When They Were Young: Amplifying Voices of Adoptees

 Today we have  an adoptee who was a guest on episode 50 where we discussed the dangers of calling adoption a blessing. Sara Easterly is an adoptee, essayist, and author of books that include Adoption Unfiltered: Revelations from Adoptees, Birth Parents, Adoptive Parents, and Allies , and award-winning spiritual memoir, Searching for Mom . She is the founder of Adoptee Voices, which supports adopt...

Hi again! The idea of adoptees reclaiming themselves have perplexed certain people for awhile now. If you aren’t adopted or haven’t had an in-depth conversation with someone who is adopted you might wonder “What do they need to reclaim?” Today’s guest is Rae from Adoptee Reclaimed.  Rae is trauma-informed and versed in child development, brain-body integration, and addiction and abuse recovery coa...

Happy New Year! This conversation is a great inspiration for this next chapter. Eunnuri Lee is a Korean-American activist, visual artist, and adoptee who I stumbled across on Tik Tok. I was instantly intrigued by her multidimensional content, her whimsical makeup and Megan thee Stallion commentary.  And the fact that she is an adoptee as well was sprinkles on the top.  This conversation covers jus...

Hey there, love! Today we have Shania Ives as a guest! Shania is an adult adoptee from the UK, the Founding Director of The Dunbar Project, and a trainee integrative psychotherapist. Her mission is to create spaces for empowerment and growth within marginalized communities. Shania is the very first adoptee I’ve met whose adoptive parents strove to preserve Shania’s connection with her biological f...

Today I chat with Becca Flatt, who is a therapist and advocate specializing in adoption-related trauma, grief, and estrangement. A queer, Black, interracial biracial adoptee, she provides therapy exclusively for adoptees and consultations for both adoptees and adoptive parents. Becca facilitates an estrangement support group for adoptees with Adoption Mosaic and teaches an estrangement course for...

Hey, loves! Today I give you three actionables (including a book) that will shift the way you react to people and the situations around you. As well as a tip to release expectations. The holiday season can be disappointing with unmet expectations, I think I know something that will help :) BOOK: Addicted to Drama by Dr. Scott Lyons Support the show CONNECT WITH HOST: @youngadoptee @lantoines www.l...

Today I sit with Tara Nolan who is the co-hosts of the podcast (ABC) Adoptees Born in China show, where adoptees from China can listen to and share their adoption stories. This is a deeply thought provoking conversation around the Chinese laws to abolish international adoption and the emotional outcry of the Chinese adoptees who are the last adoptees from that region of the world.  We discuss: - A...

Today I have the pleasure of chatting with Ryan Jafar Artes, the host of adoptee Open Mic Tuesday zoom events and an award winning poet. We discuss:  The act of Reparenting ourselves And how through the clear lens of sobriety, Ryan chose the community that poured into him.  We touch on the imperative of supporting younger generations of adoptees,  Afrofuturism and endofuturism that has inspired a...

Hi friends, It's been a ruthless week but I'm here for you. Today I dive into the 5 things I've learned the past year on hiatus. Please note that I speak about my suicide ideations, mental health as well as mention the convictions of our president elect. I'll leave you with some nuggets of hope though. Sending you grace.  Support the show CONNECT WITH HOST: @youngadoptee @lanto...

Today I have the pleasure of chatting with Dr. Gretchen Sisson about her critically acclaimed book "Relinquished: The Politics of Adoption and the Privilege of American Motherhood." Gretchen is a sociologist with Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health at the University of California, San Francisco, where she studies adoption and abortion.  We discuss: -How national crisis create...

I was a guest on the podcast Adoption: The Long View, hosted by Lori Holden. In this episode I am interviewed by Lori who asks the vital question "How can adoptees be the hero of their own stories?" Because that is what I believe we should be. Lori is one of the co-writers for the book, "Adoption Unfiltered: Revelations by Adoptees, Birth parents, and Adoptive parents." The fol...

Today we talk about the science of attachment styles inspired by the book "Attached" by Amir Levine and Rachel S.F. Heller. This book has revolutionized how I approach all of my relationships. These are my reasons why you should read this book and how I now use it to healthfully allow people to be as they are.  REFERENCES: Attached written by Amir Levine and Rachel S.F. Heller Disordered...

Today our guest is Shelby Redfield Kilgore who is a two time Emmy award-winning filmmaker and author of the blog, “Behind the Lens” and also co-writer of the book “Rooted in Adoption: A Collection of Adoptee Reflections”. Today's topics: Her filmmaking and how she found her artistic voice How the stories she collects have informed her own adoption journey The societal pressures of single moth...

Today we have author, activist, podcaster, and educative content creator Melissa Guida Richards; who was also a guest on episode 6 ,and a panelist on my 2020 panel series. A lot has happened since we last chatted a few years ago; Melissa's second book launched and her tik tok / IG platforms now have a huge following of people who want to learn more.  Topics today include: The ramification of...

Today I speak with poet, artist, and activist matthew anthony. Matthew has a podcast called "Little Did You Know" and a vibrant poetry book called "You Can Not Burn The Sun." We discuss: - Reclaiming ones name - Rehoming and separating siblings  - What "with-ness" is in regards to solidarity  - And the resiliency of a black spirit brought up in a Sun Down town GUEST:...

Today, we speak with Lorah Gerald (aka The Adopted Chameleon).  It was a delight to have a light worker with such a profound grasp of a plethora of healing modalities. Lorah is a trauma-informed Kundalini Yoga instructor, Intuitive, Tarot & Tea reader, and Reiki healer. You can find her on Instagram @theadopteechamelean sharing her gifts as a healer through movement and mindful practices.  We...

Today it’s just me. This month has been many things for me. Officially it’s Mental Health awareness month and Asian, Asian American, Pacific Islander Heritage Month. I want to take the time to honor both things. First I’ll tell you why Mental Health awareness is so imperative on a personal level and on a community level. REFERENCES: Film One Child Nation Asian Nation Blog https://www.asian-nation....

Today's guest is Lori May Mier who is  the author of Marin and Her Very Bright Star; a story of resiliency which is available on her website. She also is an activator in her community. Find out why I use the word "activator" instead of "activist" in the episode.  We talk about: The difference between Grief and loss Narrative therapy and how reimagining your story can chang...

My guest today is Nelson De Witt who is an author, film maker and technologist. This conversation was fascinating. Nelson was born in El Salvador and raised here on East Coast. We discuss: -Coping mechanisms for his Dyslexia (and my dyslexia, because we both have it) - Joseph Campbell’s Heroes Journey, which is the most prevalent template for stories that involve a hero. The hero goes on an advent...

This week it's all me. I discuss healing the inner child and how that has benefited my life. There are many ways to go about it this powerful work. Listen and find out how incredibly useful it can be to acknowledge and connect with ones inner children. REFERENCES: What is An Inner Child & What Does It know https://integrativepsych.co/new-blog/what-is-an-inner-child#:~:text=Your%20%E2%80%9...

Today's guest, Nikki Webster is the illustrator Nikki Often,  heart warming comics that "Punch you in the gut." We discuss the following: Allowing your child to sleep with you for as long as possible Nikki's work comics What is a "miracle of tenacity" How to overcome feelings of not being enough as we both dabble in public speaking.  GUEST: Nikki Webster https://www.n...

Today's guest is the author, film maker and coach, Anne Heffron. Anne wrote  “You Don’t Look Adopted,” “Making a Mess: Writing and Pooping,” “Truth Agency: Writing Ideas for people who were adopted,” and she co-wrote the film “Phantom Halo.” Anne facilitates writing workshops and retreats designed to empower, instill confidence and make people excited to be alive. We discuss: Approaching life...

Today I speak with Isaac Etter , a social entrepreneur, transracial adoptee, founder of  Identity a startup focused on using technology to help foster and adoptive families thrive, and the owner of a small business strategy agency called, Etter Consulting . Identity is dedicated to equiping parents so that the children are empowered.  GUEST: Isaac Etter https://isaacetter.com/ RECOURCES: Heart and...

Our guest Emma Stevens is an mother, trainer and the author of "The Gathering Place: An adoptee's Story" and newly released,  "A Fire is Coming." We unpack the uses of the healing modality, EMDR Therapy (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing), and she touches on her tumultuous childhood with her adoptive parents, the gift of learning how to take up space, Benefits...

Today's guest, Patrick Armstrong (he/him) discusses  creating his podcasts and what that entails, how he builds empathy with and for the community outside of the adoption constellation, and how "adoptee" is an identity that one inhabits. We also delve into what differentiates an activist from advocate and how he navigates the construct of "whiteness".  Patrick is an adopte...