Thriving Adoptees - Let's Thrive

Many of us feel that we've lost our identity. How do we get it back? Listen in a Rod shares how he as constructed and reconstructed his identity to live life on his own terms. A profoundly different and empowering take on being an adoptees. Here's more about Roderick. Roderick Edwards (aka RoderickE) is a multi-genre author of over 25 books on topics as wide ranging as an autobiography of his bein...

How do we process trauma so it no longer hurts so much so often? For many of us this a lifetime's journey. Adoptee from South Korea Shelby shares 35 years of ups, downs and insights. Listen in for your own insights to processing your own trauma. Shelby Redfield Kilgore is an adoptee from South Korea and has dedicated this channel to all things foster care and adoption. In between freelance work as...

Want a smoother reunion? Reunion is often an emotional rollercoaster and we can get thrown off the ride. How do we get back on again? Yvonne  placed her son for adoption in 1973 and reunited with him in 2018. She shares a lifetime's personal experience. She also goes deep on expectations and shares what she has learned talking with thousands of birth moms and adoptees.  This episode is all about h...

Do you wish your healing was faster? Did your world fall apart when you came out of the fog? Are you wondering what comes now you're consciously aware of your trauma? Listen in as Becca shares how she came out of the fog after tragedy and what's helping her heal. An incredibly vulnerable and empowering episode. Becca was born in 1975, adopted at 2 years old and lives in Seattle. Here's a link to t...

If your truth has been shattered this episode is one for you. Jack opens up about how we get through the challenges life throws at us adoptees. Jack has a gift for clarity and distills neuroscience from his college days in a way that we can all understand healing. He changed my take on trauma. Listen in and see if he does the same for you. Jack Rocco is one of the more than two million babies born...

Feeling like a victim of circumstances - poor little me - is totally normal for us. But we don't want to feel like that. So how do stop feeling that way? Listen in as poet Jill and I explore how we get a clearer sense of ourselves. When I spoke with Jill before we did the recording I knew we'd be in for a big and empowering conversation. Jill really delivered. Enjoy. Jill Uchiyama (Skufakiss) was...

Our feeling of loss somehow turns into the belief that there's something wrong with us. It's central to our lives. But what if it's not true? Join adoptee and therapist Joanne as we bust this belief and explore how to improve reunions. Here's a bit about Joanne from her website: As a trauma and sex therapist, my work in this field is highly influenced by my education, training, and research in att...

If you're a Christian then you're going to love our very first unashamedly Christian interview. Jane goes deep into healing through Christ and I try to follow her. Do I keep up? Well listen in and make your own mind up. Then let me know! She takes a very intimate look at her off and on relationship with Jesus and what 'whole' means to her. Listen and be prepared to be stretched - in a good way. I...

Coming out of the fog is often a painful experience. Trauma threatens to engulf us. The narrative from society or our adoptive parents is revealed to be lies. So what's healing? How do we heal? Where's the hope? Listen in adoptee and therapist Marcella shares illuminating insights. Here's more about Marcella from her website: I began my work in the mental health field working with children and ado...

Here's the link to Pamela's interview: https://thriving-adoptees.simplecast.com/episodes/finding-happiness-within-with-pamela-karanova Here's the link to the podcast about us being more than molecules. https://www.simonmundie.com/blog/challenging-the-mainstream-model-of-reality-bernardo-katdrup Some words from Miguel: Before there was my adoption, there was my relinquishment. And here is something...

Time is not the greatest healer. So what is? Aha moments. Those moments when we see something new for ourselves. Insights. Quite literally sights from within. And insights from others can catalyse insights in us. Listen in as adoptee, therapist and birth mother Abby shares some of her most profound aha moments. They helped me see things I'd not seen before. I'm sure they'll do the same for you. Dr...

So many of us feel stuck. Unable to move on. Frustrated. Aching. Suffering. Our trauma is preverbal - so we have no words for it. How can we talk about it in talk therapy? How can we heal? Ellianna shares what's helped her heal. Profound. Uplifting. Healing. Here's a link to the interview with Emma Stevens: https://thriving-adoptees.simplecast.com/episodes/freedom-with-emma-stevens Here's a link t...

For adopted individuals to be empowered to advocate for their healthcare needs, medical providers must know how to interact in an adoption identity affirming manner and create an environment where patients feel safe discussing their biological history. This episode brings together pediatrician Elaine and 2 transracial adoptees Ramya and Julia to discuss advocating for our own health. Julia Small,...

Trauma goes round and round in a loop for so many of us. So how do we try stop it? Many of us try talk therapy. But much of our trauma is preverbal - it happens literally before we have words. How on earth can we talk to a therapist about our trauma we don't have words for? Listen in as adoptee, clinician and author Julie Lopez challenges how we see healing and dives deep into ending the trauma lo...

The Primal Wound is, for so many of us, the 'bible' because it describes our experience so well. It's so many ways it's the perfect diagnosis. But what if who we TRULY are is unwoundable??? How could that possibly be true. My good friend and regular guest Vin asks me searching questions. Listen in and see if I'm barking up the totally wrong tree. Talking about barking - 10 week old chocolate labra...

So many of us felt like a fish out of water growing up. And feel more comfortable around people we share DNA with. Why is that? What is genetic validation? How can it help us feel more comfortable in our own skin? Adoptee and psychotherapist Elliott shares his insights to catalyse insights in us. Elliott Driscoll (he/him) is a psychotherapist at The Resource Group, and has been practicing for more...

Working so hard to counter shame and the belief that that we are inherently bad is exhausting.  Transracial and transcultural adoptee and licensed clinical social worker Rachel goes deep on leading ourselves out of this, transforming our relationship with the different parts and more. It's a particularly profound and empowering episode. Here's a bit about Rachel from her website: As a Korean Ameri...

Transracial Adoptee Corissa suffered in the deep darkness of depression and addiction. She'd been asking herself who she was all her life. Listen in as she shares what she found out. We go deep and get clear on who we all are. I hope you love that clarity and freedom.  Here's more about Corissa from her website: WHO AM I? I’ve been asking myself this question my entire life. I’m a Korean-born, ado...

Growing up in a hostile and toxic environment adds a dense layer of trauma to the trauma of being relinquished by our birth mother. We feel insecure and unstable. Adoptee and podcaster Mike shares what he's learning about solidifying his sense of self after having a terrible time with his adoptive parents. We dive deep into resilience and identity. Profound and tough. Check out Mike's podcast at:...

Some say that when we see better, we do better. I think that seeing better helps us we feel better too. More comfortable in ourselves. More at peace with the world. So the next question pops up: what helps us see better? A broader perspective. The ability to see the wood from the trees. Listen in as transracial adoptee Lora shares what she's seen about broadening her perspective and how that's hel...

Coming out of the fog reveals our trauma. We become conscious of what was subconscious. But who we really are remains shrouded in mist. We just can't see it. Join Greg and I on the journey to seeing our essence. Depth reveals truths. You're going to love this if you want clarity on identity. I found this excellent bio on Jennifer Dyan Ghoston's website for the Once Upon A Time  In Adoptee Land Pod...

How do we grow? Become comfortable in ourselves? Feel whole? Listen in as transracial adoptee Sun Mee shares her personal growth story. She brings me back to clarity after I take us down a rabbit hole. Nice work Sun Mee, thank you! We bring the episode to close with an exercise you're going to want to join in on - but not if you're driving ok? Here's a bit about Sun Mee  Sun Mee is a Korean-German...

Contact Michelle: michelle@gracepointpublishing.com  Make sure your book is on: http://adopteereading.com/ Check out podcasts you want to be a guest on: https://blog.feedspot.com/adoption_po...  Check out that book I mentioned: https://www.amazon.co.uk/1001-Ways-Ma... Here's the link to State Adoption Programme Managers https://www.childwelfare.gov/organiza... You put your heart and soul into writ...

Keep going. Even when the search for your roots is like looking for a needle in a haystack. John shares profound insights from his journey with modesty and humility. We go deep on identity, tenacity and curiosity. Highly recommended. John  was born in Mexico and raised in Arizona. He didn't start his search until he was 50. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100036393137797 https://www.johnsa...

"When I was forty-five, I received a photograph of my birth mother in the mail—the first time I ever saw someone who looked like me. Seeing myself in another person’s face was a lightning bolt so powerful it divided my life into everything that happened before that moment from everything that happened after." Listen as Eric explains more and we discuss perspective, unconditional love and more...  ...