it has affected the care system. As we know, care-leavers and children about to leave care have been at the acute end of the housing crisis and the system is regarded by many as being under unprecedented pressure.
In this important and timely conversation, we hear the views of people who really know how the system works and we hear some ideas about how we need to improve it. Rory Hearne is the author of: Housing Shock: The Irish Housing Crisis and How to Solve It (2020) and Gaffs: Why No One Can Get a House, and What We Can Do About it 2022
This episode of the Care Experience Podcast is all about the Irish Aftercare Network, an organisation whose aim is to create better outcomes for Care Leavers in Ireland. We have interviews with Edel Weldon, Eavan Brady and Ciaran Kenny - three people who have the massive insight and knowledge about the current state of aftercare in Ireland.
The Irish Aftercare Network's conference is on the 7th of October and tickets are available here: www.irishaftercare.com
Welcome to the (slightly delayed) Pride Special Care Experience Podcast! You will be treated to a lovely interview with Kai Brosnan about his experience of coming out as a trans man over the past year. He talks about the importance of LGBTQI+ spaces in a post-lockdown world as well as how the support of his friends has sustained him. He talks openly and honestly about how the care system shaped his life. This warm, funny and authentic interview will leave you understanding more about what it is like to be a person who has experience of being in care while also being a member of the LGBTQI+ community. We hope you enjoy.
This special extended podcast was recorded in front of a live audience in Waterford Institute Of Technology in collaboration with Dr Danielle Douglas. Thomas and Peter have brought together some of the most articulate and insightful voices from the care system to take part in this lively panel discussion about advocacy and education. The guests include Dr Roisin Farragher, Thomas O Driscoll, Sean Downey, Beatrice Ayo Vaughan and Ciara Fitzgibbon. There is massive learning in this podcast for anyone who has anything to do with the care system. It also just happens to be great craic!
CEO of TUSLA Bernard Gloster is in attendance and has some comments towards the end. This podcast is also special because it is Thomas Mongan's last time as he is moving on to other projects and we wish him all the best of luck!
This Episode celebrates International Women's Day by bringing together four inspirational women from Ireland and New Zealand to talk about their experiences of the Care System.
Colleen, Karah, Kathleen and Mary-Lynn talk about discrimination, identity, relationships, and recovery. They pass on enlightening advice to younger women on how to process the experience of having been in care and how to move past it. It is an intimate, honest and regenerative recording that was made in collaboration with EPIC's sister organisation: VOYCE - Whakarongo Mai. Four unique points of view given by four unique, articulate and exceptionally impressive women.
Tēnā koutou e te tuahine.
In the last podcast, we put out a call for children and young people with care experience to send in their voice notes and written pieces about the theme of this year's CareDay - "It takes a village to raise a child". We asked the good people of Kildare Youth Theatre to read out some of the written pieces and we collated the written and recorded pieces here in no particular order. We also received some lovely pieces from Greek Organisation: Metadrasi. Thanks to A Family for Every Child for linking us in with them.
The result is a truly heart-warming and poignant expression of the experiences of children in the care system. Vasiliki, Caroline and Sadhbh for support with getting these together but most of all, thanks to all the children and young people who took the time to share their experiences with us. You rock!
It's that time of year again! Happy #CareDay22 everyone.
The theme of this CareDay is the African Proverb : "It takes a village to raise a child". In this Podcast, we talk to members of the EPIC Youth Council about their experiences of the "villagers" who supported them in their lives. In this warm, funny piece you can hear some of the good stories from the care system and learn more about how children in care relate to the people in the village around them.
See more on careday.org
In this podcast, Peter interviews Carol Coulter and Maria Corbett from the Child Care Law Reporting Project. They talk about their history, and the progress they have seen over the years that the project has been running. They also speak about the changes that we need to make In order to improve the outcomes for children in care based on their latest report "Ripe for Reform - An Analytic Review of Court Reporting on Childcare Proceedings".
This special episode of the Care Experience Podcast celebrates World Children's Day with an extended conversation with Dr. Niall Muldoon - the Ombudsperson for Children in Ireland.
CEO of EPIC empowering people in care, Marissa Ryan, joins with Thomas and Niall for a far-reaching and impactful discussion of the rights of Children in the Irish care System.
Episode Thirty of the Care Experience Podcast looks at social media and how it can used positively within the care system. There is an interview with TU Dublin Lecturer, Researcher and Fullbright Awardee Anne Marie Shier about her current piece of research which is about the role social media plays in reuniting people who were adopted from abroad with their families.
There is also an interview with Aaron Conlon, a care-leaver who has written a book and gives motivational speeches. He passes on tips about how we can use social media for social good.
In this Podcast, Peter and Thomas interview Suzy and Christina; and Rob and Mark - two same sex couples currently fostering in Ireland. They talk about the trials and tribulations of fostering and explain what prompted them to get involved. they also debunk some of the myths that have grown up around foster-care.
There is a huge need in Ireland for new foster-carers and many ways to get involved. If you are interested in knowing more - check out www.fostering.ie. As Suzy says in her interview - if you have a spare room, some spare time and some spare love in your heart - sure why not?
This episode tries to gain a greater understanding of how children and young people, who have been in care, have experienced the intervention of psychotherapy and counselling. There is an in-depth interview with Dr Daire Gilmartin: Principal Principal Counselling Psychologist & Psychotherapist in Five Rivers Fostering.
Daire talks about his PhD research "Talk to me like I'm a human" - an interpretative phenomenological analysis of the psychotherapy experiences of young people in foster care.
Daire wishes to thank Dr Rosaleen McElvaney in St. Clare’s Unit, CHI, and Dr Melissa Corbally in DCU for their support with the research.
Thomas also talks about his experience with different styles of therapy throughout his life and how they effected him.
There is solid practical advice for young people with care experience, Social Care staff and Foster-carers about counselling and psychotherapy throughout this Podcast.
This two part podcast explores how young people who have been through the care system experience the education system. Even though we are only scraping the surface of this complex but vital subject, we decided that there was too much material for one episode so we divided it into two parts.
In part two, Thomas talks about his own educational journey. He also talks and reflects with fellow care-leavers Dr Roisin Farragher from UCG and Angelika Quinn from Maynooth University.
For further information on this topic, please check out this webinar:
https://youtu.be/lQzsHGV5hGI
This two part podcast explores how young people who have been through the care system experience the education system. Even though we are only scraping the surface of this complex but vital subject, we decided that there was too much material for one episode so we divided it into two parts.
In part one, Peter interviews TCD researcher Dr Eavan Brady about the findings of her PhD which looks at the educational attainments of people with care experience up until the age of thirty-six.
For further information on this topic, please check out this webinar: https://youtu.be/lQzsHGV5hGI
This episode explores LGBTQI+ identity and where it fits with the care system. There is advice for workers and foster-carers from people with experience on how to work with young people in their care who are LGBTQI+. More resources are available here: https://www.epiconline.ie/lgbti-resources/
There is also an interview with new CEO of EPIC: Marissa Ryan about her professional history and her vision for EPIC empowering people in care.
Welcome back to The Care Experience Podcast after our short break. This episode deals with the Justice System and where it intersects with the Care System. Thomas and Peter talk to Professor of Criminology Dr Nicola Carr about her research. They also talk to EPIC Advocates, Fiona Murray and John Murphy, about their practical knowledge, and their experience of young people who may have found themselves on the wrong side of the law.
Feel free to get in contact with questions and comments.
Hear all the news about the the upcoming #CareDay21 events in the latest episode of The Care Experience Podcast. As well as this, Thomas and Peter interview Sean Downey who tells them about the TV show with which he is currently involved.
Find about how about how Sean gets on with famous hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald in the new RTE show: Davy's Toughest Challenge.
There is also an interesting conversation about about the importance of Youth Work for Children in Care.
This is part two of a two part podcast featuring an extended interview with Special Rapporteur on Child Protection, Dr Conor O' Mahony from UCC. Conor tells Peter and Thomas about the proposed reforms to the GAL service and how they may affect a child's journey through the Irish Care System.
This is part one of a two part podcast featuring an in depth interview with Special Rapporteur on Child Protection, Dr Conor O' Mahony from UCC.
Thomas and Peter have a wide ranging conversation with Conor covering his role as Rapporteur, Irish Child-care law and the extra concerns facing young people during the covid crisis.
We know that things are tough at the moment so we are presenting a lighter podcast with no guest speakers this time around. Peter shows off his tenuous grasp of Greek Philosophy and how it can apply to people today. Thomas talks about his travels in Greece and they both talk about how the podcast has developed since it began earlier this year. There is a little bit of bad language. We hope you enjoy it!
Peter is interviewing Dr Rebekah Brennan on her research project "Voluntary Care in Ireland". Rebekah outlines the findings of the UCC research project and talks about the recommendations that are made.
The project, which started in 2018 was served by a national survey featuring interviews with 243 social workers, 20 solicitors, 6 focus groups and 5 children's advocates. There are future phases planned to include people with care experience. It is vital listening for students, academics, people with care experience, social workers and anyone who has an interest in the Care System in Ireland.
In the podcast, Thomas and Peter interview Tasha Reynolds and Lucas Moore from CREATE in Australia. Tasha and Lucas then interview Thomas and Peter for their podcast in Australia. Confused? Listen in to find out more.
Thomas and Peter also discuss the recent online social work practice webinar that they contributed towards with Dr Kenneth Burns and Dr Fiachra O' Suilleabhain in University College Cork. This event is available here: https://bit.ly/338bIPJ
This episode finds Thomas interviewing Alan Fay about his life, his interests and the work he does with the EPIC Council and The Wheelchair Association. Peter is interviewing Tea Živković about the care system in Croatia. Thomas and Peter also discuss Removed, a hard-hitting play from our friends in Voypic, Northern Ireland and a few other topics too.
This Podcast sees Thomas and Peter interview Tupua Urlich about the care system in New Zealand. Tupua is a care-leaver who works for VOYCE Whakarongo Mai, a sister organisation of EPIC empowering people in care. The topics included are Maori culture, Traveller culture, colonisation, spirituality and why having independent advocacy written into New Zealand's legislation was good news for children in care.
This podcast features Thomas Mongan interviewing recent care-leaver Lauren O' Toole. They discuss many things that are important to children who are in care but may not be deemed as important to the professionals who are working with them.
It is a funny, poignant and very important interview that should be listened to by social workers, social care workers and care leavers alike.
There is a brief discussion at the end of the podcast with solicitor, Gareth Noble about the In Camera rule and how it applies to children in care.
This Podcast deals with Child in Care Reviews in Ireland. These meetings happen every six to twelve months during the time a child is in care. The stake-holders in the child's life review the child's development and plan what needs to happen for the child to experience the best outcomes. Peter and Thomas talk to researcher and CICR Chair-person Caroline O' Meara about why it is so important to engage children in this process and why the child's participation is key to successful care planning.
In this Podcast, Thomas and Peter talk to CEO of EPIC, Terry Dignan about the rumours surrounding the Department of Children and Youth Affairs in the negotiations about the programme for government.
They also talk to singer, artist and addiction support worker Andrea Martin about special care, addiction services. creativity and the links between trauma and addiction.
There are also discussions about baby Robin Red breasts, beards and keeping sane during the COVID - 19 crisis.
This Podcast sees Peter interview US citizen and mental health activist Craig Lewis from his home in Mexico. The discussion starts with the racial justice protests in the US and goes on to to describe Craig's time as a child in mental health facilities. Craig uses his experience to offer advice to young people and professionals. He also reminisces about how punk rock got him through the toughest times of his life.
Craig can be contacted on punx.in.recovery@gmail.com
https://medium.com/@punx.in.recovery https://www.etsy.com/shop/SanityIsAFullTimeJob
This is an episode where Peter and Thomas talk childhood development, the impact of childhood memories and the Romanian care system. There are also a few tangents and stories thrown in for good measure, you may expect by now.
In this podcast, Thomas and Peter interview Noel Howard from Care Leavers Ireland and Social Care Ireland. Noel talks about the changes that he has seen during his long and storied career. There is a discussion about the events that can shape children's lives and the history of social care in Ireland.
Peter and Thomas also talk about gurus, DIY and banana bread in the COVID - 19 era.
This is part two of a Podcast exploring how homelessness has a disproportionate effect on Care-leavers. There are interviews with Danielle McGarry from the EPIC Youth Council and Neil Forsyth from Focus Ireland. This Podcast is a must for anyone in social work, social care or youth work who has an interest in better outcomes for children in the care system.
This Podcast is about the homeless crisis and why there are so many care-leavers are at greater risk of homelessness. There is and interview with care-leaver, social care worker and activist, Aisling Bruen about her experiences and expertise. There is also a discussion about how the Covid 19 crisis is affecting people in homeless services.
This part one of a two part series on homelessness and how it has a disproportionate effect on the Care Community.
In this episode, Thomas and Peter talk about youth work and the positive impact it can have on the lives on children and young people in the care system. There are interviews with Youth Worker, Kieran Burke, and Lecturer, Mick O' Brien. There is also poetry from Katelyn Kelly and a some hopeful reflections on how Covid 19 is shaping society.
Thomas interviews Social Work student, musician and care-leaver Dillon Nolan about aftercare, social policy, positive relationships with professionals and creativity. In a wide ranging and often hilarious discussion, Thomas and Dillon get to grips with some of the issues in the care system that they would change if they had the opportunity.
This episode is a special that hopes to support the Irish care community to get through the current Covid - 19 crisis. It was recorded on Thursday the 19th of March 2020. It includes resources that are available and advice on how to make the best of your self-solation.
In this episode of The Care Experience, Thomas and Peter visit the Headquarters of the Irish Child and Family Agency, TUSLA. They have a candid and frank discussion with TUSLA CEO, Bernard Gloster about what is going well in the Irish Care System and what is not going so well. They discuss the aftercare service, fostering and homelessness. They also talk about the need for kindness and creativity to be part of children in care's life.
This Podcast is about the making of the two songs that EPIC released coming up to CareDay20. There are discussions with Conor Ryan, Jazzy J, Dillon Nolan and Luke Treacy. Andrea Martin from Rock/Blues band Mama Martin has some sound advice about keeping hold of your creativity when coming through the care system. There is also an update from Rory Brown in County Limerick about what is going on down there for CareDay20.
This podcast contains an interview with the Irish Times columnist Patrick Freyne about media bias and stereotyping. There is also an interview with Australian Activist and Care-Leaver, Leilani Houston about the Australian care system.
This episode explores what it is like to be a care-leaver around Christmas time. There is also an interview with Care-Leaver and Academic Roisin Farragher about her recent paper about the idea of "family" amongst care-leavers which she delivered in Israel.
In this episode, Thomas and Peter interview Suzanne O' Brien about the EPIC Youth Council and the work that they do. There is also an in depth discussion with Dutch Play-wright and Care-leaver about her work with young people understanding and getting through their trauma using the means of drama.
This Podcast is explores the experiences of people who grew up in the care system from all over the world. It is presented by a care-leaver Thomas Mongan and an Advocate Peter Lane. It is brought to you by EPIC empowering people in care, an Irish Advocacy and Participation Charity.
The Podcast aims to raise awareness and fight stigma by giving a platform to people who know the most about the care-system: the people who experienced it first hand.