Adoption Pop!

E017 | Adopted (2009) – Adoption on the Small Screen   Why would we spend an hour talking about a film that went straight-to-video, has a 31% on the Popcornmeter, and not enough critical reviews to have received a Rotten Tomatoes score? Because that film is about adoption, of course! Join podcast journalist, Haley Radke, filmmaker, Kristal Parke, and cultural critic, Sullivan Summer, as we celebrate the Pauly Shore mockumentary, Adopted. (Yeah, we didn't have "celebrate Pauly Shore" on our Adoption Pop! Bingo card either).     Adopted was written and directed by Pauly Shore.    This episode of Adoption Pop! aired on April 1, 2026. In it we discussed and/or relied upon: Angelina Jolie adopted from Africa in 2005. Madonna adopted from the continent in 2006, 2009, and 2017. The press surrounding these adoptions was significant, but if you want to learn more, we suggest you skip the tabloids and head for Veronia S. Root's, "Angelina and Madonna: Why All the Fuss? An Exploration of the Rights of the Child in Intercountry Adoption Within African Nations," Chicago Journal of International Law, Volume 8, Number 1 (2007). Pauly Shore is the son of Sammy Shore, a comedian, and Mitzi Shore, who co-founded, owned, and operated The Comedy Store in Los Angeles, a venue known for featuring up-and-coming comics. It's good to be a nepo baby.  According to Miriam Webster, a mockumentary is "a facetious or satirical work (such as a film) presented in the style of a documentary." The film may or may not be improvised in whole or in part.  Allegations of abuse and assault at Oprah Winfrey's Leadership Academy for Girls surfaced in November 2007. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child prioritizes the child's best interest, favors a child receiving care within their home country, and safeguards against adoption for financial gain or child trafficking. The US has signed, but not ratified, the treaty, making it the only UN member state not to have ratified. Make of this what you will.  Dan Persons, "Pauly Shore on Adopted," Huffington Post (June 15, 2010) The Adoption Pop! theme music is The Chase by Audiogreen. We'd love to hear what you thought of this episode, and what you'd like for us to cover in the future. Find, follow, like, and subscribe to Adoption Pop! at our website, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.  Podcast journalist Haley Radke is at adopteeson.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.  Filmmaker Kristal Parke is at kristalparke.net, on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.  Cultural critic Sullivan Summer is at sullivansummer.com, on Instagram, and on Substack.    

E016 | The Truman Show (1998) – Adoption on the Big Screen   Long before we all had front-facing screens in our pockets—even before it would have occurred to us to use the term "front-facing screen"—there was somebody born to be on camera: Truman Burbank. The first baby to have been legally adopted by a corporation, Truman and his namesake show were watched, loved, and protected by millions of fans around the world—right up until he started to question that world's reality. Join podcast journalist, Haley Radke, filmmaker Kristal Parke, and cultural critic, Sullivan Summer as we revisit a favorite, The Truman Show, on this episode of Adoption Pop!  Thank you to Pop! Star Frankie for this episode suggestion via Spotify. The Truman Show was written by Andrew Niccol and directed by Peter Weir.    (If you start "The Imperial March" now and read really slow, it will soundtrack these entire show notes) This episode of Adoption Pop! aired on March 25, 2026. In it we discussed and/or relied upon: When Sullivan said, "the march of the Storm Troopers," she was obviously talking about John Waters's, "The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme)" from The Empire Strikes Back, the NPE theme songs to rule all NPE theme songs. But you know all of this already because you're listening to it in the background. And because you're probably just a little bit evil.  Ed Harris played Sheriff Alan J. Pangborn in the 1993 film Needful Things, adapted from Stephen King's 1991 novel of the same name. There's this one scene near the end when everything is coming to a head, and it's cold and its dark and it's raining, and Ed Harris gets out of his truck and he wants to get everyone's attention, so he pumps his shotgun with one hand… The Adoptee Consciousness Model was developed by JaeRan Kim, Susan Branco, Grace Newton, Paula O'Loughlin, and Stephanie Kripa Cooper-Lewter. Hannah Andrews, "Cue the Sun: My Truman Show Life," Medium (April 10, 2023) The Adoption Pop! theme music is The Chase by Audiogreen. We'd love to hear what you thought of this episode, what you'd like for us to cover in the future, and whether you, too, have been radicalized by us. Find, follow, like, and subscribe to Adoption Pop! at our website, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.  Podcast journalist Haley Radke is at adopteeson.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.  Filmmaker Kristal Parke is at kristalparke.net, on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.  Cultural critic Sullivan Summer is at sullivansummer.com, on Instagram, and on Substack.    

E015 | Philomena (2013) – Adoption on the Big Screen   A young woman shamed, banished, and indentured—yet faith survives for Philomena Lee who, after 50 years of separation, embarks upon a search for the son she was forced to relinquish inside one of Ireland's notorious mother and baby homes. Podcast journalist Haley Radke, filmmaker Kristal Parke, and cultural critic Sullivan Summer take on Philomena, adapted from journalist Martin Sixsmith's The Lost Child of Philomena Lee, and starring Judi Dench as the title character in a film that had our Irish eyes weeping, all 29-30% of them.  Philomena was written by Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope, directed by Stephen Frears, and based on the book The Lost Child of Philomena Lee by Martin Sixsmith.    For those watching on YouTube, Haley's necklace–worn in honor of Philomena and the birth mothers–was designed by adoptee Tracey Aabey-Hammond in response to Kay Jewelers' advertisement and jewelry celebrating adoption. The tattered, torn, tarnished heart of "The Adoption Pendant" conveys the loss that adoption brings to adoptees and first mothers. The stone is set wrongly to represent adoptees who feel they have never fit in with the adoptive family or the world due to the loss of their original identity. You can purchase the necklace here.  This episode of Adoption Pop! aired on March 18, 2026. In it we discussed and/or relied upon: Martin Sixsmith, The Lost Child of Philomena Lee (2010) According to Wikipedia, Magdalene laundries, also known as Magdalene asylums, were run by the Roman Catholic church in Ireland ostensibly to house "fallen women," though they actually functioned as penitentiary workhouses. A formal apology for the women who worked, and who died in the laundries, was issued by the State in 2013. You can read more about them in Ireland and the Magdalene Laundries: A Campaign for Justice by Claire McGettrick et al. (2021).  Rory Carroll, "Irish church and state apologise for callous mother and baby homes," The Guardian (January 13, 2021) The Final Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes produced by the Irish government, all 2,865 pages of it, is available here (January 12, 2021). Jane Russell and the Springtown Mother, BBC Radio 4 (2015) Judi Dench, "Playing Philomena Was a Great Responsibility," Variety (January 7, 2014) "Judi Dench's only child regret," The Sydney Morning Herald (November 17, 2011) The Adoption Pop! theme music is The Chase by Audiogreen. We'd love to hear what you thought of this episode, and what you'd like for us to cover in the future. Find, follow, like, and subscribe to Adoption Pop! at our website, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.  Podcast journalist Haley Radke is at adopteeson.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.  Filmmaker Kristal Parke is at kristalparke.net, on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.  Cultural critic Sullivan Summer is at sullivansummer.com, on Instagram, and on Substack. 

E014 | Song Sung Blue (2025) – Adoption on the Big Screen Did you ever read about a frog who dreamed of bein' a king, and then became one? Well, except for the names, and a few other changes, you've got the Hollywood adaptation of a little-known documentary profile of the Milwaukee Neil Diamond tribute act known as "Lightning and Thunder." Song Sung Blue hit theaters on Christmas Day in 2025, garnering generally favorable reviews, and a slew of Best Actress nominations for Kate Hudson for her melodic portrayal of Claire "Thunder" Sardina, a woman who battles back to the stage after losing a leg in a freak car accident, developing an addiction to pain meds, and insisting her daughter relinquish her baby. Good times never seemed so good. Song Sung Blue was written by Craig Brewer and Greg Kohs, and was directed by Craig Brewer.    This episode of Adoption Pop! aired on March 11, 2026. In it we discussed and/or relied upon: The film Song Sung Blue is based on the 2008 documentary of the same name by Greg Kohs. You can read Kohs's essay about the making of the doc here.  Fact check: Dolly Parton has been the subject of not one, but two biopics. Alyvia Alyn Lind plays a young Dolly growing up in rural Tennessee in 2015's Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors and its follow-up, Dolly Parton's Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love in 2016.  Fact check: Depictions of smoking can affect a film's Motion Picture Association of America rating. Hollywood studios also each have their own policies regarding on-screen smoking, outlined here by IndieWire. And a 2025 article by Adriana Albini in Cancerworld details the history of smoking depictions on-screen. (We normally try to rely on less-biased sources than Cancerworld, but there's a good chance our other content has already weeded out the nicotine-cancer-connection-deniers, so we're going to stick with it).   Eddie Vedder is the lead singer and guitarist of Pearl Jam, among other bands. A 2011 Rolling Stone readers' poll named him seventh on the list of "Best Lead Singers of All Time." (We normally try to rely on less-biased sources than Rolling Stone, but we stand by the spirit of the list, and agree that Eddie Vedder is, in fact, a national treasure).    Gerrad Hall, "Fact vs. fiction in Song Sung Blue: heart attacks, a horrific accident, and Eddie Vedder's unexpected call," Entertainment Weekly (December 26, 2025). Paul Grein, "38 Actors Who Were Oscar-Nominated For Playing Real Musicians & Singers," Billboard (January 22, 2026). It took longer than anticipated, but Haley has finally given Kristal her stage name, which is "Citrine." Listen for her in future episodes.  In the meantime, listen to Neil Diamond's "I Am… I Said." You're welcome.  The Adoption Pop! theme music is The Chase by Audiogreen. We'd love to hear what you thought of this episode, and what you'd like for us to cover in the future. Find, follow, like, and subscribe to Adoption Pop! at our website, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts.  Podcast journalist Haley Radke is at adopteeson.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.  Filmmaker Kristal Parke is at kristalparke.net, on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.  Cultural critic Sullivan Summer is at sullivansummer.com, on Instagram, and on Substack.    

E013 | Task (2025) – Adoption on the Small Screen Season 1 of HBO's Task centers former priest, alcoholic, adoptive father, FBI agent, Tom Brandis (played by Mark Ruffalo), who heads up a task force of dubiously-selected young agents as they hunt down a pair of guys robbing violent motorcycle gang-owned stash houses. As melodramatic as the plotline may be, the series quickly became a Pop! favorite for its truthful portrayal of the complexities in adoption.  Thank you to Pop! Star Candace for the recommendation.  Task was created by Brad Ingelsby.    This episode of Adoption Pop! aired on March 4, 2026. In it we discussed and/or relied upon: Covenant House is the largest, primarily privately funded charity in North and Central America providing immediate and long-term support for young people facing homelessness and survivors of trafficking, including many former foster youth and adoptees. Their website provides data on this population, and resources to support.  Grow Beyond Words maintains a directory of adoption-competent, licensed mental health professionals in the US. InterCountry Adoptee Voices maintains a similar, international directory.  Joe Otterson, "'Task' Renewed for Season 2 at HBO With Mark Ruffalo Returning," Variety (November 20, 2025)  Who wrote this scene with the priest at the end? Task Episode 7, "A Still Small Voice," was written by Brad Ingelsby, and directed by Jeremiah Zagar. The Adoption Pop! theme music is The Chase by Audiogreen. We'd love to hear what you thought of this episode, and what you'd like for us to cover in the future. Find, follow, like, and subscribe to Adoption Pop! at our website, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts.  Podcast journalist Haley Radke is at adopteeson.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.  Filmmaker Kristal Parke is at kristalparke.net, on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.  Cultural critic Sullivan Summer is at sullivansummer.com, on Instagram, and on Substack. You can find her book recommendations here.   

E012 | Private Practice "Apron Strings" (2012) – Adoption on the Small Screen   The Grey's Anatomy spinoff Private Practice followed OB/GYN Addison Montgomery for six seasons from 2007 until 2013, where she and a who's who of middle-aged eye-candy treated patients at an oceanside wellness center. In a case of art imitating life, Addison, like showrunner Shonda Rhimes, adopts a baby. But when baby Henry's mother comes back into his life after 8 months away, Addison's humanity is tested, along with the audience's ability to hold multiple truths at once. Private Practice "Apron Strings" aired on November 20, 2012. It was written by Gabe Fonseca, Elizabeth Klaviter, and Gabriel Llanas; and directed by Amyn Kaderali.      Thank you Pop! Stars Gretchen and Lora for this episode recommendation.   This episode of Adoption Pop! aired on February 25, 2026. In it we discussed and/or relied upon: In case you missed it: On Season 1 of Grey's Anatomy, Derek Shepherd ("McDreamy") was dating Meredith Grey. Then, in the Season 1 finale, his estranged wife Addison shows up. She meets Meredith and she says, "Hi. I'm Addison Shepherd." (Very dramatic). Then, in Season 2 we learn Addison had an extramarital affair with Derek's best friend, Mark Sloan ("McSteamy"), who also comes to work with them at the hospital. There will be a Pop! quiz later. Actor Benjamin Bratt played Detective Rey Curtis on Law & Order Seasons 6-9. If Sullivan had a hall pass… The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) prioritizes keeping native children within their tribes and communities, over placement with non-native families.  "Shonda Rhimes: Women Need to Brag More," Call Her Daddy podcast (October 8, 2025) "Oprah Talks to Shonda Rhimes," O Magazine (December 2006) Rickie Solinger, Wake Up Little Suzy: Single Pregnancy and Race Before Roe v. Wade, 2nd edition (2000) Ann Fessler, The Girls Who Went Away: The Hidden History of Women Who Surrendered Children for Adoption in the Decades Before Roe v. Wade (2007) Gretchen Sisson, Relinquished: The Politics of Adoption and the Privilege of American Motherhood (2024) The Adoption Pop! theme music is The Chase by Audiogreen. We'd love to hear what you thought of this episode, and what you'd like for us to cover in the future. Find, follow, like, and subscribe to Adoption Pop! at our website, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts.  Podcast journalist Haley Radke is at adopteeson.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.  Filmmaker Kristal Parke is at kristalparke.net, on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.  Cultural critic Sullivan Summer is at sullivansummer.com, on Instagram, and on Substack.  Pop! quiz: Which Adoption Pop! cohost is the funniest? (a) Sullivan (b) Sullivan (c) Sullivan (d) Sullivan  

E011 | Love is Blind UK Season 1 (2024) –Adoption on Reality TV   According to Forbes magazine, around 80 million people, 30% of the adult population in the US, is on a dating app, with 10% of partnered adults reporting that they met their significant other through a dating site or app. Of course, one might skip university, friends, apps, and pokes (ew), and head straight for reality television. What happens when an adopted person looks for love while millions tune in to watch? The pods are open for podcast journalist Haley Radke, filmmaker Kristal Parke, and cultural critic Sullivan Summer, as they explore Season 1 of Love is Blind UK on this episode of Adoption Pop! This episode of Adoption Pop! aired on February 18, 2026. In it we discussed and/or relied upon: Despite its name, Boston Pizza was founded in Edmonton, Alberta in 1964. According to Wikipedia, the company had nearly 400 locations in Canada, the United States, and Mexico as of 2022. In Sullivan's defense, none of them are in New York. Or near it. Or in Boston, apparently. Contrary to popular belief, Facebook never really got rid of pokes and is, according to tech reporters, trying to re-popularize them. Dislike.  There are about 30,000 people in the funeral services industry across the US and Canada. There are about 78.5 million bald men. It is just statistically impossible for all of them to be unattractive, Kristal.  Actor Craig T. Nelson is known for roles on Coach, The Family Stone, Adoption Pop! Episode 003, and Haley's hall pass.  Emily Phares, "Dating Statistics and Facts," Forbes (July 22, 2025). Andres Hjern et. al, "Couple Partnership and divorce in domestic and non-European international adoptees. A Swedish national cohort study with follow up until 36 to 45 years," Children and Youth Servies Review (October 2023). The Adoption Pop! theme music is The Chase by Audiogreen. We'd love to hear what you thought of this episode, and what you'd like for us to cover in the future. Find, follow, like, and subscribe to Adoption Pop! at our website, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts.  Podcast journalist Haley Radke is at adopteeson.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.  Filmmaker Kristal Parke is at kristalparke.net, on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.  Cultural critical Sullivan Summer is at sullivansummer.com, on Instagram, and on Substack.   

010 | Colin in Black and White (2021) – Part 2: Adoption on the Small Screen   Part 2 of an Adoption Pop! two-part episode.  San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick made headlines in 2016 when he courageously took a knee during the Star-Spangled Banner in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, sparking national debate over the role of activism in professional sports. Kaepernick went on to become a civil rights activist, devoting his time, resources, and personal narrative to supporting Black and Brown youth in standing in their power—something he knows a little bit about, not only from his NFL days, but from growing up as a transracial adoptee. The limited Netflix series, Colin in Black and White, tells his story, and a story resonant for many adopted people.   Colin in Black and White was created by Ava DuVernay and Colin Kaepernick. This episode aired on February 11, 2026. In it we discussed and/or relied upon: Colin Kaepernick is the founder of Know Your Rights Camp, Ra Vision Media, and Kaepernick Publishing. He is the author of several books, including Change the Game (2023), alongside Eve L. Ewing and Orlando Caicedo. According to Kristal and Urban Dictionary, "Kaepernicking" is to flex your bicep and kiss it in celebratory fashion, inspired and trademarked by San Francisco 49ers quarterback, Colin Kaepernick.  Urban Dictionary also defines "camel toe" and "moose knuckle," but you will need to look those up for yourself. Moose Knuckles the clothing brand has cold weather gear. And when Sullivan said she thought moose knuckles were candy, she might have been talking about Moose Farts, a no-bake treat made with sweetened condensed milk, butter, vanilla, graham cracker crumbs, shredded coconut, and chocolate chips. (Shrug. Canadians).  "DNA." is from Kendrick Lamar's fourth studio album, Damn. The National Association of Black Social Workers Transracial Adoption Statement (1972) articulates the organization's stance against the placement of Black children in white homes for any reason.  Julia Moore for People, "Colin Kaepernick Says He Found It 'Very Difficult' to Call Out Adoptive Parents Over Racial Issues." (April 4, 2023). Resources for transracial adoptees and their families include: Colin in Black and White: The Kaepernick Curriculum Adoption Mosaic offers educational courses for adoptive parents, and community for adoptees.  Melissa Guida-Richards, What White Parents Should Know About Transracial Adoption (North Atlantic Books, 2021) Samira K. Mehta, The Racism of People Who Love You: Essays on Mixed Race and Belonging (Beacon Press, 2023) Angela Tucker, You Should Be Grateful: Stories on Race, Identity, and Transracial Adoption (Beacon Press. 2024) The Adoption Pop! theme music is The Chase by Audiogreen. We'd love to hear what you thought of this episode, and what you'd like for us to cover in the future. Find, follow, like, and subscribe to Adoption Pop! at our website, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts.  Podcast journalist Haley Radke is at adopteeson.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.  Filmmaker Kristal Parke is at kristalparke.net, on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.  Cultural critical Sullivan Summer is at sullivansummer.com, on Instagram, and on Substack.   

Bonus Pop! | "The Girl in the Middle" (2026) – Advertising Adoption   This is a very special, bonus Pop! episode, recorded as the adoptee community awaits the premier of "The Girl in the Middle," a pro-adoption advertisement promoted by the National Council for Adoption and others, slated to air during the Super Bowl LX Halftime Show—but only if you believe their marketing. (Spoiler: We do not recommend you believe their marketing).   This episode of Adoption Pop! aired on February 6, 2026. In it we discussed and/or relied upon: Leave it to reproductive rights scholar, Gretchen Sisson, to say in a clear, concise Instagram reel what Haley, Sullivan, and Kristal need 30 minutes and glam to get across.  "The Complexities of Adoption: Money, Marketing, and Ethics with Gretchen Sisson," Cate & Ty Break It Down (April 16, 2025).  Gretchen Sisson, Relinquished: The Politics of Adoption and the Privilege of American Motherhood (2024).  Learn more about, and donate to, Saving Our Sisters, a 501(c)(3) using its funds to support women and their families, and not to buy Super Bowl advertisements. Learn more about Haley's investigative series podcast, On Adoption. And support the centering of first/birthmother, and adoptee voices, through Adoptees for Family Preservation. Adoption Is An Option LLC Bravelove Inc National Council for Adoption The Adoption Pop! theme music is The Chase by Audiogreen. We'd love to hear what you thought of this episode, and what you'd like for us to cover in the future. Find, follow, like, and subscribe to Adoption Pop! at our website, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts.  Podcast journalist Haley Radke is at adopteeson.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.  Filmmaker Kristal Parke is at kristalparke.net, on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.  Cultural critical Sullivan Summer is at sullivansummer.com, on Instagram, and on Substack.   

009 | Colin in Black and White (2021) – Part 1: Adoption on the Small Screen   San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick made headlines in 2016 when he courageously took a knee during the Star-Spangled Banner in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, sparking national debate over the role of activism in professional sports. Kaepernick went on to become a civil rights activist, devoting his time, resources, and personal narrative to supporting Black and Brown youth in standing in their power—something he knows a little bit about, not only from his NFL days, but from growing up as a transracial adoptee. The limited Netflix series, Colin in Black and White, tells his story, and a story resonant for many adopted people.   Colin in Black and White was created by Ava DuVernay and Colin Kaepernick. This episode aired on February 4, 2026. In it we discussed and/or relied upon: Colin Kaepernick is the founder of Know Your Rights Camp, Ra Vision Media, and Kaepernick Publishing. He is the author of several books, including Change the Game (2023), alongside Eve L. Ewing and Orlando Caicedo. Transracial adoptee Harrison Mooney is the author of Invisible Boy (HarperCollins Canada, 2022).    Sullivan Summer was a guest on the Adoptees On Podcast Episode 211. Colin is married to Nessa Diab, a radio DJ and television host of, among other shows, Teen Mom and Teen Mom 2. But that's for another episode.  The National Association of Black Social Workers Transracial Adoption Statement (1972) articulates the organization's stance against the placement of Black children in white homes for any reason.  Matt Foster for CNN, "Colin Kaepernick calls out adoptive parents' racism as he promotes new graphic novel" (March 10, 2023). Resources for transracial adoptees and their families include: Colin in Black and White: The Kaepernick Curriculum Adoption Mosaic offers educational courses for adoptive parents, and community for adoptees.  Melissa Guida-Richards, What White Parents Should Know About Transracial Adoption (North Atlantic Books, 2021) Samira K. Mehta, The Racism of People Who Love You: Essays on Mixed Race and Belonging (Beacon Press, 2023) Angela Tucker, You Should Be Grateful: Stories on Race, Identity, and Transracial Adoption (Beacon Press. 2024) The Adoption Pop! theme music is The Chase by Audiogreen. We'd love to hear what you thought of this episode, and what you'd like for us to cover in the future. Find, follow, like, and subscribe to Adoption Pop! at our website, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts.  Podcast journalist Haley Radke is at adopteeson.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.  Filmmaker Kristal Parke is at kristalparke.net, on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.  Cultural critical Sullivan Summer is at sullivansummer.com, on Instagram, and on Substack.   

008 | Vivien's Wild Ride (2026): Adoption on the Small Screen   Vivien Hillgrove has been a film and sound editor all her adult life. She's worked with many filmmaking greats: Francis Coppola, Phil Kaufman, Milos Forman, Walter Murch, and celebrated documentary filmmakers Lourdes Portillo and Deann Borshay Liem. But when Vivien's eyesight starts to deteriorate, the shame and loneliness she felt in 1964 come flooding back—having relinquished her baby as a teenage, unwed mother when there were few choices for women was a loss that resonated throughout her life. Now she faces a new feeling of isolation and loss. Recalling her resilience as a young woman, she summons it anew and reinvents herself as a person with a new way of being and seeing, an artist with a disability. Join us on this wild, a beautiful ride.  Vivien's Wild Ride was directed, produced, written, and co-edited by Vivien Hillgrove.  You can watch Vivien's Wild Ride on your local PBS station through April 2026. And click here to learn more about the virtual panel discussion with Viven, her daughter Kathleen with whom she is reunited, and members of Adoption Mosaic, Mom's Head Films, and Mu Films on Thursday, February 26, 2026. This episode aired on January 28, 2026. In it we discussed and/or relied upon: For a decade, the Adoptees On podcast has been a place for adoptees to share the adoption experience.  Haley's new project, On Adoption, will feature the stories of first/birth parents, discussing the impact adoption has had on them, as well as on adoptees. The Okanagan Society of Independent Filmmaking is a nonprofit society committed to supporting and celebrating local, independent filmmakers, while fostering a community of film within the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia. Kristal's film, Because She's Adopted, is available for rent here.  You can find speaker, digital creator, author, and advocate Molly Burke here. Vivien worked on the Academy Award-winning film, The Right Stuff (1983), starring Ed Harris, long time placeholder on Sullivan's hall pass.  Haley would like us to reiterate that she does not have a hall pass. (Allegedly.) The first Salvation Army Booth Maternity Home opened in 1887, and the homes operated into the late 1970s. In 2016 the Salvation Army in the UK issued a formal statement acknowledging its role in separating mothers from their babies. An apology was issued in Australia in 2022. At the time of this writing, no such apology has been issued to mothers or adoptees in the United States.  In 2021 the United Church of Canada issued a formal apology for its role in separating mothers from their babies. The Church is not affiliated with the Salvation Army, though the two organizations often collaborate within the country.  Sullivan has a Balfern Leather Biker Jacket from AllSaints that she loves, even though she does not do drugs.  The Adoption Pop! theme music is The Chase by Audiogreen. We'd love to hear what you thought of this episode, and what you'd like for us to cover in the future. Find, follow, like, and subscribe to Adoption Pop! at our website, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts.  Podcast journalist Haley Radke is at adopteeson.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.  Filmmaker Kristal Parke is at kristalparke.net, on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.  Cultural critical Sullivan Summer is at sullivansummer.com, on Instagram, and on Substack.   

007 | Modern Family "Pilot" (2009): Adoption on the Small Screen   For 11 seasons the Dunphys, the Delgado-Pritchetts, and the Tucker-Pritchetts influenced modern American families' views on gender roles, inter-generational relationships, and transnational adoption. Listen in as podcast journalist Haley Radke, filmmaker Kristal Parke, and cultural critic Sullivan Summer break down the pilot episode of ABC's Modern Family. Because the circle of life has to start somewhere.          Modern Family was created by Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan. Its "Pilot" episode (September 23, 2009) was written by Steven Levitan and Christopher Lloyd, and directed by Jason Winer.   This episode aired on January 21, 2026. In it we discussed and/or relied upon: Home Improvement aired on ABC from 1991-1999. Family Matters aired on ABC and CBS from 1989-1998. Its breakout star, Jaleel White, played both the dorky next door neighbor, Steve Urkel, and Steve's stylish alter ego, Stefan. Since recording this episode, Sullivan and Kristal have had occasion to discuss privately Haley's unique contributions to this podcast, and we have come up with the following: (1) She's very accurate. Whereas Sullivan and Kristal often misremember plot points or dialogue, Haley always gets them right. (2) Her facial expressions alone are worth watching on YouTube. (3) She is Adoption Pop!'s resident audio expert. We sound good because of Haley. (4) She has a decade-long record of devotion to the adoptee community. It is not an exaggeration to say this podcast, and many projects like it centering adoptee stories, would not exist without her. According to Miriam-Webster dictionary, virtue signaling is "the act or practice of conspicuously displaying one's awareness of and attentiveness to political issues, matters of social and racial justice, etc., especially instead of taking effective action." Used in a sentence: The separating of children from their parents, extended biological family, community, country, and culture can often be avoided completely with monetary resources far below what it costs a person or couple to adopt; Mitchell's claim that Lily "would have grown up in a crowded orphanage" if it not for he and Cam is mere virtue signaling.   Miriam-Webster defines antecedent as "a preceding event, condition, or cause."  Operation Babylift was a US government plan to transport Vietnamese children out of the country during the final days of the Vietnam War. Critics claimed the program was fueled by politics and white saviorism. It is undisputed, however, that many of the children were not orphans.  Marc Freeman, Modern Family: The Untold Oral History of One of Television's Groundbreaking Sitcoms (St. Martin's Press, 2020). Reeshma Haji and Fabio Fasoli, "Predicting and Changing Attitudes towards Same-Gender Parenting: Informational Influence, Parasocial Contact, and Religious Fundamentalism," LGBTQ+ Family: An Interdisciplinary Journal, Vol. 18, No. 2, 119-134 (2022).  Kimberly McKee, Adoption Fantasies: The Fetishization of Asian Adoptees from Girlhood to Womanhood (Ohio State Press, 2023). In Season 3 Episode 5 of Friends "The One with Frank Jr." Ross's list of five celebrities he would most like to sleep with, otherwise known as a "hall pass," is laminated, indicating that it cannot be changed. Haley's hall pass has Craig T. Nelson on it, and it's laminated. We just know it.  If it's been a minute since you've seen the antecedent to Cam Tucker's "Circle of Life" spotlight moment, you can check out the original source material here.  The Adoption Pop! theme music is The Chase by Audiogreen. We'd love to hear what you thought of this episode, and what you'd like for us to cover in the future. Find, follow, like, and subscribe to Adoption Pop! at our website, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts.  Podcast journalist Haley Radke is at adopteeson.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.  Filmmaker Kristal Parke is at kristalparke.net, on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.  Cultural critical Sullivan Summer is at sullivansummer.com, on Instagram, and on Substack.   

006 | K-Pop Demon Hunters (2025): Adoption on the Big Screen Breaking Netflix streaming and box-office records, and charming the critics, podcast journalist Haley Radke, filmmaker Kristal Parke, and cultural critic Sullivan Summer go all-in on summer 2025's breakthrough hit, K-Pop Demon Hunters. Clever humor, catchy tunes, and storylines exploring shame and generational trauma, the Huntrix girls and the ladies of Adoption Pop! show how adoptee-resonant storytelling is really done done done.         K-Pop Demon Hunters (2025) was written by Danya Jimenez, Hannah McMechan, Maggie Kang, and Chris Appelhans, and directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans.  This episode aired on January 14, 2026. In it we discussed and/or relied upon: According to Spotify, the song "Golden" from the K-Pop Demon Hunters Soundtrack has been streamed more than 1 billion times on the platform.  Jeremy Fuster wrote, "'KPop Demon Hunters' Becomes Netflix's First Box Office No.1 With $18 Million Weekend," for The Wrap (August 24, 2025): https://www.thewrap.com/k-pop-demon-hunters-netflix-box-office-no-1/ Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) stars Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet as a couple who goes through a medical procedure to have each other erased from their memories forever.  Correction: On Episode 005 of Adoption Pop!, Kristal referred to Sex and the City: the Movie as "a s*** movie." She has since called this comment "too aggressive," and has softened her stance to "strong dislike." (But she's still wrong about it being better than K-Pop Demon Hunters).   The Adoption Pop! theme music is The Chase by Audiogreen. We'd love to hear what you thought of this episode, and what you'd like for us to cover in the future. Find, follow, like, and subscribe to Adoption Pop! at our website, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts.  Podcast journalist Haley Radke is at adopteeson.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.  Filmmaker Kristal Parke is at kristalparke.net, on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.  Cultural critical Sullivan Summer is at sullivansummer.com, on Instagram, and on Substack.   

005 | Sex and the City: The Movie (2008): Adoption on the Big Screen   Slip on your Manolos, pour yourself a Cosmo, and listen in to podcast journalist Haley Radke, filmmaker Kristal Parke, and cultural critic Sullivan Summer pick up where the turn-of-the-century HBO juggernaut left off: with Samantha and her celebrity boy toy on the west coast, Miranda living in something less than domestic bliss in Brooklyn, Carrie finally settling down with Big, and Charlotte, making her fairy tale dreams of motherhood complete … through international adoption?       Sex and the City: The Movie (2008) was written and directed by Michael Patrick King, and was based on the book by Candace Bushnell and series by Darren Star.  This episode aired on January 7, 2026. In it we discussed and/or relied upon: Adoptees On podcast Episode 286: Grace Newton Alexandra Stevenson and Zixu Wang, China Stops Foreign Adoptions, Ending a Complicated Chapter, New York Times (September 6, 2024) Felix Gillette, It's Not TV: The Spectacular Rise, Revolution and Future of HBO (2022) Josh Friedman, "'Sex' is a big hit among women," Los Angeles Times (June 2, 2008) Kimberly McKee, Adoption Fantasies: The Fetishization of Asian Adoptees From Girlhood to Womanhood (The Ohio State University Press, 2023) The National Association of Black Social Workers Position Statement on Transracial Adoption (1972) New York City Council Website Film and Television Permits Nicole Evelina, Sex and the City: A Cultural History (2022) Ramin Setoodeh, Criticism of 'Sex and the City' is Mostly Sexist, Newsweek (March 13, 2010) Tabitha Britt, Kristen Davis's Two Children: All About Gemma Rose and Wilson, People (March 1, 2024) Sharon LaFraniere, "Chinese Officials Seized and Sold Babies, Parents Say," New York Times (August 4, 2011) Chinese adoptees can access resources and support from The Chinese Adoptee Collective.  The Adoption Pop! theme music is The Chase by Audiogreen. We'd love to hear what you thought of this episode, and what you'd like for us to cover in the future. Find, follow, like, and subscribe to Adoption Pop! at our website, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts.  Podcast journalist Haley Radke is at adopteeson.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.  Filmmaker Kristal Parke is at kristalparke.net, on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.  Cultural critical Sullivan Summer is at sullivansummer.com, on Instagram, and on Substack.   

004 | Penny Serenade (1941): Adoption on the Silver Screen   The 1941 sentimental classic, Penny Serenade, stars Irene Dunne and Cary Grant as a married couple who replace children more often than they replace the needle on their sitting room Victrola. Join podcast journalist Haley Radke, filmmaker, Kristal Parke, and cultural critic Sullivan Summer as we challenge marriage and adoption propaganda during Hollywood's Golden Age on this episode of Adoption Pop!      Penny Serenade (1941) was directed by George Stevens, based on the novella by Martha Cheavens.  This episode aired on December 31, 2025. In it we discussed and/or relied upon: Cinema Geeks Episode 225, Cary Grant Retrospective: Penny Serenade Adoptee activist Connor Howe posts TikTok and Instagram videos of adoptees meeting adoptive families, without the inspirational background soundtrack.  Georgia Tann may have been the United States' most notorious child trafficker. Policies and procedures pioneered by her for the purposes of kidnapping and selling children are still used today across the adoption industry.  Actress Jane Biffle played one-year-old Trina Adams in Penny Serenade, her only film credit.  "Irene Dunne Adopts Baby," New York Times (March 17, 1938) Marilyn Ann Moss, Giant: George Stevens, a Life on Film (2004) Marshall B. Jones, Crisis of the American Orphanage, 1931-1940, Social Service Review (December 1989) Mary Frances Gage Obituary, Los Angeles Times (July 26, 2020) Mia Laurenzo, "Love Endures All in Penny Serenade," WLRN (January 30, 2019) From 1854 to 1929 orphan trains transported children from northern cities to foster homes in rural areas to perform labor. Despite the moniker, many of these children had living parents. Penny Serenade on IMDB Peter B. Flint, "Irene Dunne, a Versatile Actress of the 1930's and 40's, Dies at 91," New York Times (September 6, 1990) Proceedings of the Child Conference for Research and Welfare (1909) Travis Tritt, "It's a Great Day to Be Alive" The Adoption Pop! theme music is The Chase by Audiogreen. We'd love to hear what you thought of this episode, and what you'd like for us to cover in the future. Find, follow, like, and subscribe to Adoption Pop! at our website, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts.  Podcast journalist Haley Radke is at adopteeson.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.  Filmmaker Kristal Parke is at kristalparke.net, on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.  Cultural critical Sullivan Summer is at sullivansummer.com, on Instagram, and on Substack.   

003 | The Family Stone (2005): Adoption on the Big Screen   In this episode of Adoption Pop!, podcast journalist Haley Radke, filmmaker Kristal Parke, and cultural critic Sullivan Summer delve into the dysfunctional dynamics of The Family Stone. Race, queer rights, adoption, heirloom jewelry, and a beloved family recipe for strata—this film has everything (except maybe likeable characters engaged in healthy communication). But don't take our word for it. Sit through what is perhaps the cringiest Christmas Eve dinner in history, and judge for yourself.  The Family Stone (2005) was written and directed by Thomas Bezucha, and produced by Michael London.  This episode aired on December 25, 2025. In it we discussed and/or relied upon: Adoptees On podcast, Episode 240: Sandra Steingraber Adoptees On podcast, Episode 276: Sanjay Pulver Craig T. Nelson played Hayden Fox, coach of a fictional NCAA Division I football team in the ABC sitcom Coach from 1989-1997. According to Miriam Webster dictionary, "smarmy" is an adjective that means "revealing or marked by a smug, ingratiating, or false earnestness," or "of low sleazy taste or quality." As in, Sullivan believes Everett Stone is smarmy.  Rachel McAdams played Regina George, the primary antagonist in the 2004 film, Mean Girls. We only wear pink on Wednesdays.  Roger Moore, "'The Family Stone' speaks volumes with sign language," The Seattle Times (December 27, 2005) The Adoption Pop! theme music is The Chase by Audiogreen. We'd love to hear what you thought of this episode, and what you'd like for us to cover in the future. Find, follow, like, and subscribe to Adoption Pop! at our website, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts.  Podcast journalist Haley Radke is at adopteeson.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.  Filmmaker Kristal Parke is at kristalparke.net, on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.  Cultural critical Sullivan Summer is at sullivansummer.com, on Instagram, and on Substack.   

002 | The Grinch (2018): Adoption on the Big Screen   Terrorizing Whoville and inciting holiday joy for almost 70 years, podcast journalist Haley Radke, filmmaker Kristal Parke, and cultural critic Sullivan Summer bring an adoptee lens to the only adaptation of the classic, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! that turns the title character into an orphan.  The Grinch (2018) was written by Michael LaSieur and Tommy Swerdlow, directed by Scott Mosier and Yarrow Cheney, and produced by Universal Pictures.  This episode aired on December 17, 2025. In it we discussed and/or relied upon: 23andMe, "Discover the Grinch's DNA Story," pre-release version (2018) "All By Myself" was written and recorded by Eric Carmen in 1975, appearing on his self-titled album. In 1996 it was covered by Celine Dion for her album, Falling into You. Angela Lansbury (1925-2022) was a British-American-Irish treasure, with an 80-year career in film, stage, and television, including the crime show Murder, She Wrote (1984-2003).  Anthony D'Alessandro, "'The Grinch' Global Promo Campaign Grows Several Sizes From First Movie to $80M," Deadline (November 7, 2018) Back to the Future, directed by Robert Zemeckis, Universal Pictures (1985). Please forgive the crudity of Doc's model.  The Goonies, directed by Richard Donner, Amblin Entertainment (1985) How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, Dr. Suess (Random House, 1957) How the Grinch Stole Christmas! television special, directed by Chuck Jones and Ben Washam, CBS (1966) How the Grinch Stole Christmas starring Jim Carrey, directed by Ron Howard, Universal Pictures (2000) Little Orphan Annie, the comic strip by Harold Gray, has been adapted numerous times for stage and screen.  Nancy Newton Verrier, The Primal Wound (Gateway Press, 2003) Pharrell Williams, "Happy," Despicable Me 2 (2013)  The Rescuers, directed by Wolfgang Reitherman, John Lounsbery, and Art Stevens, Walt Disney Productions (1977) Rotten Tomatoes, "The 100 Best Christmas Movies of All Time" Tyler the Creator, "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch," The Grinch (2018) The Adoption Pop! theme music is The Chase by Audiogreen. We'd love to hear what you thought of this episode, and what you'd like for us to cover in the future. Find, follow, like, and subscribe to Adoption Pop! at our website, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts.  Podcast journalist Haley Radke is at adopteeson.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.  Filmmaker Kristal Parke is at kristalparke.net, on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.  Cultural critical Sullivan Summer is at sullivansummer.com, on Instagram, and on Substack.  So raise a glass and give a toast, to kindness and love, the things we need the most!  

001 | Elf (2003): Adoption on the Big Screen   The best way to spread Christmas cheer is by singing loud for all to hear! Whether it's your first time watching this holiday classic, or your fiftieth, you've probably never watched Elf like this before. Podcast journalist Haley Radke, filmmaker Kristal Parke, and cultural critic Sullivan Summer–all adoptees themselves–explore the adoptee experience alongside adoptee Buddy the Elf, including adoptee terminology, biological parent fantasies, cultural identity struggles, and more. Elf (2003) was written by David Berenbaum, directed by Jon Favreau, and produced by New Line Cinema.  This episode aired on December 10, 2025. In it we discussed and/or relied upon: Back to the Future, directed by Robert Zemeckis, Universal Studios (1985). The infamous "Calvin Klein" scene is here.  Barbara Bisantz Raymond, The Baby Thief (Grand Central Publishing, 2009) Criminal Episode 110 "Baby Snatcher" (March 15, 2019) Flagrant Clips @flagrantclips on YouTube, Interview with Peter Dinklage (August 7, 2024) Mia Elkins, "Elf: Meet the man behind the movie," The Merionite (December 16, 2024) Neil Miller, "40 Things We Learned from Jon Favreau's 'Elf' Commentary," Film School Rejects (December 23, 2011) Patrick Cremona, "Elf screenwriter on its lasting legacy: 'It's something that's rare and special,'" RadioTimes.com (December 23, 2022) Rotten Tomatoes 100 Best Christmas Movies of All Time Shania Twain, "Whose Bed Have Your Books Been Under," The Woman in Me (1995) The Adoption Pop! theme music is The Chase by Audiogreen. We'd love to hear what you thought of this episode, and what you'd like for us to cover in the future. Find, follow, like, and subscribe to Adoption Pop! at our website, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts.  Podcast journalist Haley Radke is at adopteeson.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.  Filmmaker Kristal Parke is at kristalparke.net, on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.  Cultural critical Sullivan Summer is at sullivansummer.com, on Instagram, and on Substack.  We love you! We love you! We love you!  

Welcome to Adoption Pop! where a podcast journalist, a filmmaker, and a cultural critic burst pop culture's favorite adoption tropes. Each episode, we'll dive into movies, TV, and reality shows, from prestige dramas to the classics, to ask what these stories are really saying, and not saying, about adoption. And we'll get real about representation: how the world sees us, and how we see ourselves. In your feed every Wednesday, beginning December 10, 2025. Find us on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, AdoptionPop.com and wherever you get your podcasts. Haley Radke is a Canadian domestic adoptee, the founder of Haley Radke Media, Inc., and host of Adoptees On, one of the most successful and longest-running adoption-related podcasts in the world, with over 1.5 million downloads globally. You can find her at adopteeson.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Kristal Parke is an Opaskwayak Cree, transracial adoptee filmmaker, editor, producer, speaker, and podcaster. You can find Kristal at her website, and on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.  Sullivan Summer is a US domestic, transracial adoptee, independent scholar, essayist, critic, poet, and podcaster.  You can find her at her website, on Instagram, and on Substack.  Promotional photograph by Ekow @VOLTSTILLS.  The Adoption Pop! theme music is The Chase by Audiogreen, license number TTStandard8099-1761936903. Additional sounds for this Trailer are by: Popping Cork by milcahrawr -- https://freesound.org/s/622150/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 Cork pop.wav by ross_sinc -- https://freesound.org/s/538937/ -- License: Attribution 3.0 Cork pop by dr19 -- https://freesound.org/s/575527/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 Vinyl Backspin and  Beat Scratch.wav by ZeSoundResearchInc. -- https://freesound.org/s/117511/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 Bubble Pop UI and Game Sounds Multiple Samples by el_boss -- https://freesound.org/s/669921/ -- License: Creative Commons 0