Roots and Branches Adoption Stories Podcast

International expert Richard Villasana shares the heartbreaking—and inspiring—truth behind the U.S. family separation crisis. From foster care pipelines to immigration failures, Richard exposes how thousands of children became lost in the system and the heroic efforts to reunite them with family. Based on his book Do No Harm , this episode reveals what really happened, why it matters, and how we c...

From a fresh start in Colorado to the challenges of COVID, Dan and Tina found themselves facing business struggles, family upheaval — and a life-changing decision. When their three-year-old niece needed a safe home, they opened their hearts and became kinship foster parents. In this episode, Dan and Tina shares the emotional and complicated process of fostering a child within the family, the reali...

When Kala prayed for children during a church retreat, she didn’t know the path would lead through heartbreak, patience, faith — and ultimately, family. She and her husband, Terry, began fostering, following in her sister’s footsteps. Over time they cared for three children who each returned to their biological families. Months later, one phone call changed everything: Would they take back one of...

Adopted by her grandparents as a baby, Deanna grew up learning the cost of secrecy — and chose to raise her children with honesty and transparency. Today, she and her husband are parents to seven, including two teenagers they adopted to keep them out of the system. Her story is one of resilience, compassion, and the true meaning of family. #AdoptionStories #RootsAndBranches #FamilyIsLove #Adoption...

Peter was born in England, raised in New Zealand, and loved by his adoptive parents. But at 18, after moving to Australia, he began searching for his biological family. His journey through DNA testing and worldwide connections led to surprising discoveries, new siblings, and life-changing reunions. Join us for Peter’s powerful adoption story — one of persistence, identity, and family found across...

Michael’s childhood was filled with trauma, but also love from the family who raised him. In this episode, he shares how forgiveness, faith, and baptism gave him the closure he needed. His message is clear: everyone has struggles, but healing begins with forgiveness. #adoptionstories #powerofforgiveness #healingjourney #faithandhealing #rootsandbranches

Today’s story belongs to Ron, and it is raw, unfiltered, and deeply personal. Born in the early 1970s, his adoption began with a secret arrangement between families and was followed by years of unanswered questions, shifting stories, and being told to be grateful for the very loss that shaped him. After decades of living with sealed records and incomplete truths, Ron turned to unconventional metho...

Family doesn’t always look the way we expect — and sometimes love asks more of us than we ever imagined." In this episode of Roots and Branches: Adoption Stories, we sit down with Sherri to explore her incredible journey through marriage, divorce, blending families, and stepping up when tragedy struck. What began as a family of five grew again — through loss, through love, and through the belief t...

A reflection on the first ten episodes

Brian’s life seemed to be moving forward as planned. After starting college as a computer technology major, he switched to broadcasting, chasing a career that better fit his passions. He met a girl, married, and then divorced after three years. Then came Liz—a white woman four years younger than him—who would change his life. The two moved in together in Indianapolis and shared six years of quiet,...

From adoption to a 52-year marriage, Sherry’s journey proves that resilience can outshine even the darkest beginnings. Placed in foster care before her first birthday and adopted at 16 months, Sherry learned at age 9 — from a neighbor — that she was adopted. By 15, she was living on her own. Today, she’s been married to her high school sweetheart for 52 years, raised two independent children, buil...

Love Beyond Borders She was told the wait would be 13 years — until one choice changed everything. In this heartfelt continuation of Kristen’s story, we follow her second journey to China — this time to adopt Ali, a little girl born with a cleft palate and raised in foster care. After being told that adopting a healthy child could take more than a decade, Kristen and her husband chose to open thei...

In this episode of Roots and Branches: Adoption Stories, we sit down with a mother who opened her heart and home to two daughters from China. She shares what led her to international adoption, the challenges and joys of navigating the process, and how she’s worked to honor her daughters’ cultural roots while helping them thrive in their new home. From paperwork and travel to bonding and building i...

What happens when your roles shift before you understand who you are? When Angel was adopted by her grandmother, she didn’t just change homes — she lost her sense of self. From granddaughter to daughter, from sister to aunt, her identity was rewritten without her voice . But beneath that silence was trauma. Angel opens up about the unspoken abuse she endured — rape, molestation, and self-doubt — a...

Roots and Branches Episode 6: A Deeper Yes In this powerful continuation of Michelle and Tom’s journey, love stretches even further. After adopting Andrew, they were presented with the opportunity to adopt his sister — but this time, Michelle would be involved through the pregnancy itself . What makes this story unique? It’s not just about adoption — it’s about interracial family, sibling connecti...

When Michelle and Tom adopted their child, they knew love would be required. What they didn’t expect was the diagnosis: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) — a lifelong condition that would test their strength, marriage, and faith. This emotional episode follows one family’s honest, unfiltered journey into the realities of parenting a child with FASD. From medical confusion to community isolati...

Roots and Branches Episode 3: When the Past Speaks Back In this episode, the journey into family and faith takes a deeper, more personal turn. A quiet question unearths emotional truths that have been buried for decades. Through one woman’s vulnerable story, we explore identity, healing, and the power of spiritual legacy . This is more than storytelling — it's transformation through history. Wheth...

Roots and Branches Episode 2 takes us deeper into the journey of personal history, identity, and hidden legacies. What happens when you start asking questions about your past — and the answers surprise you? This episode follows powerful stories of faith, loss, and rediscovery , showing how every branch is connected to a deeper root. Whether you're exploring your genealogy or just love human storie...

Welcome to Roots and Branches Episode 1! In this powerful first chapter, we dive into the story beneath the surface — exploring family, legacy, and how our past shapes our present. Whether you’re into genealogy, storytelling, or personal growth, this series will connect you to something deeper. What does it really mean to belong? Join us as we explore the roots that anchor us and the branches that...