TW: While Joan does not go into specific details, this episode does contain mentions of her experiences of abuse, and we wanted you to be aware of that before listening.
Our guests often share the traumatic memories their experiences in life have left them with. But today’s guest shares what it’s like for there to be pieces missing when she tries to recall her past.
Joan Ulsher is a writer, philanthropist, retired U.S. Army Major, and an award-winning child advocate. During her own childhood, Joan survived abuse and experienced the foster care system firsthand. Today, she says many of her formative years feel like “Swiss cheese” because of all the holes in her memory.
Joan tells her story in a memoir entitled Misplaced Childhood: A True Story of Resiliency and Child Advocacy.
In this conversation, you’ll hear how Joan has navigated her mind blocking out childhood memories, how her advocacy efforts have changed her inner narrative from that of a victim to that of a survivor, how finding Christ has given her life new purpose, and so much more.
Show Notes: https://theforgotteninitiative.org/joan-ulsher-227/
Free Video Resource: Foster Care & the Church -- www.fostercare.church
Episode 185: Walking Through Grief After Foster Care (w/ Melissa Smallwood)
Episode 184: How Awareness Leads to Action (w/ Sarah Butler)
Episode 183: Supporting Your Biological Children While Fostering (w/ Daniela Coats)
Episode 182: A Story of Hope, Healing, and Forgiveness (w/ Dairius Kawewahi)
Episode 181: Intentionally Serving the Foster Care Community (w/ Candace Franklin)
Episode 180: Advocating for Those That Feel Forgotten (w/ Tess Dykstra)
Episode 179: Recognizing Signs of Grooming and Trafficking (w/ Tiffani Price)
Episode 178: The "Fun Circus" of Life as a Single Foster Dad (w/ Tyler Daily)
Episode 177: Supporting Infants and Biological Mothers (w/ Heather Simpson)
Episode 176: An Unexpected Journey: God’s Presence Through the Pain (w/ Bethany Riley)
Episode 175: Nothing is Wasted: Processing Tragedy and Loss (w/ Davey Blackburn)
Episode 174: The Messy Journey of Healing (w/ Kristen Thomas)
Episode 173: I See You—From Rejection to Redemption (w/ Shyann Skelton)
Episode 172: Supporting Aging-Out Youth (w/ Nick Sgarlata)
Episode 171: The Challenges of Kinship Care & Becoming a Grand-Family (w/ Rachel Mahnke)
Episode 170: How to Love Our LGBTQ+ Foster Children (w/ Laurie Krieg)
Episode 169: Talking About the Tough Topics in Foster Care (w/ Jenn Hook)
Episode 168: Finding Wholeness and Healing (w/ April Guffey)
Episode 167: Showing Up for Teens in Foster Care (w/ Serena Rice)
Episode 166: Glimmers of Hope After Hardship (w/ John Gibson)
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