Josh Shipp grew up in foster care and made it his mission to get kicked out of every home he was placed in . . . until he finally met his match. In this episode, Josh shares the amazing story of his ploy to get kicked out of foster homes and tells about the man who wouldn’t give up on him. Now a teen expert and national speaker, Josh carries the vital message that every kid is one caring adult away from being a success story.
Also, we catch up with Foster Movement Podcast co-host Diego Fuller who has been traveling the country this summer sharing his amazing story and his music with kids in foster care through Royal Family KIDS Camps.
Download the free companion PDF to this series—“Seven Insights about Foster Care from Those Who’ve Been There”–and share these types of insights with others in your community!
Key Quote
“Now, statistically, I’m supposed to be dead, in jail, or homeless. Not to brag, but I probably would’ve done all three. I am an overachiever. Yet, interestingly, and this is my whole point, I’m not a statistic, and listen to me very carefully. It’s not because I’m particularly bright or clever, or because of a government program, or the perfect school district, or the latest bestselling parenting book, but because of Rodney . . . Every kid is one caring adult away from being a success story.”
Josh Shipp, former foster youth
Learn More
Here are the resources and/or organizations mentioned in this episode:
Josh Shipp: joshshipp.com
Royal Family Kids: royalfamilykids.org
Diego Fuller’s Music: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/diego-fuller/id883873625
Free Download: Seven Insights about Foster Care from Those Who’ve Been There
Meet Our Guests
JOSH SHIPP
Josh Shipp aka “The Teen Whisperer” is a former at-risk foster kid turned teen advocate. His documentary TV series TEEN TROUBLE (A&E) followed his ground-breaking work with teens. He is the author of the national bestseller “The Teen’s Guide to World Domination“, and was listed on Inc. Magazine’s 30 under 30 list. He’s spoken at universities such as Harvard, Stanford, MIT & UCLA. He is a recognized teen expert for media outlets as MTV, CNN, FOX, The New York Times, 20/20, Good Morning America.
He’s worked with groups of parents, educators & mental health professionals plus has spoken to more than two Million teens live. His ultimate goal is to help as many young people as possible. He trains other speakers through Youth Speaker University and his online mentoring program for teens, A Year of Awesomeness, has a world-wide reach.
Meet Our Hosts
JASON WEBER
Jason and his wife, Trisha, have been caring for children from U.S. foster care since 2001 and have had the privilege of adopting their five children from foster care. Jason has helped to produce and write several books, bible studies, and other tools all created to serve churches as they care for hurting kids including the newly released children’s book, Farmer Herman and the Flooding Barn (BroadStreet Publishing). Jason writes a regular column for Fostering Families Today magazine and is the host of the Foster Movement Podcast, which highlights the stories of former foster youth and national foster care advocates. Jason serves as the National Director of More Than Enough for the Christian Alliance for Orphans and currently lives in Plano, Texas.
DIEGO FULLER
Most teenagers remember the day they got their license, or their sweet 16, or even prom night. For Diego the most prominent day he remembers is In 2002, when he showed up on Bishop Aaron Blake’s steps. Blake stopped Diego at the door and told him to lose any foster care mentality that he has. “You are not a foster child; you are ‘Engrafted’ into my family.” Diego, now a national recording artist, released his second studio album titled “ENGRAFTED” in 2014! Diego is the founder & president of B.I.G Records & Foundation. He and his “Pops,” Bishop Aaron Blake have joined forces and travel the country empowering the local church to create a culture of families prepared to accept the calling of orphan care. Diego lives with his family in the Dallas area.
