Roots and Branches Adoption Stories Podcast

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...