Episode 16 | Amanda

In the first 2026 episode of the Because She's Adopted Podcast, host Kristal Parke interviews Amanda. This episode is about mothers and fathers, parentification and self-discovery. Amanda discusses the impact of her family on her self-perception, and the healing she found through connecting with her biological father. Amanda's story highlights the importance of self-acceptance and the ongoing journey of reclaiming one's narrative and life.

Guest Bio

Amanda was born and raised in Western New York. She began her "coming out of the FOG" and reunion journey in 2023 a few years after getting divorced and moving out of her hometown away from her adoptive family. With the support and help of her partner and close friends, she met both sides of her bio family. Amanda began forming community and friends within the adoptee online space, which opened up a whole new world to healing and finding herself. Currently living in North Carolina with her boyfriend and dog, Amanda is working towards sharing her story publicly, writing a memoir, and hopefully inspiring other adoptees to use their voice.

Connect with Amanda

https://www.instagram.com/manatobloom/

[email protected]

Connect with Kristal

Kristal's Website

Voices Collection Merch

Email Kristal

Instagram

Youtube

TikTok

Support the Show If this conversation resonated with you, please subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help more people discover these powerful stories of healing and identity.

Episode 15 | Louise Browne & Bill Edwards

In this episode of the Because She's Adopted podcast, host Kristal Parke engages with guests Louise Browne and Bill Edwards, exploring themes of Christmas traditions, Adoption:The Making Of Me Podcast, and the importance of supportive relationships. The conversation delves into personal stories, including first impressions from high school, the shared love for the Grateful Dead, and the challenges of being introverted in social situations. Louise shares her profound experience of meeting her biological family, while Bill discusses the significance of understanding the adoptee experience as a partner. The episode concludes with reflections on finding purpose and passion in life, as well as the importance of sharing knowledge to help others navigate their challenges.

Guest Bio

Louise Browne is a co-host of the podcast Adoption: The Making of Me, and a passionate advocate for adoptees. With followers worldwide, her podcast with friend Sarah Reinhardt has created space for adoptees to explore identity, connection, and the lifelong journey of self-discovery.

A Colorado native, Louise was adopted a few days after birth in 1968 and raised in a loving home in a Denver suburb. Her adoption story, like so many others, was shaped by sealed records and unanswered questions.

Louise's background spans co-owning a gourmet ice cream truck business (with her current podcast partner), supporting high-level executives, teaching and coaching, and working in corporate education and the nonprofit sector. She moved to California in 1986 for college and remained in the Los Angeles area for more than thirty-five years.

Most importantly, Louise is also a mother to a 27-year-old son, an animal lover, writer, hiker, loves yoga, and is a believer in the power of connections. She currently resides in California with her husband, Bill, and their adorable pup, Gracie.

Bill Edwards is a carpenter, home remodeling project manager, and founder of Remodel Academy, through which he helps homeowners plan and manage remodeling and renovation projects. Bill grew up in Colorado and went to high school with his wife, Louise. However, he lost touch with her until they reconnected in 2011, which led to him moving to Los Angeles and eventually marrying Louise in 2018. Bill and Louise moved to the Central Coast of California in 2020 and now enjoy sea kayaking, wine tasting, and live music.

Connect with Louise Browne

ATOM Website

Louise Browne Substack

LinkedIn

@LouiseBrowne_LA Instagram

Adoption:The Making Of Me Podcast

ATMOM Facebook

ATMOM Instagram

ATMOM TikTok

ATMOM YouTube

Connect with Bill Edwards

Remodel Academy Website

LinkedIn

@Remodel.Academy Instagram

Remodel Academy Facebook

The BuilderBill Instagram

Connect with Kristal

Kristal's Website

Voices Collection Merch

Email Kristal

Instagram

Youtube

TikTok

Support the Show If this conversation resonated with you, please subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help more people discover these powerful stories of healing and identity.

Elf (2003): Adoption on the Big Screen

The best way to spread Christmas cheer is by singing loud for all to hear! Whether it's your first time watching this holiday classic, or your fiftieth, you've probably never watched Elf like this before. Podcast journalist Haley Radke, filmmaker Kristal Parke, and cultural critic Sullivan Summer–all adoptees themselves–explore the adoptee experience alongside adoptee Buddy the Elf, including adoptee terminology, biological parent fantasies, cultural identity struggles, and more.

Elf (2003) was written by David Berenbaum, directed by Jon Favreau, and produced by New Line Cinema.

This episode aired on December 10, 2025. In it we discussed and/or relied upon:

Back to the Future, directed by Robert Zemeckis, Universal Studios (1985). The infamous "Calvin Klein" scene is here.

Barbara Bisantz Raymond, The Baby Thief (Grand Central Publishing, 2009)

Criminal Episode 110 "Baby Snatcher" (March 15, 2019)

Flagrant Clips @flagrantclips on YouTube, Interview with Peter Dinklage (August 7, 2024)

Mia Elkins, "Elf: Meet the man behind the movie," The Merionite (December 16, 2024)

Neil Miller, "40 Things We Learned from Jon Favreau's 'Elf' Commentary," Film School Rejects (December 23, 2011)

Patrick Cremona, "Elf screenwriter on its lasting legacy: 'It's something that's rare and special,'" RadioTimes.com (December 23, 2022)

Rotten Tomatoes 100 Best Christmas Movies of All Time

Shania Twain, "Whose Bed Have Your Books Been Under," The Woman in Me (1995)

The Adoption Pop! theme music is The Chase by Audiogreen.

We'd love to hear what you thought of this episode, and what you'd like for us to cover in the future. Find, follow, like, and subscribe to Adoption Pop! at our website, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts.

Podcast journalist Haley Radke is at adopteeson.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

Filmmaker Kristal Parke is at kristalparke.net, on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.

Cultural critical Sullivan Summer is at sullivansummer.com, on Instagram, and on Substack.

We love you! We love you! We love you!

Episode 14 | Christy & Scott

In this episode of Because She's Adopted, hosts Kristal and Stewart Parke team up with Christy and Scott Gilvear for a podcast "double date," diving into the nuances of marriage, family life, and the ever-evolving conversations around adoption. They explore the importance of communication, and the support systems that help navigate the challenges of being adopted and being in a partnership with an adoptee. The conversation highlights the significance of personal growth, emphasizing the shared journeys of understanding, boundaries and validation.

Guest Bio

Christy and Scott met on a blind date and were married nine months later. They were twenty four and twenty seven when they blended their lives and began building their family. Christy was a single mom at the time and Scott stepped into the role of father with openness and devotion. They went on to have three daughters together and have spent their eighteen year marriage raising their four children in both Texas and Utah.

Adoption has been a central theme in Christy's life and in their marriage. Scott has held her adoptee journey with patience, curiosity and deep care which has shaped the strength and intimacy of their relationship. Together they have moved through faith transitions, personal healing and the ongoing work of understanding one another with honesty and compassion. Today their marriage continues to evolve as they grow, reconnect and choose each other in every season.

Connect with Christy

Email: [email protected]

Socials:

@therootedpetal

@greenalchemypodcast

@adopteealchemy

Connect with Kristal

Website: https://kristalparke.net/

Merch | Voices Collection: https://kristalparke.net/merch/

Email: [email protected]

Socials:

@kristalparkeofficial

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristalparkeofficial/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KristalParkeOfficial

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kristalparkeofficial

Support the Show If this conversation resonated with you, please subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help more people discover these powerful stories of healing and identity.

Episode 13 | Linda Pevac

In this episode of the Because She's Adopted podcast, host Kristal Parke interviews Linda Pevac, an adoptee, author, and survivor. Linda shares her harrowing experiences of childhood trauma, the impact of hypervigilance, and the healing power of creativity. The conversation delves into the complexities of relationships with adoptive parents, the inner critic, and the importance of self-compassion. Linda also discusses her experiences with abusive therapy, the journey of caring for her parents, and the significance of emotional sobriety. Throughout the episode, Linda emphasizes the importance of awareness, community, and personal growth in the healing process.

Guest Bio

Emma Stevens, who is also known as Linda Pevac, is the author of two earlier

memoirs: The Gathering Place: An Adoptee's Story and A Fire Is Coming.

Her adoption journey began when she was relinquished as an infant and adopted at

three months old. Only in hindsight does she understand how being an adoptee has

shaped and formed her entire life.

In her first memoir, The Gathering Place, Emma describes a magical space she has

created for healing, comfort, and restoration for the younger parts of herself that

never felt safe, seen, heard, or understood.

A Fire Is Coming is Emma's cautionary tale, emphasizing the importance of

selecting a therapist thoughtfully. She alerts readers to the psychological nightmare

that can result from an unethical therapist, doctor, or counselor.

Emma's third memoir, Choosing to Breathe, brings together all three themes. It

takes readers back to The Gathering Place, where they discover what it means to

integrate their identities as Emma releases multiple layers of trauma.

After graduating with a journalism degree from the University of Oklahoma, she

pursued master's-level coursework in psychology at Pepperdine University in

Orange County, California. In March 2024, Emma won an Independent Author

Award for her second book, A Fire Is Coming, at Tucson's 2024 Festival of Books.

She was a finalist in the 18th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards for the

same book.

Emma loves traveling and spending time with her two adult children and her two

lively, affectionate Bengal cats.

Connect with Linda

Website: www.emmastevenswriter.com

Socials: https://www.instagram.com/lindacampbellpevac

https://www.instagram.com/emmastevenswriter/

Email: [email protected]

Purchase Linda's Memoirs:

The Gathering Place: An Adoptee's Story

A Fire is Coming

Choosing to Breathe

Connect with Kristal

Website: https://kristalparke.net/

Merch | Voices Collection: https://kristalparke.net/merch/

Email: [email protected]

Socials:

@kristalparkeofficial

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristalparkeofficial/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KristalParkeOfficial

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kristalparkeofficial

Support the Show If this conversation resonated with you, please subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help more people discover these powerful stories of healing and identity.

Episode 12 | Kim & Emma

In this episode of Because She's Adopted, hosts Kristal Parke, Kim, and Emma explore the complexities of adoption, personal stories, and the importance of community. Kim shares her adoption journey, including her reunion with her birth mother and the emotional challenges that come with it. Emma provides her perspective as a partner supporting Kim through her experiences. Together, they discuss the significance of connecting with other adoptees and the impact of their relationships on their identities.

Guest Bios

Emma is an editor and producer based in Brooklyn, New York. Her background is in visual art and museum education, where she's created audio guides, wall texts, and podcasts.

Kim is a visual artist and designer based in Brooklyn, New York. Kim enjoys beach detritus, Halloween decorations, and their dog, Nova.

Connect with Kim

Emma's Mom's Memoir - Waiting to Forget by Margaret Moorman

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/916335.Waiting_to_Forget

Socials: https://www.instagram.com/wildbod?igsh=N3V4ZHRscmticWpq

Website: http://Wildernessbodies.com

Kim's Art Show

https://www.wassaicproject.org/exhibitions/this-must-be-the-place

Connect with Kristal

Website: https://kristalparke.net/

Merch | Voices Collection: https://kristalparke.net/merch/

Email: [email protected]

Socials:

@kristalparkeofficial

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristalparkeofficial/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KristalParkeOfficial

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kristalparkeofficial

Support the Show If this conversation resonated with you, please subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help more people discover these powerful stories of healing and identity.

Episode 11 | Chris Williams

Host Kristal Parke welcomes fellow adoptee and comedian, Chris Williams to recap a week in The Big Apple where Kristal's film, Because She's Adopted, was the official selection for The Adoptee Film Festival and had its New York City Premiere at the Caveat Theatre in Manhattan. From Central Park to Broadway, hotdogs to hamburgers, they cover it all in this lighthearted episode.

Guest Bio

Chris Williams is a stand-up comedian and producer from Los Angeles, currently based in Santa Barbara. Audiences are drawn to his intelligent, relatable, and irreverent style of humor, which is anchored around his own life experiences, including his adoption story. Chris prefers the term "thrifted" rather than adopted.

Connect with Chris

Website: https://crwspeaks.com/aboutme

Email: [email protected]

Socials: https://www.instagram.com/crwspeaks/

Connect with Kristal

Website: https://kristalparke.net/

Merch | Voices Collection: https://kristalparke.net/merch/

Email: [email protected]

Socials

@kristalparkeofficial

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristalparkeofficial/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KristalParkeOfficial

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kristalparkeofficial

Support the Show If this conversation resonated with you, please subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help more people discover these powerful stories of healing and identity.

Episode 10 | Christy Gilvear

Host Kristal Parke welcomes fellow adoptee Christy Gilvear for a powerful conversation about adoption, faith, and growing up in a high-control religious environment. Together, they unpack how those experiences shaped their identity, relationships, and journey toward healing. This episode of Because She's Adopted offers an honest look at self-discovery, resilience, and finding freedom beyond the beliefs we were raised in.

Guest Bio

Christy Gilvear is the creator of The Rooted Petal and host of the upcoming Green Alchemy Podcast. Through plants, storytelling, and remembrance, she helps others reconnect to their roots and rediscover healing through nature. An adoptee and member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Christy interweaves her personal healing journey with teachings on Earth wisdom, ritual, and conscious living. Her work invites others to see plant care as self-care — a living practice of balance, presence, and transformation.

She lives in Utah with her husband, four kids, dog Luna, and two cockatiels — in a home filled with light, love, and a thriving indoor jungle.

Connect with Christy

Email: [email protected]

Socials:

@therootedpetal

@greenalchemypodcast

@adopteealchemy

Connect with Kristal Website: https://kristalparke.net/

Email: [email protected]

YouTube | Instagram | TikTok

@kristalparkeofficial

Support the Show If this conversation resonated with you, please subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help more people discover these powerful stories of healing and identity.

Episode 9 | Dr.Richard Wenzel

Dr. Richard Wenzel shares a riveting NPE journey that began with an at-home DNA test and unfolded into the discovery that his father was not his genetic father. The conversation traces childhood memories surrounding a sibling's secret adoption, a pediatrician who "knew and lied," and a later-in-life reckoning with identity, family history, and medical ethics. Richard explains why genetic secrets harm patients, how falsified family histories misdirect care, and why he advocates for clinician candor: "Just tell the truth."

Guest Bio

For three decades, Dr. Richard Wenzel, PharmD, CPPS, has been an accomplished educator, practitioner, researcher, and mentor in the realm of health care. He has authored nearly 50 peer-reviewed publications in medical journals and given more than 100 presentations at national, state, or local-level professional meetings. He received the American Pharmacists Association's One-to-One Patient Counseling award, given annually to five pharmacists nationally, and is a two-time nominee for the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy's Master Preceptor award.

In 2020, an at-home DNA test revealed that his father was not his genetic father, a result that helped explain why Richard has always felt 'out of place' within his own family. Unfortunately, both his mother and genetic father are long deceased, but available information substantiates that his conception was the result of a sexual assault of his at-the-time teenage mother. Moreover, evidence indicates that Richard's pediatrician knew of, and lied about, the facts of his paternity. Since his DNA discovery, Richard has published several articles in medical journals calling for health care professionals to improve their management of genetic secrets and has on-going projects aimed at improving public awareness about medical professionals' roles in propagating genetic secrets.

Connect with Richard Email: [email protected]

Links:

Misattributed paternity discovery: A critique of medical organizations' recommendations - PubMed

Buying my existence. Just $49, free shipping included - Wenzel - 2023 - Journal of Genetic Counseling - Wiley Online Library

To be or not to be (honest): The persistent problem of misattributed paternity - Hercher - 2023 - Journal of Genetic Counseling - Wiley Online Library

Connect with Kristal Website: https://kristalparke.net/

Email: [email protected]

YouTube | Instagram | TikTok

@kristalparkeofficial

Support the Show If this conversation resonated with you, please subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help more people discover these powerful stories of healing and identity.

Episode 8 | Erin

In this heartfelt conversation, host Kristal Parke sits down with Erin, co-founder of Hiraeth Hope and Healing, Inc., to explore what it means to discover you're an NPE (Not Parent Expected) and how she turned that revelation into one of purpose by creating community spaces for NPE's, adoptees, and donor-conceived individuals.

Guest Bio

In 2017, Erin unexpectedly discovered that she is an NPE (Not Parent Expected) while delving into her family history. Since then, she has devoted much of her time to assisting others in their quests to find family connections, serving as a search angel.

Her dedication to service extends beyond her academic pursuits. Erin has established a supportive online community for NPEs on Facebook and facilitates Zoom meetings and a weekly book club tailored to adoptees, donor-conceived individuals, late discovery adoptees, and fellow NPEs.

At Hiraeth Hope and Healing, Inc., a 501(c)(3), she helps host three annual retreats across the U.S. Erin also serves as the Board President for the Toms River Education Foundation and volunteers at a local food pantry.

A passionate advocate for social justice, Erin is a high school special educator focused on supporting students through trauma-informed approaches and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) in schools. She's a certified Reiki practitioner, a 500 RYT yoga teacher through Breathe for Change, and is currently pursuing her MSW at Rutgers School of Social Work.

Residing at the Jersey Shore with her husband, three sons, and their beloved pup, Cooper, Erin enjoys reading, yoga, meditation, and a good binge of crime TV.

Connect with Erin Website: www.hiraethhopeandhealing.com

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: Hiraeth Hope and Healing

Instagram: @hiraethhopeandhealing

Connect with Kristal Website: https://kristalparke.net/

Email: [email protected]

YouTube | Instagram | TikTok

@kristalparkeofficial

Support the Show If this conversation resonated with you, please subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help more people discover these powerful stories of healing and identity.