Real Talk

Stephanie Duensing Adoptive mom. “ adoption and having our son in our life was the most important spiritual growth journey” Hear her story and be blessed.

Cindy Schulze : mama to 10, 8 adopted. She Real Talks with us about their families journey through the death of one of their children.

Cindy Schulze on Delighting in our children. @nevereasyalwaysgood

My kids (Lenny 11 and Sofia 10) share their birth stories (with some help from me). They give us their safe wisdom. They’re cute and a little annoying:)

Lara Stafford part 2 … TBRI talk: Trust Based Relational Intervention. If you DON’T know -you NEED to know!

Lara Stafford went into her foster care journey kicking and screaming, she liked the life she had. Hear how life changed when she looked at her home through the eyes of an orphan.

Amie Putnam … foster mama for 15 years, adopted 6 and 30 + kids in her home and in her heart. Here is some wisdom from Amie 💕

Raising a child with a rare chromosome disorder and non verbal. “What we think we can’t handle, God really knows better. We would have said NO had we had known before and missed the blessing.”

Amie Putnam had to have a hysterectomy at age 33. She believed God was telling her she was a terrible mother and should not have more children. She had 2 boys but desperately wanted a girl. This is her adoption story.

Jackie and Jess Boyd. Military family, local pastor, cancer survivor and adoptive parents. “We weren’t going to let Satan stop us from doing what God showed us to do”

Jen Real Talks about how hard it is versus what a blessing fostering and adoption is at the same time… she does it, she shares both!

Jen was adopted. Her up bringing nurtured a passion to make sure kids did not go to bed wondering if they are loved. She adopted 2 making her mama to 6!

Chris Wilson (episode 52) Married 29 years- has given up an empty nest to love on a little person in foster care. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything even with the loss of sleep”

Jodi and I Real Talk about resources for those of us living and/or working with kids with Fetal Alcohol syndrome or Fetal Alcohol Spectrum disorder. @creatinghealthyfamiliesnaturally

Jodi Randolph, my friend, a sponsor and regular on the show… we Real Talk about raising kids that have fetal alcohol diagnosis. it’s always a joy to have Jodi on the show! @creatinghealthyfamiliesnaturally

Darcy Razo … the Yoda of fostering kids from hard places! Over 25 years of experience. 264 foster kids in her home and her heart. They adopted 9 children having 11 in total! She gives us encouragement. She gives us advice. “The more you know, the easier it is to understand what’s happening.”

Darcy Razo… licensed foster mama for over 20 years. She worked for Child Protective Services. She has been a CASA volunteer and has worked in the justice system. 264 foster kiddos in their home and hearts! I think she can teach us a think or two 😉

Kimberly Langford. We talk trauma! “It’s common to think of trauma as an event but when we peel back the layers on trauma it’s important to think of it more as a psychological change that’s taking place within the body.” *AZ Trauma Institute

Lori and family adopted a 13 year old girl. Their now daughter had been adopted at age 5 from China by another family but put back up for adoption at age 13. Friends said “don’t do it!” Friends are over rated … they did it anyway… here’s their story 😉

Lauren was found on a train station as an infant in China. She was taken to a Chinese orphanage. She was adopted by an American family at age 5. At age 13 she was put up for adoption again. She was then adopted by her now forever family… we are privileged to have her in our families life… listen to Lauren’s story ❤️

Mark Stafford: hubby, dad, Pastor, awesome bass player, owner and creative genius of Ablaze Media, podcaster AND foster dad. He admits it took him more than 7 years to say ‘yes’ to fostering! But he did, eventually 😉@markstafford @ablazemedia @atriskradio

Ray and Misty Aguilar: 13 + years of Foster Care. They consider foster care their mission field. Listen to hear how God provides!!

Team Mengarelli share the ups and downs of adoption. They Real Talk about how God used the TV show Extreme Home Makeover to inspire them to adopt. “ we may not feel like their best option but we may be the best option they’re gonna get” Sheila M. “We thought we had a handle on how to parent with our bios and then... enter trauma!” Mayor Greg M. It’s Real Talk with Real People 😉

Team Mengarelli, Prescott royalty ☺️they share their love story with us- they are so cute, so in love and so passionate about loving others.

Don Biele is a retired businessman that didn’t retire 😉 He volunteers as a CASA for kids from hard places. He walks us through what a CASA volunteer is. He shares his thoughts on why one should consider becoming a ‘CASA’. He also shares some pretty RAD stories with us. I like him, you will too! @casaofyavapaicounty

Judge Young part 2 from lawyer to Judge. We Real Talk about foster care and the Court. Judge Young is Real, open and honest. I like her, think you will too.

Judge Young. She is the Presiding Juvenile Judge of Yavapai County. Find out about the amazing woman behind the gavel. (Did you know she was born in merry ole England?)

Real Talk with Lauren about Infertility. Private adoption. Brave bio mamas. Lauren is passionate and honest! You’re gonna dig her 😉

Lauren and hubby Shaun have privately adopted four sweet kids. Lauren shares that journey with us. We Real TAlk about infertility, using resources for adoption and Gods’ goodness! Lauren’s honest. We like that at Real Talk 😉

Part 2 of our foster care to adoption journey. We never desired children. I felt my barrenness was actually a blessing. God had other plans... better plans! He also allowed us the best adventure of our lives this far(not including parenting)- life in the inner city of Milwaukee! Nothing has been as fulfilling or as thrilling as life with our friends in the ‘hood’. It was a gift! But everything has its season... and in His infinite wisdom He brought us to where we are now. It’s a joy to share the story of our wandering with you❤️

No interview- just Real Talk with me, the host, about how God used our relationship with our first foster kids and their bios to move us from the burbs to live in the ‘hood’, the inner city of Milwaukee. Oh! And I ugly cry at the end, so glad it’s not TV 😉

Teens’ Closet provides free, quality clothing to our vulnerable youth. Krystal has a heart for teens from hard places. Teens’ Closet is a result of her tender heart towards these youth. Listen to her story and how God has used her in such a creative way.

Jamie Real Talks with us about Relational Equipping and vulnerable youth.