Because She's Adopted Podcast

Episode 18 | Gloria Gloria Ballantyne-Packo is a 27 year old Swampy Cree Woman living in Winnipeg, MB. Gloria is a member of Misipawistik Cree Nation and is originally from The Pas, MB. Gloria has lived many different lives but one of the most prominent parts of her life story is how she became an MMIWG2S+ advocate. Gloria's younger sister, Kendara Ballantyne, was reported missing in 2019 and later found murdered. This tragedy catapulted Gloria to raise more awareness of the MMIWG2S+ epidemic through local and national stages. Gloria was crowned the 2023 Northern Manitoba Trappers' Festival Fur Queen then went on to become a delegate in the inaugural Miss Indigenous Canada pageant in 2024. These pageants gave her the opportunity to use her platform to connect with many people and bring forth a greater awareness of her sister's legacy. Now, Gloria is learning what life looks like for her in a new city, amid both grief and trauma, while also embracing the excitement and gratitude of what her future holds. ______________________________________________________________________ 🔴JUSTICE FOR KENDARA If you have any information related to Kendara's case, please contact https://www.facebook.com/KendaraBallantyneMemorial  or https://www.canadiancrimestoppers.org/  immediately.  ______________________________________________________________________ APTN - TAKEN - SEASON5 EPISODE 9 Kendara Ballantyne https://www.aptntv.ca/taken/episode-guide/season-5/ https://www.aptntv.ca/plus/ ______________________________________________________________________ Gloria holds the title of the 2024 Northern Manitoba's Trappers Festival Fur Queen https://www.trappersfestival.ca/ Gloria ran for the inaugural Miss Indigenous Canada in 2024 https://www.missindigenouscanada.ca/  Connect with Gloria on IG Socials: https://www.instagram.com/glrpck/ Connect with Kristal Website: https://kristalparke.net/ Merch | Voices Collection: https://kristalparke.net/merch/ Email: kristal@becauseshesadopted.com Socials: @kristalparkeofficial Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristalparkeofficial/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KristalParkeOfficial TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kristalparkeofficial Support the Show If this conversation resonated with you, please subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help more people discover these powerful stories of healing and identity.  

Episode 17 | Marisol & Will In this episode of the Because She's Adopted podcast, host Kristal Parke and her husband Stewart, welcome Marisol and Will, a couple navigating the complexities of identity, parenting and grief. The couple discusses their unique challenges as parents without guidance, having lost both sets of their parents, and how they strive to build a supportive family foundation rooted in faith and love. Their candid conversation touches on the emotional weight of adoption, the impact of loss, and the importance of community support in their journey. Marisol and Will provide insights into their experiences as a couple supporting each other through life's difficulties and discuss the importance of patience and understanding in relationships, especially when dealing with the emotional aftermath of family and cultural separation. The conversation highlights the need for open communication and the significance of acknowledging one's feelings in the face of pain. Guest Bio Meet Marisol and Will, a couple navigating the complexities of identity, loss, and love. Marisol, a transracial adoptee from Bogotá, Colombia, was raised in New Jersey and has spent recent years deeply processing her adoption experience without reunion. Will, a first-generation Palestinian American from the Philadelphia area, stands as her steadfast partner and support system through this journey of self-discovery. Married for ten years and raising three beautiful children, they face the unique challenge of parenting without guidance, as both sets of their parents have passed away. Together, they share an honest look at building a family foundation amidst significant grief and loss. Connect with Marisol Socials: https://www.instagram.com/marisol_anne926/ Connect with Kristal Website: https://kristalparke.net/ Merch | Voices Collection: https://kristalparke.net/merch/ Email: kristal@becauseshesadopted.com Socials: @kristalparkeofficial Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristalparkeofficial/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KristalParkeOfficial TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kristalparkeofficial Support the Show If this conversation resonated with you, please subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help more people discover these powerful stories of healing and identity.  

Episode 16 | Amanda  In the first 2026 episode of the Because She's Adopted Podcast, host Kristal Parke interviews Amanda. This episode is about mothers and fathers, parentification and self-discovery. Amanda discusses the impact of her family on her self-perception, and the healing she found through connecting with her biological father. Amanda's story highlights the importance of self-acceptance and the ongoing journey of reclaiming one's narrative and life. Guest Bio Amanda was born and raised in Western New York.  She began her "coming out of the FOG" and reunion journey in 2023 a few years after getting divorced and moving out of her hometown away from her adoptive family.  With the support and help of her partner and close friends, she met both sides of her bio family.  Amanda began forming community and friends within the adoptee online space, which opened up a whole new world to healing and finding herself.  Currently living in North Carolina with her boyfriend and dog, Amanda is working towards sharing her story publicly, writing a memoir, and hopefully inspiring other adoptees to use their voice.  Connect with Amanda  https://www.instagram.com/manatobloom/ alviavattine@gmail.com Connect with Kristal Kristal's Website Voices Collection Merch Email Kristal Instagram Youtube TikTok Support the Show If this conversation resonated with you, please subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help more people discover these powerful stories of healing and identity.  

Episode 15 | Louise Browne & Bill Edwards  In this episode of the Because She's Adopted podcast, host Kristal Parke engages with guests Louise Browne and Bill Edwards, exploring themes of Christmas traditions, Adoption:The Making Of Me Podcast, and the importance of supportive relationships. The conversation delves into personal stories, including first impressions from high school, the shared love for the Grateful Dead, and the challenges of being introverted in social situations. Louise shares her profound experience of meeting her biological family, while Bill discusses the significance of understanding the adoptee experience as a partner. The episode concludes with reflections on finding purpose and passion in life, as well as the importance of sharing knowledge to help others navigate their challenges. Guest Bio Louise Browne is a co-host of the podcast Adoption: The Making of Me, and a passionate advocate for adoptees. With followers worldwide, her podcast with friend Sarah Reinhardt has created space for adoptees to explore identity, connection, and the lifelong journey of self-discovery. A Colorado native, Louise was adopted a few days after birth in 1968 and raised in a loving home in a Denver suburb. Her adoption story, like so many others, was shaped by sealed records and unanswered questions. Louise's background spans co-owning a gourmet ice cream truck business (with her current podcast partner), supporting high-level executives, teaching and coaching, and working in corporate education and the nonprofit sector. She moved to California in 1986 for college and remained in the Los Angeles area for more than thirty-five years. Most importantly, Louise is also a mother to a 27-year-old son, an animal lover, writer, hiker, loves yoga, and is a believer in the power of connections. She currently resides in California with her husband, Bill, and their adorable pup, Gracie. Bill Edwards is a carpenter, home remodeling project manager, and founder of Remodel Academy, through which he helps homeowners plan and manage remodeling and renovation projects. Bill grew up in Colorado and went to high school with his wife, Louise. However, he lost touch with her until they reconnected in 2011, which led to him moving to Los Angeles and eventually marrying Louise in 2018. Bill and Louise moved to the Central Coast of California in 2020 and now enjoy sea kayaking, wine tasting, and live music.   Connect with Louise Browne ATOM Website Louise Browne Substack LinkedIn @LouiseBrowne_LA Instagram Adoption:The Making Of Me Podcast ATMOM Facebook ATMOM Instagram ATMOM TikTok ATMOM YouTube Connect with Bill Edwards Remodel Academy Website LinkedIn @Remodel.Academy Instagram Remodel Academy Facebook The BuilderBill Instagram Connect with Kristal Kristal's Website Voices Collection Merch Email Kristal Instagram Youtube TikTok Support the Show If this conversation resonated with you, please subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help more people discover these powerful stories of healing and identity.  

Episode 14 | Christy & Scott In this episode of Because She's Adopted, hosts Kristal and Stewart Parke team up with Christy and Scott Gilvear for a podcast "double date," diving into the nuances of marriage, family life, and the ever-evolving conversations around adoption. They explore the importance of communication, and the support systems that help navigate the challenges of being adopted and being in a partnership with an adoptee. The conversation highlights the significance of personal growth, emphasizing the shared journeys of understanding, boundaries and validation.  Guest Bio Christy and Scott met on a blind date and were married nine months later. They were twenty four and twenty seven when they blended their lives and began building their family. Christy was a single mom at the time and Scott stepped into the role of father with openness and devotion. They went on to have three daughters together and have spent their eighteen year marriage raising their four children in both Texas and Utah. Adoption has been a central theme in Christy's life and in their marriage. Scott has held her adoptee journey with patience, curiosity and deep care which has shaped the strength and intimacy of their relationship. Together they have moved through faith transitions, personal healing and the ongoing work of understanding one another with honesty and compassion. Today their marriage continues to evolve as they grow, reconnect and choose each other in every season. Connect with Christy Email: christy@therootedpetal.com Socials:  @therootedpetal @greenalchemypodcast  @adopteealchemy Connect with Kristal Website: https://kristalparke.net/ Merch | Voices Collection: https://kristalparke.net/merch/ Email: kristal@becauseshesadopted.com Socials: @kristalparkeofficial Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristalparkeofficial/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KristalParkeOfficial TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kristalparkeofficial Support the Show If this conversation resonated with you, please subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help more people discover these powerful stories of healing and identity.  

Episode 13 | Linda Pevac In this episode of the Because She's Adopted podcast, host Kristal Parke interviews Linda Pevac, an adoptee, author, and survivor. Linda shares her harrowing experiences of childhood trauma, the impact of hypervigilance, and the healing power of creativity. The conversation delves into the complexities of relationships with adoptive parents, the inner critic, and the importance of self-compassion. Linda also discusses her experiences with abusive therapy, the journey of caring for her parents, and the significance of emotional sobriety. Throughout the episode, Linda emphasizes the importance of awareness, community, and personal growth in the healing process. Guest Bio Emma Stevens, who is also known as Linda Pevac, is the author of two earlier  memoirs: The Gathering Place: An Adoptee's Story and A Fire Is Coming. Her adoption journey began when she was relinquished as an infant and adopted at  three months old. Only in hindsight does she understand how being an adoptee has  shaped and formed her entire life. In her first memoir, The Gathering Place, Emma describes a magical space she has  created for healing, comfort, and restoration for the younger parts of herself that  never felt safe, seen, heard, or understood. A Fire Is Coming is Emma's cautionary tale, emphasizing the importance of  selecting a therapist thoughtfully. She alerts readers to the psychological nightmare  that can result from an unethical therapist, doctor, or counselor. Emma's third memoir, Choosing to Breathe, brings together all three themes. It  takes readers back to The Gathering Place, where they discover what it means to  integrate their identities as Emma releases multiple layers of trauma. After graduating with a journalism degree from the University of Oklahoma, she  pursued master's-level coursework in psychology at Pepperdine University in  Orange County, California. In March 2024, Emma won an Independent Author  Award for her second book, A Fire Is Coming, at Tucson's 2024 Festival of Books.  She was a finalist in the 18th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards for the  same book. Emma loves traveling and spending time with her two adult children and her two  lively, affectionate Bengal cats. Connect with Linda Website: www.emmastevenswriter.com Socials: https://www.instagram.com/lindacampbellpevac https://www.instagram.com/emmastevenswriter/ Email: linda_pevac@yahoo.com  Purchase Linda's Memoirs: The Gathering Place: An Adoptee's Story  A Fire is Coming Choosing to Breathe Connect with Kristal Website: https://kristalparke.net/ Merch | Voices Collection: https://kristalparke.net/merch/ Email: kristal@becauseshesadopted.com Socials: @kristalparkeofficial Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristalparkeofficial/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KristalParkeOfficial TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kristalparkeofficial Support the Show If this conversation resonated with you, please subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help more people discover these powerful stories of healing and identity.

Episode 12 | Kim & Emma In this episode of Because She's Adopted, hosts Kristal Parke, Kim, and Emma explore the complexities of adoption, personal stories, and the importance of community. Kim shares her adoption journey, including her reunion with her birth mother and the emotional challenges that come with it. Emma provides her perspective as a partner supporting Kim through her experiences. Together, they discuss the significance of connecting with other adoptees and the impact of their relationships on their identities. Guest Bios Emma is an editor and producer based in Brooklyn, New York. Her background is in visual art and museum education, where she's created audio guides, wall texts, and podcasts.  Kim is a visual artist and designer based in Brooklyn, New York. Kim enjoys beach detritus, Halloween decorations, and their dog, Nova.  Connect with Kim Emma's Mom's Memoir - Waiting to Forget by Margaret Moorman https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/916335.Waiting_to_Forget Socials: https://www.instagram.com/wildbod?igsh=N3V4ZHRscmticWpq Website: http://Wildernessbodies.com Kim's Art Show https://www.wassaicproject.org/exhibitions/this-must-be-the-place Connect with Kristal Website: https://kristalparke.net/ Merch | Voices Collection: https://kristalparke.net/merch/ Email: kristal@becauseshesadopted.com Socials: @kristalparkeofficial Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristalparkeofficial/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KristalParkeOfficial TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kristalparkeofficial Support the Show If this conversation resonated with you, please subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help more people discover these powerful stories of healing and identity.  

Episode 11 | Chris Williams Host Kristal Parke welcomes fellow adoptee and comedian, Chris Williams to recap a week in The Big Apple where Kristal's film, Because She's Adopted, was the official selection for The Adoptee Film Festival and had its New York City Premiere at the Caveat Theatre in Manhattan. From Central Park to Broadway, hotdogs to hamburgers, they cover it all in this lighthearted episode. Guest Bio Chris Williams is a stand-up comedian and producer from Los Angeles, currently based in Santa Barbara. Audiences are drawn to his intelligent, relatable, and irreverent style of humor, which is anchored around his own life experiences, including his adoption story. Chris prefers the term "thrifted" rather than adopted. Connect with Chris Website: https://crwspeaks.com/aboutme Email: chris@crwspeaks.com Socials: https://www.instagram.com/crwspeaks/ Connect with Kristal Website: https://kristalparke.net/ Merch | Voices Collection: https://kristalparke.net/merch/ Email: kristal@becauseshesadopted.com Socials @kristalparkeofficial Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristalparkeofficial/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KristalParkeOfficial TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kristalparkeofficial Support the Show If this conversation resonated with you, please subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help more people discover these powerful stories of healing and identity.  

Episode 10 | Christy Gilvear Host Kristal Parke welcomes fellow adoptee Christy Gilvear for a powerful conversation about adoption, faith, and growing up in a high-control religious environment. Together, they unpack how those experiences shaped their identity, relationships, and journey toward healing. This episode of Because She's Adopted offers an honest look at self-discovery, resilience, and finding freedom beyond the beliefs we were raised in. Guest Bio Christy Gilvear is the creator of The Rooted Petal and host of the upcoming Green Alchemy Podcast. Through plants, storytelling, and remembrance, she helps others reconnect to their roots and rediscover healing through nature. An adoptee and member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Christy interweaves her personal healing journey with teachings on Earth wisdom, ritual, and conscious living. Her work invites others to see plant care as self-care — a living practice of balance, presence, and transformation. She lives in Utah with her husband, four kids, dog Luna, and two cockatiels — in a home filled with light, love, and a thriving indoor jungle. Connect with Christy Email: christy@therootedpetal.com Socials:  @therootedpetal @greenalchemypodcast  @adopteealchemy Connect with Kristal Website: https://kristalparke.net/ Email: kristal@becauseshesadopted.com YouTube | Instagram | TikTok @kristalparkeofficial Support the Show If this conversation resonated with you, please subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help more people discover these powerful stories of healing and identity.  

Episode 9 | Dr.Richard Wenzel Dr. Richard Wenzel shares a riveting NPE journey that began with an at-home DNA test and unfolded into the discovery that his father was not his genetic father. The conversation traces childhood memories surrounding a sibling's secret adoption, a pediatrician who "knew and lied," and a later-in-life reckoning with identity, family history, and medical ethics. Richard explains why genetic secrets harm patients, how falsified family histories misdirect care, and why he advocates for clinician candor: "Just tell the truth." Guest Bio For three decades, Dr. Richard Wenzel, PharmD, CPPS, has been an accomplished educator, practitioner, researcher, and mentor in the realm of health care.  He has authored nearly 50 peer-reviewed publications in medical journals and given more than 100 presentations at national, state, or local-level professional meetings.  He received the American Pharmacists Association's One-to-One Patient Counseling award, given annually to five pharmacists nationally, and is a two-time nominee for the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy's Master Preceptor award.   In 2020, an at-home DNA test revealed that his father was not his genetic father, a result that helped explain why Richard has always felt 'out of place' within his own family.  Unfortunately, both his mother and genetic father are long deceased, but available information substantiates that his conception was the result of a sexual assault of his at-the-time teenage mother.  Moreover, evidence indicates that Richard's pediatrician knew of, and lied about, the facts of his paternity.  Since his DNA discovery, Richard has published several articles in medical journals calling for health care professionals to improve their management of genetic secrets and has on-going projects aimed at improving public awareness about medical professionals' roles in propagating genetic secrets.     Connect with Richard Email: lone.tree.npe@gmail.com Links: Misattributed paternity discovery: A critique of medical organizations' recommendations - PubMed Buying my existence. Just $49, free shipping included - Wenzel - 2023 - Journal of Genetic Counseling - Wiley Online Library To be or not to be (honest): The persistent problem of misattributed paternity - Hercher - 2023 - Journal of Genetic Counseling - Wiley Online Library Connect with Kristal Website: https://kristalparke.net/ Email: kristal@becauseshesadopted.com YouTube | Instagram | TikTok @kristalparkeofficial Support the Show If this conversation resonated with you, please subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help more people discover these powerful stories of healing and identity.  

Episode 8 | Erin In this heartfelt conversation, host Kristal Parke sits down with Erin, co-founder of Hiraeth Hope and Healing, Inc., to explore what it means to discover you're an NPE (Not Parent Expected) and how she turned that revelation into one of purpose by creating community spaces for NPE's, adoptees, and donor-conceived individuals. Guest Bio In 2017, Erin unexpectedly discovered that she is an NPE (Not Parent Expected) while delving into her family history. Since then, she has devoted much of her time to assisting others in their quests to find family connections, serving as a search angel. Her dedication to service extends beyond her academic pursuits. Erin has established a supportive online community for NPEs on Facebook and facilitates Zoom meetings and a weekly book club tailored to adoptees, donor-conceived individuals, late discovery adoptees, and fellow NPEs. At Hiraeth Hope and Healing, Inc., a 501(c)(3), she helps host three annual retreats across the U.S. Erin also serves as the Board President for the Toms River Education Foundation and volunteers at a local food pantry. A passionate advocate for social justice, Erin is a high school special educator focused on supporting students through trauma-informed approaches and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) in schools. She's a certified Reiki practitioner, a 500 RYT yoga teacher through Breathe for Change, and is currently pursuing her MSW at Rutgers School of Social Work. Residing at the Jersey Shore with her husband, three sons, and their beloved pup, Cooper, Erin enjoys reading, yoga, meditation, and a good binge of crime TV. Connect with Erin Website: www.hiraethhopeandhealing.com Email: info@hiraethhopeandhealing.com Facebook: Hiraeth Hope and Healing Instagram: @hiraethhopeandhealing Connect with Kristal Website: https://kristalparke.net/ Email: kristal@becauseshesadopted.com YouTube | Instagram | TikTok @kristalparkeofficial Support the Show If this conversation resonated with you, please subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help more people discover these powerful stories of healing and identity.

Episode 7: Sydney Curtin In this heartwrenching conversation, host Kristal Parke sits down with Sydney Curtin, as she opens up about relinquishment and open adoption.  Guest Bio Sydney Curtin is a dynamic speaker, author, multi-business owner, consultant, life coach, and serial entrepreneur. With over ten years of professional experience and an impressive résumé, Sydney extends her knowledge to empower others to change their lives, too. Overcoming a dark and haunting past, Coach Curtin found herself at a crossroads — her story could either make her or break her. Choosing strength over victimhood, she stood up to make a difference. Sydney now invites others to walk a mile in her shoes so they don't spend a lifetime in regret. Connect with Sydney Email: sydneycurtin@curtincallllc.com Connect with Kristal Website: kristalparke.net Email: kristal@becauseshesadopted.com YouTube | Instagram | TikTok  @kristalparkeofficial Support the Show If this conversation inspired you, please subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help more people discover these powerful stories of hope.

Kelowna adoptees Kristal and Chrystal welcome 60's scoop survivors Tina Taphouse and Nadine McSpaddan as they courageously share their journey back to their roots and inform us on one of Canada's darker times in history.

Kelowna adoptees Kristal and Chrystal welcome 60's scoop survivors Tina Taphouse and Nadine McSpaddan as they courageously share their journey back to their roots and inform us on one of Canada's darker times in history.

Because She's Adopted Podcast host, Kristal welcomes her husband Stewart Parke as they discuss the ups and downs of relinquishment trauma within a marriage.

Local Kelowna trauma therapist, Cherise Lowe meets with Kristal and Chrystal to help lend a deeper understanding of relinquishment in the context of attachment and trauma.

Local Kelowna adoptees and hosts, Kristal and Chrystal discuss their polarizing experiences of reuniting with their biological families in the hopes of finidng the missing pieces.

Local Kelowna adoptees and hosts, Kristal and Chrystal share their adoption stories.