Are you a grandparent thrust unexpectedly into raising your grandchildren, feeling the relentless drizzle of exhaustion and emotional burnout, even as you keep your family afloat? Do you sometimes find yourself trapped in a loop of irritation or resentment, questioning if joy is even possible on this journey? You are…
"I have to do the dishes. I have to drive to practice. I have to raise these kids." Family, have you noticed how those "I have to" thoughts feel like a lead weight in your chest? 🎒 Today on the podcast, Matt O’Neill, author of Good Mood Revolution, joins Laura…
Does bedtime feel less like a cozy ritual and more like crossing a battlefield filled with tears, anxiety, and wakeful shadows? Are you a grandparent tirelessly nurturing grandchildren scarred by trauma, craving not just peace at the end of the day, but real tools to foster resilience? Perhaps you recognize…
"Bedtime isn't just a routine in the second cradle; it’s often a battlefield where abandonment anxiety and night terrors meet the biological alarm." In this episode, host Laura Brazan is joined by sleep expert Allison Egidi to audit the nighttime environment of kinship homes. For many "Invisible CEOs," the tablet…
Do you ever wonder how to truly connect with a teen who’s pushing you away, when every word feels like it could spark a door-slam or an icy silence? Are you a grandparent navigating the dizzying maze of kinship care—grappling with the fear that trauma might repeat itself, and unsure…
What do you do when the child you fought so hard to protect starts pushing you away? When "I love you" is met with a door slam? Many of us parent out of fear—fear that the generational cycle of trauma is repeating itself. But teen-parenting expert Jeanine Mouchawar is here…
When your retirement story shifts overnight into raising grandchildren, it can feel like your personal story has ended. But what if this isn’t the end, but the start of a brand-new mission? In this powerful episode, Laura Brazan sits down with pastor and founder of Swagability, Stephen Wagstaff, to discuss…
This YouTube description is designed to capture the "Invisible CEO" brand—balancing the high-level strategic audit with the raw, heart-level testimony of a grandson who lived the journey we are currently leading. Episode 114 | Mixtape and Memoir: A Grandchild’s Journey from Trauma to Reciprocal Love "What happens when the person…
What happens when the birthday party of your dreams turns into a high-stakes hazmat cleanup? Imagine planning your grandson's third birthday at 6:00 PM, only to lose your daughter—his mother—to a fentanyl overdose by 7:30 AM the next morning. This is the raw, devastating reality that today’s guest, Laurel Exner,…
Are you a grandparent fighting to legally adopt your grandchild, drowning in red tape and wondering if the finish line will ever come? Have you sat through courtrooms hoping to be heard, worried for your grandchild’s safety, and navigating a system that seems to mistake your love for inconvenience? Do…
What happens when the "temporary" label finally falls off? For years, kinship caregivers live on pins and needles, acting like "parenting as usual" while a caseworker assesses their living rooms. Today, we are celebrating a massive executive win. Mary Hels-Jager returns to the boardroom to share the ultimate update: her…
Are you a grandparent thrust into the role of primary caregiver, managing the relentless stress, marriage challenges, and behavioral transitions that come with raising your grandchildren? Do you wonder how to move from surviving daily crises to building a sanctuary in your home—one where healing and hope are possible for…
Are you a grandparent, caregiver, or child impacted by generational trauma? Do you wrestle with questions of connection, healing, and the hope to break repeating patterns? Are you searching for authentic guidance to rewrite your family’s future after abuse or neglect? I’m Laura Brazan, and in this episode of 'Grandparents…
Are you a grandparent who finds yourself stepping back into the exhausting world of parenting, unexpectedly raising your grandchildren in the wake of family upheaval? Do you ever mourn the peaceful retirement you imagined, longing for slow mornings and carefree days, only to wake up facing a mountain of responsibilities…
Have you lost a child to the fentanyl crisis and now find yourself raising a grandchild while navigating profound grief, financial upheaval, and relentless societal judgment? Are you searching for understanding, practical support, and a community that truly sees the struggles and resilience of grandparents in kinship care? You're not…
Are you exhausted from "firefighting" your way through kinship care? As the Invisible CEO of your home, it’s easy to get addicted to the speed of crisis. But trauma isn't healed with gasoline; it’s healed with the slow, steady burn of an Oak Log. In this boardroom session, author and…
Are you a grandparent overwhelmed by the high-paced chaos of raising grandchildren, trying to break cycles of crisis and create lasting stability? Do you find yourself burning out, reacting to emergencies instead of building a resilient, nurturing home for the children in your care? Are you searching for practical ways…
What do you do when the village meant to raise your grandchild is actually the one failing them? In this powerful episode of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Nurturing Through Adversity, host Laura Brazan sits down with Paula Yost, a "legal social worker," attorney, and former guardian ad litem. Paula shares her…
Are you a grandparent or kinship caregiver navigating the maze of IEPs, 504 plans, and medical decisions while advocating for a child impacted by trauma and neglect? Do you feel overwhelmed by failing systems, mislabeled as a troublemaker simply for demanding the support your grandchild needs to heal? You’re not…
What happens when a young person’s identity is shaped by a past they didn't choose? In Episode 109, we welcome Brayden Black, a renowned "identity restorer" and "dream catalyst," to the boardroom. This episode is a "Succession Strategy" for the 2.7 million grandparents raising grandchildren. We’re moving beyond "survival mode"…
Welcome to this powerful episode featuring Brayden, an “identity restorer” and dream catalyst whose work with the rising generation will inspire and equip you. Together, we dive deep into his personal journey from self-doubt to empowerment, the transformative influence of storytelling, and actionable methods for nurturing true self-worth in young…
"Abandon perfection." That is the first rule of survival according to systems expert and accountant Pat Hankin. In this milestone 100th episode clip, we aren't just talking about the heart—we are auditing the infrastructure of your life. If you feel like you are "firefighting" every day, it’s time to switch…
"Yes, today is a complete dumpster fire. But that doesn’t mean you’re failing." In this episode of The 2.7 Million Project, we sit down with former high-stakes trial lawyer and author Nancy Lasater to discuss the "Warrior Heart" required for grandparents raising grandchildren. Are you feeling overwhelmed by school evaluations,…
"Parenting is a learned skill—not a personality trait." If you are a grandparent raising grandchildren, you aren't just "old and tired"—you are likely using an outdated "manual" for a high-stakes, trauma-impacted situation. In Episode 108 of The 2.7 Million Project, we sit down with Dr. Lindsay Emmerson to discuss why…