Cameron Lee Small, 39, originally named He Seong Lee, was adopted from Korea at the age of two by white parents and grew up in a small town in Wisconsin. But he was never interested in knowing more about his native country or exploring his own feelings about being transracially adopted. But that changed in his 20s. Today, Small is a licensed therapist who specializes in helping transracially adopted adults and children, their parents and families, to grow in their journey and to acknowledge the complexities inherent in transracial and transnational adoption. 

Korean adoptee Wayne Kangas, 34, grew up in a small town in remote and rural northern Minnesota. He spent his childhood trying to fit in -- by excelling in sports and trying not to draw too much attention to himself academically. Kangas got a chance to experience Korea right before graduating from college more than 10 years ago and how he found a family there that helped root him to his native country. But it was to northern MInnesota and his Finnish-American family where Kangas would return and raise a family of his own. 

Jon F. Gee Schill, 33, has been helping to build and sustain the Korean adoptee and Asian-American communities in the Twin Cities for several years. But it might surprise you to learn a little more about his back story, growing up in Oregon and Idaho, and his feelings towards Korea and his adoptee identity. 

Navigating multiple identities like being queer and a Korean adoptee has been interesting, says Shawyn Lee, 41. "We're quick to throw people in boxes," says the Duluth, Minn., resident. But the labels aren't always accurate and don't allow people full visibility. In this episode, Lee talks about the complexity of identity, relationships, owning up to your truths and why adoptee voices matter. 

Emma Wexler, 22, is a Vietnamese adoptee who grew up influenced by the experiences and writings of Korean adoptees, who dominate many transracial adoptee-focused spaces. This college senior has had to do a lot thinking about identity and race, intercountry adoption and privilege, religion, socio-economics, race and child displacement. Wexler explains that she's always felt her family was different from others and has learned how to navigate stigma and judgment to form an identity that is all her own. Wexler has learned and taken inspiration from Korean adoptees but now also wants to make a case for strengthening inclusion within the overall adoptee community. 

Korean-American adoptee Mila Konomos, 44, has spent a lifetime pondering the meaning of family, first as an adopted child to white American parents stationed on military bases in places such as Japan and the Philippines, later meeting her biological Korean parents to becoming a mother to bi-racial children in the U.S. But neither her adoption nor reunion with bio family has brought her a sense of wholeness. Now a performance artist, social and racial justice rights activist, partner and mother, this episode explores how Konomos' life experiences has shaped who she is today. 

Son of a Korean haenyo, the storied female free divers, and a single mother, adoptee Ben Coz, 30, also plunges depths in adoption activism in Korea. You'll hear how his politics are inextricably linked to his personal life, and how early trauma and loss has influenced his call to action. 

What do you do when you become an adopted parent's caregiver and there might be unresolved issues related to your childhood and adoption? Sarah MeeRan Cave, 33, shares some of her story of caring for an aging parent, her relationship with music and teachers along the way, and how it has all ultimately help her to find the path to her own healing. 

Sharon Jung, 37, is on a redemptive journey. Adopted from Korea at the age of four, Jung, along with her twin sister, would learn devastating details about the separation from their first family and what the adoption agency did to make that happen. It led them down a path to the wrong family. Jung also experienced abuse and mistreatment in her adoptive family, which spiraled into despair and drug abuse. But through it all, Jung's story is about finding how to love even when you feel unworthy of it, and of how her twin never gave up on her. 

Taneka Hye Wol Jennings, 34, works towards social justice and immigrant rights as the deputy director of Hana Center in Chicago, Ill. She also uses that passion to advocate for the Korean adoptee community through organizations like KAtCH in Chicago and others. Listen as Jennings steps out of her comfort zone to share some of her reflections as an adoptee, daughter and partner.