Shifts happen when we see through the story we've been innocently telling ourselves about ourselves. After setting the scene Vin and I go deep into self love in what's one of our most profound conversations here on Thriving Adoptees. We go deep because that's where the most valuable shifts happen. I'm loving that depth. Vin loves that depth. We love the fact that you do too. Shifts change lives. Listen in for your own shifts. Born in India, adopted at 10 months, raised in Australia, Vin is a tru...
Jan 06, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 235
A m I stuck with the Primal Wound? W ill it ever heal? H ow do I live with the scars? W hat on earth do I do to be whole? I 've been searching for answers to these questions (and many more) since reading Nancy Verrier's book. What I've learned has brought me peace. I 'm rarely triggered. I know deep down that I'm ok. D on't get me wrong... I still have my moments. But those moments don't hurt as much or last as long. I've touched on my healing insights with over 200 guests Now I 'm sharing much ...
Jan 05, 2023•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 234
The feeling of not being wanted haunts us adoptees. Being lied to exacerbates that feeling. The feeling moulds our thinking in a vicious circle that threatens to spin out of control. Or does so! Listen in as adoptee Joanne shares how the truth has helped her heal. There are insights, epiphanies and epiphanettes (like epiphanies only smaller) aplenty to speed you along your healing journey. Buckle up and listen in with big ears. This episode is packed with wisdom. Here's a bit about Joanne and he...
Jan 04, 2023•46 min•Ep. 233
Australian adoptee Susannah felt cut adrift. This episode is all about her journey back to home - finding herself. Listen into her wisdom for your own insights into healing, understanding who we are and seeing that we are (more than) enough. Poignant, powerful and very relatable to all adoptees. Here's more about Susannah, her story and her memoir: In 1965, Robin, unmarried and pregnant, comes to Melbourne to give birth and give her baby up for adoption, then returns to Perth to resume her life ...
Jan 03, 2023•58 min•Ep. 232
Amanda is an adoptee AND a birth mother. She's on the show with her mother Ann. That's a totally unique combination that we've never brought to you before! Listen in as we dive deep into grace, empathy, avoiding judgement and supporting others. They've learned a whole heap through their own lived experience and researching other people's experience for the books they've written. Check out the book they wrote together at: https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Ann-Angel/dp/0980208165 Check out Ann's book at...
Jan 02, 2023•56 min•Ep. 231
Finding out she was adopted at 57 left Carlyn feeling fragmented and deeply unsettled. Listen in as she shares how she put herself back together and found peace. We go deep in this very profound episode. The deeper we go, the more we learn and the clearer we see. And the more peaceful life is. Isn't peace what we all truly want? Carlyn Montes De Oca grew up surrounded by secrets. She never knew her dad was a Marine during World War II or that her grandmother hired kidnappers to bring her mother ...
Dec 23, 2022•59 min•Ep. 230
Flexing stops us breaking. Cate is an adoptive mum who's been through tough stuff herself. She's also an educational professional too who helped many adoptive parents pull back from breaking point. Relax and listen in for perspective changes that are going to make you and your family's easier and better. Cate Tumman has two adopted kids and is an experienced education profession with extensive special educational experience. I am a previous head teacher of an Therapeutic Independent school which...
Dec 21, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 229
Alice felt that there no was no place for people of mixed race like her. Adoption had destroyed her sense of identity. She felt fractured. Listen in as we explore the most important issues for adoptees who want to heal. About Alice Stephens - from her website: Born in South Korea to a Korean mother and an American soldier father, I became Alice Stephens when I was adopted at 9 months old into a white family from Philadelphia with three biological children. When I was four, we moved to Botswana, ...
Dec 20, 2022•55 min•Ep. 227
I love meeting kindred spirits and interviewing them so they can share their learnings with you dear listener. Fellow adoptee Danielle is a total one off in the amount of time and effort she puts into healing and supporting others. We go deep into the truth of who we are in a way that's accessible and ultimately healing. We back this up with some practical pointers to help you along your healing journey. Here's a bit about Danielle from her website: My name is Danielle and I am an Earth Citizen ...
Dec 19, 2022•57 min•Ep. 227
Is it any wonder us adoptees crave love given the loss of the one who gave us life? Alex and I explore what he's learned on his journey to self love. He shares his recovery from pathological infatuations and a whole in his torso. My conversations for the podcast seem to be getting deeper as I talk to more adoptees. The deeper we go, the more healing we find. So listen in as we dig deep. I LOVED this one and am sure you will love it too. Find out more at: https://alexmfrankel.com/ https://www.fac...
Dec 16, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 226
When we know better, we do better. So what do adoptive parents need to know? Erin shares what she's learning raising her own kids adopted from foster care and helping other parents too. That professional perspective that backs up her personal one really makes this episode sing with clarity. We talk about understanding our own triggers, values and overwhelm which I know can be huge issues for you. Enjoy. Here's a bit about Erin from her website: My name is Erin Bouchard. Together with my husband,...
Dec 15, 2022•46 min•Ep. 225
Adoptees born in Ireland can now access their birth information and apply for a tracing service. Listen in as Patricia Carey, CEO Adoption Authority of Ireland explains the background and services now available. The Adoption Authority Of Ireland's mission is to " To ensure the provision of the highest possible standards of adoption related services, throughout the lifelong adoption process, with the best interests of children as the first and paramount objective ." The Birth Information and Trac...
Dec 14, 2022•29 min•Ep. 226
Here's a bit about Joy from her website : Adopted as a baby and raised by a devout Jehovah’s Witness family, Joy Castro is constantly reminded to tell the truth no matter what the consequences. Nevertheless, Castro finds this tenet to be the most violated. Here, in her very own Truth Book , Castro bears witness to a childhood lost but a life regained. Castro’s parents divorce after her father is excommunicated for smoking. She is twelve when her mother marries a “brother” in the church who, thou...
Dec 13, 2022•59 min•Ep. 223
Shame seems to exist on a scale from mildly debilitating to totally wrecking adoptees' lives. Listen in as explore shame, where it comes from and coming to terms with it. This episode is all about how understanding the truth of who we are sets us free. Susan Beale was raised on Cape Cod, lived in Belgium and France, and now lives in the Wells, Somerset. Susan has worked as a journalist and editor in the US and Europe. She is a former competitive figure skater. She is a recent graduate of the Bat...
Dec 09, 2022•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 223
Adoptee Diane's search & reunion process was epic and, ultimately, rewarding. Listen in as we take a deep dive into faith, hope & perseverance that powered her through that process for insights galore for all adoptees. It is our human right to know who we are. After her adoptive parents passed away, Diane decided to take the DNA plunge to find her biological family. Learn how she found her biological family after years of wondering who she was and why she was born. With the help of a sea...
Dec 08, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 222
Feeling unwanted is a central theme to many of adoptees' lives. We ache for connection. And it's a deep throbbing heartache that hurts like hell. Listen in as adoptee Laurie and I explore what she's learned to help you heal that heartache. What does it mean to belong? Laurie James spent most of her life wondering that same question. A lack of belonging and loneliness dictated how she spent most of her life. She rarely shared her secret with others—it was always hidden behind a carefree and can-d...
Dec 07, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 221
Transracial adoptee Thomas felt anger was stitched into him. Listen in as we explore how he saw through that to find peace and end his identity crisis. This is a particularly profound conversation which listeners are going to love. Here's a bit about Thomas and his book: An inspirational book detailing the profound changes in the life of a black child being left at a hospital after birth. Thirteen months into his life being adopted by a white couple that migrated from Europe before World War 2, ...
Dec 06, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 220
Resolving identity is often particularly tricky for transracial adoptees given the extra layer of complexity that race brings to adoption. Lucy felt different, saw lots of people who looked very different to her and was treated very differently too. Finding peace and ease with her identity took decades. Listen in as we explore the insights on the journey. Here's a bit about her from her website Lucy Sheen Made in Hong Kong exported to the UK in the early 60s as a transracial adoptee. Brought up ...
Dec 05, 2022•59 min•Ep. 219
Taking our kids' behaviour personally stops us being the parents we need to be. So how do we become agents of healing? Listen in as therapist Catherine explores essential insights and steps to helping our kids heal. Here's some more about her from her website: Catherine Young, LMFT, is an author, trainer, consultant, clinical supervisor and child and family therapist. She has devoted over 25 years to helping children and families. She has worked in varied settings including public and private me...
Dec 02, 2022•57 min•Ep. 218
Many of us adoptees struggle with identity. Christiana became Christina at 8. All of a sudden she was in a new country, in a new continent, with a new culture and her new name. Listen in as we unpack what she's learned about absorbing the most extreme identity shock we've ever discussed on this podcast. Christina Rickardsson was born in 1983 as Christiana Mara Coelho in Brazil in a town called Diamantina (Minas Gerais), where she lived with her mother in a cave. When Christina was around five ye...
Nov 30, 2022•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 215
Check out my free event in January https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/whole-healing-my-primal-wound-tickets-473258638327 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.
Nov 29, 2022•16 min•Ep. 216
Adoptee Paula and I go deep - because where the treasure is - the priceless insights that helped her heal the hole in her soul. Adoptee Paula and I go deep - because where the treasure is - the priceless insights that helped her heal the hole in her soul. We both really loved this conversation and hope you do too. Paula Gruben is a professional writer , born and bred in South Africa, now living in Ireland. She was relinquished as a newborn in 1974, under the highly secretive closed adoption syst...
Nov 28, 2022•56 min•Ep. 214
Trees seal, people heal. Adoptee Kate helps us to self understanding and compassion in this profound episode. Sit back and drink this all in - especially her healing moments - they've got incredible healing power for us all.Here'a bit about Kate's story from her website I swore I'd never let my birthmother into my life, but then Mom died of ovarian cancer and my birthmother, Val, found me through my mom's obituary. Hard to argue with fate. Harder still to let go of childhood promises, even when ...
Nov 25, 2022•53 min•Ep. 213
Love isn't finite. But what does that even mean? In a fantastic first for Thriving Adoptees an adoptee and her birth mother talk about this and much more in this profound conversation. You're going to love this one. It was released on 24th November 2022, the first Thanksgiving day that Cynthia has spent with both her adoptive mom and birth mom. Here's a bit about Cynthia - who was adopted as a child - from her website: I grew up in southeast Idaho, just outside the town of Idaho Falls . From as ...
Nov 24, 2022•52 min•Ep. 212
If we want our kids to grow, we need to grow. So how do we do that? Danny shares a wealth of insights into how we can grow based on a lifetime's experience working with kids and parents. It's wide-ranging, fascinating and empowering. Dr. Daniel Huerta oversees Focus’ initiatives that equip mothers and fathers with biblical principles and counsel for raising healthy, resilient children. A bilingual, licensed clinical social worker, Dr. Huerta addresses issues related to parenting such as communic...
Nov 21, 2022•45 min•Ep. 211
Coming out of the fog marks the start our healing journey not the end of it. Listen in as adoptee Lora shares what's turbo-charged her healing. We go deep because that's where the life changing epiphanies lie - under the trauma. These epiphanies are like priceless gems buried deep underneath many layers of soil, earth and rock. I really loved talking with Lora and bringing these epiphanies into the light to empower you to your own insights. Here's a bit about Lora from her website: Lora K. Joy i...
Nov 18, 2022•45 min•Ep. 210
How many ex foster kids are professors? How many have dedicated their lives to improving the lives of children from hard places. Dr David Cross is uniquely placed to support you the adoptive parent and this episode is a gem. The paradox of helping your kids thrive is that it starts with you thriving. Listen in with big ears as David shares succinct and clear insights into how you can make that happen. Here's some more about David and the Institute he leads from their website: Dr. David Cross is ...
Nov 15, 2022•56 min•Ep. 209
Doubt and insecurities are part and parcel of parenting. And deeper for those adopting given the potential complexities growing their families that way. Listen in as Nancy who adopted Sophie from China and raised her on her own shares her biggest insights along the way to prompt your own insights as you do all you can to ensure your family thrives. After years as a temporary college instructor with no real home—her family and longtime friends scattered—Nancy McCabe yearned to settle down, establ...
Nov 11, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 208
What's the journey from hardship, anxiety and grief to love, joy and hope. Lisa Ann explores our burdens, how they develop over the stages of our lives and how to relieve ourselves of our burdens... Adopted at the tail end of the Baby Scoop Era, Lisa Ann’s multiple decades of searching for family finally broke through with the submission of her DNA in 2018. She has learned over the past few years the importance of listening to others who are in the community, how more adoptees need to be heard, ...
Nov 09, 2022•54 min•Ep. 207
Adopted at 22, Tami's story is anything but typical. Neither is her transformation from surviving to thriving. So what has she learned on the way? What's she continuing to learn? What's changed her life? We go deep on healing is about seeing. As a mentor of mine says listen into this one like a rock with big ears for your own insights - see what you can see differently... Here's more about her book.... A twenty-one year telemarketer, Tammy Schend has barely managed her life after aging out of th...
Nov 07, 2022•57 min•Ep. 206
