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

Jeff Forney was born in San Francisco and raised in the East Bay town of Moraga, CA. 
A photographer based in Los Angeles, he has been working on a documentary filming interviews of adoptees in reunion.

As Jeff says, ‘Finding your birth parents is the base camp of Mt. Everest, now you have to climb the bitch’.

His goal is to take the stigma out of adoption, help adoptees identify with others' stories, and through that, restore power that had been buried and forgotten.

My life is not better because someone adopted me, my life is different. Adoption can multitask. She is many things at once. So are we. We are the bastards, the unwanted, the surrendered, the saved, the chosen, the rescued, the loved, and the forsaken. Allow us our entirety.   -Mindy Stern-

Jeff can be found here: Jeff Forney Photographer

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

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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.

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Lenore Paletta Hiller is an international adoptee born in Southern Italy in the mid-1960's. She lived with her birth mother for the first five months of her life, but was separated from her due to poverty and other circumstances. She was adopted to the United States when she was 20 months old. She has been in various stages of reunion with her birth family since 1995. 

Lenore is hopeful that the future of adoption research will include the effects of intergenerational trauma on the children of adoptees.

 She is a member of the Facebook group Italiadoption, a space where Italian adoptees and their families can find resources and connect. 

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

Here's our affiliate link for Buzzsprout:  When you sign up, you get a $20 Amazon Gift card.

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.

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After being taken away from her birth parents as a baby by the state, and adopted out of foster care at age 4, singer-songwriter Jenni Alpert (aka birth name: Cami) decided to go searching for her birth father. After weeks undercover on the street of LA, she finally found him homeless, addicted, and running from the law, yet a musician, just like her. Ultimately she guides him out of the legal system and off of the streets becoming his advocate and shadow adopting him into her life, cultivating an inspiring transformation as Don transitions from self identified vagrant to self esteemed volunteer with the music they share in their extraordinary partnership founded on unconditional love. 

To find Jenni / Cami and her amazing story & music you can find her on Instagram, Facebook & Twitter as: : @jennialpert @camianddon

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

Here's our affiliate link for Buzzsprout:  When you sign up, you get a $20 Amazon Gift card.

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 and The Harpy.

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Michael Knox was adopted in 1961 in Illinois. He was raised with two younger sisters, one adopted and one bio. He moved to Southern California when he was five. He has been married for thirty six years and has three wonderful children and one granddaughter. Michael worked in the television industry for many years and moved his family to Atlanta work on the Olympics and he never left Atlanta.

Around twenty-two years ago Michael started running, biking and swimming. One thing led to another and he started doing Iron Man triathlons and is currently training for one this year. If you asked him to describe himself 2 1/2 years ago he would say “A husband, father, grandfather & athlete”. He did both 'Ancestry' and '23 and Me' out of curiosity, never was searching for family then there was a match on 23andMe and life changed forever! Now he describes himself as ADOPTED, husband, father, grandfather & athlete.

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

Here's our affiliate link for Buzzsprout:  When you sign up, you get a $20 Amazon Gift card.

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 and The Harpy.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

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Carolina Khan is a transnational adoptee from Palmira, Colombia. As early as she can recall, she has always been informed of her adoption that took place at 18 months old. What she was not informed of were her circumstances surrounding her adoption and most importantly where her natural mother was and where she could be found. Why was adoption her story? Carolina had made it her priority to receive support and work through her own adoption trauma. Ultimately, she finds herself wanting to share her process of gaining her identity as a Colombian woman, sense of self, individuation and healing.

List of Resources - a major part of Carolina’s journey:
Joe Soll, LCSW
Adoption Healing
Author: Adoption Healing a Path to Recovery
Daily Chat Room, Healing Weekends & opportunities to meet 1st moms/ adoptees
http://www.adoptionhealing.com

[email protected]

Elena Di Giovanno Serrato
http://www.healingpuentes.com

Abby Forero-Hilty, Founder of Decoding Origins
https://decodingorigins.com/

Editor: Decoding Our Origins: The Lived Experiences of Colombian Adoptees
Jacob Taylor-Mosquera
SALA: Spanish for Adoptees from Latin America

Memoir: I met Myself in October

Kate Betancourt CLC 
Avanza Adoptee Services 

Transracial International Colombian adoptee
[email protected]

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

Here's our affiliate link for Buzzsprout:  When you sign up, you get a $20 Amazon Gift card.

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 and The Harpy.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Support the show

Support the show

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Adopted at birth, Edward Di Gangi was born and raised in New York City. Although he knew for most of his life that he was adopted, it wasn’t until he approached his 70th birthday that he began to search for the identity of his birth mother. His journey and the many surprising discoveries he made as he searched are recounted in his memoir, The Gift Best Given. Edward and his wife now live in Hillsborough, North Carolina. He is a popular book club presenter and podcast guest. The Gift Best Given is his first full-length book.

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

Here's our affiliate link for Buzzsprout:  When you sign up, you get a $20 Amazon Gift card.

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 and The Harpy.

Support the show

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Beth Figuls is a technical writer and aspiring novelist/memoirist from Los Angeles. A Baby Scoop-era adoptee, she was raised by a father who was also an adoptee, and who had lived in an orphanage for a time when he was very young. She searched for and found her birth mother, as well as siblings from both sides of her birth families. She strongly believes that adoptees have a right to know who they are. She is very interested in exploring intergenerational trauma, loss, and adoptee personhood in her memoir-in-progress.

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

Here's our affiliate link for Buzzsprout:  When you sign up, you get a $20 Amazon Gift card.

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 and The Harpy.

Support the show

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Matthew Charles is the host of "little did u know", an abolitionist podcast that seeks to reveal the precarity inherent in transracial/national adoption and dream of a new future by centering the voices of Adoptees and Professionals. His is also an essayist, poet, and sometimes actor whose work explores (dis)placement, belonging, and colony and appears in VISIBLE and Severance Magazine.

To learn more about Matthew Charles and his poetry you can visit his website: MatthewCharlesPoet.com

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

Here's our affiliate link for Buzzsprout:  When you sign up, you get a $20 Amazon Gift card.

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 and The Harpy.

Support the show

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Emma Stevens is a U.S. domestic adoptee from birth and has survived layers of trauma that have put her on multiple journeys. She developed the inner strength and courage to surmount the many struggles she faced. Her traumas were born from being an adoptee who struggled with being forced to wear an impossible mask of playing the part of the “good adopted child.” Because being relinquished and adopted has colored her life, it’s Emma’s desire to be part of the movement that is dedicated to helping bring forth change to the way our world views the needs and support of adopted individuals. She believes strongly in adoptees finding their voice and discovering their truth to have a solid sense of self and to reclaim their identities. Through telling her story, Emma is dedicated to help redefine the narrative of adoption to include the entire complex truth.

THE GATHERING PLACE by Emma Stevens on Amazon 
This memoir is Emma Stevens’ first book. She has an undergraduate degree in journalism and has completed Master’s level course work in psychology, specializing in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling. She has two adult children and two cat children who she adores.

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

Here's our affiliate link for Buzzsprout:  When you sign up, you get a $20 Amazon Gift card.

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 and The Harpy.

Support the show

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Mikayla Mains is a dancer teacher, small business owner and SAHM. She was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri where she now resides with her husband and two children.  After spending years in and out of the foster care system, she was adopted at age 12 to a large family in which she became the 10th child. She battled with questions about her past for years until she finally found her biological mother on Facebook and began to piece things together. She now wants to dedicate herself to educating others on the dark sides of foster care, advocating for those still in it and shed light on the emotional scars it can leave even after adoption.

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

Here's our affiliate link for Buzzsprout:  When you sign up, you get a $20 Amazon Gift card.

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 and The Harpy.

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.