The Aging Out Podcast

Hosted by The Field Center for Children’s Policy, Practice & Research

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Episodes

100

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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About the show

This monthly podcast series, hosted by the Field Center for Children’s Policy, Practice & Research at the University of Pennsylvania, explores resources and strategies that are effective in helping older youth in foster care prepare for aging out of the system and transitioning into adulthood. The Field Center’s Aging Out Podcast is funded in part by a generous grant from the University of Pennsylvania’s Trustees’ Council of Penn Women. To support our podcast, go to www.fieldcenteratpenn.org and click on “Support Us”. Thank you!

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60 recent

August 11, 2026Episode 12236 min

Episode 16: Interview with Tamalani Barnett, CEO of RaisingHOPE (Thousand Oaks, CA)

In this August 2026 episode, MSSP intern Taryn Painter interviews Tamalani (Tami) Barnett, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of RaisingHOPE. Tami shares her journey to becoming a nonprofit leader after years of legal advocacy for children and youth in California’s foster care system. She details how RaisingHOPE supports emerging adults’ own stated needs through innovative and complementary programs spanning transportation and housing assistance, youth mentoring, and life skills courses. She discusses future plans to expand RaisingHOPE’s programming, including a visionary residential project called “Hope Sweet Home,” and what it means for RaisingHOPE to have been selected as a 2025 Flame Award recipient by The RightWay Foundation’s Aging Out Awards.

July 13, 2026Episode 12150 min

Episode 15: Interview with Romi Lassally and Julia Reitsma of Ready to Succeed (Los Angeles, CA)

In this July 2026 episode, MSW intern Jasleen Virk interviews Romi Lassally, Co-Founder and CEO, and Julia Reitsma, Grants & Partnerships Manager, of Ready to Succeed. Together, they work to support young people who have aged out of foster care by providing mentorship, skill building, professional development and financial support. Julia opens the conversation by sharing her lived experience in the foster care system, discussing how children in care lack consistent community that helps them after aging out. Romi highlights the deficit in resources supporting youth exiting care as they transition from college to career and beyond. Ready to Succeed uniquely focuses on increasing social capital, noting that connecting youth with industry leaders strongly benefits their personal and professional growth. Please be advised that this episode contains discussions of suicide and may be distressing for some listeners.

June 9, 2026Episode 12024 min

Episode 14: Interview with Tera Hilliard, CEO of Forgotten Children, Inc. (Los Angeles, CA)

In this June 2026 episode, MSS intern Cheri Mitchell interviews Tera Hilliard, President and CEO of Forgotten Children, Inc. Tera recounts her journey from foster care to advocacy, shedding light on pressing challenges for youth who age out of foster care such as trafficking, homelessness, and trauma. Forgotten Children, Inc. responds to these needs by providing emergency housing, food, transportation, and case management, focusing especially on vulnerable teens. Tera underscores how mentorship and adult support can transform lives. She talks about the value of community funding, training, and partnerships, advocating for every young person to be met with dignity, respect, and personalized care to nurture true healing and independence.

May 12, 2026Episode 11939 min

Episode 13: Interview with Greg Rapport, Executive Director of Age Out Angels (Trenton, NJ)

In this May 2026 episode, MSSP intern Saadhya Bahudodda interviews Greg Rapport, founder and Executive Director of Age Out Angels. Greg shares his journey from a writing services career to leading a nonprofit focused on helping youth in foster care transition to independence. He discusses the importance of mentorship, innovative educational programs, and trauma-informed care in supporting these young individuals. The conversation highlights the challenges faced by youth aging out of the foster care system and the organization’s efforts to provide practical solutions for financial well-being and educational success. Greg also emphasizes the need for systemic improvements and the significance of Foster Care Awareness Month.

April 14, 2026Episode 11841 min

Episode 12: Interview with Lee Marshall, Founder and CEO of Kids to Love (Madison, AL)

In this April 2026 episode, MSSP intern Saadhya Bahudodda interviews Lee Marshall, founder and CEO of Kids to Love, a nonprofit dedicated to addressing the immediate needs of youth in foster care while creating long-term pathways to stability. Drawing on her lived experience of being born into foster care and her career in television journalism, Lee shares how both her personal and professional journeys led her to this work. She highlights programming including scholarships, workforce preparation through the K-Tech Initiative, trauma-informed mental health services, and transitional housing. For this invaluable work, the organization won the 2025 Aging Out Award for the Mid-Large Organization Category. Throughout the conversation, Lee emphasizes the need for community collaboration and innovative, wraparound programming to ensure that youth aging out of foster care have the resources and stability needed to thrive.

March 13, 2026Episode 11735 min

Episode 11: Interview with Tim Pippert, Executive Director and Savannah Mitchell, Graduate Assistant, of Augsburg Family Scholars (Minneapolis, MN)

In this March 2026 episode, MSW intern Jasleen Virk interviews Tim Pippert and Savannah Mitchell of Augsburg Family Scholars, a campus-based program at Augsburg University to support students who have lived experience in the foster care system. Tim developed Augsburg Family Scholars for young people with foster care backgrounds to find community and support on their education journey. Savannah highlights the Fostering Independence Grant, an initiative in Minnesota that pays for the cost of college tuition for students with foster care experience to reduce disparities faced by this population when pursuing higher education. Augsburg Family Scholars’ holistic approach provides financial resources, academic mentoring, and community building to student participants.

February 10, 2026Episode 11639 min

Episode 10: Interview with Maddy Day, co-Founder of Fostering Academic Achievement Nationwide

In this February 2026 episode, MSS intern Cheri Mitchell interviews Maddy Day, Proprietor and Senior Consultant of Maddy Day, LLC & Associates, and co-Founder and co-Chair of FAAN (Fostering Academic Achievement Nationwide). Influenced by her family’s deep ties to child welfare, Maddy gained early insight into the realities facing non‑traditional families. Her career path ultimately led to the creation of FAAN in 2016, a network that grew from informal cross‑state conversations among practitioners that now includes more than twenty states. Maddy’s journey and FAAN’s expansion underscore the impact of connection, reliable data, persistent advocacy, and the importance of listening to students in creating equitable educational pathways for youth with experience in foster care.

January 13, 2026Episode 11535 min

Episode 9: Interview with Zach Blend, CEO of the Goshen Valley Foundation (Cherokee County, GA)

In this January 2026 episode, MSS intern Cheri Mitchell interviews Zach Blend, Chief Executive Officer of the Goshen Valley Foundation located in Cherokee County, GA. Zach shares his child welfare wisdom and experiences caring for youth in foster care as they prepare to age out of the system. Goshen New Beginnings, an independent living program on Goshen Valley’s campus, plays an integral part in this transition to adulthood. The program enables young people to continue their time in care until age 21, helps them develop relational confidence to connect with adult supports in a healthy and trustworthy way, and provides opportunities to learn the skills of daily living.

December 10, 2025Episode 11427 min

Episode 8: Interview with Alyssa Dennison-Glasgow, Regional Program Director at Olive Crest (Las Vegas, NV)

In this December 2025 episode, MSSP intern Saadhya Bahudodda interviews Alyssa Dennison-Glasgow, regional program director at Olive Crest in Las Vegas. Alyssa discusses how her early experiences working in juvenile justice and child advocacy shaped her commitment to supporting youth and families and ultimately led her to Olive Crest. She highlights the organization’s Teen and Young Adult Independent Living Program, which won the 2024 Aging Out Institute’s Small Program award. This unique program provides housing, life-skills coaching, and savings-building opportunities for young people aging out of foster care. Throughout the conversation, Alyssa emphasizes the importance of external mentorship, consistent community partnerships, and individualized support, demonstrating that effective aging-out programs rely on strong, collaborative networks to help young people thrive.

November 13, 2025Episode 11341 min

Episode 7: Interview with Jamie Bennett, Executive Director of Cetera (Tampa, FL)

In this November 2025 episode, MSW intern Jasleen Virk interviews Jamie Bennett, co-founder and executive director of Cetera. Jamie shares her personal foster care journey and how it fueled her passion to advocate for young people in foster care. She believes that relationship building is a cornerstone to supporting youths’ well-being and highlights the importance of connections with consistent and trustworthy adults. Jamie also discusses the Fostering Success Coaching Institute, an innovative person-centered service that incorporates youth voice and evidence-based research to train professionals working with youth in foster care. Jamie is dedicated to supporting young people nationwide by increasing their visibility and meaningfully incorporating their voices where it matters.