The Forgotten Podcast

On this episode of The Forgotten Podcast, host Jami Kaeb welcomes Mary Perdue—wife of former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue—to share her journey into foster care and her years as the First Lady of Georgia (2003–2011).
Mary shares how fostering newborns awaiting adoption in the late 1990s opened her eyes to the broader foster care system and inspired her to make foster care her primary initiative while in office. She describes the cultural stigma and lack of awareness surrounding the system, her focus on educating communities that there are many ways to help beyond becoming a foster parent, and efforts like Champions for Children that engage businesses, civic groups, and churches.
Additionally, Mary discusses her work in creating Georgia’s Children’s Cabinet to coordinate state agencies serving children. She reflects on lessons of obedience and calling while urging the church to take responsibility for supporting foster children, families, and caseworkers alike.

On this episode of The Forgotten Podcast, Host Jami Kaeb interviews Tony Mitchell, who entered foster care as a newborn, was adopted at age two into a loving but impoverished farm family, and grew up learning work ethic, faith, and integrity. Tony shares learning about his adoption around age 9–10, wrestling with identity and belonging while facing racial isolation and teenage rebellion, and later coming to faith in college after reading the New Testament. In his forties he located his birth mother to thank her for choosing not to terminate the pregnancy, and at 59 he was contacted by the son of his foster family, filling in the missing story of his early years and confirming he was deeply loved. Tony emphasizes gratitude, grounding identity in God, and encourages foster/adoptive parents to never give up, reminding adoptees that God can redeem painful stories for good.

Our guest, Missy Bell, is the Director of San Diego for Olive Crest, an organization dedicated to preventing child abuse by strengthening, equipping, and restoring children and families in crisis one life at a time. In this conversation with Jami, she brings wisdom and insight into common fears parents have when deciding to adopt a teen and how to overcome them.

In this episode host Jami Kaeb and Holly Gnuse sit down together to talk about all things Advocates.
 
What does it mean to be a TFI Advocate? They answer all of our frequently asked questions about the role including things like what's the time commitment, is training provided, and how do I start. Listen in as they share details about how TFI equips advocates just like you, all across the country to care for the vulnerable right where they live.
 
More information on becoming a TFI Advocate: https://theforgotteninitiative.org/become-a-tfi-advocate/
 
Set up a call to learn more: https://calendly.com/mellissa-foster-tfi/learn-more-you-don-t-have-to-foster-to-care?month=2026-01

Join host Jami for a powerful conversation with experienced foster parent and trauma-informed care expert, Tera Melber. Tera, the founder of Resound Trauma Education, brings her extensive background—including a master’s degree in human services counseling and a commitment to integrating faith with the latest interpersonal neurobiology research—to the discussion. She shares her 20-year journey into foster care and adoption, highlighting the realization that parenting a child from early adversity requires a special set of skills and a Christian framework for care that wasn't always readily available.
 
Tera delves into the critical need for a trauma-informed approach to parenting and ministry, illustrating how Jesus himself modeled this connection-based care by avoiding shame and fostering safety, as seen in biblical accounts like the woman at the well and Zacchaeus. She also shifts the focus to the pivotal role of the church, encouraging congregations to move beyond rigid expectations. Instead, she advocates for trauma-aware environments—equipping volunteers with co-regulation tools, like "backpack teams"—to ensure foster and kinship families feel safety, connection, and belonging.
 
Ultimately, Tera’s mission is to combine the research of trauma-informed care with the biblical teachings of Jesus, viewing this work not as a buzzword, but as essential "gospel work." She looks forward to witnessing the church step up to be a unique place of safety, connection, and hope to bring healing and generational change to families navigating the foster care journey.

 
Links:
Learn more at theforgotteninitiative.org
More about guest Tera Melber https://www.facebook.com/p/Resound-Trauma-Education-LLC-61560422615470/