The Think Orphan podcast is hosted by Brandon Stiver, Director of Programs at 1MILLIONHOME and Philip Darke, President of Providence World and co-author of In Pursuit of Orphan Excellence. Each episode, they discuss the difficult issues and hot topics involved in the global orphan crisis with leading voices from around the world, such as Jedd Medefind, Russell Moore, and Peter Greer. From poverty alleviation and family strengthening, to best practices in caring for orphaned and abandoned children, to human trafficking and mentoring, Phil and Brandon will work with you to navigate the issues that affect millions of children and families all over the world.
About Phil Darke
Phil, his wife Becca, and their five children, live in Folsom, CA. Phil received his Juris Doctor Degree from Vanderbilt University School of Law and his B.A. Degree in Rhetoric and Communications from U.C. Davis. Before coming on-board with Providence as Research & Development Director in October 2008, Phil worked as an attorney with different firms in Sacramento, CA, and Atlanta, GA, and as a clerk for a federal judge in Honolulu, HI. In 2014, Phil co-authored In Pursuit of Orphan Excellence, and has been the co-host of the Think Orphan Podcast since its inception in 2016.
About Brandon Stiver
Brandon has worked in global child welfare for over ten years and is currently the Director of Programs and Partnerships at 1MILLIONHOME. Before joining 1MILLIONHOME, he led a family based care and advocacy program in Tanzania for several years. Brandon has also worked at a Tanzanian orphanage, in the Californian foster care system and teaches on issues facing at risk children at the university level. He has his Master’s in Global Development and Justice from Multnomah University and is passionate about indigenous leadership, community mobilization and seeing global entities come together to deliver the best care for at risk children. He, and his wife Melissa, live with their four children in Tacoma, WA.
About Rick Morton (Seasons 6, 7 and 8)
Father to three trans-nationally adopted children, Rick Morton’s dedication to orphans extends beyond his family. Coauthor of Orphanology: Awakening to Gospel-Centered Adoption and Orphan Care and author of KnowOrphans: Mobilizing the Church for Global Orphanology, Rick and his wife are co-founders of international orphan-hosting ministry Promise 139, based in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and Rick serves as Vice President of Engagement for Lifeline Children’s Services, an international ministry dedicated to caring for the fatherless. An inspiring speaker, Rick shares God’s heart for the fatherless at many conferences for pastors as well as orphan-care advocates worldwide. He and his family live in the Greater Birmingham area.
About Karen Hutcheson (Seasons 3, 4 and 5)
Dr. Karen Hutcheson is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist. She specializes in the assessment and treatment of children, teens, and families who have experienced trauma, abuse, or neglect. Her work focuses on helping kids from foster care, international adoption, and domestic adoption as well as working with children and teens who have been exposed to or are consuming internet pornography. Dr. Karen is a nationally known educator, teaching and training parents, schools, and ministries the best ways to protect kids hearts and minds from pornography by intentionally teaching children and teens how to respond when they are exposed. Dr. Karen received a Bachelor’s Degree from Baylor University, a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology and a Doctorate of Clinical Psychology from Spalding University. She completed her pre-doctoral residency at the Chicago Area Christian Training Consortium through Wheaton College.
Dr. Karen lived and worked overseas in Uganda where she provided international member care, consultation, and training to ministries and NGOs, and she continues to provide international member care to individuals as well as organizations across the globe. She is an adoptive mother and an orphan care advocate. Dr. Karen speaks regularly at national adoption conferences and provides clinical consultation and training in orphan care settings domestically and internationally. Dr. Karen also provides pre and post adoption training, consultation, and parent coaching for several national adoption agencies. She is a Clinical Faculty member at Spalding University and consults regularly with public and private schools, churches, and ministries across the United States.
Dr. Karen is a Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI)® practitioner, and is professionally trained in Theraplay®, and EMDR. She has a wide range of experience in areas of child development, attachment, parent training, relationship-based traumas, pre and post adoption services, international orphan care community consultation, and missionary member care.
About Kelly Stewart (Seasons 1 and 2)
Kelly Stewart is a transplanted southern girl living in northern California with her husband, Jason, and four kids. Kelly received her Master of Social Work from the University of Tennessee and a Master of Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Kelly served as an Adoption Social Worker, assisting families through the adoption process for years before she and Jason adopted their youngest son from Ethiopia in 2012. After walking through the ups and downs of adoption, Kelly now provides post adoption consultation to families. When not speaking to groups about adoption, Kelly spends her time serving the local church where her husband is a pastor, watching her kids on a soccer field or basketball court or sitting in the eternal school car line listening to a podcast.
