Adoptees in Arms

Send us Fan Mail After a season of grief, rest, and healing, Iris returns with renewed purpose to Adoptees in Arms, the podcast dedicated to encouragement, honest storytelling, and faith-filled conversations for adoptees and those who love them. This fall, Iris opens up about the loss of her father and how it connects with adoption grief, while also launching Roots and Branches , a special series...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Adoptees in Arms , I open up about a deeply personal experience—one that almost silenced me. A Facebook post challenged my voice, my truth, and my purpose, leaving me questioning whether sharing my adoptee journey was worth the pain. But through faith, reflection, and the encouragement of those who believe in me, I found the courage to keep speaking. If you&apos...

Send us Fan Mail The adoption reunion experience is complicated and brings with it its own set of challenges. Join me as I unpack key moments from the Kirk Franklin documentary, “Father’s Day.” If you need help understanding the complexities of this journey and finding peace when you’re missing pieces, this episode is for you.   Connect with Iris: Join our online community, Adoptees in Arms Instag...

Send us Fan Mail  What happens when you get too dependent or too attached to the opinions, the feedback, or expectations of others? I've often spoken of people pleasing, but what about when we take things personally? Welcome to this new season of Adoptees in Arms where we help adult adoptees find hope and peace in God's word. Join me in this episode where I simply encourage you to not ta...

Send us Fan Mail How do we handle setbacks, disappointments, and unexpected losses? Let me tell you, I have had my share of all of the above. This journey is not easy, but I want to walk alongside you as you find the strength you need to trust God for whatever is next. The new season of Adoptees in Arms will provide you with the insight and biblical wisdom that you need to navigate any difficult s...

Send us Fan Mail As we conclude the month of February, National Heart Health Month, I desire to encourage you with a message straight from my heart. If you have been hurt or wounded on this journey, don’t expect your healing to come at the hands of those who wounded you. I want to invite you to lay your cares down at the feet of Jesus–all of your cares, those spoken and those tucked away in the cr...

Send us Fan Mail When I was prompted by Holy Spirit to shift the podcast from Hidden Jewels to Adoptees in Arms, one of the first people I talked to was my best friend since 4th grade, Debra Cheek. She made a statement that was also recently shared by a faithful listener, “Iris, we need to hear your story!” I pondered her statement for several weeks before I asked her if she would interview me as...

Send us Fan Mail https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/34124-known-and-loved-a-4-day-devotional-for-adult "So, you're called to podcast, huh?" "Who's going to want to hear what you have to say?" "You're gonna talk about what?" These are the internal questions that I have battled for over a year and the answers to these questions have led me to this moment...

Send us Fan Mail For the past year, our church, Love and Faith Christian Fellowship , has been going through a preparation for new leadership. 2002 has been considered the year of shifting for us in ministry. I understood that and embraced it. However, it just dawned on me that it is also a time of shifting as it relates to the ministry assignment of Hidden Jewels.  This is the final episode of Hi...

Send us Fan Mail We are still elevating the voices of adult adoptees in our series "Adopted and Healed." Today I have the opportunity to speak with Kristen  Yates is a Transracial Afrolatina Adoptee. She loves to find ways of being creative, capture a moment in a photo and enjoy making memories with those I love. She has an extensive background with adolescents and a degree in Psychology...

Send us Fan Mail Kristina R. Wise is a p assionate speaker, educator & CEO & Founder of Spiritual Healing Sisterhood, Inc. Kristina is a fun and energetic Bible teacher who encourages women to flourish in their purpose. Most recent author of “Strength In Him” written from her daily quiet times with The Lord, Kristina wrote this book to encourage women to know where their strength comes fro...

Send us Fan Mail We have entered the month of November, National Adoption Awareness Month, and we are celebrating this month with a special podcast series, Adopted and Healed.  Our special guest today is Sherry Jones of Sherry Speaks Life, who will tell us a bit of her adopted and heal journey. Sherry Jones believes in the power of speaking life! She is passionate about helping women transform the...

Send us Fan Mail In their new book Colorful Connections: 12 Questions About Race That Open Healthy Conversations , two women of different races, authors Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith and Lori Stanley Roeleveld work together to open healthy conversations about race. Colorful Connections came about because of a question from one of Roeleveld’ s blog readers, asking her to write about how to have a hard c...

Send us Fan Mail In this life, there will be troubles, trials, disappointments, and setbacks. There will be adversity, but how do you handle it all? Do you shrink back? Do you play small? Do you run? Or do you stand still and see the salvation of the Lord?  In today's episode, we're going to take a look into the life of Hagar and how she handled adversity. We will also examine how God re...

Send us Fan Mail Today we have  Kia Stephens on the show and she is here with a timely and sincere message for our listeners. Kia is a wife, and mom of two who is literally in the trenches of motherhood.  She created The Father Swap Blog  to help women exchange their father wounds for the love of God the Father. She is a contributor for iBelieve, Proverbs 31 Ministries, and Beloved Women, and her...

Send us Fan Mail Are you that person who always sees the glass as always half empty? Are we quick to offer negative comments to situations because things "have never worked out" for you? If so, it may be time for a spiritual eye examination. Reach out! Iris P. Bryant, Hidden Jewels Podcast Host Email: iris@irispbryant.com / Instagram: @irispbryant / Facebook: IrisPBryant Connect with Iri...

Send us Fan Mail Do you believe there is a greater purpose on the other side of a test or a challenging situation? In this episode I share a personal experience from a recent worship service.  Will you share your testimony? Will you tell others what God has done for you? Are you ready to share what God has done in your life? The world is waiting to hear your testimony.   Connect with Iris Find Com...

Send us Fan Mail Today we have Nylse Eshac as our special guest. Nysle is the author of “The Comfort of Night: How Jesus Makes Your Dark Times All Right, In this episode we take a look at one of the more poignant phrases in the Bible, at the end of John 13:30 – and it was night, Jesus begins to speak, illuminating His presence. Hereafter, as Jesus spoke, He removed the fear and foreboding surround...

Send us Fan Mail What do you do when you encounter a situation  or a person  that challenges what you know, to be true? Have you ever been in a situation or have you ever had to face someone who was challenging your truth? It could be something major where you are  in a setting with other people, or maybe a very small situation that no one witnesses, but you. It may seem insignificant, but you hav...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I have the privilege of speaking with The Believing Wife, Debra Cheek, as she shares the importance of our mindsets. She challenges us to forsake limited mindsets and  embrace community as we walk into a changed life. Connect with Debra Cheek: IG: @thebelievingwife FB: Believing Wives Website:  www.believingwives.com Connect with Iris Find Community at: Adoptees i...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I share the importance of a year end reflection activity and highlighting the top 5 episodes of Hidden Jewels in 2021. I will share nuggets from these episodes and encouragement as we move into 2022. If you need to catch up on previous episodes or want to test or projections for the top 5, this episode is just for you!   Show Links: Check out TL Henness' Guid...

Send us Fan Mail Today we have Denise Defoe in the last episode of the "This is My Adoption Story" series. In the second part of her interview, Denise dives deep into the topic of forgiveness and what she learned as she connected with members of her biological family. Reach out Denise Defoe Email ~~ Website ~~ Instagram Purchase They Chose Me: An Adoption Story Hidden Jewels Email ~~ Ins...

Send us Fan Mail Born in San Diego,  Denise   Defoe  has lived in Maryland for most of her life. She is a licensed social worker who is currently working as a psychotherapist. Denise  obtained her Bachelors of Social Work degree from Oakwood University in 2003. After college,  Denise  matriculated at the University of Alabama under the prestigious, full ride, Daniel Scholarship and earned her Mast...

Send us Fan Mail Today we have Sana Cotten as our guest on the special series, “This is My Adoption Story.”  Sana Latrease Cotten is the Founder of Unashamed, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that fosters emotional health in disadvantaged families that have experienced incarceration, foster care, and teen pregnancy. Through various initiatives, Unashamed, Inc. is equipping families with the...

Send us Fan Mail Today we have Amanda McKinstry on the show! Amanda, a transracial adult adoptee is here to talk about how using her voice led her to find her purpose. As an adult Transracial adoptee, she indicates that sharing my story made a huge impact on her healing. She has used her voice to inspire other adoptees and also use to let white adoptive parents know the challenges they will face w...