Welcome to a special Best of Edition of Fostering Change! Originally aired during National Foster Care Awareness Month, this powerful conversation is worth revisiting.

In this episode, host Rob Scheer sits down with the incredible Charell Star—author, speaker, and foster care advocate. Many first discovered Charell through her moving feature in Humans of New York. Now she returns to share wisdom from her brilliant new book, Trash Bag Tales and Other Stories from an Accidentally Happy Life.

Her story is raw, funny, and deeply empowering—proving that resilience, joy, and self-discovery can grow from even the hardest beginnings.

👉 In this conversation, Rob and Charell explore:

How humor and honesty can reshape the way the world sees foster care stories

The journey behind Trash Bag Tales and turning pain into empowerment

Why the award-winning documentary Feeling Wanted is used in child welfare training worldwide

What it means to move beyond survival and claim the life you deserve

✨ Learn more about Charell Star:

📖 Book: Trash Bag Tales and Other Stories from an Accidentally Happy Life → https://www.amazon.com/Trash-Bag-Tales-Other-Accidentally/dp/1646639741

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charellstar

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charellstar

📖 Humans of New York Feature: https://www.humansofnewyork.com/post/618907346047008768

🎧 If you’re new to Fostering Change or a long-time listener, don’t miss this inspiring episode!

Please like, comment, and share to help spread these stories of hope and dignity.

New episodes release every Tuesday—stay tuned and thank you for being a GOOD HUMAN. 💙

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Welcome to this week’s episode of Fostering Change, hosted by Rob Scheer. 💙

Today’s guest is Dr. Danisha Keating—author, speaker, and former foster youth whose journey from heartbreak to healing is nothing short of extraordinary. At just 16, CPS workers separated her from her eight siblings and handed her a trash bag with five minutes to pack her life. By 24, she became the guardian of her five younger siblings, choosing resilience and purpose over despair.

Dr. Keating is the bestselling author of Taking My Voice Back: Healing What Broke Me and From Foster to PhD. In this powerful conversation, she and Rob dive into:

✨ How to heal from trauma, shame, and blame

✨ The importance of protecting your story while still speaking your truth

✨ The systemic barriers youth in foster care face—including files that hold pieces of their own lives

✨ Why education became her lifeline and how she stepped boldly into her future

Her story is proof that no matter what you’ve lived through, you have the power to write the next chapter. As Dr. Keating reminds us: “When you’re in foster care, the courts and the files decide your story — not you. That’s why I had to learn how to take my voice back.”

👉 Learn more about Dr. Danisha Keating:

🌐 Website: danishakeating.com

📱 Instagram: @drdanishakeating

📘 Facebook: Danisha Keating

▶️ YouTube: The Dr. Danisha Keating Show

🎵 TikTok: @drdanishakeating

🎧 Don’t forget to like, comment, and share this episode to help us reach more listeners.

We’re back every Tuesday with new conversations on Fostering Change. For guest suggestions or feedback, please email us at dthalberg@comfortcases.org.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What started with one simple question—“What can I do with my old bras?”—turned into a global movement. 🌍

In this inspiring episode of Fostering Change, host Rob Scheer is joined by Dana Marlowe, founder of I Support the Girls and Accessibility Partners. Dana’s work provides dignity to marginalized women and youth through access to bras, new underwear, and menstrual hygiene products.

Together, Dana and Rob discuss:

✨ How to start a nonprofit and build strong partnerships with other grassroots organizations

✨ The importance of supporting youth and building confidence through dignity

✨ The powerful partnership between Comfort Cases and I Support the Girls

✨ ISTG’s upcoming 10-year anniversary in July 🎉

As a human rights advocate, Dana has dedicated her life to amplifying the voices of invisible populations while also making technology more inclusive for people with disabilities.

When she isn’t sorting hygiene products or striving for equity, you’ll find her cheering at her sons’ sports games, walking her Silver Lab, or even at early morning dance raves.

💙 Follow I Support the Girls:

Website: http://www.isupportthegirls.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SupportTheGirlsandWomen

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isupportthegirls/?hl=en

Twitter/X: https://x.com/i_support_girls?lang=en

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@isupportthegirls

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@isupportthegirls?lang=en

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/29214127/admin/dashboard/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.