Claiming Your Voice

Trigger Warning: This episode containes themes of alcohol abuse, surving child abuse, and suicidal thoughts. Tammi VanBuskirk was adopted at age six months to a family already lacking stability. After her parents divorced, she was often left in the care of her maternal grandparents. Tami has lived through many challenges and shares her story of finding community in the Fireside Adoptee Facebook gr...

In her book, 100 Days Smart, Karin Tramm tells her account of teaching on a military base in Italy. When the Covid pandemic hit, she said goodbye to her Kindergarten students as they boarded the bus on a Friday. They were not able to see each other in person again. In her book she details how life was effected during the shutdown and how military families pulled together. # Shutdown # Militaryscho...

Michele Kriegman is a domestic adoptee who later discovered that her birth father was Native American. She is an advocate for the rights of Native Americans to be able to keep their children. Michele is also an author and you can find her works on Amazon. Please visit change.org and sign the petition! Please share and subscribe to Claiming Your Voice. https://www.change.org/p/keep-native-children-...

This is a continued conversation with Michael Park Ingram. In this episode we talk about the comfort women of Korea and their importance in the history of the country. Michael also shares about how he connected with his birth mother and biological siblings. Please listen, share, and follow Claiming Your Voice! #KoreanAdoptee #Koreancomfortwomen #KoreanQuarterly #Mixedraceadoptee #AfricanAmericanKo...

Michael Park Ingram is an actor and film director. His most recent appearance was in the series "Pachinko". In this episode Michael shares his experience of being a mixed-race Korean adoptee raised in the United States. His visit to Korea helped him to embrace his identity and discover his birth family. We celebrate with Michael in his continued journey of sobriety. Please subscibe and s...

Former guest Kristi Eikenes shares about her brother Gary Koch who was adopted at age four from South Korea. His journey to the United States began with the help of an Army Sgt. Gary served as an officer with NYPD during 911 and later developed cancer due to contact with toxins released from the implosions. We thank Kristi for sharing his story. #KoreaAdoptee #SouthKoreaAdoption #KoreanWarOrphan

Greg Gentry is a domestic adoptee from the "baby scoop" era. He is an active member of online and in-person adoption communities. Greg talks about his personal journey of adoption, coming out of the "adoption fog", and being in reunion with family members. We also talk about the importance of open communication between the adopting parents and the adoptee. #Adoption#BabyScoopEr...

In this episode Danielle Gaudette talks about her adoption journey, reuniting with her birth mother, and finding a pathway to healing. She is the author of HealingTree: An Adoptee's Story About Hurting, Healing and Letting the Light Shine Through Paperback and Audiobook Self-Mastery for Adoptees To learn more please visit Danielle's website. Healing Tree | Danielle Gaudette Healing Tree is...

Considered as a first wave adoptee from South Korea, Kristi shares her adoption story. Recently, she returned to her homeland for a visit and learned about the aged out orphans. Listen to this podcast to hear about this complex social problem in South Korea. https://lovebeyondtheorphanage.org/ #Korean Adoptee #Adoption

Guest Catherine Shields talks about raising a child with a disability and how she realized her own denial. The title of her book is The Shape of Normal and it will be released sometime in November 2023. Catherine (Cathy) Shields, M.S. Ed., writes about parenting, disabilities, and self- discovery. In her debut memoir, THE SHAPE OF NORMAL, Cathy explores the truths and lies parents tell themselves,...

Patricia is the creator of myadoptedlife.com She was a black market baby who was given to a Texas couple through the workings of an attorney. In part two she talks about reuniting with her birth father.

Guest Patricia Knight Meyer is an author, journalist, and content creator. She was relinquished for adoption by her birth mother. In her adult life Patricia was in reunion with both her birth mother and father. Her website is myadoptedlife.com where you can learn more about her adoption story.

In this episode my guest Julie Molisho talks about her journey from Congo to Iowa. The reason why she and her family had to leave Congo and the challenges that she has experienced here in the United States. Julie has started a non-profit to help her Congolese community to navigate the social systems here in Iowa. The name of her non-profit is The River ARC (Advocacy, Resources Center) and she may...

Angelica is a fan of spelunking, reptiles, and research! She shares about how growing up in a poverty stricken family helped her to learn the value of earning her own way.  Angelica's life path has launched her into a scientific medical career. She wants to help others know the power of science and education. 

Margaret was adopted in 1958 from South Korea. She was found on the floor of an orphanage alongside of her adopted brother Charles. They were both starving and in need of immediate attention. They were featured in many newspapers and tv shows because of their unique family which was made up of 19 adopted children.  https://youtu.be/zeFSItRl1r0 To Tell the Truth (1967) https://youtu.be/JmHmD55...

Fred Nicora grew up in a traditional American family. While Fred was at a family gathering, he found out that his family had been keeping a secret. The parents that raised him were not his biological family. Listen to this account of a late discovery adoptee.  Fred is the author of Forbbiden Roots which tells his story of late discovery adoption and discovering his true identity.  https:...

Candace Cahill is the author of Goodbye Again which tells her experience of being young, single, pregnant and alone.  The manipulative techniques of adoption counseling convinced her to relinquish her baby. In this episode she tells her story of losing her son, finding him, and losing him again. Candace's writing has been featured in Newsweek, NBC Today, and the Huffington Post. You can find...

Anne is a Korean born adoptee who was raised in Minnesota and Missouri. She has two adopted siblings from Korea and together they traveled back to their birth country in the summer of 2022. Anne tells her story of reunion and also shares her opinion of adoption.  

Katie is a Chinese adoptee who grew up in Texas. During her formative years she chose her own identity. Now as an adult she is proud to be Chinese and American. 

Shirley is a mixed race intercountry adoptee. She is on the journey to finding her birth parents and has some interesting leads. Also, at the time of adoption, her US citizenship was not finalized through the naturalization process. At present she is seeking how to gain US citizenship 

Glenda is a Korean born adoptee who chose to forgive her abusive parents. She is writing a book about her life experiences and is planning on going to visit Korea. 

Mary Ellen Gambutti was adopted as an infant into an Air Force family. In this conversation she shares her quest of finding her biological family. Here is the link to her book: I Must Have Wandered: An Adopted Air Force Daughter Recalls https://www.amazon.com/Must-Have-Wandered-Adopted-Daughter-ebook/dp/B0B94T45JY/ref=sr_1_1?crid=FI7X51BX8OPZ&keywords=books+mary+ellen+gambutti+i+must+have+wand...

Dee was adopted around age two from a home of neglect. He was raised by a loving adoptive mother who showed him love and stability. Dee is the survivor of sexual asault and encourages anyone who has trauma to seek therapy. He says, 'it will be okay." Trigger warning topic of sexual abuse. 

I was honored to be the guest host for Fireside Adoptees interview series with special guest Lynelle Long. Lynelle is the founder of InterCountry Adoptee Voices which serves for providing rich resources for adoptees. This interview is posted with permission of Fireside Adoptees.

This podcast is about infertility and the feelings of loss that accompanying it We also talked on topics of adoption and foster care.  And the questions of how to talk to someone who has experienced miscarriage and infertility.