Foster Tales

On today's episode, I am joined by Mikey Doucet who is a foster care advocate and content creator of the Youtube Series "Divided Voices". You can find out more about Mikey and his web series on Youtube, Instagram, and Facebook @MikeyDoucet

On today's episode, the roles are reversed. I, Randal Wells, am being interviewed by my Season 3 guest (and best friend), Teagen Rose. From 3 seasons of doing this podcast, there are so many questions that you all had about who I was, and while I have shared some of my story throughout, some of you requested to learn more about me.

Randal Wells is a remarkable individual who has triumphed over immense adversity to become a singer, songwriter, entertainment professional, and a passionate advocate for Foster Care.

Born in Bridgeport, CT, Randal's early life was marked by hardship as he, along with his mother and grandmother, had to flee their home to escape his abusive father's battle with alcoholism. Tragically, at the tender age of 6, Randal lost his mother to breast cancer and was thrusted into the child welfare system, leading to a tumultuous adolescence filled with frequent moves from one foster home to another.

Throughout these challenging years, Randal faced the unjust label of a juvenile delinquent and found himself in multiple correctional facilities, never residing in one place for more than two years. Even his grandmother, who cared deeply for him, felt she was unable to provide the stability he needed. In the midst of this turbulent journey, Randal discovered solace in the art of creating and writing music.

At the age of 15, Randal found himself in a low-security group home, where he would eventually age out of the foster care system and embark on his mission to advocate for foster youth. The living conditions were deplorable, forcing Randal to take medication to suppress his appetite. Undeterred, he would travel long distances, enduring a three-bus commute to school while working part-time jobs. Remarkably, he maintained a stellar 4.4 GPA and emerged as a leader within various school organizations.

Randal's advocacy journey began when he volunteered as a local representative for Florida's State Youth Advisory Board, a coalition of foster youth from every county in the state. These young advocates participated in initiatives and projects that informed and impacted Florida's government and political leaders. Randal's dedication and leadership skills led to his election as the President of the State Youth Advisory Board of Florida. In this role, he tirelessly represented every foster youth in the state during congressional and legislative sessions. During his tenure, Randal played a pivotal role in lobbying for and ultimately passing Florida's "Road to Independence Act," which extended foster youth benefits from age 21 to 23, impacting thousands of foster youth every year.

During the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, Randal's passion for advocacy led him to launch the Foster Tales Podcast. Collaborating with guest speakers and fellow advocates, he brought the foster care experience to a global audience. Foster Tales resonated with people worldwide, streaming in over 27 different countries and earning recognition as one of the top podcasts in its genre. Randal's dedication did not go unnoticed, as Foster More honored him with the title of Content Creator of the Year for his impactful online presence and advocacy work on behalf of foster youth around the globe.

Today, Randal holds a prominent corporate position in the entertainment industry, a testament to his unwavering determination and resilience. He continues to create and release inspiring music, all while serving as a content creator, mentor, and a passionate community activist. Randal Wells embodies the spirit of overcoming adversity and using one's journey to inspire and uplift others on their path to success.

To learn more about me:

@IamRandalWells on all social media account

Randal Wells on Apple Music, Spotify, and Alexa

@FosterTalesPodcast on FB and Instagram

On today's episode, I am joined by Forrest Lang, the author of "Angel Blue: a Song of Redemption". Forrest's book, centers around his experiences in foster care and serving the military in Iraq. Our conversation is one of reflection and direction. We discuss what inspired his journey into writing, and create a realistic narrative of unpacking trauma after being in care. 

To order a copy of Angle Blue, you can head over to http://www.angelbluebook.com or visit his social media @AngelBlueBook

Just seconds into the conversation, you can tell Baiinga's energy is infectious. Baiinga is an amazing creative, actor, writer, producer, role-model, and so much more. He is proof that not all foster care stories end in tragedy. Baiinga has taken his talents and partnered with Kids in the Spotlight, an organization that is helping foster youth heal & grow through the power of storytelling and filmmaking. Through our conversation, we learn about his goals and aspirations in Hollywood, and how he is combining his passion with lived experience. 

You can follow Baiinga on social media @BaiingaB and to learn more about Kids in the Spotlight, you can head to http://www.kitsinc.org

Today I am joined by the self-proclaimed "Educated Chingona" , better known as, Sandra. This San Diego native, is using her social media platform to create community, empower, educate, and inspire. We dive into some of her upbringing, and how she fell in love with the education system. Sandra provides us solutions for the future of foster care, and how small changes, can make for big impact. 

You can follow Sandra on her social media on Instagram @EducatedChingona and @Chingonaology

David Ambroz is a child advocate, former foster youth, and the amazing author behind "A Place Called Home". In today's episode, we unpack many of themes in his memoir, and David provides us some simple solutions on how to impact change and bring awareness to Foster Care, by simply donating your small talk. You can learn more about David and "A Place Called Home" at https://www.davidambroz.com 

David is also the co-founder of Foster More. Foster More is one of the largest foster care advocacy groups in the country. To learn more about this amazing organization you can head to https://fostermore.org

Under Florida law, a guardian ad litem is a court-appointed representative, who is tasked with acting as the "next friend of the child." Today, I am joined by Dario, who is an active Guardian ad litem in the state of Florida. He gives us insight into why he joined this organization, and how his small investment, is yielding big results for the foster youth where he presides. To learn more about the GAL (Guardian Ad Litem) program head over to https://guardianadlitem.org and also Voices for Children at beavoice.org.

Dario would like to give a special shout to Melissa for connecting the dots and I’d be remised if I didn’t give a shoutout to my girlfriend Vicky for begging me to make this interview happen. Also large thank you to Old Navy for their back to school giveaway.

On the season 3 premiere, I am joined by actor and fitness coach, Teagen Rose. Teagen grew up in an adoptive transracial home. He tells us more about his upbringing, what foster care taught him, and how those experiences molded him into the role model that he is today. To learn more about Teagen, you can follow him on social media @TeagenRose or visit his website, http://www.teagenrose.com

When I started Foster Tales, I wanted to make sure I was able to highlight some amazing success stories of those who lived through foster care. Charity Chandler-Cole is not only a former-foster youth, but also a mother, a community leader, and the CEO of CASA LA CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate. Charity and I discuss what her upbringing was like and how she was able to find solace in some of her darkest moments. We also speak to how she got to become a CEO and what she views as the future of foster care. To learn more about CASA LA you can visit https://www.casala.org or on Instagram @CASA.LA

Randal Wells hosts the Foster Tales podcast. Foster Tales is ranked in the top 10 of all Foster Care and Adoption podcasts throughout the world. Please like and subscribe. Make sure to leave a rating wherever you are listening to this podcast. If you have a guest in mind, please e-mail fostertalespodcast@gmail.com

On today's episode, I am joined by singer/songwriter D.R. Bridges. D.R.'s adoptive parent, housed a number of foster children through his upbringing. We discuss how his experience of interracial adoption shaped his world views and how he is looking to pay it forward in the future. To find out more about D.R., you can follow him on Instagram @D.R.Bridges

Ángela Quijada-Banks is an NAACP Image awards nominated, best-selling Author, Spoken word Artist and Holistic Purpose coach. Our discussion, ventures into what inspired her book, 'The Black Foster Youth Handbook". To learn more about Ángela and her work, head over to www.originalsoulflower.com or on Instagram @originalsoulflower 

Today, I am joined by Franco Vega of the RightWay Foundation. The RightWay foundation is non-profit in Los Angeles, CA that provides former foster youth resources to succeed. Through his own personal experiences in foster care, Franco is able to articulate how his career path became his life's purpose. To find out more information about The RightWay foundation head over to http://www.therightwayfoundation.org or on Instagram @therightwayfoundation

Today, I am joined by Julia, who recently completed the Half Ironman Triathlon and raised money for Foster Nation. Julia was placed into the foster care system at 15. She was separated from her 6 siblings. We discuss the impact these events had on her life, and how she's able to process what she lived through today. You can connect with Julia on IG @Juju_rose7

On Today's episode, I am speaking with Professor, Author, and Activist, Christian Greene. Christian grew up in foster-care in California. He wrote a book about his life experiences, about how he literally went from custody and became a graduate of UCLA. He is now is actively working with several organizations on behalf of Foster Kids everywhere. You can connect with Christian on IG at @christian423 and his book "Uncovering Your Worth: From Legal Custody to UCLA" is available online for purchase. Also, you can visit www.cancelthecontract.com 

Jayde, grew up in care, with her sister, Chy (Previous Episode: Tale of 2 Sisters, Part 1). This episode is an honest depiction of how the foster-care system works. Jayde's story is nothing short of incredible. She's been placed in every living arrangement imaginable. She's survived every type of abuse. While her childhood was not easy, now as an adult, she's unpacking what happened to her, and giving us an honest dialogue about what her life and experiences were. 

To connect with A Sense of home you can go to: asenseofhome.org

Chy Mellow has gone from Foster Care to Fashion Model. Her upbringing wasn't the easiest. She's now using her platform to spread awareness and speak out about her personal experiences, while in care. She grew up with another sibling, Jayde, who you will hear from in Part 2. If you want to connect with CHY on IG, her handle is @Chy_mellow.

In the Season 1 Finale, I am talking with Chey. Chey is the founder of Jenni's Flower (Jennisflower.org). Chey, explains what connects her to the Foster Care World, and how she was unaware her upbringing made her eligible for scholarships, funding, and benefits. She talks about the different programs made available to her. Also, she talks about her partnership with the UCLA Pritzker Center and the work that she is doing to help benefit foster youth before they enter the system. If you want to follow Chey on Instagram, you can find her @_cheycatherine

Today, I am joined by Victor Manalo of Downey Cares Collaborative. We speak about the importance of mentorship in the Foster Care Community and the launch of Operation Jumpstart in Downey, CA. Victor goes into detail about the program, and we have a dialogue regarding making real lasting change in the community through small interactive changes. You can learn more about Victor's organization and background at VictorManalo.com

Foster Tales is shining a light on those who have lived through, survived, and experienced the Foster Care, Adoption, and Child Welfare system first-hand. Hosted by Randal Wells. Randal interviews Program Director, Tanisha Merriweather of Turning Point, a non-profit community-based organization providing re-entry services to residents who were recently released from jail or prison reeneter society, within the city and county of Los Angeles, California. You can learn more at https://turningpointaod.com

Randal Wells hosts the Foster Tales podcast. Foster Tales is ranked in the top 10 of all Foster Care and Adoption podcasts throughout the world. Please like and subscribe. Make sure to leave a rating wherever you are listening to this podcast. If you have a guest in mind, please e-mail fostertalespodcast@gmail.com