Advertise on podcast: Thriving Adoptees - Let's Thrive

When we know better, we do better. This podcast is about sharing what we've learned so we can do better. Listen in as Kelly, mother of four including 2 by adoption from foster care and non-profit leader shares what she's learning about thriving. Kelly Hughes (she/her) is the Founder and Executive Director of Foster Love Project, supporting children and families affected by foster and kinship care in Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania. Kelly and her husband, Andrew, have four children, two adopted through foster care, and have fostered eight children at different times. Those experiences inspired her to create Foster Love Project, initially providing bags of new essentials for children entering care. In 2017, it expanded into a full-time, free shopping centre for children in foster or kinship care. She advocates for maintaining connections with children’s first families, drawing on her family’s experience of open adoption. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Northland International University www.fosterloveproject.org https://www.facebook.com/fosterloveproject https://www.instagram.com/fosterloveproject/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-hughes-8bbbb877/ 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.

Looking for more meaning? Stepping outside of ourselves is where we find meaning. It's where we feel connected, passionate and at one. Listen in as Vicki shares insights from a life spent making a difference. Profound and empowering. Vicki Spriggs is a dedicated advocate for children who has worked for more than 50 years in the child services arena. Known for her leadership on youth-related issues, Spriggs is a national speaker, a decisive leader and a fierce believer in the rights of all children, especially the right to a safe, loving and permanent home. Spriggs currently serves as CEO of Texas CASA. Prior to joining Texas CASA in January 2012, Spriggs served in a variety of positions dedicated to child welfare, including as a foster parent, director of the Travis County Juvenile Court Informal Adjustment unit and executive director at Texas Juvenile Probation Commission. She received a bachelor’s degree in education and Master of Education in juvenile justice and secondary counseling from the University of Massachusetts. Spriggs was the recipient of the National CASA/GAL Award of Excellence -State Director of the Year in 2022. https://texascasa.org/ https://www.facebook.com/texascasainc https://www.instagram.com/texascasa/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/texas-casa/home/ 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 we are whole under our trauma? Whole despite our trauma? Listen in as we go deep to see, feel and know our whole soul with adoptee Michelle. Profound. Enlightening. Michelle Irene Stupski is a certified spiritual life coach, author, podcast host, and adoptee who has spent most of her life learning the difference between the life that looks good on the outside and the life that feels true on the inside. Through her brand Divine Angelic Guidance, Michelle weaves together spiritual psychology, angelic wisdom, and ancestral healing to help women move beyond the roles they've adopted, the rules they've been handed, and the silence they've inherited — and back to the truth of who they've always been. You Weren't Born to Fit In is her newest book and the deepest expression of everything she teaches. https://www.facebook.com/michelle.stupski https://michelleirene.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-stupski-b0256117/ https://www.instagram.com/divineangelicguidance/ 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 does being true to you mean to you? Listen in as adoption professional Shannon shares her insights on stopping pleasing others, authenticity and more. Find out more about Shannon and the organisation she works for here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-enoch-ma-lcmhc-a6bb93123/ https://chsnc.org/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/chs-nc https://www.facebook.com/CHSNorthCarolina https://www.instagram.com/chs_nc 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.

Raising kids is tough. Some clichés become clichés they are true. Listen in as adoptive mother and advocate Michelle shares her learnings on commitment, curiosity and much more. Here's a bit about Michelle from her website: "Every child deserves a chance to succeed My mission to serve and advocate for children began in 1996 when my husband and I adopted our twin girls from Romania.  I experienced great difficulty getting the girls the early intervention services they needed.  And, after successfully acquiring those services, we still faced the challenge of getting them the free and appropriate public education to which they were entitled. I understand the challenges that children face in school and the challenges their parents face ensuring that their children receive the education they deserve.  The special education learning curve is steep and the time it takes to acquire the knowledge to advocate for them may mean days, weeks or months delay in getting a child the educational services they need." Find out more here: www.michellebeckerlaw.com  https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-becker-0b720131/ 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.

Talk therapy isn't great for pre-verbal trauma - a truism that keeps on coming up on the podcast. So what is? Listen as we dive into somatic healing and more with therapist Anna. Find out more about Anna and the organisations she works for: https://christian-works.org/ https://www.facebook.com/ChristianWorks/ https://www.instagram.com/christianworks_for_children/ 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 does knowing that we are made in the likeness of God help believers thrive? Listen in as adoptive mother and non profit leader Amber explores the inextricable link between faith and thriving. Amber Knowles is the founder and Executive Director of The Riverside Project, where she combines her background in healthcare and her passion for child welfare to create meaningful change for vulnerable children and families in Houston. She holds a BSN from Baylor University and an MSN from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. A Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI®) Practitioner, Amber brings a trauma-informed approach to her work, empowering families and mobilizing churches to engage in the foster care space. Before starting The Riverside Project, Amber worked as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner specializing in community health and school-based healthcare. Her experience and deep empathy for children in need inspire her leadership in equipping others to make a lasting impact. Amber is a proud mother of four, including two children adopted through foster care, and is passionate about teamwork and celebrating small victories along the way. In her downtime, Amber enjoys stand-up comedy and a good puzzle.  Amber’s husband, Drew, serves as a pastor in the Houston area, and together they share a commitment to empowering their community and inspiring hope for a better future. https://riversideproject.org/ https://www.facebook.com/riversideproject.htx/ https://www.instagram.com/the.riverside.project/ linkedin.com/company/riversideproject/ 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.

“Relationship-based trauma must be healed relationally.” Dr Karyn Purvis, co-founder of TBRI.  For adoptees, separation from our birth mother can be our first relational wound so safe, loving relationships can help us heal. Listen as therapist and counsellor Kathleen shares her insights on improving the quality of our relationships. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleen-shiels-751664111/ https://stmargaretsadoption.org.uk/ https://www.facebook.com/stmargaretsadoptionsociety/ https://www.instagram.com/stmgtadoption/p/ 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.

To what extent do you play a persona to fit in? It was second nature for adoptee Ted and something he did to extremes. And it brought success in the world. It became so core to the way he navigated life that he was oblivious to it, until he wasn't. Listen in as we talk authenticity, epiphanies and more... Here's a bit about Ted from his website "I was adopted. My place in the family was conditional from the start. I was parked with strangers off and on for years. I developed a deep passivity as a way to survive — hiding my real nature, curling into that little ball of shame that was always there when someone wanted to bully me. I became an expert at reading rooms, sensing when things were off, staying quiet when speaking up felt dangerous. Those instincts, once liabilities, became the core of my practice. I know what freeze looks like from the inside. I know the difference between a person who's disengaged and one who's just afraid to speak. And I know — because I lived through it — that the passive behavior learned in unsafe environments doesn't stay in childhood. It follows people into conference rooms, client meetings, and conversations with their own teams for the rest of their lives. Age as an assetI turned eighty recently, and I say that with genuine pride. I've watched the same cycles repeat across decades. Challenges that feel unprecedented usually follow familiar patterns. I've also learned what doesn't matter. I no longer chase growth for its own sake. I focus on a small number of engagements where I can have real impact — and I still have the energy for it. I can outrun my teenage grandsons." https://tedleonhardt.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/tedleonhardt/ 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 all function better in life when we are firing on all cylinders. But what helps us do that? Listen in as adoption professional Carolyn shares what works for her. It might work for you... Find out more about Carolyn and the company she works for here: https://arrow.org/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/arrow-child-and-family-ministries/ https://www.facebook.com/arrowcfm/ https://www.instagram.com/arrowcfm/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolyn-bishop-lmsw-lcpaa-6437b523/ 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.

Using what we've learned to help others is one of the most powerful things we can do in life. It brings profound meaning to the tough stuff we've been through. It's alchemy. Lead that's weighed us down becomes gold that shines. Listen in as adoptees and coaches Yvonne and Tammy share some of their learnings. Yvonne Howard is the owner and principal coach at Unmasked Coaching, with 25+ years' experience as a former licensed counselor, educator, and consultant.  As a biracial adoptee from a closed adoption, she understands the search for belonging. She works with adult members of the adoption triad, specializing in mental fitness and authenticity.  Yvonne pairs compassion with radical honesty and genuine curiosity, believing everyone already holds their own answers.  Wife, mother of two adults and two dogs, she loves knitting and exploring new places, people, and flavors.  Her practice is grounded in her 3 Gs: Grace, Gratitude, and Goodness.  Unmasked Coaching  Here are a few words from Tammy Murphy: "I am an adoption attuned certified professional. When I start my coaching business I will be coaching adult adopted women. My niche is Surviving the Daughter Wound. The name of my coaching service will be Life! Despite Adoption." Links:  FB- Early Discovery Adoptee IG-comingoutthatfogisamutha   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.

Epiphanies change our world. But how do they happen? Listen in as founder and adoptive dad David shares what's changed his world. Profound and empowering. David holds an MBA in Corporate Finance and an MSW in Child Welfare. After spending 12 years working in corporate finance, he decided to pivot his career into serving individuals who are severely marginalized. He worked at two child-focused non-profit organizations prior to founding Fostering Great Ideas in 2011.David was an Adjunct Professor with Clemson University’s MBA in Entrepreneurship program for ten years. He taught Community Impact Entrepreneurship: bringing entrepreneurial spirit to difficult world problems.David enjoys hiking, gardening, cycling, and spending time with his family. https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidwhiteinnovative/ https://fgi4kids.org/ https://www.facebook.com/fgi4kids https://www.instagram.com/fgi4kids/ 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.

One of the most important drivers of transracial adoptees' thriving is honoring their culture. Listen in as adoptive mom and adoption professional Elizabeth shares what she's learning about thriving raising her son who was adopted from South Korea. Find out more about Elizabeth here: https://hopeadoptionagency.org/ https://www.facebook.com/hopeadoptionagency https://www.instagram.com/hopecenteradoptions https://www.linkedin.com/company/hope-center-adoptions/ 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 do you want? For others? For Yourself? Listen in as ex pilot, now non-profit leader Steve shares insights on persistence and relentless hyper focus. Powerful and empowering. Here's a bit about the Burke Center from their website. All children deserve a safe and supportive environment in which to flourish. Through therapeutic treatment, foster care, and adoption and reunification, our ultimate goal is to help children rebuild their lives in a manner that will break the cycle of abuse and give them the tools necessary to excel. Find out more  https://burkecenterforyouth.org/ https://www.facebook.com/burkecenterforyouth# https://www.instagram.com/bcfydriftwood/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve4nier/ 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.

Loving kids with trauma takes a different sort of love, a muscular love. Listen in as Brian who leads a non profit supporting foster and foster/adoptive parents take on muscular love, connecting no matter what and more.... Find out more about Brian at: https://fosteringhopefoundation.org/ https://www.facebook.com/fosteringhopefoundation/ https://www.instagram.com/fosteringhopefoundation/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/fostering-hope-foundation/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/bnewsome1/ 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.