#14Stories – Details, episodes & analysis

In winter of 2020 the Never Too Late team began to plan an event to mark Youth In Care Day in Ontario, a day set to celebrate, advocate and connect young people in and from the child welfare system which falls on May 14th—5/14 it is often called.  Calls for a coffee house/art exhibit event led us to checking out venues and beginning to think about hosts and acts.  At the same time, we had begun to explore the medium of podcasting as a way to make “educational” clips for the very select group of people who were attending our training series “Training for Humans, thinking of becoming permanency for a young person who had aged out of care.

These 2 worlds collided in March and April of 2020, when we had to end our in person podcasting sessions for our trainings and our dreams of an event space were quashed.  But riding on the high of how much we had enjoyed our first taste of podcasting, and wanting to not let go of having some kind of way to acknowledge 5/14 we decided that this was our chance—to explore using podcasting in a different way—to focus on giving people the chance to talk about how this life changing event, the pandemic, was impacting on them, the good, the bad and the ugly, all first voice experts of the the child welfare system.  We were focused on the telling, on letting people get a chance to talk about what this time was like for them; the triumphs and tribulations, the challenges and celebrations.  In the past, we had engaged outside “help” to record and produce out podcasts but this time we decided to do it all in house to see if we now could do it ourselves.

#14 Stories was that podcast, released on May 14, 2020 it has been heard over 1000 times throughout the world and at NTL podcasting became something that we now felt very comfortable engaging in—recording, editing, and producing a number of those educational pieces over  2020. In early 2021, through the generosity of FRAYME and their Great Big Stories Grant we were given an opportunity that doesn’t often happen—to look back at the making of #14 Stories, to reflect on how participating in that podcast felt, the impacts on participants even today, and what they have learned or lessons they have for others doing this work.

And then we got to do more.  We got to ask people, youth with lived experience of child welfare who had NOT participated in the original podcast how it felt the first time they heard these stories, what resonated for them and why and why they decided to be part of this new 14 Stories production.  7 new participants, 7 past participants—14 (more) stories.

Thank you to everyone involved for the creation of #14Stories. This podcast aims to create awareness about young people in and from care not only on May 14th but everyday. 

You're about to hear what different individuals in and from care face during Covid 19. 

This production is brought to you by the Never Too Late team. 

Follow Never Too Late on Instagram at @nevertoolate.on or get more information about this program at www.adoption.on.ca/ntl

Are you struggling with boredom? So is M is and he’s got lots of ideas for you!

M gave us a great board game you can play online called Cards Against Humanity  https://www.cardsagainsthumanity.com/lab/

We’ll be sharing a story with you every day until our feature length episode release on May 14th.

Follow Never Too Late on Instagram at @nevertoolate.on or get more information about this program at www.adoption.on.ca/ntl

Track: Sunflower — Soyb [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: https://youtu.be/dG1U3NuR9PkFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/sunflower

When your partner lives over the border, you have to get creative. While J was already familiar with long-distance communication, he is still feeling the impacts of isolation and uncertainty.

J gave us a good recommendation to stay connected which is Netflix Party. Netflix party synchronizes play-time with all the parties joined making for a real bonding experience. 

Follow Never Too Late on Instagram at @nevertoolate.on or get more information about this program at www.adoption.on.ca/ntl

Track: Sunflower — Soyb [Audio Library Release]
Music provided by Audio Library Plus
Watch: https://youtu.be/dG1U3NuR9Pk
Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/sunflower

"One of my plants is a ZZ plant. This plant is so symbolic because it can grow even with neglect.”

Fun fact the symbol of the ZZ plant was what inspired the podcast art.

C shares her stories of plant care and self-care during the pandemic. We’ll be sharing a story with you every day until our feature length episode is release on May 14th.

Follow Never Too Late on Instagram at @nevertoolate.on or get more information about this program at www.adoption.on.ca/ntl

Track: Sunflower — Soyb [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: https://youtu.be/dG1U3NuR9PkFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/sunflower

We often refer to young people in and from care as resilient, but what does that really mean? Language often holds different meanings for different people. ⁠

This is one young person’s story of resilience and support, and the nicest thing someone has done for them during the pandemic. ⁠

Children and Youth in Care Day is on May 14th. 

Follow Never Too Late on Instagram at @nevertoolate.on or get more information about this program at www.adoption.on.ca/ntl

Track: Sunflower — Soyb [Audio Library Release]
Music provided by Audio Library Plus
Watch: https://youtu.be/dG1U3NuR9Pk
Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/sunflower

We’re hearing stories from communities all over the world on how the COVID-19 crisis is impacting them. In honour of Children and Youth in Care Day on May 14th, we want to ensure that stories from our community are also heard! Children and Youth in Care Day is an annual, Ontario awareness day that was created to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and recognize children and youth in care. It is often used by advocates to bring together our community in solidarity and celebration. Young people in and from care have come together virtually to share our unique experiences of the pandemic with you!

Follow Never Too Late on Instagram at @nevertoolate.on or get more information about this program at www.adoption.on.ca/ntl

Music
On My Way by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4163-on-my-way
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Food is a way into the hearts of many. You'll hear about a meal that might get your stomach rumbling. Share your last meal with us via Instagram DM @nevertoolate.on. 

We’ll be sharing a story with you every day until our feature length episode release on May 14th.

Follow Never Too Late on Instagram at @nevertoolate.on or get more information about this program at www.adoption.on.ca/ntl

Track: Sunflower — Soyb [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: https://youtu.be/dG1U3NuR9PkFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/sunflower

M shares how life has amplified emotions during Covid19. How have you been during this time?  Share what your thoughts are with us via Instagram DM @nevertoolate.on.

We’ll be sharing a story with you every day until our feature length episode release on May 14th.

Follow Never Too Late on Instagram at @nevertoolate.on or get more information about this program at www.adoption.on.ca/ntl

Track: Sunflower — Soyb [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: https://youtu.be/dG1U3NuR9PkFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/sunflower

Clothing is a statement from what you feel to what you think. V. takes us through her go to outfit during isolation. 

What's your outfit of choice? Let us know via D.M on instagram @ DM @nevertoolate.on.

We’ll be sharing a story with you every day until our feature length episode  release on May 14th.

Follow Never Too Late on Instagram at @nevertoolate.on or get more information about this program at www.adoption.on.ca/ntl

Track: Sunflower — Soyb [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: https://youtu.be/dG1U3NuR9PkFree Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/sunflower