Adopt Perspective Adoption Podcast

What happens when the truth about your life has been hidden from you, and finding answers takes decades? Adopted as a baby in 1959, Melinda Rackham became a mother herself at just 14, only to be separated from her son through adoption. Years later, she made a devastating discovery about his life that would change the course of her own. In this deeply personal episode of  Adopt Perspective , Melind...

Today’s episode explores one of the most complex and rarely spoken about experiences that can arise in adoption reunion. My guest is Sophia Greenwood, an adopted person who was born in the UK in 1965 and separated from her mother at five weeks old. In her early twenties, Sophia began searching for her biological family. After an intense and ultimately difficult reunion with her mother, she made co...

In 1967, 21-year-old Elaine McKenna entered the Presbyterian Sisterhood home in North Fitzroy, pregnant with twins and believing she would stay there only until the babies' father returned. Instead, she spent six months largely isolated, subjected to shame and pressure to surrender her sons for adoption. After giving birth, Elaine tried to revoke the adoption, but says she was told she was sel...

What happens when an adopted person discovers that the story they were told about their beginnings wasn’t true? In this episode of Jigsaw Queensland’s  Adopt Perspective , Jo speaks with Brazilian-born adoptee Erika Gitsham about her extraordinary search for her biological family - a search spanning more than 20 years, two countries, DNA testing, family trees, Facebook groups, lawyers, a private i...

In this episode, Jo speaks with Helen Harrison, a New Zealand-born adopted person whose story is one of identity, loss, grief and the long journey towards finding a sense of self. Helen grew up as one of ten children in a large, multicultural family, with seven of the children adopted from different cultural backgrounds. As she grew older, she became increasingly aware of feeling disconnected from...

Born in Ontario, Canada in 1965, Bill Stewart always knew he was adopted. What he didn't understand until much later was how profoundly that separation and the abuse he experienced growing up would shape his identity, relationships and sense of belonging. In this deeply thoughtful conversation, Bill reflects on growing up in a home where adoption couldn't be spoken about, surviving physica...

When Rachel Tham set out to understand her mother's past, she uncovered a family history that changed everything she thought she knew about herself. What began as a search for her mother's origins became the discovery of hidden siblings, family secrets spanning generations, informal adoption, DNA revelations, and the profound intergenerational impacts of adoption. Although Rachel was never...

What happens when lived experience becomes art? In this powerful episode of  Adopt Perspective , we explore Broken Bonds, Fractured Lives  – an original musical testimony that brings the hidden stories of Australia’s Forced Adoption Era to the stage through music, performance and truth-telling. Host Jo Sparrow speaks with  Louise Kirk , a mother impacted by forced adoption who, as a teenager in th...

What happens when the story you were told about your conception begins to unravel? In this episode of Adopt Perspective, Jo Sparrow speaks with Katherine Dawson, creator of Origin Archives, about her experience as a donor conceived person, the shocking discoveries she made about her donor, the growing number of siblings she has found, and the serious questions her story raises about fertility clin...

Did you know that behind every adoption story, there’s a painful truth that’s rarely discussed? In this episode of the Adopt Perspective podcast, Jo Sparrow interviews Bev Shipway, who shares her harrowing experience of being coerced into giving up her son for adoption in Western Australia at the age of 17. Bev recounts the trauma of her pregnancy, the pressure from her family and the system, and...

In this episode, Jo Sparrow speaks with Caroline Liesegang about her journey of discovering her adoption at the age of 27. Caroline shares her experiences growing up in a family where all siblings were adopted but none were told the truth. The conversation delves into the emotional impact of secrecy, the complexities of trust in relationships, and the challenges of navigating family dynamics after...

In this episode, Ben Straker shares his journey of self-discovery as an adopted person. He reflects on his childhood, the complexities of family dynamics, and the impact of adoption on his identity. Ben discusses the trauma associated with his birth experience and how it resurfaced during the birth of his own child. He explores the concept of the primal wound and the emotional turmoil of searching...

Jeannot Farmer is from Glasgow, Scotland, although she is joining us today from Melbourne Australia where she is holidaying with family. In 1978 she lost her son to forced adoption. Thirty-one years later they were reunited. In more recent years, Jeannot has become a powerful advocate in Scotland’s forced adoption space. Jigsaw Qld first connected with Jeannot in 2023 when she reached out while un...

Felicity Lawson is an adopted person born at Hornsby Hospital, NSW in 1975. Over the past 32 years, she has searched for and reunited with both her mother and father - a long and complex journey marked by hope, heartbreak, and identity shifts. In this episode of  Adopt Perspective , Felicity shares her lived experience of adoption reunion in Australia, reflecting on growing up adopted, navigating...

Paul Sunderland is a renowned addiction specialist and psychotherapist. With over 35 years of experience, Paul's groundbreaking work has illuminated the deep and often-overlooked links between adoption, trauma, and addiction. His powerful presentations, shared widely by the adoption community, have resonated with thousands around the world. In this episode, we explore the lifelong impact of ea...

In this episode of Adopt Perspective, Jo Sparrow speaks with Phil Kenwood, a father who shares his deeply personal story of losing a daughter to forced adoption in 1970. The conversation explores the emotional impact of adoption on fathers, the stigma surrounding men's mental health, and the importance of support groups. Phil discusses his journey of healing, the challenges of reconnecting wit...

In this episode, Jo Sparrow speaks with Tracy Graham, an adopted adult who shares her lived experience of adoption trauma, identity and reunion across the lifespan. Tracy reflects on growing up in her adoptive family, the silence and emotional harm she experienced, and how adoption loss shaped her sense of self. The conversation explores adoption identity, motherhood, and the emotional labour ofte...

Adoption trauma, adoption identity, and adoption reunion are lifelong experiences for many adopted adults.  In this episode of Adopt Perspective, Clare Cochrane shares her lived experience of adoption, reunion, and dual belonging.  Clare was born in Perth in 1966 and adopted at just two weeks of age. She grew up knowing she was adopted and describes her experience as a “good adoption.” Yet, like m...

Welcome to Adopt Perspective, a podcast for anyone affected by adoption. This podcast is a production of Jigsaw Queensland Inc., however the views expressed are those of the people participating, and not necessarily Jigsaw Queensland. The podcast discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised.   Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland   If you'd like to find...

Today’s conversation is one that takes us across continents, cultures, and the complex search for identity that so many adopted people navigate. Ryan Anderson is an intercountry adoptee who now lives in Scotland. Ryan was born in Morocco and adopted at six months old after being found on the streets of El Jadida. He was fostered by a Moroccan family prior to being adopted at 3 months of age and ca...

Born in 1972 in Toowoomba and adopted into a family in Boonah, Tammy Richie’s story is one of heartbreak, resilience and rediscovery. In this episode, Tammy shares her remarkable journey — from learning she’d lost her twin at birth to finding her biological family decades later. A veteran of the Australian military, mother and advocate, Tammy speaks with depth and honesty about trauma, love, and t...

Today on Adopt Perspective, we're joined by South Australian filmmaker, writer, adoptee and advocate Heather Waters.  Heather’s work explores the lasting impacts of adoption on identity, family, grief and belonging and one of her films will be showcased at an AdopTEA event at Carindale on 11 October 2025. Her films include  The Lost Souls ,  You Should Be Grateful  and You Were Chosen: Secrets...

This week on  Adopt Perspective podcast, we’re joined by  Kim Rankin , who was born and adopted in Sydney in 1973. It would be another 27 years before Kim reunited with her mother,  Karen Chaston  — who shared her side of the story in our previous episode. Since that reunion, Kim and Karen have navigated the many highs and lows that adoption can bring. In this conversation, we’re honoured to hear...

Today’s guest, Karen Chaston, was just 16 years old when she lost her daughter to adoption in Sydney in 1973. Nearly three decades later, after 28 long years, they were reunited. In this special two-part series, we’re privileged to hear from both mother and daughter as they share their perspectives on separation, reunion, and what it means to rebuild connection after adoption. This episode discuss...

Today we're joined by Professor Daryl Higgins, Director of the Institute of Child Protection Studies at the Australian Catholic University. For nearly 30 years, Daryl has researched child abuse impacts and prevention, family violence, and family functioning, with a focus on public health approaches to keeping children safe and building child-safe organisations. A registered psychologist and au...