Adoption & Beyond Podcast

In this powerful episode of Adoption & Beyond, Alyse and Nicole sit down with Dr. Nancy Grechko, a licensed clinical psychologist and founder of Grechko Training & Consulting. She explores the deeply personal and professional sides of fertility struggles — the grief, the hope, and the complicated decisions that often follow.

Dr. Grechko shares her own experience with fertility and how that journey has shaped her clinical work. From navigating emotional burnout to knowing when it’s time to consider alternatives like adoption, this conversation offers validation, insight, and real-world guidance for anyone touched by reproductive challenges.

Whether you're a mental health professional, a hopeful parent, or someone supporting a loved one through this journey, this episode offers an informative look into what it really means to support people through fertility challenges.

In this episode of Adoption & Beyond, Alyse and Nicole step out from behind the mic as hosts and into the spotlight to share their personal and professional journeys as social workers at Adoptions From The Heart. They open up about what led them to the field of social work, their experiences supporting birth and adoptive families, and the challenges and rewards of working in adoption.

From the emotional highs of creating families to the complexities of guiding people through difficult decisions, Alyse and Nicole give an inside look at the realities of being an adoption social worker. They also reflect on how this work has shaped their personal perspectives and share advice for those considering a career in adoption social work.

Join us for an insightful and heartfelt conversation about the people behind the process—because adoption is more than just paperwork, it’s about the connections that change lives.

Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review! Follow along for more adoption stories and insights.

In this episode of Adoption & Beyond, we sit down with Angela Tucker, a transracial adoptee, educator, and advocate, to discuss her journey growing up as a Black adoptee in a white family. Adopted through a closed adoption and raised in a predominantly white town in Washington, Angela always longed for connection to her roots but faced systemic barriers, including state laws requiring her to be 21 before accessing adoption records.

Angela shares how her perspective on transracial adoption evolved, particularly after leaving the "umbrella" of her white adoptive parents to attend college. She reflects on color evasiveness in adoption, the pressures of overachievement and people-pleasing, and the importance of listening directly to adoptees rather than allowing adoptive parents to speak for them—even into adulthood.

Through her work, Angela has created a virtual mentoring program to support adoptees and developed an inclusive family support model that emphasizes openness and authentic relationships between adoptees and birth parents. She discusses the need for white adoptive parents to actively cultivate anti-racist family environments and ensure that extended family members are also engaged in this learning.

For more information about Angela go to www.angelatucker.com or find her on Instagram @angieadopteeTo learn more about AFTH services you can go to www.afth.org or email us at [email protected]

2025 podcast season with a special episode reflecting on our journey over the past four decades. This milestone episode will explore how AFTH has grown, adapted, and evolved to meet the changing needs of adoptive families, birth parents, and adoptees. 

Joining us is AFTH's visionary Founder and adoptee, Maxine Chalker, who will share her inspiring story of establishing AFTH and her experiences in the world of adoption. We'll also hear from Heidi Gonzalez, AFTH’s current Executive Director, who will provide insights into the organization's present-day impact and goals for the future. Stephanie Capriotti, AFTH's longest-serving social worker, will reflect on the changes she’s witnessed in adoption practices and the meaningful moments that have defined her career. Finally, Adoption Attorney Debbie Spivack will discuss her role in supporting families through the legal aspects of adoption. 

This episode is a tribute to the incredible growth of AFTH, the lives touched by our mission, and the dedicated individuals who have made it all possible. Tune in for heartfelt stories, reflections, and a celebration of 40 years of creating connections that last a lifetime. 

In this episode of Adoption & Beyond, Nicole and Alyse are joined by Dr. Michael Stokes, a licensed professional counselor with Doctorate in Professional Counseling and Supervision and the CEO of Stokes Counseling. Dr. Stokes is also an adoptive father, having adopted twice through AFTH with his husband.

During this conversation, Dr. Stokes shares his personal adoption journey, offers professional insights on managing the emotional ups and downs of the waiting process, and provides valuable advice for families navigating their feelings during the holiday season. Additionally, he delves into the concept of duality in adoption, offering a thoughtful perspective on balancing joy and grief. Don’t miss this engaging and heartfelt episode!

In this episode of Adoption & Beyond, Nicole and Alyse sit down with Isaac Etter, a transracial adoptee, social entrepreneur, and the founder of Identity, a groundbreaking organization re-imagining post-placement support for adoptive and foster families.

Isaac shares his personal adoption story and the experiences that inspired him to become a passionate advocate for adoptees and their families. He dives into the complexities of navigating race and identity as a transracial adoptee, offering powerful insights into how parents and professionals can better support children in their journeys.

Listeners will also learn about Identity’s innovative approach to helping adoptive and foster families thrive and hear practical advice on fostering open conversations about race, culture, and belonging.

Whether you’re a parent, adoptee, or child welfare professional, this episode is packed with inspiration, education, and resources to help you better understand and navigate the unique challenges and joys of transracial adoption.

In this episode of Adoption & Beyond, Alyse and Nicole sit down with Chelsea and Randi of Grands Stepping Up, an organization dedicated to supporting kinship caregivers—grandparents and other relatives who step up to care for children within their families. They share invaluable insights into the unique challenges and rewards of kinship adoption, the resources available to help these families thrive, and the vital role of community and collaboration in supporting kinship care.

In this episode of Adoption & Beyond Podcast we sat down with Amanda Aliberti and Sheila Kowit , AFTH social workers, to talk about pregnancy options counseling and placing non-newborn children for adoption.

In this episode of Adoption & Beyond we were joined by Jessica Anne Pressler and Jennifer Conn. Jessica is an author, psychotherapist and social worker and Jennifer

During the episodes Jessica and Jennifer shared about their experience growing up as an adoptees and how their adoption impacted their lives growing up and as adults. They also touched on ways that parents can support adoptees in their journey of self discovery and provide a safe space for them to speak when they need support.

You can learn more about Jessica and her work as a

You can learn more about Jenn and her work with Adoptees on her website www.bloomtherapypa.com

To learn more about Adoptions From The Heart you can go to www.afth.org