Dream Small Podcast

In this heartfelt and joy-filled episode, Laney takes over the microphone to interview her dad for a special father-daughter conversation about faith, family, and the wild adventure of fostering. From learning patience through parenting to seeing God’s hand in every twist and turn, this candid discussion will inspire you to trust God even when life feels chaotic.

What You’ll Hear About in This Episode:

• How parenting reveals God’s...

In this moving continuation of her story, Bre opens up about what it was like to navigate foster care as a teenager—shifting homes, faiths, and expectations while searching for belonging. She shares the emotional tension of moving between families with vastly different religious beliefs, the impact of being “the new kid” again and again, and the powerful difference one man named Don made through simple, steadfast love.

Jason and Whi...

In this powerful 20th episode of the Dream Small Podcast, Jason and Whitney sit down with their friend Bre, who courageously shares her story of growing up in foster care, navigating trauma, and breaking free from generational cycles.

Bre is the second oldest of eleven siblings and entered foster care as a teenager after years of instability and hardship. In this conversation, she opens up about:

• What it was like to be separated ...

In Episode 19 of the Dream Small Podcast, Jason and Whitney open up about one of the most defining moments of their foster care journey — the return of their “always yes” child.

Years earlier, this little girl had entered their home as a scared toddler, quickly bonding with their family. But in a painful and unexpected turn, the foster care system sent her back home before it was safe, leaving their family grieving a sudden loss wit...

In this episode of the Dream Small Podcast, Jason and Whitney share the incredible story of how God worked through friends, neighbors, and their church community to prepare their family for a brand-new foster placement — a five-week-old baby.

After wrestling with the decision for months and wondering if they were “too old for babies,” Jason and Whitney prayed for clarity. God answered in unmistakable ways: from baby clothes showing ...

In this episode of Dream Small, Jason and Whitney sit down with Clara — their former nanny and long-time family friend — to share a unique perspective that often goes unheard: what it’s like to grow up as a foster sibling.

Clara was only in second grade when her parents became foster parents, and over the years their home welcomed more than 50 children. As the oldest sibling, Clara experienced the ups and downs of foster care in way...

Ever wondered what daily life really looks like for a foster family? In this episode of Dream Small, Jason and Whitney pull back the curtain and share the organized chaos of their home—where visitors include case managers, therapists, guardians ad litem, and more.

A Foster Home is a busy place - where multiple visitors come into your home. This episode will give you a glimpse of some of the visitors. You’ll hear:

• What a DCS Family ...

In this episode of Dream Small, Jason and Whitney welcome their first non-family guest, Michelle, to share her powerful story of fostering and adoption.

Michelle and her husband fostered for 13 years, ultimately adopting five children. Her foster journey began with a surprise call late one night about twins—and what followed was a whirlwind of faith, heartbreak, disruption, and God’s provision.

Michelle opens up about:

• How infertili...

Back-to-school season can be stressful for any family—but for foster and adoptive parents, navigating school can feel especially overwhelming. In this episode of Dream Small, Jason and Whitney share their lived experiences of sending foster kiddos to school and offer practical advice for making the transition smoother.

From choosing the right school and advocating for trauma-informed teachers to preparing children with routines, com...

In this heartwarming and faith-filled episode of the Dream Small Podcast, Jason and Whitney share a week full of unexpected bird-watching, laughter, and incredible “only God” stories from their seven-year foster care journey.

From green heron drama in the front yard to miraculous provisions of strollers, bedrooms, and cribs, each story showcases how God often meets needs before we even know we have them. You’ll hear:

• The saga of ...

In this episode of Dream Small, Jason and Whitney pull back the curtain on what it's really like to prepare for a new foster care placement. Whether you're a brand-new foster parent or just curious about the process, this episode offers a real, relatable, and faith-rooted look into the emotional, mental, and physical preparations that come before that knock on the door.

You’ll hear:

• What emotional rollercoaster to expect when sa...

This week, we’re talking about something that took us over seven years of foster parenting to embrace: respite care. We dive into what respite care is, why it’s essential (not selfish!), and how it can actually strengthen your calling as a foster parent.

You’ll hear:

• Why having “just four kids” felt like a vacation

• The emotional and spiritual cost of fostering

• Why rest is not only okay—it’s biblical

• How respite care prevents burnout...

In this episode of Dream Small, Jason and Whitney take a trip down memory lane, sharing some of their most meaningful, funny, and heartwarming moments from their foster care journey.

From unforgettable smiles to unexpected friendships, this episode is a celebration of how God shows up in the small things. You’ll hear:

• The moment a gummy baby smile turned exhaustion into joy
• The emotional rollercoaster of adoption day
• How a Walmart ...

Let’s be real — fostering and adoption come with a unique set of challenges… and sometimes, even more challenging conversations. In this episode, we share the top awkward, cringey, or unintentionally hurtful things people have said to us as foster and adoptive parents — and we unpack why those comments can be difficult, and how to say something more helpful instead.

We’re talking about real-life phrases we’ve heard like:

• “Are you...

In this real-life conversation about foster care and faith, Jason and Whitney share what it’s looked like for them to love biological parents through their years of foster care. From fear and tension to empathy and friendship, they walk through the emotional and spiritual journey of learning to honor the first families of the children in their care.

Whether you're just starting out in foster care or years into the journey, this ...

In this heartfelt episode of Dream Small, Jason and Whitney open up about one of the most emotionally complex topics in their lives: adoption. With vulnerability and honesty, they reflect on the bittersweet layers of adopting their daughter, in honor of her recent gotcha day anniversary—a celebration marking four years since she officially became part of their family.

💡 Key Themes:

The Dichotomy of Adoption

Adoption is both joyful an...

In Part 2 of our deep dive into the most common objections to foster care, Jason and Whitney bring humor, truth, and lived experience to the table—literally. From “What if it costs too much?” to “What if the child is a different race than me?” they tackle the fears, the practical barriers, and the misconceptions many people wrestle with when considering foster care.

This episode is honest and real, covering topics like:

• Financial...

In this powerful episode of Dream Small, Jason and Whitney dive into the top hesitations people have about foster care. From concerns about their biological children to the fear of getting too attached, they unpack each objection with personal stories, biblical encouragement, and a dose of humor. If you've ever whispered "maybe we could foster…" but were stopped by a "what if," this episode is for you.

What You’ll Hear:

• Why “What...

In this courageous episode of Dream Small, Jason and Whitney welcome a very special guest — their oldest daughter, Delaney “Bug” Small. What starts as a casual, laughter-filled chat in their brand-new “luxury” basement studio quickly blossoms into a deeply moving story of resilience, purpose, and the power of small dreams.

Laney shares how a terrifying medical emergency after a tonsillectomy turned into a personal mission to help ot...