DAWTA The Podcast

Dionne Draper and Lisa Marie-Simmons are both black, transracial adoptees and the hosts of 'DAWTA' The Podcast.

Dionne Draper is the writer, actor and producer of DAWTA a semi-autobiographical multi-media work that centres the esxperiences of Sarah, a transracial adoptee. DAWTA, a one woman musical was the first live iteration (2019), then DAWTA Digital and immersive online version (2021) and now DAWTA the Podcast (2023), with support from Arts Council England.

Lisa is a multi-disciplinary storyteller bon in the US, adopted by a white family, subsequently re-homed to a white adoptive mother and her black husband, and raised in Boulder, Co. Lisa's work as a singer/songwriter, poet and essayist uses intimate details of her life to speak to a larger narrative.

DAWTA The Podcast centres on themes in Sarah's transracial adoption, with special guests and a 'Therapists' View'. Each episode covers complex, challenging and always heart-warming stories of the transracial adoptee experience, and the powerful path to self-actualisation.

SHOW NOTES

DISCLAIMER: We hope this episode offers you knowledge, comfort and support - perhaps some laughs too - however it is not meant to serve as a substitute for a relationship with a trained and licensed counselor or therapist.

• Study 'From Being Adopted to Becoming a Parent' June 2018 - December 2021 Research team: Professor Beth Neil (Principle Investigator), Dr Julia Rimmer and Dr Irina Sirbu at the Centre for Research and Families at UEA
• Paper 'Indigenous Adoptees' Experiences of Racism in Transracial Adoption in Saskatachewan: Discovering Truth and Being Authentic (Copyright 2019:CJ McCloy)
• Books 'Surviving the White Gaze' Rebecca Carroll, 'Eyes On The Proze (Black Civil Rights Movement), 'Negroverse' (Pocket Poets), 'The Primal Wound - In Search Of the Missing Piece' Nancy Verrier
• TRA Networks - ICAV UK, Monarch Connections, Adoptee Thoughts

Today's Guest

Vik Fielder was born in London in 1971, adopted and moved to Somerset ata week old she now lives nestled in the Quantock Hills with her children. Vik really got into adoption advocacy during covid and has been running an adoptees only zoom chat since May 2020. Vik is also a founder member of the Adult Adoptee Movement.

Links

https://inews.co.uk/author/vik-fielder

https://adultadoptee.org.uk/

https://adultadoptee.org.uk/kaepernick-transracial-adoption

https://adultadoptee.org.uk/the-importance-of-genetic-mirroring/

More info about:

Dionne and DAWTA at www.dionnedraper.com

Lisa Marie-Simmons at www.lisamariesimmons.com

Lana Lynn Mareno at Journey to Wellness at www.bs2therapyrooms.co.uk

Copyright © 2026 Dionne Draper. All Rights Reserved.

Unauthorized Use Prohibited: Any reproduction, distribution, or use of this content or the DAWTA™ trademark without the prior express written permission of Dionne Draper is strictly prohibited and subject to legal action.

Dionne Draper and Lisa Marie-Simmons are both black, transracial adoptees and the hosts of 'DAWTA' The Podcast.

Dionne Draper is the writer, actor and producer of 'DAWTA' a semi-autobiographical multi-media work that centres the experiences of Sarah, a transracial adoptee. DAWTA, a one woman musical was the first live iteration (2019), then came DAWTA Digital an immersive online version (2021) and now DAWTA the Podcast has arrived (2023).

Lisa is a multi-disciplinary storyteller born in the US, adopted by a white family, subsequently re-homed to a white adoptive mother and her black husband, and raised in Boulder, Co. Lisa's work as a singer/songwriter, poet and essayist uses intimate details of her life to speak to a larger narrative.

DAWTA The Podcast centres on themes in Sarah's transracial adoption, with special guests and a 'Therapists View'. Each episode covers complex, challenging and always heart-warming stories of the transracial adoptee experience, and the powerful path to self-actualisation.

Show notes:

Kuligowski, M (2019) 'Coming Out of the fog'.

Angela Tucker https://www.angelatucker.com

The Primal Wound - Nancy Verrier

'Out of the Fog and into Consciousness' A model adoptee - Grace Newton

Astrid Castro - Adoption Mosaic

The Artists Way - Julia Cameron

The Body Keeps The Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma - Bessel van der Kolk

Top tips

• Find your community (ICAV, Adult Adoptee Movement, etc)
• Find voices that validate your transracial adoptee experience
• Self expression and creativity
• Explore self-care techniques that work for you i.e. meditation, yoga

DISCLAIMER: We hope this episode offers you knowledge, comfort and support, however it is not meant to serve as a substitute for a relationship with a trained and licensed counselor or therapist.

More info about Dionne and DAWTA info at www.dionnedraper.com

Lisa Marie-Simmons at www.lisamariesimmons.com

Lana Lynn Mareno - Journey to Wellness at www.bs2therapyrooms.co.uk

Copyright © 2026 Dionne Draper. All Rights Reserved.

Unauthorized Use Prohibited: Any reproduction, distribution, or use of this content or the DAWTA™ trademark without the prior express written permission of Dionne Draper is strictly prohibited and subject to legal action.