At the end of every DNA Surprises episode, I ask my guests two questions. I ask for advice for people in our community, and I ask for advice for parents keeping a DNA surprise from their child. Time and time again, guests implore parents to tell the truth. But when is the right time to tell? And are the ramifications different than when a DNA surprise is uncovered with a DNA test?

In this week’s episode, Meaghan shares how one day, her parents took for a long walk and revealed the truth - her dad is not biologically related to her. She then shares the fallout from that - connecting with new family members while balancing the fact that her biological father is not a safe person. Meaghan also shares how her DNA surprise led to her to create a book for people who have had similar experiences. I’ll be sure to share that when it’s available.

Thank you for sharing your story, Meaghan.

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Find Meaghan at:

IG: you_belong_here_recovery_book

meaghancarriere.com

meaghancarriere.substack.com

Hindsight is 20/20. After experiencing a DNA surprise, it’s easy to look back at moments throughout our childhoods and realize that the truth was there all along.  Growing up in Indiana, Brittany always felt like an outsider. Her parents were divorced, and when she asked her dad if she could go live with him, he revealed that he wasn’t her biological father, which her mother denied.

Years later, Brittany took DNA test, which revealed that her lifelong father was not her biological father. In this episode, Brittany shares how the revelation rocked her sense of identity and her lifelong relationships. She also discusses how she’s connected with her newfound family and found a sense of belonging.

Thank you for sharing your story, Brittany.

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This is part 3 of a 3-part series. If you haven’t listened to parts 1 and 2, be sure to go back and listen before starting this episode.

In Part 3 of Elizabeth’s story, we find out what happened after she visited her family and met her biological father for the first time ever. She shares what those first moments felt like and where things stand after her whirlwind trip. She also gives an update on her relationship with her raised family.

One of the things I commented on more than once throughout this series is how much can change, and how fast. If you’ve just uncovered your DNA surprise, or even if you’ve been in this experience for a while, I hope that this series has given you hope - that things can change - whether that change looks like making contact with newfound family or simply coming to terms and feeling better about where things are for you.

Thank you Elizabeth, for sharing so much of your story.

If you have a DNA surprise that you’d like to share, submit your story at DNASurprises.com.

Get early, ad-free access to episodes at patreon.com/dnasurprises.

So what happened after Elizabeth sent off those letters to her siblings? In Part 2 of Elizabeth’s DNA surprise story, she reveals how she was able to make contact with several of her newfound siblings - and her biological father. 

I loved this conversation because we get a glimpse into the other side of the DNA surprise equation - the found family’s point of view. I reconnected with Elizabeth in January 2025 and two of her siblings, Aerin and Emily joined us. Her siblings share what it was like to learn about Elizabeth, and Elizabeth shares how it felt to finally connect with her biological father and family.

This is Part 2 of a 3-part series. If you haven’t listened to Part 1, go back and listen to Elizabeth’s DNA Surprise.

Thank you to Elizabeth, Aerin, and Emily for sharing your story.

So, what happened when Elizabeth went to visit her family? Listen to Part 3 to find out.

If you have a DNA surprise that you’d like to share, submit your story at DNASurprises.com.

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Welcome to a new season of DNA Surprises. We’re kicking this season off with a triple-episode premiere as we follow Elizabeth on her DNA surprise journey.

Elizabeth grew up knowing that the man she called “Dad” wasn’t her biological father, but she also grew up believing that the man she believed was, didn’t want to be part of her life. Her childhood was fraught with abuse and neglect and by the time she discovered the truth, she already had strained relationships with her parents and siblings.

This is part one of Elizabeth’s story. In this episode, Elizabeth shares what she learned after taking her test - that her conception was the result of sex trafficking and that her mother did not know who her father was. Thanks to modern DNA testing, Elizabeth was able to find her biological father but had been unable to make direct contact with him. She was on the verge of sending letters to her siblings but had no idea what would happen next.

Listen to Part 2 to find out what happens next.

Thank you for sharing your story, Elizabeth.

If you have a DNA surprise that you’d like to share, submit your story at DNASurprises.com.

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Welcome to the season 10 finale of DNA Surprises. Buy one, get two. No, this isn’t an ad for the latest testing kit sale. In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Dave and Denise, a married couple who discovered that they were both NPEs after their grandson took a DNA test.

Before you listen to this episode, I want to take a moment to remind listeners that family secrets like these don’t stay hidden in the modern age of DNA testing, and Dave and Denise are a great example of this. They didn’t uncover their surprises because they took a test. Even their grown children wouldn’t have surfaced the secret. It was their curious grandson with a love of genealogy and heritage who led to the truth. For both of them.

Thanks to Dave and Denise for sharing their stories.

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When someone uncovers a DNA surprise, their family tree changes. That sounds simple, but the reality is that our roots, so many of the things that make us, us, come from generations before us. In this week’s episode Melissa shares her profound journey after discovering that the man who raised her is not her biological father. 

From uncovering clues in her late grandmother's writings to learning about her biological father's tumultuous past and building new relationships with half-siblings, Melissa delves into the complex emotions and revelations that emerged along the way. Through her genealogical research, Melissa connects with her ancestral roots, understanding more about her family's history and the legacies that shape her identity. 

Thank you for sharing your story, Melissa.

Resources:

If we don’t laugh, we’ll cry. DNA surprises can be gut-wrenching and difficult experiences, but some of us can find humor in almost any situation. In this week’s laughter-filled episode, Lauren LoGuidice tells the story of how she learned she was donor conceived. 

Lauren discusses how she never fit in with her raised family but was regularly dismissed and gaslit when she questioned why she looked so different. She shares how she connected with her donor-conceived siblings, her genetic father, and how things are with her parents today.

She doesn’t disguise her journey with humor, rather, she infuses it into her storytelling. You can check out Lauren’s comedy, including the latest on her upcoming film, at her website linked in the show notes.

Thank you for sharing your story, Lauren.

Resources:

Lauren LoGiudice - Comedy and Characters for Misfits

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When someone opens up their DNA test results, the outcome isn’t always an explosive surprise. Sometimes, it takes a while of pulling at a thread before a truth is unraveled. In this week’s episode, Christine shares how her curiosity about one of her ethnicity results led to her shocking discovery that her dad isn’t her biological father. But in another twist, even after finding out the truth about her paternity, the mystery about her ethnicity remained.

Christine discusses both of these DNA surprises and how they’ve affected her relationships. She also shares how her surprise has transformed her perception of herself, for the positive.

Thank you for sharing your story, Christine.

Imagine uncovering your DNA surprise, experiencing the shock and devastation that comes with it, and then learning that the surprise wasn’t a total surprise after all? Earlier this season, we heard a story like this, and in this week’s episode, you’ll hear another.

When Tamara confronted her mom about her DNA surprise, she was shocked to learn that they’d already discussed it when she was younger. For some reason the memory didn’t stick with her, and when she learned the truth,it came back to her. Yet she still had to contend with this revelation as though she was hearing it for the first time.

Tamara details her search for her biological father after being given incorrect information and facing roadblocks from her found family. Just before we recorded our interview, she got a surprise that gave her the answers she was looking for.

Thank you for sharing your story, Tamara.

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