Episodes 26
Avg. Duration 52m
Activity Highly Active
Apple Rating 5.0 (11)
Since Aug 2025
Latest Episode Mar 2026

Publishing Details

Schedule
Weekly
Format
Episodic
Consistency
62%
Hosting
api.riverside.fm

Contact & Outreach

About This Podcast

Change the Story Podcast — where we bring real stories from those who know the child welfare system best. We aim to give a voice to the silenced, exposing the truth, raising awareness, changing the narrative, and fostering true hope.

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Recent Episodes

Ep. 25 - Strangers Became Family: How Safe Families USA Gave A New Start To a Single Mom

Mar 31, 2026 40m Transcript

Alexis joins us on the podcast today!Five years ago, Alexis found herself in the middle of an unplanned pregnancy. She wanted to keep the baby and felt like her deepest dream was coming true -…

Ep. 24-Safe Families Empowered This Church to Practice Biblical Hospitality (feat. Justin Peterson)

Mar 25, 2026 47m Transcript

Justin Peterson joins us on the podcast today!Justin helped plant Table Community Church, a church based in Oregon that, from the very beginning, wanted to practice radical, biblical hospitality in…

Ep. 23 - This Isn’t Working: 15 Years Inside Washington’s Child Welfare System

Mar 18, 2026 55m Transcript

Kaila joins us on the podcast today!Kaila shares with us the story of her family adopting and fostering 5 children in the span of 15 years all from the same mother, a cousin in her family struggling…

Ep. 22 - Holding the Line: Faith, Courage, and Adoption in Changing Culture (feat. Zeke Bambolo)

Mar 11, 2026 1h 14m Transcript

Ezechiel 'Zeke' Bambolo joins us on the podcast today!Zeke is the current Executive Director of Antioch Adoptions (https://antiochadoptions.org/), an adoption agency based out of Washington state…

Ep. 21 - Beauty from Ashes: The Scars of Child Abuse and the Hope of Adoption (feat. Sarah Strode)

Feb 25, 2026 1h 11m

Sarah Strode joins us on the podcast today!Sarah has been a foster parent in Washington State for the past 17 years. She has 8 children, including 5 adopted children with special needs. One of her…

Ep. 20 - Are We Protecting Parents More Than Kids? (feat. Rep. Alicia Rule)

Feb 18, 2026 30m

Representative Alicia Rule joins us on the podcast today!After beginning her career as a social worker over 20 years ago, Rep. Rule has dedicated her life and work to helping better family services…

Ep. 19 - Inside the System: How Laws & Race Policies Hurt Kids (feat. Jyasmine Lane)

Feb 11, 2026 1h 12m

What does it really look like inside the foster care system—and what happens when laws prioritize policy over child safety?Jyasmine Lane gives us an inside look on the podcast today!Jyasmine is a…

Ep. 18 - Rising from Tragedy: A Survivor's Fight for Child Safety (feat. Suzanne Timms)

Feb 04, 2026 46m

Note: This episode contains highly sensitive topicsSuzanne Timms joins us on the podcast today!At 3 years old, Suzanne (then Dallas Otto) witnessed the tragedy of seeing her parents in a physical…

Ep. 17 - More Courage at the Capitol, Less Caskets for Kids (feat. Rep. Josh Penner)

Jan 28, 2026 24m

Representative Josh Penner joins us on the podcast today!A lifelong resident of Washington State, Penner has served formally served as mayor of Orting, WA from 2018 until the end of 2025, when he was…

Ep. 16 - Keepings Kids Safe: A Call to Action to Protect Children (feat. Tracie Jefferson)

Jan 06, 2026 44m

Tracie Jefferson - foster mom, physician’s assistant, and child advocate - joins us on the podcast today!In the past year, Tracie has lead the charge on several campaigns on conversations to help…

Ep. 15 - Social Workers Speak Out: HB 1227's Impact on Children, Part 2 (feat. Jeanette Obelcz)

Dec 31, 2025 1h 7m

Jeanette Oblecz, a supervisor, social worker, and union rep in Washington state, joins us for Part 2 on the podcast today! In this episode, Jeanette shares with us how HB 1227 has fulfilled its duty,…

Ep. 14 - Social Workers Speak Out: HB 1227's Impact on Children, Part 1 (feat. Jeanette Obelcz)

Dec 16, 2025 1h 6m

Jeanette Oblecz, social worker and union rep in Washington state, joins us on the podcast today!Jeanette shares with us the behind-the-scenes of the making of HB 1227, including the explicit…

Ep. 13 - From Neglect to New Beginning: "Adoption Changed My Life" (feat. Stephanie Hanna)

Dec 02, 2025 34m

We have a very special guest joining us in the studio today- Jessica's daughter, Stephanie Hanna!Stephanie was adopted into the Hanna family after a short stint as a temporary foster placement.…

Ep. 12 - The Paper Tigers Principal: Breakthrough in Trauma-Informed Education

Nov 20, 2025 58m

Jim Sporleder, a former special education teacher turned administrator, joins us on the podcast today! In this episode, Jim shares the story of how he himself was a "behavior problem" through school…

Ep. 11 - Removed & Rescued: A Child's Story from Abuse to Adoption

Nov 12, 2025 44m

"Annie" joins us on the podcast today as she shares the story of "Kit", her now adopted daughter. At only 3 years old, "Kit" had already experienced physical & sexual abuse, homelessness, near…

Ep. 10 A Heart To Care: From Labor & Delivery Nurse To Foster Mom & Advocate

Nov 04, 2025 49m

Jamie Williams joins us on the podcast today as we discuss early intervention, the stories she saw as a nurse working with drug-addicted newborns, her own fostering story, and her insight on what…

Ep. 9 - Washington in Crisis: The Ombuds Report on Soaring Fatalities

Oct 29, 2025 49m

Patrick Dowd, the director of the Office of the Family and Children's Ombuds, joins us today to discuss the complexities of child welfare currently happening in Washington State, including the…

Ep 8 - House Bill 1227: Risking Children's Safety in Foster Care Visitation (feat. Angela Kraemer)

Oct 14, 2025 1h 31m

Angela Kraemer joins us on the podcast today as she shares her personal story with foster care and what inspired her to found a private agency that helps transport foster care children for their…

Ep 7 - Foster Care, Fentanyl, and Child Safety Failure (feat. Kristina Johnson)

Sep 30, 2025 54m

Kristina Johnson joins us on the podcast today as we talk about the drastic changes that have happened in Washington State over the last five years in regards to foster care, the devastating results…

Ep 6 - Baby Bianca: When Reunification Turns Tragic

Sep 25, 2025 45m

Listener Discretion: This episode contains mention of infant sexual abuse, starvation, and infant death.Amanda Ross joins us on the podcast today as she shares the story of sweet Baby Bianca, a…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Change The Story have?

Change The Story has published 26 episodes since August 2025, covering topics in Documentary, Kids & Family.

Is Change The Story still active?

Change The Story is currently highly active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 52m.

How do I contact Change The Story for sponsorship or guest appearances?

Sign up on Grep.FM to access contact details for Change The Story, including email and social media links.

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