In this episode, Jay and Misty sit down with licensed private investigator and genetic genealogist Jeremy Lipford, whose passion for solving mysteries was sparked by a friend's unexpected DNA discovery. Jeremy shares how he blends traditional investigative work with modern DNA tools to crack cold cases, identify unknown family members, and help bring missing persons home. From uncovering a father’s identity through 1800s Italian ancestry to assisting on Jane Doe cases and suspected serial homici...
Jun 25, 2025•38 min•Ep. 27
Jay shares the powerful and emotional journey of Bethany, who reached out to him in 2018 after discovering the man who raised her was not her biological father. Struggling with grief over the loss of her grandfather—whom she saw as her true father figure—Bethany wrestled with whether she even wanted to meet her birth father. Jay recounts how he gently guided her through the emotional complexity of the situation, ultimately helping her reunite with her birth dad after 37 years. The episode explor...
Jun 04, 2025•35 min•Ep. 26
This week, Jay and Misty welcome guest Joanna Winans, whose extraordinary reunion story began in 2018 when she reached out to find her birth mother after facing infertility. Motivated by a desire to understand her roots, Joanna was connected with her birth mother Amber, leading to a powerful reconnection that changed both of their lives. The episode also features a recent client case involving a man named Ken who searched for his father’s birth parents without telling his dad, ultimately helping...
May 05, 2025•37 min•Ep. 25
This week, Jay Rosenzweig and genealogist Misty Gillis discuss their roles as intermediaries in emotionally charged family reunions, highlighting two poignant case studies. The episode features a client who discovered his birth father through ancestry results but hesitated to make contact; with Jay and Misty’s mediation, a heartwarming reunion was facilitated, demonstrating the delicate nature of their work. Additionally, the story of Ashley and Kaylin is explored, where Kaylin, a young woman wh...
Apr 17, 2025•28 min•Ep. 24
Join host Jay Rosenzweig and genealogy expert Misty Gillis at RootsTech 2025, the world’s largest family history conference. This special episode features exciting interviews, personal stories, and insightful discussions on the ethical dimensions of genealogical research and the transformative power of DNA. Highlights include a touching reunion facilitated by Jay, discussions about genealogical tools with GEDMatch, and personal experiences that underscore the emotional impact of discovering fami...
Mar 28, 2025•35 min•Ep. 23
In this heartwarming episode, host Jay facilitates a profound reunion between Anthony McDermott and his birth father, Greig Watson. Discover how DNA testing brought them together after decades of separation and uncovered the identity of Anthony’s birth mother. Genealogist Misty Gillis plays a crucial role, using intricate DNA analysis to solve this family mystery. Watch as emotions unfold and new family bonds form, bridging the gaps of time and distance. Don’t miss this touching story of identit...
Feb 05, 2025•26 min•Ep. 22
This week Chris & Jay welcome Lizett Armstrong who shares the emotional journey of discovering her biological father’s identity after years of uncertainty. Born in Tijuana and raised in the United States without knowledge of her father, Lizett’s quest begins with fragmented clues and a baptismal certificate. Her mother's reluctance to divulge information fueled Lizett’s determination to learn more. With the help of Jay Rosenzweig and genealogical advances in DNA testing, Lizett overcomes sig...
Sep 11, 2024•49 min•Ep. 20
This week Chris and Jay explore the compelling story of Angela Harden's search for her biological parents. Angela, who was adopted at a young age, embarked on this journey driven by health concerns and a curiosity about her familial origins. The episode highlights the complexities of genealogical research, particularly when dealing with small-town records and overlapping familial ties. With the expertise of genetic genealogist Misty Gillis, they navigate through intricate DNA matches and histori...
Sep 04, 2024•44 min•Ep. 19
This week we discuss the case of David Durbin, a 53-year-old man who embarked on a journey to uncover his biological origins. Born in 1969 and adopted at birth, David had minimal information about his birth parents. With Jay's expertise and the strategic use of the California Birth Index, they discovered his birth name was David Anderson, and his mother's uncommon last name, Capps, led them to uncover her unfortunate early demise due to an overdose. Through Ancestry.com, David connected to his m...
Aug 28, 2024•33 min•Ep. 18
This week Chris & Jay dive into the unique story of Robin Wescott whose biological mother went to the hospital under Robin’s adoptive mother's name and gave birth to her. This episode explores the emotional and logistical aftermath of finding out she was adopted at 65 years old after decades of secrets. Through detailed DNA analysis and genealogical research led by genealogist Misty Gillis, the episode illustrates the painstaking efforts to reconstruct Robin’s familial connections, culminati...
Aug 21, 2024•36 min•Ep. 17
This week Chris & Jay are joined by Annie Ross, Jay’s niece, who shares her personal experience as a sperm donor-conceived individual. The discussion touches on the reasons donors choose anonymity, the challenges recipients face in accessing vital medical histories, and the broader implications for identity and rights in the context of assisted reproductive technologies. Annie shares how her upbringing shaped her understanding of family and identity. This episode not only navigates the sensi...
Aug 14, 2024•35 min•Ep. 13
While Chris is on vacation, Jay is joined by Rosie Okumura, an expert in scam detection. This episode focuses on the story of Mary Maybee, a 75-year-old adoptee from Denver, who sought to uncover her roots. After a serendipitous meeting with Jay at a genealogy conference, Mary shares her emotional journey to connect with her birth family. Through the diligent efforts of Jay and his team, Mary finds her birth father alive at 99 years old. Join our Patreon to get exclusive bonus segments from each...
Aug 07, 2024•41 min•Ep. 15
In episode 14 of "Finding Family DNA," Caroline Chamblee shares her journey through adoption from both the perspective of an adoptee and a birth mother. Caroline was adopted into a loving family but always knew about her adoption and had some information about her birth mother. As an adult, with the support of her adoptive parents, Caroline sought to reconnect with her biological mother, a process facilitated by Jay Rosenzweig. Unfortunately, the reunion was not what Caroline had hoped for, as h...
Jul 31, 2024•33 min•Ep. 14
In episode 13 of "Finding Family DNA," Lori Quinn shares her story of discovering her biological family through the efforts of Jay and his team. Initially contacting BirthParentFinder.com due to a compelling news story featuring Chris, Lori's journey uncovers layers of her identity shaped by a closed adoption. The episode explores the emotional first meeting with her paternal half-sister, Kathleen, via Zoom, revealing immediate familial connections and shared traits that Lori had never experienc...
Jul 24, 2024•39 min•Ep. 13
In this Patreon-exclusive segment of "Finding Family DNA," Dawn Voris shares her complex and emotional journey surrounding the adoption of one of her twins. From Fort Wayne, Indiana, Dawn recounts the circumstances that led her to place one twin for adoption while keeping the other, a decision shaped by unique and challenging circumstances. This episode delves deep into Dawn's personal experiences, highlighting the planned C-section, the secrecy of the pregnancy, and the aftermath of these choic...
Jul 18, 2024•8 min
Join our Patreon to get exclusive bonus segments from each episode! https://www.patreon.com/findingfamilydna Watch this podcast right now on YouTube! https://youtu.be/9vUH_VvV0yc In episode 12 of "Finding Family DNA," we delve into the complex and emotionally charged story of Dawn Voris, who made the heart-wrenching decision to give up one of her twin daughters for adoption due to financial instability. This episode explores the intricate details of the adoption process, the secrecy involved, an...
Jul 17, 2024•41 min•Ep. 12
Join our Patreon to get exclusive bonus segments from each episode! https://www.patreon.com/findingfamilydna Watch this podcast right now on YouTube! https://youtu.be/ep4suRHL2Fk In episode 11 of "Finding Family DNA," we explore the journey of Jay’s niece, Maggie Botta. Jay, originally not in the business of finding birth parents, was inspired by Maggie's situation. Maggie, adopted into a white family and of African American descent, sparked the idea of a service after she casually mentioned her...
Jul 10, 2024•37 min•Ep. 11
Join our Patreon to get exclusive bonus segments from each episode! https://www.patreon.com/findingfamilydna Watch this podcast right now on YouTube! https://youtu.be/aVKK0i9lOKE In this special true crime episode of "Finding Family DNA," we uncover the harrowing and heartrending story of Holly Marie, a woman ensnared in a decades-old mystery involving her biological parents' murder and her own subsequent adoption. Holly’s biological parents, deeply involved with a mysterious cult, were tragical...
Jul 03, 2024•39 min•Ep. 10
Join our Patreon to get exclusive bonus segments from each episode! https://www.patreon.com/findingfamilydna Watch this podcast right now on YouTube! https://youtu.be/3gkWl3DsCU0 In episode 9 of "Finding Family DNA," Patty Garcia recounts her emotional journey of teenage pregnancy and the heartrending decision to give up her son, Evan, due to societal pressures and family expectations. Growing up in a strict household, Patty's life took a dramatic turn when she became pregnant at a young age and...
Jun 26, 2024•37 min•Ep. 9
Join our Patreon to get exclusive bonus segments from each episode! https://www.patreon.com/findingfamilydna Watch this podcast right now on YouTube! https://youtu.be/WIV88X7E13I In episode 8 of "Finding Family DNA," Tom Freeman shares his profound journey of discovering his birth family with the assistance of Jay Rosenzweig and the innovative use of databases like the California Birth Index. Born in San Francisco with minimal information about his origins, Tom’s search took a significant turn w...
Jun 19, 2024•41 min•Ep. 8
Join our Patreon to get exclusive bonus segments from each episode! https://www.patreon.com/findingfamilydna Watch this podcast right now on YouTube! https://youtu.be/iaRz9bNK_fw In episode 7 of "Finding Family DNA," Aneyah Elmore delves into her complex journey as a Korean adoptee and her poignant reunion with her birth father, an African American soldier previously stationed in Korea during the Vietnam War. After years of believing her birth father had died, DNA testing facilitated by Jay Rose...
Jun 12, 2024•41 min•Ep. 7
Join our Patreon to get exclusive bonus segments from each episode! https://www.patreon.com/findingfamilydna Watch this podcast right now on YouTube! https://youtu.be/jBhPvoGQRTg In episode 6 of "Finding Family DNA," Kim Carrington, a birth mother, shares her journey of placing her daughter, Victoria, for adoption and the eventual reunion decades later. The story unfolds with Kim describing her decision to give Victoria up during her freshman year in college, driven by challenging circumstances ...
Jun 05, 2024•30 min•Ep. 6
Join our Patreon to get exclusive bonus segments from each episode! https://www.patreon.com/findingfamilydna Listen To Tarcia's Podcast Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-adoption-journey-podcast/id1697365233 https://open.spotify.com/show/1Lm7HLeSKJorSKiGhpVD7h Watch this podcast right now on YouTube! https://youtu.be/7wsgydUsTjc In episode 5 of "Finding Family DNA," Tarcia Smith shares her deeply personal journey of connecting with her birth family. A certified holistic health coac...
May 29, 2024•31 min•Ep. 5
Join our Patreon to get exclusive bonus segments from each episode! https://www.patreon.com/findingfamilydna Watch this podcast right now on YouTube! https://youtu.be/GJUgq426DPQ In episode 4 of "Finding Family DNA," we explore the touching story of Lakeeta Greene, who uncovered her birth mother through a contest win at BirthParentFinder.com. Lakeeta, an author, had just published a book about her life when Jay Rosenzweig successfully located her biological mother, prompting a potential sequel. ...
May 22, 2024•31 min•Ep. 2
Join our Patreon to get exclusive bonus segments from each episode! https://www.patreon.com/findingfamilydna Watch this podcast right now on YouTube! https://youtu.be/BqFVhTEEKPA In episode 3 of "Finding Family DNA," we meet Sean Higgins, a man who discovered his biological father was a former Chippendales dancer. Sean's journey into his paternal lineage began when a DNA test revealed that the man he had always considered his father was not biologically related to him. After his brother did a DN...
May 15, 2024•26 min•Ep. 3
Join our Patreon to get exclusive bonus segments from each episode! https://www.patreon.com/findingfamilydna Watch this podcast right now on YouTube! https://youtu.be/OO8cijvxcy0 In episode 2 of "Finding Family DNA," we delve into the gripping story of Cassandra Brown, who discovered at 45 that she was adopted. Raised without knowledge of her adoption or biracial identity, Cassandra's life is turned upside down when a relative finally reveals the truth during Thanksgiving. With Jay's help, she e...
May 08, 2024•37 min•Ep. 2
Join our Patreon to get exclusive bonus segments from each episode! https://www.patreon.com/findingfamilydna Watch this podcast right now on YouTube! https://youtu.be/lewlrRoVqdY In episode 1 of "Finding Family DNA," Chris and Jay explore Chris’s journey to find his biological family, a decade-long quest that was aided by Jay and his team's expertise in private investigation and genetic genealogy. Chris shares the emotional highs of meeting his birth mother and siblings, reflecting on his adopti...
May 01, 2024•28 min•Ep. 1
"Finding Family DNA" is premiering on May 1st! Hosted by LA Morning News anchor Chris Schauble and Jay Rosenzweig, founder and CEO of BirthParentFinder.com, this podcast delves into the captivating world of family reunions. Each week, we bring you a new case, illuminating the sophisticated tools of genetic genealogy and DNA technology that make these heartfelt reunions a reality. Join us as we unravel the complexities of adoption searches and share the deeply moving stories of connections redisc...
Apr 20, 2024•37 sec
