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Reuniting with his birth family showed John McCormick, a transracial adoptee, a new world. He physically felt a relaxation he had never felt before, he connected with music and art like never before, and he started to own who he is - confidently - even when others denied his identity.

This is the story of how John’s reunion with his bio family was a healing journey that led him to reclaim an identity he was stripped of. 

What we discussed 

(00:26) Finding his family because of a coincidence OR Having his original birth certificate 

(06:08) I’m not Irish, I’m Colombian OR Loneliness of having a lost identity OR Who am I, even?

(10:05) Strange feelings after meeting his family OR Deciding to move to Colombia

(13:54) Reconnecting with music and art 

(19:06) Getting confident about his identity OR Confidently reclaiming his identity (despite the haters)

(24:48) Working with his therapist 

(28:48) How his adoptive family feels about him reconnecting with his bio family

(32:17) Preparing to meet your bio family 

Links

Colombian Influence Podcast

Wisdom and Nonsense Podcast

Grow Heal Blossom 

Connect with John McCormick: Website 

Follow us on social media: Twitter | Instagram | Tiktok

Credits

Special thanks to Samuel Oyedele for editing our podcast, support his work on Instagram or e-mail him at [email protected] 

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Emily's Journey: Identity, Language Learning, and Adoption Realities

After 9 months of living with monks, Emily Harris was adopted from China. She was left behind by her bio family due to the One Child Policy. To process her loss of identity, she has started to learn Chinese with a community of adoptees.   

In this episode, she talks about how language learning helps, why she wishes she was white, and the hardships of being a Chinese adoptee in the US.

What we discussed 

(00:24) Getting adopted from China

(07:18) Pandemic racism 

(09:29) Processing identity loss through language learning

(11:24) Not wanting to share the language with non-adoptees

(15:10) Belonging nowhere 

(20:58) One child policy

(23:43) Distance created by religion 

(27:02) Reckoning with being chinese OR “I want to be white”

(31:40) The note her birth family left her

(35:22) For adoptees learning their bio language…

(38:23) Connect with Emily

Links

Language Travel Adoptee on YouTube

Language Wellness and Identity Podcast

Connect with Emily Harris: Instagram | Twitter

Follow us on social media: Twitter | Instagram | Tiktok

Credits

Special thanks to Samuel Oyedele for editing our podcast, support his work on Instagram or e-mail him at [email protected] 

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Lina

Though Lina Vanegas was born to a Colombian family, she was forced to assimilate as a white jewish person. 38 years later, she’s unable to fully connect with her bio family nor speak their language. Forced assimilation is trauma. 

Her mission is to educate people on adoption trauma. In the episode, she gives a crash course on why adoption is trauma, what to do if you want to adopt in a trauma-informed way, and how to go down the rabbit hole of being adoption-trauma informed. 

What we discussed 

(00:32) Can you make up for 38 years of loss?

(05:08) Forced assimilation in childhood 

(07:11) Can’t speak my own language 

(09:14) Rescripting the narrative 

(10:31) If you’re thinking of adopting, do THIS.

(20:05) Why she’s educating the public 

(24:42) Adoption is preventable trauma OR Mental health and adoption

(28:07) Suicide among adoptees OR Why is adoption trauma? [EXPLAINED] 

(31:57) Intervention for adoptees 

(38:07) Finding an adoption-competent therapist [HOW-TO]

(42:00) Educate yourself

(43:50) Connect with Lina Vanegas

Links

Rescripting The Narrative Podcast

Adopted From Colombia Facebook Group

Dorothy Roberts researcher

The Child Catchers by Katherine Joyce

Connect with Lina Vanegas: Instagram | Twitter 

Follow us on social media: Twitter | Instagram | Tiktok

Credits

Special thanks to Samuel Oyedele for editing our podcast, support his work on Instagram or e-mail him at [email protected] 

Send us a text

Navigating the Complex World of Adoption: Unveiling Azriel June's Journey

They were told they’re white. They aren’t. They were told they’re Jewish. They aren’t. They tried to erase her heritage over and over again. They couldn’t…so they “gave her back”. This is the story that explains how US adoptions human rights violations - they’re genocide. 

This is Azriel’s story - a transcultural adoptee from a loving first family who has been systemically preyed upon by the adoption industry. 

TW: Sexual Assault 

“The worst part about the secrecy was that I knew I was being lied to. And not by, you know, my friends or some girl in middle school or something, but by the people who were supposed to be my parents.”

What we discussed 

(00:40) Azriel, an adoption abolitionist 

(01:27) A whole family traumatized by adoptions OR Azriel’s adoption story 

(06:02) Erasing my heritage OR No idea who I am…

(08:32) Mindf*cked OR From someone’s garbage to someone’s blessing

(11:26) Illegal adoption OR Renting me for my “cute” years OR Getting illegally adopted 

(12:52) My mom and grandma’s traumas

(16:28) Is adoption generosity? OR Is adoption selfless? OR Is adoption a better life?

(21:37) Living a literal lie OR Why am I not good enough to know the truth?

(24:59) Why I think my adoption was illegal 

(27:52) What I wish they did instead OR 1 call would’ve changed my life

(29:46) Becoming an abolitionist 

(31:10) Family policing is genocide 

(34:51) Community is lifesaving OR “Twitter was as angry as me” OR Community saved my life

Links

Finding Cleo Podcast

This Land Podcast

The Girls Who Went Away

Connect with Azriel: Twitter

Follow us on social media: Twitter | Instagram | Tiktok

Credits

Special thanks to Samuel Oyedele for editing our podcast, support his work on Instagram or e-mail him at [email protected] 

Send us a text

Should you cut off your adoptive parents? 

Should you “go no contact” with your adoptive parents?

“Oh hell no. Not this time. I’m done.” That’s what we felt before cutting off contact with your adoptive parents. Sometimes, the healthies thing we can do is to go no contact with our adoptive parents. Escaping abuse. Escaping racism. Escaping pain. 

In this episode we share what made us go no contact, discuss what it’s like, and share our personal advice to adoptees considering going no contact. 

What we discussed 

(00:34) What is “going no contact”

(01:27) Dr. Noelle’s no contact story

(07:45) The first time I heard the N-word

(08:23) Lia’s no contact story 

(14:45) The “I’m DONE” moment

(17:27) Cost of going no contact

(20:55) The huge disconnect

(23:57) What does it take to go no contact? 

(25:58) Going no contact WHILE raising kids OR Greatest fear OR What to do if your children talk to you about your mistakes 

(34:01) On the fence about going no contact? OR Should you go no contact?

Links

Follow us on social media: Twitter | Instagram | Tiktok

Credits

Special thanks to Samuel Oyedele for editing our podcast, support his work on Instagram or e-mail him at [email protected] 

Send us a Text Message.

Reclaiming Identity: Dr. Amy Ritterbusch on International Adoption & Abolition

Dr. Amy Ritterbusch was stolen from Colombia as a child and forced to live in the United States with her adoptive family. Foreign land, foreign people, foreign language. 

But, her longing for where she came from and who she came from never died. She spent the rest of her life trying to find her way back home. 

In this episode, we discuss international adoption and less violent alternatives to it. We talk about the complicitness of the state in imposing this violence and how guilt is weaponized to catalyze international adoption. 

Dr. Amy Ritterbusch is an Assistant Professor of Social Welfare at UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs

“So instead of criminalizing mothers in need, how do we create support systems so that decisions are not imposed? Rather folks can, can sort of make decisions in, in situations of care and not in situations of repression or violence.”

• Dr. Amy Ritterbusch

What I shared

(00:38) Stolen from Colombia as a child

(03:52) Healing through work

(06:25) Meeting her biological mom (under supervision of the state)

(13:34) State violence and adoption

(19:38) Always an outsider, belonging nowhere OR Forced presence 

(24:22) Building systems that repair harm 

(28:17) Alternatives to international adoption

(33:24) Finding and mourning where you came from 

(36:51) Connect with Dr. Amy 

Links

Connect with Dr. Amy: Amy Ritterbusch | Latino Policy & Politics Institute (ucla.edu)

Follow us on social media: Twitter | Instagram | Tiktok

Credits

Special thanks to Samuel Oyedele for editing our podcast, support his work on Instagram or e-mail him at [email protected] 

Send us a text

Navigating Holidays as an Adoptee: Exploring Complex Emotions & Self Care

For adoptees, holidays mean performance. Acting like you care, acting like you’re happy, acting like you’re grateful. And if you don’t perform, then you live in guilt. 

It’s ironic, because adoption itself is an act. 

Join us as we explore this and discuss what holidays are like for us adoptees. 

What we discussed 

(00:38) Father’s day for adoptees 

(08:01) Mother’s day for adoptees

(11:15) Creating your own holiday traditions 

(13:46) Thanksgiving and christmas for adoptees 

(16:38) Always in debt

(18:29) “Performing” Christmas 

(20:14) Ruining the vibe 

(21:00) Not invited

(24:46) Doing your own thing

(25:39) Birthdays for adoptees

(29:47) The most f*cked up holiday OR Gotcha Day 

(33:37) Advice to adoptive families about holidays OR Question for adoptive families OR What every adoptive family must answer

Links

Follow us on social media: Twitter | Instagram | Tiktok

Credits

Special thanks to Samuel Oyedele for editing our podcast, support his work on Instagram or e-mail him at [email protected] 

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Adoptee Origin Story: Ayomide Bee

Is Adoption Human Trafficking? With Ayomide Bee

Selling children is human trafficking, so why isn’t adoption considered human trafficking? It’s state-sanctioned trafficking with a paper trail. 

Ayomide Bee shares her adoption story as a queer transracial adoptee. 

Her take is not only that same-sex couples shouldn’t adopt - but that adoption should be abolished. 

Listen to her origin story & views. 

“Just because it's legal doesn't mean that it's not trafficking. Slavery was legal. The residential homes were legal. Legality doesn't mean a goddamn thing.” - Ayomide Bee

What We Discussed

(00:31) Story of Ayomide Bee

(02:32) Always being the topic of conversation OR Knowing yourself by how people talk about you OR Our story = other people’s stories of us?

(04:23) Coming out of the fog OR Finding wonky stuff in the adoption paperwork 

(05:22) Being forced into adoption 

(08:07) Decision to go no contact

(12:13) How she wants her adoptive parents to take accountability

(14:15) Should same-sex couples adopt? 

(19:58) Is adoption human trafficking? 

(25:24) Adoption alternatives 

(28:48) Relationship w/bio grandma (who suggested adoption) OR Anger toward grandma 

(37:19) What does abolishing adoption look like?

(40:30) Connecting with Ayomide 

Links

Connect With Ayomide: Instagram | Substack 

Follow us on social media: Twitter | Instagram | Tiktok

Credits

Special thanks to Samuel Oyedele for editing our podcast, support his work on Instagram or e-mail him at [email protected] 

Send us a text

Activism For Adoptees With Erica Babino

What’s it like to be an activist for adoptees? What’s the story of someone who is an adoptees activist? How would you feel if you discovered that your bio mom lives on your street, after you’ve been searching for her for 25 years? 

This week, we speak to Erica Babino a Black same race adoptee who is a former American Adoption Congress Board Member. We discuss if it’s possible to ever separate your identity from being adopted, adoption myths, and how to normalize anti-adoption.  

What We Discussed

(00:31) An adoptees’ rights activist, Erica Babino

(01:08) Her origin story OR 25 years of searching 

(04:04) Do you ever stop feeling adopted?

(06:36) The moment she met her bio mom OR First bio meeting = no tears, no hugs?

(09:32) Do good adoption families also cause trauma? 

(13:12) Most important thing adoptive parents must do 

(14:43) Experience as an American Adoption Congress board member

(19:01) Right to a birth certificate 

(21:18) How to be an adoptees activist

(24:10) Going through reunion OR Can’t prepare for reunion 

(26:30) Best advice for birth families 

Links

Adoptees United 

American Adoption Congress 

Follow us on social media: Twitter | Instagram | Tiktok

Credits

Special thanks to Samuel Oyedele for editing our podcast, support his work on Instagram or e-mail him at [email protected] 

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