Once Upon A Time...In Adopteeland

Mark Hagland was born in South Korea in 1960, and adopted to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he was raised by white parents of Norwegian and German descent. He obtained his bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and his master's degree from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. He has worked as a professional journalist for 39 years. Mark has been actively inv...

David facilitates support groups for adoptees in New Jersey. This episode is the last one during National Adoption Awareness Month (NAAM2021) and I want to thank all of the adoptees who shared a part of their adoption story along with words of wisdom on this podcast. Music by Corey Quinn

Jean A. S. Strauss is an adoptee who located her birth family in 1988, a life-changing experience which she continues to learn from today, thirty-three years later. She is the author of five books (three about adoption search and reunion) and over 80 films, 55 of which are focused on the need for adoptee access to records. These works are all streamed online, for free, including two features...

Marci Purcell is the Executive Director at Adoption Knowledge Affiliates (AKA), a grassroots nonprofit in Austin, TX, founded in 1992. Marci's first connection to the larger adoptee community was through AKA in 2012, first as an attendee, and then serving on their Board, including as AKA President. She is also a founding member and past President of Support Texas Adoptee Rights (STAR). S...

Alice Stephens is a writer and the author of "Famous Adopted People". Her website is famousadoptedpeople.com Alice was born in Korea and one of the first generation of transnational, interracial adoptees. Her work has appeared in Urban Mozaik, Flung, Banana Writers, the Los Angeles review of Books, and the Washington Independent Review of Books, which publishes her column, Alice In Wordland. She l...

Part 2/2 of a conversation with Sara Feigenholtz. Sara as an Illinois State Representative fought 14 years (1996-2010) to have the adoption law changed in her state granting adoptees the right to request their original birth certificate. Sara is featured in the Jean Strauss film, A Simple Piece of Paper www.vimeo.com/channels/adopteefilmchannel As an adoptee herself, she advocates on behalf of all...

Part 1/2 of a conversation with Sara Feigenholtz. Part 2 is scheduled to air one week from this episode. Sara as an Illinois State Representative fought 14 years (1996-2010) to have the adoption law changed in her state granting adoptees the right to request their original birth certificate. Sara is featured in the Jean Strauss film, A Simple Piece of Paper www.vimeo.com/channels/adopteefilmchanne...

Music by Corey Quinn

Patricia Martinez Dorner , MA, LPC, a pioneer in open adoption and post adoption services, has been a relentless proponent of adoption reform. Her adoption focused practice includes counseling, mediation, education, support and training to individuals and professionals. She is a frequent conference speaker and author of many adoption related books. The adoptive mother of 2 adult daughters, she liv...

Ridghaus relinquished a son at 19 and then later, at the age of 35, learned that he had been relinquished and adopted. Ridghaus is the co-creator of the 6WAM (Six Word Adoption Memoir). He has spent the last 20 years teaching as a professor in English, Communication, Media, and Law from his graduate degrees in English (MA), Communication (MA), and Jurisprudence (JD). He recommends for LDAs the Pri...

Nomi is a domestic adoptee and grew up in a same race family. She enjoys connecting with others, daydreaming, delicious meals, the arts, and running fast, to name a few interests. She is grateful to have found the adoptee community .  Music by Corey Quinn

Sydney Parkhurst is a college student with a passion for filmmaking and writing. She's decided to use her personal experience as a biracial transracial adoptee and help spread awareness to stories like hers.  She hopes that you will find her resources useful and know that in a world where it feels like you have to fit in, you were actually born to stand out. Her website is SydneyParkhurst.com...

Lorah Gerald is an adoptee, writer, Intuitive, Kundalini Yoga Instructor, Reiki Master and Ordained Minister. She writes inspirational, educational, opinion pieces and a blog on her website www. LorahGerald.com and as the @theadoptedchameleon on Facebook and Instagram. Lorah hopes to help others heal their trauma, adopted or not, by sharing her lived experiences as an adoptee as well as her educat...

Maura Duffy is featured in the documentary "A Simple Piece of Paper" by Jean Strauss www.vimeo.com/channels/adopteefilmchannel She is a Chicago born adoptee, has been in reunion with her birth mother and her maternal family for 9 years. Maura had never met another adoptee until she got involved with the film A Simple Piece of Paper by fellow adoptee Jean Strauss in 2011. It was during th...

Astrid Castro is the founder of Adoption Mosaic and has been connected to the adoption community for nearly 30 years. You can connect with her on social media; Facebook and Instagram, website; https://adoptionmosaic.com/ and email; Astrid@AdoptionMosaic.com Astrid has a degree in Sociology with an emphasis in adoption. "Adoption Mosaic's 'We the Experts' series brings adult adoptees and their love...

Wendy Libowitz is a Baby Scoop Era adoptee, born in New York City in July 1968 and adopted through Louise Wise Services. She is a nurse practitioner with two adult daughters and resides in Massachusetts.  Music by Corey Quinn

Tammy is a writer who creates poetry related to adoption. She plans to write a memoir about forgiving both her birth and adoptive mother. Music by Corey Quinn

During times in this episode, there is sensitive content that may be traumatizing to some audiences. Listener discretion advised. Alicia is a wife, mother of 5 and a grandmother. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication and Business. Music by Corey Quinn

Lynn Grubb is creator and editor of The Adoptee Survival Guide: Adoptees Share Their Wisdom and Tools (published in 2015) and is currently working on a memoir which she hopes to publish in 2021.  She is currently a student at the National Institute for Genealogical Studies.  She hopes to work as a professional investigative genetic genealogist. Lynn will be a workshop speaker a...

"Trust is based in truth." -Nancy McCaughey Nancy is a certified professional coach. She can be reached via email nancy@nancymccaughey.com  and her website is nancymccaughey.com Music by Corey Quinn

"Raise your hand and self validate yourself." -Marc Borne Music by Corey Quinn

This episode is dedicated to "Sean Lewis Edmonds", Eileen's son born December 30, 1959. Music by Corey Quinn

Marcie is the author of "The Shoebox Effect" and can be reached via email marcie@naapunited.org https://www.amazon.com/Shoebox-Effect-Transforming-Fortitude-Purpose/dp/1949856178/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2M0LY22K5VIOH&keywords=the+shoebox+effect&qid=1668735994&sprefix=the+shoebox+effect%2Caps%2C543&sr=8-1 National Association of Adoptees and Parents (NAAP) is a 501c3 educational organizatio...

A former advertising copywriter and magazine editor, Melisha Mitchell stumbled into the world of adoption reform in 1996 after reconnecting with the daughter she had lost to adoption during the infamous Baby Scoop era. Over the next two decades, Melisha launched the White Oak Foundation, a non-profit focused on helping adoption triad members circumnavigate Illinois´ closed record laws, and sp...

Lydia "Born To Write" Cook is a poet and welcomes you to join her on Facebook at BeaUtiful Chaos. http://bookthatpoet.com/poets/cooklydia.html Michelle Gilmore is an artist and can be reached at michelle.gilmore. DrawForYou Music by Corey Quinn