Funding Love Podcast: Recent Episodes
Mal and Kate
Adoption conversations with Kate and Mal. They are two adoptive moms that seek to love, support, and elevate all corners of the adoption triad through honest conversations and interviews with adoptive parents, birth moms, & adoptees. Listen as they share the heart and purpose behind Funding Love, a non-profit that strengthens bonds, builds community, and restores people.
In a surprise bonus episdoe Mal & Kate talk with JamieFinn. Sheistheauthorofthebestsellingbook,FostertheFamily, andFilled: 60DevotionsfortheFosterParent’sHeart. SheisthefounderandPresidentofFostertheFamilyandFounderoftheFilledGathering. Herpopularsocialmediaaccountsofferaglimpseintothereallifeofafosterparentandprovideencouragementtotensofthousandsoffosterandadoptiveparents.
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@malyourpal
@katedawnduck
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This week Mal and Kate wrap up season 6. They spend time encouraging you the listener and share why they think pursuing "what breaks your heart" is so important.
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@malyourpal
@katedawnduck
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On this weeks episode Mal and Kate have a conversation with Jen Wilhorn about parenting. They discuss topics that are great for any stage of parenting but especially if you are parenting through the teen years.
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@malyourpal
@katedawnduck
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On this weeks episode Mal and Kate talk with two of their dearest friends, husband and wife duo, Jody and Rachel Spain. The Spains share how they became involved with Funding Love and the importance of intentional generosity.
We are so grateful for their generous hearts and for sharing so candidly about how they live and teach their boys to live with generously.
Connect with Rachel and Jody on Instagram: @rachelspain81 @jodyspain
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On this weeks episode Mal and Kate chat with friend and fellow adoptive mom, Jessica Ritchie. Jessica shares her journey to adoption and her heart for foster care. Jessica has big dreams for the foster community and she gives us some practical ways to support this community right where you are.
We absolutely loved getting to know Jessica even better and we are so grateful for her heart to serve with us.
Connect with Jessica on Instagram at @jlritchie23
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On this weeks episode Mal and Kate share details about...Mal and Kate. In this lighthearted episode you'll get to know Mal and Kate a little bit better. We promise you'll laugh out loud in this episode of the Funding Love Podcast.
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@malyourpal
@katedawnduck
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On this weeks episode Mal and Kate read testimonies from Funding Love alumni. They share with us what happens in the hearts and minds of those that experience a Funding Love vacation. You'll want to grab a tissue and get ready to have your heart filled with the emotion of joy when they share story after story of life change.
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On this weeks episode Mal and Kate remind everyone of the adoption process and explain how Funding Love fits into it. It's a great reminder of why it's so important to support and be a part of the process no matter if you are directly connected to the adoption community or you know someone connected and it tugs at your heart strings.
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On April 25, we hosted our 3rd annual fundraising gala for the adoption community, A Night of Dreams! This elevated circus evening included everything from VIP offerings, silent and live auctions, awe-inspiring circus acts, and heartfelt, adoption-minded programming. This week, listen in as Mal and Kate recap the whole evening and announce just how much money was raised during their Night of Dreams!
Be sure to also keep an ear out for next year's theme...we can't wait to see you there!
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Mal + Kate are wrapping up Season 5 of the Funding Love Adoption Podcast with a recap of the 2025 Adoptive Family Vacation! Joining them are Funding Love Vacation Director, Sarah Basham, and Funding Love Director of Finance (who also traveled as a Magic Maker this trip), Jen McWilliams!
Tune in as they share all about our 2025 AFV, the impact it made, and how our donors made this trip one of our most magical vacations yet!
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This week, Mal + Kate welcome guest Janelle Basham to talk all about supporting the birth mom community. Janelle is the Executive Director of BraveLove, a nonprofit transforming the narrative of adoption by honoring birth mothers and fostering understanding through education, support, and storytelling. As a birth mom herself, Janelle brings passion and lived insight to her mission of empowering others and building bridges within the adoption community. With a background in private adoption and foster care, she is committed to honoring the journeys of those involved in adoption.
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Your Season 5 BONUS EPISODE is here!
This week, Mal + Kate talk with guest Shannon Scott, as she shares her story, heart for adoption, and involvement with Funding Love.
Shannon Scott is a passionate Bible teacher with nearly 30 years of experience in ministry and leadership. She has a deep love for the local church and is particularly passionate about ministry to women, believing in the transformative power of God’s Word. After many years serving on church staff, Shannon now works with QAVA, a ministry in Franklin, Tennessee, where she leads initiatives and creates content for the broader Church. She is also the host of The Everything Made Beautiful Podcast, encouraging listeners to find God’s faithfulness in every season of life. Outside of her ministry and work, Shannon is a wife, mother, and dog lover. She has been married
to Jeffrey for 26 years, and together, they have raised three adult children. Shannon and Jeffrey
also share their home with three pups and reside outside of Nashville, Tennessee.
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Website
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Funding Love LOVES birth moms. We believe they are worthy and deserving of post-adoption support. This week, Mal + Kate talk about how you can support your child’s birth moms, regardless of how open your adoption is.
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In this episode of the Funding Love Adoption Podcast, Mal and Kate discuss what it looks like to bond with your newly adopted baby. They share their own experiences while giving a few tips they picked up along the way.
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@katedawnduck
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So you’ve been matched and have done your best to prepare your home for brand new baby. Now, the moment is here and expectant mom is delivering the baby!
What does that look like?
What is the right thing to do, say, expect?
This week, Mal and Kate chat as Kate shares all about her hospital experiences as an adoptive mom and what to expect in the hospital when you’re adopting a new baby.
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We’re right in the middle of Season 5 of the Funding Love Adoption Podcast, and this episode, Mal + Kate chat about what it looks like to prepare your home, heart, + family to bring home the baby you’ve been matched with.
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@malyourpal
@katedawnduck
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This week in the Funding Love Adoption Podcast, Mal + Kate talk about what to expect when it comes to THE call; the call that all hopeful adoptive parents dream of hearing - “You’ve been matched!”
Listen along as they share their encouragement, advice, and personal stories of getting THE call!
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Welcome to Season 5 of the Funding Love Podcast!
In this first episode, Mal + Kate chat all about the new year for Funding Love and what to expect in this new season of podcast episodes. Listen along as they share their "words" for the year, share Funding Love's 2025 calendar of events, and give little hints from upcoming episodes.
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The Book Club Crew is back for the FINAL episode of the Funding Love Book Club. This time, they are discussing Adoption Unfiltered: Revelations from Adoptees, Birth Parents, Adoptive Parents, and Allies.
Adoption Unfiltered authors Sara Easterly (adoptee), Kelsey Vander Vliet Ranyard (birth parent), and Lori Holden (adoptive parent) interview dozens of adoptees, birth parents, adoptive parents, social workers, therapists, and other allies—all sharing candidly about the challenges in adoption. While finding common ground in the sometimes-contentious space of adoption may seem like a lofty goal, it reveals the authors’ optimistic aim: working together with truth and transparency to move toward healing.
Adoption Unfiltered models the importance of adults in adoption working together in the spirit of curiosity and empathy—to better support adoptees and their first and adoptive families.
Connect with your Season 1 Funding Love Book Club Hosts!
@malyourpal
@katedawnduck
@messie_jattos
@kidsbooksbyallisonolson
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The Funding Love Book Club Crew are back to discuss book three of 2024, To Have and Not To Hold by Lorri Antosz Benson.
To Have and Not to Hold is the poignant account of Lorri's momentous decision to give her daughter for adoption, the resulting heartache, and later, the unexpected joy of reconnecting with her daughter and her daughter's adoptive mother. With agonizing yet heartwarming honesty, Lorri offers a profound look at a deep connection of two mothers that is born with the cry of a newborn daughter. What begins as a fragile, tenuous link develops into something dreams and miracles are made of—relationships that go to the soul, are meant to be, and are devoid of fear and possessiveness. To Have and Not to Hold holds much inspiration for any adoptive parent, adoptee, or first/birthparent, but it's a story that anyone will find impossible to put down.
Connect with your Season 1 Funding Love Book Club Hosts!
@malyourpal
@katedawnduck
@messie_jattos
@kidsbooksbyallisonolson
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It’s week six, the FINAL episode in Season 4 of the Funding Love Adoption Podcast! This whole season, Mal + Kate have been talking about the PRE-finalization phase of adoption, and they are ending the season with an honest talk about open adoption.
What IS open adoption? Why should you pursue it? How can you be honest with yourself and live out and open adoption well?
Mal + Kate chat about all of this and MORE! Be sure to like, subscribe, and share.
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It’s week 5 of Season 4 and today’s episode is all about fundraising for your adoption. Everyone knows adoption can be really expensive, but don’t let money be the reason you choose not to adopt. Tune in as Mal + Kate share their stories and brainstorm ways to fundraise for adoption.
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It’s time for another BONUS EPISODE of the Funding Love Adoption Podcast! This week, Mal + Kate talk with returning guest, Funding Love Birth Mom Vacation Alumna, and author of The Sixteenth Year: An Open Adoption Memoir, Leah Outten. Leah reflects on her experience as an expectant mom looking through profile books to choose a family for her baby. She also give practical advice to those that are considering adoption and are looking for tips on how to create a profile book that is unique to your family, while also being sensitive to the expectant mamas that may read it.
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Do you made it through the home study, now it's time to get matched with an expectant mama and baby. But HOW do you do that?
This week, Mal + Kate talk all about adoption profile book; what are they, and how do you create one that is eye-catching, but honest? Tune in to hear all their tips and advice.
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On this episode of the Funding Love Adoption Podcast, Mal + Kate discuss those awful, dreaded, hairy, scary HOME STUDIES! Tune in to get questions answered and fear alleviated, as the ladies share the truth that home studies really aren't that bad.
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It's Week 2 of Season 4, as Mal + Kate continue in the mission of helping you to navigate the beginning stages of adoption. This week, they share all of the different types of adoption that exist, while sharing about adoption ethics and red flags to look for, not only in agencies + consultants, but in yourself, as well.
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The 2024 Birth Mom Vacation has come to an end, and for this week's BONUS Episode Mal + Kate invite Funding Love's Vacation Director, Sarah Basham, along with all three 2024 Birth Mom Vacation Magic Makers, Audra, Jess, and Sara, to debrief the trip and share their experiences with these incredible women.
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Welcome back to the Funding Love Adoption Podcast with Mal + Kate!
Season 4 is the launch of a fresh start with a fresh look! Throughout Season 4, you can expect a focus on the PRE-adoption journey. Mal + Kate will be covering topics like home studies, profile books, and choosing open adoption.
This week, they are talking about their own adoption journeys and WHY they chose to build their families through adoption. They also chat about some practical questions to ask yourself, as you considering beginning your own adoption journey, as well.
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A wise man named Walt Disney once said, "Times and conditions change so rapidly that we must keep our aim constantly focused on the future."
THAT is what we want to do at Funding Love: focus on the future and be willing to shift and change when growth is knocking.
On this weeks episode, Mal + Kate announce a break from recoding after over two years of consistent Monday releases. Tune in as they share what's coming next for Funding Love and the Funding Love Podcast.
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The Book Club Crew is back together for PART 2 of "You Should Be Grateful": Stories of Race, Identity, and Transracial Adoption by Angela Tucker.
“Your parents are so amazing for adopting you! You should be grateful that you were adopted.”
Angela Tucker is a Black woman, adopted from foster care by white parents. She has heard this microaggression her entire life, usually from well-intentioned strangers who view her adoptive parents as noble saviors. She is grateful for many aspects of her life, but being transracially adopted involves layers of rejection, loss, and complexity that cannot be summed up so easily.
In “You Should Be Grateful,” Tucker centers the experiences of adoptees to share deeply personal stories, well-researched history, and engrossing anecdotes from mentorship sessions with adopted youth. These perspectives challenge the fairy-tale narrative of adoption, giving way to a fuller story that explores the impacts of racism, classism, family, love, and belonging.
This week, adoptive moms, Mal + Kate, along with adoptee and adoptive mom, Allison Olson, and birth mom, Jessie Mattos, loose all their thoughts on this compelling read in PART 2 of their Book Club discussion.
Connect with your Season 1 Funding Love Book Club Hosts!
@malyourpal
@katedawnduck
@messie_jattos
@kidsbooksbyallisonolson
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The Book Club Crew is back together, and this time they are discussing the book You Should Be Grateful: Stories of Race, Identity, and Transracial Adoption by Angela Tucker.
“Your parents are so amazing for adopting you! You should be grateful that you were adopted.”
Angela Tucker is a Black woman, adopted from foster care by white parents. She has heard this microaggression her entire life, usually from well-intentioned strangers who view her adoptive parents as noble saviors. She is grateful for many aspects of her life, but being transracially adopted involves layers of rejection, loss, and complexity that cannot be summed up so easily.
In “You Should Be Grateful,” Tucker centers the experiences of adoptees to share deeply personal stories, well-researched history, and engrossing anecdotes from mentorship sessions with adopted youth. These perspectives challenge the fairy-tale narrative of adoption, giving way to a fuller story that explores the impacts of racism, classism, family, love, and belonging.
This week, adoptive moms, Mal + Kate, along with adoptee and adoptive mom, Allison Olson, and birth mom, Jessie Mattos, loose all their thoughts on this compelling read in PART 1 of their Book Club discussion. Tune in next week for PART 2.
Connect with your Season 1 Funding Love Book Club Hosts!
@malyourpal
@katedawnduck
@messie_jattos
@kidsbooksbyallisonolson
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At Funding Love, we create post-adoption experiences that strengthen bonds, build community, and restore people. This week, Mal + Kate talk all about the Funding Love mission and why they feel Walt Disney World is the perfect place to put that mission into motion.
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Do you struggle to talk to your kids about faith? Do you want your children to grow up knowing and loving God, but don't know how to help them to do that?
This week, Mal + Kate talk all about leading children to Jesus with Birds On a Wire Founder and Wire Talk podcast host, Karen Stubbs. Along with her daughter, and Wire Talk co-host, Emily Korosec, Karen shares motherhood wisdom and insight on how to model and teach faith in daily life.
Connect with Karen + Emily!
Birds On a Wire
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Wire Talk Podcast
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This week, Mal + Kate welcome Ana Anselma, the co-owner of
of the Social Mind Center. The Social Mind Center’s Mission is to educate, equip, and empower children and teens with the communication, thinking, and self-management skills to navigate the world independently. Their curriculums focus on social competency, resulting in the development of social skills. Social competence refers to social, emotional, and cognitive skills and behaviors children need for successful social adaptation across environments.
Learn more!
Social Mind Center
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Does the adoption process seem confusing? Are you feeling the call, but also are afraid of losing time and money, trying to figure out the next steps?
This week, Mal + Kate talk all about the adoption process with guest Lucrece Bundy. Lucrece Bundy is a West African native and has resided in Omaha, Nebraska for over two decades. She has helped hundreds of families successfully adopt children as a Christ-follower and adoption attorney.
She noticed a huge gap in information available to her clients that ended up costing them significantly financially and emotionally. So, in addition to her adoption law practice, she founded an adoption education business that provides in-depth adoption information that cannot be found anywhere else, and saves families thousands of dollars and several years. Step-by-step, her clients go from not knowing where to start in the adoption process to successfully adding a new child to their family faster and more affordably.
Lucrece offers transformative resources that inspire people to not only grow their family through adoption, but to do it with an expectant heart and a joyful spirit.
Connect with Lucrece!
Instagram
YouTube
Free Adoption Guide
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Is your parenting journey turning out differently than you imagined? You had so much love to give, but now you feel ashamed and bewildered by your lack of compassion. You may be experiencing blocked care—a self-protective mechanism in your nervous system that makes it difficult to connect with your child and maintain compassion. The good news is you can heal from blocked care, and compassion can be rekindled in your heart.
This week, Mal + Kate welcome returning guest, Melissa Corkum, alongside her friend and business partner, Lisa Qualls. Together they founded Adoption Wise, an education and coaching resource for parents, agencies, and groups. In this episode, Lisa and Melissa discuss what blocked care is and how to support your nervous system, understand your child's behavior, and become a stable foundation for your family.
Adoption Wise:
Website
Instagram
Free Blocked Care Assessment
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We raised over $150,000 at our second annual Funding Love Gala! This year's theme was the Garden Gala: A Fundraiser for the Adoption Community.
Tune in this week as Mal + Kate welcome longtime Funding Love supporter, Susan Wilson, to share + recap all the events of the Garden Gala.
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Grab a tissue! This week, Mal + Kate chat with RODS Heroes Founder, Brady Murray, in an inspiring and emotional episode about adopting children with Down Syndrome and other unique circumstances.
On July 7th, 2007, Brady Murray’s life changed forever. Shortly after he and his wife, Andrea, welcomed their newborn son into this world, the doctor informed Brady that his son has Down syndrome. Shock and fear overcome him as he tried to grasp what this meant to his young family.
Fast forward to today and Brady wouldn’t trade this life as a father raising a son with Down syndrome for anything. In fact, The Murray’s have loved this special journey so much so, that they adopted their son Cooper, in 2016 from Tianjin, China. Cooper also has Down syndrome.
Brady is committed to the cause of turning special needs into Special Abilities. His mission in life is to give a voice and path to everyone within the Special Abilities community and empowering each individual to sing the song they are meant to sing.
As part of this special journey, Brady and Andrea founded RODS Heroes, a non-profit dedicated to inspiring families to answer the call to adopt a child with Down syndrome or other unique circumstances. Since its inception, RODS Heroes has inspired thousands of families to consider opening their hearts to the miracle of adoption.
Brady and Andrea Murray are the proud parents of eleven children. Seven of their children joined their family through adoption.
Connect with Brady!
Personal Instagram
RODS Heroes Instagram
Website
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Mal + Kate are back with another CBS Survivor!
You may know him as "Crazy Uncle Bruce", but this week, Bruce Perreault joins the show and shares about his experience being a castaway on TWO back-to-back seasons of Survivor. He also shares his story of entering foster care as a young child, his eventual adoption into his foster family at the age of seven, and how he feels like his life experiences leading up to his Survivor journey prepared him to be the strong, resilient, and adaptable Survivor contestant that he was.
Outside of life in on TV in Fiji, Bruce is a US Navy Veteran, proud dad, and devoted husband. He lives and works as a real estate agent in Rhode Island.
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Instagram
Real Estate Account
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Are you into Pop Culture? Do you enjoy following celebrities and their everyday lifestyles? Did you know that many celebrities are a part of the adoption triad?
Well, this week, Mal + Kate welcome Kate's longtime bestie, Rebekah Ingraham, to the show! Rebekah [Bekah] has worked in Hollywood her entire career, with nearly 20 years spent with E! News. She was the Executive Producer of E! News's morning talk show, "Daily Pop" where she interviewed your favorite celebrities and discussed the top pop culture headlines of the day. She is now the Chief Media Officer for Travelmation, a premier, top-selling travel company that is changing the way travel is booked and experienced all over the world.
This week, Mal, Kate, and Bekah talk all about celebrities and adoption. They discuss celebs that are adoptive parents (like Thomas Rhett, Hugh Jackman, and Angelina Jolie), celebs that are adoptees (like Faith Hill, Kristen Chenoweth, and Simone Biles), and the impact that their celebrity voices make on the adoption world, either for good, or bad.
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Instagram
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Welcome to Season THREE of the Funding Love Podcast with Mal + Kate!
We are two adoptive moms that seek to love, support, and elevate all corners of the adoption triad while running our nonprofit, Funding Love! In year three, we will be talking all about parenting, Disney, adoption, and MORE with an all-star line up of incredible guests both inside and outside the adoption community. So grab your favorite beverage and pull up a chair, because everyone has a seat at our table. Together, we are funding love - the podcast!
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Are you a part of the Funding Love Book Club?? Season 2 of the Funding Love Podcast wraps up with our first ever episode of the Funding Love Book Club!
On Episode 1 of the Funding Love Book Club, adoptive moms, Mal + Kate, birth mom, Jessie Mattos, and adoptee and adoptive mom, Allison Olsen, discuss the New York Times Notable Book, American Baby: A Mother, A Child, and the Shadow History of Adoption, written by New York Times best-selling author and journalist, Gabrielle Glaser.
American Baby is the shocking truth about postwar adoption in America, told through the bittersweet story of one teenager, the son she was forced to relinquish, and their search to find each other. In this episode, Mal, Kate, Jessie, and Allison all share their thoughts and perspectives on the book, each through their own lens of where they sit in the adoption triad.
Thank you to Book Club Member, Natalie Blaich, for sending in your comments and questions, too!
Connect with your Season 1 Funding Love Book Club Hosts!
@malyourpal
@katedawnduck
@messie_jattos
@kidsbooksbyallisonolson
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Do you watch CBS' Emmy Award-winning series, Survivor?!
Well, this week, Survivor Super Fans, Mal + Kate, get a chance to chat with Kendra McQuarrie, Survivor Season 45's spunkiest castaway, and proud owner of Happy To Be Here. The past decade has taken her from coast to coast, island to island, and many countries along the way, and this week, we are proud to have her voice on the Funding Love Podcast!
Kendra talks all about her story of discovering her adoption, the search for the biological family she never knew she was missing, and the connection, belonging, and love she found on the journey. She also shares her life after Survivor with her business Happy to Be Here, where she uses her knowledge of astrology and tarot to connect with spirit, reflect, and guide what is yet to come. After returning from Fiji and moving to the jungles of Hawaii, she continues to use these passions to bring insight and inspiration to herself and others.
Connect with Kendra!
Instagram
Happytobhere.com
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But what if the Lifetime Movie was true??
For identical twin adoptees, Victoria and Eileen, their adoption story actually does come with some Lifetime Movie drama and trauma. Tune in to this unbelievable story of adoption, kidnap, and reunion that ultimately ends with hope, love, and contentment in their experience of adoption.
Connect with Victoria + Eileen!
Small Shop Instagram
Victoria's Travel Instagram
Small Shop
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Our 8th annual Funding Love Adoptive Family Vacation traveled March 3rd - 9th, and two of our Magic Makers, Jen Wilhorn + Kristen Volz, join Mal + Kate as they recap the week. Tune in as they chat all about the events of the trip, sharing their favorite moments and talking about importance of post-placement care for adoptive families and adoptees.
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@malyourpal
@katedawnduck
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This week, Mal + Kate talk all things adoption + enneagram with Adoption Wise's Melissa Corkum. As an adoptee and adoptive mom, Melissa Corkum provides insight and resources to adoptees, parents and professionals through her speaking, coaching, and writing. She is a TED Speaker, Safe and Sound Protocol Practitioner, Cultivate Connection Facilitator, Certified Enneagram Coach, and co-founder of Adoption Wise. Additionally, she co-authored Reclaim Compassion and Foundations for Overcoming and Preventing Blocked Care.
Connect with Melissa!
Instagram
Website: Adoption Wise
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The Funding Love Podcast has hit 100 episodes!!
Tune in this week as Mal + Kate share the biggest impact the last 99 episodes has had on them and what they have learned over the past year and a half. They also give al little Funding Love update of all the amazing things coming soon.
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In the final week of our three-part series, "Adoption is...", Mal + Kate welcome back returning guest, and Funding Love's Volunteer Coordinator, Victoria Jones. Victoria is an adoptee that was adopted at birth by her amazing parents. In this episode, she shares her experience with adoption and her thoughts on the common phrase, "adoption is love".
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Adoption is....SCARY!
This is week two of a three-part series entitled, "Adoption is..." This week, Mal and Kate welcome returning guest and adoptive mom, Katie Brown. Together, they talk all about the "scary" parts of adoption. Get ready for a vulnerable and sometimes brutally honest take on adoption, as a whole, as they share their own "scary" views and journeys in the adoption process.
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Instagram
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This week, Mal + Kate kick off a brand new three-part series entitled, "Adoption is..."
Adoption is love. Adoption is loss. Adoption is hard. Adoption is beautiful.
Everyone seems to have their own "adoption is..." statement that they relate to. But which ones are true? Which ones are lies? Which ones stir up controversy? Which ones bring comfort?
Over the next three weeks, Mal + Kate will dive into three different "adoption is..." statements and they are starting the series with an "adoption is..." statement that they have often heard, said, and relate to most - Adoption is MESSY.
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This week, Mal + Kate chat with birth mom Muthoni Gaciku as she shares her story of adoption and the experience of parenting after placing her firstborn daughter with an adoptive family in 2016. Muthoni is a birth mom in an open adoption. She is passionate about advocating for ethical adoption practices, inclusive post-placement care for birth parents, and rigorous training for prospective adoptive parents who want/are open to adopting transracially. Muthoni lives in Texas with her husband and sons.
Episode Resources:
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This week, Mal + Kate chat with adult adoptee and identical twin, Julie Ryan McGue. Julie is author of Twice a Daughter: A Search for Identity, Family, and Belonging, that released in May 2021, and has since won multiple awards. She shares her story of her search for her biological family, instigated by health concerns and her desire to know her medical history. Tune in as she talks about her experience of growing up in a closed adoption and all of the twists and turns that came along with her search for her birth family.
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This week, Mal + Kate welcome guest Karla Ray as she shares her story of adoption. Karla is a broadcast journalist with more than 16 years experience producing investigations that make an impact. Born and raised in the Midwest, Karla was placed for adoption at birth and recently connected with several of her biological siblings and her biological father, who had no prior knowledge of her existence, through AncestryDNA. Tune in as she shares her journey of discovering the past.
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This week on the Funding Love Podcast, Kate shares a huge life update: she and her husband have welcomed a second baby girl into their family through adoption!
Tune in as she shares pieces of the story to growing her family, while Mal asks lots of questions about what it is like walking through the adoption process multiple times. This episode is full of honest and real moments and we hope that you enjoy it and glean insight into the adoption journey, as a whole.
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Happy New Year from Mal + Kate!
On this week's episode, Mal + Kate share all about their new words for the year and what goals and visions that have set for the 2024. They also talk about what is coming up for Funding Love this year and share The Funding Love Book Club's first selection!
If you would like to join The Funding Love Book Club, be sure to grab a copy of American Baby by Gabrielle Glaser. We will be reading it all together over the next three months. As you're reading, if you would like to share thoughts, comments, or questions with our Book Club Hosts, email them to hello@fundinglove.com with the subject Book Club! In addition to sharing their personal thoughts on American Baby from the perspective of each corner of the adoption triad, The Funding Love Book Club: Season One hosts, Mal, Kate, Jessie, + Allison, will be reading and chatting about all of our listener questions and comments on the first Book Club Podcast dropping April 1st.
We can't wait for you to join us!
Book Club Pick #1!
American Baby by Gabrielle Glaser
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We hope your holiday season is merry and bright. This week's mini-episode is full of Christmas cheer as Mal + Kate share their favorite childhood Christmas memory and wish all of our Funding Love Podcast listeners and very Merry Christmas.
See you next year!
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This week Mal + Kate take a look back at 2023 and all of the amazing things that have happened in and around Funding Love. They discuss their favorite moments from the year, while also dreaming ahead for the future. They ALSO drop big news about the new 2024 Funding Love Podcast Series, The Funding Love Book Club!
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This week, Mal + Kate talk with friend and fellow adoptive mom, Ashley Workman, as she shares her story of adoption. Ashley is an adoptive mama to a 7 year old girl named Sunny Clementine. She is a former teacher who is now a full-time homeschool mom, and Travelmation supervisor. Ashley, her husband Jimbo, and Sunny live in the Sunshine State of Florida.
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This week Mal + Kate talk with friend, and Funding Love Alumni, Jessie Mattos. Jessie is a birth mom and ethical adoption advocate and professional. She placed her daughter for adoption in 2011 and while her journey to healing started out rocky, she has since found support and self-acceptance through being in community with other birth moms and learning from all sides of the adoption community. We can’t wait for you to hear her story and her perspectives on the need for post-placement support.
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Thanksgiving is over and Christmastime is officially here!
This week, Mal + Kate reminisce on memories and family traditions from Christmas Past, while sharing memories and family traditions they choose to create and carry on in their own families. They also share their secret Christmas WISH of being able to raise $40K in one day this Giving Tuesday.
Give to our Giving Tuesday Campaign!
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Happy Thanksgiving week!
This week Mal and Kate welcome returning guest Ashley Mitchell. You probably know her as Big Tough Girl on Instagram. She is a birth mom and adoption reform advocate and she is back talking all about her own Podcast with co-host and fellow birth mom Kelsey Vander Vliet Ranyard Twisted Sisterhood. In this conversation, we really deep-dive in on that name, Twisted Sisterhood, and what it means, not only for relationships between Birth moms, but between all parts of the adoption constellation. Get ready for a passionate conversation about the real and raw realities of adoption experiences and the work that we still have left to do in reform and advocacy for this community. Buckle up and tune in on YouTube or wherever you stream podcasts TODAY!
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Hey men! Does your wife want to grow your family through adoption, but you have some hesitations? Or has adoption always been something on your heart, too, but you just don't know where or how to begin?
Well, this week's podcast is just for you! Mal + Kate welcome guests Matt Appleby + Tim Elrod to chat all about adoption through the eyes of a husband. Tim + Matt are both biological and adoptive dads, so they share their experience of adoption while also dropping a few sports references and dad jokes.
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November is National Adoption Awareness Month, a month to bring awareness to kids + teens in foster care that are in need of an adoption placement. However, over the years, NAAM has become a month to bring awareness to adoption, as a whole.
This week, Mal + Kate welcome Funding Love Birth Mom Vacation Alumni, Shonda Larson, to the show as she shares her experience as an adoptee that was adopted from foster care at the age of three. Shonda is a full time student pursuing her passion for helping others. Her heart is focused on educating others on adoption from the perspective of being an adoptee and a birth mother as well as educating the benefits of open adoptions, and allowing all members of the triad to get together to share sacred space and their stories. She believes laughing and kindness, with a little bit of sass, is the answer to any question. When not talking about adoption, Shonda is a spontaneous kind of adventurer; stay up till 2 am baking, drink too much coffee kinda person. She laugh lots, cries all the time, and loves oh so hard.
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Happy Halloween!
Growing up, did you like to dress up on Halloween more often as hero or villain characters? As fun as it can be to pretend for one night to be the bad guy, in life, no one really wants to be the villain.
This week, Mal + Kate bring you a SpOoKy episode on the narrative of heroes and villains within the adoption triad. Who is the hero? Who is the villain? Birth moms? Adoptive families? And where does that narrative leave adoptees?
Tune in as Mal + Kate share their honest opinions on this subject, debunking myths and flipping scripts.
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Do you ever feel like you have an unpopular opinion??
Proceed with caution: This week, Mal + Kate share with listeners their unpopular opinions on both adoption and Disney. We invite you to pour your favorite beverage, pull up a cozy seat, and listen along to this silly and sometimes serious episode. Let us know in the comments if you agree or disagree with any of their opinions; or email Mal + Kate anytime at hello@fundinglove.com to share with them how you're enjoying the show.
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This week, Mal + Kate welcome adoptive and bio mom, Laura Hernandez, as she shares about her incredible family of twelve! With seven biological children and three more that joined their family through foster care adoption, running a large household that grew even larger in a very short span of time, Laura found herself quickly over whelmed by the many to-dos of motherhood. Her solution? Mama Systems!
Laura is the founder of Mama Systems, a coaching business that helps moms bring peace to their homes through organized systems so they can be intentional with their people and show up as the best mama possible. This is a not-to-be-missed episode, as it is packed full of helpful parenting advice, and lined with some of the vulnerable truths of being an adoptive parent.
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Resources from Laura!
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Caretaker Support
Mama Systems Self Care Guide
Mama Systems Chore Guide
Mama Systems Mama Routine
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This week, Mal + Kate welcome returning guest, Allison Olson, to talk about her newest children's book, "Learning About My Friend's Adoption". Being both an adoptee and an adoptive parent, Allison Olson has a unique perspective on the topic of adoption. Her goal is to build confidence and self-esteem in young adoptees by changing the adoption narrative from the “lucky" child to the “loved" child. Allison lives in Oregon with her husband, two daughters, and their two kittens Bo and Aero. This book follows Allison's highly successful first book on adoption, Surrounded by Love: An Open Adoption Story.
Shop Allison's books on Amazon!
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This week, Mal + Kate welcome Funding Love's 2024 Birth Mom Vacation Alumni, Brittany Wigington. Along with being a birth mom , Brittany is an adoptive mom with experience as an adoption professional. In this moving episode, she shares her story and why it is so important for post-placement support to be offered and normalized within the birth mom community. She says that she is motivated to help other women because she wishes that she would have "had a Brittany" in her life during her season of carrying and placing her daughter almost eighteen years ago.
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This week, Mal + Kate welcome returning guest, Mallory Dumond, as she gives a trip report on the Inaugural Rewarding Responders Vacation that traveled the first week of September. Together, the three of them talk over all of the trip details and dive into how Walt Disney World is the perfect place for families from all walks of life, profession, and background to build stronger bonds, community, and find restoration.
As a sister organization that serves First Responders and their families in the same way that we serve the adoption community, Rewarding Responders is near and dear to the heart of Funding Love. Give them, and the essential community they serve, a follow today!
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This week, Mal + Kate hit record on a casual conversation about frequently asked questions they get about adoption. Listen in as they sip some rosé and talk about how they answer questions like:
How did you even begin the process, when you decided to adopt?
Did you name your adoptive child?
Did you always want an open adoption?
Isn't sharing your child with their birth mom hard?
Tune in today, and don't forget to leave us a review!
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Our 2023 Birth Mom Vacation just wrapped up! We hosted 14 birth moms on an all-expenses-paid vacation to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. On this episode, Mal + Kate recap the vacation with Funding Love's two Birth Mom Vacation Magic Makers, Sarah Basham and Tori Brister. They share all the details from check-in and Opening Night Dinner, to the women's official Walt Disney World VIP Tour and park-hopping days. Tune in to hear all the ways that our donors have helped this community of under served women create community and find restoration while enjoying all the MAGIC Disney has to offer.
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The secret is out and the date has been announced! Funding Love will host its second annual fundraising gala once more at the Four Seasons Resort Orlando on April 26th, 2024. It is called the Funding Love Garden Gala and in this episode, Mal + Kate reveal all the details.
From the whimsical, floral decor, to the return of the silent and live auctions, full course dinner, and educational and inspiring programming, this event will be sure to WOW our incredible donors that attend.
Sponsorships are available NOW! Email us at hello@fundinglove.com for more info.
Tickets will go on a Loyalty Pre-Sale October 15th, 2023, and officially ticket sales begin November 1, 2023.
Mark your calendars and save the date, April 26th, 2024, NOW!
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This week, Mal + Kate welcome returning guest, Kay Wilkoff. Kay is a foster, adoptive, and biological mom who works to promote hope and health of the foster parent community in her county as a mentor and Co-Chair of the Foster Parent Advisory Board in Monroe County, NY. Kay and her family have provided support to over 25 kids in care over the last decade and are currently a part of an open foster/guardian relationship with their current teen foster daughter.
In this episode Kay shares the raw and real truths of the ups and downs of foster care. If you have ever considered foster care, or know someone that fosters and you would like to better understand their experience, this episode is for you!
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This week, Mal + Kate chat with adoptive mom and small business owner, Janna Kelly. She shares her story of adoption and how her small business came to life during that journey. Now, as a thriving, growing business, she gives back to Funding Love by donating her products to Funding Love Welcome Baskets.
Janna is the small business owner of Joy in Words Designs that grew out of the “waiting” period during the very beginnings of her own adoption journey. What started as a “side hobby”, grew and grew into what it is today; a business, fully partnered with her parents, that ships personalized items all over the US, Puerto Rico, and Canada. Janna and her husband have three precious kiddos all who came to their family through the gift of adoption….. so adoption is so near and dear to their hearts. Janna loves talking about adoption and loves helping to educate others about adoption while supporting both the adoptive and biological sides of the adoption triad.
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This week adoptive mom, Misti Maddron, shares her story of building her family through adoption with Mal + Kate. It's a story of grief and loss that is lined with hope and joy and faith.
Misti Maddron is a Christ follower, wife, mom of five, teacher, and artist. Her family is definitely a masterpiece of the Lord; constructed through adoption and miracles. She and her husband David have journeyed through infertility, adoption, and grief. It is her desire to provide hope of restoration through faith, art, travel, and her personal story. She loves big and lives big. She has a love for community, family, and rainbows. She shares her story because her desire is that you will find hope in today and what the future holds.
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Are you in the adoption community? Are you in the middle of an adoption journey? Do you ever pray?
Do you ever wonder WHAT to pray, WHEN to pray, or HOW to pray?
This week, Mal + Kate talk about their faith and pull back the curtains of vulnerability to share what their own prayer lives look like. They also offer their opinions on some good things to pray over if you are a hopeful adoptive parent. We hope you enjoy it and will leave us a comment or review while you're here.
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This week, Mal + Kate talk with adoptive mom and author of Human Connection from an Open Adoption Journey, Paula Weeks. Paula is an adoptive mom to three adopted teens. All have some form of open adoption. She shares with us her thoughts an experience with open adoption, even when they all look very different.
Paula is also an adoption life coach, a photographer, author, speaker and business partner with my husband’s Neurofeedback clinic. She is the middle child of 7, and grew up in the military, traveling the world. She is a self-help junkie, with books, podcasts and research. Before becoming a life coach, Paula owned a couple fitness centers, where she coached people to better health and a more positive mindset about their health. Still a gym rat, her focus now is helping families in the adoption triad.
Connect with Paula via Instagram on her business and personal account.
Purchase her book HERE!
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On this episode Mal and Kate have a chat with Laura Khoury. Laura is the adoptive mother of two beautiful girls. In addition, she and her husband have embraced the fostering of young children. Laura feels deeply passionate about creating stories about foster care and adoption as a way to encourage children to talk about their personal stories. It is Laura’s belief that all children should know where they come from and feel a sense of pride in their story.
Laura and her family currently live in a small town in Michigan where they love being outdoors all year round. They enjoy fishing, skiing, hiking, and just relaxing with a book on the boat or at the beach. She loves children’s literature and feels energized and right at home when writing about her passion.
In her book The Tale of Mallory Mouse: From Foster Care to Adoption Laura tells the story of how her youngest daughter, Cecilia, joined their family. The attention and care she gave to this adorable children's book is unmatched.
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Welcome to episode 68 of The Funding Love Podcast with Mal & Kate. Today we debuted our brand new podcast cover photo, which is super fun.
On today's episode Mal and Kate take a little break from normal podcast content and have a super fun conversation about all things summertime. They chat about their 2023 summer plans and take a deep dive down memory lane and talk about what summer was like in the 90s. Mal and Kate share many laughs playing a summer time version of "would you rather". This is definitely a great episode to get to know your Funding Love Podcast hosts a little better.
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In this week's episode, Mal + Kate welcome friend Rebecca Appleby on the show to share about her current wait in the adoption journey. Rebecca shares about infertility, her heart for adoption, and how she finds faith in the wait of the adoption process, even after being matched on their first profile showing!
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Is someone in your family in the adoption process? Want to know ways you can support them, even if they aren't asking for it?
This week, Mal and Kate are joined by sisters-in-law, Sarah and Amy Basham as Amy shares her story of international sibling adoption from Hungary. Amy and Sarah give tips and personal experience of what extended family members can do to support the ones they love through the entirety of their adoption process.
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This week, Mal + Kate chat about how to talk to your child about their adoption. They share pieces of their own experiences while also sharing some advice that has been given to them along the way. And of course, there is some Disney Magic sprinkled in at the end, as they debate which coast (Disney World or Disneyland) has the better attractions.
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On this Episode Mal & Kate chat with two of their dearest friends, Matt and Jessica McKee. Matt & Jess are parents to two wonderful boys who are growing up to be exceptional young men. They live in Georgia, they are avid Disney goers, and diehard Kentucky fans.
Between Mal, Kate, & the Mckees, they cover all 4 stages of parenting. They take the time to dive into each stage of parenting, and share some wisdom on how to survive it, with a few laughs along the way of course. Furthermore, Matt & Jess share about the importance of parenting with relationship in mind, and give some tips on how they did that with their kids.
If you are a parent, a parent to-be, or want to be a parent someday, this one is for you. Because this episode is truly jam-packed with some wisdom nuggets.
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On this Episode Mal and Kate have fun answering listener questions. They chat about adoption, Disney, parenting, and more.
If you have any questions about Funding Love, Mal or Kate, adoption, or motherhood, please send. You can submit questions via the Funding Love instagram page, or via hello@fundinglove.com.
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Our guest today is super special to all of us at Funding Love. Savannah Lyon is a single momma to 2 beautiful children. She welcomed her youngest son into the family via adoption. Savannah and her kiddos traveled on our 2019 Funding Love Adoptive Family Vacation to Walt Disney World, and they also joined us at our Inaugural Funding Love Gala as our guests of honor. We just love them so much!
On this episode Savannah is very vulnerable about what it is like parenting a child with RAD (Reactive Attachment Disorder). This was such an eye opening conversation and we are extremely grateful that Savannah was willing to share her heart and give our listeners some helpful tips and encouragement when it comes to parenting a child with RAD.
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Ever wonder what it would be like to experience an embryo adoption?
This week, podcast guest, Kat Gade, shares her experience as an adoptive mom through embryo adoption. Mal + Kate also talk with returning guest, Susan Vansyckle, as she talks about the new embryo adoption program at CAC (Christian Adoption Consultants).
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This week, Mal + Kate chat about Mother's Day, Birth Mother's Day, and how they acknowledge those in their homes and families. They also talk about fundraising for adoption, and Malorie shares her own personal story of raising funds for their adoption.
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Listen as hosts, Mal and Kate, chat with birth mom, speaker, and author, Leah Outten, about her story of open adoption and the Kickstarter release her new book, The Sixteenth Year: An Open Adoption Memoir.
Leah is a wife and mom-of-five that placed her first daughter with an adoptive family nineteen years ago. She is passionate about sharing her experience with open adoption while helping to love and support the birth mom community well. She traveled with Funding Love on our 2022 Birth Mom Vacation.
Her book, The Sixteenth Year, is currently on Kickstarter Pre-Sale. Click the link below to support her by reserving your copy TODAY!
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Listen in as Mal + Kate walk us through the night of the FIRST annual Funding Love Gala!
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Listen in as Mal + Kate chat with Jess Martin about Home Education and working from home.
Jess is a home-educating mom of five from Pennsylvania. She is married to her high school sweetheart and together they seek to raise their kids as a team that values gathering around the table together.
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Listen in as Mal + Kate chat with Tyler + Hannah Cleveland, adoptive parents that have traveled with Funding Love on our Adoptive Family Vacation.
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Previous guest and adoptive mom, Katie Brown, returns as Mal + Kate chat about what has been going on in Kate's life over the past nine months.
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Listen in as Mal + Kate chat with Katie McGee, a therapist, about trauma and TBRI (Trust Based Relational Intervention).
Katie's bio: Katie holds a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and works as a therapist at GROW Counseling in Peachtree City, GA. Prior to joining GROW, Katie worked for several years in private foster care and adoption agencies, serving foster families, adoptive families, and birth parents. As an adoptive parent herself, Katie is passionate about helping adoptive parents navigate the complexity and privilege of raising adopted children in a way that honors their history, loss, and biological family. Additionally, Katie is a certified Trust Based Relational Intervention® Practitioner. TBRI® is an attachment-based, trauma-informed intervention that is designed to meet the complex needs of vulnerable children.
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Listen in as Mal + Kate chat about the Funding Love Podcast's ONE YEAR Anniversary, reflecting back on past episodes. They also spill the beans and leak a few never-shared-before details about the upcoming Inaugural Fundraising Gala!
Sponsorships are sold out, but individual seats and tables are still available! Get your tickets to the Gala today!
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Listen in as Mal + Kate chat with Nicklaus Foster about his journey adopting internationally from Columbia.
Nick is a Disney-loving husband and father located in Central Florida. He works in higher education and has been married to his wife, Francie, for almost 9 years. Both feeling called to grow their family through adoption, they began the process of international adoption in May of 2020. You can follow all of their theme park family adventures on Instagram as @thethemeparkdad!
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Listen in as Mal + Kate chat with Chretien and Mallory Dumond, founders of Rewarding Responders, about starting a not-for-profit organization.
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Listen in as Mal + Kate talk with Julie de la Fe about what it means to be a Disney Mom.
Julie's Bio: Julie is a single mom to an amazing boy who has journeyed on countless adventures to Disney World, Disneyland, and Disney Cruise Line for the past 7 years. Disney is a place of hope and memories for them. She lives in Orlando, plans vacations, tutors math, and works at a bakery when she’s not at Disney.
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Listen in as Mal + Kate recap the Funding Love Adoptive Family Vacation with Julie, the AFV Program Director, and Victoria, the Magic Maker Program Director.
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Listen in as Mal + Kate chat with Courtney Tierra.
Courtney's bio: Courtney Tierra is an educator, servant leader, writer, and self-proclaimed ice cream connoisseur. Courtney lives in Atlanta and for her day job, she is the Education Director at a local organization. Courtney Tierra is a proud birth mom who loves sharing her story with strangers and loved ones alike. She wishes that society would discuss adoption more often. Courtney Tierra is an award-winning storyteller, and best-selling author, who has a ridiculous giggle, and did she mention her adoration of ice cream?
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Listen in as Mal + Kate chat with Tiffany Pollard about raising biological and adoptive children that have different racial backgrounds and why we need to check our racial tendencies.
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Listen in as Mal + Kate talk about transracial and transcultural adoption and review some clips from previous episodes.
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Listen in as Mal + Kate chat with Kristin Petersen about why family vacations matter and should be a priority.
Kristin Petersen is an Independent Travel Consultant with Travelmation who grew up in Miami, Florida and now lives outside of Washington DC with her husband and three children. Kristin has been to many destinations all over the world including Europe, Qatar, the Caribbean, and the United States. She values traveling with her own family as a top priority, including them in her travels, and enjoys helping others make magical memories with their loved ones. She has a degree in Psychology from Liberty University, and was a Middle School Drama Teacher before focusing on travel and social media.
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Listen in as Mal + Kate chat with Karen Stubbs, founder of Birds on a Wire, about parenting children and how temperament plays a big role in how difficult it is to parent each child.
Karen's bio: Karen Stubbs is the founder and leader of Birds on a Wire, a ministry designed to equip moms through truth, encouragement, and community. She is the author of 3 books, Letters to Moms, Moments with God and Tips on Motherhood. She has also developed small group curricula for moms that is being used across the United States and around the world. Karen and her husband Greg have four grown children and reside in Cumming, Georgia.
After graduating from Auburn University, she and Greg moved to Virginia Beach where Greg served in the Navy as a fighter pilot. IDuringthose tough early years , Karen as a young mom ,gained her passion for motherhood and grew in her reliance on God. She is passionate about challenging moms to experience motherhood in the way God intended it for them and their families.
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Listen in as Mal + Kate chat about their backgrounds and get to know them through their stories.
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Listen in as Mal + Kate chat about their words for the year and resolutions to make the best of 2023.
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Listen in again to our most listened-to episode of 2022. As Mal + Kate take some intentional rest moving into 2023, enjoy our Father's Day 2022 episode again.
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Listen in as Mal + Kate share their favorite podcast clips of 2022. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
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Listen in as Mal + Kate chat about what Funding Love has done in 2022 and dreams for 2023 and beyond!
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Listen as Mal + Kate chat with good friends, Alston and McKenzie Causey. They talk through the couple's infertility stories and how each of their 3 children has a unique fertility story.
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Listen as Mal + Kate chat with Mark Mellinger, Marketing and Development director at the National Embryo Donation Center(NEDC), about Embryo Adoption.
Mark's bio: Mark Mellinger handles all marketing and public relations functions for the NEDC and is also in charge of development efforts. His background consists of almost three decades in broadcast journalism. From 2011 to 2018, Mark served as a contributor to The Gospel Coalition, one of the world’s largest Christian websites, where he helped start TGC’s podcast operations and regularly interviewed some of the world’s most influential evangelical teachers and leaders.
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Listen in as Mal + Kate chat with Trisha and Jared Wicker about supporting the Adoption Community without being directly involved as a member of the Adoption Triad.
Trisha and Jared have been involved with Funding Love since its inception and continue to support us behind the scenes. Find out how you can too in this episode of the Funding Love Podcast.
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Listen in as Mal + Kate chat with Andie Coston, an Adult Adoptee and Adoptive Mom, that talks about the realities of growing up an Adoptee.
Andie's bio: Andie Coston is an adoptee, former foster parent, adoptive parent, and a recent Master of Social Work graduate. She has been speaking publicly about her adoption about 4 years ago and has been educating on Instagram, blogs, the Triad Table Talks, adoption Q and A panels, and podcasts such as these. Andie has four children, three dogs, two cats, and one husband who is also is a social worker. They are recent midwest transplants to the south and have been enjoying every minute of being able to be outside most of the year. Andie will soon be starting work as a therapist specializing in trauma working with adoptees, current and former foster youth, disabilities, and religious abuse. She also runs a business with another adult adoptee called Post Resource which creates connection boxes and ongoing education for the adoption and foster care constellation.
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Listen in as Mal + Kate chat with Laura Bruder, Executive Director of BraveLove, about the power of story and how Brave Love is supporting Birth Mothers and Expectant Mothers.
Laura's bio:
Laura Bruder serves as the Executive Director of BraveLove and has been with the organization for 10 years! Laura is not a member of the adoption triad, though she is passionate about removing the stigmas of adoption and giving birth moms a voice. Laura lives in Dallas, TX, and is married with two young daughters.
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Listen in as Mal + Kate chat with Tori Hope Peterson about her story, foster care reform, and what you can do to help.
Tori's bio: Tori Hope Petersen (named Mrs. Universe in 2021; Track and Field All-American) is a former foster youth who is letting her Abba be known. She is passionate about foster care reform, adoption advocacy, vulnerable populations, and seeing the love of God change people's lives! Tori speaks across the nation sharing her powerful story, but her favorite form of art and communication is writing. Tori and her husband, Jacob, have the three sweetest kids: a biological son and daughter, Leyonder and Ezzeri, and an adopted adult son, Sar. Follow her on Instagram, Facebook, her website, and find her new book, Fostered, available nationwide wherever books are sold.
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Listen in as Mal + Kate chat about Funding Love's next big thing, the Funding Love Gala! They also discuss what is happening at Funding Love during National Adoption Month, including upcoming podcast guests that you won't want to miss.
Check out info about the Gala, or the Triple G (IYKYK), available sponsorships, or limited-time ticket sales here.
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Listen in as Mal + Kate chat with Ashley Mitchell, @BigToughGirl, about her story and the support she is providing to Birth Moms through the Lifetime Healing Foundation.
Ashley's bio: Ashley Mitchell, owner of Big Tough Girl and Founder + Executive Director of Lifetime Healing Foundation, set out to seek increased care, understanding, and resources for birth mothers. For over a decade, Ashley has been one of the nation's most consistent and sought-after birth mother voices. Well known for her vulnerability and transparency in adoption, her story has touched the hearts of countless members of the adoption community and beyond.
My journey started long before my adoption story, and has continued and will for life. I have so much to share, talk about and learn. And I know, like you, that when you find yourself faced with a choice…it will always have consequences, and it is my prayer that we can help you live through your choices…no matter what they are BECAUSE YOU WILL NEED THE SUPPORT.
Connect with Ashley:
www.lifetimehealingfoundation.org
www.sitkneetoknee.com
@bigtoughgirl
@lifetimehealingfoundation
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Listen in as Mal + Kate chat with Allison Olson about her perspective on open adoption as an adoptee and an adoptive mother.
Allison's bio: Being both an adoptee and an adoptive parent, Allison Olson has a unique perspective on the topic of adoption. Her goal is to build confidence and self-esteem in young adoptees by changing the adoption narrative from the “lucky" child to the “loved" child. Allison lives in Oregon with her husband, two daughters, and their cat named Howie Meowie.
Learn more about Allison or buy her books here:
@kidsbooksbyallisonolson on IG, FB, and TikTok
Amazon
www.OurAdoptionBooks.com
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Listen in as Mal + Kate chat with Jess Nelson + Erin Quick, from PairTree. They talk about how PairTree is modernizing the adoption process and how Jess + Erin are connected to the adoption community.
Erin's Bio: Erin Quick is the Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of PairTree. With more than 20 years of global brand marketing experience, and more importantly, as a two-time adoptive mother, Erin is a leader in the movement to modernize adoption in the U.S. With an expert first-hand understanding of the challenges of the domestic private adoption industry and a drive to increase access and opportunities for all involved in the adoption process, Erin brings a wealth of knowledge and business experience to helping families navigate their unique adoption journeys.
As Chief Executive Officer at PairTree, Erin leads in areas of the business including strategy, business product development, and marketing. Erin, in partnership with company co-founder and CTO, Justin Friberg, is responsible for the business's day-to-day decision-making and implementation of the company’s short- and long-term plans.
Previously, Erin co-founded Stoke Strategy, a Seattle-based brand marketing strategy firm, which she led for 12 years. While there, Erin led brand initiatives for Bluetooth, Weyerhaeuser, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the University of Washington, to name a few. Erin began her marketing career at Addison in San Francisco and New York, where she worked on the global branding for Domino’s Pizza, Merrill Lynch, and The Make-a-Wish Foundation.
Erin is a recipient of Puget Sound Business Journal’s 40-Under-40 award and most recently, PairTree, under Erin’s leadership, was selected to participate in the 2021 TechStars Seattle Accelerator – a highly selective and successful global startup accelerator program. Erin is currently a Visionary Voices Member and Speaker with All Raise, a nonprofit on a mission to accelerate the success of female founders and funders. She is a guest lecturer on Technology Entrepreneurship at Brown University and the University of Washington.
Erin lives on Bainbridge Island with her husband and two children.
Jess's Bio: Jess is a two-time birth mother who works at PairTree as an adoption assistant and birth mom advocate, providing a first-hand perspective on the birth mom experience. Jess has placed twice - first in 2011 while in college via self-matching (which was supposed to be an open adoption, but ended up closed) and then in 2018, again via self-matching (which resulted in open adoption). After two placements and two very different adoption relationships, Jess, as she says, decided to "make my mess, my message". Jess reached out to the adoption attorney she placed through and basically begged for a job. And it worked; she quit her well-paying, consistent job to become an adoption assistant and she says it was the best move she has ever made. Jess learned the legal process of adoption and became fascinated with the laws, regulations, and processes. In that position, Jess educated prospective adoptive families on the adoption process and open adoption relationships, all from a birth mother's perspective. And, she began a birth mother support group to offer much-needed post-placement support.
After a move back to Seattle, Jess came across PairTree and founder Erin Quick. Not many adoption professionals value birth mothers post placement, but Erin saw the importance of having a birth mom’s voice and that is where Jess is today, working closely with PairTree's birth mothers. Highlighting this commitment, PairTree donates 5% of net profits to organizations that provide lifetime support for birth moms.
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Listen in as Mal + Kate chat with Sarah Basham, a Funding Love Magic Maker, in person on the last day of the Birth Mom Vacation. They give an overview of each day of the trip, discuss highlights from this trip, and dream of what is to come.
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Listen in as Mal + Kate talk with Karen Potgeter, a birth mother, who went on the inaugural Birth Mom Vacation with Funding Love.
Karen's bio: I am married to my husband Mike, a Mom of two boys Colton 12 and Logan 4. I am also a birth Mom of 21 years with a semi-open adoption. When I am not working or coordinating the chaos of two boys, I like to be on the boat, at the pool, cooking, or relaxing with friends and family!
Check out more about our Birth Mom program here!
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Listen as Mal + Kate chat with Britt Paladino from Abiding Love about her Birth Mom story.
Britt's bio: I have an open adoption and a great relationship with my biological daughter and her family. We have more of a relationship than any of us planned on, which makes it all the more special. My advice to couples seeking adoption; be honest about what you want in an ongoing relationship with a prospective birth mother to your child, but make sure to leave room in your heart for more.
My work in the Pro-Life arena concerning adoption takes me to many stages to share my story and advocate for adoption. It has been my joy to help raise awareness about women just like me in how we can change how society sees us and what we can do to make adoption more of a conversation in Pro-life circles.
It is my joy to serve the next woman seeking to make an adoption plan. God has been gracious to me in allowing me many opportunities to do that outside of Abiding Love, and now as an advocate for an organization I love and respect so much.
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Listen in as Mal + Kate chat with Kristin Van Hof, founder of Evermore Adoption Consultants, about her story as we kick off our Birth Mom Stories series.
Kristin's bio: Ever since I made the decision to place my son in 2007, I have always had a passion for adoption. I launched Evermore Adoption Consultants in October 2017 after working with a local adoption agency and family law attorney for 10 years prior. Over the years, I have spent countless hours in hospitals with families waiting for their children to be born. I have spent even more hours with expectant mothers who are in the process of making the hardest decision of placing their baby with a family that has always desired to be parents. Adoption is my passion, being a birth mother myself, I always wanted to work with other expectant mothers who are making this decision and provide them with information and insight on the adoption process and I wholeheartedly believe pregnancy information is very important. It was something that I wish there would have been more of when I was making the decisions that I did. After launching Evermore, I quickly realized how many families wish to adopt, however, do not know the first steps to start the adoption process. In addition to those families, there are families who have been waiting for years and have been stuck in their current situation. It was at that point I decided that I wanted to work with families to help them create successful adoption stories.
Every family has a story and my favorite part is watching it all come together.
Evermore Adoption Consultants
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Mal + Kate chat with Cindy Hughes, Executive Director of Coweta Pregnancy Services, about local pregnancy centers and what they have to offer. To learn more about Cindy and Coweta Pregnancy Services, visit their website: https://friendsofcoweta-ps.org/
Cindy's Bio:
I have been the Executive Director at Coweta Pregnancy Services for 13 years. I am also a registered Sonographer. I have a passion for serving families in our community. My previous background is in shopping center marketing and management. I’m a Newnan native and have a 22-year-old daughter, Savanna, who lives in Atlanta.
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Mal + Kate chat with author Michelle Thorne about her adoption-centric book series.
Michelle's bio: Michelle Thorne believes in the power of vulnerability and the beauty of brokenness. Art heals her soul, and sports are her happy place. A birth mom of 22+ years, she spends her days advocating for (birth) mothers and fighting to make adoption and foster care child-centered. Michelle has written several non-fiction books about various topics in adoption and enjoys doing life with her family. Her third installment of the BOTH/AND series, BOTH CLEAVING AND CLEAVING, was released on April 25, 2022. It's about a birth mom in an open adoption who fights for women like herself and family permanency.
You can read the first chapter of all of Michelle's books at https://michelle-thorne.com/additionalwork
To get in contact with Michelle, email her at michelle@michellethornebooks.com.
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Mal + Kate chat with Cristina Recio, someone outside the adoption community, to answer questions about adoption.
Cristina is a wife, mom, travel agent, and fellow podcaster!
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Mal + Kate welcome Victoria Jones, Funding Love's Magic Maker Program Director, to the podcast to talk about our Magic Makers. They discuss everything from the selection process to what happens on the trips and also favorite memories from past trips.
Victoria's bio:
I'm a Yellow (Sanguine) Gemini 7 who believes in the MAGIC of Disney, Harry Potter, Star Wars & Marvel. I'm an only child & grew up in a small town in Metro Atlanta (where I met Mal in 10th grade!). I've lived in North Georgia for the past 18 years, after moving there for college in 2004. I'm a board member for Funding Love, as well as our Social Media Manager, Merchandise Designer/Director & Magic Maker Program Director/Lead Magic Maker. I'm also an adoptee, which is one of the many reasons why Funding Love means so much to me.
To learn more about our Adoptive Family Programs, check out our website: https://www.fundinglove.com/magicmakers
To donate to help us send more families head over to: https://www.fundinglove.com/donate
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Mal + Kate talk about our Birth Mom Vacation. They discuss everything from the selection process, to what happens on the trips, some favorite memories from past trips, and some dreams of what this program could look like in the future. Let's just say, the future is certainly bright!
To learn more about our Birth Mom Programs, check out our website: https://www.fundinglove.com/birthmomprogram
To donate to help us send more families head over to: https://www.fundinglove.com/donate
Follow Mal on Instagram
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Mal + Kate welcome Julie Lindeman, Funding Love's Adoptive Family Program Director, back to the podcast to talk about our Adoptive Family Vacations. They discuss everything from the selection process to what happens on the trips and also favorite memories from past trips.
To learn more about our Adoptive Family Programs, check out our website: https://www.fundinglove.com/our-families
To donate to help us send more families head over to: https://www.fundinglove.com/donate
Julie last appeared on episode 10: Traveling with trauma: the importance of managing expectations
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Listen as Mal + Kate chat with Kyrie Zimmerman about positive adoption language matters.
Kyrie is still head-over-heels in love with her husband of over a decade. Together, they have been home educating their children since 2016 & became a resource family for children entering foster care in 2018. They strive to make their home a warm & inviting atmosphere where children learn & play freely & naturally. Kyrie is the founder of Revival Moms, an organization dedicated to building community among home-educating mamas.
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Mal + Kate talk with Annie Compton about profile books.
Annie's Bio:
Co-owner of Cuore (Core - A) Mio Co… working alongside her cousin Julia. Annie lives in Los Angeles with her husband Matthew, daughter Theo and furbabies Lou and Junie. Though she has lived the city life for 18 years, she still gets homesick for her hometown in rural Wisconsin. Annie's creativity has taken her down many paths, most notably her career in the entertainment industry as an Emmy-nominated and Writers Guild Award-winning writer and producer. Now she is thrilled to utilize her creativity for Cuore Mio Co., a company straight from her heart, and inspired by her journey to becoming an adoptive mother.
Connect with Annie here:
Website: https://www.cuoremioco.com
Instagram: @cuore.mio.co
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Listen as Mal + Kate chat with Brittany Salmon about her new book, It Takes More than Love: A Christian Guide to Navigating the Complexities of Cross-Cultural Adoption.
Brittany's Bio: BRITTANY SALMON is a professor, writer, and Bible teacher. She has a MA in Intercultural Studies from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, a MA in Teaching from North Carolina State University, and is currently pursuing her doctorate from Southeastern Seminary where she is doing research on racial representation in Christian children's literature. Brittany is passionate about taking theology and applying it to everyday lives. And yet the people closest to her think of her as the friend who loves oversized sweatpants and a great conversation over coffee. She lives in Abilene, Texas with her best friend, Ben, and their four children.
You can connect with Brittany here:
Twitter: @brittanynsalmon
Insta: @brittanynsalmon
website: www.brittanynsalmon.com
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Listen as Mal + Kate chat with Susan about open adoption. They talk about the benefits of having open adoptions and bust myths surrounding them.
Susan's bio: Susan is a licensed social worker and works as the Consulting Director at Christian Adoption Consultants. She has been working with birth and adoptive families for over 20 years and has a passion for equipping, training, and supporting families on their journey towards adoption. Susan lives with her husband and two kids in the Kansas City area. In addition to adoption, she’s also passionate about good coffee, musical theatre, and belly laughing with friends.
Resources:
Book: The Open Adoption Experience
Book: The Open-Hearted Way to Open Adoption: Helping Your Child Grow Up Whole
Website: BraveLove
Article: Contact Between Adoptive and Birth Families: Perspectives from the Minnesota Texas Adoption Research Project
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Mal + Kate talk with Amy, Executive Director of Connecting Hearts Adoption Services, about the Home Study. They discuss Kate's experience with her own home study and what others can expect throughout the process.
Amy's bio:
Amy Imber is the Executive Director of Connecting Hearts Adoption Services and has worked in the adoption field for over 20 years. Amy has been the Director of Connecting Hearts Adoption Services since its inception in September 2008. She has been honored to be a small part of countless adoption journeys. Connecting Hearts Adoption Services is a licensed adoption agency in the State of Florida and focuses on adoption home studies for domestic adoptions. Connecting Hearts clients take their studies across Florida and across the country adopting their children.
Amy works out of the Orlando office, which is the home base for Connecting Hearts. She and her team of 12 Social Workers serve families across the State of Florida. Connecting Hearts Adoption understands the home study process can be an overwhelming experience, but it doesn’t have to be!
Follow along on Instagram @connecting.hearts.adoption
Follow Connecting Hearts on Facebook
Check out Connectingheartsadoption.com for more info.
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Mal + Kate discuss the intersection of race, identity, and adoption with Jonathan Adam on this episode of the Funding Love Podcast.
Jonathan's Bio: My name is Jonathan Adam, I am a transracial adoptee of African American and Caucasian descent. I was adopted on June 4th, 1986 a few days after my May 31st birthday. In October of that year, my parents went on mission to Pakistan where my sister was born. In 1986, we moved back to the USA and moved to Alpharetta, GA, just north of Atlanta. My mother had my two younger brothers after that. We grew up in Alpharetta and stayed until high school. I attended an all-boys boarding school, Riverside Military Academy, where I graduated in 2005. After attending college at Covenant College, I went on mission in Thailand and worked with rural agriculturalists in community and economic development work. My wife and I live in Houston, Texas. We have a son, Israel who is in middle school, and another one on the way. I currently work in digital marketing SEO and my wife is an elementary school reading specialist.
Resource: Jonathan’s article, A Transracial Adoptee’s Perspective on Juneteenth Day.
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Listen as Mal + Kate chat with their husbands Tim + Adam about fatherhood and adoption.
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Travel expands our comfort zone through experiences with the unknown and helps build relationships with our travel companions. Our guest, Julie, discusses with Mal + Kate why this has been crucial for her family, even while they were fostering two children. She shares with us her tips on how to make travel more approachable and why we have chosen travel as part of our Funding Love programs.
Julie's bio: Julie is a wife and mom of four who is passionate about adoption. Her children are 10 and under and two of her four children were adopted through foster care. Their family is passionate about travel because it helps them focus on each other and creates a bond while adventuring together.
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Listen as Mal + Kate talk with Kay Wilkoff about the realities of Foster Care.
More about Kay:
Kay is a foster, adoptive, and biological mom who works to promote hope and health in the foster parent community in her county as a mentor and Co-Chair of the Foster Parent Advisory Board in Monroe County, NY. Kay and her family have provided support to over 25 kids in care over the last decade.
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Listen as Mal + Kate discuss why Disney is the destination of choice for Funding Love trips, why Walt Disney is connected to the adoption community, and how so many Disney movies have a theme of adoption.
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Most people can understand that adoptees and birth moms experience loss in adoption, but people often don’t realize that adoptive families do, too. Listen in as Mal + Kate wrap up the third part of the Adoption is Loss series with adoptive mom, Katie Brown, as she shares her story.
Katie is a follower of Jesus, wife to Garrett, mama by adoption to Theo, and travel agent with Travelmation. If we're talking personality tests, she’s a HARD enneagram 7/8, a strong yellow-red, and if you need something done, let her turn her woo on because she can make it happen. When Katie is not planning travel or hanging with her main men, you can find her drinking a McDonald's Diet Coke, watching true crime and Broadway documentaries, and occasionally keeping her performer hat on by gracing the stage of some of her local community theaters.
Instagram: @itskatiejobro
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Mary is an adoptee that searched for her biological mother for as long as she can remember.
The primal instinct to find her was strong and after a decade-plus of searching, she finally found and met her. Sadly time was not on her side and her birth mother died shortly after their reunion.
Grace, persistence, timing, and empathy are all main themes in this episode, and the need for a strong sense of faith through the trials and tribulations of a search and reunion.
Mary hopes to reach as many people in the adoption triad to inspire, advocate and communicate all her knowledge about adoption as well as speak with the biological mothers out there about how much adoptees still need their roots even after adoption.
If you want to hear more from Mary, check her out here:
IG- @becauseadoption
Website- BecauseAdoption.com
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Mal and Kate start a new series, 'Adoption is Loss'. In part one of the conversation, they chat with Alycea Snyder to hear the perspective of a birth mother. Listen in on the conversation.
A. K. Snyder writes personal narratives that challenge and inspire. She lives with her husband and son in Florida. If she’s not writing, she’s most likely in the backyard pushing her toddler on his swing or complimenting the rocks and sticks he discovers.
Website: aksnyderbooks.com
Facebook: AKSnyderAuthor
Instagram: AKSnyder_Author
Pinterest: AKSnyderAuthor
Here are the resources mentioned at the end of the episode:
FB group - Caring for Birthmothers Support Group
Podcast - Birth Moms Real Talk
Author - Brene Brown
Support the show (https://www.fundinglove.com/donate)
Listen in as Mal and Kate chat with Angie Rodriguez, from Adopt Like Walt on Instagram and TikTok, about adoption as a first choice for building your family.
About our guest:
Angie and Rob, her husband, adopted Gracie at birth, she is now 5. They love Disney and spreading adoption awareness. Angie and Rob are Hispanic (Cuban and Puerto Rican), and their daughter, Gracie, is Haitian.
Support the show (https://www.fundinglove.com/donate)
Kaleigh is an adoptive mom (to-be). She and her husband felt a strong pull from the Lord to begin the process of expanding their family through adoption in 2020 and took the first step in September of that year. They've been an approved waiting family since February 2021 and can’t wait to be matched with a birth mom. Kaleigh is living in "the wait" right now, and she shares with us all the things she has learned through this tough season of waiting.
Find out more about Kaleigh here.
Support the show (https://www.fundinglove.com/donate)
Listen as Mal and Kate chat with Leah Braly about choosing an Adoption Agency. Leah lives in the Jacksonville, Florida area with her charming husband, Ben. One of her most treasured roles is being called mommy by her three kids, Haven, Jojo, and Deacon. She’s had a heart for adoption ever since she was a little girl and served as an Adoption Consultant for seven years. She’s passionate about her faith, family, and pet jumping spider, Lucky.
Check out Leah on Instagram, here.
Episode Resources:
Brave Love
Big Tough Girl
Angela Tucker
Funding Love is a crowd-funded nonprofit that creates post-adoption experiences that strengthen bonds, build community, and restore people. Click here to give today. YOU are Funding Love.
Support the show (https://www.fundinglove.com/donate)
Why did we start a podcast? Great question! Join us as we talk about Funding Love, our hearts behind adoption, and why we feel this podcast is so relevant today. You may also learn a thing or two about our hosts, Mal and Kate.
. . .
To learn more about Funding Love: https://www.fundinglove.com
Follow Funding Love on Instagram: @fundingLove
Follow Mal on Instagram: @malyourpal
Follow Kate on Instagram: @katedawnduck
Support the show (https://www.fundinglove.com/donate)
We have some exciting news! We are starting a podcast!!! Subscribe to have all of the episodes downloaded to your podcast player as soon as they come out.
Support the show (https://www.fundinglove.com/donate)