The Adoption and Fostering Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Conversations - Social Work Professor Adam McCormack from Austin, Texas Oct 17, 2026

Show notes

Hello and welcome to conversations from the AandF podcast.

This is a slightly different episode I speak to Professor of Social Work Adam McCormick from St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas.

We chat about Social work, social workers, aspects of the foster care system and the nature of the system in the state. We also consider the motivations of social workers to join the profession and see how their life experiences impact on them and their work. We also chat about the challenges faced by LGBTQ young people in foster care and the systemic hostility they face.

You can see more of Adam here.

As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com

Kinship Week 2026 - Michelle Hall Kinship Carer, Researcher and Trainer. Oct 10, 2026

Show notes

We asked Michelle back on to give us a 'state of the nation' report on Kinship care. The Government are developing and moving policy in this area and it's seen changes and promises of change but how is it really for kinship carers and what are the ongoing challenges.

Michelle did come on the podcast in 2022 (Al was wrong) and we reflect on some of the changes since then and more besides.

As always, if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com

Better Me Better Us Episode 41 - Artificial Intelligence Oct 06, 2026

Show notes

This month we explore A.I. : the benefits, the pitfalls, and its role in social work assessments and recordings. Children who have experienced trauma heal through safe, attuned relationships, and no tool can replace human connection.

We also talk about learning alongside our children in a fast-changing digital world, building the trust and openness that help keep them safe.

As always you can connect with us through the following -

Website- www.bettermebetterus.co.uk

Instagram- @BMBUltd

Facebook – Better Me Better Us

Email – info@bettermebetterus.co.uk

Conversations - Adoptive Parent Della Oct 02, 2026

Show notes

Hello and welcome to conversations from the AandF podcast.

In this episode I speak to Adoptive parent and foster carer Della, she is Canadian and in this episode she shares her experience of adoption and more specifically of challenges she faced following an allegation as she tried to adopt a child she was fostering. Della fought her battle through the legal system and she tells that story here.

Episode 233 - Life story work, Siblings, Dennis Duckling and Paul Sambrooks Sep 26, 2026

Show notes

Hello and welcome to the A&F podcast, in this episode we speak to Paul Sambrooks a retired CAFCASS social worker and the author. Paul shares his passion for communicating and supporting adopted, fostered and kinship children to understand their own stories. He has written several Dennis Duckling books and we talk through them all including his latest instalment Dennis, Harriett and Flynn live in different families

You can find all the books here.

We also talk with Paul about his work with CAFCAS and discuss the challenges of helping children understand their stories.

s always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com

Conversations - Lee Tempest VisAble NZ Sep 19, 2026

Show notes

Hello and welcome to conversations from the AandF podcast.

In this episode I speak to Lee Tempest, she works for VisAble based in New Zealand and works to support parents and families living with violence from their children. Lee is a parent through adoption and in this episode we unpack her research on the impact on parents of living with violence in the home.

You can access the report here and view the other materials and reports that Lee has created here.

Episode 232 - FASD awareness with PhD researcher Susie Richardson Sep 12, 2026

Show notes

Hello and welcome to the A&F podcast, we recorded this on the 9th September, FASD awareness day.

We speak to Susie Richardson, who is research FASD in the prison population. Susie has a broad range of experience and from running prisons and working with care leavers she has seen the need for a better understanding of the impact and prevalence of FASD in those communities. She shares her journey to this research and what inspires her passion.

You can find out more about Susie here

Better Me Better Us Episode 40 - Advocacy Sep 08, 2026

Show notes

Hello, this month we're talking about advocacy - what it means, how our sense of safety shapes our ability to speak up, and the ripple effect that comes from using our voice. This episode looks at that through the lens of back to school: advocating for yourself and your child, finding the bravery to do it, and the often-messy question of how a child's history actually reaches a new school or teacher. As always you can connect with us through the following -

Website- www.bettermebetterus.co.uk

Instagram- BMBUltd

Facebook – Better Me Better Us

Email – info@bettermebetterus.co.uk

Conversations with Bethan Pell Phd Researcher on CPVA Sep 06, 2026

Show notes

Hello and welcome to conversations from the AandF podcast.

In this episode I speak to Bethan Pell a PhD Student in Cardiff University's School of Social Sciences. Her Phd is focused on developing a theoretical understanding of Child and Adolescent to Parent Violence (CAPVA) in the context of Wales.

I really enjoyed this conversation and saw the potential for the use of her model to help practitioners and parents who are living with Child to parent violence understand it and address it.

You can read Bethan's research here and can contact Bethan here.

Conversations - Bethan Pell Phd Researcher on CPVA Sep 05, 2026

Show notes

Hello and welcome to conversations from the AandF podcast.

I really enjoyed this conversation and saw the potential for the use of her model to help practitioners and parents who are living with Child to parent violence understand it and address it.

You can read Bethan's research here and can contact Bethan here.

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