PODCAST

The Adoption and Fostering Podcast

Al Coates & Scott Casson-Rennie

Conversation & discussion on contemporary Adoption & Fostering

kids & family parenting

All Episodes

27:46

Canada Road Tip - Pt2 Reflections

The Adoption and Fostering Podcast ·

2026/03/28

Hello and welcome to the second podcast from our Canada road trip. In this episode we reflect on a few of the conversations we had with the team from Interwoven Connections. They support families formed though adoption, fostering, kinship and customary care and have a huge knowledge base around FASD and CPV (AFCCA). We were given much to think of and we unpack it as well as being a little giddy at being in the same room for the 8th day in a row! You can listen to Tanya Dugay's interview from my

44:04

Scott & Al's Canada Road Trip - Pt1

The Adoption and Fostering Podcast ·

2026/03/21

Hello and welcome to the this Canada road trip podcast, in this first episode we stitch together our 'on the road' recordings as we jollied our way around Ontario and Quebec in Canada. It's pretty flippant and catches on the road with a few instant reflections on Canada, each other and some of the people we met. In the next episode we unpack our time in Smith Falls and Ottawa with a few members of the Interwoven Connections team as well as some broader issues. Scott also recorded an interview with

56:48

Converstations WwF - Rachel Staff Talks Parenting...

The Adoption and Fostering Podcast ·

2026/03/14

Hello and welcome to the AandF podcast. In this episode we’ve a recording of a Walking with Families peer support group sessions with social worker Rachel Staff. Rachel has broad experience of working with and supporting parents of teenagers. In this session she unpacks some of that insight with adoptive parents and considers the impact of early adversity on normal teenage challenges. You can connect with Rachel here If you’re an adoptive parent and would like to join the Walking with Families

27:15

Better Me Better Us - Episode 34- Identity

The Adoption and Fostering Podcast ·

2026/03/10

This month we explore identity. With International Identity Day, International Day of Happiness and Mother’s Day all taking place this month, we reflect on how identity develops and how our experiences and relationships shape the way we see ourselves. We talk about the importance of checking things out with someone rather than making assumptions, and how creating safe, supportive spaces allows children and young people to explore who they are and feel able to be their authentic selves. As always you

53:14

FASD - Tris Casson Rennie

The Adoption and Fostering Podcast ·

2026/03/07

Hello and welcome to the AandF podcast. In this recording adoptive parent and founder of FASD Ireland shares his family's story and unpacks the realities, challenges and some of the solutions to parenting a child with FASD This is a different kind of episode, in January Tris Casson Rennie joined one one the peer support group sessions that I host with Walking with Families. We are a community of adoptive parents who are living with challenging behaviour and Tris is an adoptive parent and the

64:05

Conversations - Richard McCombe- Adoptive Parent

The Adoption and Fostering Podcast ·

2026/02/28

Hello and welcome to conversations from the AandF podcast. In this episode I speak to Richard McCombe an adoptive parent. He shares his family’s experience of adoption including the challenges that they have faces caring for children with complex needs and complex behaviour. Richard lives in Scotland and the different aspects of that experiences are also shared. As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would

41:13

Fiona wells - The Journey of the Child

The Adoption and Fostering Podcast ·

2026/02/21

Hello and welcome to this special edition of the Fostering and Adoption podcastOn the 12th February Patch held their first in person conference in Liverpool bringing together adoptive parents, adult adoptees and professionals from the adoption arena. Fiona Wells is the founder and a driving force behind Patch and here is a recording of her morning keynote presentation on the “Journey of the Child.” If you want to know more about the work of Patch you can find that here. As always if you’ve

55:20

Episode 234 - Adoption Announcement, ASGSF and Foster...

The Adoption and Fostering Podcast ·

2026/02/14

Hello and welcome to the A&F podcast with Scott Casson-Rennie AMBII and Al Coates. This was recorded the day of the Children's Minister's announcement on the Adoption & Special Guardianship Support Fund and the announcement of a consultation. So, after a little banter we get right into it and unpack our views on it. Frankly we pull no punches and throw caution to the wind of ever getting Josh Mac on the podcast. We also unpack the announcement for an extra 10,000 carers and after a short

26:43

Better Me Better Us Episode 33 - Love

The Adoption and Fostering Podcast ·

2026/02/10

As February is the month of love, we thoughts we’d explore what love really means especially in the context of adoption and fostering.What does love look like in real life? How do our different love languages shape the way we give and receive? And how does trauma affect the way children and adults experience love, connection, and safety? We reflect on the powerful truth that while love is vital, love alone does not heal trauma and consider what children and families need alongside

32:32

Conversations - Dr Maude Champagne - Recovery when...

The Adoption and Fostering Podcast ·

2026/02/07

Hello and welcome to conversations from the AandF podcast. In this episode to Dr Maude Champagne , social worker, psychotherapist and NVR practitioner who works in adoption and foster care. Specifically she works with parents who are experiencing violence and aggression and I asked her on to talk about parents experience of recovery once children, who are challenging, leave the home. There are links to her work below: Recovery When Your Child who is aggressive no Longer Lives at Home As always if

44:28

Episode 223 - Social media bans and self care for men...

The Adoption and Fostering Podcast ·

2026/01/31

Hello and welcome to this episode of from the AandF podcast. This episode is unofficially sponsored by Sainsbury's Supermarket. In this episode we unpack the pros and cons of social media bans and the specific challenges that many parents and carers of children with complex early lives and SEN face. We also get somewhat distracted by some self care and purchasing choices. We would welcome the findings of your Nectar app purchases. Below is the link to the FASD Ireland conference. A limited

33:18

Conversations - Suzanne Scott - T.I.P

The Adoption and Fostering Podcast ·

2026/01/24

Hello and welcome to conversations from the AandF podcast. In this episode I speak with Suzanne Scott, she is the founder of Trauma informed parenting based in Scotland. Suzanne supports parents and professionals to move from fear and control to a trauma informed approach to strengthen relationships with children and affect change in them. She shares her own experience of parenting children with complex needs as well as being a foster carer and not the work she does across the UK. Here are some

62:22

Episode 222 - New Year New Hosts - Paula and Tris

The Adoption and Fostering Podcast ·

2026/01/17

Hello and welcome the AandF podcast, it the New Year so our better halves,Paula and Tris, join us to catch up on the year and join the banter. We unpack the year and catch up with them and after a slow start we discuss the challenges and new experience of parenting adult children with the subsequent surprising rewards. At no point is there any marital strife! As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like

33:51

Better Me Better Us Episode 32 - Own It

The Adoption and Fostering Podcast ·

2026/01/13

In this episode we explore the responsibility adults and professionals carry to own their behaviours, words, and actions, especially when working with children. From everyday interactions to moments of conflict and repair, we unpack why accountability is not about perfection, but integrity.We discuss how children learn more from what we model than what we say, why owning mistakes builds trust and emotional safety, and how this is especially vital in fostering and adoption, where many children have

39:47

Converations - Nick, Tiegan and the Adoption...

The Adoption and Fostering Podcast ·

2026/01/10

Hello and welcome to the AandF podcast. In this episode I speak to adult adoptee Tiegen Boyens and social worker/researcher Nick Burke. They are undertaking research examining the adoptee quality of life for those between 16 and 25. Tiegan and Nick unpack the reason behind the research and how the topics and questions were identified though focus group with a range of adoptees. You can access the survey here As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any

27:36

Adoption Disruption - Adoptive parent & SW Amy

The Adoption and Fostering Podcast ·

2026/01/03

Hello and welcome to the A&F Podcast. In this episode we're continuing to look at parenting from a distance and adoption disruption. It's a hugely sensitive matter with the impact on children adults and professionals often being catastrophic.Here, I speak to Amy an adoptive parent and social worker and she describes the events that led to crisis and the response of the system. As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or

67:39

Episode of the Year - 206 FASD with Anna Webster

The Adoption and Fostering Podcast ·

2025/12/27

This episode resinated with so many of our listeners. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder remains under discussed with a growing understanding of the prevalence and impact that many children are living with. In this episode of the A&F podcast we speak to adoptive parent and Neurodiversity Coaching Psychologist Anna Webster. She shares her experience of parenting a child with a diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and the development of the Neurowise Programme on Therapeutic Caregiving for

54:29

Christmas Podcast with Fiona Wells from Patch

The Adoption and Fostering Podcast ·

2025/12/20

Hello and welcome to the AandF podcast Christmas special. In this episode we streamed live to Facebook and chat with Fiona Wells from Patch. We unpack all that's been happening with the raised awareness of the levels of adversity all members of adoptive households are having. There is a crisis in the adoption community and Fiona has spearheaded the news and bringing of many families together. Oh, and it's Christmas we share our top tips! It's a little raucous but that's how we roll. As always if

49:05

Conversations - Helio, Adult International Adoptee

The Adoption and Fostering Podcast ·

2025/12/13

Hello and welcome to conversations from the AandF podcast. In this episode I speak with Helio an adult adoptee, he shares his experience of being adopted from Brazil to an Italian family. There’s so much more to his story and as an adult he went onto what was a complex journey to reconnect with his biological mother. His resilience and the murky circumstances of his adoption are remarkable and it’s well worth a listen. You can follow Helio on instagram here. As always if you’ve experience of

26:03

Better Me Better Us Ep 31 - Back to basics

The Adoption and Fostering Podcast ·

2025/12/09

In this episode, we explore the importance of stripping everything back to the basics and showing up on a truly human level. It’s these foundations, warmth, consistency, repair and presence, that create safety and stability for our most traumatised children. We also reflect on how powerful our modelling is: what we, as professionals, model to parents and carers, and what they in turn model to the children in their care. When we get the basics right, everything else becomes possible.As always you

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