NPE Stories

Rashanda opens up about growing up without a mom or dad and the emotional toll of navigating life without a traditional family structure. From childhood instability to finding her own voice, her story is one of raw honesty, growth, and empowerment. This episode offers a moving look into what it means to rise above your beginnings. Rashanda can be reached via email rashandalawyer@gmail.com Resource...

Raised in a devout Catholic family, Annette grew up believing her father had died before she was born. Decades later, a series of emotional discoveries unraveled everything she thought she knew about her identity. Her journey explores loss, secrecy, and the power of living one’s truth Annette's memoir is called Living Into the Truth . You can learn more about Annette and her story at the foll...

In Episode 216, Melanie recounts the emotional journey of reconnecting with the father who raised her, only to lose him and then learn he wasn’t her biological dad. Her story unfolds with raw honesty as she navigates the shock of a DNA discovery, a hidden past, and the bittersweet truth of finding her biological father.  Melanie can be reached via email mel251116@yahoo.com Resources Mentioned: Lin...

Devorah Lee, author of Taken from the Cradle , shares her journey of discovering she was a late-discovery adoptee (LDA) from a Jacksonville, FL, black market baby ring. She opens up about the shock, secrecy, and search for truth in her NPE experience. Devorah Lee can be reached via email takenfromthecradle@gmail.com Resources Mentioned: Taken From The Cradle: Unveiling a Black-Market Baby Ring; Co...

Lauren returns to the podcast five years after first sharing her story in Season 1, hoping others can learn from her journey as she reflects on what has unfolded since. Lauren can be reached via email laurencookphoto@gmail.com To hear Lauren's origin story Episode 28 of NPE Stories listen here. NPE Stories Patreon NPE Stories facebook page https://www.facebook.com/NPEstories

Episode 213: Challenging Medical Guidelines on Misattributed Paternity In this special episode, host Richard Wenzel leads a compelling discussion with fellow NPEs Gina Daniel, Jodi Girard, Lily Wood, and Eve Sturges. Together, they dive into their recent article, Misattributed Paternity Discovery: A Critique of Medical Organizations' Recommendations , published in the American Journal of Huma...

Amy S's story is a journey of identity, family deception, and self-discovery. A DNA test revealed her biological father was not the man she adored but someone from her father’s social circle, shattering her sense of belonging. After grappling with grief and betrayal, she found healing through therapy, genealogy, and embracing her Irish heritage, ultimately reclaiming her identity and freedom....

Jennifer is a first generation Colombian-American who describes her family as warm, loving, and hard-working. She had the shock of her life when her DNA results showed one of her best friends was actually her half-sibling. Jennifer can be reached via email jayca519@aol.com NPE Stories Patreon NPE Stories facebook page https://www.facebook.com/NPEstories

Julie S is the result of a wife-swapping situation that turned into a love affair. She was conceived with intention, but no one was ever planning to tell Julie the truth about her biological father.  Julie can be reached on instagram @katmondieu NPE Stories Patreon NPE Stories facebook page https://www.facebook.com/NPEstories

Bill grew up looking different than his brothers and was often asked if he was Italian or Spanish. Although he never suspected it as a child, turns out his DNA results show good reason for this line of questioning.  NPE Stories Patreon NPE Stories facebook page https://www.facebook.com/NPEstories

Robin was never told who her father was, only that he was in the airline industry with her mother. As she came of age, Robin started searching and writing to who she believed her father to be, even though she saw no resemblance. It wasn’t until a 2019 Ancestry DNA test that Robin started to receive DNA results. She has written a book called Finding My Way; details below. Robin can be reached throu...

David started to question who his birth father was many years ago, and was never given a straight answer. He even went as far as getting his birth records unsealed and was still unsuccessful until he finally took a DNA test and with help, narrowed down his birth father. David can be reached via email at davidsulak01@yahoo.com  Resources Mentioned: Previous guest Ep. 194 Margo's Story has just...

Growing up Heather was always given the confusing narrative that her dad didn’t want her. She recently changed her last name to her proper surname, after finding and establishing a relationship with her biological father.  Heather can be reached via email Heathercarrie1000@gmail.com NPE Stories Patreon NPE Stories facebook page https://www.facebook.com/NPEstories

Gina's (Gigi’s) parents were beloved and she didn’t understand a lot of her parents' behavior until later in life. Many secrets were kept by her family members and the DNA Angels were able to help her figure out more about her paternal family.  Gina can be reached by email ginalsobania@gmail.com Resources Mentioned: DNA Angels - a nonprofit search angel organization dedicated to the assi...

Stella had to deal with her NPE revelation and a horrible death all while trying to keep it a secret from her biological father. Four years later Stella shares where she is currently at in her NPE story today.  Resources Mentioned: Dr. Michele Grethel looking to interview NPEs, LDAs, DCPs and their family members. For more information, contact Dr. Grethel at mgrethel@usc.edu or 917-797-5608. NPE S...

Content Warning: This episode contains accounts of child abuse and violence. Caroline was essentially an orphan at a young age and always felt ostracized by her sisters. Many of her family members knew the secret of her true paternity and participated in keeping this information from her. Caroline is still struggling with this betrayal as she starts to learn more about her biological father's...

Bertrice took a DNA test to help a family member, and ended up finding a close family friend in her DNA matches. Since finding out she was an NPE during Covid to losing her husband this last year Bertrice's life has changed drastically.  Bertrice chooses to remain anonymous but wanted to share her NPE story.  NPE Stories Patreon NPE Stories facebook page https://www.facebook.com/NPEstories

Nicole lost both her parents in a short period of time, and then after getting into genealogy to honor her father's passing, she found out she was an NPE in the worst way. Nicole went through a few therapists until she found one that she really resonated and felt safe with. Nicole can be reached via email at nwebs24@gmail.com Resources Mentioned: DNA Painter Who Even Am I Anymore: A Process J...

Lauren LoGiudice is a comedian that identifies as a misfit, and is also a donor-conceived person with a couple hundred estimated siblings. Lauren can be reached at laurenlogi.com Lauren's Podcast Misfits Makin' It Resources Mentioned: Untangling Our Roots NPE Stories Patreon NPE Stories facebook page https://www.facebook.com/NPEstories

Shirley discovered through DNA tests that her entire biological family was different from the one she had known all her life, leading her to become a private detective so that she could uncover her true origins.   Shirley can be reached via email smunoznewsonauthor@gmail.com Instagram: shirleymunoznewson_author Facebook: shirleymunoznewson.com Resources Mentioned: Untangling Our Roots Don Anderson...

Shelly is part of a great little NPE community called the NoMi Girls who meet in Northern Michigan regularly.  She had a traumatic childhood and has put a lot of work into healing, including EMDR and support groups, but Shelly says this experience has changed her a lot. Shelly can be reached via email shellywellsnpe@gmail.com Resources Mentioned: Untangling Our Roots Lauren LoGiudice Don Anderson&...

Kris took a DNA test along with many of her family members and saw that she did not have DNA in common with her birth certificate father. She hid her profile online and has chosen, at this point, not to discuss this with her dad. Kris can be reached via email kristinekellympls@gmail.com Resources Mentioned: Untangling Our Roots Summit High Conflict Institute Hiraeth Hope & Healing Eve Sturges...

This was a very long emotional episode that has been divided into 2 parts. This is part 2. This was part of a panel held at the Untangling Our Roots Summit 2024 in Denver, CO. The panel was moderated by Don Anderson of Missing Pieces - NPE Life and featured Eve Sturges of Everything's Relative and Lily Wood of NPE Stories. Eve shared for 10 minutes on changing family narratives followed by ot...

This was a very long emotional episode that has been divided into 2 parts. This is part 1. This was part of a panel held at the Untangling Our Roots Summit 2024 in Denver, CO. The panel was moderated by Don Anderson of Missing Pieces - NPE Life and featured Eve Sturges of Everything's Relative and Lily Wood of NPE Stories. Eve shared for 10 minutes on changing family narratives followed by ot...

Margo discovered her NPE status when she purchased an Ancestry kit to kill a lifelong curiosity. She learned her younger brother was not the only NPE in the family and suddenly her chaotic childhood began to make sense. Resources Mentioned: When the Apple Falls Far from the Tree: Discovering the Gifts within the Chaos by Margo Reilly Upcoming Memoir due out summer 2024: When you Shake the Family T...