Empowered to Connect Podcast

Latest Episodes:

[E105] Don't Make Your Child's Race a Field Trip with Jocelyn Lee Oct 04, 2022

Show notes

Today we hear from one of our favorite people and recurring guests, Jocelyn Lee. Jocelyn is a Licensed School Social Worker and joins us today to elaborate on a statement she made at an ETC event years ago. We'd invited Jocelyn to give her perspective as part of a panel discussion on Transracial Adoption and she shared this thought: Don't make your child's race a field trip. Hear the reason Jocelyn said this, ways she suggests transracial adoptive parents take steps toward embracing their child's culture and so, so much more in today's episode!

To learn more about ETC, follow our Youtube Channel, like us on Facebook or follow us on Instagram!

[E104] We're All Human: How to Surround Your Family with the Community You Need Sep 27, 2022

Show notes

Today we welcome on Angie Grant and Jess Aaron, two of our newest ETC Cultivate Connection Facilitators! Angie and Jess join us to talk about the absolute non-negotiable importance of finding people to have community with as parents. They share personal stories of the moment they knew they needed help, how they began finding people to walk with and even the importance of seeking out therapeutic/professional help as you navigate parenting challenges. Necessary listening - we hope you enjoy it!

To learn more about ETC, follow our Youtube Channel, like us on Facebook or follow us on Instagram!

[E103] Daren Jones on Dr. Karyn Purvis' Big, Audacious Goal Sep 20, 2022

Show notes

Dr. Karyn Purvis had a goal. A big, audacious goal. A goal so big, the staff at TCU repeatedly attempted to convince her to pare it down - and we've all benefited because she didn't. Daren Jones, the Associate Director of Training and Consultations at the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development joins us to talk about WHAT that big audacious goal was and why we should all care about it.

To learn more about ETC, follow our Youtube Channel, like us on Facebook or follow us on Instagram!

[E102] We're All Human: Understanding Generational Trauma Sep 13, 2022

Show notes

We all hear stories growing up of who we're like: 'oh, you've got your grandfather's charm', 'you're tall just like your mom', etc. We tend to understand those sorts of generational traits being passed down, but for some reason, the idea of generational trauma has escaped the public consciousness until recently. We wanted to know more about generational trauma and how to mindfully begin to break those cycles, so we brought friend of the program Ms. Jacque Rowe Fields back in! Jacque talks with JD and Becca about what generational trauma is, how to understand it and how to begin healing from it on today's episode of the ETC Podcast!

To learn more about ETC, follow our Youtube Channel, like us on Facebook or follow us on Instagram!

[E101] We're All Human: Being Kind to Ourselves with Christy Edwards Sep 07, 2022

Show notes

Our guest today may be one of the kindest humans on the face of the planet. It seemed fitting, of course, that we would have her on to talk about being kind to ourselves. Christy Edwards has spent the vast majority of her professional life as a Counselor. She joins us today to discuss the reasons it is so vitally important to our wellbeing (and to those we're in relationship with) to learn how to show ourselves kindness. This conversation spans a wide array of situations and perspectives, so grab a notebook and join us for a powerful conversation with our good friend Christy Edwards!

To learn more about ETC, follow our Youtube Channel, like us on Facebook or follow us on Instagram!

[E100] We're All Human: Compassion Fatigue and Blocked Care Aug 30, 2022

Show notes

Our guests today have been caring for parents for years through their organization called "The Adoption Connection". Lisa Qualls and Melissa Corkum together represent all sides of the adoption triad and join us today to talk about what happens when our compassion runs low. Lisa, Melissa, Tona and JD talk about compassion fatigue, blocked care and share their own experiences in both.

Lisa and Melissa have a ton of amazing resources on their website that you should check out here. You can also follow them on social media @onethankfulmom and @melissacorkum_ and you can follow the adoption connection @postadoptionresources. Listen to their podcast, The Adoption Connection, here.

To learn more about ETC, follow our Youtube Channel, like us on Facebook or follow us on Instagram!

[E99] We're all Human: Rethinking How Trauma Impacts Us All Aug 23, 2022

Show notes

We talk about the effects of trauma a lot on the ETC Podcast - in fact - it's woven into almost everything we talk about at Empowered to Connect. One question, though: what IS trauma? How and why does it infiltrate humanity the way it does? We brought Becca McKay and Tona Ottinger on the show today to discuss that very thing and you're going to love this episode. An introduction to trauma and all that goes with it, today on the ETC Podcast.

We also recently launched our monthly donor program at Empowered to Connect - listen to the intro to the show to hear all about it and head over to our donate page to become a monthly donor and score our super soft new ETC Tee for your monthly gift of $20 or more!

To learn more about ETC, follow our Youtube Channel, like us on Facebook or follow us on Instagram!

[E98] Fostered: Tori Hope Petersen's Journey to Hope and Healing Aug 16, 2022

Show notes

Our guest today has lived a life that is nothing short of miraculous.Tori Hope Petersen grew up in the foster care system, a bi-racial child in a confusing and volatile world. Growing up with a mentally ill mother and living in twelve different foster homes, nothing was in her favor. And yet, even with a minuscule chance of graduating college and a great risk of being homeless, jobless, and on drugs, Tori overcame every negative stereotype and assumption that attacked her identity.

Tori joins us today to talk about everything from her story, how she learned to navigate the foster care system and how now, as an adult, she's trying to open all the doors she can that were closed to her as she grew up. Her new book, 'Fostered: One Woman's Powerful Story of Finding Faith and Family Through Foster Care' releases August 30th and we could not be more excited to read it. Listen to the end of the episode to hear how you can win a pre-order of Tori's book and be sure you're following her and her initiatives on social media:
- @torihopepetersen on Instagram
- @fthefile on Instagram
- @belovedinitiative on Instagram
- Pre-Order her book here
- Learn more about Tori and book her to speak at your next event here

To learn more about ETC, follow our Youtube Channel, like us on Facebook or follow us on Instagram!

[E97] Implementing Strategies, Transforming Communities with Tom and Dawn Jordi Aug 09, 2022

Show notes

Today two of our favorite people on earth join us - ETC parent trainers Tom and Dawn Jordi from Johannesburg, South Africa! They join us to talk about Tom's work in schools as a trauma informed school counselor and Dawn's homeschooling of their 4 kiddos during Covid, their journey into connected parenting and how the strategies and tools they learned in ETC classes and TBRI training over the years have helped them to build up and support the adoptive community in Johannesburg. They also tell us about unique opportunities that emerged during the pandemic as their ETC Parent Classes began expanding not just throughout South Africa, but throughout Africa and as far out as Hawaii and the Philippines! They're two of the most enjoyable people you'll ever talk to, follow their podcast here, Tom's work as a Trauma Practitioner here and their community work in adoption here !

To learn more about ETC, follow our Youtube Channel, like us on Facebook or follow us on Instagram!

[E96] Connecting Practice: Repair, Reflect, Readjust Aug 03, 2022

Show notes

When it comes to parenting (and being in any kind of human relationship) - one of the most insanely humbling and difficult practices is repairing a rupture in the relationship. Maybe you've wronged the other person - maybe you were the one wronged - either way, the process of repairing often requires more than an 'I'm sorry'. Compound this difficulty with previous experiences with trauma, adversity and stress and you've got yourself a recipe for...well...being a human in this world. It's difficult. It's complicated. It's absolutely essential if you want to build or maintain a trusting, real relationship in this world.

That's why we brought ETC training specialist Jesse Faris and co-writer of Cultivate Connection Becca McKay in to talk about how we repair relational ruptures with our kids and each other. There are some invaluable practical stories of how this plays out as well as a road map for a process to begin those repairs.

To learn more about ETC, follow our Youtube Channel, like us on Facebook or follow us on Instagram!

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