The Fearless Fostering Podcast

Cathleen Bearse
  • 4.8 (33)
  • KIDS & FAMILY
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

Podcast by Cathleen Bearse

  1. 6D AGO

    When Your Story Didn’t Go How You Thought It Would

    I remember sitting in the foster parent training before our first placement, imagining the story ahead of us. I had a version of it in my head — hazy around the details, but clear in shape. A child would come. We would love them fiercely. There would be hard moments, sure, but we’d rise to meet them. And eventually, whether through reunification or adoption, there would be resolution. A chapter that closed with something that felt complete. That’s not how it went. I imagine you might be nodding right now. Because if you’ve been in the foster care world for more than five minutes, you know: the story rarely goes how you thought it would. Maybe you imagined reunification would feel more peaceful. Maybe you imagined the adoption would feel like pure celebration, instead of grief mixed with joy. Maybe you imagined you’d have more time, more clarity, more certainty. Maybe you imagined you wouldn’t still be carrying this weight years later. This episode is for you — for all of us — who are living in the gap between what we imagined and what actually happened. Find all my resources here Connect with me on Instagram here

    11 min

  2. FEB 3

    The Excuses I Made Before Saying Yes to Fostering

    Becoming a foster parent had crossed my mind more times than I could count. But every time it did, I found a reason to push it off. Not now. Maybe later. When things settle down. For years, I lived in that space between feeling called and actually saying yes. And if I’m being honest, I was really good at making excuses sound reasonable. If you’re reading this and you recognize that tension — the quiet tug toward fostering mixed with a dozen reasons why now isn’t the right time — I want you to know you’re not alone. I was exactly where you are. And I want to share the excuses I made, because I think you might see yourself in them. Join the Foster Mama Lifeline Community here Find all my resources here

    18 min

  3. JAN 27

    I Never Thought About Quitting Foster Care - But I Questioned How Much More I Could Take

    There’s a question nobody asks foster parents out loud, but we all feel it hanging in the air. Are you going to quit? People watch us. They watch for the cracks. They watch for the moment we throw our hands up and say we’re done. And honestly? I understand why they watch. Foster care is hard in ways that are nearly impossible to explain to someone who hasn’t lived it. But here’s the truth I rarely hear anyone say: I never once thought about quitting. Not once. But I absolutely questioned how much more I could take. And I think that distinction matters more than most people realize. Join the Foster Mama Lifeline here Find all my resources here

    13 min

  4. JAN 12

    When a Foster Child Loses Someone: Walking Through Grief Together

    There are moments in foster care that no training prepares you for. The phone call from your caseworker. The quiet conversation at the kitchen table. The look on a child’s face when they learn that someone they love—someone from their first family—is gone. A foster mom in my community recently reached out to me with this exact situation, and it reminded me how isolating these moments can feel. You’re navigating something incredibly heavy, often without a roadmap, and wondering if you’re doing it right. I want to share some guidance that I’ve gathered from fellow foster parents, trauma-informed resources, and conversations with families who have walked this road. Not as someone who has all the answers, but as someone who believes we’re better when we learn together. If you’re facing this right now, take a breath. You don’t have to have all the answers. You just have to show up. Join my Foster Mama Lifeline Community here Find my Entire Resource Library here

    12 min

  5. JAN 6

    January 2026 R.E.P.O.R.T: Filled Retreat, Fairlife Shakes, and Happy Hour Hangs

    It’s time for another R.E.P.O.R.T. episode — my monthly check-in where I share what I’ve been reading, eating, playing, obsessing over, recommending, and treating myself to lately. In this episode, I’m reflecting on the power of rereading What Happened to You? (and why I gifted it to my mom), keeping mornings simple with Fairlife protein shakes, the music that’s been on repeat, and the joy of connecting with foster mamas IRL as I prepare to speak at the FILLED Retreat later this month. I’m also sharing a favorite clothing hack since returning to full-time work (hello, Nuuly!) and one of the most unexpected gifts of this season: happy hours with coworkers and the reminder that community matters just as much for us as it does for the families we serve. This episode is part life update, part encouragement, and part permission slip to notice what’s nourishing you right now — even in the midst of busy, meaningful work. Grab a coffee, settle in, and let’s catch up. 💛 Find my entire resource library here

    17 min

  6. 12/23/2025

    Social Emotional Learning Made Simple with Monkey Minds SEL

    In this episode of the Fearless Fostering Podcast, I’m joined by Jeff Lovelace — school psychologist, Teacher of the Year, BCBA, and creator of Monkey Minds SEL. Jeff has a gift for making emotional regulation and behavior support simple, practical, and totally doable for parents. We talk about: What kids are really struggling with emotionally right nowHow to understand behavior as communicationThe #1 SEL/DBT skill he recommends for every familyHow trauma shapes behavior in foster and adoptive kidsWhy your regulation matters more than you thinkOne small shift that can bring more calm into your home this weekIf you’re navigating big feelings, tricky behaviors, or emotional overwhelm, this episode will help you feel steady, supported, and far less alone. Follow @monkeyminds_sel on Instagram Learn more @ https://www.monkeymindssel.com Find the entire Fearless Fostering Resource Library Here

    20 min

  7. 12/02/2025

    The Child Who Screamed When She Left: How to Navigate Visits That Break Your Heart

    I can still hear her screaming. Three and a half years later, in the quiet moments when my house is still and everyone’s asleep, I can hear that primal, desperate wail that tore through my chest and left a hole that’s never quite healed. She was eighteen months old. Tiny fists clenched around my shirt, her whole body shaking with the force of her terror. “MAMA! MAMA!” she screamed, reaching for me as the social worker pried her from my arms. I stood there in my driveway, frozen, my arms still curved in the shape of her little body. Empty. Helpless. Watching the car drive away with my screaming baby because “she has to go to the visit. It’s court ordered.” Those words — court ordered — became the soundtrack to my personal hell. If you’re a foster parent, you know this scene. You’ve lived it. You’ve felt your heart shatter into pieces while trying to keep a brave face. You’ve questioned everything — your calling, your sanity, your ability to keep doing this work that asks you to love with your whole heart while preparing to have it broken over and over again. Click HERE to apply for the Fearless Fostering group Click HERE to find all my freebies and resources Use code FEARLESS to register for the Filled Retreat HERE (p.s. I'll see you there!!)

    22 min

  8. 11/11/2025

    Why Traditional Sleep Advice Fails Foster Teens (And What Actually Works)

    “Teaching my teen to independently regulate before bed to help him sleep. Sticking to a bedtime routine with a teen when schedules are all over the place.” This message landed in my DMs yesterday, and my heart immediately went out to this mama. If you’re fostering teens, you already know the bedtime battle is nothing like what the parenting books describe. I’ve been there – wondering if the “expert” sleep advice I’d read had ever been tested on a kid whose nervous system was permanently set to high alert. After nearly three years of fostering and working with countless foster families (plus my background as a therapist), I’ve learned that traditional sleep advice often fails our kids spectacularly. Not because we’re doing it wrong, but because it wasn’t designed for children who’ve experienced trauma. Sign up for the Filled Retreat using code FEARLESS to save $20 All my tools and resources

    16 min
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4.8
out of 5
33 Ratings

About

Podcast by Cathleen Bearse

Information

  • Creator
    Cathleen Bearse
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    233
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Fearless Fostering Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Fearless Fostering Podcast

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