Finding Family DNA

In this episode of Finding Family DNA, Jason didn't learn he was adopted until his late 40s — and a simple request for his original birth certificate cracked open decades of family secrets. After a DNA test revealed zero biological connection to the woman who raised him, Jason turned to genetic genealogy and, within weeks, was face to face with the truth about where he came from. What followed...

In this episode of Finding Family DNA, Jay sits down with Linda Burleson, a woman who spent over five years searching for the identity of her birth father after learning at age sixty-plus that the man who raised her was not her biological dad. What made Linda's case one of the longest in BirthParentFinder.com's history was the absence of any close DNA matches — just a wall of third, fourth...

In this episode of Finding Family DNA, Jay and co-host Misty Gillis introduce Carla Salvatierra, a 29-year-old woman born in Los Angeles County who has spent years searching for the truth about her biological father. After discovering that neither the man on her birth certificate nor the man her family insisted was her father shared any DNA with her, Carla found herself starting completely from sc...

In this episode of Finding Family DNA , attorney, author, and TEDx speaker Maria Leonard Olsen shares the shocking DNA discovery that changed her identity forever. After taking a 23andMe test, Maria learned that the man who raised her was not her biological father. What followed was a years-long search that led her to an aging Hollywood actor, former NFL player, and legendary Del Mar horse handica...

In this episode of Finding Family DNA , we follow Porsha Jones’ powerful journey from loss to reconnection. Adopted at birth and later losing both of her adoptive parents as a teenager, Porsha grew up navigating life on her own while carrying questions about where she came from. After years of searching, she turned to Jay Rosenzweig and BirthParentFinder.com—and in a matter of hours, her birth mot...

In this episode of Finding Family DNA, Jay and Misty sit down with Taylor Shennett, a Chinese-born adoptee who was adopted into an American family as a baby and has spent the last decade searching for her biological roots. As a transracial adoptee, she shares her deeply personal journey navigating identity, belonging, and the realities of growing up looking different from her family. From viral se...

This week, Jay & Misty celebrate the show’s 2-year anniversary by looking back at some of the most powerful, emotional, and unforgettable stories from the past two years. From long-lost family reunions to shocking DNA discoveries and unresolved cases that still stay with them. They also share behind-the-scenes insights, updates on past cases, and reflect on how the show has grown—from just a h...

In this episode of Finding Family DNA , we follow Jenn Reinschmidt’s emotional journey to uncover her biological family after growing up knowing she was adopted. What started as a search for medical history quickly turned into a life-changing discovery when Misty Gillis used DNA matches and family tree analysis to identify Jenn’s birth mother—and ultimately connect her with her half-brother. Along...

This week, Misty explains how investigative genetic genealogy helped solve the 1991 murder of Danielle Clause in Ventura, California. Using preserved crime scene DNA, GEDmatch, and advanced genealogy techniques, the team identified Larry Devon Welch more than three decades after the crime. Misty breaks down the science behind centimorgans, kinship testing, phenotyping, and how everyday DNA uploads...

This week, Misty explains how investigative genetic genealogy helped solve the 1991 murder of Danielle Clause in Ventura, California. Using preserved crime scene DNA, GEDmatch, and advanced genealogy techniques, the team identified Larry Devon Welch more than three decades after the crime. Misty breaks down the science behind centimorgans, kinship testing, phenotyping, and how everyday DNA uploads...

This week, we meet Linda Rasmussen — Jay’s right-hand woman and the intake specialist for BirthParentFinder.com. Linda introduces us to the powerful case of Victor, a young man living in a homeless shelter, whose search for his birth family becomes one of the most emotional reunions the team has worked on. With Linda’s investigative support and Jay’s guidance, Victor reconnects with his biological...

Jay and Misty sit down with Shanna Daloussi, a past giveaway recipient, who shares the emotional and unexpected journey of discovering her biological father. With Jay’s help, Shanna used DNA testing to uncover the truth: the man who raised her was not her biological father — and the person who was turned out to be someone already inside her family circle. What follows is a raw and vulnerable conve...

We’re kicking off 2026 with a powerful reunion story between Mary and Nia — two half-sisters who had no idea the other existed. After decades of dead ends and a private investigator who vanished, Mary found Finding Family DNA and began her journey again. With the help of public ancestry records, GEDmatch, and a remarkably detailed family tree, Misty and Jay uncover a maternal match and open the do...

In this special edition of Finding Family DNA , Jay turns the spotlight on co-host and investigative genetic genealogist Misty Gillis, as she walks us through the chilling and historic “Boy in the Box” case — a mystery unsolved for over six decades. Misty shares how she used the same DNA techniques applied in adoptee reunifications to help identify the boy as Joseph Augustus Zarelli, a four-year-o...

In Episode 32 of Finding Family DNA , Jay and Misty sit down with Chakari Smith, an adoptee who grew up in Philadelphia and entered foster care at age 7 before being adopted at 11. Despite reconnecting with her birth mother later in life, Chakari never knew her father—until a combination of DNA testing, genealogy, and birth index research led Misty to uncover his identity. Chakari shares the emoti...

In Episode 31 of Finding Family DNA , therapist and adoptee advocate Nikole Shaw shares her powerful journey of uncovering the truth about her biological roots. After years of believing she was conceived through a violent assault, a recent DNA match revealed a very different story—one that brought relief, clarity, and a new understanding of her identity. Nikole reflects on the emotional weight of...

In Episode 30 of Finding Family DNA, Jay and Misty sit down with actress, writer, and producer Lisa Brenner, whose latest film "One Big Happy Family" draws from her real-life discovery that the man who raised her was not her biological father. Lisa shares how a casual decision to take a DNA test a decade ago unraveled a deeply personal truth—one that reshaped her identity and inspired her...

In this powerful follow-up to Episode 4, author and adoptee Lakeeta Greene returns to share the next chapter in her remarkable journey—finding her birth father, Richard. After the emotional reunion with her mother detailed in her first book Seeking Closure , Lakeeta’s story continues in Closure at a Cost , where revelations from that reunion propel her toward a new search. Through DNA testing and...

This week Jay and Misty sit down with adoptee Kim Goff to share her decades-long journey to uncover the truth about her biological parents. Adopted as an infant in 1962 in Los Angeles and raised in Maine, Kim always knew she was adopted but lacked answers about her origins. Her search revealed a birth mother who vanished from her family’s life and a birth father who was a high-profile Hollywood at...

In this episode, Jay and Misty sit down with licensed private investigator and genetic genealogist Jeremy Lipford, whose passion for solving mysteries was sparked by a friend's unexpected DNA discovery. Jeremy shares how he blends traditional investigative work with modern DNA tools to crack cold cases, identify unknown family members, and help bring missing persons home. From uncovering a fat...

Jay shares the powerful and emotional journey of Bethany, who reached out to him in 2018 after discovering the man who raised her was not her biological father. Struggling with grief over the loss of her grandfather—whom she saw as her true father figure—Bethany wrestled with whether she even wanted to meet her birth father. Jay recounts how he gently guided her through the emotional complexity of...

This week, Jay and Misty welcome guest Joanna Winans, whose extraordinary reunion story began in 2018 when she reached out to find her birth mother after facing infertility. Motivated by a desire to understand her roots, Joanna was connected with her birth mother Amber, leading to a powerful reconnection that changed both of their lives. The episode also features a recent client case involving a m...

This week, Jay Rosenzweig and genealogist Misty Gillis discuss their roles as intermediaries in emotionally charged family reunions, highlighting two poignant case studies. The episode features a client who discovered his birth father through ancestry results but hesitated to make contact; with Jay and Misty’s mediation, a heartwarming reunion was facilitated, demonstrating the delicate nature of...

Join host Jay Rosenzweig and genealogy expert Misty Gillis at RootsTech 2025, the world’s largest family history conference. This special episode features exciting interviews, personal stories, and insightful discussions on the ethical dimensions of genealogical research and the transformative power of DNA. Highlights include a touching reunion facilitated by Jay, discussions about genealogical to...

In this heartwarming episode, host Jay facilitates a profound reunion between Anthony McDermott and his birth father, Greig Watson. Discover how DNA testing brought them together after decades of separation and uncovered the identity of Anthony’s birth mother. Genealogist Misty Gillis plays a crucial role, using intricate DNA analysis to solve this family mystery. Watch as emotions unfold and new...