Upwardly Dependent – Details, episodes & analysis

This episode may be the most spiritually rich conversation to date on the Upwardly Dependent podcast. Dr. Krish Kandiah, and Officer of the British Empire and long-time advocate for refugees and orphans, shares incredible stories and deep reflections from his love for God’s word.

As the last guest in this series on Orphans and Vulnerable Children, you will be sure to find a renewed passion for not only neighboring well, but also for resting in the love of a Creator who pursues you, as well. There aren’t appropriate words to describe the impact this conversation could have on you, so just go ahead and give it a listen.

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Episode Highlights

• Intro to Dr. Krish and his work as an Officer of the British Empire (3:29)
• Wrestling with the responsibility of privilege (6:19)
• Dr. Krish’s heart for adoption and supporting refugees (9:02)
• Understanding God’s heart for people on the margins (16:37)
• A holistic theology informing our care for vulnerable children (22:42)
• The holiness of slowing down and inviting others in (29:47)
• Racializing and dehumanizing vulnerable families (31:55)
• A call to the Church to protect vulnerable children (42:18)

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For more information, details, and episode transcriptions, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠upwardlydependent.com/shownotes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Links

• ⁠⁠⁠Kindred Exchange⁠⁠⁠ - Become a monthly donor to support this show and our mission
• ⁠⁠⁠Emmaus House⁠⁠⁠ - Learn more about their work with orphaned youth in Haiti 
• Dr. Krish’s Website - Learn more about Dr. Kirsh and the work he is doing to help to solve problems through partnerships across civil society, faith communities, government and philanthropy.
• The Sanctuary Foundation - Learn how they are providing compassionate service to vulnerable people through catalytic partnerships between government, churches, civil society groups, the media and individuals.

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Connect with Lauren

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Connect with Dr. Krish

X / Linkedin

Lauren was first introduced to Nick and Whitney Runyon a decade ago, and was drawn to their videography and storytelling across the globe. Both the Pinkstons and the Runyons entered into their own adoption journeys soon after, and as Lauren’s mind has expanded on the issue of orphan care, so has the work and advocacy of the Runyon’s organization, The Archibald Project.

In this conversation, Lauren and Nick meet for the first time. Nick warmly normalizes the growth process attached to complex issues, and graciously invites others to be courageous in their own evolution, as well. After listening to this conversation, you’ll be sure to want to explore the resources linked below.

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Episode Highlights

• Intro to Nick and his work (2:03)
• The start of The Archibald Project (6:33)
• Examining past mistakes and shifting practices (9:51)
• Telling honest stories about adoption and the foster care system (14:19)
• Crafting parameters around storytelling as adoptive parents (20:32)
• Honest stories from adoptive families (24:37)
• Nick’s advice for people wrestling with the complexities of adoption (29:51)
• Melinda’s adoption story (35:34)
• Resources through The Archibald Project (37:46)

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For more information, details, and episode transcriptions, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠upwardlydependent.com/shownotes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Links

• ⁠⁠Kindred Exchange⁠⁠ - Become a monthly donor to support this show and our mission
• ⁠⁠Emmaus House⁠⁠ - Learn more about their work with orphaned youth in Haiti 
• ⁠The Archibald Project - Learn more about the stories and resources they have created for families caring for orphaned and vulnerable children.
• Reimagine Orphan Care - Tune into the podcast to start reimagining orphan care 

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Connect with Lauren

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave a Review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Nick

Instagram / Linkedin

As medicine continues to advance, reproductive technologies provide more options to hopeful parents. Lauren’s sister, Ansley, shares her journey to motherhood with great vulnerability. This episode provides a frame for those who have wandered through ethical questions of in vitro fertilization. The things Ansley discusses here offer both challenge and hope in the midst of family planning.

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Episode Highlights

• An introduction to Ansley Smith (3:34)
• Ansley’s health and family journey (8:15)
• What is endometriosis? (14:42)
• The options and conversations for Ansley and her husband (19:14)
• Ethics and IVF (24:53)
• Ansley’s IVF journey (29:40)
• Impacts of sharing her story (35:28)

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For more information, details, and episode transcriptions, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠upwardlydependent.com/shownotes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Links

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kindred Exchange⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Become a monthly donor to support this show and our mission
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Think Orphan ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠- Learn more and listen to the podcast
• ⁠⁠⁠Emmaus House⁠⁠⁠ - Learn more about their work with orphaned youth in Haiti

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Connect with Lauren

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Connect with Ansley

⁠⁠⁠Instagram

As the mother of four children who joined her family through adoption, Shannan Martin shares how loving and walking alongside the marginalized of her community not only revolutionized her faith, but also made her an unapologetic ally with those who are negatively impacted by the U.S. prison system. 

Shannan, whose husband is a chaplain in their local jail, shares what she has learned by living with and loving the incarcerated. In this episode, you’ll hear about how Shannan accesses the promise of the Gospel through the lives of her neighbors. Be sure to read Shannan’s books or sign up for her Substack for more conversations like this.

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Episode Highlights

• Introduction to Shannan Martin (1:52)
• Critical lessons in community (6:28)
• Stories of injustice in the justice system (11:05)
• Shannan’s views on involvement in government (25:20)
• What is the Church in America missing? (31:07)
• Trauma, marginalization, and the relationship to the justice system (36:09)
• Resources and learning more (40:33)

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For more information, details, and episode transcriptions, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠upwardlydependent.com/shownotes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Links

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kindred Exchange⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Become a monthly donor to support this show and our mission
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Think Orphan ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠- Learn more and listen to the podcast
• ⁠⁠Emmaus House⁠⁠ - Learn more about their work with orphaned youth in Haiti
• Start with Hello - Shannan’s latest book
• The Ministry of Ordinary Places - by Shannan Martin
• Falling Free - by Shannan Martin
• Death Row Support Project - Sign up to mail letters

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Connect with Lauren

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave a Review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Shannan

⁠⁠Instagram / X / Website

Since her release in 2019, Cyntoia Brown Long has been able to travel the U.S. speaking about her experience within the criminal justice system where she was tried as an adult and placed in a womens’ prison at the age of 16. Her story started long before her arrest, however, and long before she found herself fearing for her life in the home of a man who offered to pay her for sex. 

Cyntoia shares about her journey out of early childhood foster care and into a loving adoptive family–a journey that was still weighed down by crises of identity and belonging. Her story is one of resilience and faith, and shows  how the prison system in the United States should evolve in order to consider the trauma histories of children in the courts.

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Episode Highlights

• Introduction to Cyntoia (1:49)
• Behavioral presentations of children in the classroom (8:40)
• Cyntoia’s story and relationship with the criminal justice system (15:53)
• Clemency & redemption (26:17)
• Advocacy and interactions with the criminal justice system (30:51)
• What’s at stake if things don’t change? (36:34)
• Where should people of faith spend their time and energy? (41:40)
• What’s giving Cyntoia hope? (49:00)

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For more information, details, and episode transcriptions, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠upwardlydependent.com/shownotes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Links

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kindred Exchange⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Become a monthly donor to support this show and our mission
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Think Orphan ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠- Learn more and listen to the podcast
• ⁠Emmaus House⁠ - Learn more about their work with orphaned youth in Haiti
• ⁠Free Cyntioa Book⁠ - Get an autographed copy of Cyntioa’s book
• ⁠Murder to Mercy: The Cyntoia Brown Story⁠ - Watch the Netflix documentary 
• ⁠Soap & Water Organics⁠ - Shop Cyntoia’s handmade organic soaps
• ⁠The JFAM Foundation⁠ - Learn more about their work to broaden understanding and awareness of issues concerning marginalized populations by creating a platform for affected individuals to serve as thought leaders.

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Connect with Lauren

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Connect with Cyntoia

⁠Instagram⁠ / ⁠X⁠ / ⁠Facebook

In this episode, Dr. Patt van Eys provides an incredible foundation of understanding about psychiatric illnesses and the U.S. system for diagnosing and treating mental health concerns. Listeners will find this conversation SO helpful as Dr. Patti connects child development, attachment, and dissociation to the critical ages of neurological growth for babies 0-3 years of age. For those parenting or teaching children who are neurodiverse, this episode will bring clarity to new research around “developmental trauma” and how this phenomenon can manifest in adults. Dr. Patti regularly visits prison residents with death sentences, and works to explain how trauma, dissociation, and the brain’s protective instincts should be considered when assessing criminal behavior.

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Episode Highlights

• An introduction to Dr. Patti van Eys (2:58)
• DSM-5 and language evolution around developmental trauma (14:20)
• Early brain development and attachment (26:28)
• Understanding dissociation and developmental trauma disorder (35:39)
• Understanding children with adverse childhood experiences (53:17)
• Trauma, justice, and healing (1:01:36)

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For more information, details, and episode transcriptions, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠upwardlydependent.com/shownotes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Links

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kindred Exchange⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Become a monthly donor to support this show and our mission
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Think Orphan ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠- Learn more and listen to the podcast
• ⁠What Happened to You by Dr. Bruce Perry and Oprah Winfrey - the trailblazers in the work of development trauma for the last 30 years
• Dr. Patti van Eys - Learn about her work and request a consultation
• Neurosequential Network - A biologically respectful approach to treating children

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Connect with Lauren

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Connect with Dr. Patti

Linkedin / Website

Angela Tucker has been a long-time trusted voice in the space of transracial adoption. As an advocate for children growing up in foster and adoptive homes, she shares her own experience of finding her safest place amongst others who were raised apart from their birth families. 

Angela facilitates the connection of a vibrant adoptee community full of teens and adults who share a unique journey to finding themselves and their identity. This episode is a critical listen for any parents who have adopted or fostered children of a racial heritage different from their own.

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Episode Highlights

• An introduction to Angela Tucker (2:00)
• Blindspots for adoptive parents and for society (4:46)
• Angela’s book title and the language of “should” (9:55) 
• Expansive family and community models (12:02)
• Entering spaces of racial majority and considering identity (19:53)
• Angela’s experience in finding her birth family (26:48)
• Exploring a sense of belonging and “third culture” (31:19)
• The love and trauma realities of adoption (34:48)
• Angela’s work with adoptees (40:34)

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For more information, details, and episode transcriptions, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠upwardlydependent.com/shownotes⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Links

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Kindred Exchange⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Become a monthly donor to support this show and our mission
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Think Orphan ⁠⁠⁠⁠- Learn more and listen to the podcast
• Angela’s Website⁠⁠ - Learn more about Angela's work
• ⁠You Should Be Grateful Book⁠ - Order Angela's book today
• ⁠Adoptee Mentoring Society⁠ - Virtual mentorship for adoptees — by adoptees
• ⁠Angela’s podcast⁠ - Tune into Angela's podcast as she interviews adoptees from all backgrounds in an effort to shift societal perceptions

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Connect with Lauren

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave a Review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Angela

⁠⁠⁠Instagram / X / Facebook

***This episode contains themes of self harm, some mild language, and other concepts that may be sensitive to listeners.***

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Milton Washington leads a number of ventures as he shares a powerful narrative of an identity formed through transnational and transracial experiences. In this episode, he sheds light on the unique origin to his story, and how he learned to grow into his own identity with pride. Listeners will be challenged in this episode as Milton bravely gives testimony to the parts of his adoption narrative that allowed him to find his place in his family. This episode provides excellent context to the complexities of the human experience, and offers an invitation for parents to understand their children as they best receive security and love. 

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Episode Highlights

• An introduction to Milton Washington and his story (1:53 )
• Exploring identity and value as a transracial adoptee (11:15)
• Family culture and fitting in (19:28)
• Milton’s advice for adoptive parents (27:17)
• What it might mean to help vulnerable children (35:10)
• Follow Milton’s projects (44:55)

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For more information, details, and episode transcriptions, visit ⁠⁠⁠upwardlydependent.com/shownotes⁠⁠⁠.

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Links

• ⁠⁠⁠Kindred Exchange⁠⁠⁠ - Become a monthly donor to support this show and our mission
• ⁠⁠⁠Think Orphan ⁠⁠⁠- Learn more and listen to the podcast
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Rokmil Studios - Check out Milton's work

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Connect with Lauren

⁠⁠⁠⁠Email⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave a Review⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Milton

⁠⁠Instagram

Kimberly and Lauren discuss the particular landscape of orphanages in Thailand, where $40M is donated to homes in 2 of the 76 provinces alone. Kim, a veteran advocate for reformed care led by Thai churches and families, shares how she’s seen practices shift over the years, and where donor churches still need to evolve in their understanding of child development and attachment. Kimberly leads StepAhead Thailand, an organization that offers training on scriptural frameworks for care as well as extensive guidelines for family strengthening.

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Episode Highlights

• Introduction to Kimberly & Lauren’s relationship (1:55)
• Kimberly’s story of moving to Thailand (8:11)
• The effects of the American Church in Thailand (12:55)
• Redefining the term “orphan” in the context of scripture (22:15)
• The industrialization of the orphan care system (25:44) 
• Owning our past ill informed practices around orphan care (39:04)
• Kimberly’s research with Lumos & resources for churches moving forward (47:02)

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For more information, details, and episode transcriptions, visit ⁠⁠⁠upwardlydependent.com/shownotes⁠⁠⁠.

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Links

⁠⁠⁠Kindred Exchange⁠⁠⁠ - Become a monthly donor to support this show and our mission

⁠⁠⁠Think Orphan ⁠⁠⁠- Learn more and listen to the podcast

Step Ahead - Learn more and find resources for family-based care

⁠CAFO2024 Summit⁠ - Sign up for the conference happening September 18-20, 2024 in Nashville, TN

World Without Orphans Conference - Sign up for the global forum taking place in Chaing Mai, Thailand February 29 - March 3, 2024

Rabbit Proof Fence - Watch the movie about three aboriginal girls who were forcibly taken from their families in 1931 to be trained as domestic servants as part of an official Australian government policy. 

Safe Families - Learn more about the work they do to keep children safe and families together.

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Connect with Lauren

⁠⁠⁠⁠Email⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave a Review⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Kimberly

Linkedin / X

As the President of CAFO (Christian Alliance for Orphans), Jedd Medefind invites people with any skill set or particular burden to care for the needs of vulnerable children and families. Whether that is through offering prepared meals, financial support, intercessory prayer, physical space, or emotional respite, there are things anyone in the Church can offer in the ecosystem of family-based care. Lauren and Jedd set the stage for the rest of this season, and offer a guide to posturing our hearts to place the lived experience of adult children from orphanages or foster care to guide our actions and thoughts around the issue.

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Episode Highlights

• An introduction to Jedd Medefind and CAFO (1:50)
• Engaging the hurt and beauty of the Gospel (7:40)
• Accurately communicating with the Church (15:34)
• The Church abroad and orphan care (19:10)
• Moving the work forward and growth in a time of critique (26:14)
• Jedd’s work and CAFO 2024 (32:39)

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For more information, details, and episode transcriptions, visit ⁠⁠upwardlydependent.com/shownotes⁠⁠.

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Links

• ⁠⁠Kindred Exchange⁠⁠ - Become a monthly donor to support this show and our mission
• ⁠⁠Think Orphan ⁠⁠- Learn more and listen to the podcast
• ⁠CAFO Best Practices Research - Learn about the leading recommendations in improving care
• CAFO2024 Summit - Sign up for the conference happening September 18-20, 2024 in Nashville, TN

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Connect with Lauren

⁠⁠⁠Email⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠Leave a Review⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Jedd

⁠Linkedin