Resilient Voices & Beyond

By: Michael D. Davis-Thomas Aka MDDTSpeaks
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  • Summary

  • Resilient Voices & Beyond is a podcast that amplifies the voices of those who were once silenced and aims to empower a new generation of foster care alum leaders. Through conversations with community partners, leaders, advocates, and activists, this podcast educates listeners on reforms, policies, and advocacy related to foster care, adoption, kinship, CCIs, JJ, and the child welfare system. The podcast challenges stigmas and labels surrounding these topics and creates a dialogue on reform and advocacy that is already happening or needs to happen. The core values of Resilient Voices & Beyond include empowerment, inclusivity, education, collaboration, authenticity, and innovation. The mission of the podcast is to create a platform for silenced voices to be heard and received, while the vision is to inspire and empower a new generation of leaders committed to making a positive change in the world.
    Michael D. Davis-Thomas/MDDTSpeaks
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Hygiene & Healthy Living Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
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Episodes
  • “Life is not what happens to you, but how you respond to it.”

    “Life is not what happens to you, but how you respond to it.”
    Apr 19 2025
    Season 3, Episode 46

    Title: “Life is not what happens to you, but how you respond to it.”

    Subtitle: Stepping Into the Call: From Surviving to Surrendering

    In this transformative episode of the Resilient Voices & Beyond Podcast, host Michael D. Davis-Thomas (MDDTSpeaks) reconnects with long-time friend and fellow advocate Ashley Watkins—and what unfolds is nothing short of sacred. Together, they journey through Ashley’s powerful testimony of resilience, healing, and divine surrender.

    Ashley Watkins, a spoken word poet, therapist, foster care advocate, and founder of Her Untold Stories Heard, opens up about her evolution—from surviving childhood trauma, navigating the foster care system, and enduring abuse, to stepping boldly into the woman God called her to be. In this vulnerable yet victorious dialogue, Ashley shares how she moved from living in the shadows of her pain to reclaiming her voice, redefining her worth, and helping other women heal through truth and transparency.

    Key Conversation Highlights:
    • The journey from surviving abuse and abandonment to discovering divine identity
    • Choosing surrender over striving, and trusting God in the midst of uncertainty
    • Why healing isn’t linear—and how to stay the course when the process hurts
    • The importance of self-trust, faith-led obedience, and emotional accountability
    • Ashley’s founding of HUSH (Her Untold Stories Heard) and her mission to help women evolve through their truth
    • The spiritual tension of being called but not yet prepared—and what it means to wait well
    • The reality of mental health battles, faith fatigue, and learning how to pray when words run out
    Throughout the episode, Michael and Ashley exchange reflections on surrendering ambition for purpose, embracing God’s timing, and answering the call to be light—even when life has tried to extinguish that light. Their conversation is raw, rich, and soul-deep—reminding us that our response to adversity defines our resilience.

    If you’re in a season of questioning, healing, or trying to find your footing after brokenness, this episode is your invitation to stop surviving and start surrendering.

    Guest: Ashley Watkins
    • Spoken Word Poet | Therapist | Foster Care Advocate
    • Founder & CEO of Her Untold Stories Heard (HUSH)
    Connect with Ashley:
      • @soulevessel__
      • @heruntoldstoriesheard_
      • LinkedIn
      • Facebook
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” – Colossians 3:23 (NLT)

    “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” – Colossians 3:23 (NLT)
    Apr 19 2025
    Season 3, Episode 45

    Title: “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” – Colossians 3:23 (NLT)

    In this deeply moving episode of Resilient Voices & Beyond Podcast, host Michael D. Davis-Thomas is joined by author, advocate, mother, and lived experience leader Kayann Foster—a woman whose life and work exemplify faith, resilience, and radical healing.

    From surviving childhood trauma, homelessness, domestic abuse, and aging out of foster care, to becoming a Lived Experience Consultant for the Department of Children and Families in New Jersey, Kayann’s journey is one of extraordinary transformation. She shares her story with humility and honesty, reflecting on the path that led her from survival mode to sustainable healing—both for herself and for the communities she now serves.

    In this episode, Kayann opens up about:
    • Healing from childhood trauma and domestic abuse while navigating motherhood
    • The power of faith, transparency, and self-compassion in breaking generational cycles
    • Why embracing her scars instead of hiding them has become a cornerstone of her healing
    • Her work as a PACEs (Positive and Adverse Childhood Experiences) trainer, creating trauma-informed spaces across New Jersey
    • Balancing advocacy and motherhood while raising five beautiful children
    • Publishing her book “Water in the Wilderness”—a reluctant but powerful act of obedience and courage
    Kayann also reflects on the emotional weight of being a mother determined to parent differently—choosing connection, honesty, and grace over reaction and shame. She and Michael explore the importance of naming our survival-mode behaviors, reframing pain as purpose, and stepping out of isolation into healing-centered community.

    If you’ve ever struggled with trauma, faith, parenting after pain, or finding your voice through adversity—this episode will meet you exactly where you are. Kayann’s story is a beacon for anyone ready to stop hiding their story and start living healed.

    Key Themes:
    • Resilience through motherhood
    • The intersection of faith and healing
    • Self-care beyond survival mode
    • Systemic advocacy rooted in lived experience
    • Owning your truth and sharing it with others
    Order Kayann’s Book:
    Water in the Wilderness – [Available on Amazon] Follow Kayann Foster:
    • LinkedIn: Kayann Foster
    • Email: [fosterkk.4404@gmail.com]
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • "Your Story Is Your Superpower—Own It, Share It, and Let It Open Doors for You."

    "Your Story Is Your Superpower—Own It, Share It, and Let It Open Doors for You."
    Apr 12 2025
    Episode Title: "Your Story Is Your Superpower—Own It, Share It, and Let It Open Doors for You."

    Season 3, Episode 44

    In this transformative episode of Resilient Voices & Beyond Podcast, host Michael D. Davis-Thomas sits down with powerhouse speaker, author, trauma expert, and former foster youth Dr. Danisha Keating for a deeply authentic conversation about healing, identity, and turning pain into purpose.

    From living in her car while navigating college, to raising her siblings while building a life rooted in impact, Dr. Keating’s story is one of resilience, grit, and radical self-determination. She shares how her experiences in the foster care system and with generational trauma shaped her—but didn’t define her. Instead, she reclaimed her narrative and has since dedicated her life to empowering others to do the same through storytelling, education, and systemic advocacy.

    As the author of Faith Through the Desert, From Foster to PhD: Letters from a Suitcase, and Taking My Voice Back: Healing What Broke Me, Dr. Keating is a leading voice in the foster care reform space and a nationally recognized coach for speakers and authors. Her mission is clear: to help others own their voice, craft their message, and step into spaces they were once told they didn’t belong.

    In this episode, Michael and Dr. Keating explore:
    • Navigating homelessness and foster care while pursuing higher education
    • The emotional toll of systemic disconnection and budget cuts
    • How to recognize and break generational trauma and learned helplessness
    • The power of community and finding just one person who believes in you
    • Turning your story into your platform: authentic storytelling as advocacy
    • The importance of self-care, celebration of small wins, and setting boundaries
    This conversation is a reminder that your story is not a liability—it’s leverage. For every listener who's struggled with feeling unseen, unheard, or unworthy, this episode is your invitation to reclaim your voice, rewrite your narrative, and realize your worth. Connect with Dr. Danisha Keating:
    • Website: www.danishakeating.com
    • Instagram: @drdanishakeating
    • Facebook: Dr. Danisha Keating
    • LinkedIn: Danisha Keating, PhD
    • YouTube: The Dr. Danisha Keating Show
    • TikTok: @drdanishakeating
    Explore her books on Amazon:
    • Faith Through the Desert
    • From Foster to PhD: Letters from a Suitcase
    • Taking My Voice Back: Healing What Broke Me
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    52 mins

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