Wards of the State
Karlos Dillard, Author, Speaker, and Lived Experience Foster Care Advocate host this illuminative show about the truth of the foster care system. Joined weekly by former foster youth and adoptees, Karlos and his guest will shine a light on what it really is like being in the foster care and adoption systems. Karlos has a background in entertainment and production, so expect this show to be real, eye-opening, and sometimes funny. If you are a former foster youth and would like to share your experience with the foster system please email me karlos.r.dillard@gmail.com
Episodes
May 5, 2025 • 91 mins
Hey Lightshiners! In this engaging conversation, Karlos Dillard and Dr. Cree explore the importance of building relationships and support systems for youth, particularly those in foster care. They discuss the significance of creating safe spaces, effective communication, and the role of structure and boundaries in fostering healthy development. Dr. Cree shares insights from her experiences and emphasizes the need for adults to be o...
Mark as Played
March 27, 2025 • 48 mins
Hey, Light Shiners! I am joined by Jasmine, a foster youth who shares her experience. She also speaks to us about what it is like being a kinship caregiver herself!
Watch the Video Podcast
Join me for the “Bring the Light to Truth Book Tour 2025!
If you would like to be on the show, please sign up here
Watch the Video Podcast
Join me for the “Bring the Light to Truth Book Tour 2025!
If you would like to be on the show, please sign up here
Mark as Played
February 27, 2025 • 63 mins
Hey Light Shiners! I am joined by Hart, who is a pre-birth match adoptee who is joined by their biological brother Michael. They speak about how reunification has been for them and Hart speaks about having a net-positive adoption, but still feeling the loss of their sibling
Watch the Video Podcast!
Join me for the “Bring the Light to Truth Book Tour 2025!
If you would like to be on the show, please sign up here
Please help us keep sh...
Watch the Video Podcast!
Join me for the “Bring the Light to Truth Book Tour 2025!
If you would like to be on the show, please sign up here
Please help us keep sh...
Mark as Played
February 4, 2025 • 40 mins
Hey Light Shiners! I am joined by Jasmine a former foster youth who has just aged out of foster care. She speaks about life in group homes and how she made a plan to make it out of the system without being institutionalized.
Watch the Video Podcast HERE!
Check me out on Patreon and get 1 on 1 time to get your questions answered!
If you would like to be on the show please sign up HERE!
Please help us keep shining light on the truths o...
Watch the Video Podcast HERE!
Check me out on Patreon and get 1 on 1 time to get your questions answered!
If you would like to be on the show please sign up HERE!
Please help us keep shining light on the truths o...
Mark as Played
January 24, 2025 • 64 mins
Hey Light Shiners! I am joined by Lisa an adoptee who didn’t find out she was adopted until she was 7 or 8. She also shares about the abuse she survived at the hands of her stepbrother. We share reunification stories and end the podcast with advice for one another.
Watch the Video Podcast! https://www.youtube.com/@KarlosDillard
www.patreon.com/user?u=45714095&fan_landing=true
If you would like to be on the show please fill sign...
Watch the Video Podcast! https://www.youtube.com/@KarlosDillard
www.patreon.com/user?u=45714095&fan_landing=true
If you would like to be on the show please fill sign...
Mark as Played
January 14, 2025 • 50 mins
Hey Light Shiners! I am joined by MGD a former foster youth. She speaks about her struggle with her identity and how a DNA test helps discover who she truly is.
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If you would like to be on the show please fill sign up here
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeZwdv6RQrI49p0kqtzBblV5eQIGAE81dV3Ey3ZQRgmWOeS1A/viewform?usp=preview
Please help us keep shining light on the truths o...
www.patreon.com/user?u=45714095&fan_landing=true
If you would like to be on the show please fill sign up here
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeZwdv6RQrI49p0kqtzBblV5eQIGAE81dV3Ey3ZQRgmWOeS1A/viewform?usp=preview
Please help us keep shining light on the truths o...
Mark as Played
December 31, 2024 • 67 mins
Hey Light Shiners! I am joined by Tara who is a transracial adoptee and she shares her experience with dealing with religious trauma from the Mormon church. She also speaks about how she still loves her white adoptive parents but struggles with her racial identity.
Watch the video of this episode only on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=45714095&fan_landing=true
If you would like to be on the show please fill sign up her...
Watch the video of this episode only on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=45714095&fan_landing=true
If you would like to be on the show please fill sign up her...
Mark as Played
December 17, 2024 • 59 mins
Hey Light Shiners! I am joined by Cassidy a former foster youth who was being abused by her birth brother in their home. She speaks about how hard reunification can be and how child abuse can cause lifelong trauma in families.
Watch the video of this episode only on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=45714095&fan_landing=true
If you would like to be on the show please fill sign up here https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA...
Watch the video of this episode only on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=45714095&fan_landing=true
If you would like to be on the show please fill sign up here https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA...
Mark as Played
November 25, 2024 • 2 mins
I am so excited to share with you more stories of lived experiences so we can all learn and grow!
If you would like to be on the show please fill sign up here https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdFZxNnCSntbuvjrxjjvZco3BmsCVNELmU1WzlYPCOongNNiA/viewform?usp=pp_url
Please help us keep shining light on the truths of the foster care system by donating. Please click the link to donate! https://karlosdillard.com/checkout/donate?don...
If you would like to be on the show please fill sign up here https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdFZxNnCSntbuvjrxjjvZco3BmsCVNELmU1WzlYPCOongNNiA/viewform?usp=pp_url
Please help us keep shining light on the truths of the foster care system by donating. Please click the link to donate! https://karlosdillard.com/checkout/donate?don...
Mark as Played
June 18, 2024 • 28 mins
Hey Light Shiners! I am joined by Laura a birth mom who almost lost her kids to the system because of a mental health crisis. She speaks about co-parenting with an abusive Ex-spouse and how she was alienated as a mom.
Follow the guest on social media! @Iwinnard1982 also check out her business at Crystal Hope Creations
Watch the video of this episode only on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=45714095&fan_landing=true
If yo...
Follow the guest on social media! @Iwinnard1982 also check out her business at Crystal Hope Creations
Watch the video of this episode only on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=45714095&fan_landing=true
If yo...
Mark as Played
June 5, 2024 • 51 mins
Hey Light Shiners! I am joined by CJ a birth father who was on the show 2 years ago. He gives us an update and how he has been advocating for himself and his daughter.
Follow the guest on social media! @Childlessparent
Watch the video of this episode only on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=45714095&fan_landing=true
If you would like to be on the show please fill sign up here https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdFZ...
Follow the guest on social media! @Childlessparent
Watch the video of this episode only on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=45714095&fan_landing=true
If you would like to be on the show please fill sign up here https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdFZ...
Mark as Played
May 16, 2024 • 89 mins
Hey Light Shiners! I am joined by ShaVonnda, a birth aunt who helped her brother fight the family policing system and tried to adopt his daughter out to foster parents. They fought for 8 years and won!
Follow the guest on social media! @kinship.is.care (tiktok) @Emily_brooks_foundation
Support this family and fight back! https://www.gofundme.com/f/u2prd-bringing-emily-home?qid=64b886178566f29b75ddd2a49f67e4c7
Watch the video of this...
Follow the guest on social media! @kinship.is.care (tiktok) @Emily_brooks_foundation
Support this family and fight back! https://www.gofundme.com/f/u2prd-bringing-emily-home?qid=64b886178566f29b75ddd2a49f67e4c7
Watch the video of this...
Mark as Played
April 18, 2024 • 40 mins
Hey Light Shiners! I am joined by George a native adoptee who had a net positive adoption experience. He talks about how his adoptive parents keep his birth family and culture involved while growing up and why ICWA is so important.
Follow the guest on social media! @Ibakedinupiaq
Watch the video of this episode only on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=45714095&fan_landing=true
If you would like to be on the show please f...
Follow the guest on social media! @Ibakedinupiaq
Watch the video of this episode only on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=45714095&fan_landing=true
If you would like to be on the show please f...
Mark as Played
April 3, 2024 • 48 mins
Hey Light Shiners! THERE IS A SUICIDE TRIGGER WARNING in this episode. I am joined by Scottie a same-race Black adoptee who shares about their net-positive adoption experiences and religion trauma. We do speak about assisted suicide so please use caution listening and speak to mental health professionals If you are having suicidal thoughts. Always Shine Your Ligjht.
Follow the guest on social media! @scottieslittlelife
Watch the ...
Follow the guest on social media! @scottieslittlelife
Watch the ...
Mark as Played
March 25, 2024 • 39 mins
Hey Light Shiners! In this episode, I am joined by Petrea an international adoptee who was adopted from Russia. She speaks on her net-positive adoption and how isolating it was to grow up in a single-mother household.
Follow the guest on social media! @dosvidaniyababy6669
Watch the video of this episode only on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=45714095&fan_landing=true
If you would like to be on the show please fill s...
Follow the guest on social media! @dosvidaniyababy6669
Watch the video of this episode only on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=45714095&fan_landing=true
If you would like to be on the show please fill s...
Mark as Played
March 11, 2024 • 48 mins
Hey Light Shiners! In this episode, I am joined by Tiffany and adoptee who shares her story about her adoption, her adoptive parents divorce and how that affected her life.
Follow the guest on social media! @Sistatiph
Join the BLACK MOTHERS MARCH! https://www.blackmothersmarch.com/
Watch the video of this episode only on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=45714095&fan_landing=true
If you would like to be on the show ple...
Follow the guest on social media! @Sistatiph
Join the BLACK MOTHERS MARCH! https://www.blackmothersmarch.com/
Watch the video of this episode only on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=45714095&fan_landing=true
If you would like to be on the show ple...
Mark as Played
February 27, 2024 • 62 mins
Hey Light Shiners! In this episode, I am joined by Shellie who speaks about how her adoptive parents paid for her and how that made her feel.
Follow the guest on social media! @ShellBell
Watch the video of this episode only on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=45714095&fan_landing=true
If you would like to be on the show please fill sign up here https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdFZxNnCSntbuvjrxjjvZco3BmsCVNELmU1W...
Follow the guest on social media! @ShellBell
Watch the video of this episode only on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=45714095&fan_landing=true
If you would like to be on the show please fill sign up here https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdFZxNnCSntbuvjrxjjvZco3BmsCVNELmU1W...
Mark as Played
February 5, 2024 • 69 mins
Hey Light Shiners! In this episode, I am joined by Sandra a foster youth and adoptee whose story will shock you. She shares her experience of being adopted twice...will at least she THOUGHT she was adopted.
Follow the guest on social media! @chickanddog
PRESELL for BOOK @ HERE
Watch the video of this episode only on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=45714095&fan_landing=true
If you would like to be on the show please fill ...
Follow the guest on social media! @chickanddog
PRESELL for BOOK @ HERE
Watch the video of this episode only on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=45714095&fan_landing=true
If you would like to be on the show please fill ...
Mark as Played
January 26, 2024 • 64 mins
Hey, Lightshiners! In this episode, I am interviewing Will Powerrr an adoptive father who went viral on TikTok for brushing his Transracial adoptee's hair. After going viral and facing backlash Will came onto my Tiktok Live to share his lived experience.
Please be sure to check out the 2024 Black Mothers March on Washington Black Mothers March
Please be sure to check out the 2024 Black Mothers March on Washington Black Mothers March
Mark as Played
January 17, 2024 • 54 mins
Hey Light Shiners! In this episode, I am joined by Rosie who speaks about her childhood and reuniting with her birth family. She explains that reunification is not easy and explains why.
Watch the video of this episode only on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=45714095&fan_landing=true
If you would like to be on the show please fill sign up here https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdFZxNnCSntbuvjrxjjvZco3BmsCVNELmU1Wzl...
Watch the video of this episode only on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=45714095&fan_landing=true
If you would like to be on the show please fill sign up here https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdFZxNnCSntbuvjrxjjvZco3BmsCVNELmU1Wzl...
Mark as Played
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