Advertise on podcast: Thriving Adoptees - Let's Thrive

What is Fundamental Wholeness? How does seeing it transform our lives for the better? Listen in as my friend and past guest Jude Hung interviews me about this fresh and hopeful paradigm. https://www.facebook.com/simonjbenn https://thrivingadoptees.com/ https://thrivingadoptees.com/ https://www.instagram.com/simonjbenn/ 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.

Our grounding is the base from which we connect with others and allow them to feel safe and secure. Listen in as Judith and I explore self awareness, empathy, handling ambiguity and more.  Find out more about Adoption in Merseyside here: https://www.adoptioninmerseyside.co.uk/ https://www.instagram.com/adoptioninmerseyside/ https://www.facebook.com/adoptmerseyside https://www.linkedin.com/company/adoptioninmerseyside/ 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.

What if the tough stuff happens to help us to our most profound learnings? Doesn't that change our minds about what we are going through? Listen in as Cara and I dive deep into expectations, empathy and much more. You're going to love this... Here's a bit about Cara from her ministry's website: As an educator, children’s ministry director, and life-long learner, I’ve dedicated my career to nurturing young minds and hearts. My personal journey as an adoptive parent has deepened my understanding of trauma and resilience. I’m passionate about empowering families and communities to create supportive environments where every child can thrive. https://gathering-well.org/ https://www.facebook.com/thegatheringwellsf/ https://www.instagram.com/the_gatheringwell/ 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.

What is family? It seems a simple enough question. And yet...listen in as we explore a broader answer with birth mother Janelle and her birth daughter Katherine who was adopted. Fascinating and nuanced. A great episode with light and dark, laughter and sadness. Connect and find out more at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janellebasham/ https://www.bravelove.org/stories/meet-the-team-janelle-basham/ https://www.facebook.com/JoinBraveLove/ https://www.instagram.com/joinbravelove/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherinehartzler/ 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.

We don't know what we don't know. That's why other people's perspectives can help shift our perspective. Listen in as Teresa talks about opening ourselves up to new perspectives, exploring other people's perspectives and more. Teresa Bernu has been a dedicated member of the ACI team since 2017. Before stepping into the role of Executive Director in October 2024, she served in various capacities, including Home Study Worker, Domestic Program Supervisor, and most recently, Associate Director. With over 15 years of experience in child welfare, Teresa has worked extensively in areas such as domestic infant adoption, foster care, and guardianship. https://www.adoptioncenterofillinois.org/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/teresa-bernu-lcsw-50718261/ https://www.facebook.com/AdoptionCenterofIllinois https://www.instagram.com/adoptillinois/ 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.

Don't we all want to feel we belong? It's so painful when we don't. Listen in as Jyotika shares insights on belonging, origin stories and more... Jyotika is the Executive Director of St. Nick's Kids, where she leads the organization’s mission to support children and families through adoption services. Previously, she served as the Director of Adoptions, overseeing all intercountry adoptions. Jyotika earned her Master’s in Social Work from Fordham University in New York in 2019. Since 2006, she has worked in adoption services, beginning her career at Steffas & Associates, P.C., where she assisted with both domestic and intercountry adoptions. Throughout the past two decades, she completed her master’s degree and played a key role in helping St. Nick's Kids achieve accreditation. https://snkinc.org/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555386085410 https://www.instagram.com/stnickskids/ 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.

How would your life be if you find joy whatever your circumstances? Joy, and even contentment, were completely alien to Doris growing up. She's one of those adoptees who got very, very unlucky with her adoptive parents. Now 58, Doris shares profound insights on joy no matter what - following terrible parenting, cancer and more. An incredibly empowering episode. I shouldn't have favourite interviews, but this is one because of the transformation it encapsulates.  Here's a bit about her... Doris Cardwell leads with a heart for foster families and the children they serve. Adopted herself, she believes every child deserves stability and every foster family deserves support. She works to ensure that SDKB’s resources reach the families who need them most, while building trust with partners across the state who share this mission. When she’s not working with her team or visiting churches throughout South Dakota, you might find Doris writing or speaking about the things she’s learned along the way.  Find out more here: https://americaskidsbelong.org/states/SD/ https://www.facebook.com/sdkidsbelong/ https://www.instagram.com/southdakotakidsbelong/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/doriscardwell/ https://www.instagram.com/justdoriswrites https://www.justdoris.com/ https://www.facebook.com/whojustdoris/ 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.

When things get tough raising your kids, what do you do? Listen in as Barb, Clinical Social Worker and adoptive mother to 3, shares her take on thriving and delighting in our kids. 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.

Would you like to be triggered less? More resilient when you are triggered? Listen in as Jenn and I dive deep into resilience for insights on how you react, bouncing back faster and more... Jenn is Director of Kansas Caregiver Training & Support and brings a unique blend of academic expertise and lived experience to her work at the Children’s Alliance. She holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees in education, with a focus in her graduate studies on neuroscience and trauma. As a former foster parent and current adoptive parent, Jenn brings a personal and compassionate lens to her professional work.  As a trainer, Jenn is known for her warmth, empathy, humor, and authenticity—qualities rooted in both her personal journey and her deep understanding of trauma-informed care. She is passionate about the power of connection within families and its role in healing and resilience. In her free time, she loves to be with her husband and three daughters or cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals.  More about The Children’s Alliance Of Kansas at  https://www.childally.org/ https://www.facebook.com/childallyks 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.

It's a trap we all fall into. Thinking that others will change. Waiting for others to change. But we have to change first. Listen in as Mercedes shares her insights on change for the better... Mercedes is a compassionate leader dedicated to supporting grandfamilies in Texas. As a grandmother of eleven and great-grandmother of four, Mercedes’s journey into grandparent caregiving began in 2011 when she adopted five of her grandchildren. Recognizing the lack of resources for grandparents like herself, she founded Texas Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (TXGRG) to fill this gap. Under her guidance, TXGRG has become a vital source of support and advocacy for grandfamilies statewide. Mercedes is not only a caregiver but also a passionate advocate for grandparent-headed households. She tirelessly works to amplify their voices and advocate for policies that address their unique needs at all levels of government. Mercedes’s dedication has earned her recognition, including the prestigious 2022 Casey Excellence for Children’s Award. Her unwavering commitment ensures that all grandfamilies are resourced, connected, and thriving. Mercedes Bristol is a true champion for grandfamilies, making a positive impact across Texas. https://www.facebook.com/txgrg2019/ https://www.instagram.com/tx_grg/ https://www.txgrg.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mercedes-bristol-78249816/ 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.

Born in India, Kirti Pickard was abandoned as a baby and spent her three and a half years in an orphanage. She was adopted at four. She is the host of When I Grow Up, a podcast sharing extraordinary stories of everyday people. Kirti also leads Mission 143. https://mission143.net/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578275794926 https://www.facebook.com/kirti.pickard 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.

What if discovering and sharing our uniqueness drives our thriving? How does that help us tough times. Chris is dad to 10 including 7 through  adoption from foster care. Listen as we dive deep into our diamond nature how his beliefs power his thriving. Chris Johnson serves as the Sr. Director of Church Partnerships & External Advocacy at Lifeline Children’s Services. With over two decades of pastoral experience and a background as the Executive Director of the Kentucky Governor’s Office of Faith and Community Based Initiatives, Chris is a seasoned leader and advocate for vulnerable children and families. As a consultant and frequent speaker, Chris has inspired audiences at conferences, churches, and community gatherings across the nation. He passionately shares his family’s journey and challenges others to respond to the gospel call to care for the most vulnerable in society. A native of metro Atlanta, Georgia, Chris now resides in Birmingham, Alabama, with his wife, Alicia. Together, they have 10 children, seven of whom were adopted from foster care, and are proud grandparents, including two grandchildren adopted through foster care. Their commitment to serving children extends to fostering over 40 children throughout the years, embodying their dedication to family and community. Chris holds a B.A. in Church Ministries from Trinity Baptist College and an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Regent University. His passion for equipping churches and individuals to make a lasting impact continues to shape his ministry and advocacy efforts. https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisjohnsondoz/ https://www.facebook.com/lifelinechild https://lifelinechild.org/ https://www.instagram.com/lifelinechild/ https://twitter.com/lifelinechild https://vimeo.com/lifelinechild 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.

What would it do for you to find your superpower? What if your difference IS your superpower? Listen in as adoptee Wes dives into difference, superpower and more. Wes has more than 40 years of experience working in social care, primarily in services for children and young people as a qualified social worker.  He worked for many years in local authorities including Luton, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire as the head of services and was director of services for children and young people at the NSPCC until 2011.   He has a special interest in the support of vulnerable children and families and in safeguarding which included chairing a local children’s safeguarding board and being a board member of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Service (CEOP).   Wes chairs the Hertfordshire Adoption Panel and, having been adopted as a child, has a lifelong interest in and commitment to the role of adoption in transforming the lives of children.  He lives with his wife in Woburn and has two grown up children and grandchildren who live in the USA. Wes is a keen long distance walker, sailor, trombone player and fly fisherman and loves to travel.  Find out more about Wes and the charity he chairs at: https://www.pactcharity.org/ https://www.facebook.com/pactcharity https://www.linkedin.com/in/wes-cuell-547b623a/     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.

Handling tough emotions is human's biggest challenge. And it's particularly tough for adoptees and adoptive parents given the complex emotions around adoption. So what helps us do this? Listen in as we dive deep and explore powerful learnings... Find out more about Rhiannon and her organisation at: https://mofosteradopt.com/ https://www.facebook.com/FosterandAdopt https://www.instagram.com/cmfcaa https://www.linkedin.com/company/cmfcaa/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhiannon-franklin-b498ba239/ 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.

Hope. The hope that the past doesn't determine the future. A positive outlook. Life as an adoptive parent and as an adoptee can be tough. What keeps us going? Love, for sure. And hope! Listen in as we dive into overcoming trauma, abuse and other tough stuff. Robin Sizemore, Executive Director of Hopscotch Adoptions Inc., was recognized in 2012 by the Winston-Salem Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc as a person who has “Transform Lives and Impacted the Community”. Among five other recipients, Robin Sizemore, was recognized in the area of “International Awareness” for her work and advocacy of children through international adoption and aid.  Robin was also the recipient of the “Angels in Adoption” award in 2008, in recognition of her service to children since 1995. She is an adoptive mother and has been an adoption professional since 1995. In addition to placing children in forever families, Robin has been involved in both national and international levels regarding policies and regulations impacting child welfare: she has brought educational opportunities to a variety of officials in Georgia and Armenia, spearheaded cooperative humanitarian efforts, and hosted numerous international delegations through the U.S. State Department and Ministries in other countries which are associated with institutionalized children. Robin has a warm rapport with the wide range of individuals involved with children in need, including government officials, orphanage directors and staff, hospital and humanitarian aid administrators, and adoptive families and children alike. Robin volunteered as a Council on Accreditation Hague Accreditation evaluator and team lead from 2016- 2020 and earned a Certificate of Nonprofit Executive Director Academy Institute/ Nonprofit Executive Director Academy Institute -Center for Creative Leadership – Guilford County Nonprofit Consortium 2014 and a Certificate of Nonprofit Management Nonprofit Management – Guilford Nonprofit Consortium – High Point University 2013. Robin and her husband James are the adoptive parents of the first internationally adopted child from Georgia and, with their second adoption, of the first direct “birthmother to adoptive mother” international placement in Georgia. In addition to their two beautiful children from Georgia. Robin and James have also been blessed with the surprise birth of their youngest and third child. Robin’s work is well regarded and highly respected within the country programs and she is considered a valuable resource and thoughtful orphan advocate by U.S. and international officials as the result of her dedication to children and families through humanitarian assistance programs over more than a decade. Robin has developed direct programs for Hopscotch with highly experienced and reliable partners in Armenia, Bulgaria, Georgia, Ghana, Guyana, Morocco, Pakistan, Serbia, Trinidad & Tobago, Ukraine, and appreciates the uniqueness of complex Kinship cases in need of a provider, when called upon. Robin graduated in 1986 from Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina, with a Bachelor of Science from the School of Communication and Media Arts, with a Concentration in Public Relations and Minor in Marketing. https://www.linkedin.com/in/robin-ellington-sizemore-a4188a7/ https://www.instagram.com/hopscotch_adoptions/ https://www.facebook.com/HopscotchAdoptions/ https://hopscotchadoptions.org/ 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.