Advertise on podcast: Adoption: The Making of Me. An Oral History of Adoptee Stories

Sandra was born in 1967 in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, during the baby scoop era, to a 16-year-old mother whose circumstances led to immediate relinquishment. After a short stay in foster care, Sandra was adopted by a wonderful family and became the youngest of two children. Like many adoptees of her generation, she grew up believing she had experienced a happy adoption, appreciating the life she had been given without fully understanding the deeper emotional complexities of her beginnings. After being in reunion for 18 years, Sandra parted ways with her birth mother in 2020 and began the journey of coming out of the fog, healing, and self-discovery. Having always known she was adopted, never feeling like she fully belonged anywhere, and knowing deep down that adoption was at the root of her anxieties, fears, and lack of sense of self, the hard work to heal began. Her journey has become one of discovery, grief, compassion, and healing. She has learned that a happy upbringing and the complex emotions associated with adoption can coexist. Gratitude for the life she experienced does not negate the significance of her earliest loss. Coming out of the fog has not been about rewriting her past, but about understanding it more fully. Today, Sandra continues to embrace her story with greater self-compassion. Sandra on YouTube Sign up to be part of our mailing list & find out details about our April 16-18 Live Event in Los Angeles! Thank you to our Patrons! Join at the $10 level and be part of our monthly ADOPTEE CAFE community. The next meeting will be Saturday, November 21st at 1 pm ET. RESOURCES for Adoptees: Adoptees who identify as queer gathering in community on Zoom: For details, email [email protected] and on Instagram. Adoptees Connect Adoptee Mentoring Society Celia Center Inc., a non-profit organization in Los Angeles supporting all members of the foster care and the adoption constellation. Gregory Luce and Adoptee Rights Law Fireside Adoptees Facebook Group Dr. Liz Debetta: Migrating Toward Wholeness Movement Moses Farrow - Trauma therapist and advocate National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-8255 OR Dial or Text 988. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dana was born at St. John’s Hospital in Cleveland in 1973. She was adopted through Catholic Charities in November of 1973. Her adoption was never kept a secret from her, but she still wondered where she came from. She was able to find her biological mother’s name after the state of Ohio released her OBC (Original Birth Certificate). Sadly, she also found out her biological mother had passed away, and there was no name given for her biological father. She could have given up her search after finding an obituary for her biological mother, but she didn’t. With encouragement from her family and friends, she reached out to her first mother’s sister and, through her, connected with more family. She received a false lead from her aunt that made her believe her biological father had passed away, but an Ancestry DNA test led her to the truth and four paternal half-brothers. Today, Dana shares her story through podcasts and blog posts, and she is writing a memoir called A Girl and Her Four Families. She believes every adoptee has the right to know where they came from, and even if it comes with heartbreak, the emotional roller coaster is always worth it. Dana on YouTube This Episode Is Sponsored by Lovebug Probiotics We spend a lot of time on Adoption: The Making of Me talking about the experiences that shape who we are. But there's also something important — and much more everyday — that deserves our attention: taking care of ourselves and our health. This episode is brought to you by Lovebug Probiotics, a mom-founded probiotic brand with science-backed options for adults and families. Lovebug's story began with co-founder Ashley Harris. During the birth of her son, Hudson, Ashley received broad-spectrum antibiotics. That experience led her to start learning more about the gut microbiome and ultimately inspired her to create Lovebug. Today, Lovebug offers probiotics for women and adults, along with options for babies, toddlers, and kids, making it easy to find products for different ages and stages of family life. Sarah and Louise also had the opportunity to personally try Lovebug, and we each found ways it fit into our lives when we needed a little extra support. Sarah loved Lovebug for the support it gave her during a busy move. With so much going on, she appreciated having it as part of her wellness routine and felt really good while using it. Louise tried Lovebug while she was sick and recovering. She found it incredibly helpful as part of her overall health and wellness routine during that time. Lovebug probiotics are designed to support digestive and immune health as a simple addition to an everyday wellness routine.* Because taking care of yourself doesn't have to be complicated. Ready to find the right Lovebug for you or your family? Shop Lovebug Probiotics: https://lovebug.com/ Use code MAKINGME20 for 20% OFF YOUR FIRST ORDER. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. ------------------------------------ Sign up to be part of our mailing list & find out details about our April 2027 Live Event in Los Angeles! Thank you to our Patrons! Join at the $10 level and be part of our monthly ADOPTEE CAFE community. The next meeting will be Saturday, November 21st at 1 pm ET. RESOURCES for Adoptees: Adoptees who identify as queer gathering in community on Zoom: For details, email [email protected] and on Instagram. Adoptees Connect Adoptee Mentoring Society Celia Center Inc., a non-profit organization in Los Angeles supporting all members of the foster care and the adoption constellation. Gregory Luce and Adoptee Rights Law Fireside Adoptees Facebook Group Dr. Liz Debetta: Migrating Toward Wholeness Movement Moses Farrow - Trauma therapist and advocate National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-8255 OR Dial or Text 988. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jeanette Yoffe, M.A., M.F.T. earned her Master's degree in Clinical Psychology, specializing in adoption and foster care for the past 20 years. She treats children, teens, and adults with serious psychological problems secondary to histories of abuse, neglect, adoption, and /or multiple foster care placements. She is also an adopted person, raised in foster care for 6 years. ​​ She is the Founder of Celia Center Inc., a non-profit organization in Los Angeles supporting all members of the foster care and adoption constellation, which includes birth parents, foster youth, adoptees, foster and adoptive parents, as well as professionals working in the field. ​ She is also the Clinical Director of  Yoffe Therapy Inc. A mental health center in Los Angeles provides services to families, children, teens, and adults connected by foster care and adoption. ​ In 2019, she published a one-woman show she performed back in 2000 titled What's Your Name? Who's Your Daddy? and is on Audible. ​ She published her first mental health book of interventions for working with children in foster care and beyond titled The Traumatized and At-Risk Youth Toolbox: Over 160 Attachment-Informed Interventions for Working with Kids and Families in Foster Care and Beyond. A must-have intervention book for all professionals and parents working with children in foster care and adoption. She also has a set of children's books: What is Adoption? and What is Foster Care? ​Jeanette created a YouTube Channel devoted to educating the world about foster care, adoption, and mental health called Jeanette-ically Speaking, launching Hand Model of The Brain Video for kids. ​ She is also a Psychology Today Contributor for the column The Inner Life of Foster Care. Jeanette on YouTube Sign up to be part of our mailing list & find out details about our April 2027 Live Event in Los Angeles! Thank you to our Patrons! Join at the $10 level and be part of our monthly ADOPTEE CAFE community. The next meeting will be Saturday, November 21st at 1 pm ET. RESOURCES for Adoptees: Adoptees who identify as queer gathering in community on Zoom: For details, email [email protected] and on Instagram. Adoptees Connect Adoptee Mentoring Society Celia Center Inc., a non-profit organization in Los Angeles supporting all members of the foster care and the adoption constellation. Gregory Luce and Adoptee Rights Law Fireside Adoptees Facebook Group Dr. Liz Debetta: Migrating Toward Wholeness Movement Moses Farrow - Trauma therapist and advocate National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-8255 OR Dial or Text 988. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Wilson Munsterman is a 20-year-old author and adoptee who uses his experiences to bring greater attention to the complexity of adoption and the adoptee perspective. He is the author of Marked by Adoption: 10 Key Insights from an Adoptee’s Perspective, an Amazon #1 New Release that has reached readers internationally and been accepted into the Library of Congress. His advocacy has been recognized by the Nebraska Legislature through Legislative Resolution 483, along with letters of recognition from Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen and State Senator Rita Sanders. His story has also been featured across television, radio, and podcasts. Adopted from China as an infant, Wilson believes adoption is not a one-size-fits-all experience. At 17, he testified before the Nebraska Legislature on adoption and continues to support the adoption community through writing, advocacy, and mentorship with younger adoptees. Rather than defining adoption as entirely positive or negative, Wilson encourages space for the different experiences and emotions that come with it. At the center of his work is a larger question: even when we cannot control every part of our story, can we still build meaningful lives? Wilson encourages others to acknowledge their past, focus on what they can control, and recognize their ability to shape what comes next. Wilson's Website Wilson on YouTube Sign up to be part of our mailing list & find out details about our April 2027 Live Event in Los Angeles! Thank you to our Patreons! Join at the $10 level and be part of our monthly ADOPTEE CAFE community. The next meeting will be Saturday, October 10th at 1pm ET. RESOURCES for Adoptees: Adoptees who identify as queer gathering in community on Zoom: For details, email [email protected] and on Instagram. Adoptees Connect Adoptee Mentoring Society Gregory Luce and Adoptee Rights Law Fireside Adoptees Facebook Group Dr. Liz Debetta: Migrating Toward Wholeness Movement Moses Farrow - Trauma therapist and advocate National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-8255 OR Dial or Text 988. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Born in the Baby Scoop Era in 1969, Candi was adopted at five days old in a closed adoption. While loved by her adoptive family, adoption was rarely discussed beyond the narrative of being "chosen." She grew up with two older brothers who were biological to her parents, and a sister who was adopted 18 months after her. When her adoptive mother passed away from cancer during Candi's junior year of high school, the profound grief overshadowed and masked the underlying trauma of her relinquishment. After several early search attempts, a 2017 DNA test finally helped her connect with her biological family, though in-person meetings were delayed for several years. Today, she cherishes the meaningful relationships she is building with her biological relatives and their families. It was only two years ago that Candi finally learned the language to express how adoption has impacted her life. Discovering that there wasn’t something “wrong” with her but instead she was having normal reactions to what happened to her — was incredibly freeing. Since that breakthrough, Candi has immersed herself in adoptee-centered healing, education, and rights advocacy. Founding an in-person adoptee peer group and participating in community events have become the most transformative parts of her ongoing journey. Professionally, Candi has worn many hats, working in various positions across different businesses throughout her career, although her favorite title is mom to her three children. Candi on YouTube Season 13 Book: Who is a Worthy Mother? by Rebecca Wellington Sign up to be part of our mailing list & find out details about our April 2027 Live Event in Los Angeles! Thank you to our Patreons! Join at the $10 level and be part of our monthly ADOPTEE CAFE community. The next meeting will be Saturday, October 10th at 1pm ET. RESOURCES for Adoptees: Adoptees who identify as queer gathering in community on Zoom: For details, email [email protected] and on Instagram. Adoptees Connect Adoptee Mentoring Society Gregory Luce and Adoptee Rights Law Fireside Adoptees Facebook Group Dr. Liz Debetta: Migrating Toward Wholeness Movement Moses Farrow - Trauma therapist and advocate National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-8255 OR Dial or Text 988. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

S13, ep.1: Samantha Samantha Verrone is an interdisciplinary artist. Exploration of how time is spent, what holds our attention and a slow, mindful method using plant and mineral dyestuffs, hand stitchwork and foraged materials form the taproot of her process. Sam is a baby scoop era adoptee from New York City, raised in Northern Westchester, NY along with her brother, Dave (S11, Ep. 14). After reunion, it took another 2 decades for the FOG to lift. As Sam discovered, the closed adoption system is built upon a foundation of shame, secrecy, identity erasure and forced gratitude. It takes time, determination, resilience and connection with other adoptees to dismantle. The experience of coming out of the FOG has illuminated how deeply relinquishment and adoption have affected Sam’s life. Her lifelong fascination with found objects and materials marked by time and imperfection reflects an ongoing exploration of identity, belonging, loss, fracturing and connection. She works with foraged fragments without erasing histories, instead blending, mending, rearranging, deconstructing and reconstructing, transforming them into something new, collaborating with the past. Her work considers what we inherit, what we claim and let go and centers integration. Through caring for her adoptive mother with dementia, Sam developed a method of supporting people experiencing cognitive decline. This work has deepened her understanding of care as a creative, relational practice—one that honors identity and preserves the dignity of the individual. Again, integration is the nexus. Care, craft, and culture are intertwined. Art is powerful healing. Samantha on YouTube Season 13 Book: Who is a Worthy Mother? by Rebecca Wellington Sign up to be part of our mailing list! Thank you to our Patreons! Join at the $10 level and be part of our monthly ADOPTEE CAFE community. The next meeting will be Saturday, September 26th at 1 pm ET. RESOURCES for Adoptees: Adoptees Connect Adoptee Mentoring Society Gregory Luce and Adoptee Rights Law Fireside Adoptees Facebook Group Dr. Liz Debetta: Migrating Toward Wholeness Movement Moses Farrow - Trauma therapist and advocate National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-8255 OR Dial or Text 988. Kristal Parke Because She Is Adopted Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Season 12 Final: Jean Kelly Widner is the author of The Adoption Paradox: Putting Adoption into Perspective, a powerful exploration of the complex realities of adoption. Born in 1965 and adopted at birth in Washington State, Jean lives the paradox she writes about-experiencing both love and loss, belonging and separation. In her book, she shares stories from all sides of the adoption triad: adoptees, birth parents, and adoptive families, alongside insights from mental health experts. Jean brings clarity and compassion to a subject often wrapped in silence and misconception. With a background as a marketing consultant and joint venture affiliate marketing expert, she and her husband have built and sold two successful e-commerce companies. She also owns a local news and storytelling blog in Boulder City, Nevada, where her love of writing continues to grow. Jean lives in Southern Nevada with her husband and two dogs, and often escapes the desert heat in their camper van, where they work remotely and explore new places. Through her writing, she invites readers to see adoption not as a simple narrative of rescue or loss-but as a layered, human experience that deserves honesty, empathy, and ethical reflection. Jean on YouTube Season 12 Book: The Adoption Paradox by Jean Kelly Widner Sign up to be part of our mailing list! Thank you to our Patreons! Join at the $10 level and be part of our monthly ADOPTEE CAFE community. The next meeting will be Saturday, September 26th at 1 pm ET. Jean on YouTube RESOURCES for Adoptees: Adoptees Connect Adoptee Mentoring Society Gregory Luce and Adoptee Rights Law Fireside Adoptees Facebook Group Dr. Liz Debetta: Migrating Toward Wholeness Movement Moses Farrow - Trauma therapist and advocate National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-8255 OR Dial or Text 988. Kristal Parke Because She Is Adopted Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pushpa Devi is an author and creative director whose work explores identity, belonging, courage, and the meaning of home. Born in India, she was adopted at age six and traveled from Calcutta to rural America in 1968 to join a family she had never met. English was her fourth language, and storytelling would later become her way of giving voice to the memories and emotions of that life-changing journey. Pushpa first shared her story in her memoir, The Lucky Lotus. She later turned to children’s literature, transforming her childhood memories into the Blue Bear Series. Beginning with Journey Home, the series follows a young girl and her powder-blue teddy bear as they navigate uncertainty, change, and new beginnings. Other titles include My New World and What the Ocean Brought Me. Through honest and hopeful storytelling, Pushpa invites readers of all ages to see adoption through a child’s eyes and to discover how kindness, resilience, and love can help us find where we belong. Pushpa on YouTube Season 12 Book: The Adoption Paradox by Jean Kelly Widner Eventbrite Link: Live Podcast Event in Minneapolis, MN, Sept. 11th-13th Sign up to be part of our mailing list! Thank you to our Patreons! Join at the $10 level and be part of our monthly ADOPTEE CAFE community. The next meeting will be Saturday, September 26th at 1 pm ET. RESOURCES for Adoptees: Adoptees Connect Adoptee Mentoring Society Gregory Luce and Adoptee Rights Law Fireside Adoptees Facebook Group Dr. Liz Debetta: Migrating Toward Wholeness Movement Moses Farrow - Trauma therapist and advocate National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-8255 OR Dial or Text 988. Kristal Parke Because She Is Adopted Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Janice Jones was adopted in 1947 at age four-and-a-half months by charismatic doctor and surgeon, Ralph Beare, and his socialite wife, Lou, of Celina, Ohio. Jones grew up as a lonely, only, privileged child who found herself an outlier in her family and at school. While her adoption was no secret, discussing it was taboo. To be curious was to be ungrateful. When she was often reminded by those who admired her parents that she was a lucky girl to have been adopted by such wonderful parents, she could only smile while thinking, You don’t know what it is like to live with them. As an adult, Jones has had a long career as a freelance writer and editor. She has also been a dog-obedience instructor, children’s book buyer for a large, independent bookstore, and inventor of jigsaw puzzles that teach reading skills to children. The two things she values most in life are truth and connection to others. She considers the world at large to be her big, human family. Dr. Beare’s Daughter: Growing Up Adopted, Adored, and Afraid is her fourth published book. Janice on YouTube Season 12 Book: The Adoption Paradox by Jean Kelly Widner Eventbrite Link: Live Podcast Event in Minneapolis, MN, Sept. 11th-13th Sign up to be part of our mailing list! Thank you to our Patreons! Join at the $10 level and be part of our monthly ADOPTEE CAFE community. The next meeting will be Saturday, September 26th at 1 pm ET. RESOURCES for Adoptees: Adoptees Connect Adoptee Mentoring Society Gregory Luce and Adoptee Rights Law Fireside Adoptees Facebook Group Dr. Liz Debetta: Migrating Toward Wholeness Movement Moses Farrow - Trauma therapist and advocate National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-8255 OR Dial or Text 988. Kristal Parke Because She Is Adopted Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Bryan Post is a leading expert in child behavior, adoption trauma, and love-based parenting. A former foster child himself, Bryan has dedicated over two decades to helping families heal through connection, compassion, and regulation. He is the founder of Fear to Love, LLC, Bondify.ai, the Post Institute for Family-Centered Therapy, and the nonprofit Leaf Wraparound. His pioneering “Fear to Love Method” and the “Stress Model” empower parents to respond to challenging behaviors with understanding rather than fear or punishment. Bryan’s approach blends neuroscience with timeless spiritual principles, particularly the teachings of Jesus, to address trauma and attachment disruptions in children. He has authored several influential books, including From Fear to Love, The Great Behavior Breakdown, and Parenting Softly, and co-authored the bestseller Beyond Consequences, Logic, and Control. Through media appearances, live seminars, online trainings, and digital platforms, Bryan has impacted thousands of adoptive, foster, and biological families worldwide. His AI-powered parenting app, Bondify.ai, offers real-time, trauma-informed support, making expert guidance accessible to parents everywhere. Bryan’s central message is simple yet transformative: all behavior is communication, and true healing begins with love. Learn more at www.feartolove.com and www.bondify.ai. Bryan on YouTube Season 12 Book: The Adoption Paradox by Jean Kelly Widner Eventbrite Link: Live Podcast Event in Minneapolis, MN, Sept. 11th-13th Sign up to be part of our mailing list! Thank you to our Patreons! Join at the $10 level and be part of our monthly ADOPTEE CAFE community. The next meeting will be Saturday, September 26th at 1 pm ET. RESOURCES for Adoptees: Adoptees Connect Adoptee Mentoring Society Gregory Luce and Adoptee Rights Law Fireside Adoptees Facebook Group Dr. Liz Debetta: Migrating Toward Wholeness Movement Moses Farrow - Trauma therapist and advocate National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-8255 OR Dial or Text 988. Kristal Parke Because She Is Adopted Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Born in 1968 during the Baby Scoop Era, Laurie was placed in foster care after birth and adopted at six weeks old by a loving family who had already adopted two other children. Though deeply loved, she always wondered about her origins and where she came from. At age 25, Laurie began searching for her birth mother with the help of an intermediary.  Her birth mother provided the name of the man she believed was Laurie’s biological father. His family refused contact, believing it would bring a “black mark” to their family. Laurie never felt a connection to him and always questioned whether he was truly her father. At age 52, Laurie took an Ancestry DNA test. The results confirmed there was no biological connection. Instead, DNA led her to her biological father and three siblings. Although her relationship with her biological father eventually ended because of political differences, she remains close with one half-sister. Another unexpected discovery revealed a sister her birth mother had placed for adoption just 18 months after Laurie was born.  The sisters found each other and remain very close today. Laurie has discovered six half-siblings and has relationships with two of them. Recently, after the passing of her half-brother, she attended a family picnic surrounded by biological relatives. For the first time, Laurie did not hide. She stood tall. After a lifetime of questions, searching, discoveries, and unexpected relationships, Laurie finally knows who she is—and she embraces her story with courage, gratitude, and pride.Laurie on YouTube Season 12 Book: The Adoption Paradox by Jean Kelly Widner Eventbrite Link: Live Podcast Event in Minneapolis, MN, Sept. 11th-13th Sign up to be part of our mailing list! Thank you to our Patreons! Join at the $10 level and be part of our monthly ADOPTEE CAFE community. The next meeting will be Saturday, September 26th at 1 pm ET. RESOURCES for Adoptees: Adoptees Connect Adoptee Mentoring Society Gregory Luce and Adoptee Rights LawFireside Adoptees Facebook GroupDr. Liz Debetta: Migrating Toward Wholeness MovementMoses Farrow - Trauma therapist and advocate National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-8255 OR Dial or Text 988. Kristal Parke Because She Is Adopted Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Elle is a baby-scoop-era domestic adoptee born in NYC in May of 1969. She was adopted 2 months later into what was supposed to be a stable, religious family. For as long as she could remember, she was aware that both she and her older brother were adopted, but the details ended there. It was understood that questions were not welcome regarding the story of their adoptions.  Growing up, Elle always knew she was radically different from her adoptive family, both physically and in personality and character. With violence and dysfunction in the home, ceasing somewhat when her adoptive father left the family when she was in grade school, she could never understand why people would say, “You should be grateful”.  This tumultuous upbringing and lack of familial connection fueled her years-long search for identity and her birth family. Encountering many twists and turns along the way as well as some heartache and joy, Elle was able to meet with some biological family members while being repeatedly rejected by others, a situation that continues to this day.  In a story that spans over 30 years, Elle was able to get most of the answers she was looking for and a small bit of closure. “Coming out of the fog” has allowed her to find healing and to assist others by sharing her story and lived experience. She is currently living in New York and working on a memoir, tentatively titled “Adopted AF – Confessions of a Mad Ungrateful Adoptee.”Elle on YouTube Season 12 Book: The Adoption Paradox by Jean Kelly Widner Eventbrite Link: Live Podcast Event in Minneapolis, MN, Sept. 11th-13th Sign up to be part of our mailing list! Thank you to our Patreons! Join at the $10 level and be part of our monthly ADOPTEE CAFE community. The next meeting will be Saturday, September 26th at 1 pm ET. RESOURCES for Adoptees: Adoptees Connect Adoptee Mentoring Society Gregory Luce and Adoptee Rights LawFireside Adoptees Facebook GroupDr. Liz Debetta: Migrating Toward Wholeness MovementMoses Farrow - Trauma therapist and advocate National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-8255 OR Dial or Text 988. Kristal Parke Because She Is Adopted Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mishelle: The name on her birth certificate was Baby Girl Powers. A name that meant nothing at the time—just a placeholder. But the powers she gained through adoption—the ones she had to build to survive everything that followed—became very real. For years, she carried that strength without understanding its source. Strong, resilient… and still disconnected. Still alone. It wasn’t until The Making of Me that something shifted. There, in the stories of others, she began to see it clearly—the origin of her strength, hidden in plain sight for decades. Through this community, through these shared stories, she didn’t just understand her power— she finally harnessed it. Mischelle on YouTube Season 12 Book: The Adoption Paradox by Jean Kelly Widner Eventbrite Link: Live Podcast Event in Minneapolis, MN, Sept. 11th-13th: Bring a spouse, friend, or ally to the event for free. Just let us know @[email protected] Sign up to be part of our mailing list! Thank you to our Patreons! Join at the $10 level and be part of our monthly ADOPTEE CAFE community. The next meeting will be Saturday, August 8th at 1 pm ET. RESOURCES for Adoptees: Adoptees Connect Adoptee Mentoring Society Gregory Luce and Adoptee Rights Law Fireside Adoptees Facebook Group Dr. Liz Debetta: Migrating Toward Wholeness Movement Moses Farrow - Trauma therapist and advocate National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-8255 OR Dial or Text 988. Kristal Parke Because She Is Adopted Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Diane, an accomplished artist who has created work for most of her life in the San Francisco Bay Area, was adopted in 1964 by a couple who thought they were unable to have children. 8 months later, her brother, a biological child, was born. Diane’s parents told her when she was 4 years old that she was adopted. She was curious about her birth parents, yet it was the one subject in the family that could never be discussed. As a result, Diane developed an avid practice of searching the drawers and cupboards in her family’s house, looking for information. Later, in the 1990s, she worked in secret with the Adoptees Liberty Movement Association, discovering, after years of research, the name of her birth mother, only to learn that she had died a decade before. Diane did find an aunt, a younger half-sister, and many of her mother’s friends, who together drew a picture of her mother. When genetic genealogy became a viable tool, Diane, through extensive research, was able to find her father, whom she met in New York City five years later. He did not know he had a child, and in the years that followed, until his death at age 89, they became close – talking on the phone every few weeks, visiting a few times a year, and traveling to his homeland, Estonia, together. There, Diane saw where he was born and met members of her extended family.  Through her investigation and the relationships that grew from it, Diane learned that she is the biological child of two artists who grew up in a family of doctors and businesspeople. Knowing nothing of her origins, she became an artist herself, and now makes paintings and sculpture rooted in her adoption experience. Her most recent paintings are shimmering data-driven visualizations of how her DNA connects with that of her parents and her sister. The sculptural and wall works she has been making over the past couple of years are based on her long-ago searches through the drawers of her family house for information relating to her origins. As a means of articulating and expressing her experience as an adoptee, Diane has been drawn to atypical materials, such as unconventionally marbled paper and ostrich skin, to speak about the adoptee experience, which she employs in the sculptures and wall works that explore what happens when the secrets are gone, and the drawers stand open. Diane on YouTube Season 12 Book: The Adoption Paradox by Jean Kelly Widner Eventbrite Link: Live Podcast Event in Minneapolis, MN, Sept. 11th-13th Sign up to be part of our mailing list! Thank you to our Patreons! Join at the $10 level and be part of our monthly ADOPTEE CAFE community. The next meeting will be Saturday, August 8th at 1 pm ET. RESOURCES for Adoptees: Adoptees Connect Adoptee Mentoring Society Gregory Luce and Adoptee Rights Law Fireside Adoptees Facebook Group Dr. Liz Debetta: Migrating Toward Wholeness Movement Moses Farrow - Trauma therapist and advocate National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-8255 OR Dial or Text 988. Kristal Parke Because She Is Adopted Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Adrian Burks is a filmmaker, writer, director, producer, and recovery professional with more than 15 years of experience telling authentic, human-centered stories. He began his career as an actor before transitioning into directing and producing films that explore identity, resilience, healing, and the human experience. As a domestic adoptee who spent time in the foster care system, Adrian found strength and purpose through sports, which became both an outlet and a form of therapy during his childhood. Later, filmmaking became another powerful way to process his experiences, express his creativity, and give voice to stories that inspire hope and connection. Today, Adrian combines his passion for storytelling with his work in recovery, helping individuals—including mobility and paralysis patients—improve their mobility, confidence, and overall quality of life as they rebuild their independence. He is also currently pursuing a degree in Physical Therapist Assistant studies, furthering his commitment to helping people heal through movement, rehabilitation, and compassionate care. Whether behind the camera or working one-on-one with clients, Adrian’s mission is the same: to help people discover resilience, find hope, and realize that healing—both physical and emotional—is possible. Adrian on YouTube Season 12 Book: The Adoption Paradox by Jean Kelly Widner Eventbrite Link: Live Podcast Event in Minneapolis, MN, Sept. 11th-13th Sign up to be part of our mailing list! Thank you to our Patreons! Join at the $10 level and be part of our monthly ADOPTEE CAFE community. The next meeting will be Saturday, August 8th at 1 pm ET. RESOURCES for Adoptees: Adoptees Connect Adoptee Mentoring Society Gregory Luce and Adoptee Rights Law Fireside Adoptees Facebook Group Dr. Liz Debetta: Migrating Toward Wholeness Movement Moses Farrow - Trauma therapist and advocate National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-8255 OR Dial or Text 988. Kristal Parke Because She Is Adopted Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.