Today I’m excited to welcome a fellow podcaster, Damon Davis, creator and host of the Who Am I Really? podcast. Damon gets a turn to share his story of search, reunion, and loss. We also chat about why reunions get held up as this mythical gold standard of heartwarming six o’clock news bait, and what we’ve learned from talking to hundreds of adoptees over the past few years. Full Show Notes Here Connect With Us Damon Davis: www.whoamireallypodcast.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube H...
Oct 09, 2020•58 min•Ep. 157
Our guest today is Astrid Castro, founder of Adoption Mosaic. Astrid serves the adoption constellation through a variety of innovative trainings designed to highlight the adoptee experience. We discuss how she came to work in the adoption industry, the current state of ethics in adoption, and what it’s like working in such a challenging space, especially as an adopted person. Full Show Notes Here Connect With Us Astrid Castro: adoptionmosaic.com | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn Haley Radke: Twi...
Oct 02, 2020•55 min•Ep. 156
We are celebrating highlighting adoptee voices for over four years, 144+ countries, and 500,000 downloads of the podcast. As Reshma McClintock (our special guest co-host of today’s show) shares, “I am not going to allow the world to speak for me any longer”. Join us as we continue to acknowledge that adoptee voices matter and need to be heard! Full Show Notes Here Connect With Us Reshma McClintock: Instagram | Facebook | reshmamcclintock.com | Calcutta is My Mother | Dear Adoption, Haley Radke: ...
Sep 25, 2020•55 min•Ep. 155
Welcome Lauren J. Sharkey, author of Inconvenient Daughter! Lauren and I talk about how her memoir morphed into a novel and how searching for biological family wasn’t really something she thought about until it felt necessary as research for her novel. We also discuss how Lauren discovered the online adoptee community. Full Show Notes Here Connect With Us Lauren J. Sharkey: ljsharks.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Haley Radke: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Adoptees On: Twitter | Instagram ...
Sep 18, 2020•49 min•Ep. 154
Today we welcome the creator of How To Be Adopted, Claire! Claire shares about experiencing postnatal depression when she had her first child, which was wrapped up in her process of coming out of the fog. We examine a certain popular adoptee reunion tv show for their inaccurate portrayal of reunions. Claire teaches us about the state of care in the UK and the various ways of contact she is allowed (and not allowed!) to have with her nieces and nephews. Full Show Notes Here Connect With Us Claire...
Sep 11, 2020•45 min
Matthew Salesses is here today and I’m so thrilled to share our conversation with you. He has a ton of insightful things to share with us. We talk about how coming out of the fog is an act of radicalization, we discuss issues of race, and why he’s chosen to be so open and vulnerable on Twitter. We also touch on Dad jokes, and why adoptees often have a darker sense of humour. Full Show Notes Here Connect With Us Matthew Salesses: Twitter | Instagram | matthewsalesses.com Haley Radke: Twitter | In...
Sep 04, 2020•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 152
It’s a great honour to bring to you the creative powerhouse JS Lee. We talk about racism, dealing with multiple complex traumas, and the challenge of how we attribute our resilience as adopted people. Full Show Notes Here Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | Spotify | Stitcher | YouTube Support Adoptees On One Time Donation | Monthly | Secret Facebook Group Connect Monthly Newsletter | Send a Note or Record a Voicemail...
Aug 28, 2020•49 min•Ep. 151
We finish our conversation with Stephanie Oyler, MSW, LSW and Amanda Transue-Woolston, MSS, LSW about the recent losses of their mothers. This is part two of a two-part series where we hear from Stephanie and Amanda about the loss of first mothers and adoptive mothers, both in the practical sense and about the psychological impacts. Learn from their wisdom about a topic that often gets avoided: losses all the way through an adoptee’s lifespan. Full Show Notes Here Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Goog...
Aug 21, 2020•41 min•Ep. 150
Mother loss. Doesn’t that say it all? We get the extraordinary honour of hearing from Stephanie Oyler, MSW, LSW and Amanda Transue-Woolston, MSS, LSW about the recent deaths that have impacted them in tremendous ways. This is part one of a two-part series where we learn from Stephanie and Amanda about the loss of first mothers and adoptive mothers, both in the practical sense and about the psychological impacts. Join us for this powerful conversation. Full Show Notes Here Connect With Us Stephan...
Aug 14, 2020•37 min•Ep. 149
Today we welcome Julayne Lee, author of Not My White Savior. Julayne shares what drew her to visit Korea for the first time in her thirties and later how she spent three years there, working, traveling, and writing. We also discuss adoptee activism and the role anger can play in our work. Full Show Notes Here Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | Spotify | Stitcher | YouTube Support Adoptees On One Time Donation | Monthly | Secret Facebook Group Connect Monthly Newsletter |...
Jul 17, 2020•56 min•Ep. 148
On the latest episode of Adoptees On, we bring you some critical information about thousands of adoptees who are shockingly without citizenship. You will hear Anissa Druesedow’s powerful story of being adopted and brought to the United States, finding out she doesn’t have citizenship, and what lead to her deportation. Kristopher Larsen, Executive Director of Adoptees For Justice, also joins us to let us know how we can impact this movement and advocate for the Adoptee Citizenship Act. Full Show ...
Jul 03, 2020•1 hr 45 min•Ep. 147
Today we meet Abby Forero-Hilty, a Colombian adoptee now living in Canada. We talk about the importance of decolonization, the impact of finding yourself prior to searching for first family, and she shares her thoughts on connecting with other adoptees on a healing journey. Next, we shift into discussing the film Mum’s The Word, and we even have an interview with the Director and Executive Producer, Colin Scheyen. A big congratulations to Colin and his team for winning a Golden Sheaf Award in th...
Jun 19, 2020•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 146
I’ve been quiet as I’ve watched things unfold (we’ve been in the middle of moving during the pandemic, what timing). In searching for the perfect words to say, I’m obviously failing. So I’m trying to do the next right thing, which is to point you towards my fellow podcasters and adoptees who are BIPOC to listen and learn from, as I am. This is not to put the onus on them to teach us - this is to put the onus back on us to be active in learning to be allies and anti-racist. I can literally think ...
Jun 12, 2020•6 min
Today we welcome Karri of The Invisible Threads Blog. Karri and I talk about reunion with biological parents and siblings, what her relationships really look like right now. We also talk about some personal struggles with maintaining relationships and how we’ve both built chosen community into our lives. Full Show Notes Here Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | Spotify | Stitcher | YouTube Support Adoptees On One Time Donation | Monthly | Secret Facebook Group Connect Mont...
May 29, 2020•51 min•Ep. 144
Today we are talking with Sara Easterly about her memoir Searching for Mom. Sara shares how her relationship with her adoptive mother changed over the years, how adoption shaped her view of what motherhood means, and what that looks like for her today. Full Show Notes Here Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | Spotify | Stitcher | YouTube Support Adoptees On One Time Donation | Monthly | Secret Facebook Group Connect Monthly Newsletter | Send a Note or Record a Voicemail...
May 15, 2020•49 min•Ep. 143
Janet Nordine, MS, LMFT is back on the podcast and we are talking about an issue I’ve heard about from many adoptees, especially during this unprecedented time. We talk about using food as a comfort, feeling scared or anxious that there won’t be enough, and how this time is bringing back memories of food hoarding from childhood. Janet teaches us about the “belly brain”, why many of us struggle with using food or other oral stimuli as comfort, and she gives us an exercise to practice grounding. I...
May 01, 2020•42 min•Ep. 142
Nelle Doux shares her story of becoming her own advocate and, as she calls it, a private investigator to find her biological father and the truth about her origins. We discuss her experiences of racism even from a young age and the complete bewilderment Doux had from not knowing her racial identity. Full Show Notes Here Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | Spotify | Stitcher | YouTube Support Adoptees On One Time Donation | Monthly | Secret Facebook Group Connect Monthly N...
Apr 17, 2020•52 min•Ep. 141
Kevin Barhydt shares that it wasn’t until unpacking the multiple traumas of his addiction and childhood sexual abuse, that he uncovered adoption trauma that was there since his relinquishment. Kevin and I also talk about how community support has helped him thrive and grow. Full Show Notes Here Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | Spotify | Stitcher | YouTube Support Adoptees On One Time Donation | Monthly | Secret Facebook Group Connect Monthly Newsletter | Send a Note or...
Apr 10, 2020•53 min•Ep. 140
Alison Malee shares her story of being adopted in the nineties, and how she has been processing her recent discoveries via DNA testing. These have brought about great shifts in identity and also allowed her to connect with members of her first family. Full Show Notes Here Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | Spotify | Stitcher | YouTube Support Adoptees On One Time Donation | Monthly | Secret Facebook Group Connect Monthly Newsletter | Send a Note or Record a Voicemail...
Apr 03, 2020•54 min•Ep. 139
Jennifer Dyan Ghoston is here to share her story with us. Jennifer tells us about the moment she opened her original birth certificate, her search for her biological family, and what reunion with extended family really looks like for her today. Full Show Notes Here Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | Spotify | Stitcher | YouTube Support Adoptees On One Time Donation | Monthly | Secret Facebook Group Connect Monthly Newsletter | Send a Note or Record a Voicemail...
Mar 27, 2020•54 min•Ep. 138
Pam Cordano, MFT is here to share some insights from her brand new book, 10 Foundations For a Meaningful Life (No Matter What’s Happened). Pam reveals some personal stories to teach us about how to find and understand our true worth. Full Show Notes Here Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | Spotify | Stitcher | YouTube Support Adoptees On One Time Donation | Monthly | Secret Facebook Group Connect Monthly Newsletter | Send a Note or Record a Voicemail...
Mar 20, 2020•38 min•Ep. 137
Pam Cordano, MFT is here to share some insights from her brand new book, 10 Foundations For a Meaningful Life (No Matter What’s Happened). Pam reveals some personal stories to teach us about how to find and understand our true worth. Full Show Notes Here Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | Spotify | Stitcher | YouTube Support Adoptees On One Time Donation | Monthly | Secret Facebook Group Connect Monthly Newsletter | Send a Note or Record a Voicemail...
Mar 13, 2020•37 min•Ep. 136
Marta Isabella Sierra Drachenberg, LMHC is back on the Healing Series sharing more intimate moments from her reunion with her family in Colombia. She teaches us about how Internal Family Systems saved her relationship with her mother. You don’t want to miss this very personal episode with some brilliant insights from Marta. Full Show Notes Here Connect With Us Marta Isabella Sierra Drachenberg, LMHC: marta.drachenberg [at] gmail [dot] com | martadrachenberglmhc.com Haley Radke: Twitter | Instagr...
Feb 28, 2020•43 min•Ep. 135
Marta Isabella Sierra Drachenberg, LMHC is back on the Healing Series! Marta recently returned from a year-long trip to Columbia, her country of origin. She shares some intimate moments of what cross-cultural reunion/reunification looks like and she teaches us about some common barriers in reunion we need to be on alert for. Full Show Notes Here Connect With Us Marta Isabella Sierra Drachenberg, LMHC: marta.drachenberg [at] gmail [dot] com | martadrachenberglmhc.com Haley Radke: Twitter | Instag...
Feb 21, 2020•40 min•Ep. 134
Jenny Heijun Wills is our guest today, the author of the memoir Older Sister. Not Necessarily Related. We talk about adoption in literature, why it’s so important to elevate the adoptee voice and Jenny explains what does it really mean when someone asks us “what do your adoptive parents think about all this”. You can listen right here (turn up your sound 🔊🔊🔊) or search Adoptees On in any podcast app! Full Show Notes Here Connect With Us Jenny Heijun Wills: Twitter | Instagram | www.jennyheiju...
Feb 14, 2020•53 min•Ep. 133
Melanie Chung-Sherman, LCSW-S is back with us on the Healing Series sharing her wisdom. Melanie and Haley continue the conversation about safety in advocacy and activism, holding boundaries, and the cost of our emotional labour. Full Show Notes Here Connect With Us Melanie Chung-Sherman, LCSW-S: Facebook | mcscounsel.com Haley Radke: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Adoptees On: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | Spotify | Stitcher | YouTube ...
Feb 07, 2020•29 min•Ep. 132
I can’t wait to share my discussion with Melanie Chung-Sherman, LCSW-S with you. Melanie teaches us about responding to microaggressions while keeping ourselves safe. This is critical listening, especially for anyone working in adoptee advocacy. Full Show Notes Here Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | Spotify | Stitcher | YouTube Support Adoptees On One Time Donation | Monthly | Secret Facebook Group Connect Monthly Newsletter | Send a Note or Record a Voicemail...
Jan 31, 2020•32 min•Ep. 131
Lisa Wool-Rim Sjöblom, author of the stunning graphic memoir called Palimpsest: Documents From a Korean Adoption is our guest. She shares some of her story with us and then we dive into a conversation about racism, coming out of the adoption fog, what activism means to Lisa, and how she found her voice. Full Show Notes Here Connect With Us Lisa Wool-Rim Sjöblom: Instagram | woolrim.wordpress.com | www.patreon.com/woolrim Haley Radke: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Adoptees On: Twitter | Instagra...
Jan 24, 2020•56 min•Ep. 130
Cathy Caputo is our first guest of the new year and she has quite a surprising story, so I’m not going to spoil anything here. We talk about closed adoption, grief and loss, and what it’s for meant for Cathy to start an in-person adoptee community. Full Show Notes Here Connect With Us Cathy Caputo: Instagram | Facebook Haley Radke: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Adoptees On: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | Spotify | Stitcher | YouTube Su...
Jan 17, 2020•1 hr
Today the creator of Not Your Orphan is sharing their story with us, Blake Gibbins is here! Blake and I talk about what happened three years ago to kick him out of the fog, we discuss grief and some losses Blake experienced earlier this year, and we move into a discussion about activism, cognitive dissonance and what it means to be queer and an adoptee. Full Show Notes Here Connect With Us Blake Gibbbins: Not Your Orphan on YouTube | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Haley Radke: Twitter | Instagra...
Dec 13, 2019•58 min•Ep. 128
