Out of the Starting Blocks and Into the Race
An intimate look at one man's 21 year journey through the foster care system and how athletics helped in his ability to form a positive identity.
Out of the Starting Blocks and Into the Race
Episode 7: A Roll of the Dice
Join the conversation and submit a question or request a topic.
“Not all families are made the same way. Some are built by blood, others by circumstance—and sometimes, by a little bit of both.
In this episode, Joe takes us back to the family where he spent most of his time in foster care. It was a home shaped by complexity, care, and quiet tensions. And within it, one figure stood out: the oldest brother—the first biological son of Joe’s foster parents.
Their relationship wasn’t rooted in shared DNA, but in shared experiences—both spoken and unspoken. As the foster child entering a family with its own established rhythms, Joe had to navigate what it meant to belong in a space where love and limits often blurred.
In this heartfelt episode, Joe reflects on what that family gave him, what it didn’t, and how his brother’s presence—however imperfect—left a lasting mark on his life. Because even in complicated homes, identity and connection still find a way to take root.”