Welcome back to our little corner of the Internet as welaunch Season 2 of the podcast! We are so thankful you are here, whether you’ve listened since Season 1 or you are brand new to this space.

In today’s episode, we give a brief recap of our adoption journeys before discussing the following questions:

What moment in adoption process was the most emotional for you?

What moment brought you the most joy?

What emotion would you say surprised you the most, was the most unexpected?

Grab some coffee or tea and join us for our first episodeback after summer break!

Welcome to the Adoption Side By Side Podcast -because no one should have to walk the adoption journey alone! We are so glad you're here!<3 ~Steph & Andrea

Find us on Instagram & TikTok at adoptionsidebyside.

Our intro and outro music is from the creators atTuneTank-Track: On The Way Home by Evan Splash

⁠https://tunetank.com/track/425-on-the-way-home/⁠

We can hardly believe we’ve been on the air for 21 episodesnow! For our final episode of Season 1, we chat about our favorite funny & meaningful moments recording the podcast, which episodes were the most popular, and what’s to come in Season 2 (new episodes begin airing September 2026).

We appreciate everyone who has come along for the ride!Thank you for supporting two amateur podcasters who are passionate about adoption. Please leave us a comment and let us know what your favorite episode was from Season 1!

Welcome to the Adoption Side By Side Podcast -because noone should have to walk the adoption journey alone! We are so glad you're here! <3 ~Steph & Andrea

Find us on Instagram & TikTok atadoptionsidebyside.

Our intro and outro music is from the creators atTuneTank-Track: On The Way Home by Evan Splash

https://tunetank.com/track/425-on-the-way-home/

When you enter the adoption process, you are quickly aware of many laws & lots of paperwork that help govern and finalize a child legally joining your family…but what exactly goes into preparing for a private adoption hearing?  What questions might you be asked during that hearing? We talk today with Lonn Litchfield, attorney & partner at Sorensen Litchfield, who draws from his wealth of knowledge accumulated over many cases to help demystify the legal end of adoption.

Welcome to the Adoption Side By Side Podcast -because no one should have to walk the adoption journey alone! We are so glad you're here! <3 ~Steph & Andrea

Find us on Instagram & TikTok atadoptionsidebyside.

Our intro and outro music is from the creators at TuneTank-Track: On The Way Home by Evan Splash

https://tunetank.com/track/425-on-the-way-home/

Today we welcome a mother & daughter duo, Beth &Mira, as they share the story of Mira’s adoption at age 2 from China. Beth discusses what the process of international adoption looked like for their family, including how they approached bonding with a toddler and the initial languagebarrier. Mira gives us her perspective on how adoption has impacted her life, both growing up and today as an adult. We know you will love this beautiful story of a family of six finding that their youngest child / sibling was waiting for them across the globe.

Welcome to the Adoption Side By Side Podcast -because no one should have to walk the adoption journey alone! We are so glad you're here! <3 ~Steph & Andrea

Find us on Instagram & TikTok atadoptionsidebyside.

Our intro and outro music is from the creators at TuneTank-Track:On The Way Home by Evan Splash

https://tunetank.com/track/425-on-the-way-home/

In private infant adoption, you dream of hearing those wordsfrom an agency… “It’s a match!” Today we are taking a behind the scenes look at the matching process to better understand how an expectant mother chooses an adoptive family for her child. We are joined by Becky Merryman, Domestic ProgramCoordinator with Building Arizona Families, to discuss what info is collected from both parties, how profiles are presented to expectant mothers, and how agencies ensure that the matching process is handled ethically.

Welcome to the Adoption Side By Side Podcast -because no one should have to walk the adoption journey alone! We are so glad you're here! <3 ~Steph & Andrea

Find us on Instagram & TikTok atadoptionsidebyside.

Our intro and outro music is from the creators at TuneTank-Track:On The Way Home by Evan Splash

https://tunetank.com/track/425-on-the-way-home/

Welcome back to Part 2 of our interview with our dear husbands, Bryson & Alex! In this episode, we discuss their thoughts and emotions behind becoming fathers and how they hope to talk with their sons about adoption as they grow. Despite teasing them throughout preparing for this interview, we loved having them on the podcast and greatly value their willingness to share from the dads’ perspective!

Welcome to the Adoption Side By Side Podcast -because no one should have to walk the adoption journey alone! We are so glad you're here! <3 ~Steph & Andrea

Find us on Instagram & TikTok atadoptionsidebyside.

Our intro and outro music is from the creators atTuneTank-Track: On The Way Home by Evan Splash

https://tunetank.com/track/425-on-the-way-home/

We’ve shared about our thoughts and emotions throughout the adoption process, but what about our husbands? What led them to consider adoption? What were the men thinking when we panicked cleaning for the home study? What part of the process was most unexpected for them? Join us today as we share Part 1 of our interview with our loving, jokester husbands - Alex & Bryson!

Welcome to the Adoption Side By Side Podcast -because no one should have to walk the adoption journey alone! We are so glad you're here! <3 ~Steph & Andrea

Find us on Instagram & TikTok atadoptionsidebyside.

Our intro and outro music is from the creators atTuneTank -Track: On The Way Home by Evan Splash

https://tunetank.com/track/425-on-the-way-home/

We often picture our lives going in one direction,but sometimes God has an entirely different story for us. Today we welcome Katie, the mutual friend who first connected us (Steph & Andrea). Her story contains many twists and turns for growing her family, including IVF, fostercare, and private infant adoption…and a surprise ending! Through it all, Katie & her husband leaned on their community and never gave up on their desire to become parents.

Welcome to the Adoption Side By Side Podcast -because no one should have to walk the adoption journey alone! We are so glad you're here! <3 ~Steph & Andrea

Find us on Instagram & TikTok atadoptionsidebyside.

Our intro and outro music is from the creators atTuneTank - Track: On The Way Home by Evan Splash

https://tunetank.com/track/425-on-the-way-home/

While the goal of foster care is typically reunification, there are times that it is not an option. We are joined today byJodi, who opened her heart & home to several kids in need of a foster placement, which led to the eventual adoption of two beautiful children. Jodi discusses the requirements & challenges of serving as a foster family in Pennsylvania, and the journey that led to her children joining her family through the blessing of adoption.

Welcome to the Adoption Side By Side Podcast -because no one should have to walk the adoption journey alone! We are so glad you're here! <3 ~Steph & Andrea

Find us on Instagram & TikTok atadoptionsidebyside.

Our intro and outro music is from the creators atTuneTank -Track: On The Way Home by Evan Splash

https://tunetank.com/track/425-on-the-way-home/

The term “disrupted adoption” is every hopeful adoptive parent’s nightmare. How do you recover emotionally and financially? Today we welcome back special guest Bre, who helped us navigate our own adoptions through Journey Adoption Consultants. Bre shares her personal story of adopting her two beautiful children. Her story contains some incredibly painful events, but the ending? Simply breathtaking!

Welcome to the Adoption Side By Side Podcast -because no one should have to walk the adoption journey alone! We are so glad you're here! <3 ~Steph & Andrea

Find us on Instagram & TikTok at adoptionsidebyside.

Our intro and outro music is from the creators atTuneTank -

Track: On The Way Home by Evan Splash

https://tunetank.com/track/425-on-the-way-home/