Once Upon A Time...In Adopteeland

Erica Livingston is a postpartum-centric full-spectrum doula, maternal health strategist, and founder of Birdsong Doulas . As an adoptee and a parent, she works at the intersections of birth justice, storytelling, and liberation, supporting families and care workers across the thresholds of pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and beyond. Website: https://www.birdsongdoulas.com Music by Corey Quinn

Roxan Chen, is a Late Discovery Adoptee, born in Baltimore, Maryland, raised in New York, living out her creative life in New Jersey when not discovering/tour leading in various destinations throughout the world. Music by Corey Quinn

Jaciara is a transracial/international adoptee. She was adopted from Brazil in 1985 when she was 11 months old and raised in Northern California by a Jewish single parent mother, in a small and very minimally diverse town. Jaciara has obtained her Master’s degree in Social Work and her bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She currently works as a medical social worker in a hospital and has been in thi...

Julian Mack is a transracial adoptee in reunion/contact with his family of origin. He is a Black American music artist living in Atlanta. Julian continues to move through questions of identity and societal issues with a thoughtful, grey-lens perspective. Music by Corey Quinn

Sonia Morgan is a late discovery adoptee born in Pennsylvania. She searched for her biological family and is currently appreciating reunion/contact with them. Music by Corey Quinn

Anna Bryant is a transracial adoptee from Iowa. She grew up in a multiracial household with White parents and international adoptee sisters from South Korea. She has been in reunion with her family of origin for 8 years which has brought both joys and heartbreaks. She is currently working on her memoir Cultural Fraud which explores her reunion journey and her search for Black identity. She cu...

Koko is a same-race Black adoptee with 15 years of experience in community behavioral health. She holds a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and is a Professional Clinical Counselor. A mother and a healer, Koko brings a trauma-informed, liberation-focused lens to her work with individuals and communities impacted by adoption. Her insights have made her a frequent g...

Garrett Lee is a same race domestic adoptee residing in Orlando, FL. He is in reunion with DNA family members and the journey continues putting the pieces together about his relinquishment/adoption story. Website: https://www.oldskoolcakes.com/ Music by Corey Quinn

Janeen Jackson is an adoptee, children's book author, and powerful advocate for adult adoptees—especially those who discover the truth about their adoption later in life. Through her blog Mixed Up Diary and her book Hello, Sweet Baby! , Janeen creates space for honest conversations about identity, race, and healing. Her mission is to provide comfort and understanding to others facing similar revel...

Eric Shaw in Southern California is an educator (Elementary School PE and High School basketball coach), adopted at birth by same race and adopted siblings with Koko, @TheBlackAdoptea on IG. Resource: https://adoptionmosaic.com/adoptee-beacon Music by Corey Quinn  

Kevin Hodge-Niblack Barnett Sr. is a retired Army veteran and a product of the foster care/adoption system. He is the author of two books: Living My Shadows: Dreams Do Come True and Shadows of Emotion: Life After the Dream, which outline his experiences as an adoptee and person who lived in foster care. Website: https://www.livingmyshadows.org/ Resources: https://www.adoptionknowledge.or...

Jasmin, a New York adoptee, host of the Once an Orphan podcast kept the story of her adoption to herself until she was in her 30’s. Today, she’ll talk about why the silence for so long and what finally brought about the change.  https://www.youtube.com/@OnceanOrphan https://www.blackadopteesmeetup.org/ Recommended Resource: https://events.adoptionmosaic.com/launch-land Music by Corey Quinn

Katie is an adoptee who has always known she was adopted. Abuse and neglect by adoptive parents growing up led her to feeling unloved or unwanted by them. As a younger person, Katie felt so broken and joined Al-Anon and (ACA) Adult Children of Alcoholics for healing. She still felt like something was missing in her recovery. A friend gave Katie the book, The Primal Wound by Nancy Ve...

Jennifer Hiltebeitel (HILL-ta-bite-el) is a returning guest. Jennifer is an adopted person on a lifelong healing journey. As an Enneagram Coach, she loves talking with other adoptees about how this tool for growth builds understanding and compassion for our whole selves. She believes healing happens in community and through the telling of our stories. You can connect with Jennifer on Instagram&nbs...

Original air date: October 25, 2022 During times in this episode, there is sensitive content that may be traumatizing to some audiences. Listener discretion advised. Katie is an adoptee who has always known she was adopted. Abuse and neglect by adoptive parents growing up led her to feeling unloved or unwanted by them. As a younger person, Katie felt so broken and joined Al-Anon and (ACA...

Debbie Nahid is a transracial intercountry adoptee born in 1968 in the UK. She was raised in foster care in a white English community and was adopted as a teenager by her foster mother. It was at this time that she also discovered the truth about her parents and heritage.  Debbie has spent her life searching for birth relatives and cultural connections and is the founder of Transracial Adult...

Linda Pevac (aka Emma Stevens) is a returning guest. Linda is a U.S. domestic adoptee from birth and has survived layers of trauma that have put her on multiple journeys. She developed the inner strength and courage to surmount the many struggles she faced. Her traumas were born from being an adoptee who struggled with being forced to wear an impossible mask of playing the part of the “good adopte...

This solo episode embodies the anticipation of Autumn. https://adoptee-voices.com/ Music by Corey Quinn

Original air date: April 5, 2022 Emma Stevens is a U.S. domestic adoptee from birth and has survived layers of trauma that have put her on multiple journeys. She developed the inner strength and courage to surmount the many struggles she faced. Her traumas were born from being an adoptee who struggled with being forced to wear an impossible mask of playing the part of the “good adopted child.” Bec...

Astrid Castro, founder and CEO of Adoption Mosaic—an adoptee-led, BIPOC woman-founded nonprofit—has dedicated over three decades to serving the adoption constellation through innovative, adoptee-centered programs, events, courses, and consultations. Adopted from Colombia at the age of four (along with her older sister), Astrid’s life's work and interest in adoption shifted dramatically after reuni...

Greta Handgis (Fadness) is a domestic same-race adoptee adopted through Lutheran Welfare Services in a closed adoption in 1968. She was relinquished immediately at birth and spent no time with her teenage biological mother. After a month in foster care, she was adopted. She was raised in a family with a younger sister, who was also adopted, and an older brother, who is the only biological chi...

Original air date: August 16, 2022 Danielle Orr is a writer, painter and animal lover. She is currently working on her memoir. Music by Corey Quinn

Jenna Lowe is a domestic same race adoptee, adopted through Catholic Charities in a closed adoption. Her biological half-brother was also placed into the same family when Jenna was 17 months old. She is in reunion with both her paternal and maternal birth families and finds it her personal mission to spread awareness around relinquishment trauma to other adoptees, members of the adoption constella...

Bridgett McGowen-Hawkins is an award-winning international speaker, author, and publisher who energizes audiences and empowers voices. A late discovery adoptee, Bridgett found out at the age of 31 that she was adopted, an experience that reshaped her understanding of identity, family, trust, and truth. Today, she shares her story to support others with healing, speaking boldly, and reclaiming thei...

Jackson TerKeurst’s new book, The Only Way Forward is Back: A Story of War, Adoption, and Finding Your Purpose in God’s Plan , is an inspirational memoir taking the reader on a journey through war-torn Liberia to the United States, watching God do a mighty work during difficult and heart-breaking circumstances. Jackson is an entrepreneur and leader who continues to defy the odds as a first-generat...