DNA Surprises

Sometimes, DNA surprises aren’t about misattributed parentage. Sometimes, the biggest surprises are the feelings we experience as we explore biological connections.

In this week’s episode, Tracy shares how she always knew was adopted, and always knew that she wanted to find her biological parents. Much to her surprise, after she reunited with both of them, she uncovered complicated feelings around boundaries and what she expected from her relationships. Overall, Tracy’s experience is one of acceptance - of her life and family.

Thank you for sharing your story, Tracy.

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The more, the merrier. Wouldn’t it be great if everyone involved in a DNA surprise had this mentality? While that’s unfortunately not always the case, this week’s guest has had an incredible time connecting with the family he discovered after taking a DNA test.

Nick shares why growing up, learning about his paternal side never really factored into his thinking, and how a DNA test changed everything.

Thank you for sharing your story, Nick.

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Words have power. Language is how we make meaning of the things we’ve experienced. For some, having language around DNA surprises, adoption, and donor conception helps people feel less alone.

And others take it even further, using the power of language to write about their experience. In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Linda Pevac, also known by her pen name, Emma Stevens. Linda has penned three books about her life as a baby scoop era adoptee.

We discuss her DNA surprise journey and why writing has been a powerful tool in sharing her story.

Thank you for sharing your story, Linda.

https://emmastevenswriter.com/books/

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After a DNA surprise, it’s common to look back and reflect on moments where the truth was right there in front of you. A slip of the tongue, that eerie feeling that something just wasn’t right. But you don’t know it until you know it.

In this week’s episode, Billy shares how he brushed up against the truth years before he learned the truth about his paternity. He shared what he’s learned, what relationships he’s built, and how his DNA surprise gave him an even stronger appreciation for his dad.

Thank you for sharing your story, Billy.

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For some people, one of the trickiest things about DNA surprises is that they force us to see our parents as human. It can be uncomfortable to come to terms with infidelity in a marriage, or that your parent would lie to you.

In this week’s episode, Ann reveals how she uncovered four DNA surprises in her family. As the “found family” member in each surprise, Ann shares why she felt it was important to be open to the new people in her life. 

Thank you for sharing your story, Ann.

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What are you? For those of us who are quote “ethnically ambiguous,” this question is one we hear over and over again when meeting new people.  

In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Stephanie, who fielded questions about her ethnic background her entire childhood. She spent much of her early life trying to connect with others, to fit in somewhere. It wasn’t until much later that a DNA test revealed the truth.

Stephanie reached out to me because she wanted to explore her feelings around her ethnic shift with someone who had been there. We discuss some complicated feelings around feeling the need to “earn” our identity. She shares how she’s connecting to her roots, and why having this information makes the “What are you” question a little easier to navigate. 

Thank you for sharing your story, Stephanie.

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Papa was rollin’ stone. It’s a tale as old as time, and a phrase we’ve heard more than once on the podcast. But sometimes, there’s more to the story.

Welcome to the Season 14 premiere of DNA Surprises. In this week’s episode, Patrick shares how taking a 23andme test out of curiosity led him down an unimaginable road - one that made things make sense while simultaneously upending everything he knew.

He shares how he made his discovery, from his initial thoughts to what happened when he finally learned the truth. Patrick also demonstrates a positive, empathetic mindset for everyone involved in his story.

Thank you for sharing your story, Patrick.

Listen to Patrick’s song, “Dark Horse,” here. 

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An interesting thing about DNA Surprises is how much they can rock your identity, not once, but over and over again. Every time a layer is pulled back with new information, the foundation on which you’ve built your identity shifts.

In this week’s episode, Rebecca, an adoptee, shares her heartbreaking - and heartwarming - DNA discovery. She reveals how she connected with her biological mother, and eventually, identified her father. Her story reveals how learning the truth can bring a lot of pain, but beautiful relationships, too.

Thank you for sharing your story, Rebecca.

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One of the things I’ve learned from hosting DNA Surprises is that these discoveries don’t lose their impact with age. Whether someone is 25, 45, or 70, learning that the man who raised you is not your biological father can shift your understanding of your identity in an instant.

In this week’s episode, Randy shares how a DNA test organized by his half-sister uncovered that truth. With both of his parents already gone, he began the long process of piecing together the identity of his biological father - following DNA matches, working with relatives, and navigating a trail of clues that stretched across years.

Randy reflects on the twists and turns of his search, and how the age we are when we make these discoveries can impact what happens after the truth is revealed.

Thank you for sharing your story, Randy.

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My therapist once told me, “Some of us heal out loud so others don’t have to.” I think of that almost every time I get a note from a podcast listener telling me how much the stories people share each week have helped this.

In this week’s episode, I’m joined by someone who is healing out loud for the donor conceived community. Nick, host of the Inconceivably Connected podcast, shares how he discovered in his thirties that he was donor conceived. He recounts how his parents decided to reveal the information and how a DNA test helped fill in the rest. 

Since his discovery, Nick provides a platform for others to share their experiences being donor conceived, and has even written a book about his experience.

Thank you for sharing your story, Nick.

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