Rosalyn “Roz" Carter is the co-host of the I Found Her podcast and Taya's birthmother. At the age of 16, Roz became pregnant and placed Deana, now Taya for adoption. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from University of Phoenix and is a Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM). She was a member of Toastmistress in the early 1970’s before women could join Toastmasters. In 2005, she joined Toastmasters while employed at the City of Moreno Valley, and has served in many leadership positions, includin...
Jul 01, 2025•57 min
Taya Reed is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Supervisor with over 15 years of therapeutic experience. She established her private practice, Sound House Therapy, 5 years ago. Adopted in 1970 during the Baby Scoop Era through the LA County Adoption Agency, Taya's personal experience within a closed same-race domestic adoption has profoundly shaped her professional journey. Taya is a US Armed Forces veteran and served in the Gulf War. Taya presented at the Adoption Knowledge Affiliates confer...
Jun 24, 2025•59 min
Angie was born in Washington, DC in 1971. She spent the first couple of months at St. Ann's Maternity Home before being adopted by a somewhat older couple. She learned about her adoption as a young child after asking her mother if she had been adopted, as suggested by some classmates. Angie searched for and found her biological family in her early twenties and has been in reunion for about 30 years. https://www.patreon.com/c/adopteeland Music by Corey Quinn...
Jun 17, 2025•49 min
Danna Schmidt is an end-of-life navigator, ceremonialist, and adoptee who often writes about ritual and threshold moments at the bedside or graveside. Her writings have appeared in Adoptee Voices, Severance Magazine, Grown and Flown and in Maggie Oman Shannon’s Crafting Love: Sharing Our Hearts Through the Work of Our Hands. She has two works in progress: a hybrid guidebook, Funerals, Families & Other Exciting F Words, and her adoption memoir, What the Stork Brough t, which chronicles family...
Jun 10, 2025•1 hr 4 min
Ed Di Gangi is a returning guest. He was adopted at the time of his birth. It wasn't until late in his adulthood that he chose to explore the identity of the woman who had placed him for adoption so many years before. His meticulous research led to his learning the circumstances of his birth and subsequent adoption. A dna sample helped him identify his birth father. While neither his father nor his first mother were still alive when Ed made his discoveries, he is in reunion with both maternal an...
Jun 03, 2025•44 min
Jean Widner is the author of a new book, The Adoption Paradox: Putting Adoption in Perspective . Today we’re talking about her road to understanding adoption and why she wrote this important book. Jean was born in 1965 and raised in Washington State as an adoptee. After having a mostly positive adoption experience growing up, she shares her story, as it continues to evolve navigating adoption’s complexities. Her book includes a fascinating history of adoption, as well as individual stories from ...
May 27, 2025•51 min
Chris Benton from the UK (Birmingham) was fostered until 2 years of age prior to adoption. He listens to OUATIA podcast while doing landscaping work for his business. He recently transitioned from tree surgery to grounds maintenance (landscaping). He has an adoptive older brother (troubled) and in contact with bio brother who is 4 years younger (also adopted out) who lives in the US (Michigan). Chris has spoken with foster father (foster mother has dementia) and in contact with bio mom (psych is...
May 20, 2025•56 min
Stacey Gatlin, a passionate servant leader, is on a mission to transform the lives of children, women, and families through her commitment to personal, professional, and community development. She transitioned her corporate experience in talent management, leadership, and project management into entrepreneurship and advocacy. Stacey was compelled to rewrite the narrative around Black adoption and fostering when she became a mom through adoption. Fueled to counteract negative stereotypes, she cre...
May 13, 2025•53 min
Music by Corey Quinn
May 06, 2025•55 min
Leslie Lee at the age of 58, is just beginning to explore what it truly means to be adopted. As a same-race adoptee, she was placed with her family at eight weeks old, according to the transcript she received from the agency (Louise Wise) that facilitated the adoption. For most of her life, she carried this part of her identity in silence—only sharing it with a select few friends and family members. Secrecy, and at times shame, shaped much of her experience. Today, she's married, a proud mother ...
Apr 29, 2025•1 hr 10 min
Veronica is a returning guest. She is the co-author of "Rooted in Adoption-A Collection of Adoptee Reflections" and the "Rooted in Adoption Journal" now on Amazon. Veronica's Instagram is @rootedinadoption0520 Recommendations: https://www.sdpb.org/2012-07-16/piecing-together-stories-of-families-lost-in-slavery https://growbeyondwords.com/2015/08/screening-questions-when-seeking-an-adoption-competent-therapist/ Music by Corey Quinn...
Apr 22, 2025•48 min
Kimberly L. Carter is a women's leadership strategist, speaker, and author of the journal, “R ise, Thrive, and Flourish ”. With a background in spirituality, empowerment, and Gen Z leadership development, she helps women and organizations cultivate confidence, clarity, and purpose. Through her consulting work, coaching, and vibrant online presence, Kimberly empowers the next generation of leaders to show up boldly, speak with authority, and lead with heart. She is a military veteran, holds an MB...
Apr 15, 2025•47 min
Laura Batt (she/her) was adopted domestically as an infant and raised in a closed adoption. She has been in reunion with her biological family for 26+ years. Laura is also a birth/first parent to her oldest adult son. She is parenting another teenage son and young child with her significant other in Oregon. Laura worked in pregnancy and parenting support for 20+ years. She has a Master’s degree in social work, and she has certifications in adoption therapy and perinatal mental health. Laura has ...
Apr 08, 2025•50 min
Mirella Stoyanova is a therapist, writer and international adoptee from Bulgaria of both Bulgarian and Iraqi origin. Her writing work has appeared in Write or Die Magazine, Business Insider, and HuffPost Personal, among other places. She is a proud member of Adoptee Voices and lives in Seattle, Washington with her husband Jason, her son Milo and her beloved dog, Finn. Find her @mirellastoyanova on Instagram or on her writing website, mirellastoyanova.com . Reference: https://adopteelitfest.com/ ...
Apr 01, 2025•52 min
Maureen McCauley is the adoptive mom of four now-adult children, two sons born in the U.S. and twin daughters born in Ethiopia; she has lived experience with infant adoption, international adoption, older child adoption, U.S. adoption, and transracial adoption. She also has three granddaughters. Her professional background is in social and educational welfare advocacy, including as former executive director of three nonprofits focused on adoption and foster care. With Adoption Mosaic, Maureen co...
Mar 25, 2025•56 min
Brooke Haynes is a business coach, website and marketing system designer, and the founder of Consurgo, a personal development community for visionary entrepreneurs. With a unique ability to see the big picture, Brooke helps small businesses streamline their systems, build engaged communities, and create sustainable growth. Everyone who works with Brooke walks away with renewed passion and clear visions for their entrepreneurial journeys. Connect with Brooke here itssimplyreal.com Websites: https...
Mar 18, 2025•50 min
My guest is Stephanie C. Watterson. Originally a shy and awkward biracial adoptee, Stephanie is now one of those people who, as soon as you meet her, you’ll feel joy around. She graduated from Langara College (Digital & Print Publications, Dean’s Honour Roll) and recently from Simon Fraser University (Editing Certificate). Last summer, she published her first children’s book – Septopus. Stephanie’s love for literature has lingered and will always be a labour of love. Try saying that ten time...
Mar 11, 2025•51 min
This episode is dedicated and in tribute to Ricky Lamont Boone. August 7, 1962-January 2, 2025. Music by Corey Quinn
Mar 04, 2025•11 min
Dr. David McCarty-Caplan (PhD) is a researcher, educator, writer, and consultant whose professional experience focuses on issues of identity development, support of underserved populations, racial equity, and pursuit of social justice. David was born in Bogota, Colombia but adopted and raised in a white Jewish family in the United States. This lived experience has profoundly shaped his personal and professional interests and he is increasingly involved in work dedicated to adoption consciousness...
Mar 04, 2025•57 min
D. Yvonne Rivers is a returning guest. She is the host of the Birth Moms Real Talk Podcast. Since 1988, D. Yvonne Rivers Aka Phoebe has been a champion of a cause, from business success, domestic violence, re-entry, and adoption community. One facet of this global business expert is an esteemed speaker, facilitator, and trainer across the globe on four continents. Another facet of this woman started in 1973 with the birth of her son who she championed for family assistance for support to raise a...
Feb 25, 2025•49 min
Reflecting on words from eleven prior adoptee guests for Black History Month" In order of appearance: Dr. Syb Brown, Isaac Etter, Maya Holmes, Sandria Washington, Dr. Jack Rocco, Kenneth Bonomo, Joi R. Fisher-Griffin, David Bynum, Dr. Patrice Martin, Iris Bryant and Dr. KE Katherin Garland. Thank you for your generous gift of sharing a part of your story on the show. Each adoptee has been a guest on this podcast. Go to https://www.onceuponatimeinadopteeland.com/ to listen to their full episode. ...
Feb 18, 2025•2 hr 14 min
Dewi Sungai Marquis-Houston is a mixed-race Native Bornean (Ngaju Dayak, Banjarese, Sundanese, English) mother, wife, and filmmaker who was born in Indonesia, adopted as an infant by white American parents, renamed “Amy" (a name she has since rescinded to reclaim her birth name), and raised in the U.S. in white suburbia. Dewi's experiences as a transracial adoptee led her to a filmmaking career that centers marginalized voices and challenges narratives spun from white supremacy culture and colon...
Feb 11, 2025•48 min
Diego Vitelli is a dedicated adoptee-focused therapist, relationship expert, and advocate for racial diversity and LGBTQ+ inclusion. An international adoptee from Colombia, Diego was adopted at approximately five years old by an Irish-Italian family outside of Boston. His lived experience as an adoptee fuels his deep passion for amplifying adoptee voices and fostering spaces where identity, belonging, and healing can thrive. Now holding a master’s degree in Couples and Family Therapy, Diego spec...
Feb 04, 2025•1 hr 2 min
Paul Kimball is an active musician in Stockton California. He conducts Musicals, The Zion Chamber Orchestra and Pops Choir and recently retired after 36 years as a music teacher with the Lincoln Unified School District. He is French Horn player. As a baby, Paul lived in Foster Care after being relinquished by his first mother, a concert cellist, at 5 days old. He was adopted on his first birthday by a liberal Berkeley family in the 1960’s. He is married to Doctor Dominee Muller-Kimball. They hav...
Jan 28, 2025•1 hr 18 min
Jennifer Hiltebeitel (HILL-ta-bite-el) is a returning guest. Jennifer is an adopted person on a lifelong healing journey. She was adopted through the county foster care system in Pennsylvania in the early 70s and just obtained her original birth certificate in 2023. She met her biological mother at 17 and father at 21 before the internet existed and has ongoing relationships with extended members of her biological family. Jennifer loves helping others - especially adoptees - process their storie...
Jan 21, 2025•54 min
Astrid Castro is a returning guest. Astrid is the founder and CEO of Adoption Mosaic , an adoptee-led, BIPOC woman-owned business that creates for and connects our adoption constellation community through adoptee-centered events, education courses, and consultations. For over three decades, Astrid has served the adoption constellation through a variety of innovative programing designed to highlight the adoptee experience. Prior to creating Adoption Mosaic, Astrid worked in both the private and p...
Jan 14, 2025•1 hr 6 min
Sharon Butler-Obazee, an adoptee, attended Cal State Hayward. She worked in human services and tenured with the insurance industry as a medical sales rep. After retirement, she became certified under the International Coaching Federation after attending Professional Christian Coaching before starting her coaching practice. Her handle on social media was @adoptionclarity, where she encouraged an adoptee-centric philosophy. She became a Board Member of the Post Adoption Center for Education and Re...
Jan 07, 2025•51 min
We encourage you to go to https://www.onceuponatimeinadopteeland.com/ and search the individuals mentioned in this episode to find their contributions/links. OBC to California Born Adoptees: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erHylYLHqXg Music by Corey Quinn
Dec 31, 2024•22 min
Original air date: November 1, 2022 Jennifer Hiltebeitel (HILL - ta - bite - el) was adopted from foster care as a preschooler and grew up to be a fourth-grade teacher with a Master's degree in Multicultural Education. She met members of her biological family between the ages of 17-21 and is honored to understand pieces of her story that were once missing. She has been married to her husband Eric for 24 years - the person who taught her she was worthy of unconditional love. They have one daughte...
Dec 24, 2024•58 min
Natasha Tripplett, a Jewish-Jamaican American author, lives in Northern California where she writes from a tree house perched in a sycamore tree. As a baby, Natasha was adopted into a Dutch, Christian family. Growing up on Vancouver Island in Canada, she was acutely aware that she was different from her family; this did not keep her from integrating all the pieces of her identity. Natasha’s multicultural background has allowed her to flow seamlessly through different cultures while bridging gaps...
Dec 17, 2024•1 hr 2 min
