The Funding Love Adoption Podcast with Mal + Kate

In a surprise bonus episdoe Mal & Kate talk with Jamie Finn . She is the author of the bestselling book , FostertheFamily , and Filled : 60DevotionsfortheFosterParent’sHeart . She is the founder and President of Foster the Family and Founder of the Filled Gathering . Her popular social media accounts offer a glimpse into the real life of a foster parent and provide encouragement to tens of thousands of foster and adoptive parents . Connect with your hosts! @malyourpal @katedawnduck Connect with Funding Love! Website Instagram Facebook Support the show

This week Mal and Kate wrap up season 6. They spend time encouraging you the listener and share why they think pursuing "what breaks your heart" is so important. Connect with your hosts! @malyourpal @katedawnduck Connect with Funding Love! Website Instagram Facebook Support the show

On this weeks episode Mal and Kate have a conversation with Jen Wilhorn about parenting. They discuss topics that are great for any stage of parenting but especially if you are parenting through the teen years. Connect with your hosts! @malyourpal @katedawnduck Connect with Funding Love! Website Instagram Facebook Support the show

On this weeks episode Mal and Kate talk with two of their dearest friends, husband and wife duo, Jody and Rachel Spain. The Spains share how they became involved with Funding Love and the importance of intentional generosity. We are so grateful for their generous hearts and for sharing so candidly about how they live and teach their boys to live with generously. Connect with Rachel and Jody on Instagram: @rachelspain81 @jodyspain Connect with your hosts! @malyourpal @katedawnduck Connect with Funding Love! Website Instagram Facebook Support the show

On this weeks episode Mal and Kate chat with friend and fellow adoptive mom, Jessica Ritchie. Jessica shares her journey to adoption and her heart for foster care. Jessica has big dreams for the foster community and she gives us some practical ways to support this community right where you are. We absolutely loved getting to know Jessica even better and we are so grateful for her heart to serve with us. Connect with Jessica on Instagram at @jlritchie23 Connect with your hosts! @malyourpal @katedawnduck Connect with Funding Love! Website Instagram Facebook Support the show

On this weeks episode Mal and Kate share details about...Mal and Kate. In this lighthearted episode you'll get to know Mal and Kate a little bit better. We promise you'll laugh out loud in this episode of the Funding Love Podcast. Connect with your hosts! @malyourpal @katedawnduck Connect with Funding Love! Website Instagram Facebook Support the show

On this weeks episode Mal and Kate read testimonies from Funding Love alumni. They share with us what happens in the hearts and minds of those that experience a Funding Love vacation. You'll want to grab a tissue and get ready to have your heart filled with the emotion of joy when they share story after story of life change. Connect with your hosts! @malyourpal @katedawnduck Connect with Funding Love! Website Instagram Facebook Support the show

On this weeks episode Mal and Kate remind everyone of the adoption process and explain how Funding Love fits into it. It's a great reminder of why it's so important to support and be a part of the process no matter if you are directly connected to the adoption community or you know someone connected and it tugs at your heart strings. Connect with your hosts! @malyourpal @katedawnduck Connect with Funding Love! Website Instagram Facebook Support the show Support the show

On April 25, we hosted our 3rd annual fundraising gala for the adoption community, A Night of Dreams! This elevated circus evening included everything from VIP offerings, silent and live auctions, awe-inspiring circus acts, and heartfelt, adoption-minded programming. This week, listen in as Mal and Kate recap the whole evening and announce just how much money was raised during their Night of Dreams! Be sure to also keep an ear out for next year's theme...we can't wait to see you there! Connect with your hosts! @malyourpal @katedawnduck Connect with Funding Love! Website Instagram Facebook Support the show

Mal + Kate are wrapping up Season 5 of the Funding Love Adoption Podcast with a recap of the 2025 Adoptive Family Vacation! Joining them are Funding Love Vacation Director, Sarah Basham, and Funding Love Director of Finance (who also traveled as a Magic Maker this trip), Jen McWilliams! Tune in as they share all about our 2025 AFV, the impact it made, and how our donors made this trip one of our most magical vacations yet! Connect with your hosts! @malyourpal @katedawnduck Connect with Funding Love! Website Instagram Facebook Support the show

This week, Mal + Kate welcome guest Janelle Basham to talk all about supporting the birth mom community. Janelle is the Executive Director of BraveLove, a nonprofit transforming the narrative of adoption by honoring birth mothers and fostering understanding through education, support, and storytelling. As a birth mom herself, Janelle brings passion and lived insight to her mission of empowering others and building bridges within the adoption community. With a background in private adoption and foster care, she is committed to honoring the journeys of those involved in adoption. Connect with Brave Love! Website Connect with your hosts! @malyourpal @katedawnduck Connect with Funding Love! Website Instagram Facebook Support the show

Your Season 5 BONUS EPISODE is here! This week, Mal + Kate talk with guest Shannon Scott, as she shares her story, heart for adoption, and involvement with Funding Love. Shannon Scott is a passionate Bible teacher with nearly 30 years of experience in ministry and leadership. She has a deep love for the local church and is particularly passionate about ministry to women, believing in the transformative power of God’s Word. After many years serving on church staff, Shannon now works with QAVA, a ministry in Franklin, Tennessee, where she leads initiatives and creates content for the broader Church. She is also the host of The Everything Made Beautiful Podcast, encouraging listeners to find God’s faithfulness in every season of life. Outside of her ministry and work, Shannon is a wife, mother, and dog lover. She has been married to Jeffrey for 26 years, and together, they have raised three adult children. Shannon and Jeffrey also share their home with three pups and reside outside of Nashville, Tennessee. Connect with Shannon! Website Instagram Connect with your hosts! @malyourpal @katedawnduck Connect with Funding Love! Website Instagram Facebook Support the show

Funding Love LOVES birth moms. We believe they are worthy and deserving of post-adoption support. This week, Mal + Kate talk about how you can support your child’s birth moms, regardless of how open your adoption is. Connect with your hosts! @malyourpal @katedawnduck Connect with Funding Love! Website Instagram Facebook Support the show

In this episode of the Funding Love Adoption Podcast, Mal and Kate discuss what it looks like to bond with your newly adopted baby. They share their own experiences while giving a few tips they picked up along the way. Connect with your hosts! @malyourpal @katedawnduck Connect with Funding Love! Website Instagram Facebook Support the show

So you’ve been matched and have done your best to prepare your home for brand new baby. Now, the moment is here and expectant mom is delivering the baby! What does that look like? What is the right thing to do, say, expect? This week, Mal and Kate chat as Kate shares all about her hospital experiences as an adoptive mom and what to expect in the hospital when you’re adopting a new baby. Connect with your hosts! @malyourpal @katedawnduck Connect with Funding Love! Website Instagram Facebook Support the show

We’re right in the middle of Season 5 of the Funding Love Adoption Podcast, and this episode, Mal + Kate chat about what it looks like to prepare your home, heart, + family to bring home the baby you’ve been matched with. Connect with your hosts! @malyourpal @katedawnduck Connect with Funding Love! Website Instagram Facebook Support the show

This week in the Funding Love Adoption Podcast, Mal + Kate talk about what to expect when it comes to THE call; the call that all hopeful adoptive parents dream of hearing - “You’ve been matched!” Listen along as they share their encouragement, advice, and personal stories of getting THE call! Support the show

Welcome to Season 5 of the Funding Love Podcast! In this first episode, Mal + Kate chat all about the new year for Funding Love and what to expect in this new season of podcast episodes. Listen along as they share their "words" for the year, share Funding Love's 2025 calendar of events, and give little hints from upcoming episodes. Connect with your hosts! @malyourpal @katedawnduck Connect with Funding Love! Website Instagram Facebook Support the show

The Book Club Crew is back for the FINAL episode of the Funding Love Book Club. This time, they are discussing Adoption Unfiltered: Revelations from Adoptees, Birth Parents, Adoptive Parents, and Allies. Adoption Unfiltered authors Sara Easterly (adoptee), Kelsey Vander Vliet Ranyard (birth parent), and Lori Holden (adoptive parent) interview dozens of adoptees, birth parents, adoptive parents, social workers, therapists, and other allies—all sharing candidly about the challenges in adoption. While finding common ground in the sometimes-contentious space of adoption may seem like a lofty goal, it reveals the authors’ optimistic aim: working together with truth and transparency to move toward healing. Adoption Unfiltered models the importance of adults in adoption working together in the spirit of curiosity and empathy—to better support adoptees and their first and adoptive families. Connect with your Season 1 Funding Love Book Club Hosts! @malyourpal @katedawnduck @messie_jattos @kidsbooksbyallisonolson Connect with Funding Love! Website Instagram Facebook Support the show

The Funding Love Book Club Crew are back to discuss book three of 2024, To Have and Not To Hold by Lorri Antosz Benson. To Have and Not to Hold is the poignant account of Lorri's momentous decision to give her daughter for adoption, the resulting heartache, and later, the unexpected joy of reconnecting with her daughter and her daughter's adoptive mother. With agonizing yet heartwarming honesty, Lorri offers a profound look at a deep connection of two mothers that is born with the cry of a newborn daughter. What begins as a fragile, tenuous link develops into something dreams and miracles are made of—relationships that go to the soul, are meant to be, and are devoid of fear and possessiveness. To Have and Not to Hold holds much inspiration for any adoptive parent, adoptee, or first/birthparent, but it's a story that anyone will find impossible to put down. Connect with your Season 1 Funding Love Book Club Hosts! @malyourpal @katedawnduck @messie_jattos @kidsbooksbyallisonolson Connect with Funding Love! Website Instagram Facebook Support the show