Welcome to Dwelling at the Well, a place where foster care stories are seen, heard, and held. Hosted by Ashley and Rebecca, this podcast invites you into real and honest conversations with former foster youth, foster parents, mentors, and advocates — drawing encouragement and hope from real-life journeys. We’re so glad you’re here.
The Village OC recently marked one year since officially incorporating as a nonprofit. In this short reflection, Ashley looks back on a year of building, discerning, and laying a foundation, and looks ahead to a new season of relationship and community with young adults aging out of foster care.
She closes with On Being a Well by Macrina Wiederkehr, a reflection on the life-giving people and places we encounter, and an invitation to become a well for others.
25 May 2026
Episode 9: How Do We Get Unstuck?
In this episode of Dwelling at the Well, we reflect on our experience at the Unstuck Conference in Orange County—a gathering of nonprofits, advocates, churches, and community leaders working toward better care for youth and families impacted by foster care.
We talk about the importance of collaboration and relational connection for those providing services to the foster care community, and why meaningful support is about more than simply offering resources. Together, we explore what it looks like to move from working in isolation to building a support network to make a greater impact within our community.
Key topics covered include:
The shift from siloed foster care efforts to community-wide collaboration
The role of relationships over resources in supporting foster youth and families
How different organizations and faith communities are creating innovative support models
The importance of humility, recognizing limitations, and working collectively
Specific connections made at the conference that will benefit the Village OC
The vision for building an ecosystem of support through relational connections
Practical steps for maintaining relationships and creating a broader support network
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction to Dwelling at the Well and today's focus on community collaboration
00:30 - Highlights from the Unstuck Conference and its importance for foster care work
01:51 - The significance of relationships over resources in supporting foster youth
03:14 - Why attending the conference was meaningful for Ashley and the Village OC
04:36 - The nonprofit’s mission to support aging-out foster youth relationally
06:41 - The humility of foster care organizations working together for a common goal
07:52 - Building a support network through connection and collaboration
09:02 - New partnerships with community organizations and agencies
10:05 - The excitement of turning conference insights into actionable steps
11:34 - Clarifying the role of Village OC in case management and resource ecosystems
12:56 - The importance of relationships over outdated directories of resources
14:42 - How faith and community are guiding foster care initiatives
16:10 - Stories of innovative programs shared at the conference
17:28 - The power of community-led support models to reduce homelessness and increase stability
20:14 - Practical steps for sustaining collaboration and connection beyond the conference
21:35 - The call for listeners to use their gifts in their own spheres of influence
22:17 - The vision for Village OC’s future collaborations and impact
23:46 - Reflection on how the conference reaffirms the nonprofit’s mission and direction.
Resources & Links:
More than Enough (https://cafo.org/morethanenough) — Jason Weber's organization for fostering community collaboration
Connect with Ashley & Rebecca
The Village OC (https://thevillageoc.org/) — Support organization for foster youth aging out of care
Instagram: thevillage.oc (https://www.instagram.com/thevillage.oc/) — Follow for updates and stories
26 Mar 2026
Episode 8: Lisa's Story—Choosing to Stand in the Gap
In this episode, we’re joined by Lisa, who served as a CASA volunteer (Court Appointed Special Advocate), walking closely alongside youth in foster care.
As we begin to widen the lens of these conversations, we step into a perspective shaped by presence, advocacy, and relationship.
Lisa shares what she witnessed within the system, what stayed with her, and what it reveals about the importance of having someone who shows up—and continues to stay—as young people navigate the transition into adulthood.
25 Nov 2025
Episode 7: Michelle's Story—A Sacrificial Love
In this episode, Michelle invites us into her foster care journey: three placements, unexpected detours, deep grief, and a faith that has carried her through every season. Her story is a powerful reminder of what it means to love with open hands.
28 Oct 2025
Episode 6: Father Craig's Story—Grace Woven Through Every Chapter
When his mother’s illness led to foster care, Father Craig found himself navigating loss, change, and ultimately, grace. Supported by his family, church, and friends, his journey led him toward ministry and reconciliation—a reminder that even in hardship, God is always working towards healing and redemption.
9 Sept 2025
Episode 5: Whitney's Story—The Beauty of Chosen Family
Whitney’s story is one of resilience amidst the instability of foster care and her experience of adoption. In this episode, she shares how she’s learning to heal, what “choosing” family looks like, and how she’s holding onto hope for creating the safe home she once longed for.
11 Aug 2025
Episode 4: Ruth's Story—Choosing Healing, Again and Again
When Ruth was just a baby, she and her siblings entered foster care. Later adopted by her foster family, she carried invisible questions with her for decades—Where do I belong? Am I enough? This conversation is about the courage to face the past, the slow work of healing, and the strength it takes to keep going.
17 Jul 2025
Episode 3: David's Story—Worthy of Belonging
David, a former foster youth who was adopted at a young age, speaks about his journey of discovering his true worth and belonging. It's not about having the perfect family, but about being seen, accepted, and chosen in love. His story is a powerful reminder that healing happens through relationship, and that we all have the ability to create spaces where others feel valued and loved.
30 Jun 2025
Episode 2: Tina's Story — The Unexpected "Yes"
Tina shares her unexpected journey into foster parenting, recounting the challenges and rewards of becoming guardians to Audrey and Sophie in this interview episode.
19 Jun 2025
Episode 1: Monica’s Story – The Journey of a Former Foster Youth
Monica recounts her experiences as a former foster youth, detailing the challenges she overcame and the hope she cultivated throughout her journey in this interview.
19 Jun 2025
Episode 0: Into Dwelling at the Well with Ashley and Rebecca
Hosts Ashley and Rebecca introduce "Dwelling at the Well," sharing their personal foster care journeys and inspiration for creating a supportive space, marking this as the podcast's inaugural episode.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
7 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 16 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
20
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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