"I think now that we have this knowledge, then we can use our story to help create awareness." - Lori Evans Ermi

Read the transcript here: https://app.swellai.com/t/tp_01JDRMT4Z5RGJ6SD35WBFBT4PM

EPISODE SUMMARY:

In this episode of Unraveling Adoption, I had the pleasure of welcoming Lori Evans Ermi and her 17-year-old daughter, Kate Ermi, both of whom are adoptees and co-wrote their new book, Adoption Songs. Our conversation delved into the complexities of adoption from their unique perspectives, highlighting the emotional layers that come with their experiences.

Lori shared her journey as a domestic adoptee from the baby scoop era, detailing her late discovery of her adoption at the age of eight and the trust issues that arose from that revelation. Despite having loving adoptive parents, she faced challenges in her identity and connection to her biological roots. Kate, on the other hand, has always known she was adopted and has navigated her own path of understanding her heritage, which was further illuminated through DNA testing.

We discussed the creation of Adoption Songs, where each chapter is framed as a track, with contributors choosing songs that resonate with their adoption stories. The book aims to provide a broad perspective on adoption, acknowledging both the joys and the inherent losses that come with it. Lori emphasized the importance of music as a healing tool, and Kate shared her lifelong passion for music, which has been a source of comfort for her.

Throughout our conversation, we touched on the significance of community and shared experiences among adoptees, as well as the need for more resources and support for young adults in the adoption community. Lori and Kate's commitment to raising awareness and fostering understanding about adoption's complexities is truly inspiring.

I encourage listeners to check out their book and visit their website, adoptionsongs.org, for more information and resources. Additionally, I shared details about an upcoming event, Adoption Healing Quest, which will take place in February 2025, aimed at exploring various healing modalities within the adoption community.

Thank you for joining us in this important conversation, and I hope you find the insights shared by Lori and Kate as enlightening as I did.

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RESOURCES:

Lori and Kate’s information:

• Find their website with info about their book Adoption Songs: https://www.adoptionsongs.org/

Other resource mentioned in this episode:

• The Primal Wound by Nancy Verrier: https://www.amazon.com/Primal-Wound-Understanding-Adopted-Child/dp/0963648004

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Unraveling Adoption is produced and hosted by Beth Syverson

Music written and performed by Joseph Nakao

Email questions or comments to [email protected]

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Check out our website: http://UnravelingAdoption.com

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TIME STAMPS

00:00:00 - Welcome to Unraveling Adoption Introduction to the podcast and hosts, Beth, Lori, and Kate.

00:01:10 - Adoptee Stories: Lori's Journey Lori shares her adoption story, including her experiences and feelings about being adopted.

00:04:47 - Adoptee Stories: Kate's Journey Kate discusses her adoption experience and her understanding of her identity.

00:06:45 - The Complexity of Adoption Discussion on the layers of adoption and the importance of understanding different perspectives.

00:07:33 - Creating Adoption Songs Exploration of the book "Adoption Songs" and the involvement of both Lori and Kate in its creation.

00:10:43 - The Primal Wound Concept Introduction to the concept of The Primal Wound and its significance in adoption narratives.

00:11:45 - Future Plans for Adoption Songs Plans for a sequel to the book and the inclusion of more diverse perspectives.

00:12:38 - The Role of Music in Healing Discussion on how music plays a significant role in the lives of Lori and Kate.

00:14:40 - Untangling Our Roots Experience Kate shares her experience at the Untangling Our Roots event and the impact of hearing others' stories.

00:18:03 - Navigating Complex Emotions Lori and Kate discuss the complexities of their relationship and the duality of love and loss in adoption.

00:21:29 - Mainstream Adoption Narratives The importance of presenting adoption stories in a way that is accessible and relatable to a broader audience.

00:22:30 - Finding Resources and Support Information on where to find the book and additional resources related to adoption.

00:23:26 - Upcoming Events and Closing Thoughts Announcement of future events and a closing message of gratitude to listeners.