Voices of Adoption

Elmarie Arnold discovered her authentic voice through life’s most challenging moments, transforming decades of silence into a mission of hope for the adoption community. Adopted as a newborn in apartheid South Africa by loving parents, she initially struggled to balance gratitude with her need for authentic self-expression after a childhood experience taught her to suppress adoption-related feelings.AwakeningIn this episode, Elmarie reveals how her son's death became the catalyst for writing her memoir "Unadoptically Me" and embracing complete authenticity. She shares insights about the complex emotions adoptees navigate and how understanding these feelings leads to deeper healing and connection.HealingElmarie presents her empowering philosophy that adoptees are on a chosen soul journey, encouraging them to honor their experiences while building resilience. She offers adoptive parents transformative guidance: create supportive sanctuary spaces, stay present during difficult moments, and trust in your child’s inherent strength to navigate their adoption story.WisdomThis conversation reframes the adoption experience as a path toward personal sovereignty, inspiring adoptees to embrace their unique journey and recognize their exceptional courage. Elmarie’s story demonstrates how adoptees can transform challenges into wisdom while honoring both their adoptive families and their complete identity.Reclaim your narrative, honor your roots, and write the next chapter on your terms. You are not alone on this adoption journey, and support is within reach.Looking for support on your adoption journey? Visit VoicesofAdoption.org for support, resources, and community from every corner of the adoption constellation. Subscribe to the Voices of Adoption show for real stories and practical guidance that help families across the adoption constellation find support, along with expert insights on adoption and emotional wellness.#VoicesOfAdoption, #AdoptionJourney, #AdoptionStory, #AdopteeVoices, #AdoptiveParents, #BirthParents, #AdoptionCommunity, #AdoptionHealing, #TraumaInformed, #EmotionalWellness, #MentalHealthMatters, #ReclaimYourStory, #HonorYourRoots, #IdentityAndBelonging #AdoptionAndIdentityFollow or Subscribe to Voices of Adoption on your favorite platform:Website: VoicesofAdoption.org | YouTube: @VoicesofAdoptionShow | Twitter/X: Voices_Adoption | Instagram: Voicesof_Adoption | Facebook: Voices of Adoption | TikTok: @Voices_of_Adoption | LinkedIn: @Voices-of-AdoptionFollow Nathan Gwilliam:LinkedIn: @nathangwilliamFollow Donna Pope:LinkedIn: @donna-pope-41652baFollow Elmarie Arnold:Website: ForeverFree.co.za | LinkedIn: @Elmarie-Arnold | Facebook:Unadoptically | Instagram: Unadoptically

In this episode of Voices of Adoption, host Donna Pope sits down with Christina Dent, founder of End It For Good, a nonprofit working to shift how we approach drugs and addiction from punishment to help-centered solutions.One Placement Changed Everything.Christina and her husband started fostering in 2014. Their three placements produced three different outcomes: one child they adopted, one returned to family with an ongoing connection, and one left after two years with no contact since. But it was their second placement that changed her life and career.Lullabies Over Speakerphone.When baby Beckham came to them straight from the hospital, Christina expected his birth mother, Joanne, to fit the stereotype she'd absorbed growing up: that people who use drugs are bad people who don't love their children. Instead, she watched Joanne run across a parking lot, crying to kiss her newborn. She answered daily phone calls where Joanne asked every detail about her son and then sang to him over speakerphone. She drove Beckham to a treatment center that allowed mothers to keep their babies with them during recovery.Ten Years Sober Today.Everything Christina thought she knew about addiction fell apart. She went back to square one and started learning. That journey led her to launch End It For Good, advocating for health-centered approaches to substance use instead of criminalization. Today, Joanne is 10 years sober, working at the same treatment center where she got clean, and raising Beckham herself.This episode challenges foster and adoptive families to ask a difficult question: can we love a child enough to give them back? Looking for support on your adoption journey? Visit VoicesofAdoption.org for support, resources, and community from every corner of the adoption constellation.#VoicesOfAdoption #FosterCare #Adoption #AddictionRecovery #EndItForGood #ChristinaDent #FosterToAdopt #BirthMom #Reunification #TraumaInformedCare #SubstanceAbuse #FosterParenting #AdoptionJourney #RecoveryIsPossible #FamilyReunificationFollow or Subscribe to Voices of Adoption on your favorite platform:-Website: VoicesofAdoption.org | YouTube: @VoicesofAdoptionShow | Twitter/X: Voices_Adoption | Instagram: Voicesof_Adoption | Facebook: Voices of Adoption | TikTok: @Voices_of_Adoption | LinkedIn: @Voices-of-AdoptionFollow Nathan Gwilliam - LinkedIn: @nathangwilliamFollow Donna Pope - LinkedIn: @donna-pope-41652baFollow Christina Dent - Website: EndItForGood.com | LinkedIn: @ChristinaBDent | Instagram: @ChristinaBDent | Facebook: ChristinaBDent | Twitter/X: @ChristinaBDent

In this continuation of our two-part conversation with Simon Benn, host of the Thriving Adoptees podcast, Donna Pope host of Voices of Adoption, digs deeper into what it actually takes to move toward greater stability and growth.Building on the rock paper scissors metaphor from Part 1, this episode focuses on practical application. Together, they discuss how adoptive parents can better support their children, why personal work matters, and what tools can help adoptees recognize their inherent worth.Helping Others Find WholenessSimon explains that parents often need to begin by recognizing their own wholeness. Using the example of French ski instructors, he shows that helping others requires both personal depth and the ability to teach. Healing unfolds through many “penny drop moments,” not a single breakthrough.Storm and SkySimon offers another metaphor: trauma is like a storm temporarily covering a blue sky. The storm passes, but the sky remains unchanged. He explores how identifying solely with painful experiences, including trauma bonding, can keep people stuck, while curiosity and openness support movement forward.Doing the WorkSimon shares practical approaches to healing, including Byron Katie’s belief inquiry process known as “The Work,” somatic experiencing for preverbal trauma, and the importance of finding what works for each individual.He closes with the meaning behind his podcast’s diamond logo. While some adoptees come to see themselves as trash cans, he emphasizes that every adoptee, birth parent, and adoptive parent is a diamond. Thriving unfolds through patience and continued excavation.If you have not listened to Part 1, we recommend starting there to hear Simon’s full adoption story and the metaphors that shape this conversation.Looking for support on your adoption journey? Visit VoicesofAdoption.org for support, resources, and community from every corner of the adoption constellation. Subscribe to the Voices of Adoption show for real stories and resources that help families across the adoption constellation find support and for expert insights on adoption wellness.#ThrivingAdoptees #SimonBenn #AdopteeHealing #TraumaRecovery #AdoptiveParents #DoTheWork #ByronKatie #SomaticExperiencing #AdoptionAwareness #AdopteeVoices #MentalHealthMatters #AdoptionCommunity #HealingTrauma #VoicesOfAdoption #DiamondNotTrashCan #AdopteeWellness

In this episode of Voices of Adoption, host Donna Pope interviews Simon Benn, creator and host of Thriving Adoptees, a podcast with over 620 episodes dedicated to helping adoptees heal, grow, and thrive. Simon shares his adoption story, the moment a teddy bear revealed a connection to his birth mother he never knew existed, and the metaphor he developed to challenge one of adoption's most accepted theories.Understanding the JourneySimon was adopted from Liverpool in early 1967 and grew up near York, England. At 40, his parents returned a box of childhood items, including a teddy bear he'd had his whole life. What he didn't know: the bear was a gift from his birth mother. That discovery triggered a brief but painful thought that she didn't love him enough to keep him. A counselor helped him see that wasn't true. Years later, reading a letter from his birth mother in his adoption file, Simon felt her love as a full-body experience that changed everything.Reframing the WoundSimon's rock-paper-scissors metaphor offers an alternative to Nancy Verrier's Primal Wound theory. Rock represents our true self. Paper represents trauma. Paper wraps rock and wins, until the paper is unfurled to reveal the rock untouched underneath. His message: trauma hides us but never harms who we truly are. Drawing on the work of Richard Schwartz and Peter Levine, Simon believes healing comes through insight, personal growth, and recognizing that our core self remains intact beneath whatever has been layered on top.This episode offers a hopeful framework for adoptees feeling stuck in narratives of permanent damage while providing perspective on how happiness is always an inside job.Looking for support on your adoption journey? Visit VoicesofAdoption.org for support, resources, and community from every corner of the adoption constellation. Subscribe to the Voices of Adoption show for real stories and resources that help families across the adoption constellation find support and for expert insights on adoption wellness.#ThrivingAdoptees #SimonBenn #AdopteeHealing #PrimalWound #TraumaRecovery #InternalFamilySystems #SomaticExperiencing #AdoptionAwareness #AdopteeVoices #MentalHealthMatters #AdoptionCommunity #HealingTrauma #VoicesOfAdoption #RockPaperScissors #AdopteeWellness Follow or Subscribe to Voices of Adoption on your favorite platform:-Website: VoicesofAdoption.org | YouTube: @VoicesofAdoptionShow | Twitter/X: Voices_Adoption | Instagram: Voicesof_Adoption | Facebook: Voices of Adoption | TikTok: @Voices_of_Adoption | LinkedIn: @Voices-of-AdoptionFollow Nathan Gwilliam - LinkedIn: @nathangwilliamFollow Donna Pope - LinkedIn: @donna-pope-41652baFollow Simon Benn - LinkedIn: @SimonJBenn | Website: ThrivingAdoptees.com | Email: simon@thrivingadoptees.com

In this episode of Voices of Adoption, host Donna Pope interviews Tarcia Smith, host of the Adoption Journey podcast and co-founder of Black Adoptees Meetup. Tarcia shares her personal adoption story, her complicated reunions with both biological parents, and why she built a national community for Black adoptees who felt underrepresented in traditional adoption spaces.Understanding the JourneyTarcia was adopted as an infant in Chicago during the 1970s through a closed adoption. At 19, she attempted to find her birth family but was told they didn't want contact. Sixteen years later, when Illinois changed its laws, she obtained her original birth certificate and successfully located her biological brother through Facebook. What followed was a series of reunions that taught her the difference between expectations and reality.Building What Was MissingIn 2024, Tarcia and Dr. Kathy Garland co-founded Black Adoptees Meetup after noticing Black adoptees were consistently underrepresented in adoption spaces. The first gathering brought 25 people to Atlanta. The second brought 30 to Chicago, including one man who flew from the UK. Philadelphia hosts the 2026 event October 2nd through 4th.This episode offers practical guidance for adoptees navigating reunion while providing perspective on showing grace to birth families and building chosen community.Looking for support on your adoption journey? Visit VoicesofAdoption.org for support, resources, and community from every corner of the adoption constellation. Subscribe to the Voices of Adoption show for real stories and resources that help families across the adoption constellation find support and for expert insights on adoption wellness.#AdopteeVoices #BlackAdoptee #AdoptionReunion #ClosedAdoption #AdopteeHealing #AdoptionAwareness #BlackAdopteesMeetup #AdoptionCommunity #AdultAdoptees #AdoptionSupport #MentalHealthMatters #AdopteeJourney #ShowYourselfGrace #VoicesOfAdoptionFollow or Subscribe to Voices of Adoption on your favorite platform:Website: VoicesofAdoption.org | YouTube: @VoicesofAdoptionShow | Twitter/X: Voices_Adoption | Instagram: Voicesof_Adoption | Facebook: Voices of Adoption | TikTok: @Voices_of_Adoption | LinkedIn: @Voices-of-AdoptionFollow Nathan Gwilliam:LinkedIn: @nathangwilliamFollow Donna Pope:LinkedIn: @donna-pope-41652baFollow Tarcia Smith:LinkedIn: @Coach-Tarcia-Smith

In this episode of Voices of Adoption, host Donna Pope interviews Rachel Forbes, a Korean American adoptee and licensed clinical social worker who specializes in trauma-informed therapy. Adopted from South Korea at three months old by white Jewish parents, Rachel's journey through depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts ultimately led her to become a therapist dedicated to helping other adoptees heal.Love and Loss CoexistRachel explains that an adopted child's grief has nothing to do with their adoptive parents' love, and adoptive parents cannot heal that grief for them. She emphasizes that gratitude should not silence grief, and adoptees can hold appreciation for their families while still honoring their loss. Using Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, Rachel helps adoptees acknowledge all parts of themselves without judgment.Finding Your CommunityRachel encourages adoptees to seek adoption-competent therapists and connect with the growing adoptee community online. She reminds listeners that healing doesn't mean triggers disappear, but that we build capacity to bring more self-compassion to those moments each time they arise.This episode offers guidance for every member of the adoption constellation seeking understanding and support.Looking for support on your adoption journey? Visit VoicesofAdoption.org for support, resources, and community from every corner of the adoption constellation. Subscribe to the Voices of Adoption show for real stories and resources that help families across the adoption constellation find support and for expert insights on adoption wellness.#VoicesOfAdoption #RachelForbes #KoreanAdoptee #AdoptionTrauma #AdopteeHealing #TransracialAdoption #IFSTherapy #AdoptionTherapy #AdopteeVoices #AdoptiveFamilies #BirthMomSupport #AdoptionCommunity #TraumaInformedCare #AdoptionAwareness #HealingJourneyFollow or Subscribe to Voices of Adoption on your favorite platform: Website: VoicesofAdoption.org | YouTube: @VoicesofAdoptionShow | Twitter/X: Voices_Adoption | Instagram: Voicesof_Adoption | Facebook: Voices of Adoption | TikTok: @Voices_of_Adoption | LinkedIn: @Voices-of-AdoptionFollow Nathan Gwilliam:LinkedIn: @nathangwilliamFollow Donna Pope:LinkedIn: @donna-pope-41652baFollow Rachel Forbes, LCSW:Website: ForbesPsychoTherapy.com | LinkedIn: @RachelForbesLCSW | Instagram: @RachelForbes.LCSW | Facebook: RachelForbesLCSW | Email: Rachel@ForbesPsychoTherapy.com | Resources for Adoptees, Adoptive Families, & Anyone in the Adoption Community: docs.google.com

Colton was adopted at three months old into a family where four out of five children were adopted. Growing up black in a white family felt regular until others started pointing out the differences. External expectations about how he should act conflicted with who he actually was, creating years of identity crisis. In this episode of Voices of Adoption, host Donna Pope sits down with Colton Prestwich to explore the adoptee perspective on transracial adoption, identity formation, and maintaining relationships across both adoptive and biological families.Sports Became His RefugeMiddle school and early high school brought the hardest years. People formed expectations about how Black people should act from television and news media. When Colton didn't fit those stereotypes, it confused them. Sports became his sanctuary. On the football field and track, nobody cared about his skin color. They only cared if he was good. That meritocracy gave him space to figure out who he was without pressure to perform someone else's idea of identity.The Reunion That Changed EverythingWhen Colton's adoptive mother did DNA testing to find his biological family, the reunion in Portland felt like something out of a movie. Despite having no pictures, they recognized each other immediately. The connection was genuine and instant. Colton made multiple trips to Colorado to spend time with his birth mother Catherine and extended family. Adding a biological family didn't diminish his adoptive family. It completed something he hadn't fully realized was missing.Life in Two FamiliesToday, Colton maintains relationships with both families. His biological mother has joined his adoptive family for Thanksgiving dinner. His adoptive mom supports his connection with the woman who gave birth to him. Colton's message to birth mothers carries no shame, only gratitude. His advice to adoptive parents emphasizes openness from the beginning. To fellow adoptees, he offers realistic hope based on finding wholeness through reunion.Looking for support on your adoption journey? Visit VoicesofAdoption.org for support, resources, and community from every corner of the adoption constellation. Subscribe to the Voices of Adoption show for real stories and resources that help families across the adoption constellation find support and for expert insights on adoption wellness.#AdopteeVoices #AdoptionAndAddiction #AttachmentTherapy #AdopteeHealing #AdoptionAwareness #AddictionRecovery #AdoptionCommunity #InterracialAdoptionFollow or Subscribe to Voices of Adoption on your favorite platform: Website: VoicesofAdoption.org | YouTube: @VoicesofAdoptionShow | Twitter/X: Voices_Adoption | Instagram: Voicesof_Adoption | Facebook: Voices of Adoption | TikTok: @Voices_of_Adoption | LinkedIn: @Voices-of-AdoptionFollow Nathan Gwilliam:LinkedIn: @nathangwilliamFollow Donna Pope:LinkedIn: @donna-pope-41652ba

In this episode of Voices of Adoption, host Donna Pope interviews Dr. Brett Furst, a clinical psychologist and adoptee who specializes in treating adult adoptees struggling with substance abuse and personality disorders. Dr. Furst shares his personal adoption story and the specialized treatment programs he developed after noticing adoptees weren't responding to traditional interventions.Understanding the GapDr. Furst discovered that adoptees in treatment took longer to recover and responded differently than non-adoptees despite presenting similar issues. His research revealed that adoptees are 1.7 times more likely to struggle with addiction, making up 7 to 15 percent of the treatment population. This insight led him to create the first inpatient programs addressing the intersection of adoption, attachment, and addiction.Resources for HealingDr. Furst emphasizes that adoption creates an attachment break that can absolutely be healed at any stage of life. He recommends directories like Grow Beyond Words and Unraveling Adoption for finding adoption-competent therapists and encourages adoptive parents to address their own attachment patterns alongside their children.This episode offers practical guidance for families navigating the connection between adoption and addiction while providing hope for lasting recovery.Looking for support on your adoption journey? Visit VoicesofAdoption.org for support, resources, and community from every corner of the adoption constellation. Subscribe to the Voices of Adoption show for real stories and resources that help families across the adoption constellation find support and for expert insights on adoption wellness.#AdopteeVoices #AdoptionTrauma #AdoptionAndAddiction #AttachmentTherapy #AdopteeHealing #AdoptionAwareness #AddictionRecovery #AdoptionCommunity #AdultAdoptees #TherapyForAdoptees #AdoptionSupport #MentalHealthMatters #AdopteeJourney #HealingForAdoptees #VoicesOfAdoption Website Follow or Subscribe to Voices of Adoption on your favorite platform: Website: VoicesofAdoption.org | YouTube: @VoicesofAdoptionShow | Twitter/X: Voices_Adoption | Instagram: Voicesof_Adoption | Facebook: Voices of Adoption | TikTok: @Voices_of_Adoption | LinkedIn: @Voices-of-AdoptionFollow Nathan Gwilliam:LinkedIn: @nathangwilliamFollow Donna Pope:LinkedIn: @donna-pope-41652baFollow Dr. Brett Furst:Website: FurstTherapy.com | LinkedIn: @BrettFurst | Email: FurstTherapy@gmail.com

In this episode of Voices of Adoption, hosts Donna Pope and Nathan Gwilliam interview Linda Sexton, an adoptive mom who became an open adoption pioneer over 30 years ago when she and her husband were rejected by traditional agencies for being "too old" at 36 and 42.Building Connection Linda shares how she initially believed open adoption benefited birth parents most, only to discover the real winner is always the child. She reveals the defining moment at her son's birth mother's wedding when 4-year-old Finley ran from the altar into her arms, proving there was room for both mothers in one child's heart. Her children now maintain relationships with biological siblings, with Finley having a full birth brother after his birth parents later married each other.Practical Wisdom Linda explains why adoptive parents should actively seek connections with birth family members even when birth parents aren't available, emphasizing that children need these relationships for identity development and stability. She addresses common fears about confusion and competition, sharing how mutual respect between families creates magic for everyone involved.This episode shows how open adoption creates opportunities for children to grow up whole when families approach relationships with flexibility and love.Build stronger adoption relationships by subscribing to Voices of Adoption.#OpenAdoption #AdoptiveParenting #AdoptionJourney #VoicesOfAdoption #AdoptionCommunity #BirthFamilyConnection #OpenAdoptionWorks #AdoptionAdvice #AdoptiveFamily #AdoptionLove #AdoptionStory #AdoptionSupport #AdoptionAwareness #AdoptionPodcast #ModernAdoption Follow or Subscribe to Voices of Adoption on your favorite platform: Website: VoicesOfAdoption.org | YouTube: @VoicesofAdoptionShow | Twitter/X: voices_adoption | Instagram: voicesof_adoption | Facebook: Voices of Adoption | TikTok: @voices_of_adoption | LinkedIn: voices-of-adoptionFollow Nathan Gwilliam on LinkedIn: @nathangwilliamFollow Donna Pope on LinkedIn: @donna-pope-41652baFollow Linda R. Sexton: AUTHOR of award-winning THE BRANCHES WE CHERISH: AN OPEN ADOPTION MEMOIR :- LindaRSexton.com | Bookshop | Amazon | LinkedIn | Instagram | X(Twitter) | Facebook“If you loved The Branches We Cherish, a quick review on Amazon or Goodreads makes a huge difference!”

Liz DeBetta always carried a deep intuition that her birth mother loved her and was thinking about her. As a domestic infant adoptee who grew up in a loving family in New Jersey, she discovered at 14 that writing could help her process the big emotions she felt but couldn't name.ConnectionIn this episode of the Voices of Adoption with host Donna Pope, Liz shares the beautiful moment she received her birth certificate on her 40th birthday and reached out to her birth mother, who responded saying she had been waiting for this day for 40 years. Her birth mother had even changed back to her maiden name hoping it would make her easier to find.CreativityLiz reveals how poetry and creative writing became her pathway to self-discovery, eventually leading to her award-winning solo show "Un-Mothered" and her "Migrating Toward Wholeness" process that helps adoptees and families strengthen their connections through creative expression.GrowthThis conversation offers adoptive families practical tools for keeping adoption conversations open, staying curious about their children's inner world, and creating space where all feelings can coexist alongside love and gratitude.Strengthen your family's adoption journey - SUBSCRIBE to Voices of Adoption.Follow Nathan Gwilliam on LinkedIn: @nathangwilliamFollow Donna Pope on LinkedIn: @donna-pope-41652baFollow Liz DeBetta:LinkedIn: @Dr-Liz-DeBetta | Website: LizDeBetta.com | Instagram: @dr.liz.debetta | Facebook: Dr-Liz-DeBetta | eMail: dr.liz@lizdebetta.com

In this episode of Voices of Adoption with host Donna Pope, Gene Trowbridge shares his perspective as both an adoptee and adoptive parent. His multi-generational adoption story includes a childhood sister who mysteriously vanished, a 50-year wait to search for birth family, and lessons from both sides of adoption.Loss and SearchGene discusses receiving his adoption papers at 16 and waiting decades before searching, eventually discovering six half-siblings and a deceased birth mother. He opens up about his daughter Amy's 17-year battle with addiction and her fear of writing the letter that could have connected her with her birth mother. His other daughter Emily now co-hosts an adoption podcast 'Hey! Am I Adopted? Podcast' with him and is pursuing foster-to-adopt herself.Reunion and WisdomThe episode highlights his wife Kay's reunion with her biological father, who became "Grandpa Gravy" to their daughters for 25 years. Gene advocates for adoptive parents to maintain connections with adoption agencies, sharing annual updates, and keeping doors open for biological family contact when medical or emotional needs arise.This episode offers perspective from someone who has lived adoption from every angle. Subscribe to Voices of Adoption for conversations about navigating adoption with honesty and compassion.Follow or Subscribe to Voices of Adoption on your favorite platform:Website: VoicesOfAdoption.org | YouTube: @VoicesofAdoptionShow | Twitter/X: voices_adoption | Instagram: voicesof_adoption | Facebook: Voices of Adoption | TikTok: @voices_of_adoption | LinkedIn: voices-of-adoptionFollow Nathan Gwilliam on LinkedIn: @nathangwilliamFollow Donna Pope on LinkedIn: @donna-pope-41652baFollow Gene Trowbridge:Website: Trowbridge Nieh Law Group LLP | Facebook: TrowbridgeLawGroup | LinkedIn: @GeneTrowbridge;  @Trowbridge-Law-Group-LLP | YouTube: @TrowbridgeLaw | Instagram: @TrowbridgeLawGroup; @Gene_Trowbridge_Not_Retired | Twitter/X: @GeneTrowbridge | Book: Its-Whole-New-Business-How | Podcast Links - Spotify: Hey! Am I Adopted? Podcast; Apple Podcasts: Hey! Am I Adopted? Podcast

In this episode of Voices of Adoption, host Donna Pope speaks with Craig S. Hyman, an adoption life coach with 35 years of experience helping adoptees and families. Craig shares his complete adoption journey from being placed at 11 months old into a loving extended family to his transformative reunion with his biological family in 1987.Growing Up Adopted Craig describes his vibrant childhood with an "angelic" adoptive mother who became the center of his universe, surrounded by extended family gatherings of 30 people every Sunday. Despite this foundation of love, he experienced the complex identity questions many adoptees face, leading him to search for answers about his origins at age 26.Musical DNA Discovery The breakthrough moment came when Craig learned his birth mother loved singing and piano - explaining his lifelong passion for music. His subsequent search revealed that nearly his entire maternal family worked in music, validating the genetic connection he'd felt throughout his life. The 11-month pre-internet search led to reunion, expanded family connections, and confirmation that adoption literally saved his life.Craig now channels his experience into his Inside Out Expressive Arts Adoption Healing Seminar, helping thousands find community and healing.Subscribe to Voices of Adoption for more adoption stories and healing resources.Follow or Subscribe to Voices of Adoption on your favorite platform:Website:http://www.VoicesOfAdoption.orgYouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@voicesofadoptionshowTwitter/X:https://x.com/voices_adoptionInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/voicesof_adoption/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577208399818TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@voices_of_adoptionLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/voices-of-adoption/Follow Nathan Gwilliam:LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathangwilliamFollow Donna Pope:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-pope-41652ba Follow Crain S Hyman:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craigshyman/https://www.instagram.com/craig.s.hyman/Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/insideoutadoption/Email: craigshyman@gmail.com

In this episode of Voices of Adoption, host Donna Pope interview Amy Geller, therapist, researcher, and adoptee born in 1970 during the peak year for domestic infant adoptions. As the only girl and only adoptee in a family with four biological sons, Amy shares perspective on adoption dynamics that help families thrive across generations.The Discovery That Changed Everything At 14, Amy discovered her adoption paperwork while searching for letterhead. Seeing herself listed as "Baby Girl" sparked questions that led to a connection with her birth mother. Her adoptive parents' initial uncertainty gave way to support, demonstrating that families can navigate reunion together with openness and courage.Decades Later, Clarity Arrives Amy explains "coming out of the fog" as recognizing how adoption has shaped your entire life. Her doctoral research revealed that adoptees benefit most from therapists who remain open to learning alongside their clients. She discovered a 1964 book advocating for acknowledging adoption differences that remain largely unknown today, offering wisdom that can help families build stronger connections.Amy's journey demonstrates how adoption complexity unfolds across decades, creating opportunities for deeper understanding and stronger family bonds.Subscribe to Voices of Adoption for conversations about navigating adoption with honesty and compassion. Follow or Subscribe to Voices of Adoption on your favorite platform: Website: VoicesOfAdoption.org | YouTube: @VoicesofAdoptionShow | Twitter/X: voices_adoption | Instagram: voicesof_adoption | Facebook: Voices of Adoption | TikTok: @voices_of_adoption | LinkedIn: voices-of-adoptionFollow Nathan Gwilliam on LinkedIn: @nathangwilliamFollow Donna Pope on LinkedIn: @donna-pope-41652baFollow Dr. Amy Geller:Website: AmyGellerLCSW.com; Adult-Adoptees.com; AHomeWithin.org | LinkedIn: @Dr-Amy-Geller-DSW-LCSW | Instagram: @Amy.Geller | Facebook: AmyGellerLCSW | Email: amygellerlcsw@gmail.com

In this episode of Voices of Adoption, host Donna Pope interviews Emily Meikle, who placed her daughter Beth for adoption at age 16 and reunited with her 17 years later. Emily's story demonstrates how faith, supportive parents, and divine guidance can transform an unplanned pregnancy into a journey of love, sacrifice, and eventual reunion that honors both birth and adoptive families. Choosing Through Revelation Emily shares how her mother's immediate embrace and unconditional support gave her the strength to consider adoption. Through prayer and what she describes as personal revelation, Emily felt drawn to a family with a three-year-old son, receiving multiple confirmations including matching fabric on gifts exchanged at their first meeting and the boy's insistence that the baby's name would be "Beth," Emily's grandmother's name who became the child's guardian angel after passing away a year later. Placement and Healing Emily describes placement as the hardest thing she'd ever done, crying for six months while simultaneously feeling peace about her decision. She wrote a song to Beth while pregnant, expressing hope they might reunite someday. Though the pain was immense, Emily never doubted her choice, sustained by faith in Jesus Christ and her parents' support. She later married, had children, and built a life while maintaining hope for connection with Beth. Full Circle at the Wedding Through Ancestry DNA, Emily and Beth reconnected when Beth was 17. Their reunion felt familiar and natural, leading to a relationship that includes both families. Emily was invited to Beth's high school graduation and ultimately sang a duet with Beth at her wedding. Two days before the ceremony, Emily took Beth wedding dress shopping when Beth's original dress didn't feel right, creating memories Emily never imagined possible. Emily's story shows how adoption can honor birth mothers' love while providing children with the families they need, and how faith and open hearts can create relationships that bless everyone involved. Subscribe to Voices of Adoption for stories of love, faith, and family in adoption. Follow or Subscribe to Voices of Adoption on your favorite platform: Website: VoicesOfAdoption.org | YouTube: @VoicesofAdoptionShow | Twitter/X: voices_adoption | Instagram: voicesof_adoption | Facebook: Voices of Adoption | TikTok: @voices_of_adoption | LinkedIn: voices-of-adoption Follow Nathan Gwilliam on LinkedIn: @nathangwilliam Follow Donna Pope on LinkedIn: @donna-pope-41652ba Social Media links for Emily Meikle Music Website: emilymeiklemusic.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@emilymeiklemusic Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emilymeiklemusic/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilymeiklemusic/ One Day Song: Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/one-day-single/1787820259 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2oWagoHgSsFQwV2Fl66K7m Amazon Music: https://amazon.com/music/player/albums/B0DRC7WZ3X?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_jLQ6yod8f1iq3ry3HeM6whF1E&trackAsin=B0DRC9HCHX YouTube: https://youtu.be/gbvv3e2vV-4?si=Vja82y17HmNpg1mH

In this episode of Voices of Adoption, host Donna Pope interviews Christine Miskonoodinkwe-Smith, Indigenous writer and survivor of Canada's Sixties Scoop, a government policy that forcibly removed an estimated 20,000 Indigenous children from their families between the 1950s and 1980s. Taken from her mother at age three alongside her sister, Christine experienced abusive placement, foster care cycling, and complete disconnection from her Cree heritage and language.Finding Voice Through StoryChristine shares her journey through failed adoption, mental health challenges including anorexia and severe depression, and eventual healing through writing. Her memoir "These Are The Stories" uses non-linear Indigenous storytelling traditions to document snapshots of survival, humor amid trauma, and the powerful moment witnessing her niece's birth that motivated her recovery. Writing became her pathway to reclaiming stolen identity and creating space for collective healing.Reconnecting With RootsAfter aging out of foster care, Christine actively searched for her biological mother, finding her on the adoption registry just one week after registering herself. Their reunion provided the biological connection she craved throughout childhood, spent wanting to "paint herself white" to escape racism. Though her mother struggled with mental health issues stemming from residential school trauma, Christine treasured their relationship until her mother's death eight years ago.Christine's story demonstrates how Indigenous adoptees can reclaim culture while acknowledging complex realities, and why adoptive families must honor Indigenous children's heritage through active cultural connection and community engagement.Subscribe to Voices of Adoption for conversations about identity, healing, and honoring cultural heritage in adoption.Follow or Subscribe to Voices of Adoption on your favorite platform:Website:http://www.VoicesOfAdoption.orgYouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@voicesofadoptionshowTwitter/X:https://x.com/voices_adoptionInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/voicesof_adoption/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577208399818TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@voices_of_adoptionLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/voices-of-adoption/Follow Nathan Gwilliam:LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathangwilliamFollow Donna Pope:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-pope-41652baFollow Christine Miskonoodinkwe-Smith:Website:https://christineswritingandconsulting.ca/LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-miskonoodinkwe-smith/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Miskonoodinkwe/Instagram:https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-miskonoodinkwe-smith/Twitter:https://x.com/miskonoodinkweEmail:chrissy.miskonoodinkwesmith@gmail.com

In this episode of Voices of Adoption, host Donna Pope interviews Roderick Edwards, a prolific author of 50+ books who transforms his adoption story into advocacy. Left nameless at the hospital as a premature infant, Roderick's adoption at age four led to a brief three-year family experience before his adoptive parents divorced, shaping what he calls an "outsider perspective" that fueled his writing career.Finding Family After Amnesia Roderick introduces the concept of "adoptee amnesia," where adoptees create identity narratives until reunion provides facts. When Indiana opened adoption records in 2016, he located his biological family within days using Facebook and data analysis skills. His family believed he had died at the hospital, making his reunion a powerful "back from the dead" moment that connected him with multiple siblings.Purpose Over Bitterness Through writing his memoir "Together More: Rejection and Reunion" and documenting his journey, Roderick challenges narratives that adoption creates permanent wounds. He advocates for early honesty with adopted children, emotional preparation before search, and choosing purpose over pain. His philosophy emphasizes that adoptees control their perspective regardless of circumstances.Roderick's journey demonstrates how adoptees can build meaningful lives by embracing their unique stories and choosing growth over grief.Subscribe to Voices of Adoption for conversations about thriving through adoption experiences.Follow or Subscribe to Voices of Adoption on your favorite platform:Website: VoicesOfAdoption.org | YouTube: @VoicesofAdoptionShow | Twitter/X: voices_adoption | Instagram: voicesof_adoption | Facebook: Voices of Adoption | TikTok: @voices_of_adoption | LinkedIn: voices-of-adoptionFollow Nathan Gwilliam on LinkedIn: @nathangwilliamFollow Donna Pope on LinkedIn: @donna-pope-41652baFollow RoderickE:Instagram: @roderickeauthor | Official site / author site: rodericke.com | Book & Publishing / Profile Links  : Amazon

In this episode of Voices of Adoption, hosts Donna Pope interviews Mike Gaines, who was born with drugs in his system and adopted at 18 months by a 45-year-old single mother facing significant barriers. The state initially resisted the placement due to her age, marital status, and the child's medical challenges, but her faith and determination prevailed. Foundations of Trust and Care Mike shares how his adoptive mother carefully withheld sensitive information until he reached emotional maturity at age 18, then revealed his birth circumstances, including drug exposure and parental rights termination at the hospital. Her timing allowed Mike to process his story fully, appreciating her wisdom in protecting him while maintaining honesty about his origins. Family, Faith, and Community His mother built a strong support network through church, godparents, and extended family to overcome single-parent limitations. This foundation enabled Mike to excel academically despite early predictions of developmental delays, eventually becoming a podcast host, children's book author, and adoption advocate who encourages families to consider older or medically complex foster children. Mike’s journey demonstrates how prepared single parents with faith, planning, and community support can transform adoption challenges into thriving family outcomes. Subscribe to Voices of Adoption for stories of adoption success against the odds. Follow or Subscribe to Voices of Adoption on your favorite platform: Website: VoicesOfAdoption.org | YouTube: @VoicesofAdoptionShow | Twitter/X: voices_adoption | Instagram: voicesof_adoption | Facebook: Voices of Adoption | TikTok: @voices_of_adoption | LinkedIn: voices-of-adoption Follow Nathan Gwilliam on LinkedIn: @nathangwilliam Follow Donna Pope on LinkedIn: @donna-pope-41652ba Follow Mike Gaines: Website: thepositivegaines.com | Facebook: thepositivegaines | Instagram: @thenewpositivegaines | Twitter: @GainesPositive | YouTube: @thepositivegaines942   #AdoptionStories #AdoptionJourney #AdopteeVoice #SingleParentAdoption #AgainstAllOdds #FamilyLove #FosterCareAdoption #OlderChildAdoption #VoicesOfAdoption #AdoptionPodcast #AdoptionSuccess

In this episode of Voices of Adoption, hosts Donna Pope and Nathan Gwilliam interview Brett and Bonnie Hilton about their decades-long adoption journey. After Bonnie learned at 14 she couldn't bear children, the couple explored surrogacy, adoption, and multiple paths to parenthood.Loss to AdoptionThe Hilton's experienced surrogacy that resulted in quadruplets born at 24 weeks. After losing all four babies, including their son Adam who lived 10.5 months, they pursued domestic adoption through LDS Family Services. Following their first two adoptions, they expanded through international adoption in Ukraine, ultimately building a family of four children across nine adoption attempts.Adoption Costs and FaithBrett discusses adoption finances openly, sharing the financial fears adoptive parents face and the miraculous provision they experienced. The couple addresses genetic concerns, bonding with adopted children, and Brett's belief that no child arrives by accident. Their Ukraine adoption process reveals the complexities of international adoption systems and why fewer children find families today.This adoption story demonstrates faith, persistence, and the transformative nature of the adoption process.Subscribe to Voices of Adoption for more stories of search, reunion, and healing.Follow or Subscribe to Voices of Adoption on your favorite platform:Website:http://www.VoicesOfAdoption.orgYouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@VoicesOf_AdoptionTwitter/X:https://x.com/voices_adoptionInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/voicesof_adoption/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577208399818TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@voices_of_adoptionLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/voices-of-adoption/Follow Nathan Gwilliam:LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathangwilliamFollow Donna Pope:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-pope-41652ba

In this episode of Voices of Adoption, hosts Donna Pope and Nathan Gwilliam interview Jeff Forney, whose creative approach to finding adoption records in 1991 led to a successful birth mother reunion and ultimately inspired a community-building photography project. His six-month search involved writing to hospitals using different strategies, including one breakthrough letter that provided the missing pieces to locate his birth mother in Portland, Oregon.Creative Search Success Jeff shares his detailed search process through the Adoptee Liberty Movement Association support group and describes the emotional first phone call he recorded on a 90-minute cassette tape. His reunion brought both joy and challenges as his birth mother wanted to blend families immediately, requiring careful navigation of boundaries and expectations. The experience taught him that reunion relationships need the same gradual building as any friendship, with both parties respecting each other's existing family connections.Building Adoptee CommunityThis search experience eventually evolved into the Innocent People Project, where Jeff has photographed and shared stories of over 100 adoptees, including celebrities like Ray Liotta. His work validates that adoptees can love their adoptive families while still needing to understand their origins, and that gratitude shouldn't be demanded but naturally developed.Jeff's story demonstrates how adoption search can lead to both personal healing and community service when approached with healthy boundaries and mutual respect.Subscribe to Voices of Adoption for more authentic adoptee stories and reunion insights.Follow or Subscribe to Voices of Adoption on your favorite platform:Website:http://www.VoicesOfAdoption.orgYouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@voicesofadoptionshowTwitter/X:https://x.com/voices_adoptionInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/voicesof_adoption/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577208399818TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@voices_of_adoptionLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/voices-of-adoption/Follow Nathan Gwilliam:LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathangwilliamFollow Donna Pope:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-pope-41652baFollow Jeff Forney:Website: https://jeffforney.com/Innocent People Project:https://jeffforney.com/innocentpeople/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/jeffforney/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeffforneyphoto/Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/jeffforneyt3LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffforney#VoicesofAdoption #AdoptionPodcast #JeffForney #JeffForneyPhotography #InnocentPeopleProject #AdopteePhotographer #AdopteeVoice #AdoptionStories #BirthMotherReunion #AdoptionSearch #AdoptionReunion #AdopteeExperience #AdoptionJourney #RayLiotta #RayLiottaStory #CelebrityAdoptees #ReunionStories #FindingOrigins #AdopteeIdentity #AdoptionCommunity #Adoption #Adoptee #LosAngeles

This is Part 2 of our conversation with Lorah Gerald, "The Adopted Chameleon," from Voices of Adoption. If you missed Part 1, where she shared her baby scoop era story and the electric shock of finding her siblings at 53, be sure to check it out first.Continuing with our conversation on the Voices of Adoption with host Donna Pope, Lorah Gerald, focuses on her healing journey and practical strategies for adoptees and families navigating baby scoop era trauma. After meeting her biological siblings at 53 and experiencing the "electric shock" of connection, Lorah developed evidence-based approaches to recovery that she now shares through her advocacy work.Healing ModalitiesLorah discusses her journey through trauma-informed yoga therapy, Kundalini practices, and energy healing work that helped her process decades of suppressed emotions. She explains how movement-based therapies can help adoptees reconnect with their bodies after early separation trauma and provides specific techniques for nervous system regulation.Family Communication StrategiesThis episode explores practical approaches for adoptive families to create authentic dialogue about adoption without triggering defensive responses. Lorah shares specific language and timing strategies that help families move beyond "Don't you know we love you?" conversations toward genuine understanding and support.Advocacy and Community BuildingLorah explains how her personal healing led to community organizing and support group facilitation. She discusses the importance of adoptee-led spaces and how sharing lived experiences helps transform adoption practices for future generations while supporting current families in crisis.Don't miss our upcoming episodes featuring more adoptee advocates working to improve adoption outcomes through education, policy change, and family support services.Subscribe to Voices of Adoption for more stories of search, reunion, and healing.Follow or Subscribe to Voices of Adoption on your favorite platform:Website:http://www.VoicesOfAdoption.orgYouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@VoicesOf_AdoptionTwitter/X:https://x.com/voices_adoptionInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/voicesof_adoption/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577208399818TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@voices_of_adoptionLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/voices-of-adoption/Follow Donna Pope:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-pope-41652baFollow Lorah Gerald:Website:https://lorahgerald.com/Email Contact:lorahwg@gmail.comLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorah-gerald-0ba69648/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/theadoptedchameleon/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/TheAdoptedChameleon/TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@theadoptedchameleonTwitter:https://x.com/@theadoptedchameleonPinterest:https://www.pinterest.com/lorahwg/#BabyScoopEra #AdoptionHealing #AdoptionTrauma #AdopteeVoice #TraumaInformedYoga #AdoptionRecovery #LorahGerald #AdoptedChameleon #AdoptionAdvocacy #HealingJourney #AdopteeSupport #VoicesofAdoption #AdoptionCommunity #EmbodimentHealing #AdoptionWisdom