Angela Tucker on adoption, race and centering adoptee voices

Angela Tucker wants to change the conversation about adoption.

She is an adoptee advocate and mentor, host of the podcast The Adoptee Next Door and author of the forthcoming book You Should Be Grateful: Stories or Race, Identity and Transracial Adoption. Born in Chattanooga, Angela grew up in Bellingham, Wash., with white adoptive parents — an experience that was challenging and sometimes isolating. She didn’t have a person of color as a teacher until she was in college. After turning 21, she was able to find and eventually meet her birth parents, but that was in spite of Tennessee law, not because of it. Her work centers adoptee voices and perspectives.

But first, we talk with WPLN's Blaise Gainey about the recent arrest of former Tennessee Speaker of the House Glen Casada and his former aide Cade Cothren.

Guests:

• Blaise Gainey, WPLN political reporter

• Angela Tucker, author and adoptee advocate