• What Foster Parents Wish You Knew: Insights and Realities
    May 19 2026

    May is Foster Care Awareness Month, and in this episode we wanted to do something different.

    Instead of only sharing our own thoughts, we asked foster parents what they wish everyone else understood about foster care. Their responses were honest, vulnerable, challenging, and deeply insightful.

    We talked about comments foster families hear all the time:

    • “I could never do foster care because I’d get too attached.”
    • “They’re lucky to have you.”
    • “You knew what you were signing up for.”

    Most people who say these things mean well. We know that. But this episode is an invitation to see foster care from the inside and understand the realities many families live every day.

    We discuss:

    • why foster parents do become deeply attached
    • why attachment is actually healthy and necessary
    • trauma and why it changes parenting
    • misconceptions around adoption and healing
    • biological parents and compassion
    • reunification and complicated grief
    • how foster care impacts biological children too
    • why foster parents need support more than praise
    • practical ways anyone can help foster families

    We also share stories from our own journey and highlight people in our community who have stepped in and made an incredible difference for our family.

    Our hope is simple:

    • More understanding.
    • More compassion.
    • More support.
    • Because you do not have to foster to make a difference.

    Support The Podcast

    https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/support

    Speaking Requests

    If your church, conference, or organization would like Jason and Whitney to speak about foster care, adoption, faith, leadership, or living a meaningful life through small acts of faithfulness, you can contact them at: dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com

    Join our weekly devotional newsletter here:

    https://captivate.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c75f5dfcf9d690c6c9f256d22&id=d17b98130b

    Follow & Contact

    Email: dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com

    Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast

    Facebook: Dream Small Podcast

    Twitter/X: @DreamSmallShow

    Music Credit

    "Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

    Licensed under Creative Commons.

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    43 mins
  • We Blame Foster Care Case Workers For A Broken System They Didn’t Create
    May 12 2026

    What is it really like to be a foster care case worker?

    In this powerful and emotional conversation, we sit down with former Indiana DCS case worker, foster/adoptive mom, and child advocate Moriah Coons to talk about the side of foster care most people never see.

    From overwhelming caseloads and dangerous home visits to heartbreaking court decisions and emotional burnout, Moriah gives an honest look at the impossible weight many case workers carry every single day. She shares stories from the front lines of child welfare that reveal just how complicated the foster care system really is and why so many good case workers end up exhausted, overwhelmed, and misunderstood.

    But this conversation is not about defending a broken system. It is about humanizing the people inside it.

    Moriah also shares incredible moments of hope and redemption, including adoption stories, reunifications, and the moments that reminded her why the work mattered in the first place.

    Whether you are a foster parent, adoptive parent, CASA worker, social worker, church leader, or someone simply trying to better understand foster care, this episode will challenge the way you think about the system and the people trying to hold it together.

    In this episode, we discuss:

    • What foster care case workers actually face behind the scenes
    • Why communication can feel so difficult in foster care cases
    • The emotional toll of carrying impossible decisions
    • How judges, policies, and courts impact child safety decisions
    • Why many foster care workers burn out
    • Threats, trauma, and overwhelming caseloads
    • The heartbreaking realities of neglect and domestic violence cases
    • How churches and foster families can support case workers
    • Stories of adoption, healing, and redemption

    Some moments from this episode that will stick with us:

    • “Every single time I walked up the stairs, I was terrified the baby would be dead.”
    • “They’re not thriving. They’re surviving.”
    • “For every one bad egg, there’s a million more trying to do the right thing.”
    • “They’re just normal people trying to make a difference.”

    Moriah Coons was born and raised in Texas and studied Bible, Theology, Children’s Ministry, and Special Needs Ministry at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. She served as a Family Case Manager with Indiana DCS before transitioning into victim advocacy and domestic violence support work. Today, she serves as the Foster And Adoption Family Support Lead at Trader’s Point Christian Church (https://tpcc.org/fam). Moriah and her husband Austin were licensed foster parents for nearly four years and recently adopted a sibling group of three. She also serves on the Executive Board for Champions For Children, an organization focused on making Indiana children safer.

    If this episode encouraged or challenged you, would you take a moment to follow the show, leave a review, and share this episode with someone else? Those small actions truly help us continue growing this community and spreading awareness around foster care, adoption, and living faithfully right where God has placed us.

    Support The Podcast

    https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/support

    Speaking Requests

    If your church, conference, or organization would like Jason and Whitney to speak about foster care, adoption, faith, leadership, or living a meaningful life through small acts of faithfulness, you can contact them at: dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com

    Join our weekly devotional newsletter here:

    https://captivate.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c75f5dfcf9d690c6c9f256d22&id=d17b98130b

    Follow & Contact

    Email: dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com

    Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast

    Facebook: Dream Small Podcast

    Twitter/X: @DreamSmallShow

    Music Credit

    "Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

    Licensed under Creative Commons.

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    37 mins
  • How to Support Foster Families
    May 5 2026

    Foster care was never meant to be done alone.

    In this episode, we kick off Foster Care Awareness Month with a conversation that is both deeply personal and incredibly practical. After years of fostering, one thing has become clear to us: the families who last are not the strongest or the most prepared. They are the ones who are supported.

    There are roughly 200,000 licensed foster homes in the United States and nearly 400,000 children in care. While that gap matters, there is another reality that often gets overlooked. Not everyone is called to foster, but everyone can do something.

    This episode is for anyone who has ever thought, “I want to help… I just don’t know how.”

    We share real stories from our own journey. The meals that showed up at just the right time. The people who stepped in to help with childcare. The unexpected financial support. The handwritten notes that reminded us we were not alone. Even the moments where someone simply stayed present with us when things were hard.

    These weren’t grand gestures. They were small, faithful acts of care that made it possible for us to keep going.

    We also walk through practical ways you can support foster families in your own community. Whether you are part of a church, a friend, a neighbor, or someone who simply cares, there are tangible steps you can take starting today.

    Because the truth is simple:

    You don’t have to foster to change a foster child’s life.

    And in many ways, the greatest need in foster care today is not just more families stepping in. It is more people willing to stand beside those who already have.

    As Whitney shared in this episode, foster care is an emotional rollercoaster, and no one is meant to ride it alone. The support system around a family often determines whether they can continue saying yes.

    So if you have ever wondered how to make a difference, this episode will give you clarity, direction, and encouragement to take that first step.

    Because sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is simply stay.

    What You’ll Learn in This Episode

    • Why support systems matter more than strength in foster care
    • The real reason many foster families burn out
    • Simple and practical ways to support foster families
    • How small acts of care create lasting impact
    • Why you don’t have to foster to make a difference

    Practical Ways to Support Foster Families

    • Provide meals during placements or transitions
    • Offer childcare or respite support
    • Help with transportation for appointments and visits
    • Write encouraging notes or check in consistently
    • Support financially when unexpected needs arise
    • Help create or prepare a child’s space in the home
    • Be present during hard seasons without trying to fix everything

    A Simple Challenge

    Think of one foster family in your life or in your community.

    This week, take one step.

    Send a message. Drop off a meal. Offer to help.

    It doesn’t have to be big to matter.

    Small acts of faithfulness can change everything.

    Support The Podcast

    https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/support

    Speaking Requests

    If your church, conference, or organization would like Jason and Whitney to speak about foster care, adoption, faith, leadership, or living a meaningful life through small acts of faithfulness, you can contact them at: dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com

    Join our weekly devotional newsletter here:

    https://captivate.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c75f5dfcf9d690c6c9f256d22&id=d17b98130b

    Follow & Contact

    Email: dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com

    Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast

    Facebook: Dream Small Podcast

    Twitter/X: @DreamSmallShow

    Music Credit

    "Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

    Licensed under Creative Commons.

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    41 mins
  • The Real Life of Foster Care: What People Don’t See | E45
    Apr 28 2026
    The Real Life of Foster Care: What People Don’t SeeMay is Foster Care Awareness Month, and while a lot of people are familiar with the idea of foster care, far fewer understand what it actually looks like inside a home that is living it every single day. In this episode, we wanted to slow things down and offer a more honest picture of that reality, not to overwhelm you, but to help you see what is often hidden and to invite you into it in a meaningful way.When most people think about foster care, they tend to picture the big, visible pieces. They think about court dates, caseworkers, home visits, and the system as a whole. Those things are certainly part of the experience, and they can be difficult in their own right. But what often goes unseen are the quieter moments that carry just as much weight, if not more.It shows up in a child filling their plate at dinner and not taking a single bite. It shows up in tears late at night and questions that do not have easy answers, like “Why can’t I go back to my mommy?” These are the moments that don’t make headlines or get talked about often, but they are the ones that shape a foster family’s daily life.There is also a layer of unpredictability that is hard to explain unless you have lived it. Schedules change at the last minute, visits get canceled or rearranged, and communication is not always as clear or timely as you would hope. In the middle of all of that, you are still trying to create stability for a child who has already experienced significant disruption. That tension can be exhausting, not just physically, but emotionally.One of the biggest shifts foster care requires is learning to see behavior through a different lens. What might look like defiance on the surface is often rooted in fear. What looks like anger may actually be grief. Even withdrawal can be a form of protection for a child who is trying to make sense of a world that has not felt safe or consistent. There is no simple formula for responding to those moments well, which means you are often learning as you go, relying on patience, grace, and a lot of prayer.Another important piece that we talk about in this episode is the purpose of foster care itself. Many people assume the goal is adoption, but in most cases, the goal is reunification. The hope is that families can heal and that children can safely return home. That reality creates a unique tension for foster families, because you are called to love a child deeply while also preparing your heart for the possibility that they may leave. It is a kind of love that requires both openness and surrender at the same time.Even with all of the challenges, there is still so much beauty woven throughout the experience. There are moments that feel sacred in a way that is hard to fully describe. A child who begins to trust after weeks or months of uncertainty. A small expression of gratitude that carries far more meaning than expected. Watching your own children develop compassion and awareness in ways that would not have happened otherwise. These moments do not erase the hard, but they give it purpose.We also spend some time challenging the idea that foster care is only for a specific group of people. While not everyone is called to open their home, we do believe that everyone is called to care in some capacity. There are many ways to step into this space, and they do not all require becoming a foster parent. In fact, some of the most impactful support comes from people who are willing to come alongside foster families and help carry the load.If you are not sure where to begin, it can be simpler than you think. Bringing a meal to a foster family can create margin in a day that feels overwhelming. Offering to help with transportation or childcare can relieve pressure in a very tangible way. Even small acts like helping with yard work or providing groceries can communicate to a family that they are not alone. There are also opportunities to support biological families when it is safe to do so, which can play a role in preventing children from entering foster care in the first place.As we move into this month, our encouragement is to take a step, even if it feels small. Learn more about foster care, ask questions, and look for ways to get involved. You do not need to have everything figured out before you begin. Often, it is simply a willingness to say yes to what is in front of you that makes the biggest difference.If this episode encouraged you or gave you a new perspective, we would love for you to share it with someone else. You never know how one conversation or one small action might impact a child or a family in need.Support The PodcastSpeaking RequestsIf your church, conference, or organization would like Jason and Whitney to speak about foster care, adoption, faith, leadership, or living a meaningful life through small acts of faithfulness, you can contact them at: dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.comJoin our weekly devotional newsletter ...
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    47 mins
  • Reunification in Foster Care: Why It Matters and Why It Hurt | E44
    Apr 21 2026

    Life Update / Conversation Setup

    This week, we sit down with Josh Cortez, pastor at Westfield Friends Church and foster dad of nearly eight years. He and his wife have had over 10 kids in their home, and their story is unique because almost every placement has ended in reunification.

    That perspective shapes everything about how they approach foster care.

    Big Topic: Reunification and Loving Bio Parents

    Josh shares why reunification is not just something they accept, but something they actively pursue.

    We talk about:

    • Why reunification reflects the heart of the gospel
    • How foster care can be a ministry of reconciliation
    • Why bio parents are often misunderstood
    • The tension of wanting what is best for a child while trusting a broken system

    Even when reunification is good, it is still incredibly hard.

    Personal Foster Care Stories

    We get into real, lived experiences:

    • Kids going home and the grief that follows
    • Their biological children grieving placements for days
    • Moments where reunification felt too fast and out of your control
    • Stories of building real relationships with biological parents

    Biblical Perspective

    This episode is rooted deeply in Scripture and the gospel.

    Josh talks about:

    • Foster care as a picture of redemption and reconciliation
    • The call to die to yourself daily in following Jesus
    • Living as ambassadors of reconciliation from 2 Corinthians 5
    • Seeing bio parents as people made in the image of God

    Practical Encouragement

    If you are struggling in foster care, especially with bio parents, this episode gives real, practical wisdom:

    • Resentment is normal, but you do not have to stay there
    • You need community to sustain this calling
    • Rest is not optional, it is necessary
    • You may be the only advocate that child has
    • Loving bio parents starts with surrendering your own heart

    Support The Podcast

    https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/support

    Speaking Requests

    If your church, conference, or organization would like Jason and Whitney to speak about foster care, adoption, faith, leadership, or living a meaningful life through small acts of faithfulness, you can contact them at:

    dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com

    Join our weekly devotional newsletter here:

    https://captivate.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c75f5dfcf9d690c6c9f256d22&id=d17b98130b

    Follow & Contact

    Email: dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com

    Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast

    Facebook: Dream Small Podcast

    Twitter/X: @DreamSmallShow

    Music Credit

    "Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

    Licensed under Creative Commons.

    Show More Show Less
    45 mins
  • When Foster Placements Disrupt: When Saying Goodbye Is Sometimes Necessary
    Apr 14 2026
    Disrupting a foster placement is one of the hardest and most painful parts of foster care, and it is something people rarely talk about honestly.In this episode, Jason and Whitney open up about the heartbreaking reality of disrupting placements. They share what it means when a foster family reaches the point of saying a child can no longer stay in their home, why that decision is almost never quick or easy, and the guilt, shame, and grief that often follow.Drawing from their own personal experiences with three disrupted placements over nearly eight years of foster care, they unpack the difficult truth that sometimes love is not enough, and sometimes the most loving decision a foster parent can make is to acknowledge that their home is not the right fit for a child’s needs.This conversation is raw, honest, and deeply encouraging for foster parents who may be carrying shame, questioning their calling, or wondering if they are alone in the struggle.In This EpisodeThroughout the episode, they discuss:• Why placements disrupt and the many factors that can lead to that decision• How trauma, safety concerns, and unmet needs can impact a placement• The guilt and shame foster parents often feel when disruption becomes necessary• The fear of judgment from others who do not understand foster care realities• Why disruption does not automatically mean failure• How foster parents can know the difference between a hard season and an unhealthy placement• The importance of advocating for children when their needs are not being acknowledged• Why protecting your marriage and biological children matters in foster care• How to ask for help before reaching the breaking pointPersonal Stories Shared In This EpisodeJason and Whitney walk listeners through three different disrupted placements from their own foster care journey.They share about an early placement during COVID involving an older child whose trauma history and fear responses created challenges they were not equipped to handle.They recount another placement where significant trauma and behavioral concerns surfaced after placement, revealing far deeper needs than they had originally been told about.Finally, they share about a recent disruption involving a child they loved deeply and desperately wanted to keep, but after months of counseling, prayer, and trying to make things work, ultimately recognized that their family was not the right long term fit for what she needed.Biblical PerspectiveOne of the central reminders in this episode is that foster parents are not the Savior.Jesus is.Foster care can easily create a savior complex where families begin believing they have to fix every hurt, heal every wound, and carry every burden. But Jason and Whitney remind listeners that God has not called foster parents to control outcomes. He has called them to faithfulness.They discuss how obedience is not always easy, and how sometimes the hardest act of obedience is acknowledging your limitations and trusting God with the outcome.Practical Encouragement For Foster ParentsIf you are in a difficult placement right now, this episode offers practical encouragement for how to navigate that season wisely.Jason and Whitney encourage foster parents to:• Ask for help early before reaching burnout• Be honest with your team about what is happening in your home• Advocate fiercely for the child in your care• Listen carefully to your spouse and children• Protect your marriage and the health of your family• Remember that loving a child and not being the right home can both be true at the same timeSupport The Podcasthttps://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/supportSpeaking RequestsIf your church, conference, or organization would like Jason and Whitney to speak about foster care, adoption, faith, leadership, or living a meaningful life through small acts of faithfulness, you can contact them at: dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.comJoin our weekly devotional newsletter here:https://captivate.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c75f5dfcf9d690c6c9f256d22&id=d17b98130bFollow & ContactEmail: dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.comInstagram: @dreamsmallpodcastFacebook: Dream Small PodcastTwitter/X: @DreamSmallShowMusic Credit"Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons
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    44 mins
  • From Fear to Faith: Our Medically Fragile Foster Care Story
    Mar 31 2026

    In this episode, Jason and Whitney talk about their unexpected journey into medically fragile foster care and how quickly their lives changed when they said yes to what they thought would be a short, simple placement. They share what medically fragile foster care actually looks like day to day, the fear and learning curve that comes with medical needs, the hospital visits, appointments, and emotional weight, and the incredible joy of watching children grow and heal.

    This episode is ultimately about a bigger message: you don’t have to be special to do something meaningful. Most of the time, you just have to be available and willing to take the next step.

    Jason and Whitney explain that they did not set out to become a medically fragile foster family. Their journey started with a placement they were told was a healthy baby, and within a short period of time they found themselves learning how to use feeding tubes, manage medications, attend specialist appointments, and completely adjust their daily lives.

    They talk about how overwhelming it felt at first and how unqualified they felt stepping into medical care they had no experience with. They share how they learned over time through training, doctors, therapists, and other foster parents, and how what once felt impossible eventually became normal.

    They also talk about the emotional side of medically fragile foster care. The constant appointments, managing care, advocating for the child, navigating the system, and carrying the responsibility can feel heavy and exhausting. But they also share the joy that comes from watching a child make progress, heal, grow stronger, and begin to thrive.

    A major theme throughout the episode is that many people think they are not capable of fostering or helping because they are not nurses, doctors, or experts. Jason and Whitney challenge that idea and explain that most foster parents learn as they go. The goal is not to be perfect or fully prepared — the goal is to be willing and available.

    They emphasize that big, meaningful things often start with small steps of obedience. Most people who end up doing difficult, meaningful work did not start out feeling ready — they just took the next step that was in front of them.

    What You’ll Hear in This Episode

    • What medically fragile foster care actually means
    • How quickly a placement can change
    • The learning curve of medical needs and equipment
    • Hospital visits and specialist appointments
    • The emotional weight of medically fragile placements
    • The importance of community and support
    • Advocating for children in the system
    • Why feeling unqualified is normal
    • Why availability matters more than ability
    • The joy of seeing progress and healing

    Call To Action

    If this episode encouraged you, share it with someone who has been thinking about foster care, supporting foster families, or stepping into something that feels bigger than they feel ready for.

    Support The Podcast: https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/support

    Speaking Requests

    If your church, conference, or organization would like Jason and Whitney to speak about foster care, adoption, faith, leadership, or living a meaningful life through small acts of faithfulness, you can contact them at: dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com

    Follow & Contact

    Email: dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com

    Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast

    Facebook: @Dream Small Podcast

    Twitter/X: @DreamSmallShow

    Music Credit

    "Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

    Licensed under Creative Commons

    Show More Show Less
    44 mins
  • Don’t Let Foster Care Harden Your Heart
    Mar 24 2026
    If your church, conference, or organization would like Jason and Whitney to speak about foster care, adoption, or living a meaningful life through small acts of faithfulness, you can contact them at dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com.In this episode of the Dream Small Podcast, Jason and Whitney talk about how easy it is for foster care to harden your heart and why followers of Jesus must fight to stay soft, compassionate, and tenderhearted anyway.They begin by asking a simple but honest question: Have you ever felt yourself getting harder, not because you wanted to, but because it felt safer? From there, they unpack how foster care can do exactly that. The broken systems, hard goodbyes, repeated disappointments, caseworkers and judges making frustrating decisions, compassion fatigue, and the trauma children bring into your home can all make it feel easier to shut down emotionally than to stay open and loving. Whitney shares that even foster care relicensing paperwork can become a reminder of how exhausting the system can be. She talks about filling out the same paperwork again, getting fingerprinted over and over, and answering questions about reunification in ways that don’t always seem centered on the best interest of the child. That frustration becomes part of the larger conversation: foster care often feels more system-centered or bio-parent-centered than child-centered, and that reality can harden foster parents if they are not careful. Jason and Whitney also reflect on how hardening can show up in real life. It can look like losing compassion and becoming transactional, seeing a child as a bed to fill instead of a human being with trauma, a story, and a need for love. Whitney shares an example of receiving a placement call for a sibling set and recognizing that while they wanted to help, it would not be fair to the child to say yes beyond what they could realistically handle with her upcoming surgery. Their point is that tenderness is not the same as saying yes to everything. Tenderness can still have boundaries. A major part of the episode centers on what soft strength really looks like. Jason talks about tenderness not as weakness, but as strength under control. He points to Jesus as the model: strong, powerful, and fully capable, yet gentle, compassionate, and willing to love even when betrayed. They reflect on Jesus washing Judas’s feet and forgiving those who crucified Him as examples of softness that is deeply powerful, not fragile. Their message is clear: softness is not weakness, it is Christlikeness. They also name the specific things that can harden foster parents:repeated disappointment in the system feeling unsupported and unseen compassion fatigue trauma in the home unsafe or rushed reunifications the temptation to emotionally detach because loving children who may leave is painful Whitney shares that compassion fatigue can cause you to stop seeing behavior through the lens of trauma and start simply seeing a child as frustrating, difficult, or “a pain in the butt.” Jason adds that hardening can show up as not wanting to come home, losing joy, being short with your spouse and kids, or refusing moments that normally would spark joy — like when a child asks you to play. One of the most moving parts of the episode is when they revisit stories from their own foster care journey with Leah. Whitney talks about how, early on, Leah was a medically fragile baby who was miserable, vomiting constantly, and incredibly hard to care for. In her exhaustion, Whitney reached out to close friends and vulnerably asked them to pray that she would genuinely love this baby because she felt tired and disconnected. Just a couple hours later, Leah smiled at her for the first time, and Whitney describes that moment as healing. They also share a painful hospital story involving Leah’s biological mother. Whitney describes greeting her warmly while holding Leah, only to be charged at and nearly hit while being accused of harming the baby by using a feeding tube. After security got involved, Whitney hid in the chapel and cried, asking Jason, “How am I supposed to love her?” That story becomes one of the clearest examples in the episode of how foster care can tempt someone to harden, and how God can still soften a heart. Later, Whitney explains how that same relationship changed over time. As she continued sending updates and building trust, she was eventually able to tell Leah’s biological mom that if Leah did not return home, they would adopt her and love her like their own, and that Leah would not get lost in the system. That conversation became a picture of what it looks like to stay tenderhearted even when there has been hurt, fear, and conflict. The episode closes with practical ways to remain tenderhearted:stay connected to Jesus feel your feelings instead of burying them grieve losses honestly set boundaries without becoming hard choose empathy stay in authentic community let God heal the wounds...
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    50 mins