In this episode of The Forgotten Podcast, Host Jami Kaeb sits down with Destiny Brumett, a TFI advocate, foster mother, and former adoptee, to talk about the complexities of adoption, identity, and the power of unconditional love.

Destiny shares her personal adoption story, which began when she was adopted at six months old after being born to a biological mother with special needs. She candidly reflects on navigating open visits, the internal struggle of balancing deep love with feelings of loss, and how childhood anxiety led to severe adolescent struggles with mental health and substance abuse. Destiny highlights how her adoptive parents consistently demonstrated grace and unwavering support, even during periods of intense rebellion.

Throughout the conversation, Destiny reflects on her ultimate surrender to God, the profound healing she experienced, and how her past pain transformed into her purpose. She discusses her current work as a foster parent and her ministry speaking to high-risk youth, offering hope to teenagers navigating their own difficult paths.

This episode is an encouraging reminder that faithful love and divine redemption can rewrite a story and bring lasting hope.

About the Guest

Destiny Brumett is a TFI advocate, a mother of two with one on the way, and a foster mother to one child. Adopted as an infant, she uses her lived experience to mentor at-risk youth, helping them build resilience and develop healthy relationships.

Her passion for foster care and youth advocacy is rooted in her own journey of adoption, healing, and faith, alongside the unconditional love modeled by her adoptive family.

In This Episode

• Navigating open visits with a biological mother who had special needs

• The hidden anxiety and loss that can accompany adoption stories

• How adolescent struggles with addiction impacted her family

• The transformative power of unconditional love and parental grace

• Destiny's journey of faith, healing, and surrendering to God at age 24

• How her past experiences led her to foster care and mentoring youth

Resources + Links
Learn more about The Forgotten Initiative https://theforgotteninitiative.org/
Learn more about what a TFI Advocate does https://www.instagram.com/theforgotteninitiative/

In this episode of The Forgotten Podcast, host Jami Kaeb welcomes back Dr. Mary Ann McMillan, a former foster youth, adoptee, author, speaker, and follower of Christ. Rejoining the show after previously sharing her story on Episode 243, Dr. Mary Ann dives deep into the concept of resilience—a word frequently used to describe adoptees and former foster youth. She redefines resilience not as a rigid expectation to tough things out or be strong alone, but as an ongoing, lifelong journey of choosing to heal, accepting weakness, and allowing oneself to be soft.

Dr. Mary Ann opens up about the pressure of feeling forced to live up to the "strong" label throughout her life, which often made her feel like a failure whenever she experienced normal human emotions. She discusses how therapy and her faith helped her embrace her tender, empathetic nature, step into her authentic voice, and reject the perfectionist trap of having to carry everyone else's burdens. She also highlights the distinct weight of emotional and verbal abuse, explaining how those harmful voices often linger long after physical safety has been established.

The conversation offers crucial insights for adults, churches, and caregivers who support youth from hard places. Dr. Mary Ann advocates for mandatory trauma-informed training for children's ministry leaders and emphasizes the importance of ongoing support for adoptive families well beyond adoption day. She encourages listeners—especially those navigating past trauma—to reject isolation, establish healthy boundaries with friends and family, and lean on safe community, prayer, and professional support to experience true, directional healing.

About the Guest

Dr. Mary Ann McMillan is a former foster youth, adoptee, speaker, and author who is passionate about integrating spiritual formation with therapeutic insight. Placed in foster care at five months old and later adopted alongside her sister at age six, she offers honest, theologically rooted conversations around adoption, foster care, orphan care reform, and human rights. Dr. Mary Ann is the author of Bridging Resilience: A Guide to Healing and regularly speaks at churches, universities, and conferences.

In This Episode

Redefining resilience as a lifelong journey of healing rather than an obligation to be tough or carry burdens alone.

The pressure adoptees face from the "strong" label and how embracing softness and vulnerability fosters emotional wholeness.

The lasting impact of verbal and emotional abuse compared to physical trauma, and the process of replacing lingering lies with truth.

Why churches and children's ministry leaders need trauma-informed training to create safe, supportive environments for foster and adoptive families.

Resources + Links

Learn more about The Forgotten Initiative - https://theforgotteninitiative.org/

Follow TFI on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theforgotteninitiative/

Uncovering Your Story as a Former Foster Youth (Ep. 243 w/ Dr. Mary Ann McMillan) - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-243-uncovering-your-story-as-a-former/id1106738239?i=1000662962717

Bridging Resilience: A Guide to Healing by Dr. Mary Ann McMillan - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D1X3YJ8P

In this episode of The Forgotten Podcast, host Jami Kaeb welcomes Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, a board-certified internal medicine physician, bestselling author, and internationally recognized expert on rest, resilience, and wellbeing. Together, they explore the critical concept of sacred rest and why it is essential, rather than a luxury, for caregivers and foster parents supporting children from hard places. Dr. Saundra redefines rest as a restorative process of pouring back into places of emotional, mental, and physical depletion, explaining the spiritual truth that we ultimately rest at the level of our trust in God.

Dr. Saundra breaks down the key differences between sleep and rest, emphasizing that while sleep addresses basic physical needs, it cannot heal depleted relationships, process heavy emotions, or restore creative problem-solving abilities. She introduces her Seven Types of Rest framework—encompassing physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, social, sensory, and creative rest—and shares how caregivers can identify their specific deficits. The conversation also examines the World Health Organization's criteria for burnout and offers practical ways to begin recovering without needing to create extra time, such as habit stacking restorative practices onto daily routines.

The episode highlights the importance of distinguishing true self-care and personal boundaries from pampering, as well as setting up intentional rhythms like Sabbath or extended abiding time to prevent burnout. Dr. Saundra encourages weary listeners by reminding them that burnout is entirely reversible when approached with intentionality. By starting with small, daily restorative choices, caregivers can replenish their own soul and spirit, ensuring they remain sustainable in the vital work of loving and serving vulnerable children.

About the Guest

Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith is a board-certified internal medicine physician, bestselling author, and internationally recognized expert on rest, resilience, and wellbeing. She is the creator of the Seven Types of Rest framework and author of Sacred Rest, equipping audiences worldwide with practical tools to overcome burnout, increase productivity, and achieve sustainable success. Through her unique blend of medical research and biblical wisdom, Dr. Saundra empowers individuals to thrive both personally and professionally.

In This Episode

Understanding sacred rest as a restorative process and why we rest at the level of our trust in God.

The critical distinctions between sleep and the Seven Types of Rest framework.

Identifying the signs of burnout and using simple habits like habit stacking to restore energy without adding extra time to your day.

Differentiating genuine self-care and intentional rhythms from pampering to build long-term sustainability as a caregiver.

Resources + Links

Learn more about The Forgotten Initiative - https://theforgotteninitiative.org/

Follow TFI on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theforgotteninitiative/