Fracture to Flourish | Aging Out: The Hidden Pipeline

Fracture to Flourish examines systemic challenges affecting communities across the nation. Unveiling raw, honest stories of resilience, we illuminate the journeys that transform fracture into flourishing—revealing what becomes possible when systems truly serve the people they’re meant to protect.Season Two: Aging Out: The Hidden Pipeline investigates how foster care instability, isolation, and unmet needs can create a pathway to exploitation, and what it takes to interrupt that pathway before harm becomes a life sentence.Across four episodes, host Bryce Butler follows the pattern from multiple angles: the early warning signs that get missed, grooming that hides in plain sight, system breakdowns that let kids disappear, and the reforms and relationships that make prevention real.Through intimate survivor stories and candid insight from advocates, practitioners, and policy leaders, this season asks a hard question with urgent stakes: What would it look like to build a system designed around children—so fewer are ever within reach of traffickers?Season 2 overview- Episode 1 — Nobody Noticed: The Making of a Target- Episode 2 — Targeted: Grooming in Plain Sight- Episode 3 — Designed to Fail: Lost in the System- Episode 4 — Beyond Rescue: Reform, Hope & Choosing Joy Guests + Organizations (Season 2)- Lauren — survivor voice- Priscilla Roman — survivor voice- Dr. Jeanne L. Allert — Institute for Survivor Care- John Richmond — Atlas Free (former U.S. Ambassador‑at‑Large)- Jeremy Vallerand — Atlas Free (CEO + founder)- Ricky Lynn — law enforcement (KY)- Ashlee Lucas — The Tebow Group- Dr. Jennifer Jacobs — Connect Our Kids- Ashleigh Chapman — Engage Together / Alliance for Freedom, Restoration, and Justice- Dani Pinter — NCOSE- Rachelle Starr — Scarlet Hope- Wes Lyons — Eagle Venture Fund- Christabella Ryder — Season 1 guest- Dr. Brook Parker Bello — survivor advocate- Tori Hope Petersen — former foster youth and advocatePartners:Atlas Free (Season Partner): This season is made possible in part by our partners at Atlas Free, a global movement fighting sex trafficking. Atlas Free supports local organizations helping survivors find freedom and rebuild their futures, and works to stop traffickers where they operate. Learn more at http://atlasfree.orgScarlet Hope (Season Partner): This season is made possible in part by our partners at Scarlet Hope, which has been showing up week after week with outreach and restoration for women who’ve been exploited in clubs, on the streets, and online. Learn more at http://scarlethope.orgAccess Ventures (Series Partner): Fracture to Flourish is a production of Access Ventures, a catalyst for change working to build a flourishing society. Access Ventures leverages catalytic capital and partnerships to drive economic prosperity, social equity, and environmental sustainability in communities. Learn more at http://accessventures.orgResourcesNational Human Trafficking Hotline (US): Call 1‑888‑373‑7888 or text BEFREE (233733)RAINN (sexual assault support): http://rainn.orgNational Runaway Safeline: 1‑800‑RUNAWAY (786‑2929) or http://1800runaway.orgNAMI (mental health support): http://nami.org Credits:- "Fracture to Flourish" is a production of http://accessventures.org.- Created, written, and hosted by Bryce Butler.- Editing and production by Jacob Bozarth.- Additional editing and production by Crystal Esquivel and Amelia Witts.- Audio mixing by Pat Kicklighter.- Cover art and design by Justin Esquivel.- Marketing support by Amelia Witts and Madison Butler.- To listen to past episodes, check out http://fracturetoflourish.com.

In this powerful final episode, we shift our focus from the weight of challenges to the momentum of solutions, exploring how youth are becoming architects of their own change in the foster care system. This episode reveals what's possible when foster youth and their communities refuse to accept the status quo.We follow the inspiring story of Ella, a young woman who transformed personal frustration into powerful change. After being denied access to her own birth certificate, she wrote and championed a foster youth bill of rights that passed unanimously through the state legislature, making Tennessee the 17th state to enact such protections. Her story proves that real change doesn't always come from the top down—sometimes it starts with the very people most affected by the system.But this episode isn't just about individual triumph. It's about collective responsibility. We hear from advocates and community leaders who are reimagining how we support young people aging out of care—offering not just resources, but consistent presence and lasting connection.This final chapter challenges us to move from awareness to action. Because identifying problems isn't enough—it's time to build solutions together.Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of foster care system challenges.For additional resources and stories featured in this episode, visit: fracturetoflourish.comFeatured organizations and resources:Redemptive Connection by Pam Parishpamparish.comFoster the CityNew CultureConnection HomesOrphan Care AllianceWindShape Homes(00:00) Introduction(00:32) The Power of Supportive Adult Relationships(03:33) Shifting the Focus: From Systems to People(06:03) Breaking the Cycle Through Community Connection(09:11) Ella's Story: Turning Personal Struggle into Policy Change(14:59) Reimagining the Future of Foster Care(25:58) The Lasting Impact of Community Support(31:15) From Awareness to Action: What You Can Do(35:33) What’s Next: A Preview of Season Two(40:09) Credits

What exactly do foster youth age out of? In this powerful episode, we step inside the foster care system to understand the lived reality behind the statistics—and why so many youth, especially young men, end up incarcerated after leaving care.Through raw, honest stories, we witness the hidden toll of growing up in a system designed to protect, but often failing to provide what children need most: consistency, safety, and belonging. From 30 different placements to nights spent at government offices, these aren't just statistics—they're lives shaped by constant upheaval.We open with a haunting scene: four-year-old Harmony, sleeping under fluorescent lights in a Memphis DCS office. She’s about to be separated from her sister because no foster home can take them both. It’s a moment that reveals just how stretched—and broken—the system can be.We explore the devastating symbolism of the trash bag: how being told to carry your life in something meant for garbage sends a message no child should ever receive. We hear about the hypervigilance these children develop, being constantly on edge, always ready for, and how it becomes a survival skill that leaves lasting emotional scars..But this isn't just a story of failure. Crystabella's journey from addiction and incarceration to recovery and purpose shows the transformative power of having even one person show up and stay. Lance Villio shares a powerful shift in perspective when community leaders stopped seeing these youth as “the state’s problem” and started seeing them as our kids.The episode challenges a deeply held myth: that independence means going it alone. These young people don't need pity. They need presence. They need us to understand that no one thrives in isolation, and that real, lasting change happens when communities decide to show up.Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of trauma, abuse, addiction, and incarceration.For additional resources and stories featured in this episode, visit: fracturetoflourish.com(00:00) Introduction and Content Warning(01:23) Inside the Foster Care System(03:11) Harmony's Story: Sleeping in DCS Offices(06:03) Gabe's Start: From Chaos to Care(11:25) Crystabella's Journey - 30 Placements Before 18(17:26) How Instability Disrupts Education(22:13) The Trash Bag: A Devastating Symbol(26:56) Heather's Story: Growing Up Isolated(29:18) Vulnerability and Exploitation in Care(34:45) The Foster Care to Prison Pipeline(37:26) Trauma and the Need for Mental Health Support(41:59) The Power of Showing Up(44:23) These Are Our Kids: Community Responsibility(47:17) A Call to Action

In this powerful first episode of Fracture to Flourish, we explore the critical challenges facing youth who age out of the foster care system. Each year, 20,000 young people in America confront a life-altering transition as they exit foster care at 18—often without the support systems most of us take for granted. The foster care system, though designed for temporary safety and stability, often becomes these young people's only known home—until it vanishes on their 18th birthday.Through intimate conversations with three remarkable individuals who have overcome this challenging transition, we uncover both systemic failures and extraordinary resilience. Meet Ella, whose frustration with the foster care system led her to draft a Foster Youth Bill of Rights after struggling to obtain her own birth certificate. Hear from Mark, who was born behind prison walls and spent his childhood moving through multiple foster homes and schools, yet transformed these experiences into strength. And listen to Heather, who journeyed from foster care to a successful career at Microsoft, openly sharing her story of overcoming attachment challenges and breaking generational cycles.The episode reveals sobering statistics about youth exiting foster care: one in four faces incarceration within two years, half cannot find steady employment, and one in five becomes homeless immediately. Yet beyond these numbers lie the daily struggles these young people face—from having to prove their very existence without basic documentation to navigating adult responsibilities without any guidance or support.We also hear from Lance Villio, executive director of Tennessee Governor's Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, and Tom Baldwin from Belmont University's Innovation Lab. They are working to transform community support for youth transitioning out of foster care. Their insights emphasize how crucial supportive adult relationships are for former foster youth's success.This episode invites listeners to rethink the meaning of adulthood while questioning a system that leaves its most vulnerable youth to face this transition alone. Through compelling storytelling and firsthand accounts, we reveal how the foster care system's aging-out process affects young lives and what meaningful reform could look like.This episode offers valuable insights for everyone—from foster care advocates and system professionals to anyone seeking to understand this critical social issue. We examine both the challenges and opportunities that emerge as young people transition out of foster care. Join us as we share stories that go beyond mere survival, revealing powerful journeys of transformation and resilience, while highlighting how community support helps young people move from fracture to flourish.Featured Organizations from Episode:Belmont University Innovation Lab: www.belmont.edu/innovationTennessee Governor's Faith-Based and Community Initiatives: www.tn.gov/tfbciEvery Child Tennessee: everychildtn.orgFor additional resources and to learn more about the stories featured in this episode, visit our website: fracturetoflourish.com(00:00) Introduction(00:39) The Reality of Aging Out of Foster Care(09:00) Ella’s Story: Advocacy and Resilience(13:40) Mark’s Journey: Finding Strength in Adversity(24:42) Heather’s Experience: Breaking the Cycle(30:30) Community Support and System Change(39:08) Next Time on Fracture to Flourish(39:58) Credits

Welcome to Fracture to Flourish, a groundbreaking podcast from Access Ventures that brings powerful, untold stories to the forefront. In season one, "Aging Out," we spotlight the 20,000 young adults who leave foster care each year in America—often without support, guidance, or even their own personal documents.Through raw and honest conversations, we explore what it truly means to navigate adulthood alone. We’ll hear deeply personal stories of heartbreak, homelessness, addiction, and resilience, revealing that behind every statistic is a person with hopes, struggles, and untapped potential.We'll also hear from changemakers and advocates working tirelessly to transform lives and challenge systems that perpetuate cycles of vulnerability. Fracture to Flourish is where survival turns into thriving, and voices often left unheard finally get the space they deserve. Join us as we reimagine what real support and opportunity look like for those aging out of foster care. Subscribe now—our first episode launches May 20th.