Built From Broken

Madison Bell
  • 5.0 (12)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

Built From Broken is a space for anyone navigating healing, growth, and everything in between. I’m Madison, and my story hasn’t been easy, with experiences in foster care, family struggles, and a lot of unexpected turns along the way. Each episode shares a piece of my journey, along with honest reflections, mindset shifts, and the lessons that shaped who I am today. It’s not always pretty, but it’s real. And healing starts there. So come hang out, reflect a little, and as always, keep building.

  1. Sep 7

    I’ve Been Quiet, but I Haven’t Been Still

    It has been almost two months since I last stepped behind the microphone. While I never intended to be away for this long, I have learned that being quiet does not mean I have been standing still. In this episode, I open up about feeling drained, operating with my battery in the red, and why I never want Built From Broken to become another item I simply check off a to-do list. Even during this quiet season, life has continued moving. I have been navigating changes within my family, watching my children enter new stages, growing in advocacy, showing up for children and families, building meaningful relationships, and beginning to think bigger about what I want the next several years of my life to look like. I also share an unexpected moment that stopped me in my tracks and reminded me that even when I have doubts, I am still “the podcaster.” Sometimes the things we create continue reaching people, even when we have gone quiet. And I have an exciting announcement: Built From Broken is officially on YouTube! This has been something I have wanted to do for a long time, and I finally took the step. The channel will be a place for podcast-related videos, episode recaps, and shorter, more natural conversations that may not become full podcast episodes. I am excited, nervous, and still learning how to become comfortable on camera, but I cannot wait to see how this new chapter grows. I also give a glimpse into some of the meaningful conversations and guest episodes coming next. If you have ever entered a quiet season and wondered whether you were falling behind, this episode is your reminder that progress does not always make noise. You can be resting, processing, learning, growing, and preparing for what comes next, even when no one else can see it. Subscribe to Built From Broken on YouTube:https://youtube.com/@builtfrombrokenwithmadison Find Built From Broken everywhere:https://linktr.ee/_builtfrombroken

  2. Jul 18

    A Mother's Tears, A Daughter's Grace

    I wasn't planning to record tonight. It wasn't even a planned episode. After a conversation with my mom, I found myself crying, reflecting, and ultimately reaching for the microphone. In this deeply personal episode, I share what she said, what it stirred in me, and why I believe conversations like these matter. We talk about foster care, mental illness, forgiveness, grief, and the complicated reality that love and pain can exist at the same time. If you've ever wrestled with forgiveness, carried grief, or wondered if it's okay to feel both sadness and peace, I hope this episode reminds you that you're not alone. Healing isn't always loud. Sometimes it sounds like a phone call.

  3. Jul 13

    Conversation with Paige

    In today's episode, I'm joined by my friend Paige for a conversation that has been a long time coming. Although we grew up in the same hometown and even rode the same school bus, we had no idea we were both carrying so much behind the smiles people saw every day. Looking back, it's a powerful reminder that you never truly know what someone may be facing behind closed doors. Together, we share our experiences growing up in homes marked by trauma, how those experiences shaped us, and what healing has looked like over the years. We talk about finding our identity beyond what we do, raising our children differently than we were raised, protecting their innocence, navigating difficult family relationships, setting healthy boundaries, extending grace, and trusting God's timing through it all. More than anything, this episode is a reminder that your past doesn't have to define your future. Healing is possible, boundaries are healthy, forgiveness and reconciliation aren't the same thing, and God has a beautiful way of weaving people's stories together at exactly the right time. I hope this conversation encourages you, gives you hope, and reminds you that even if someone seems like they have it all together, you never know what they may be carrying. A little grace, kindness, and compassion can go a long way. I'm so grateful you're here. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did.

  4. Jun 21

    It's Okay to Be Human

    A few weeks ago, I told listeners I would be releasing two episodes a week for the next three weeks. I meant every word of it. Then life happened. Between Mother's Day, birthdays, end-of-school celebrations, travel, work commitments, family responsibilities, and all of the normal demands of life, I found myself carrying more than I realized. This episode became an honest conversation about guilt, overcommitting, emotional exhaustion, survival mode, broken promises, faith, boundaries, and the difference between being capable and having the capacity to carry it all. I also share a realization that hit me hard: I wasn't just missing podcasting. I was missing me. If you've been feeling overwhelmed, stretched thin, disconnected from yourself, or like you're trying to operate at full capacity while running on empty, I hope this episode reminds you that you're not alone. Maybe you're not failing. Maybe you're carrying more than you realize. And maybe what you need right now isn't more pressure. Maybe what you need is grace.

  5. May 17

    Why This Work Matters — Part One

    This week’s episode is Part One of a special three-part series called Why This Work Matters, where I’ll be highlighting organizations that support children and families impacted by foster and kinship care and sharing why this work matters so deeply to me personally as a former foster youth. In this episode, I’m talking about Least of These Carolinas, a faith based nonprofit organization serving children and families across North Carolina through programs like Bags of Hope, Shoes of Hope, Bridge Camp, Just Like You Scholarships, Life Boxes, and their Christmas initiatives. I share reflections on why things that may seem small from the outside, like a duffel bag, a pair of shoes, a camp experience, or a handwritten note, can actually carry deep emotional impact for children in foster care. This episode is a conversation about dignity, consistency, belonging, normalcy, and the importance of showing up for children and families in meaningful ways. I also share perspective on what people often miss about foster care and why support beyond the initial crisis matters more than many realize. Thank you for listening, learning, and growing alongside me through these important conversations! To learn more about Least of These Carolinas or get involved, visit: Least of These Carolinas

  6. May 17

    In Real Time — Part One

    In this first episode of the new In Real Time mini series, I wanted to sit down and talk more casually about some of the conversations, moments, opportunities, and reflections that have been happening lately throughout Foster Care Awareness Month. I share my thoughts surrounding recent CMS conversations connected to foster care liaison positions, attending the foster care symposium with Least of These Carolinas, and why I believe using your voice and planting seeds truly matters. This episode also includes reflections on:• stepping outside of my comfort zone to bring awareness into everyday conversations• future hopes of someday speaking directly to foster youth in local high schools• a conversation that sparked new thoughts about possibly writing books for foster youth• what guardian ad litems (GALs) are and how everyday people can become involved in supporting children in care• and why I personally believe some moments and conversations are not random I also share this week’s Broken to Built Reflection Question, Rebuild Challenge, and closing prayer. Thank you for continuing to grow, reflect, heal, and build alongside me!

  7. May 10

    For Every Kind of Mother

    Mother’s Day can bring so many different emotions depending on someone’s story. For some, it feels joyful.For others, it feels heavy.Sometimes it feels healing, complicated, grief-filled, or somewhere in between. In this episode, I wanted to create a space for every kind of mother and nurturing figure. The biological moms, stepmoms, foster moms, adoptive moms, single parents, women longing to become mothers, those grieving loss, and the people quietly showing up for others through love and care every single day. I talk about the unseen pressure many parents carry, healing while parenting, breaking generational cycles, complicated relationships with mothers, miscarriage and loss, emotional safety, and the powerful impact of continuing to show up with love even on the hard days. No matter what Mother’s Day looks like for you this year, I hope this episode reminds you that your story, your healing, your grief, your effort, and your love all matter too. Happy Mother’s Day to every kind of mother, parent, and nurturing figure listening. Until next time, keep growing, keep healing, and as always… keep building.

  8. May 4

    One Year of Built From Broken

    It has been one year of Built From Broken. In this episode, I reflect on what this past year has looked like, from starting this podcast during a time of uncertainty, to the growth, healing, and unexpected opportunities that followed. I share more about what was happening behind the scenes, how this journey has changed me, and what I have learned about faith, purpose, and starting before you feel ready. I also share what’s ahead as we move into Foster Care Awareness Month, and introduce a new space where I will be going deeper by writing on Substack. If you’ve ever felt like you’re not ready to begin something that has been placed on your heart, this episode is for you. First Substack Article - What This Past Year Taught Me

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Built From Broken is a space for anyone navigating healing, growth, and everything in between. I’m Madison, and my story hasn’t been easy, with experiences in foster care, family struggles, and a lot of unexpected turns along the way. Each episode shares a piece of my journey, along with honest reflections, mindset shifts, and the lessons that shaped who I am today. It’s not always pretty, but it’s real. And healing starts there. So come hang out, reflect a little, and as always, keep building.

Information

  • Creator
    Madison Bell
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    56
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Madison Bell
  • Show Website
    Built From Broken