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Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Nurturing Through Adversity

The Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Podcast

Are you a grandparent raising grandchildren, an aunt, uncle, or another relative stepping in to provide a stable home? You are a kinship caregiver—the "Invisible CEO" of your family. While the road is often steep, you are not walking it alone.

Hosted by Laura Brazan, The 2.7 Million Project is the dedicated digital boardroom for the millions of families navigating the complexities of kinship care. Our mission is to move families from a state of crisis to a state of family resilience by providing the tools, expert insights, and community support you need to lead your home with a "Warrior’s Heart."

In our boardroom, we tackle the topics that matter most:

Emotional Literacy: Learning how to identify, understand, and respond to the complex feelings of both the caregiver and the child.
Trauma-Informed Care: Practical strategies for raising children who have experienced loss, abandonment, or the impact of a parent’s addiction.
Family Resilience: How to rebuild the family tree and maintain your own well-being while navigating second-time parenting.
Kinship Caregiver Resources: Expert advice on legal guardianship, financial assistance, and the "Invisible CEO" framework for sanity.

With 100+ episodes featuring experts in child psychology, systems management, and family dynamics, we provide a trauma-informed lens on the everyday challenges of grandparents raising grandchildren. Whether you are looking for ways to foster emotional literacy in your home or simply need to know there is a village behind you, you have found your home.

🕊️ Join the Village: Subscribe to the channel to join our community of 2.7 million warrior hearts. 🔗 Resources & Support: Visit https://www.grandparents-raising-grandchildren.org/ for the "Invisible CEO" toolkit and kinship support.

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Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Nurturing Through Adversity

Breaking Generational Labels: Identity Restoration for Kinship Youth

April 21, 2026 • Laura Brazan/ Brayden Black • Season 1 • Episode 109

0:00 | 34:23

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 people who feel defined by circumstances they didn’t choose.

You’ll discover:

How family trauma and shame impact children’s beliefs about themselves—and how you can disrupt that cycle, starting today.
Strategies for separating a child’s innate identity from the wounds of their past.
The role of vulnerability, example-setting, and authentic connection in helping youth move from victimhood to becoming the “executive” of their own feelings and decisions.
Why stories—your own and others’—are one of the most powerful tools for healing and hope.
Resources and social platforms where you can access Brayden’s coaching, self-help ideas, and inspiring content for both you and your grandchildren.
How you can participate in, or spark, mentorship programs and peer communities that support youth through trauma toward greatness.

Follow Brayden on Instagram, or LinkedIn and you can subscribe to his channel on

Send us Fan Mail

Jolene Thiessen has been with us since the beginning of our podcast. She wrote in to thank us for our 100th episode! She looked for help online and found us- the only podcast that came up when she searched for help. I live to help these children have better lives and to be sure that all our pain doesn't go to waste for you grandparents and kinship caregivers out there! I love hearing your stories and comments. Keep sharing! Your stories make a difference.

In this special pre-roll segment, I’m sharing a moving letter from a member of our community, Laurel. Her story of loss, resilience, and raising her grandson after the unthinkable is a raw reminder that none of us are walking this path alone.

We want to hear from you. If Laurel’s story resonates with you, or if you have a journey of your own to share, join our private community. Your story might be the exact lifeline someone else needs to hear today.

Thank you for tuning into today's episode. It's been a journey of shared stories, insights, and invaluable advice from the heart of a community that knows the beauty and challenges of raising grandchildren. Your presence and engagement mean the world to us and to grandparents everywhere stepping up in ways they never imagined.

Remember, you're not alone on this journey. For more resources, support, and stories, visit our website and follow us on our social media channels. If today's episode moved you, consider sharing it with someone who might find comfort and connection in our shared experiences.

We look forward to bringing more stories and expert advice your way next week. Until then, take care of yourselves and each other.

Want to be a guest on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Nurturing Through Adversity? Send Laura Brazan a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/grg

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