Many of us feel that we were brought up in a false narrative. Many of us feel that the current narrative around adoption is still false. But what about OUR narrative? The narrative that sums up how we see our life? The narrative that changes. The narrative that's meant to change. Stephen shares routes to a more empowered narrative. Fascinating. Empowering. And very, very different. Different in a GOOD way. Stephen Rowley, Ph.D., is an adoptee, adoptive parent and psychotherapist practicing in Ba...
May 10, 2024•58 min•Ep. 476
How does healing help us advocate? How does advocacy help us heal? Listen in as we explore how the intersection of two crucial parts of our lives. Here's the link to Joyce's previous interviews https://thriving-adoptees.simplecast.com/episodes/joyce https://thriving-adoptees.simplecast.com/episodes/theres-nothing-wrong-with-us-with-joyce-maguire-pavao Here's a link to a replay of Advancing Your Advocacy For Adoptees https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4y-8Id3NajI Dr. Pavao has done extensive trainin...
May 09, 2024•55 min•Ep. 475
How do you feel about your wounds? Do they scare you? Do you just want them gone? Do you yearn to feel whole? What if you had a different relationship with them? Saw them as gifts. The cracks that let the light in. Listen in as we go deep to new perspectives on trauma. And peace. Here's an interview with the Headless way guy https://dramyjohnson.com/2024/04/ep298-the-headless-way-with-richard-lang/ Here's a link to his website https://headless.org/ There's pain and beauty in adoption. Donna like...
May 08, 2024•53 min•Ep. 474
Feeling unloved hurts like hell. And most of us have felt that way. I know i've felt that my birth mother didn't love me enough to keep me. But what if we feel are adoptive parents didn't want us? Reading about some doubt her parents had in adopting her turned Patti's life upside down. Listen in as we go deep on feeling loved, wanted and enough. Patti Eddington is a newspaper and magazine journalist whose favorite job ever was interviewing the famous authors who came through town on book tours. ...
May 07, 2024•52 min•Ep. 473
Do you struggle with your desperate parts? Do you yearn to feel whole? Listen in as Mee Ok shares her learnings on healing body, mind and soul. A particularly dramatic episode - she was given just 5 years to live. Born in Korea, Mee Ok Icaro (pronounced “mēˈōk i’kä’rō”) was renamed “Mandy” by her white, evangelical parents who adopted and raised her in California and Arkansas. After narrowly escaping conversion therapy but unable to avoid sitting next to Sarah Huckabee Sanders in Spanish class, ...
May 03, 2024•55 min•Ep. 472
If we're ok with not feeling ok, we're always ok. Listen in as we dive into healing, coping, peace and more. You'll love Alice's honesty and humour. Here's a bit about Alice's last interview. Listen on as Alice shares how she found the patience and persistence on her quest to find and meet her birth mother. There are bags of insights, realisations, twists and turns. Buckle up for a rollercoaster of a ride. Listen to it here https://thriving-adoptees.simplecast.com/episodes/patience-persistence-w...
May 02, 2024•55 min•Ep. 471
Join Fireside Adoptees so you can join our free taster event on 11th May 2024 and the mini course on 18th and 19th May 2024: https://www.facebook.com/groups/firesideadoptees Link to the book I mention: https://www.amazon.com/Power-Force-David-Hawkins-M-D/dp/1401945074 Here's the link to Jude's blog post about gratitude and frequency using David Hawkins' scale of consciousness. https://fhwithjude.com/gratitude-3-0/ Connect with Jude https://www.facebook.com/jude.a.hung https://www.instagram.com/f...
Apr 29, 2024•52 min•Ep. 470
We didn't choose to be adopted. We had no power over what happened to us. So how do we take the power back? What can do to develop our identity on our terms? Powerful stuff from Diego. Here's a bit about Diego from his website: Hi, my name is Diego; I am an adoptee from Colombia, S.A. (5ish years old) who is a relationship and family therapist in the state of Washington. I am an adoptee-focused therapist, centering on adoptee voices and their adoptee identity development through their lived expe...
Apr 18, 2024•55 min•Ep. 469
Do you feel wounded? Do you yearn to feel whole? Tifin started searching for her biological family at 19. Listen in to what she's learned about wholeness since then including insights from coaching and astro-coaching. https://www.tifindillon.com/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/1776536339297503 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVkdPPGv968-oUSl-NUKsCw Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need ...
Apr 16, 2024•47 min•Ep. 468
No-one asks a bereaved person if they've healed from the trauma of their loss. So why should others ask us if we're over the trauma of the loss of our birth family. What if we explored processing trauma rather than healing it? That's Tony's take. Listen in to a different take on relinquishment. It'll get you thinking. And processing. Here's a link to Tony's previous interview on belonging. Listen in to Tony's learnings on feeling and creating that sense of belonging with insights on being comfor...
Apr 15, 2024•56 min•Ep. 467
Some moments on healing journeys are HUGE - Transformational. They don't come any bigger than what Sarah experienced during labour. Listen in as she shares her lessons from this transformational moment and beyond. Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.
Apr 12, 2024•54 min•Ep. 466
What's wrong with me? Perhaps our most fundamental question. One we can answer intellectually 'nothing'. Or we can see that we are perfect - in theory. But how do we get to that place in our soul, gut or bones. How do we transcend cellular shame to love ourselves unconditionally? Listen into Lilly's learnings on healing. Profound and empowering, just like we like our interviews on Thriving Adoptees. We're still a niche but boy do we go deep to share catalysts. We heal together. https://www.insta...
Apr 11, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 465
Trigger warning: mention of suicidal ideation. Sometimes we have to break down to break through. Our biggest insights come in our lowest moments. So what's the biggest insight? The insight with infinite levels: there's nothing wrong with us. All is, in fact, right with us. We are perfect with our imperfections. Listen in as Sue, adopted in the 1950's, shares her breakthrough healing moments. Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinio...
Apr 10, 2024•57 min•Ep. 464
Have the most popular ways to heal left you still feeling wounded? Perhaps it's time for a different approach. Listen in as Zhen shares what has helped her feel whole. A conversation full of healing nuggets. Here's a bit about Zhen's first interview: Are you a transracial/transnational adoptee with a complex relationship to your birth country/culture? Listen in as Zhen shares what she's learned navigating that complexity. Highly empowering. Here's a link to Zhen's first interview https://thrivin...
Apr 09, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 463
Does trauma feel dark to you? Does that darkness take you down? I know it has that effect on me. So how do we find more lightness? Listen in as Jennifer points us to toward a lighter life. Here's a link to the interview with Jill Bolte Taylor https://thriving-adoptees.simplecast.com/episodes/with-jill-bolte-taylor Here's a bit about Jennifer's first interview: The powerful emotions we adoptees feel can sometimes threaten to overwhelm us. So how do we get past those feelings? Listen in as fellow ...
Apr 05, 2024•59 min•Ep. 462
Trauma can wreak havoc at every level. Psychologically. Emotionally. Sociologically. Biologically. Spiritually. Theresa's body knew she was an alien but she wasn't told that she was adopted until 19. Listen in as she shares a lifetime's insights into healing at every level. https://www.instagram.com/theresaknor https://www.facebook.com/theresa.knorr/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/theresa-m-knorr-carc-243543b/ https://www.tiktok.com/@taichi4recovery https://tknorr12.wixsite.com/wellnesseducator Gue...
Apr 04, 2024•54 min•Ep. 461
Do you yearn for more peace? Listen in as we dive into the profound place underneath our trauma. The place we feel at home and at peace. At some level, often unconscious, many of us believe that a good reunion will make us whole again. But that reunion might not even happen. And even if it does, we haven't got a clue how well it will go. So where's the hope given all the unknowns? How best should we navigate the process? Adoptee Heather shares her what she's learned from her own reunion and coac...
Apr 03, 2024•49 min•Ep. 460
Trying to push away, numb or suppress tough emotions is exhausting and a short term fix if it works at all. We have to feel it to heal it. Nicky shares wisdom bombs to help us heal, including one that really landed for me - making friends with shame. It's so counter to what we normally do. Nicky Hammond is a transracial adoptee who was born in South Korea. She and her identical twin sister were adopted by white parents in Sydney Australia. She currently lives with her hubby, two primary school a...
Mar 29, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 459
As a wise man once said to me, what we resists persists. So how do we accept the tough stuff we've been through? How do we get to the peace that lies at the other side? Listen in as Stephen shares hard won learnings. Powerful! https://www.instagram.com/stephen_sternejr/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/sas-jr/ Here are some links to episodes with birth mothers Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you ...
Mar 27, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 458
Has trauma imprisoned you? Created a trauma bound identity that feels like a life sentence? Listen in as Jude shares the hard won insights that have set her free. This interview was originally a Facebook Live. The first live an in person interview we've done on Thriving Adoptees. It's one of the most powerful and freeing of all 450 plus episodes. We hope it catalyses some insights for you. https://www.facebook.com/jude.a.hung https://www.instagram.com/finding_home_with_jude https://fhwithjude.co...
Mar 25, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 457
Is your brain stuck in trauma? Do the same old feelings keep coming back? Listen in as Lorah shares insights across all the levels of healing - physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and relational. Here's a link to Lorah's previous interview - God Hated Me https://thriving-adoptees.simplecast.com/episodes/god-hated-me-with-adoptee-lorah-gerald This episode is all about one of the most dramatic turnarounds we've ever heard on the podcast. Lorah used to think that God hated her. That she was a de...
Mar 22, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 456
Have you sought validation from others or through your career? Pursued relationships in the hope that someone else can save you only to find out that didn't work? Listen in as Andrew shares his learnings on finding validation and wholeness within. Connect with Andrew at: https://www.facebook.com/AndrewCGlen Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help....
Mar 21, 2024•58 min•Ep. 455
Freedom. Elusive for some of us. Practically impossible for others. Listen in as AJ shares how she's found freedom, the healing power of writing and much more. Powerful and empowering. Listen in with big ears. Here's a link to AJ's previous interview https://thriving-adoptees.simplecast.com/episodes/aj-bialo Do you ever feel uncomfortable? AJ grew up in a very toxic environment that left her grieving the loss of what her life might have looked like if she hadn't been adopted. She was very uncomf...
Mar 20, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 454
Feeling insufficient - not enough - is rife amongst us adoptees. So how do we get past that to the relief of being enough and beyond even that. Buckle up for a wild ride to places we've not been before on this podcast. Here's a link to Jeff's previous interview - A Journey To Self on https://thriving-adoptees.simplecast.com/episodes/a-journey-to-self-with-jeff-forney With our life story missing chapter 1, it's no wonder identity can be tricky or a complete mystery for us adoptees. How can we fee...
Mar 19, 2024•49 min•Ep. 453
Here's a link to Nicolle's first interview https://thriving-adoptees.simplecast.com/episodes/experiencing-healing-with-nicolle-tremitiere We can't talk ourselves out of our pre-verbal trauma. Our intellect can't heal pre-intellectual trauma. So what on earth do we do? Listen in as we dive into healing as an experience with adoptee and therapist Nicolle. Here's a link to the EMDR International Association https://www.emdria.org/ Find out more about Nicolle at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolle-...
Mar 18, 2024•52 min•Ep. 452
Could trauma still be stuck in your body? Perhaps you've done a lot of talk therapy and yet you're still triggered. Talk therapy has a tough time healing trauma that we can't remember or that happened before we had words. Listen in as adoptee and coach Laurie dives deep into somatic healing and how it reaches trauma other therapies can't get to. Listen to Laurie's previous interview - Healing Our Feelings here https://thriving-adoptees.simplecast.com/episodes/healing-our-feelings Sign up for her...
Mar 14, 2024•57 min•Ep. 451
Do you want to do you? Expressing the truth of you are? Feeling the whole of your emotions? Listen in as adoptee and clinical social worker Jean shares her learnings on authenticity so you can do you. Here's a link to Jean's interview on busting beliefs https://thriving-adoptees.simplecast.com/episodes/jean-provance Here's a bit about Jean from her website: Jean Provance graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in visual arts and psychology and then moved forward completing her Master’s degree in so...
Mar 12, 2024•47 min•Ep. 450
This interview challenged me. And that's a good thing. Introspection and questioning our beliefs can lead to change for the better. A different perspective. A healing perspective. Roderick's perspective is very different. You might find it challenging like I did. Listen in and make up your own mind. Here's a link to his previous interview: Reconstructing My Identity https://thriving-adoptees.simplecast.com/episodes/reconstructing-our-identity-with-rodericke Here's more about Roderick. Roderick E...
Mar 06, 2024•50 min•Ep. 449
Have you ever numbed, denied or suppressed your feelings? To fit in? Or because the feelings hurt so much they threatened to engulf you? Listen in as Fred shares his insights on feeling to heal. Here's a link to Fred's first interview https://thriving-adoptees.simplecast.com/episodes/discovering-who-i-am-with-fred-nicora Here's a bit about Fred from his website. Fred Nicora has followed a path of unexplained restlessness ignited by undisclosed triggers in his efforts to find the right fit for hi...
Mar 05, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 448
Do you feel you've lost yourself through being adopted? Listen in as adoptee and adoptee coach Rae shares her take on finding ourselves, how insights heal and overcoming emotional challenges. Enlightening and empowering. Here's a bit about Rae from her website: I'm a domestic U.S. adoptee, adopted from the foster care system when I was three years old. I spent my whole life trying to be "someone else's child" until my world crashed around me as a senior in college. I was not succeeding while wea...
Mar 01, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 447
