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We finish our conversation with Stephanie Oyler, MSW, LSW and Amanda Transue-Woolston, MSS, LSW about the recent losses of their mothers. This is part two of a two-part series where we hear from Stephanie and Amanda about the loss of first mothers and adoptive mothers, both in the practical sense and about the psychological impacts. Learn from their wisdom about a topic that often gets avoided: losses all the way through an adoptee’s lifespan.

Mother loss. Doesn’t that say it all? We get the extraordinary honour of hearing from Stephanie Oyler, MSW, LSW and Amanda Transue-Woolston, MSS, LSW about the recent deaths that have impacted them in tremendous ways. This is part one of a two-part series where we learn from Stephanie and Amanda about the loss of first mothers and adoptive mothers, both in the practical sense and about the psychological impacts. Join us for this powerful conversation. Full Show Notes Here Connect With Us Stephanie Oyler, MSW, LSW: adopteelitllc.com | Instagram | Facebook Amanda Transue-Woolston, MSS, LSW: declassifiedadoptee.com | amandawoolston.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Haley Radke: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Adoptees On: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | Spotify | Stitcher | YouTube Support Adoptees On One Time Donation | Monthly | Secret Facebook Group Connect Monthly Newsletter | Send a Note or Record a Voicemail

Today we welcome Julayne Lee, author of Not My White Savior. Julayne shares what drew her to visit Korea for the first time in her thirties and later how she spent three years there, working, traveling, and writing. We also discuss adoptee activism and the role anger can play in our work. Full Show Notes Here Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | Spotify | Stitcher | YouTube Support Adoptees On One Time Donation | Monthly | Secret Facebook Group Connect Monthly Newsletter | Send a Note or Record a Voicemail

On the latest episode of Adoptees On, we bring you some critical information about thousands of adoptees who are shockingly without citizenship. You will hear Anissa Druesedow’s powerful story of being adopted and brought to the United States, finding out she doesn’t have citizenship, and what lead to her deportation. Kristopher Larsen, Executive Director of Adoptees For Justice, also joins us to let us know how we can impact this movement and advocate for the Adoptee Citizenship Act. Full Show Notes Here Connect With Us Adoptees For Justice | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Haley Radke: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Adoptees On: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | Spotify | Stitcher | YouTube Support Adoptees On One Time Donation | Monthly | Secret Facebook Group Connect Monthly Newsletter | Send a Note or Record a Voicemail

Today we meet Abby Forero-Hilty, a Colombian adoptee now living in Canada. We talk about the importance of decolonization, the impact of finding yourself prior to searching for first family, and she shares her thoughts on connecting with other adoptees on a healing journey. Next, we shift into discussing the film Mum’s The Word, and we even have an interview with the Director and Executive Producer, Colin Scheyen. A big congratulations to Colin and his team for winning a Golden Sheaf Award in the Mental Health category at the Yorkton Film Festival last night! Full Show Notes Here Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | Spotify | Stitcher | YouTube Support Adoptees On One Time Donation | Monthly | Secret Facebook Group Connect Monthly Newsletter | Send a Note or Record a Voicemail

I’ve been quiet as I’ve watched things unfold (we’ve been in the middle of moving during the pandemic, what timing). In searching for the perfect words to say, I’m obviously failing. So I’m trying to do the next right thing, which is to point you towards my fellow podcasters and adoptees who are BIPOC to listen and learn from, as I am. This is not to put the onus on them to teach us - this is to put the onus back on us to be active in learning to be allies and anti-racist. I can literally think of a very recent moment where I failed a friend in an all-too-common scenario, and I promise I won’t let that happen again. I have a brief minisode for you today and we’ll be back next week with a new full-length episode. Please listen and share your recommendations for other BIPOC adoptees who we should be following and learning from. Show Notes Recommended Resources Damon Davis - Who Am I Really? Podcast April Dinwoodie - Born in June, Raised in April Jessenia Parmer - I Am Adopted - Facebook | Instagram Hannah Mat

Today we welcome Karri of The Invisible Threads Blog. Karri and I talk about reunion with biological parents and siblings, what her relationships really look like right now. We also talk about some personal struggles with maintaining relationships and how we’ve both built chosen community into our lives. Full Show Notes Here Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | Spotify | Stitcher | YouTube Support Adoptees On One Time Donation | Monthly | Secret Facebook Group Connect Monthly Newsletter | Send a Note or Record a Voicemail

Today we are talking with Sara Easterly about her memoir Searching for Mom. Sara shares how her relationship with her adoptive mother changed over the years, how adoption shaped her view of what motherhood means, and what that looks like for her today. Full Show Notes Here Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | Spotify | Stitcher | YouTube Support Adoptees On One Time Donation | Monthly | Secret Facebook Group Connect Monthly Newsletter | Send a Note or Record a Voicemail

Janet Nordine, MS, LMFT is back on the podcast and we are talking about an issue I’ve heard about from many adoptees, especially during this unprecedented time. We talk about using food as a comfort, feeling scared or anxious that there won’t be enough, and how this time is bringing back memories of food hoarding from childhood. Janet teaches us about the “belly brain”, why many of us struggle with using food or other oral stimuli as comfort, and she gives us an exercise to practice grounding. I want to add an acknowledgment that in our world there are people with literal food insecurity and that I understand this discussion does come from a place of privilege. If you are financially able to, I would encourage you to support an organization that you trust that is working to prevent hunger. Adoptees On has made a donation to our local food bank for this episode. Full Show Notes Here Connect With Us Janet Nordine, MS, LMFT: experiencecourage.com | Twitter | Instagram | Experience Courage on Facebook | Janet o

Nelle Doux shares her story of becoming her own advocate and, as she calls it, a private investigator to find her biological father and the truth about her origins. We discuss her experiences of racism even from a young age and the complete bewilderment Doux had from not knowing her racial identity. Full Show Notes Here Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | Spotify | Stitcher | YouTube Support Adoptees On One Time Donation | Monthly | Secret Facebook Group Connect Monthly Newsletter | Send a Note or Record a Voicemail

Kevin Barhydt shares that it wasn’t until unpacking the multiple traumas of his addiction and childhood sexual abuse, that he uncovered adoption trauma that was there since his relinquishment. Kevin and I also talk about how community support has helped him thrive and grow. Full Show Notes Here Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | Spotify | Stitcher | YouTube Support Adoptees On One Time Donation | Monthly | Secret Facebook Group Connect Monthly Newsletter | Send a Note or Record a Voicemail

Alison Malee shares her story of being adopted in the nineties, and how she has been processing her recent discoveries via DNA testing. These have brought about great shifts in identity and also allowed her to connect with members of her first family. Full Show Notes Here Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | Spotify | Stitcher | YouTube Support Adoptees On One Time Donation | Monthly | Secret Facebook Group Connect Monthly Newsletter | Send a Note or Record a Voicemail

Jennifer Dyan Ghoston is here to share her story with us. Jennifer tells us about the moment she opened her original birth certificate, her search for her biological family, and what reunion with extended family really looks like for her today.

Pam Cordano, MFT is here to share some insights from her brand new book, 10 Foundations For a Meaningful Life (No Matter What’s Happened). Pam reveals some personal stories to teach us about how to find and understand our true worth. Full Show Notes Here Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | Spotify | Stitcher | YouTube Support Adoptees On One Time Donation | Monthly | Secret Facebook Group Connect Monthly Newsletter | Send a Note or Record a Voicemail

Pam Cordano, MFT is here to share some insights from her brand new book, 10 Foundations For a Meaningful Life (No Matter What’s Happened). Pam reveals some personal stories to teach us about how to find and understand our true worth. Full Show Notes Here Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | Spotify | Stitcher | YouTube Support Adoptees On One Time Donation | Monthly | Secret Facebook Group Connect Monthly Newsletter | Send a Note or Record a Voicemail

Marta Isabella Sierra Drachenberg, LMHC is back on the Healing Series sharing more intimate moments from her reunion with her family in Colombia. She teaches us about how Internal Family Systems saved her relationship with her mother. You don’t want to miss this very personal episode with some brilliant insights from Marta. Full Show Notes Here Connect With Us Marta Isabella Sierra Drachenberg, LMHC: marta.drachenberg [at] gmail [dot] com | martadrachenberglmhc.com Haley Radke: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Adoptees On: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | Spotify | Stitcher | YouTube Support Adoptees On One Time Donation | Monthly | Secret Facebook Group Connect Monthly Newsletter | Send a Note or Record a Voicemail

Marta Isabella Sierra Drachenberg, LMHC is back on the Healing Series! Marta recently returned from a year-long trip to Columbia, her country of origin. She shares some intimate moments of what cross-cultural reunion/reunification looks like and she teaches us about some common barriers in reunion we need to be on alert for. Full Show Notes Here Connect With Us Marta Isabella Sierra Drachenberg, LMHC: marta.drachenberg [at] gmail [dot] com | martadrachenberglmhc.com Haley Radke: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Adoptees On: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | Spotify | Stitcher | YouTube Support Adoptees On One Time Donation | Monthly | Secret Facebook Group Connect Monthly Newsletter | Send a Note or Record a Voicemail

Jenny Heijun Wills is our guest today, the author of the memoir Older Sister. Not Necessarily Related. We talk about adoption in literature, why it’s so important to elevate the adoptee voice and Jenny explains what does it really mean when someone asks us “what do your adoptive parents think about all this”. You can listen right here (turn up your sound

Melanie Chung-Sherman, LCSW-S is back with us on the Healing Series sharing her wisdom. Melanie and Haley continue the conversation about safety in advocacy and activism, holding boundaries, and the cost of our emotional labour.

I can’t wait to share my discussion with Melanie Chung-Sherman, LCSW-S with you. Melanie teaches us about responding to microaggressions while keeping ourselves safe. This is critical listening, especially for anyone working in adoptee advocacy. Full Show Notes Here Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | Spotify | Stitcher | YouTube Support Adoptees On One Time Donation | Monthly | Secret Facebook Group Connect Monthly Newsletter | Send a Note or Record a Voicemail