Missing Pieces - NPE Life

🧩 In this episode of Missing Pieces, Don sits down with television host, journalist, adoptee, and adoptive mother Lisa Joyner. Lisa shares the story of searching for and meeting both of her biological parents, the emotional impact of finally seeing herself reflected in another person, and how her own adoption experience shaped the way she approached motherhood. They also look back at Long Lost Fa...

🧩 Relative Strangers This week on Missing Pieces — NPE Life , Don talks with writer Laura Jenkins , whose essay appears in the new anthology Relative Strangers: Inheritance, Identity, and the Meaning of Kinship , edited by B.K. Jackson . Laura shares her story of discovering she is an NPE and the emotional journey that followed — the shock, the questions, the search for truth, and the complicated...

🧩 Analog Rick In 1992, Rick set out to find his birth mother’s family without DNA tests, without Ancestry, without 23andMe, without Facebook, and without the internet as we know it. All he had were a few pieces of information, some determination, and the willingness to follow a trail the old-fashioned way. In this episode of Missing Pieces — NPE Life , Rick tells the story of how he found the mis...

Veronica From The Other Side In this episode of Missing Pieces — NPE Life , Don talks with Veronica, who discovered in middle age that her father had two children outside of his marriage. For NPEs — Not Parent Expected — adoptees, donor-conceived people, and others who uncover family secrets through DNA, the focus is often on the person making the discovery. But what about the family on the other...

🧩 Christina’s Truth - LIVE 🎙️ On today’s episode of Missing Pieces , we hear Christina’s incredible story — the questions, the search, the emotions, and the years spent trying to understand where she came from. But this episode takes a turn neither of us will ever forget… Because during the recording itself… I tell Christina who her biological father is. LIVE. No script. No warning. Just one of t...

🧩 Jamilia - Out of Anonymity  Years ago, I did an episode called The Moment of Truth — a collection of stories about that exact instant when denial disappears… and the truth hits. Who you are. Who your parents are. No more guessing. No more stories. Just truth. Jamilia was one of those voices. And she didn’t just describe that moment — she nailed it . But that moment? That’s not the end of the st...

🧩 3 Sisters United On today’s episode of Missing Pieces , we tell the story of June — raised in Canada by her grandparents, growing up with questions instead of answers. As a teenager, she learns who her father is… —or so she thinks. What unfolds next connects three sisters , decades of silence, and the kind of truth that changes everything. This is one of those episodes that reminds you why this...

🎙️ Tonia – Dirty John’s First Wife Today on Missing Pieces , I’m joined by Tonia Bales , the first wife of John Meehan , also known as Dirty John . 🧬 At one point in the episode, an unknown sibling comes into the story.  Tonia has a new book out today — January 13, 2026 : 📘 When You See It: How I Outsmarted & Outlasted Dirty John 🛒 Available wherever books are sold 👉 Amazon: https://a.co/d...

🎙️ Missing Pieces explores the stories of people who’ve discovered—or are still searching for—their "missing pieces". In this episode, Don talks with Amanda , who grew up in South Texas always wondering why she didn’t look like her other siblings. Years later, DNA gave her the answer—and with it, she found her missing pieces. 🧢👕 Missing Pieces Merch 👉 https://missingpieces.printify.me...

🎄✨ Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays, everyone! ✨🎄 This is a very special episode . I take a moment to share a few things happening in my own life—and one huge coincidence that stopped me cold. 🧩😳 It was one of those moments that feels too big to be random… the kind that makes you pause and think, “Okay, what is actually going on here?” I don’t want to spoil it by saying more—so let’s get...

🎧 Missing Pieces – NPE Life Today I’m joined by Australian actor David Field , whose world was shaken by a deathbed confession and a DNA truth decades in the making.  🔗 Links Mentioned • Every Family Has a Secret https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEqpbWR-ydk&t=32s • The Secret Daughter (Amazon) https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B07L4CV52Q/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r • Convict https://www.youtub...

✦ EPISODE: Shelby – Sister of NPEs ✦ Shelby shares the astonishing story of discovering not one, but two NPEs in her immediate family. Born in Detroit and now settled in Tennessee, she brings warmth, humor, and reflection to a journey that proves DNA can connect — and complicate — in equal measure. 🧬 Secrets, surprises, and the search for truth — this is Missing Pieces . ––– 🎧 Follow on Instagra...

🎧 Missing Pieces Welcome to another episode of Missing Pieces – NPE Life. Today’s anonymous guest takes us from her childhood in Maine to a life-changing discovery just a few months ago. She’s brand-new to the NPE world and bravely shares what it’s like to stand at the very beginning of that journey. ✨ Listen in — it’s raw, real, and relatable. 📬 Connect with Don: 📧 donNPE@icloud.com 📸 Instag...

🎧 Missing Pieces Stephanie shares her remarkable journey from growing up in Detroit to discovering her true identity. She’s a born storyteller, very moving. 📖 A Penny on the Hood (her forthcoming book) — She's looking for representation. inquiries: nonpareve@gmail.com 📺 Watch her Cuba trip series: YouTube Playlist 📬 Connect with Don: donNPE@icloud.com | @npe_life_podcast

🎙 Welcome to Another Episode of Missing Pieces! Today’s guest is Lisa Brenner — actor, writer, and producer — who bravely shares her own NPE/DCP journey through her brand-new film. 🎬 About the Film Lisa’s movie, One Big Happy Family , explores the twists and turns of discovering unexpected family connections. It opens October 3rd in select AMC theaters nationwide. Get tickets and theater info at...

Welcome to another amazing episode of Missing Pieces – NPE Life In this episode, Jake shares an incredible life story that’s equal parts jaw-dropping and inspiring — from growing up in a cult to discovering his biological father was a real-life private investigator. We also feature archival footage used under the Fair Use doctrine as defined by U.S. copyright law. The footage comes from the docume...

Hi Welcome to an amazing episode of Missing Pieces. This one is amazing for multiple reasons.  A) Donna's story is amazing and she tells is so well B) Tracy interviewed Donna and co-produced the episode with me. And she also was amazing!! If you would like to email don DonNPE at iCloud dot com  Catch me on instagram at npe_life_podcast  If you would like to support the show we have some kick...

Hi,  Today is a very special episode. Remember the episode called Richie Blair? Well, this episode we have his mom and his bio dad, telling their story. It's a side we rarely get to hear in this NPE world of ours. I'd like to sincerely thank Kelley and Roy for telling the side we don't hear from much at all. Even in person. Click here to hear Richie's episode.  If you want to g...

Thanks so much for everyone who reviews. rates  and follows this podcast. It helps spread the word.  Today's episode is about Angela, a local LA lady who I was introduced to by our common friend Wanni. Thank you Wanni!! Angela is a licensed therapist is the state of California. If you are looking for a therapist, especially one who has had an NPE experience herself, please contact her on her...

Welcome to another episode of Missing Pieces. On today's show Richie Blair tells his heartwarming story. Check it out!!! If you want to get in touch with Don you can email him at donNPE at i cloud dot com. Or you can follow me on instagram @NPE_LIFE_PODCAST. Leave a message there. Thanks.

Hi, Welcome to another fabulous episode of Missing Pieces - NPE Life. Today we have a very special guest named Elda. She's an amazing woman and a super close friend of my wife.  She tells us her NPE story. To watch AJs YouTube channel check it out here (he was on the episode Bromance but now has a YouTube channel for NPEs) To get in touch with Don you can email him at Don NPE at iCloud dot c...

Welcome to another exciting episode of Missing Pieces. This is a good one. It's about an NPE from Poland. It's an incredible story and she's an incredible person. Check it out and spread the word. If you want to get in touch with Marta you can find her on instagram marta_kostrzewska To follow Don on instagram click here  NPE_LIFE_PODCAST  Please listen to Ukraine: The Latest, the po...

Check out this fabulous episode, where we hear Laura's (Ann from Iowa's daughter) side of the story. I love being able to hear the story from different perspectives.  If you want to get in touch with Don email him at don NPE at iCloud dot com.  (trying to get less junkmail) Or follow me on instagram at NPE_LIFE_PODCAST. To get in touch with Billy Sullivan go to Sulllystone.com Don't...

Welcome to another special episode of Missing Pieces. Today Ann shares with us her story of being a birth mother and the source for an NPE. It's an incredible open conversation that can't be missed.  If you would like to donate to Don's trip to Ukraine go to ianice,org and support us. Thanks so much!! If you want to get in touch with Don email him donNPE at iCloud dot com. Or you ca...

Welcome to another great episode. We hear Candi tell the amazing story about how she helped her dad figure who he really was.  To get in touch with Don you can email him donNPE@icloud.com or find me on instagram @ NPE_LIFE_PODCAST To get more info on Candi and their amazing non-profit go to  https://www.bestwa.org/home Don't forget to rate and review!!!