In this deeply moving June episode of Born in June, Raised in April: What Adoption Can Teach the World, host April Dinwoodie welcomes back La Tika Jeffrey—youth advocate, mother, and lived expert in foster care and adoption—for a raw and inspiring conversation about the power of uncovering truth and forging new family connections. Since her last visit back in December 2021, La Tika’s world has transformed in beautiful and complex ways. This episode follows her emotional journey to discover her f...
Jun 20, 2025•48 min
In this Mother’s Day episode, April Dinwoodie sits down with Stacey Gatlin—founder of Yes We Adopt—to explore Black adoption, parenting after loss, and building community that centers authenticity and healing. Stacey shares her path through infertility, post-adoption depression, and the creation of Yes We Adopt—a platform that uplifts Black adoptive families, adopted persons, and birth parents. Together, they reflect on the power of community, the truth-telling needed in adoption spaces, and the...
May 15, 2025•1 hr 7 min
In April 2025 I sit down with Jeff Forney, a photographer specializing in advertising, music and celebrity portraiture. Jeff is currently working on “The Innocent People Project” - taking photos of adoptees and sharing their stories. In this episode we dive into the reasons behind starting this project, what it has meant to him and so much more!
Apr 24, 2025•47 min
In March 2025, I am so fortunate and honored to welcome some of the members of the Transracial Journeys Community, Co-Directors Mary Halm and Karen Thomas. We dive into this idea of luck in adoption and the blessings and burdens that come along with this experience. We also hear from one of the Board of Directors of TRJ, and adoptive parent, Michelle Daray. There are so many incredible gems in this one! For any member of the adoption community, this is a must listen episode.
Mar 27, 2025•38 min
In February 2025, I give you the 9th installment of How to Love a Transracially Adopted Person. In this part of the series I am joined by someone who, for the past year, has been on this journey with me in the most personal way: my boyfriend, David Sutphen. While he wasn’t adopted, he has personal connections to adoption and knows what it’s like to be part of a blended family. These experiences, I believe, have shaped his identity, his sense of belonging, and his capacity to love me, a transraci...
Feb 13, 2025•50 min
For many adopted persons, the journey to understanding identity and belonging is filled with complexities, questions, and the need for community. In this episode, host April Dinwoodie is joined by Tracie Carlson, a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and fellow adopted person, to explore how growing up adopted shaped their identities and how finding community became essential to their journeys. From the experience of being "chosen" to the emotional realities of searching for family, April ...
Jan 30, 2025•25 min
Host April Dinwoodie sits with producer Kyle Ferreira to discuss how holiday traditions have evolved over the years. April also shares thoughts about the baby in the manger, the nativity and the “Holiday Miracle” as it relates to adoption.
Dec 23, 2024•23 min
In November 2024, host April Dinwoodie sits with Producer Kyle Ferreira to talk about the both/and of her holiday table. April also shares helpful tips for transracially adopted persons when it comes to the holiday season.
Nov 27, 2024•25 min
In October 2024, Host April Dinwoodie sits with producer, Kyle Ferreira to talk about the idea behind code switching and wearing masks as it relates to a transracialy adopted persons experiences. We also hold space for April as her birthday approaches later this month.
Oct 21, 2024•25 min
This month host April Dinwoodie sits down with producer Kyle Ferreira to talk about the recent Transracial Journeys Camp that April is involved in each year and how beneficial this camp is to building confidence and clarity around some of the more difficult aspects of transracial adoption.
Sep 24, 2024•28 min
As the school year kicks off, host April Dinwoodie sits down with producer Kyle Ferreira to have a conversation about language as it relates to expressing experiences of adoption. In this episode, April breaks down the reasons for why she refers to her self as an “Adopted Person”. And why she refers to her parents as either “Parents of Origin” or “Parents of Experience”.
Aug 29, 2024•30 min
With July 4th as a backdrop, this month, producer Kyle Ferreira and host April Dinwoodie have a conversation about thoughts and experiences surrounding freedom and independence. We also discuss representation and the impact VP Kamala Harris.
Jul 25, 2024•18 min
This month, for Fathers’ Day, I sit down with my producer to have a conversation about my thoughts and emotions at the intersection of adoption and Fathers’ Day.
Jun 16, 2024•30 min
This month, just after Mothers’ Day, I sit down with my producer to have a conversation about my thoughts and emotions as it relates to adoption and Mothers’, mothering, and Mothers’ Day
May 14, 2024•31 min
In this episode, host April Dinwoodie shares her very personal journey of sadness, grief, and loss connected to adoption and family separation.
Apr 29, 2024•12 min
In honor of Women’s History Month for March 2024, I share how four women, four mothers who never knew each other helped shape my understanding of the many women connected to adoption.
Mar 29, 2024•11 min
In February 2024, I give you the 8th installment of How to Love a Transracially Adopted Person, titled “She Cried.” In this part of the series I recount recently trying to find an old letter that my bio cousin had sent me but in trying to find that I stumbled upon the letter I had originally sent my birth mother that she had sent back to me but upon opening it this time I found something new. This discovery conjured up a new sense of love and loss.
Feb 29, 2024•9 min
The new year is upon us but I still continue to see the same inappropriate social media postings surrounding children and youth who have been adopted particularly Black & Brown children being adopted into white families. In this January episode, I dive into how important it is to protect adopted children from social media exploitation. I also discuss the urgency of physical protection of Black and Brown adopted children and youth and the role hair touching plays.
Jan 31, 2024•23 min
As another year ends for JuneinApril, I take a quick look back on the amazing family members/guests I had on the show this year. I am so blessed to have so many amazing human beings in my life and honored that they would take the time to talk about my journey with me! Along with this, I wrapped up the year with three wishes for 2024 and beyond.
Dec 26, 2023•15 min
For National Adoption Awareness Month I discuss my involvement with Adopt Us Kids and the incredibly rewarding event I have been part of for a few years now. And as the winter holidays begin, I talk about the importance of involving the ones closest to us to the holiday table.
Nov 29, 2023•12 min
During my Birthday month I take sometime to reflect on what I know about my beginnings and thoughts and questions about the day I was born. And because it’s Halloween, I get into the realities of masking feelings surrounding the emotions that can come up at this time of year.
Oct 30, 2023•18 min
As fall begins this year, I take this time to sit and reflect on Septembers of my past and the feelings and emotions I had round what it was like going back to school and getting back into that academic rhythm. I also discuss what parents and professionals can do better to help ensure that their child feels safe and secure in their transitions back to school.
Sep 30, 2023•7 min
As we prepare children for back to school, who better to discuss this transition as it relates to adoption than Dr. Orit Goldhamer (aka Dr. G.) Dr. G works as a school Psychologist at the Churchill School in New York City, where we work together to create affinity spaces for students, supportive spaces for parents, and educate the broader school community. Drawing on her two decades of experience we discuss what students, parents, and professionals need to be doing better for those experiencing ...
Aug 29, 2023•41 min
This month, I bring together some of my nieces and nephews of experience. From oldest to youngest, Albert, Mackenzie, Michon, Kyle & Cooper. These are my sibling’s kids, the ones who grew up knowing their Aunt “A” looked a bit different but never questioned why I was there or the love that we had for one another. My relationships with all of my nieces and nephews were the stepping stones to a lot of the work that I do today with youth. If you ever wanted to know more about me and how I build...
Jul 26, 2023•1 hr 26 min
In this short episode, I talk with my brother of experience, Jim and his wife Keiko about all the reasons why we love our father! I also am able to bring in a special guest, my father’s great grandson, Jim’s grandson, my great nephew, Landon James to talk about his “Old Papa”
Jun 30, 2023•10 min
Part of a new limited series, this episode is about my mother of origin, Helen June. With help from cousin Sean McCarthy & nephew Drew Tandal, we dive into the emotions surrounding our journey of finding family of origin as well as how they see Helen in me.
Jun 23, 2023•20 min
Part of a new limited series, this episode celebrates my mother of experience, Sandra Dinwoodie. With the help from my older brother Jim and his wife Keiko, we dive into all the things our mom got right and they ways she continues to inspire the next generations.
May 24, 2023•20 min
Part of a new limited series, this episode explores some of my emotions connected to transracial adoption juxtaposed to my surroundings as a kid. I also pull in my parents to hear from them on how they raised me and my siblings as well as what they think that could have done better.
Apr 29, 2023•12 min
After 7 years of conversation with some of the most poignant and inspirational people I have had the privilege to know; I sit down with the person who inspired me to start this podcast in the first place, my birth cousin, Madeline Bell. We cover family connections, luck in Adoption and so much more!
Mar 22, 2023•57 min•Season 7Ep. 14
In this February episode, I take a look back on the last 4 seasons of the show; I’ve had some remarkable guests with some even more profound highlights & conversations. I am so incredibly grateful to everyone who has been apart of this journey with me!
Feb 28, 2023•32 min•Season 7Ep. 13
