ReStoried
What kind of stories come to mind when you think of foster care?
Many stories are filled with heartbreak, pain, and sorrow. But what if we could step in and see them turned into stories of hope?
Hope Bridge is on a gospel-led mission to transform the foster care landscape in Ohio. We're here to raise awareness and empower churches and communities to step into action by supporting vulnerable children and families in their local communities.
We’re certainly not the Author of these stories, and it’s true that we can't change the past, but we are called to be key characters in THE story that God has written for His creation.
His is a story of redemption and restoration, a story of HOPE.
In this podcast, we will share how we link arms with churches, county workers, foster families, and those in the community to rewrite the narrative for vulnerable children and families.
We’ll be shining a light on stories of hope, redemption, and transformation and sharing practical ways that you can step in and get involved.
Subscribe now, and together, let's make a difference in the lives of those who need it most.
Welcome to "ReStoried," a podcast by Hope Bridge.
Episodes
139 episodes
138. Replay- Being a Part of The Team: A Conversation on How Foster Parents Can Support Reunification
In this episode, we dive into the crucial role foster families play in the reunification process. Our discussion aims to encourage foster families to embrace their part in the team effort required for successful reunification. We'll provide an ...
137. Replay- From Foster Care to Family Reunited: Bethany and Jaliyah's Redemption Story
In this inspiring episode, we explore a powerful story of redemption through an interview with Bethany, a dedicated foster mom, and Jaliyah, the biological mother of Bethany's former foster children. Their journey has been marked by many challe...
136. A New Name, A New Vision: Hope Bridge's Youth Empowerment Program with Larkyn Forchoine
In this episode of Restoried, we introduce our newest team member, Larkyn Forchione, the new Youth Empowerment Coordinator. Larkyn shares her journey as a single foster and adoptive mom, how God led her to Hope Bridge, and her p...
135. God Is Good Even When Foster Care Is Hard with Shelly Mast
In this episode of Restoried, we are introduced to Shelly Mast, the newest county coordinator serving Holmes County and the surrounding area, and a longtime foster mom herself. Shelly shares her journey into foster care, wh...
134. Spiritual Formation: How Fasting Reorients Our Hearts to God
In this month’s spiritual formation conversation, we continue our series by reflecting on the practice of fasting and why it matters for our walk with Christ. Spiritual formation helps re-center our lives on Jesus when everything else competes ...
133. Don’t Just Pray- Move: Faith with Feet in the Foster Care System
For Foster Care Awareness Month, we’re continuing our For the One series with one of our most honest and challenging conversations yet. In this episode, we wrestle with the tension between awareness and action. As believers...
132. For the One: When Foster & Biological Moms Choose Each Other
In this really special episode for Foster Care Awareness Month, Nicole sits down with DiEmma, the biological mom of her three adopted kids—for an honest conversation about what it actually looks like to choose relationship in the middle of real...
131. For the One: Seeing People Like Jesus Does
In this special episode of Restoried, we’re coming together as the four directors of HopeBridge to launch something that is deeply personal to us: our new campaign and heart posture, “For the One.” This conversation is really ab...
130. Spiritual Formation: How Scripture Memorization Shapes Who We Become
In this episode of Restoried, Brian Troyer discusses the power of scripture memorization as a key practice for spiritual formation. Moving beyond simply studying the Bible, he emphasizes how hiding God’s Word in our hearts transforms the way we...
129. Mobilize Ohio 2026 Reflections: What Stuck With Us
In this episode, we’re taking time to reflect on some of our favorite takeaways from Mobilize Ohio 2026. Every year, we’re amazed by the way God shows up in this space, and this year was no different. Our theme was Surrounded
128. Volunteer Where You Are, With What You Have
In honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month, this episode of Restoried highlights the incredible impact of volunteers at Hope Bridge and the vital role they play in supporting foster families, single moms, and vulnerable children. While n...
127. Be the Safe Place: A Conversation for Child Abuse Prevention Month with Stephanie Ellison
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and in this episode of Restoried, we sit down with author, speaker, and advocate Stephanie Ellison to talk about the realities of child abuse, especially the parts we don’t always see. <...
126. Spiritual Formation: The Gift of Sabbath
In this episode of Restoried, we’re talking about Sabbath, what it actually looks like in real, everyday life. It’s not just about taking a day off, but about creating a rhythm of stopping, resting, delighting, and spending time with G...
125. Beyond Burnout: Moral Injury in Social Work
In this episode, we are having a conversation on a powerful concept many child welfare workers feel but don’t always have language for: moral injury. We unpack the difference between simple burnout and the deeper, so...
124. Replay- Encouragement for Child Welfare Workers with Blake Boyer
In honor of Social Work Appreciation Month, we’re resharing one of our earlier conversations with Blake Boyer.Blake is a Christian social worker whose passion is encouraging and equipping believers who are fostering, adopting, and...
123. A Life Wrecked for the Gospel: Kirsten Smith’s Adoption Journey
In this episode, we sit down with Kirsten Smith, Summit County Coordinator for Hope Bridge, to hear her incredible journey as a mother of nine adopted children from foster care. Kirsten shares openly about her family’s story, beginning w...
122. Single Mom, Full Circle: Cat’s Journey with Hope Bridge
On this episode of Restoried, Mel sits down to talk with Jen Zwick and Cat Tortola about hope, faith, and transformation. Cat isn’t just a graduate of the Hope Bridge Single Moms Program; she’s now the Single Mom Program’s coordinator,...
121. Spiritual Formation: Practicing Pilgrim Feast
In this episode of Restoried, Brian and Anne revisit the spiritual formation practice of Pilgrim Feast, a rhythm inspired by the biblical feasts where God’s people gathered to remember His faithfulness and celebrate together. Pi...
120. Finding Hope in the Middle of Hard with Jamie Fuller
In this episode of Restoried, we sit down with Jamie Fuller to hear her family’s unexpected journey into kinship care. It’s a story shaped by loss, faith, and God’s redemptive work. What Jamie thought would be a season of empty nesting...
119. Marriage, Foster Care, and Gritty Faith
Foster care doesn’t just enter a home; it enters a marriage. With Valentine’s Day approaching, this episode of Restoried opens an honest conversation about how foster care changes marriage when court dates, therapy, and survival replac...
118. Stacking the Stones: Staying Faithful in the Hard Seasons with Ryan North
In this episode of Restoried, we sit down with Ryan North of One Big Happy Home for a real and encouraging conversation about foster care, adoption, connected parenting, and staying faithful in hard seasons. With more than 30 foster pl...
117. Spiritual Formation: Living Generously
Today, we’re continuing our spiritual formation series by talking about the discipline of generosity. Jesus has so much to say about generosity in the Bible, and we’re reminded that it truly is more blessed to give than to receive. ...
116. The Gift of Raising Differently Abled Children with Kim Bezek
Today on Restoried, we’re joined by Kim Bezek, one of our breakout speakers for Mobilize Ohio. Kim is a children’s ministry director at a local church and a mom of five, parenting kids with a wide range of abilities, including D...
115. Replay- How to Talk to Your Kids About Adoption & Foster Care — Even If It's Not Your Family’s Story with Trisha White Priebe
This week, we’re replaying one of our favorite conversations with Trisha White Priebe, an adult adoptee, writer, and speaker, and a mainstage speaker at Mobilize Ohio 2026.As we lead up to Mobilize Ohio, this week we’re replaying a power...