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<rss xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:podcast="https://podcastindex.org/namespace/1.0" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" version="2.0"><channel><title>Conversations with Friends</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/conversations-with-friends--6363910</link><description><![CDATA[Conversations with Friends as an idea for a podcast grew out of an experience I had in May of this year when my Facebook got completely hacked and I lost that whole ship of social media.<br />And it was really a blessing in disguise, but it was a little little disorienting at first. And I came up with this idea. Well, why don't I start a podcast and sit down with some of the people that I really have lost connection with or want to develop a further connection with kind of just delve into our friendship here about what they're doing, what they're passionate about their lives have been been like? I really feel like we, we often don't value what we've been through what we've lived through.<br /><br />We have such a wealth within us that we seem to just surrender and give away to the external, you know. People we put on pedestals systems, um,  whole bunch of stuff, as you know, we're like slaves to everything besides like, valuing what we've lived through. <br /><br />So. I'm putting it together in a podcast, Conversations with Friends. ]]></description><atom:link href="https://www.spreaker.com/show/6363910/episodes/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><language>en</language><category>Relationships</category><copyright>Copyright Jill Woodworth</copyright><image><url>https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/7738c2cdc4a67bb575d2f4263c5c170d.jpg</url><title>Conversations with Friends</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/conversations-with-friends--6363910</link></image><lastBuildDate>Thu, 22 May 2025 19:14:30 +0000</lastBuildDate><itunes:author>Jill Woodworth</itunes:author><itunes:owner><itunes:name>Jill Woodworth</itunes:name><itunes:email>pjlacy6@gmail.com</itunes:email></itunes:owner><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/7738c2cdc4a67bb575d2f4263c5c170d.jpg"/><itunes:subtitle>Conversations with Friends as an idea for a podcast grew out of an experience I had in May of this year when my Facebook got completely hacked and I lost that whole ship of social media.
And it was really a blessing in disguise, but it was a little...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Conversations with Friends as an idea for a podcast grew out of an experience I had in May of this year when my Facebook got completely hacked and I lost that whole ship of social media.<br />And it was really a blessing in disguise, but it was a little little disorienting at first. And I came up with this idea. Well, why don't I start a podcast and sit down with some of the people that I really have lost connection with or want to develop a further connection with kind of just delve into our friendship here about what they're doing, what they're passionate about their lives have been been like? I really feel like we, we often don't value what we've been through what we've lived through.<br /><br />We have such a wealth within us that we seem to just surrender and give away to the external, you know. People we put on pedestals systems, um,  whole bunch of stuff, as you know, we're like slaves to everything besides like, valuing what we've lived through. <br /><br />So. I'm putting it together in a podcast, Conversations with Friends. ]]></itunes:summary><itunes:category text="Society &amp; Culture"><itunes:category text="Relationships"/></itunes:category><itunes:category text="Education"><itunes:category text="Self-Improvement"/></itunes:category><itunes:category text="Religion &amp; Spirituality"><itunes:category text="Spirituality"/></itunes:category><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><podcast:guid>c4351937-2dae-5fac-b256-ad18e48cf4b2</podcast:guid><itunes:type>episodic</itunes:type><item><title>CONVERSATIONS WITH FRIENDS, EPISODE 4~Adam Gohn, Healer, Podcaster, Awesome Human</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/conversations-with-friends-episode-4-adam-gohn-healer-podcaster-awesome-human--66208187</link><description><![CDATA[Putting up Episode 4, after a bit of a gap! Honored to have Adam Gohn, Creator of the podcast “Conversations and Higher Vibrations” as a guest on my podcast, Conversations with Friends! Adam starts by discussing the relaxed nature of the podcast and his intention of exploring lived experiences leading to life insights. We talk about Adam's path to spiritual healing and growing awareness, which began online through social media connections and his engagement in spiritual content, plus more. Adam shares his process of giving up alcohol, finding inner peace through therapy and spirituality, and how he started practicing healing sessions. He explains various spiritual practices, emphasizing the power of declarations over traditional prayers, and shares successes from his healing sessions, including a few where he helped his own children. Both Adam and I reflect on the significance of family, authentic connections, the importance of the biofield and balancing the spiritual with everyday life. I share a profound experience with spiritual healing, showcasing the transformative power of belief and intention. (full video: https://youtu.be/Y4dkgUJlD-Q?si=W5pzhxaIPuQUg7lz)<br /><br />It’s a fantastic, chill convo, I highly recommend Adam’s podcast which can be found~<br />https://rumble.com/c/GohnAllIn <br />https://rumble.com/c/GohnAllInVideoClips <br />   / @gohnallin   <br />https://open.spotify.com/show/4CB9mBF...<br />Instagram, TikTok: @gohnallin<br />The Human Biofield: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles...<br />00:00 Introduction and Podcast Setup<br />01:13 Meeting on Social Media<br />03:40 Early Life and Upbringing<br />06:20 Personal Struggles and Growth<br />10:00 Spiritual Awakening and Podcasting<br />14:52 Healing Journey and Sobriety<br />21:40 Embracing Healing Abilities<br />27:13 Podcasting and Future Plans<br />37:39 A Call to Reconnect<br />38:05 Manifesting Reality<br />38:30 Career Changes and Gratitude<br />38:58 Heart-Centered Approach<br />39:15 Impact of Conversations<br />39:43 Letting Life Flow<br />41:11 Podcasting and Personal Growth<br />41:57 Stories of Transformation<br />43:38 Abundance and Success<br />44:08 Healing and Helping Others<br />01:07:11 Family Dynamics and Support<br />01:12:39 Concluding Thoughts<br />]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66208187</guid><pubDate>Thu, 22 May 2025 19:04:14 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/66208187/conversations_with_friends_4_adam_gohn.mp3" length="72786868" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Jill Woodworth</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Putting up Episode 4, after a bit of a gap! Honored to have Adam Gohn, Creator of the podcast “Conversations and Higher Vibrations” as a guest on my podcast, Conversations with Friends! Adam starts by discussing the relaxed nature of the podcast and...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Putting up Episode 4, after a bit of a gap! Honored to have Adam Gohn, Creator of the podcast “Conversations and Higher Vibrations” as a guest on my podcast, Conversations with Friends! Adam starts by discussing the relaxed nature of the podcast and his intention of exploring lived experiences leading to life insights. We talk about Adam's path to spiritual healing and growing awareness, which began online through social media connections and his engagement in spiritual content, plus more. Adam shares his process of giving up alcohol, finding inner peace through therapy and spirituality, and how he started practicing healing sessions. He explains various spiritual practices, emphasizing the power of declarations over traditional prayers, and shares successes from his healing sessions, including a few where he helped his own children. Both Adam and I reflect on the significance of family, authentic connections, the importance of the biofield and balancing the spiritual with everyday life. I share a profound experience with spiritual healing, showcasing the transformative power of belief and intention. (full video: https://youtu.be/Y4dkgUJlD-Q?si=W5pzhxaIPuQUg7lz)<br /><br />It’s a fantastic, chill convo, I highly recommend Adam’s podcast which can be found~<br />https://rumble.com/c/GohnAllIn <br />https://rumble.com/c/GohnAllInVideoClips <br />   / @gohnallin   <br />https://open.spotify.com/show/4CB9mBF...<br />Instagram, TikTok: @gohnallin<br />The Human Biofield: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles...<br />00:00 Introduction and Podcast Setup<br />01:13 Meeting on Social Media<br />03:40 Early Life and Upbringing<br />06:20 Personal Struggles and Growth<br />10:00 Spiritual Awakening and Podcasting<br />14:52 Healing Journey and Sobriety<br />21:40 Embracing Healing Abilities<br />27:13 Podcasting and Future Plans<br />37:39 A Call to Reconnect<br />38:05 Manifesting Reality<br />38:30 Career Changes and Gratitude<br />38:58 Heart-Centered Approach<br />39:15 Impact of Conversations<br />39:43 Letting Life Flow<br />41:11 Podcasting and Personal Growth<br />41:57 Stories of Transformation<br />43:38 Abundance and Success<br />44:08 Healing and Helping Others<br />01:07:11 Family Dynamics and Support<br />01:12:39 Concluding Thoughts<br />]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>4550</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>awakening,healer,healing,podcaster,spiritual,spiritualawakening,spirituality</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/b5de6cc2725700f528cd317c7ca883de.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>CONVERSATIONS WITH FRIENDS, EPISODE 3 ~ LISA NICOLL, "Punk Rock Lisa"</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/conversations-with-friends-episode-3-lisa-nicoll-punk-rock-lisa--63669431</link><description><![CDATA[<b>In this episode of 'Conversations with Friends,' I have the pleasure and honor of interviewing "punk rock" Lisa Nicoll, a multidisciplinary artist based in Brooklyn, New York. We have quite a talk about her creative journey and delve into her artistic endeavors in writing, photography, musical composition, and theater. Lisa shares her experiences with the sacredness of space, liminality, and how real-world elements influence her creative process. She has a passion for punk rock that she taps for a burst of rebel yell energy,  holding boundaries and remembrance of her full spectrum hue-man. We also touch upon each of our paths to greater awareness, the significance of authenticity in art, and the intersection of mysticism and daily life. Additionally, I read one of Lisa's compellingly awesome poems and discuss its profound impact. Lisa also turns the tables and asks me some pertinent questions that make this back and forth so rich with syncronicty and insight. This episode is filled with deep reflections, artistic insights, and the joy of true connection. Join us!    </b><br /><b></b><br /><b>https://lisanicoll.com</b><br /><b>https://www.instagram.com/lisa.k.nicoll/ https://www.saatchiart.com/lisanicoll</b><br /><b>https://www.facebook.com/lisa.nicoll.984</b><br /><b><br />https://linktr.ee/jillwoodworth</b><br /><b></b><br /><b>00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview</b><br /><b>01:09 Lisa Nicoll's Artistic Journey</b><br /><b>04:32 Navigating Social Media and Artistic Identity</b><br /><b>07:52 Early Life and Artistic Influences</b><br /><b>13:15 Challenges and Breakthroughs</b><br /><b>22:48 Discovering Multidisciplinary Art</b><br /><b>25:10 Lucid Dreams and Creative Inspirations</b><br /><b>34:02 Personal Reflections and Writing Journey</b><br /><b>38:40 Passing Down Poetry</b><br /><b>39:05 Self-Taught Journey</b><br /><b>39:26 Copy Editing Career</b><br /><b>40:07 Trusting the Path</b><br /><b>43:09 Podcast Beginnings</b><br /><b>43:50 Exploring Psych Meds</b><br /><b>45:05 Cannabis and Rare Diseases</b><br /><b>54:43 Educational Pursuits</b><br /><b>01:01:54 Awakening and Photography</b><br /><b>01:09:50 Fear is a Lie</b><br /><b>01:17:30 Discussing Poems and Reading Aloud</b><br /><b>01:18:41 The Tree Awakening Experience</b><br /><b>01:20:17 Lucid Dreams and Tree Consciousness</b><br /><b>01:27:10 Reading 'Learning About Altars'</b><br /><b>01:31:23 Reflections on Catharsis and Beauty</b><br /><b>01:40:35 Reading 'Wings' and Personal Reflections</b><br /><b>01:49:25 Final Thoughts and Farewells</b>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/63669431</guid><pubDate>Sun, 12 Jan 2025 23:52:49 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/63669431/audio1686111300.mp3" length="115093139" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Jill Woodworth</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode of 'Conversations with Friends,' I have the pleasure and honor of interviewing "punk rock" Lisa Nicoll, a multidisciplinary artist based in Brooklyn, New York. We have quite a talk about her creative journey and delve into her artistic...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[<b>In this episode of 'Conversations with Friends,' I have the pleasure and honor of interviewing "punk rock" Lisa Nicoll, a multidisciplinary artist based in Brooklyn, New York. We have quite a talk about her creative journey and delve into her artistic endeavors in writing, photography, musical composition, and theater. Lisa shares her experiences with the sacredness of space, liminality, and how real-world elements influence her creative process. She has a passion for punk rock that she taps for a burst of rebel yell energy,  holding boundaries and remembrance of her full spectrum hue-man. We also touch upon each of our paths to greater awareness, the significance of authenticity in art, and the intersection of mysticism and daily life. Additionally, I read one of Lisa's compellingly awesome poems and discuss its profound impact. Lisa also turns the tables and asks me some pertinent questions that make this back and forth so rich with syncronicty and insight. This episode is filled with deep reflections, artistic insights, and the joy of true connection. Join us!    </b><br /><b></b><br /><b>https://lisanicoll.com</b><br /><b>https://www.instagram.com/lisa.k.nicoll/ https://www.saatchiart.com/lisanicoll</b><br /><b>https://www.facebook.com/lisa.nicoll.984</b><br /><b><br />https://linktr.ee/jillwoodworth</b><br /><b></b><br /><b>00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview</b><br /><b>01:09 Lisa Nicoll's Artistic Journey</b><br /><b>04:32 Navigating Social Media and Artistic Identity</b><br /><b>07:52 Early Life and Artistic Influences</b><br /><b>13:15 Challenges and Breakthroughs</b><br /><b>22:48 Discovering Multidisciplinary Art</b><br /><b>25:10 Lucid Dreams and Creative Inspirations</b><br /><b>34:02 Personal Reflections and Writing Journey</b><br /><b>38:40 Passing Down Poetry</b><br /><b>39:05 Self-Taught Journey</b><br /><b>39:26 Copy Editing Career</b><br /><b>40:07 Trusting the Path</b><br /><b>43:09 Podcast Beginnings</b><br /><b>43:50 Exploring Psych Meds</b><br /><b>45:05 Cannabis and Rare Diseases</b><br /><b>54:43 Educational Pursuits</b><br /><b>01:01:54 Awakening and Photography</b><br /><b>01:09:50 Fear is a Lie</b><br /><b>01:17:30 Discussing Poems and Reading Aloud</b><br /><b>01:18:41 The Tree Awakening Experience</b><br /><b>01:20:17 Lucid Dreams and Tree Consciousness</b><br /><b>01:27:10 Reading 'Learning About Altars'</b><br /><b>01:31:23 Reflections on Catharsis and Beauty</b><br /><b>01:40:35 Reading 'Wings' and Personal Reflections</b><br /><b>01:49:25 Final Thoughts and Farewells</b>]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>7194</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>addiction,art,artist,consciousness,conversations,faith,friendship,heart,livedexperience,metaphysical,podcaster,poems,poet,poetry,sacred,soulogy,tuberoussclerosiscomplex,writer</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/34eb4bb9b9fb28db7f38e621641df44b.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>CONVERSATIONS WITH FRIENDS, EPISODE 2~CAROLINE HURRY</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/conversations-with-friends-episode-2-caroline-hurry--62696474</link><description><![CDATA[<b>In this episode of 'Conversations with Friends,' host Jill Woodworth talks with Caroline Hurry, a seasoned journalist and author known for her unique voice that blends humor, insight, and a touch of irreverence, born of deep lived experience. They discuss Caroline's journey through journalism and travel writing, her life in South Africa, and the experiences that fuel her storytelling. The conversation covers Caroline's latest book, 'The Rooster Diaries,' which blends her lived experiences with fictional elements to explore raising chickens and the broader themes of self-sovereignty, human connection, and navigating a bewildering world. The discussion also touches on the impacts of the COVID deceptions,, the power of dreaming and manifestation, and the importance of living a life true to oneself. The episode wraps up with insights into doing as much as you can where you are with practical homesteading practices.</b><br /><b></b><br /><b>https://carolinehurry.com</b><br /><b>contact Jill: pjlacy6@gmail.com</b><br /><b>https://linktr.ee/jillwoodworth</b><br /><b><br />00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome</b><br /><b>00:45 Caroline's Background and Career</b><br /><b>03:45 Impact of COVID on Caroline's Work</b><br /><b>04:26 Writing and Publishing Journey</b><br /><b>06:20 Navigating Relationships and Sovereignty</b><br /><b>11:12 The Rooster Diaries and Raising Chickens</b><br /><b>17:19 Homesteading and Self-Sufficiency</b><br /><b>36:15 Cannabis and Sovereignty</b><br /><b>47:14 The Absurd Confidence of Roosters</b><br /><b>47:43 Embracing Self-Compassion</b><br /><b>49:07 The Death of Small Talk</b><br /><b>49:50 Sports and Distractions</b><br /><b>52:39 Cultural Beliefs and Old Gods</b><br /><b>56:55 The Power of Placebo</b><br /><b>57:34 Ancestral Wisdom and Evolution</b><br /><b>59:15 Living Authentically</b><br /><b>01:00:17 The Role of Nature</b><br /><b>01:04:49 Manifesting and Sovereignty</b><br /><b>01:10:33 The Power of Frequency and Connection</b><br /><b>01:23:06 Final Thoughts and Farewell</b><br /><b>01:25:41 Natural Remedies and Self-Sufficiency</b>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/62696474</guid><pubDate>Mon, 11 Nov 2024 21:30:28 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/62696474/caroline_hurry_episode_2_audio.mp3" length="87643150" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Jill Woodworth</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode of 'Conversations with Friends,' host Jill Woodworth talks with Caroline Hurry, a seasoned journalist and author known for her unique voice that blends humor, insight, and a touch of irreverence, born of deep lived experience. They...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[<b>In this episode of 'Conversations with Friends,' host Jill Woodworth talks with Caroline Hurry, a seasoned journalist and author known for her unique voice that blends humor, insight, and a touch of irreverence, born of deep lived experience. They discuss Caroline's journey through journalism and travel writing, her life in South Africa, and the experiences that fuel her storytelling. The conversation covers Caroline's latest book, 'The Rooster Diaries,' which blends her lived experiences with fictional elements to explore raising chickens and the broader themes of self-sovereignty, human connection, and navigating a bewildering world. The discussion also touches on the impacts of the COVID deceptions,, the power of dreaming and manifestation, and the importance of living a life true to oneself. The episode wraps up with insights into doing as much as you can where you are with practical homesteading practices.</b><br /><b></b><br /><b>https://carolinehurry.com</b><br /><b>contact Jill: pjlacy6@gmail.com</b><br /><b>https://linktr.ee/jillwoodworth</b><br /><b><br />00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome</b><br /><b>00:45 Caroline's Background and Career</b><br /><b>03:45 Impact of COVID on Caroline's Work</b><br /><b>04:26 Writing and Publishing Journey</b><br /><b>06:20 Navigating Relationships and Sovereignty</b><br /><b>11:12 The Rooster Diaries and Raising Chickens</b><br /><b>17:19 Homesteading and Self-Sufficiency</b><br /><b>36:15 Cannabis and Sovereignty</b><br /><b>47:14 The Absurd Confidence of Roosters</b><br /><b>47:43 Embracing Self-Compassion</b><br /><b>49:07 The Death of Small Talk</b><br /><b>49:50 Sports and Distractions</b><br /><b>52:39 Cultural Beliefs and Old Gods</b><br /><b>56:55 The Power of Placebo</b><br /><b>57:34 Ancestral Wisdom and Evolution</b><br /><b>59:15 Living Authentically</b><br /><b>01:00:17 The Role of Nature</b><br /><b>01:04:49 Manifesting and Sovereignty</b><br /><b>01:10:33 The Power of Frequency and Connection</b><br /><b>01:23:06 Final Thoughts and Farewell</b><br /><b>01:25:41 Natural Remedies and Self-Sufficiency</b>]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>5478</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>author,chickens,conversations,homesteading,roosters,southafrica,sovereignity,sustainability,writer</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/7e6f313e780c9a3ff91da473a0c94c56.jpg"/><itunes:episode>2</itunes:episode><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>CONVERSATIONS WITH FRIENDS, EPISODE 1~TONYA MATTHEWS</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/conversations-with-friends-episode-1-tonya-matthews--62487554</link><description><![CDATA[In the first episode of 'Conversations with Friends', host Jill Woodworth sits down with Tonya Matthews to discuss her profound journey as a passionate, big hearted individual who takes seriously the value of every child. While she is a former foster mom, and that is the majority of what we discuss on this episode, Tonya has had a multitude of lived experience, from which she has learned and grown and continues to operate in many realms. She brings this depth into everything she does. In this interview, Tonya shares her experiences caring for children with significant needs, navigating the intricacies and systemic challenges of the foster care system, and the emotional highs and lows of fostering and adopting. The episode dives into topics such as the impact of faith, maintaining relationships with biological parents, and the resilience required in foster parenting and systemic breakdown and compartmentalization that creates challenges that are not necessarily for the good of anyone involved. Tonya operates with much finesse holding this knowing and working against the grain to do what is right and from the heart. This candid and heartfelt conversation highlights the dedication of foster parents and the lasting impact they have on children's lives.<br /><br />00:00 Introduction to Conversations with Friends<br />02:48 Meet Tonya Matthews: A Former Foster Mom<br />04:46 Tonya's Journey into Foster Care<br />07:04 Challenges and Rewards of Foster Parenting<br />09:34 Navigating the Foster Care System<br />3:57 Advocacy and Systemic Issues<br />22:25 Personal Reflections and Parenting Lessons<br />31:51 Reflecting on Parenting Challenges<br />32:42 Joyful Moments with Foster Babies<br />33:54 Medical Challenges and Learning<br />36:10 Genetic Disorders and Their Impact<br />40:23 Navigating the Foster Care System<br />44:37 Deciding to Adopt<br />52:04 Faith and Community Support<br />56:38 Conclusion and Future Plans]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/62487554</guid><pubDate>Thu, 24 Oct 2024 12:31:35 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/62487554/tonya_matthews_episode_1_audio.mp3" length="56030445" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Jill Woodworth</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In the first episode of 'Conversations with Friends', host Jill Woodworth sits down with Tonya Matthews to discuss her profound journey as a passionate, big hearted individual who takes seriously the value of every child. While she is a former foster...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In the first episode of 'Conversations with Friends', host Jill Woodworth sits down with Tonya Matthews to discuss her profound journey as a passionate, big hearted individual who takes seriously the value of every child. While she is a former foster mom, and that is the majority of what we discuss on this episode, Tonya has had a multitude of lived experience, from which she has learned and grown and continues to operate in many realms. She brings this depth into everything she does. In this interview, Tonya shares her experiences caring for children with significant needs, navigating the intricacies and systemic challenges of the foster care system, and the emotional highs and lows of fostering and adopting. The episode dives into topics such as the impact of faith, maintaining relationships with biological parents, and the resilience required in foster parenting and systemic breakdown and compartmentalization that creates challenges that are not necessarily for the good of anyone involved. Tonya operates with much finesse holding this knowing and working against the grain to do what is right and from the heart. This candid and heartfelt conversation highlights the dedication of foster parents and the lasting impact they have on children's lives.<br /><br />00:00 Introduction to Conversations with Friends<br />02:48 Meet Tonya Matthews: A Former Foster Mom<br />04:46 Tonya's Journey into Foster Care<br />07:04 Challenges and Rewards of Foster Parenting<br />09:34 Navigating the Foster Care System<br />3:57 Advocacy and Systemic Issues<br />22:25 Personal Reflections and Parenting Lessons<br />31:51 Reflecting on Parenting Challenges<br />32:42 Joyful Moments with Foster Babies<br />33:54 Medical Challenges and Learning<br />36:10 Genetic Disorders and Their Impact<br />40:23 Navigating the Foster Care System<br />44:37 Deciding to Adopt<br />52:04 Faith and Community Support<br />56:38 Conclusion and Future Plans]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>3502</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>conversations,dcf,fostercare,friendship,government</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/7738c2cdc4a67bb575d2f4263c5c170d.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item></channel></rss>
