ThinkOrphan Podcasts

This week we're jumping into our first summer compilation episode and we're learning from friends and colleagues throughout the world about leaving care. Nabs, Sinet, Grace and Tamrat give us first hand accounts of growing up in orphanages in the Global South. Beyond hearing their stories, they also provide insight for moving care forward. We'd enc…

In episode 201, we're talking with Simon Njoroge about his work in family based care, welfare reform and the adoption landscape in Kenya. A little change up, we gave Phil a break and recorded this episode live at the 1MILLIONHOME office in Tacoma, Washington. Apologies for slight audio issue at the start of interview, Brandon is a work in progress!…

In this special episode of Think Orphan, we celebrate the 200th episode! What started as an idea that Phil just hoped people would listen to has turned into a resource, a movement and a community focused on loving orphaned and vulnerable children with excellence. Join us for this episode where we bring back former hosts, hear from past guests and c…

In episode 199, we're talking with old friend and President of the Christian Alliance for Orphans, Jedd Medefind. With his years of leadership in the OVC space, we pick Jedd's brain on what trends he's seeing and what the future might hold for advocates and practitioners alike. We then get into a longer conversation on Roe v. Wade and the practical…

In episode 198, we're speaking with Alycia Pinizzotto of Story International in Guatemala about piloting foster care in a new context, parenting teens and ministering in the midst of tragedy. Alycia brings a lot of first-hand experience and thoughtful reflections on ministering to orphans and vulnerable children, not only in Guatemala but in the US…

In episode 197, we're speaking with author, professor and mother Brittany Salmon about the in's and out's of cross-cultural and trans-racial adoption. We learn not only from her family's experience but also research and writing that she's put together in her new book, It Takes More Than Love. After the interview, Brandon and Phil discuss race a lit…

In episode 196, we're talking with Tori Hope Petersen. Tori is an author, speaker and foster care advocate with lived experience in the system (oh, yeah, she's also Mrs. Universe). We discuss what foster care looks like from the inside, what changes ought to be made and what compelled Tori to go from being a foster youth, to now welcoming kids in t…

In episode 195, we're talking with Dr. Scott Moeschberger. Scott is the Director of the Orphans and Vulnerable Children Degree Program at Taylor University and a leading expert globally on violence against children. We discuss the program at Taylor and dig into his upcoming book "Building Cultures of Peace: Psychological Perspectives on Understandi…

In episode 194, we're talking with Morgan Wienberg about her organization Little Footprints Big Steps, serving vulnerable children in Haiti and the new feature documentary Not About Me. Our conversation centers around eager volunteers, maturing into better practice and the prevalence of for-profit orphanages. Full show notes for the episode can be …

In episode 193 we're talking with Ruslan Maliuta about the war in Ukraine and the tragic realities for children in the country and those that are fleeing the country. Ruslan is a Ukrainian and a founding leader for World Without Orphans. He currently works for OneHope, a global ministry that helps children engage with God’s story, supporting severa…

In episode 192, we're talking with Author and Advocate, Jamie Finn about foster care, adoption and reunification. Jamie has written extensively on her blog Foster the Family about how God has been working in their family's life and we get to glean from the lessons that they've learned along the way. Jamie's new book "Foster the Family" is available…

In this special episode of Think Orphan, we're joining Pastor and Author Francis Chan as he travels through Kenya to hear about what God is doing in the lives of orphans and vulnerable children. Along the way, he talks with care leavers, organization directors and advocates for family based care. This podcast is brought in partnership with JourneyH…

In episode 190, we're talking with Brent Phillips from Cherish Uganda. A long-time friend of the podcast, we get Brent on to share about the work that Cherish is doing in Uganda, what it looked like for them to transform to a family based model of care and then get into the nitty-gritty of fundraising for our missions and whether or not child spons…

In episode 189, we're talking with Sinet Chan and Grace Njeri who sit on the USAID Care Leavers Council and are recipients of Miracle Foundation's Youth for Social Impact award. They share their personal experiences of what it was like to grow up in an orphanage and the years thereafter. Hear what they are doing now to help impact future adolescent…

In episode 188, we're talking with Caroline Boudreaux, the founder of Miracle Foundation. Caroline talks with us about what led her to starting the organization, what child welfare looks like in India and some important reflections on running non-profit organizations with excellence. Show notes for the podcast can be found at thinkorphan.com…

In episode 187, we're recapping Season 9 of the podcast (July through December 2021) and also looking ahead to the great slate of people coming up on Season 10 of the podcast. You'll also hear Phil and Brandon's top recommendations from 2021 and how people can get behind the work of Think Orphan. Show notes for the podcast can be found at thinkorph…

In this final episode of Season 9, we're talking with the crew over at SFAC (that's Strengthening Families and Children, Phil!) We get into an array of topics with Mick, Dan and Caitlin around child protection, family care services and what they've learned from years working in global child welfare. Show notes for the podcast can be found at thinko…

In episode 185, you will hear from Tamrat Kebede who is the Ethiopia Director for Selamta Family Project. Tamrat talks with Phil and Brandon about his own experience growing up in an orphanage and how that has informed his work overseeing Selamta's family and community based model of care. Tamrat also explains the current conflict unfolding in Ethi…

In episode 184, you'll hear from Dr. Susan Hillis who works at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and also serves on the leadership team of World Without Orphans. In this episode, Dr. Hillis shares with us her own background as an adoptive mother, the importance of a global response for orphaned and at-risk children and the far reaching…

In episode 183, you’ll hear from Kara Wilson Garcia who serves as the Executive Director of Project RED. We talk with Kara about the effects of conflict in El Salvador, how reintegration policies can go wrong and the work Project RED is doing to strengthen families and support children. Show notes for the podcast can be found at thinkorphan.com…

In episode 182, you’ll hear from Jonathan Dowell who serves as the Executive Director of Weza Care Solutions. We talk with Jonathan about Weza Care Solutions and the emphasis on their social work and rehabilitation work. They are filling gaps in the transition between the old system of institutionalized care and maturing organizations in Kenya who …

In episode 181, you’ll hear from Ian Forber-Pratt who serves as the CEO of The Institute for Child Welfare Innovation, the Director of Global Advocacy at CERI, and also teaches at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis. We talk with Ian about the work that he and his team are undertaking in domestic and international reform to “Prot…

In episode 180, you'll hear from Aaron Blue who serves as the Thailand Director for The Charis Project. We talk with Aaron about the work that he and his team are undertaking in Mae Sot, Thailand to strengthen families and develop communities. Show notes for the podcast can be found at thinkorphan.com…

In episode 179, you'll hear from Pastor Evans Baggs who serves as the Pastor of Mobilization at Port City Community Church in Wilmington, North Carolina. We talk with Evans about the recent research from Barna Group, Faith to Action and Changing the Way We Care on Christian giving to orphanages. We'll also get his thoughts on the role of the Americ…

In episode 178, you'll hear from Anja Goertzen Gaona of Paraguay Protects Families about collaborating across sectors in Paraguay and Latin America to promote systemic care reform and family based services. Show notes for this episode can be found at thinkorphan.comBy 1MILLIONHOME

In episode 177, you will hear from children's rights advocate and global voice for care leavers, Ruth Wacuka. She'll be talking with us about the importance of engaging care leavers beyond just hearing their stories, but collaborating on actual care programming and reforms.By 1MILLIONHOME

In episode 176, you will hear from Dr. Greg Burch, Chair of the Global Studies Department at Multnomah University and expert on issues surrounding children at risk. He's talking with us today about issues facing street connected children, the problems with statistics when it comes to at risk children and the role education plays to equip practition…

In episode 175, you will hear from Ashlee Heiligman, Global Director at Global Child Advocates talking with us about their transition to family care, working with vulnerable populations and how they've adapted their ministry to serve vulnerable children in Myanmar's current conflict.By 1MILLIONHOME

In Episode 174, Dr. Rick, Phil and Brandon have a conversation about transitions, working in the OVC sector and preview some of the guests that you'll be hearing from in Season 9.By 1MILLIONHOME

In Episode 173, you will hear from Jenn Hook, Founder and Executive Director of Replanted, and author of the book also called Replanted.

In this recast, Episode 172, you will hear from Amanda Cox, who has worked with Lumos, Faith to Action Initiative, and Hope and Homes for Children to help orphaned and vulnerable children around the world flourish.

In this recast, you will hear from Bruce Kendrick of Watermark Community Church.By Think Orphan

In this recast Episode 170, you will hear from Marisa Stam, Executive Director for Selamta Family Project.By Think Orphan

In the recast episode 169, you will hear wisdom from Dr. Mandy Howard, Assistant Professor of Psychology at Samford University, who worked with Dr. Karyn Purvis at the TCU Institute of Child Development for several years.

In this recast Episode 168, you will hear from Josh Shipp, author of the best-selling book, The Teen’s Guide to World Domination, global youth empowerment expert, and acclaimed speaker.By Think Orphan

In this recast Episode 167, you will hear from Jason Johnson, Author of Everyone Can Do Something, Reframing Foster Care, and All In Orphan Care, and Director of Church Ministry Initiatives for CAFO.By Think Orphan

In Recasted Episode 166, you will hear from Brian Fikkert, President of The Chalmers Center, Professor of Economics and Community Development at Covenant College, and co-author of When Helping Hurts.

[Recast] - In Episode 165 you will hear a conversation between Brian Fisher, co-founder and President of Human Coalition, and Kira Schlesinger, Episcopalian Priest and author of Pro-Choice and Christian

In this recast episode, you will hear from Curt Thompson, Psychiatrist and prolific author, including Anatomy of the Soul and The Soul of Shame.By Think Orphan

In Episode 163, Dr. Rick and Phil have a conversation about their favorite parts about Season 8, things we can all learn from the amazing guests we have had with us this season, a recommendation about a great show, some important news about the podcast, and an opportunity that you don’t want to miss.…

In Episode 162, Dr. Rick and Phil have a conversation with Elli Oswald, Executive Director of Faith to Action, and Karen Springs, of World Without Orphans.By Think Orphan

In Episode 161, Dr. Rick and Phil have a conversation with Jeff Juhala, National Director of Training and Ministry Programs for For the Children.By Think Orphan

In Episode 160, Dr. Rick and Phil look back on 2020, talk about the ups and downs of this crazy year, opportunities that have arisen because of the lockdowns and travel restrictions, a passage about eagles that has really spoken to Rick this year, and resources that have impacted them over the past 12 months. They also have a fun conversation about…

In Episode 159, Dr. Rick and Phil have a conversation with Jared Scheppmann, Executive Director of Ekisa Ministries in Uganda.By Think Orphan

In Episode 158, Dr. Rick and Phil have a conversation with Lisa Qualls, Co-author of The Connected Parent: Real Life Strategies for Building Trust and Attachment, and the blog, “One Thankful Mom”

In Episode 157, Dr. Rick and Phil take a look back at the highlights from the first 8 episodes of Season 8.By Think Orphan

[ This episode is a recast from January 15, 2019 ] In Episode 156, you will hear from Dr. Caroline Leaf, neuroscientist, author of numerous books, and global speaker, talking with Phil about: How the mind controls the brain and why that is important The plasticity of the brain and how it gives us great hope in our work with orphaned and vulnerable …

In Episode 155, Dr. Rick and Phil have a conversation with Spencer Reeves, Executive Director of Child Hope International.By Spencer Reeves, Philip Darke, Rick Morton

In Episode 154, Dr. Rick and Phil have a conversation with Robert Glover OBE, Founder and Executive Director of Care for Children and author of As Many as the Stars: A Story of Change for the Children of China.By Robert Glover, Philip Darke, Rick Morton

In Episode 153, Part 2 of the two-part episode with Keith McFarland, Dr. Rick and Phil have a conversation with Keith, co-author/co-editor of In Pursuit of Orphan Excellence and Director of the Institute for Gospel Transformation at New Hope Uganda.By Keith McFarland, Philip Darke, Rick Morton