Australian Adoption Podcast - My Unknown Truth

My Unknown Truth is a podcast sharing the stories and lived experiences of Australians who have been through adoption and foster care.

These stories are often complex, spanning over 50 years and touch on difficult truths, from growing up in an under-resourced system to Australia’s traumatic history of forced adoptions and Stolen Generations.

But within the darkness, there is also light; stories of hope, courage, resilience, and love. Hosted by Nadia Levett, an adoptee born and raised in Australia, this podcast is a deeply personal project.

It’s my wish that by sharing a range of voices and experiences, we can build greater awareness and understanding around adoption and foster care in Australia, spark informed conversations, and encourage others to share their truth, open hearts, minds, and homes to children in need.

Last refreshed: August 26th, 2025 at 8:47 PM ⓘ

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Episodes

Episode 11 - What It Means to Be a Carer: A Q&A with Marcus from the Frontlines

Send us a text Today in episode 11, I will be interviewing Marcus for a Q&A session about his role as team leader for a permanency support program in NSW. Marcus has been working in the social welfare sector for over 12 years and is currently working with the most vulnerable children in out of home care (Oohc). Lets get into it! Support the show Thanks for listening! Follow me on Instagram or find me on Facebook or Twitter. The Australian Adoption Podcast with host Nadia Levett!...

Aug 30, 2022•42 min•Season 1Ep. 11

Episode 10 - Packing Dignity: Sarah’s Mission for Children in Care

Send us a text Today I speak with Sarah, the Founder of care bags and Chair of the Care Bags - because children in care matter committee. Sarah is a mum of two and been a social worker for over 15 years. Throughout her career, She has seen first-hand the impact of children entering foster care and has always wanted to do something tangible to make this challenging time a little bit easier. Thank you for tuning in to this special episode with Sarah and the care bags mission to make a meaningful d...

Jul 28, 2022•46 min•Season 1Ep. 10

Episode 9 - Not Held Down: Felicity’s Voice from Inside the System

Send us a text In this episode I sit down with Felicity Graham, a 19-year old advocate for children and carers in the foster care system in South Australia. She is an author of the book titled 'Not Held Down' that she wrote at 15, sharing her perspective and experiences of growing up in state care. Felicity sheds some light on what the foster care system is really like from a child’s perspective, an experience that is often left unspoken or ignored, and hopes to give a voice to all those foster ...

Jun 08, 2022•52 min•Season 1Ep. 9

Episode 8 - Stories That Stick: Dara Read on Adoption, Advocacy & Hundreds and Thousands

Send us a text Today I'm speaking with Dara Read, a lawyer and writer. Dara has worked as a lawyer for children and adults in NSW and the Northern Territory. She has also worked as a policy advisor to the NSW Government, including as a Senior Ministerial Advisor to the Attorney General of NSW and Minister for Family and Community Services. Dara's written a children's picture book, "We love you Hundreds and Thousands", which is a window into the life of Jasmine, who loves birthday parties, and th...

May 10, 2022•33 min•Season 1Ep. 8

Episode 7 - Learning Love: Miguel’s Journey to Attachment & Belonging

Send us a text Today you will listen to Miguels journey as an adoptive father. Born in South America he then travelled to Australia where he and his wife settled and were ready to start a family. He talks about the comprehensive process of the adoption application, first meetings and visits, the transition period and key indicators in building attachment and developing a bond. He also shares how he had to relearn positive parenting strategies that weren’t necessarily based on his own personal ex...

Apr 07, 2022•25 min•Season 1Ep. 7

Episode 6 - Fragments & Foundations: Kat’s Lifelong Search for Self

Send us a text In Episode 6 Kat wrote her adoption story in 2020 and shares it with us in this episode. Her story begins in 1971 and in 1973 at 2 and a half Kat incredibly accesses some of her earliest memories, recalling a series of significant events, experiences and emotions that extend into her teenage years and adult life. The world she grew up in was a safe and loving environment however throughout her life she always felt a part of her was fragmented and unknown, and her struggle with ide...

Feb 17, 2022•37 min•Season 1Ep. 6

Episode 5 - Still Waiting: Foster Care, Family, and the Weight of Adoption

Send us a text In episode 5 I speak with Andrea who is a foster care mother to four children. She talks openly and honestly about her experiences in the foster care program over 10 years. We look closely at her story with their eldest boy that she and husband Paul have cared for since 16 months old. It is a rollercoaster of challenges and emotions and the space is still “inconclusive” in finalising his adoption. This episode references the Indigenous heritage of a biological family and explores ...

Dec 31, 2021•32 min•Season 1Ep. 5

Episode 4 - Pioneers of Love: Matt, Peter and Their Family Story

Send us a text In episode 4 we speak to Matt Young, who, with his partner Peter, adopted 2 sibling young boys. We speak about the hurdles they faced along the way to being the first male same-sex couple in NSW to adopt their non-biological children, and to have that reflected on their children’s birth certificates. Support the show Thanks for listening! Follow me on Instagram or find me on Facebook or Twitter. The Australian Adoption Podcast with host Nadia Levett!...

Oct 31, 2021•33 min•Season 1Ep. 4

Episode 3 - The Threads That Tie Us: Adoption, Reflection & Alex’s Story

Send us a text In episode 3 I had a beautiful conversation with the lovely Alex, finding out at 19 her mum (Julie) was adopted. She talks about the emotional and curious swirls as a young adult which leads her to find her biological grandmother. This story takes you through some twists, turns and synchronised events during her search but what was most profound was her deep gratitude and love for her adoptive grandma and finding out more about her adoptive grandparents and opening up with her mum...

Oct 01, 2021•25 min•Season 1Ep. 3

Episode 2 - Mumma Bear Liz and the FAF Journey!

Send us a text In episode 2. I had the opportunity to chat with an incredibly inspirational mother of three Liz. Liz shares with us and her husbands story Justin, of adopting their daughter Lily after having two sons, naturally. She talks with us openly and with a raw honesty about the process to adopt through the Bernados find a family program (FAF). It is in this episode she courageously speaks about their joys, vulnerabilities and challenges as a family unit. I am sure listeners will be inspi...

Aug 17, 2021•42 min•Season 1Ep. 2

Episode 1 - Where My Voice Begins: Nadia Levett in Conversation with Gabriella

Send us a text Welcome to the very first episode of the series, where the host becomes the guest. In this debut conversation, storyteller and health promoter Nadia Levett sits down with interviewer Gabriella McGrail to kick things off by getting personal. From her own adoption story to her passion for amplifying community voices, Nadia reflects on the moments that led her to launch this podcast and why storytelling matters now more than ever. With warmth, humour, and deep insight, this conversat...

Aug 15, 2021•48 min•Season 1Ep. 1

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