77 episodes

Karlos Dillard, Author, Speaker, and Lived Experience Foster Care Advocate host this illuminative show about the truth of the foster care system. Joined weekly by former foster youth and adoptees, Karlos and his guest will shine a light on what it really is like being in the foster care and adoption systems. Karlos has a background in entertainment and production, so expect this show to be real, eye-opening, and sometimes funny.

If you are a former foster youth and would like to share your experience with the foster system please email me karlos.r.dillard@gmail.com

Wards of the State Dillard Media

    • Kids & Family
    • 4.8 • 72 Ratings

Karlos Dillard, Author, Speaker, and Lived Experience Foster Care Advocate host this illuminative show about the truth of the foster care system. Joined weekly by former foster youth and adoptees, Karlos and his guest will shine a light on what it really is like being in the foster care and adoption systems. Karlos has a background in entertainment and production, so expect this show to be real, eye-opening, and sometimes funny.

If you are a former foster youth and would like to share your experience with the foster system please email me karlos.r.dillard@gmail.com

    Biological Parent Special: CJ (update)

    Biological Parent Special: CJ (update)

    Hey Light Shiners!  I am joined by CJ a birth father who was on the show 2 years ago. He gives us an update and how he has been advocating for himself and his daughter. 

    Follow the guest on social media! @Childlessparent

    Watch the video of this episode only on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=45714095&fan_landing=true
     
    If you would like to be on the show please fill sign up here https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdFZxNnCSntbuvjrxjjvZco3BmsCVNELmU1WzlYPCOongNNiA/viewform?usp=pp_url

    Please help us keep shining light on the truths of the foster care system by donating. Please click the link to donate! https://karlosdillard.com/checkout/donate?donatePageId=611ab8be7dbb68767abf984e

    • 51 min
    Biological Family Special: ShaVonnda

    Biological Family Special: ShaVonnda

    Hey Light Shiners!  I am joined by ShaVonnda, a birth aunt who helped her brother fight the family policing system and tried to adopt his daughter out to foster parents. They fought for 8 years and won! 

    Follow the guest on social media! @kinship.is.care (tiktok) @Emily_brooks_foundation

    Support this family and fight back! https://www.gofundme.com/f/u2prd-bringing-emily-home?qid=64b886178566f29b75ddd2a49f67e4c7

    Watch the video of this episode only on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=45714095&fan_landing=true

    If you would like to be on the show please fill sign up here https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdFZxNnCSntbuvjrxjjvZco3BmsCVNELmU1WzlYPCOongNNiA/viewform?usp=pp_url 

    Please help us keep shining light on the truths of the foster care system by donating. Please click the link to donate! https://karlosdillard.com/checkout/donate?donatePageId=611ab8be7dbb68767abf984e

    • 1 hr 29 min
    Ep: 68 "George"

    Ep: 68 "George"

    Hey Light Shiners!  I am joined by George a native adoptee who had a net positive adoption experience. He talks about how his adoptive parents keep his birth family and culture involved while growing up and why ICWA is so important.

    Follow the guest on social media! @Ibakedinupiaq
     
    Watch the video of this episode only on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=45714095&fan_landing=true

    If you would like to be on the show please fill sign up here https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdFZxNnCSntbuvjrxjjvZco3BmsCVNELmU1WzlYPCOongNNiA/viewform?usp=pp_url 

    Please help us keep shining light on the truths of the foster care system by donating. Please click the link to donate! https://karlosdillard.com/checkout/donate?donatePageId=611ab8be7dbb68767abf984e

    • 40 min
    Ep: 67 "Scottie"

    Ep: 67 "Scottie"

    Hey Light Shiners! THERE IS A SUICIDE TRIGGER WARNING in this episode. I am joined by Scottie a same-race Black adoptee who shares about their net-positive adoption experiences and religion trauma. We do speak about assisted suicide so please use caution listening and speak to mental health professionals If you are having suicidal thoughts. Always Shine Your Ligjht.

    Follow the guest on social media! @scottieslittlelife 

       Watch the video of this episode only on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=45714095&fan_landing=true
    If you would like to be on the show please fill sign up here https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdFZxNnCSntbuvjrxjjvZco3BmsCVNELmU1WzlYPCOongNNiA/viewform?usp=pp_url

    Please help us keep shining light on the truths of the foster care system by donating. Please click the link to donate! https://karlosdillard.com/checkout/donate?donatePageId=611ab8be7dbb68767abf984e

    • 48 min
    Ep: 66 "Petrea"

    Ep: 66 "Petrea"

    Hey Light Shiners! In this episode, I am joined by Petrea an international adoptee who was adopted from Russia. She speaks on her net-positive adoption and how isolating it was to grow up in a single-mother household.

    Follow the guest on social media! @dosvidaniyababy6669    

    Watch the video of this episode only on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=45714095&fan_landing=true 

    If you would like to be on the show please fill sign up here https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdFZxNnCSntbuvjrxjjvZco3BmsCVNELmU1WzlYPCOongNNiA/viewform?usp=pp_url 

    Please help us keep shining light on the truths of the foster care system by donating. Please click the link to donate! https://karlosdillard.com/checkout/donate?donatePageId=611ab8be7dbb68767abf984e

    Come march with me ! https://www.blackmothersmarch.com/

    • 39 min
    Ep: 65 "Tiffany"

    Ep: 65 "Tiffany"

    Hey Light Shiners! In this episode, I am joined by Tiffany and adoptee who shares her story about her adoption, her adoptive parents divorce and how that affected her life.
     
    Follow the guest on social media! @Sistatiph     

    Join the BLACK MOTHERS MARCH! https://www.blackmothersmarch.com/

    Watch the video of this episode only on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=45714095&fan_landing=true 

    If you would like to be on the show please fill sign up here https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdFZxNnCSntbuvjrxjjvZco3BmsCVNELmU1WzlYPCOongNNiA/viewform?usp=pp_url 

    Please help us keep shining light on the truths of the foster care system by donating. Please click the link to donate! https://karlosdillard.com/checkout/donate?donatePageId=611ab8be7dbb68767abf984e

    • 48 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
72 Ratings

72 Ratings

dasvidaniyabby ,

Many perspectives, and well informed

Thanks for sharing a variety of perspectives from the adoption triad and educating along the way. Fascinating, informative, and sincere. Definitely recommend.

LarsonRC ,

Impactful and Important

This podcast is great. Karlos and the people he interviews have shared their experiences and perspectives and I’m so grateful. It’s made me completely rethink adoption as a whole and impacted the way my wife and I think of our future.

ThetaPhiGirl11 ,

So important to listen

I’ve learned so much from Karlos and other adoptees. Karlos has opened my eyes to the trauma and unethical aspects of adoption. Everyone should take the time to listen to their voices.

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