Adoption: The Making of Me. An Oral History of Adoptee Stories

Jon Stautzenberger is a pastor in the Texas hill country. He grew up an only child from a small family in a closed, private adoption always knowing that he was locally adopted and grew up in the community of his birth family. He finally took a DNA test in 2021 and connected with his paternal aunt. Suddenly the only child from a small family found himself with three aunts, three uncles, cousins galore, and a sister and a brother! Being from the same community, the times that their paths had crossed were astonishing.

Moving forward Jon desires to help young adoptees know that there are adults that understand their experience and to help other adults rethink how to care for children in need.

Also in this episode, Sarah and Louise discuss Am Homes' The Mistress's Daughter.

If you'd like to read along with Sarah and Louise, go here: The Mistress's Daughter by A.M. Homes

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Kristan Higgin, Lisa Thompson,  Michelle Goodwine, Jesper Laursen and Robert Perrino.

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Amy Hansen is a domestic adoptee, and was born in 1969. She was placed for adoption at birth.  Amy grew up in a loving family and was well cared for.  She was the "happy" adoptee, grateful to her birth parents, her adopted parents and always trying to make everyone happy. Amy has been in reunion with some of her birth family for the past four years and has recently come out of the FOG. She is beginning to realize she was living behind the disguise of a happy, positive person who didn’t realize the loss and grief she was carrying. Today Amy feels sad, confused and angry about her adoption and she feels that sharing her story is a way to be honest for the first time in her life. 

Amy has been married to a wonderful and supportive husband for thirty years. They have three amazing adult children and two golden retrievers. Amy enjoys  the outdoors and  spending time with family and friends.

Also in this episode, Sarah and Louise discuss Am Homes' The Mistress's Daughter.

If you'd like to read along with Sarah and Louise, go here: The Mistress's Daughter by A.M. Homes

If you want to support our show, you can go to our Patreon Page.

Thank you to our current Patreon donors for their support.  

Our Patrons are:  Laura Christensen, Barbara Frank, Ramona Evans, Linda Pevac, Blonde Records, Denise Cruz-Castino, Daphne Keys, Denise Hewitt, Michelle Styles, Emily Sinagra, Linda David, John Frey, Eric David, Beth Figuls, Ron Schneider, Tony Corsentino, Kristi Reed,  Kristen Steinhilber, Jane Bofenkamp, Kelley Brickfield, Sandra de Quesada, The Harpy, 
Kristan Higgin, Lisa Thompson,  Michelle Goodwine and Jesper Laursen.

If you'd like to support the show, you can do it here: https://www.patreon.com/themakingofmepodcast

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Daryn Watson is a Canadian-born Domestic Adult Adoptee who began his adoption reunion journey in 1995 after locating his maternal family in Canada. Daryn uses his 25+ years of experience in reunion to guide other adoptees through their adoption reunion journeys. Daryn is a contributing author to two books on adoption:

• “The Adoptee Survival Guide” edited by Lynn Grubb  
• “Flip the Script: Adult Adoptee Anthology with Diane Rene Christianson.

Daryn also has a blog on Facebook and IG “@TheAdopteeMind”
Daryn is a Certified Life Coach for Adoptees, Birth/First Parents and others who have been affected by adoption.

You can find Daryn on his website “AdoptionReunionCoaching.com” or email him directly at [email protected]

Links:
Website:Home - Adoption Reunion Coaching | Home - Adoption Reunion Coaching
Email: [email protected]
FB:
https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=adoption%20reunion%20coaching
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069741619695
IG: https://www.instagram.com/theadopteemind/

Also in this episode, Sarah and Louise discuss Am Homes' The Mistress's Daughter.

If you'd like to read along with Sarah and Louise, go here: The Mistress's Daughter by A.M. Homes

If you want to support our show, you can go to our Patreon Page.

Thank you to our current Patreon donors for their support.  

They are: Laura Christensen, Barbara Frank, Ramona Evans, Linda Pevac, Blonde Records, Denise Cruz-Castino, Daphne Keys, Denise Hewitt, Michelle Styles, Emily Sinagra, Linda David, John Frey, Eric David, Beth Figuls, Ron Schneider, Tony Corsentino, Kristi Reed,  Kristen Steinhilber, Jane Bofenkamp, Kelley Brickfield, Sandra de Quesada, The Harpy, 
Kristan Higgin, Lisa Thompson, and Michelle Goodwine.

If you'd like to support the show, you can do it here: https://www.patreon.com/themakingofmepodcast

Support the show

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Laurie James is an adoptee, mother, caregiver, turned author, and transformative
coach. Laurie’s book, Sandwiched: A Memoir of Holding On and Letting Go is about
her eight-year journey when she was sent down an unwanted path after her mother
had a heart attack and her husband’s lawyer delivered some shocking news.
Sandwiched between caring for her parents, managing caregivers, raising four
daughters, and a crumbling marriage, she starts therapy and turns to alternative
healing programs to address her adoption, childhood trauma, and loneliness she felt
for much of her life. Laurie now enjoys coaching others who are searching for their
own happiness and belonging. For more information on Laurie and her book, please
visit www.laurieejames.com or order and review her book on Amazon.

Also in this episode, Sarah and Louise discuss Am Homes' The Mistress's Daughter.

If you'd like to read along with Sarah and Louise, go here: The Mistress's Daughter by A.M. Homes

If you want to support our show, you can go to our Patreon Page.
Thank you to our current Patreon donors for their support.  

They are: Laura Christensen, Barbara Frank, Ramona Evans, Linda Pevac, Blonde Records, Denise Cruz-Castino, Daphne Keys, Denise Hewitt, Michelle Styles, Emily Sinagra, Linda David, John Frey, Eric David, Beth Figuls, Ron Schneider, Tony Corsentino, Kristi Reed, 
Kristen Steinhilber, Jane Bofenkamp, Kelley Brickfield, Sandra de Quesada, The Harpy, 
Kristan Higgin, Lisa Thompson and Michelle Goodwine.

Support the show

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Danielle’s vision is a healthier, happier, and more peaceful world starting from within. Bringing over two decades as a senior instructor, healer, and trainer, she's currently Regional Director of WA state's Body & Brain Yoga Center. Born in Manhattan, NY, she was adopted at 10 days old, growing up with her adopted parents, later reconnecting at 21 years old with her biological mother actress Kate Mulgrew from the hit series TV sitcom Orange is the New Black and Star Trek Voyager. As a highly sensitive person from a young age along with a deep concern for the state of our planet--these two qualities propelled her on a long journey in search for inner peace. Danielle's passion is helping people awaken their bodies and minds to meet their true nature, specializing in emotional management, brain management, aligning the mind, body, heart, and soul.

Also in this episode, Sarah and Louise discuss A.M. Homes' The Mistress's Daughter.

If you'd like to read along with Sarah and Louise, go here: The Mistress's Daughter by A.M. Homes

If you want to support our show, you can go to our Patreon Page.
Thank you to our current Patreon donors for their support.  

They are: Laura Christensen, Barbara Frank, Ramona Evans, Linda Pevac, Blonde Records, Denise Cruz-Castino, Daphne Keys, Denise Hewitt, Michelle Styles, Emily Sinagra, Linda David, John Frey, Eric David, Beth Figuls, Ron Schneider, Tony Corsentino, Kristi Reed, 
Kristen Steinhilber, Jane Bofenkamp, Kelley Brickfield, Sandra de Quesada, The Harpy, 
Kristan Higgins and Lisa Thompson.

Support the show

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Nikole Shaw also known as " Koko" in the online community was born in Hawaiian Gardens, California, growing up in the suburbs of Orange County.  Adopted as an infant, she is a black domestic adoptee who spent a large part of her life in a small town called Brea. Koko received her Bachelors of Science from San Jose State University and is currently working for the Department of Public Health San Francisco as a mental health professional.  Koko is mostly known in the adoptee community as " @theblackadoptea" and spends her time advocating for and creating content for the adoptee community.  She has a passion for spoken word and is also a writer who is in the process of completing her first children's book about adoption. Koko continues to share her adoption journey with the world and is reunion with her biological family from Belize.   

Also in this episode, Sarah and Louise discuss A.M. Homes' The Mistress's Daughter.

If you'd like to read along with Sarah and Louise, go here: The Mistress's Daughter by A.M. Homes

If you want to support our show, you can go to our Patreon Page.
Thank you to our current Patreon donors for their support.  

They are: Laura Christensen, Barbara Frank, Ramona Evans, Linda Pevac, Blonde Records, Denise Cruz-Castino, Daphne Keys, Denise Hewitt, Michelle Styles, Emily Sinagra, Linda David, John Frey, Eric David, Beth Figuls, Ron Schneider, Tony Corsentino, Kristi Reed, 
Kristen Steinhilber, Jane Bofenkamp, Kelley Brickfield, Sandra de Quesada, The Harpy, 
Kristan Higgins and Lisa Thompson.

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Bob Guyer was born in 1953 and stayed for four days with his biological mother, and was adopted after a few months in foster care. He learned he was adopted at eight years old but didn’t think much of it until he went through a breakup and re-experienced his separation from his biological mother. Shortly before his 52nd birthday, he began a process of imaginative dialog with his feelings and that led to the healing of his Primal Wound. He has since found his biological relatives and remains in reunion.

Also in this episode, Sarah and Louis discuss A.M. Homes' The Mistress's Daughter 

If you'd like to read along with Sarah and Louise, go here: The Mistress's Daughter by A.M. Homes

If you want to support our show, you can go to our Patreon Page.
Thank you to our current Patreon donors for their support.  

They are: Laura Christensen, Barbara Frank, Ramona Evans, Linda Pevac, Blonde Records, Denise Cruz-Castino, Daphne Keys, Denise Hewitt, Michelle Styles, Emily Sinagra, Linda David, John Frey, Eric David, Beth Figuls, Ron Schneider, Tony Corsentino, Kristi Reed, 
Kristen Steinhilber, Jane Bofenkamp, Kelley Brickfield, Sandra de Quesada, The Harpy, 
Kristan Higgins and Lisa Thompson.

Support the show

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Lisa King is a retired disability specialist, artist and mother. She was born in 1957 into a closed adoption system and was adopted six months later. She has been on a lifelong quest to understand and make sense of how the adoptive experience has shaped and impacted her life. Having suffered the initial abandonment at birth, as all adoptees do, she has struggled throughout her life to embrace and not abandon her true self.

Additionally, Lisa suffered a life changing traumatic accident that serves as a metaphor for her adoptive experience. Much of her spiritual search, consisting of dog rescue, mentorship and artwork have helped her transcend the trauma of relinquishment, and reclaim and integrate the orphans of her lost self.

Also in this episode, Sarah and Louise wrap up their discussion of Betty Jean Lifton's Journey of the Adopted Self.

If you want to support our show, you can go to our Patreon Page.
Thank you to our current Patreon donors for their support.  

They are: Laura Christensen, Barbara Frank, Ramona Evans, Linda Pevac, Blonde Records, Denise Cruz-Castino, Daphne Keys, Denise Hewitt, Michelle Styles, Emily Sinagra, Linda David, John Frey, Eric David, Beth Figuls, Ron Schneider, Tony Corsentino, Kristi Reed, 
Kristen Steinhilber, Jane Bofenkamp, Kelley Brickfield, Sandra de Quesada, The Harpy and 
Kristan Higgins.

Support the show

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A.M. Homes was born in Washington D.C. in 1961 and adopted at birth in a private adoption.She began to explore themes related to adoption in her 1993 novel, In A Country of Mothers. Just before the book was published her birth mother—inspired by an Oprah show on ‘reunions’ made contact. A.M. explored what happened next in her 2007 best-selling memoir, The Mistress’s Daughter.

A.M. Homes newest novel: The Unfolding.

Also in this episode, Sarah and Louise discuss B.J. Lifton's Journey of the Adopted Self.

If you want to support our show, you can go to our Patreon Page.
Thank you to our current Patreon donors for their support.  

They are: Laura Christensen, Barbara Frank, Ramona Evans, Linda Pevac, Blonde Records, Denise Cruz-Castino, Daphne Keys, Denise Hewitt, Michelle Styles, Emily Sinagra, Linda David, John Frey, Eric David, Beth Figuls, Ron Schneider, Tony Corsentino, Kristi Reed, 
Kristen Steinhilber, Jane Bofenkamp, Kelley Brickfield, Sandra de Quesada, The Harpy and 
Kristan Higgins.

Support the show

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Lynn Grubb is a closed-era Illinois adoptee and parent by marriage, birth and adoption. She is the editor of "The Adoptee Survival Guide: Adoptees Share Their Wisdom and Tools" and the author of “Hidden Identity,” an audible memoir that chronicles her decades long search for her birth parents. She lives in Dayton, Ohio with husband Mark, their daughter, and two spoiled mini-Australian shepherds.

You can reach out to Lynn on social media  @theadoptedgenealogist or email her at:
[email protected].

You can listen to Lynn's memoir here:
https://theadoptedgenealogist.podbean.com/

Also in this episode, Sarah and Louise discuss B.J. Lifton's Journey of the Adopted Self.

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And if you want to support our show, you can go to our Patreon Page.

Thank you to our current Patreon donors for their support.  

They are: Laura Christensen, Barbara Frank, Ramona Evans, Linda Pevac, Blonde Records, Denise Cruz-Castino, Daphne Keys, Denise Hewitt, Michelle Styles, Emily Sinagra, Linda David, John Frey, Eric David, Beth Figuls, Ron Schneider, Tony Corsentino, Kristi Reed, 
Kristen Steinhilber, Jane Bofenkamp, Kelley Brickfield, Sandra de Quesada, The Harpy and 
Kristan Higgins.

Support the show

To support the show - Patreon.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.