Dr. Linda Russell comes on the podcast to discuss her journey with adoption. In 1997, Linda's daughter experienced an unplanned pregnancy, and Linda's family was faced with the decision of whether to parent the child, or place the child for adoption. Living in the bible belt, and being conservative Christians, Linda's family believed that adoption would be the best choice for both their child and their future grandchild. Shortly after placement, the adoption plan in which they were promised fell through, and the whole family was left heartbroken. The dreams Linda had for her daughter, which she believed would have been shattered by keeping her child, were actually shattered by the trauma of the adoption. After everything that occurred, Linda decided to return to school to learn about the psychology of adoption, what had actually happened to her family, and help others navigate the same situation she once faced. Linda focus' on the trauma, for both the first family and especially the adoptee, and the importance of attachment. Check out this episode to hear all about Linda's journey and experience!!

Contact Linda:

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Counseling Website

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Ereka Howard comes on the podcast to discuss her adoption journey. Ereka discusses how her biological mother and grandmother came to the United States from Cuba on the Mariel Boatlift. At birth, Ereka was placed in foster care and then was later adopted from a local adoption agency in Dallas, Texas. Ereka was reunited with her birth grandmother in college when she reached out to her through social media. Unfortunately, Ereka was never able to meet her first mother, she had passed away years prior. Ereka discusses her healing journey- from feelings of grief and rejection, to working as a motivational speaker and inspiring others. 

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Brooke Randolph comes on the podcast to discuss her journey with adoption. Brooke is an adoptive parent, but long before adopting, she became interested in studying the psychology of adoption. Brooke helped found an international adoption agency, and specialized helping adoptive parents prepare for this next chapter of their lives. Through her experience with international adoption, she saw the need for older children in these countries to find homes, and she herself decided to adopt. After becoming an adoptive parent, Brooke opened her own private practice and focuses on helping her patients overcome personal traumas, and heal with ehe use of Brain-spotting. Brooke explains this psychological technique of brain-spotting, and how she has seen it help her patients. 

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7 Core Emotional Issues in Adoption

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Chris Breedlove comes on the podcast to share his story as a late discovery adoptee. Chris is the author of the book "Diehr Breedlove", a memoir chronicling his search for self-discovery, and reunion with his birth family. He describes how his relationship with each of his birthparents have evolved, and how he has integrated the reality of being an adoptee in his life, and come to peace with it. 

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"Diehr Breedlove"

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A few weeks ago, it was confirmed through ancestry DNA that the man who is believed to be my birthfather, William, is actually, my birth father. While we all assumed this to be the case, its been a kind of surreal experience accepting this as a fact into my life. This week I wanted to do a special episode, a special fathers day episode- to find out a little more about the man who I share half of my DNA with. Unfortunately, William passed in 2010. He is survived by his mother and two sisters, as well as a son named Spencer. Spencer and I have known each other for a few years, and for this episode, we decided to record our first phone conversation for the podcast. I decided to do this because, this is adoption; and for me its a bit of an insight for me into what might have been. Would my experience have been similar to Spencers? What was William like? What was it like to have him as a Dad? and whats his family like? and whats it like to be a part of that?

Denise comes on the podcast to discuss her experience as an adoptee, and her journey from anger and pain to compassion and appreciation of her adoption experience. Born addicted and left in the hospital by her birthmother, Denise was placed in foster care. When her adoptive parents met her, they instantly fell in love and adopted her. Denise grew up in a loving home with endless opportunities, but always felt a bit of pain when reflecting on her origin story, especially on her birthday. While in college, Denise had an "Ah-ha" moment while doing a project on an event that had changed her life, and she chose adoption. Denise realized while she had been viewing her adoption from the pain it had caused her, she had not seen all the blessings it had brought to her life. Denise advocates for other adoptees to share their stories and talk about their adoption experience as a way to heal from the pain caused by abandonment. Denise's book "They Chose Me" is out for release soon!!!

Contact Denise:

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Jennifer comes on the podcast discuss generational trauma, and its impact on families. Jennifer tells her complex story of how adoption, and disruption of the mother/child bond affected her family for generations. When Jennifer's daughter became pregnant as a senior in high school,  she, along with her family, decided to place the child for adoption. After the placement they came to the realization that adoption wasn't all that was promised, and the trauma left an open hole in the heart of their family. Despite discovering all this, and coming to terms with it, Jennifer had a deep down feeling that something else inside her had driven her to think that having her daughter place the child was ok. Through the help of counseling, Jennifer realized how having a mother who placed a son for adoption before her birth, and then abandoned her at age 5- affected how she bonded and related with her children. We wrap up talking about how to end the generational trauma we all carry, the trauma that was passed down to us from the generations that came before.

Contact Jennifer:

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Michael is a transracial adoptee who was brought to America from Colombia at the age of two. His adoptive parents did not complete paperwork in their home state to finalize his adoption, and thus he was never made an American citizen. Michael is a husband and father of 2, with one on the way - and is now facing deportation. Michael has never left the country, has no memory of Colombia, and does not speak the language. Today, he is very lucky to have an employer that has allowed him to continue working, and a wife who is financially able to sponsor him while he seeks citizenship; but, tens of thousands of adoptees have not been so lucky. They have been sent back to countries they have no memory of, to countries with a language they do not speak, to a place they were taken from- to be children of American parents. I'm honored Michael trusted me to share his story, and we are able to shed some light on a narrative that is definitely being suppressed in this country.

IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW CAN HELP-

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Renee Gelin comes on the podcast to tell her story, and discuss her organization, Saving Our Sisters (S.O.S). Renee lost her son to adoption in 2011. She lacked the resources and support at the time to parent her son, and believed she was doing the best for him by placing him for adoption. After placement she began learning and experiencing the lifelong psychological affects that adoption has on both the adoptee and first family. She also began to realize that adoption, in her case, as well as many others, was a permanent solution for a temporary problem. Renee founded SOS to help women in the midst of a crisis pregnancy keep their children, if they wish to parent, and promote family preservation. SOS has a network of "sisters on the ground" to help educate vulnerable women considering adoption, and find them resources and support in their area. Currently, SOS has helped preserve hundreds of families. If you or someone you know is considering adoption- please reach out to Renee at the links below. If you would like to help Saving Our Sisters, they are always looking for sisters on the ground to help women all over United States. You can also donate to SOS through their website, a small amount goes a long way in helping a family stay together.

Website

Personal Email

S.O.S. Email

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Instagram

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Amanda comes on the podcast to discuss her experience as an adopte, born in Colombia, adopted, and raised in Sweden. We discuss the roles grief, guilt, and attachment play in adoption. Amanda also explains the contradictory emotions that are constantly at play for adoptees. We wrap up by discussing Amanda's blog "This Adoptee Life", where she is shares voices of adoptees from around the world.

This Adoptee Life links:

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Email

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