Thriving Adoptees - Let's Thrive

Natalie Lohneis is Diagrama's Head of Adoption & Fostering Services. The registered social worker has over 18 years of post-qualification experience in work with children and families. This ranges from family support and safeguarding services to adoption and fostering.  Natalie has extensive rounded experience through Local Authority work, and with charities and private organisations. The last 11...

Joy has her own podcast too so check it out at: https://feeds.captivate.fm/adoption-arena-podcast Connect with Joy at https://www.joycarter.co.uk/ https://www.adoptionarena.com/ https://twitter.com/joycartershow https://www.facebook.com/joycartershow/ https://www.instagram.com/Joycartershow / https://www.youtube.com/user/JoyCarterComedian https://www.linkedin.com/in/joy-carter-485ab434/ Guests and...

  Maggie joined the Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies in November 2018. Previously, she was Chief Executive of Foundation, an organisation dedicated to ending social exclusion which works with over 4000 of the most disadvantaged adults, young people and families across the North of England, providing resources and opportunities for everyone to achieve and belong no matter their personal ci...

Ereka Howard is a speaker, an entrepreneur, Adoptee, and Mental Health Advocate. She has dedicated her life to the upliftment and empowerment of others. She is a fresh voice for a new generation. Ereka is a graduate of Texas State University with a BS in Exercise and Sports Science and a Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counselling. Ereka is also a licensed Chemical Dependency Counsellor- Intern....

Estella brings a lifetime of experience both personal and professional to help you. She's the biological mom of one and adoptive mom of 2 kids from the foster care system.   Her story will inspire you and her insights will empower you so listen up, you're in for a treat. To connect with Estella check out: https://www.linkedin.com/in/estella-swain-652b0aa5/ To find out more about where she works: h...

Here's  a little about Natalie: "My name is Natalie Vecchione. I’m a homeschool mom of two and we built our family through adoption. Our son, who is almost 19, lives with an FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder). He has graduated from homeschool and he is working part time as a carpentry apprentice. Our typically developing daughter is almost 6 and we have a much different adoption journey with h...

Here's an introduction from Sheryl - the first birth mom to guest on Thriving Adoptees.  "I have been connected to Adoption Options since 1990, as I first came to the agency as a client dealing with an unplanned pregnancy. Working with a professional social worker who provided a safe and non-judgmental environment for me to make a plan for my son and myself was incredibly impactful. I became a soc...

 Jenna feels blessed and is thankful that she was adopted and this really comes across as she shares her insights as an adoptee, someone who's worked in adoption since 1994 and adopted in 2013. She and her husband also have four biological sons. Here's what Jenna says: "I have always had a heart for adoption. As an adoptee and an adoptive parent, I know the blessing that adoption has been in my li...

When I came across the Parra family on Youtube I just had to get them on the show. Their kids exude the kind of positivity that warms my heart in a world where most of what we hear is talk about trauma.  Jenny and Cesar share the story behind their family - a biological daughter, a son from a private domestic adoption and a boy and girl from the adoption system. They talk about giving their kids t...

Jason and his wife Trisha first gained a passion for children in foster care while living and working in the inner city.  Many of the kids and families they encountered in their neighborhood had experienced foster care at some point in their lives.  Partially as a result of this experience, Jason and Trisha became foster parents and have been caring for and adopting children from U.S. foster care...

Karl created Adopt Ed. to educate those who know an adoptee, adoptees and biological families who have an adopted child in the world. Here's what he says about himself "I am an adoptee. I lived my life dealing with the usual ups and downs that everyone faces; hopes and dreams, some met, some lost. I had a good a life. I knew I was adopted, but never thought it had much impact on my life. I was (an...

With the age of 60 on the horizon filmmaker David Bynum set out on a journey of discovery to find his biological family. After 58 years of not knowing where his true roots were or any family history, the need to search became overpowering and prompted him to begin his journey. He shares his incredible story from a happy childhood knowing about being adopted to an overwhelming fear of rejection in...

Having worked with young people for over 25 years, Ruth has extensive experience in developing services to support young people who have had challenging backgrounds. She is passionate about young people benefitting from services to help them grow into adulthood and sees stable families as a key way to encourage them to reach their potential. Families for Children Trust is a Specialist Voluntary Ad...

Political turmoil stirred Jennifer to move away from her corporate role to do something to help society. This led her her into fostering and then advocacy. She has been a foster parent for over 2 years. She currently has two children and is committed to creating efficiencies in the foster care system that allow to children to regain permanency, support relationships, and break the generational cyc...

Alex Ellis hosts a Nashville podcast community focused on supporting and discussing foster care, adoption and all things parenting - even the sticky stuff. She's passionate about sharing what she's learned through her parenting journey - and continues to learn - with others. Listen in about coming from love, choosing who to listen to, staying curious and most importantly how we can help our adopte...

Satwinder is CEO of IAC – The Centre for Adoption. IAC’s mission is to place children from all parts of the world, both in the UK and overseas, in loving families and to work in a fair, transparent and professional manner with all individuals who need their services. He is a qualified social worker with 26 years experience across the voluntary, statutory and independent sectors. Satwinder’s passio...

When adoptees talk about the fog they're describing being unaware of the impact being adopted or relinquished has had on them. If that's the case then I was in the fog for 40 years. I was adopted at 5 weeks old, told about with the aid of a story book before my parents adopted a little girl before my second birthday. We had a good life, lots of love and care. A good adoption. At 40 I found out tha...

At 3, Jesse told his parents that he wanted to be a professional athlete. His parents divorced when he was 7, and he became even more focused on academics and athletics during his teenage years. After graduating from Dartmouth College with a degree in Psychology, he was living out his childhood dream as a soccer goalkeeper. In Africa, he took a prescribed medication to prevent malaria, and it buil...

Liza was adopted from China by a white mom from the USA and a white dad from the UK and raised in a jewish family in the USA. Her mom is a clinical therapist who encouraged open talk about adoption. But that doesn't mean it's all been plain sailing... She talks about navigating some tricky issues especially around understanding her identity - feeling like a banana - yellow on the outside and white...

Robbie has 5 kids including 4 by adoption who came from very difficult beginnings. Her dream is for them to thrive despite this and FASD. A great episode full of her learnings on the way. Robbie's story is incredibly emotional and humbling. Listen to her as she's shares her highs, lows and learnings. She's taken everything that's happened into her commitment to helping others. Foetal Alcohol Spect...

I was adopted at 5 weeks old. I'm 54 now.  I was lucky - adoption trauma didn't hit me until I was 40.  Here's what I've learned so far. It runs counter to pretty much everything every other person in the adoption space says.  So I'm not asking you to believe me.  Trust only yourself. Make your own mind up. If you want to find out more check out www.thrivingadoptees.com  Guests and the host are no...

Scott and his same sex partner didn't consider kids until they'd been together for 4 years. He tells an incredible story of perseverance, barriers and most importantly lessons. What comes through in spades is his passion for sharing what he's learned since 2007 - and continues to learn - as an adoptive dad to 3 sons. This passion led him to reveal more about himself and his family's journey than h...

Suzanne was formerly the Director of Children’s Services for Barnardos, a role which she has held for the past 17 years. Suzanne led the transformation of Barnardos’ children’s services to become needs led and outcome focused with a clear organisational commitment to evaluation of their work. She is a qualified Social Worker. Suzanne has an immense amount of experience of working with children who...

Marion is a mother of 5 including 3 adopted sons and Executive Director of the Tennessee Foster and Adoptive Care Association. She shares her take on remaining positive in the tough times  and relying on our wisdom to navigate the ups and downs of being an adoptive parent. There are lots of insights to help you be the best adoptive parent you can be here so settle into hearing from a great lady wi...

I've been scared of rejection a lot of my life. Sometimes it's held me back. Sometimes it hasn't. But understanding rejection has made my life a lot easier. In this video I share what I've learned about seeing through this to move on. There's a line between understanding trauma and moving past it. Here's my very personal and raw take  on what I've been through and how I've come out the other side...