#59: Danielle Murphy, foster care: hearts in transition

About this episode

Danielle Murphy discusses the realities of foster care, emotional challenges, and the importance of support for carers.

Danielle Murphy is a foster carer, writer, and advocate who has spent the past six years walking alongside children and young people in care. Through her lived experience, Danielle brings an honest and grounded voice to the realities of foster care — the deep love it invites, the uncertainty it holds, and the emotional labour required to keep showing up. She is the author of Hearts in Transition , a book written to reflect the stories so often left untold in foster care and to offer connection and support to other carers navigating similar paths. In this conversation, Danielle and Megan explore what foster care really looks like beyond the surface. They speak candidly about the unpredictability of placements, the emotional toll of constant transitions, and the grief that carers and children carry — even when placements are short. Danielle reflects on how schools often struggle to understand the impact of trauma and transition on children in care, and why trauma-informed approaches are not optional, but essential. Together, they unpack how even a few weeks of safety, consistency, and care can leave a lasting imprint on a child’s life. They also discuss what carers need in order to…

People in this episode

Host: Megan Corcoran

Guest: Danielle Murphy

Topics covered

• foster care
• emotional labor
• trauma-informed approaches
• support systems
• self-care
• children in care

Keywords

• foster care
• emotional toll
• trauma
• self-care
• support systems
• children in care
• placements
• advocacy

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Hearts in Transition

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