Claim OwnershipWhen They Were Young: Amplifying Voices of Adoptees
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© 2026 When They Were Young: Amplifying Voices of Adoptees
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What happens when the adoptee is centered as the hero in their own story? These are whole-hearted conversations with adoptees and adoption experts who are at the forefront of alchemizing adoption trauma into positive impact for you and the rest of the world. Each episode is designed to make you feel empowered, informed and fortified with a variety of methods, healing modalities and expert advice.
This is for the adoptee, parents, and the adoption-curious.
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Hi again! The idea of adoptees reclaiming themselves have perplexed certain people for awhile now. If you aren’t adopted or haven’t had an in-depth conversation with someone who is adopted you might wonder “What do they need to reclaim?” Today’s guest is Rae from Adoptee Reclaimed. Rae is trauma-informed and versed in child development, brain-body integration, and addiction and abuse recovery coaching. Rae borrows somatic methods and Internal Family Systems which she customizes for adop...
Today I have the pleasure of chatting with Dr. Gretchen Sisson about her critically acclaimed book "Relinquished: The Politics of Adoption and the Privilege of American Motherhood." Gretchen is a sociologist with Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health at the University of California, San Francisco, where she studies adoption and abortion. We discuss: -How national crisis create opportunities for adoption -The views of white mothers on relinquishing their biracial children...
Today's guest, Patrick Armstrong (he/him) discusses creating his podcasts and what that entails, how he builds empathy with and for the community outside of the adoption constellation, and how "adoptee" is an identity that one inhabits. We also delve into what differentiates an activist from advocate and how he navigates the construct of "whiteness". Patrick is an adoptee from Korea, a podcaster, speaker, and community facilitator. He is one of the hosts of the Janchi Show,...
Julie McGue graces my podcast today. We talk about the journey she took to write the extraordinary memoir, “Twice A Daughter” with her twin sister. Julie and I delve into the challenge of asking adoptive parents for adoption information, and how important it is to know your medical history. She also found some kismet moments where writing her story opened new up conversations and opportunities for healing GUEST: Julie McGue https://juliemcgueauthor.com/ Angela Rye: Comments on Supreme Court r...
Today I go solo to give you some key things that helped me survive this monstrous year. It is all about a higher quality of life, my beloveds. Journel Prompt: What am I feeling this way? What can I do to shift this circumstance? Write 5 things that you’re grateful for. Write 5 lessons that you are learning from this situation. Mind Love: https://www.mindlove.com/ Cathy Heller: https://www.dontkeepyourdayjob.com/ To Be Magnetic: https://tobemagnetic.com/expanded-podcast Cold/Fever: 1 W...
We're back! Come join me this Saturday for another round. I'm so excited! @youngadoptee @lantoines www.laniseantoineshelley.com DONATE TO THE SHOW: https://ko-fi.com/whentheywereyoung Support the show CONNECT WITH HOST: @youngadoptee @lantoines www.laniseantoineshelley.com WATCH ON YOUTUBE Here! MERCH here "I am my Hero" and "Courage, my love" Tees SPONSORSHIPS: BetterHelp Show Link HERE! DISCOUNT on WeUNIK Cosmetic Hair products 15% off Code: WTWY ADOPTEE CONVERSATIONS WITH PARENTS:...
I lost my grandmother, and my aunt Juliana lost her mother about a month ago. We asked Dr. Charmaine Borda to interview myself and my biological aunt, Dr Juliana Olson- Deans, because Charmaine is a close friend of Juliana’s and I have loved getting to know her this last year. Both of these women are adoptees who work as clinical psychologists in the world— they have a beautifully 3 dimension view of the trauma, truth and the healing that encases adoption. I’m deeply grateful that...
Today’s interview is a testament a perseverance. I connected with Obakeng Beddny three times because of technical difficulties. Obakeng is a natural orator who will spur you to stand up, no matter what your beliefs may be, and invite you to recognize the love that already resides in you. He is such a brilliant mind and radiant force in this world. GUEST: Obakeng Beddny @Obakengbeddny Support the show CONNECT WITH HOST: @youngadoptee @lantoines www.laniseantoineshelley.com WATC...
We are modeling how to have a conversation about adoption with a loved one. You’d think that it was easy, but let me tell you—I have friends who’ve never talked to their husbands or adoptive families about their adoption. Again, I’m not saying that you need to talk about adoption all the time, or ever-- for that matter. I am simply examining why aren’t we talking about? Is it because of fear? This episode Jamie-Lyn Richartz has a lovely conversation with her adoptive mother, Deni...
I share what I do while in self-preservation mode, and how I get back into a space where I can feel the full spectrum of my emotions--without it consuming me. And of course, we talk about mothers and what that means to me as an adoptee this Mother's Day weekend. Material: Poem by William Butler Yeats "Heaven's Embroidered Cloths" Support the show CONNECT WITH HOST: @youngadoptee @lantoines www.laniseantoineshelley.com WATCH ON YOUTUBE Here! MERCH here "I am my Hero" and "Courage,...
My guest, Kevin Barhydt is the author of “Dear Stephen Micheal’s Mother” and the host of an educative youtube channel. His wisdom is astounding. The depth of his vulnerability and authenticity truly inspired me. Kevin shares how he pivoted out of fear into faith by building a foundation of courage. ** Please note that this episode mentions sexual assault, abuse, and addiction but doesn't go into detail. GUEST: Kevin Barhydt https://www.kevinbarhydt.com/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/...
Today’s guest has a blog called The Adoptee In Me. She speaks so beautifully about her connection to her son and father. Like me, she came from a single parent household. It’s rare that we have adoptees raised by just a father. Lionel in season one episode 14 is the only other adoptee I know. She and I connected instantly over the topics of family, worthiness and belonging. GUEST: Nicole Koharik https://theadopteeinme.com/ https://www.adoptionnetwork.org/ Support the show CONNECT WITH...
We will be back this month! I have been on hiatus but preparing to go live with some exciting new conversations. Thank you for your continued support. Thanks for writing an itunes review :) Missed you! Support the show CONNECT WITH HOST: @youngadoptee @lantoines www.laniseantoineshelley.com WATCH ON YOUTUBE Here! MERCH here "I am my Hero" and "Courage, my love" Tees SPONSORSHIPS: BetterHelp Show Link HERE! DISCOUNT on WeUNIK Cosmetic Hair products 15% off Code: WTWY ADOPT...
Part of Adoptive parent conversation series! This is the conclusion of a conversation with Richard and Lionel Boisvert tackles the efficacy of adoption support groups and how one prepares a black child for the black community and the police. At the very end, I check-in with Lionel to see how it went for him. Lionel Boivert is a Haitian adoptee who came from the same orphanage as me, "Haiti Home For Children." We might have even been at the orphanage the same time but offici...
This week I reach out to my biological aunt Dr. Juliana Olson-Deans who is a fellow adoptee as well as an adoption therapist. We discuss the 9 character types of the enneagram and how we're using the information to navigate our budding relationship. You may recognize Dr. Deans from the Interracial Adoptee Panel series, where she was co-host. I was first introduced to the Enneagram by Dr. Barbara Rila's podcast on Trauma and adoption. This episode distills how important it is to process one's ...
Episode 1. Gladys Thomas: Finding Courage (Part. 1) The president and CEO of Fondation Pour Les Enfants d'Haiti (sister organization to US Foundation for the Children of Haiti) the organization helming the orphanage I came from, once called Haiti Home for Children and later was known as Rainbow of Love Nursery. Gladys is one of the most powerful voices in adoption. She is an adoptive mother herself, administrator, leader, nurse, woman of faith and visionary. She has spent 39 years at the helm...
Today we have an adoptee who was a guest on episode 50 where we discussed the dangers of calling adoption a blessing. Sara Easterly is an adoptee, essayist, and author of books that include Adoption Unfiltered: Revelations from Adoptees, Birth Parents, Adoptive Parents, and Allies, and award-winning spiritual memoir, Searching for Mom. She is the founder of Adoptee Voices, which supports adoptees in their storytelling. She is also a trained course facilitator with the Neufeld Inst...
Happy New Year! This conversation is a great inspiration for this next chapter. Eunnuri Lee is a Korean-American activist, visual artist, and adoptee who I stumbled across on Tik Tok. I was instantly intrigued by her multidimensional content, her whimsical makeup and Megan thee Stallion commentary. And the fact that she is an adoptee as well was sprinkles on the top. This conversation covers just about everything. We discuss the importance of sex education and her partners app tha...
Hey there, love! Today we have Shania Ives as a guest! Shania is an adult adoptee from the UK, the Founding Director of The Dunbar Project, and a trainee integrative psychotherapist. Her mission is to create spaces for empowerment and growth within marginalized communities. Shania is the very first adoptee I’ve met whose adoptive parents strove to preserve Shania’s connection with her biological family. The story on how her Adoptive parents understood and organized themselves around her...
Today I chat with Becca Flatt, who is a therapist and advocate specializing in adoption-related trauma, grief, and estrangement. A queer, Black, interracial biracial adoptee, she provides therapy exclusively for adoptees and consultations for both adoptees and adoptive parents. Becca facilitates an estrangement support group for adoptees with Adoption Mosaic and teaches an estrangement course for adoptive parents, helping clients navigate relational challenges with compassion, boundaries, and...
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