Latest Agedout Podcast Episodes
Donetia: We are Works in Progress
Aged Out: The Stories that Built Us - April 13, 2024 17:57 - 29 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsDonetia Meshack entered foster care when she was 11 months old. She was in care for 17 years, where she transitioned through many homes and had only intermittent contact with her birth family. Between elementary school and graduation from high school, Donetia attended seven different schools. D...
Tina: Community Saves
Aged Out: The Stories that Built Us - April 06, 2024 04:19 - 39 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsTina’s story is one of community and being in the right places at the right time—or as Tina would say— miracles. After being removed from her mother’s home at the age of 16, Tina was placed in a group home. The structure became too much for her and she ran away. For a period of time, she lived o...
Rob Scheer: Foster Care to Founder
Aged Out: The Stories that Built Us - March 08, 2024 23:32 - 46 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsRob Scheer shares his inspirational, full circle journey in this can't-miss episode. Rob experienced the foster care system as a youth, and is now a dedicated advocate for other youth in care, a veteran, a husband, a father of children previously in care, an author, a podcast host, and the found...
Bob: Not the "Property of Texas"
Aged Out: The Stories that Built Us - February 09, 2024 14:00 - 39 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsBob’s story is one of resilience and regaining control. Bob first came to America from Ukraine at the age of 5. He was adopted into a family who subjected him to horrible treatment, until finally at the age of 12 he entered the foster care system. Bob went from placement to placement until he wa...
Candace: It Didn't Happen to You, It Happened for You
Aged Out: The Stories that Built Us - January 26, 2024 14:00 - 14 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsBefore graduating with her associate degree, to now working with patients with dementia and suicidality, Candace was teenager navigating her life in the foster care system. Faced with the hardship and heartbreak of being left by her biological family, Candace found hope in the system after being...
Ryan: A Story of Survival and Self-Discovery
Aged Out: The Stories that Built Us - October 20, 2023 20:53 - 25 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsBefore finding his place in the world, Ryan faced unimaginable hardships. Raised in an unstable environment, his early years were marked by turmoil, as he grappled with his identity amidst the backdrop of foster care. But adolescence had an unexpected twist in store for him. Faced with a life-al...
Betty: A Light Shines in the Darkness
Aged Out: The Stories that Built Us - September 29, 2023 20:13 - 35 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsOriginally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Betty moved to the United States with her father and younger sister when she was nine years old. When Betty was seventeen, her father went back to Africa, leaving Betty and her sister behind in foster care. Relying on her faith, Betty prayed for ...
Leroy: From Foster Care to Youth Advocate
Aged Out: The Stories that Built Us - April 17, 2023 20:40 - 20 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsIn this episode, we hear the story of Leroy, who went into foster care in November 2005 due to abuse and neglect. He spent two years in foster care, during which time all of his siblings were in different homes. After two and a half years, he went back to live with his mom, but unfortunately, th...
Mikayla: From Foster Care to 4.0s (Part II)
Aged Out: The Stories that Built Us - February 10, 2023 14:43 - 38 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsThis week's episode picks back up with Mikayla! In part two, hear how attorneys and advocates helped her navigate the system and her journey through the aging out process. If you are a former foster child who aged out of the system and want to share your story, email us at agedoutproject@gmail...
Mikayla: From Foster Care to 4.0s (Part I)
Aged Out: The Stories that Built Us - January 27, 2023 21:42 - 35 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsThis week's episode features Mikayla Slaydon! Hear Mikayla talk about how her experiences growing up shaped who she is today. From living with her pastor and being placed into foster care, to being valedictorian of her high school and getting 4.0s in college, Mikayla’s story is one you don’t wan...
Mandalyn: Don't Limit Yourself to What Your File Says
Aged Out: The Stories that Built Us - November 30, 2022 19:14 - 18 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsMandalyn entered foster care at 16 years old after her father threatened to kill her. This occurred after she was removed from her mother’s home due to her mother's addiction to methamphetamine. Mandalyn was bounced around from kin to friends to foster homes and was even homeless at times. De...
Jai: Making Dreams a Reality
Aged Out: The Stories that Built Us - November 13, 2022 18:38 - 37 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsBorn to two non-citizens, Jai McClean decided to stay back in the United States so that she could complete her high school career to fulfill her lifelong goal to someday attend college—even if that meant entering the foster care system to get it done. “I don’t know where these aspirations came f...
Dorthy: Turning Tragedy Into Triumph
Aged Out: The Stories that Built Us - October 28, 2022 14:59 - 26 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsDorthy’s story is one of turning tragedy to triumph. Dorthy entered foster care at five years old after the police and social workers suddenly showed up at her home. Dorthy’s mom tried to fight back but all seven of her kids, including Dorthy, were removed from the home. Shocked and confused D...
Kim: We Are All Redeemable
Aged Out: The Stories that Built Us - September 23, 2022 16:27 - 23 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratings“We are all redeemable” expresses Kim Murphy. Kim was the former staff attorney for the SMU W.W. Caruth, Jr. Child Advocacy Clinic. Kim talks about how she became involved in child welfare and what led her to help the youth who age out of foster care. Kim then explains the difference between an ...
Tia: Self-motivation and Perseverance Can Open Doors
Aged Out: The Stories that Built Us - September 10, 2021 13:00 - 18 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsTia entered foster care at 14 years old after her mother called the police reporting that Tia had tried to overdose. After a stay in the hospital, she was placed in an RTC. She has 11 siblings and was the only one that was placed in the foster care system which caused her relationship with her s...
LuLu: Don't Give Up Me
Aged Out: The Stories that Built Us - April 15, 2021 14:00 - 12 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsLuLu entered foster care at five years old. Her mother abused drugs and abandoned her and her siblings to their father who abused them. LuLu went through 156 homes during her time in foster care. Through hard work and grit, she overcame a lack of a support system, homelessness, and the other ob...
Jackie: Persevere Until Success Happens (Part II)
Aged Out: The Stories that Built Us - March 18, 2021 17:52 - 21 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsIn Part II of Jackie's story, he tells us about the struggles and triumphs of going to college. He discusses founding UNT’s PUSH program to support foster care and aged out alumni and to educate the community on the issues present in the system. Jackie also discusses his current work for CASA ...
Jackie: Persevere Until Success Happens (Part I)
Aged Out: The Stories that Built Us - February 24, 2021 20:38 - 29 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsIn part I of Jackie's story, we learn that his parents were addicted to drugs and alcohol resulting in the removal of their children. Jackie describes how as a toddler, he and his siblings were dispersed into the foster care system, and the difficulties they experienced in even getting to see o...
Janice
Aged Out: The Stories that Built Us - September 25, 2020 13:00 - 34 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsAt the age of 12-years-old, Janice was removed from her home with two brothers due to physical and continuous sexual abuse. She transitioned in and out of emergency shelters, foster homes, and relative placements and attended over 10 different schools throughout her youth. After facing even more...
Elisha Pt. 2
Aged Out: The Stories that Built Us - May 01, 2020 02:07 - 20 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsElisha Elisha is a youth specialist for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. As well as a proud mom, wife, and aged out alumna. Elisha was removed from her family at the age of 6. In Part 2 of her story, Elisha tells us about going through college as an aged out youth and de...
Elisha: Foster Care Experience Led to Working in the System (Part II)
Aged Out: The Stories that Built Us - May 01, 2020 02:07 - 20 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsElisha Elisha is a youth specialist for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. As well as a proud mom, wife, and aged out alumna. Elisha was removed from her family at the age of 6. In Part 2 of her story, Elisha tells us about going through college as an aged out youth and de...
Elisha: Foster Care Experience Led to Working in the System (Part I)
Aged Out: The Stories that Built Us - April 01, 2020 22:36 - 25 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsElisha is a youth specialist for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. As well as a proud mom, wife, and aged out alumni. Elisha was removed from her family at the age of 6. In Part 1 of her story, Elisha recounts being removed from her home with her 3 siblings and the challeng...
Elisha Pt. 1
Aged Out: The Stories that Built Us - April 01, 2020 22:36 - 25 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsElisha is a youth specialist for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. As well as a proud mom, wife, and aged out alumni. Elisha was removed from her family at the age of 6. In Part 1 of her story, Elisha recounts being removed from her home with her 3 siblings and the challeng...
Jimmy Pt. 2
Aged Out: The Stories that Built Us - February 28, 2020 17:06 - 43 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsIn Part Two of Jimmy’s story, he discusses the overmedication of foster children in the system, the graduation rate of foster care children, and reforms for the funding of foster families. Jimmy also discusses the biases and challenges that foster children face in the education system, the chall...
Jimmy Pt. 1
Aged Out: The Stories that Built Us - January 28, 2020 16:32 - 25 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsIn Part One of Jimmy’s story, he recounts entering the foster care system at age 7 and being placed in 6 different foster homes. During his stay in foster care, he was physically abused in one home, ran away from another, and while in a shelter, lost touch with everyone that he cared about. Afte...
Tony Pt. 2
Aged Out: The Stories that Built Us - October 28, 2019 17:53 - 25 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsIn part 2 of Tony's story, the focus shifts to suggestions on how the foster care system could be reformed from the perspective of someone who has lived through it. Tony shares his experiences and current involvement with aged out youth in the community and discusses the resources available to t...
Tony: From Foster Child to Father, Husband, and Champion (Part II)
Aged Out: The Stories that Built Us - October 28, 2019 17:53 - 25 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsIn part 2 of Tony's story, the focus shifts to suggestions on how the foster care system could be reformed from the perspective of someone who has lived through it. Tony shares his experiences and current involvement with aged out youth in the community and discusses the resources available to t...
Tony Pt. 1
Aged Out: The Stories that Built Us - September 20, 2019 17:43 - 30 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsIn part 1 of Tony’s brave story he recounts entering the foster care system at a very young age due to neglect by his mother. Tony bounced around between 18 different foster homes before being adopted with his siblings at the age of 6. Tony, however, could not escape the abuse which continued du...
Tony: From Foster Child to Father, Husband, and Champion (Part I)
Aged Out: The Stories that Built Us - September 20, 2019 17:43 - 30 minutes ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsIn part 1 of Tony’s brave story he recounts entering the foster care system at a very young age due to neglect by his mother. Tony bounced around between 18 different foster homes before being adopted with his siblings at the age of 6. Tony, however, could not escape the abuse which continued du...
End of Season 1
Aged Out: The Stories that Built Us - May 08, 2019 16:00 - 21 seconds ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsHello listeners, we're taking a break from releasing episodes. We will be back in August! If you are a former foster child who aged out of the system and want to share your story, email us at [email protected]! You deserve to be heard. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook!
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