Coming to America - podcast cover

Coming to America

Elena Leeelenalee.net
Join Elena as she discusses her journey of Coming to America by being adopted from Russia to America. She talks about the journey of her adoption and navigating life as an adoptee. Elena wants to help make talking about adoption less taboo and help kids and adults who were, will be, and plan to adopt understand the impacts of adoption, good and bad. https://www.elenalee.net https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GXK8PCX
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Episodes

37: Compound Effect

Elena talks about the recent second hurricane that hit Florida and visiting local shops in support and an event that occurred that created a compound effect, how one action by someone can create additional actions of others. The compound effect works in how people parent their kids and the impacts and day-to-day activities beyond adoption. elenalee.net

Nov 26, 202214 minEp. 37

36: Dreams

Elena talks about how dreams can change as we change and grow as people. Elena also goes over her speeches at schools inspiring kids to pursue their dreams elenalee.net

Nov 12, 202212 minEp. 36

35: Life Path

Elena talks about what she dreamed of doing and becoming vs where she is now. Elenalee.net

Nov 05, 202217 minEp. 33

34: Hurricane Ian

Elena talks about recent Hurricane that went through the United States but how her life's circumstances helps deal with unsettling times like preparing for chaotic times such as a hurricane elenalee.net

Oct 29, 202213 minEp. 34

33: Life's too Short

Elena talks about nearly being involved with a car accident that could have turned deadly and how it helped her reflect on life. elenalee.net

Oct 22, 202214 minEp. 33

32: Adoption and Foster Home Children with Special Needs

Elena talks about adoption and foster homes and how adults get to create a checklist for what kid they want but kids don't. And how parents select kids without challenges so their parent life can be easier. elenalee.net

Oct 15, 202213 minEp. 32

31: You Should Be Eternally Grateful for Being Adopted

Elena talks about people stating that she should be grateful for being adopted. She discusses the assumption adoption is always a good thing but putting perspective that not every adoption is a better situation. elenalee.net

Oct 08, 202215 minEp. 31

30: Family Tree

Elena talks about the typical family tree assignment kids do when younger. The assignment is hard for kids who don't know their family history and can trigger memories and hard conversations for families. elenalee.net

Oct 01, 202213 minEp. 30

29: How Much Did You Cost?

Elena talks about a question she gets from people, "how much did you cost?" when finding out she's adopted. elenalee.net

Sep 24, 202213 minEp. 29

28: Letter to My Mom

Elena talks about the letter she wrote to her adoptive mom to help rebuild their broken relationship. elenalee.net

Sep 17, 202216 minEp. 28

27: Back Surgery and Resentment

Elena talks about her back surgery and her relationship with her mom during her recovery. She discusses getting life threatening blood clots and learning to re-walk.

Sep 10, 202221 minEp. 27

26: Sibling Comparison

Elena talks about being compared to her siblings growing up and being told she wasn't good enough for a certain university.

Sep 03, 202215 minEp. 26

25: Youre Remembering Wrong

Elena talks about her memories from Russia going to ballets and being taken to places kids shouldn't see or experience. And while trying trying to communicate it to her adoptive mother, she got told she was remembering wrong. Lack of communication resulted in frustration and resent growing up.

Aug 27, 202211 minEp. 25

24: Punishment and Outback Paddle

Elena continues to talk about her strained relationship with her adoptive mother. She goes into how she got disciplined by her mother and her Outbook paddle story.

Aug 20, 202218 minEp. 24

23: The Power of Words

Elena talks about the power of words on people's lives and her rough relationship with her mom, growing up. Website: https://www.elenalee.net Book:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GXK8PCX

Aug 13, 202216 minEp. 23

22: COVID and Corporate America

Elena goes over recovering from COVID and how Americans prioritize health in comparison to other countries. Website: https://www.elenalee.net Book:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GXK8PCX

Aug 06, 202221 minEp. 22

21: Three Ring Interlock and Adoption

Elena talks about meeting someone through work who wore a rare three ring interlock band, tying to Russian and European culture which led to conversation about adoption. Website: https://www.elenalee.net Book:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GXK8PCX

Jul 23, 202221 minEp. 21

20: Language Barrier

Elena talks about language barrier and how to not use it as a crutch https://www.elenalee.net https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GXK8PCX

Jul 16, 202213 minSeason 1Ep. 20

19: Pets and Adoption

Elena discusses her fear of dogs when she first came to America and how her adopting her dog was a mirror of how she was adopted. https://www.elenalee.net https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GXK8PCX

Jul 09, 202224 minEp. 19

18: Independence Day & 9/11

Elena talks about 4th of July/Independence Day memories and how she celebrates along with how 9/11 impacted her adoption and her fortune of being able to be in America and celebrating the 4th of July holiday. https://www.elenalee.net https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GXK8PCX

Jul 03, 202213 minEp. 18

17: Adoptee Resources

Elena talks about her lack of resources to turn to and how one source as an adult helped her forgive herself and her mother and begin her journey of creating adoptee resources to help others. https://www.elenalee.net https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GXK8PCX

Jun 04, 202215 minEp. 17

16: Do I Tell Them?

Elena talks about her experience of others knowing adoptee parents and their information and whether they should let the adoptee know their parents and their contact information https://www.elenalee.net https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GXK8PCX

May 28, 202211 minEp. 16

15: Find Your Zen

Elena discusses her zen as a child and adult and how her adoption helped her find it. https://www.elenalee.net https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GXK8PCX

May 21, 202210 minEp. 15

13: Medical History As An Adoptee

Elena talks about not having much of a medical history being adopted and how it impacted her growing up. https://www.elenalee.net https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GXK8PCX

May 07, 202214 minEp. 13

12: First Class Flying Experience

Elena talks about her recent first class flying experience and remembering her first trip on an airplane when getting adopted from Russia. https://www.elenalee.net https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GXK8PCX

Apr 30, 202210 minEp. 12

11: Russia vs American Easter

Elena talks about Easter and Russian traditions https://www.elenalee.net https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GXK8PCX

Apr 16, 20228 minEp. 11

10: Fear

Elena talks about how we are taught to fear along with the Russian vs Ukraine war.

Apr 09, 202211 minEp. 10

9: The American Dream

Elena talks about the American Dream that society pressures many into. elenalee.net

Jan 14, 202215 minSeason 1Ep. 10

8: Habits vs Resolutions

Elena talks about her Christmas break looking at her adoption pictures and forming habits vs resolutions. elenalee.net

Jan 06, 202216 minSeason 1Ep. 9
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