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 struggling with the cost of kinship care? Searching for understanding, practical support, and a community that truly sees the struggles and resilience…
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…
Are you a grandparent raising grandchildren while trying to balance compassion with structure in your home? Do you find yourself reverting to “because I said so” parenting, only to meet resistance, trauma triggers, or confusion from the children in your care? Are you yearning for practical guidance, emotional support, and…
Are you a grandparent raising grandchildren who struggle with dyslexia, ADHD, or other learning challenges, feeling the pressure of school evaluations and overwhelming labels? Are you questioning how to advocate for your grandchild in a world that expects you to fit the 1950s stereotype of a calm, apron-clad grandmother? Do…
What does your work as an "Invisible CEO" look like 20 years down the road? Today’s guest, Kevin Lowe, is the living proof that the "little things" you are doing today—the nightly check-ins, the shared laughs, the fierce advocacy—are actually the big things. Kevin went from a sighted teenager to…
Are you a grandparent wondering if the small, steadfast acts of love you give truly shape your grandchildren’s future? Do you ever feel invisible, pouring your heart into healing generational wounds and wondering if your impact will last? Are you navigating the complexities of kinship care, trauma, and family resilience,…
Why do the parenting tools that worked 30 years ago feel like they’re short-circuiting today? If you’ve ever found yourself yelling at a toddler to "calm down" while your own heart is racing, you aren't failing—you're experiencing a biological mismatch. In this episode, we’re moving beyond "patience" and diving into…
Have you noticed the unequal load—both seen and unseen—that grandmothers often carry, while searching for ways to bring grandfathers more fully to the caregiving table? You’re not alone. The gender gap in kinship care is real and significant, often leaving women overwhelmed and resentful, while men struggle to find their…
🚨 JOIN THE GRAND CHALLENGE: Win a $100 Grant, custom "Dream Big Kitchen" gear, and a signed book! Download your 10-Hour Mission Log here: https://www.grandparents-raising-grandchildren.org/thegrandchallenge/ [The Episode Summary] Have you ever felt like you and your partner are speaking two different languages? You're managing the "emotional motherboard" of a kinship…
Before we could find the 'Chewiest Chocolate Chip Cookie,' we had to survive the kitchen! 🕊️ Welcome to a special 'Behind the Scenes' look at The Dream Big Kitchen. If you think being an 'Invisible CEO' is all strategy and boardroom meetings, think again. It’s mostly tongue-twisters, stubbed toes, and…
