DNA Surprises

Hands down the best part of hosting this podcast is the relationships I’ve been able to build with people in this community. From keeping in touch with guests turned friends, to hosting the DNA surprise retreat, to the special group of folks who join our Third Thursday meetups, I’m so grateful for the connections I’ve formed here. In this week’s special episode, I’m joined by Jill, who first appeared on the podcast in February of last year. She has since released her second memoir, focused on her DNA surprise, so she joined me to discuss all that’s happened since we first spoke. We discuss some of my burning questions about her book, When You Shake the Family Tree, as well as where she’s currently at with her biological family. You can find your copy of Jill’s book at justbeingjill.com.Thanks for joining me Jill.⁠Support the show.

Oftentimes with DNA surprises, there is so much left unsaid. So many unasked questions. So many feelings are unspoken. In this week’s episode, Jennifer shares what life was like for her growing up without a father figure in her life, a fact she never really questioned throughout her childhood and adolescence.After her mother passed, she decided to start asking questions. The first path to answering them was by taking a DNA test. Jennifer reveals what she uncovered after taking her DNA test, including a surprise ethnicity shift and a family who welcomed her with open arms.Thank you for sharing your story, Jennifer.⁠Support the show.

A picture is worth a thousand words - and sometimes, it's the first clue in solving a DNA mystery. In this week’s episode, Kelly shares how a surprising detail in an old photograph of her parents sparked questions about her paternity.Nearly four decades later, Kelly learned the truth about her paternity and her ethnicity. She shares what happened after she made her discovery, how her surprise has affected her relationship with her mother and how she’s navigating her next steps. She also reveals yet another DNA surprise uncovered through her newfound connections.Thank you for sharing your story, Kelly.⁠Support the show.

How often do we hear on this show that people never felt like they fit in with their families growing up? This week’s guest, John, reveals that he felt the same way, and even held onto some guilt around his feelings. Fast forward to a little over two years ago, when his daughter took a DNA test and unearthed a surprise for the entire family: John wasn’t biologically related to any of the family he grew up with, because he was adopted as a newborn.John shares how this discovery has affected him and the steps he took to uncover more information about his origin story. While he hasn’t connected with his biological parents, and doesn’t particularly feel the need to, he also discusses why he’s open to changing his position, especially for his children.Thank you for sharing your story, John.

Everyone has the right to know where they come from. They deserve to know their family history, stories and traditions. They have the right to know where their features come from and who else shares their aptitudes and interests. And just as importantly, or may most importantly of all, they have the right to know their medical history. In this week’s episode, Courtney shares why her discovery wasn’t a surprise to her. It wasn’t particularly upsetting, either. But what has brought up some frustration and anger is the fact that her discovery uncovered important medical information.She shares how she learned the truth, what happened when she confronted her mother, and how she’s exploring relationships with her newfound family.Thank you for sharing your story, Courtney.

DNA surprises are often devastating to the people who uncover them, but imagine if the truth was a relief? Danielle grew up believing that her mother had four children by four different men, making all of her siblings half-siblings. After taking a DNA test, Danielle learned that she actually shared a father with her younger sister. This news was more than welcomed by Danielle, who had fond memories of who she thought was a step-father. She shares how this information affected her and how she’s building a relationship with her biological father through a different lens. While Danielle has wondered what her life would have been like if she’d always known the truth, her overall attitude about he DNA surprise is one of positivity and silver linings.Thank you for sharing your story, Danielle.CONTENT WARNING: In this episode, there is some discussion of childhood sexual abuse that Danielle’s raised father perpetrated against her. Please take that into account before listening.

At the end of every DNA Surprises episode, I ask my guests two questions. I ask for advice for people in our community, and I ask for advice for parents keeping a DNA surprise from their child. Time and time again, guests implore parents to tell the truth. But when is the right time to tell? And are the ramifications different than when a DNA surprise is uncovered with a DNA test?In this week’s episode, Meaghan shares how one day, her parents took for a long walk and revealed the truth - her dad is not biologically related to her. She then shares the fallout from that - connecting with new family members while balancing the fact that her biological father is not a safe person. Meaghan also shares how her DNA surprise led to her to create a book for people who have had similar experiences. I’ll be sure to share that when it’s available.Thank you for sharing your story, Meaghan.Support the show.Find Meaghan at:IG: you_belong_here_recovery_book meaghancarriere.commeaghancarriere.substack.com

Hindsight is 20/20. After experiencing a DNA surprise, it’s easy to look back at moments throughout our childhoods and realize that the truth was there all along.  Growing up in Indiana, Brittany always felt like an outsider. Her parents were divorced, and when she asked her dad if she could go live with him, he revealed that he wasn’t her biological father, which her mother denied.Years later, Brittany took DNA test, which revealed that her lifelong father was not her biological father. In this episode, Brittany shares how the revelation rocked her sense of identity and her lifelong relationships. She also discusses how she’s connected with her newfound family and found a sense of belonging.Thank you for sharing your story, Brittany.Support the show.

This is part 3 of a 3-part series. If you haven’t listened to parts 1 and 2, be sure to go back and listen before starting this episode.In Part 3 of Elizabeth’s story, we find out what happened after she visited her family and met her biological father for the first time ever. She shares what those first moments felt like and where things stand after her whirlwind trip. She also gives an update on her relationship with her raised family.One of the things I commented on more than once throughout this series is how much can change, and how fast. If you’ve just uncovered your DNA surprise, or even if you’ve been in this experience for a while, I hope that this series has given you hope - that things can change - whether that change looks like making contact with newfound family or simply coming to terms and feeling better about where things are for you.Thank you Elizabeth, for sharing so much of your story.If you have a DNA surprise that you’d like to share, submit your story at DNASurprises.com.Get early, ad-free access to episodes at patreon.com/dnasurprises.

So what happened after Elizabeth sent off those letters to her siblings? In Part 2 of Elizabeth’s DNA surprise story, she reveals how she was able to make contact with several of her newfound siblings - and her biological father. I loved this conversation because we get a glimpse into the other side of the DNA surprise equation - the found family’s point of view. I reconnected with Elizabeth in January 2025 and two of her siblings, Aerin and Emily joined us. Her siblings share what it was like to learn about Elizabeth, and Elizabeth shares how it felt to finally connect with her biological father and family.This is Part 2 of a 3-part series. If you haven’t listened to Part 1, go back and listen to Elizabeth’s DNA Surprise.Thank you to Elizabeth, Aerin, and Emily for sharing your story.So, what happened when Elizabeth went to visit her family? Listen to Part 3 to find out.If you have a DNA surprise that you’d like to share, submit your story at DNASurprises.com.Get early, ad-free access to episodes by supporting the show.

Welcome to a new season of DNA Surprises. We’re kicking this season off with a triple-episode premiere as we follow Elizabeth on her DNA surprise journey.Elizabeth grew up knowing that the man she called “Dad” wasn’t her biological father, but she also grew up believing that the man she believed was, didn’t want to be part of her life. Her childhood was fraught with abuse and neglect and by the time she discovered the truth, she already had strained relationships with her parents and siblings.This is part one of Elizabeth’s story. In this episode, Elizabeth shares what she learned after taking her test - that her conception was the result of sex trafficking and that her mother did not know who her father was. Thanks to modern DNA testing, Elizabeth was able to find her biological father but had been unable to make direct contact with him. She was on the verge of sending letters to her siblings but had no idea what would happen next.Listen to Part 2 to find out what happens next.Thank you for sharing your story, Elizabeth.If you have a DNA surprise that you’d like to share, submit your story at DNASurprises.com.Get early, ad-free access to episodes on Patreon.

Welcome to season 12 of DNA Surprises.This season marks nearly four years of sharing these stories. And while each story is unique, the threads that tie our stories together remain strong.For example, there are many ways that people uncover their discoveries. Sometimes, people learn about their parentage through who they connect to - a new cousin, an aunt, a parent. Others are more shocked by who they don’t connect to.In this week’s episode Michelli reveals how she learned that the man she believed was her father was not genetically related to her at all. She shares what she learned about her biological father and why her feelings about him are complicated, how she connected with her sisters, and why she doesn’t want to hear any additional stories about what happened.Thank you for sharing your story, Michelli.Support the show.

Welcome to the season 10 finale of DNA Surprises. Buy one, get two. No, this isn’t an ad for the latest testing kit sale. In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Dave and Denise, a married couple who discovered that they were both NPEs after their grandson took a DNA test.Before you listen to this episode, I want to take a moment to remind listeners that family secrets like these don’t stay hidden in the modern age of DNA testing, and Dave and Denise are a great example of this. They didn’t uncover their surprises because they took a test. Even their grown children wouldn’t have surfaced the secret. It was their curious grandson with a love of genealogy and heritage who led to the truth. For both of them.Thanks to Dave and Denise for sharing their stories.Support the show

When someone uncovers a DNA surprise, their family tree changes. That sounds simple, but the reality is that our roots, so many of the things that make us, us, come from generations before us. In this week’s episode Melissa shares her profound journey after discovering that the man who raised her is not her biological father. From uncovering clues in her late grandmother's writings to learning about her biological father's tumultuous past and building new relationships with half-siblings, Melissa delves into the complex emotions and revelations that emerged along the way. Through her genealogical research, Melissa connects with her ancestral roots, understanding more about her family's history and the legacies that shape her identity. Thank you for sharing your story, Melissa.Resources:Bold and Queerinstagram.com/boldandqueerSupport the show

If we don’t laugh, we’ll cry. DNA surprises can be gut-wrenching and difficult experiences, but some of us can find humor in almost any situation. In this week’s laughter-filled episode, Lauren LoGuidice tells the story of how she learned she was donor conceived. Lauren discusses how she never fit in with her raised family but was regularly dismissed and gaslit when she questioned why she looked so different. She shares how she connected with her donor-conceived siblings, her genetic father, and how things are with her parents today.She doesn’t disguise her journey with humor, rather, she infuses it into her storytelling. You can check out Lauren’s comedy, including the latest on her upcoming film, at her website linked in the show notes.Thank you for sharing your story, Lauren.Resources:Lauren LoGiudice - Comedy and Characters for MisfitsSupport the show