In our final episode of the season, Paul reflects on the stories we have featured in recognition of National Adoption Month with two other members of the Divided Families Podcast team, Liat Shapiro and Mailé Nguyen. Liat and Mailé share their experiences as adoptees, relating in different ways to the concept of "coming out of the fog" and the duality of adoption as an institution of both family creation and separation. Ultimately, they reaffirm the importance of diversifying stories of adoption and honoring the individuals at the center -- the adoptees themselves.

Thank you to everyone who has listened to our podcast this year. We look forward to sharing more stories with you in 2021!

For updates on our forthcoming season, follow us on Instagram at @DividedFamiliesPodcast. You can also contact us at [email protected].

This episode was edited by Maggie Deagon.

Chapter markers:

00:00 Maggie introduces the episode

01:46 Opening remarks from Paul

03:35 Discussion with Mailé about White House proclamation for National Adoption Month

05:42 Liat shares her adoption story

07:47 Mailé shares their adoption story

10:25 Connections to South Korea

13:39 Liat discusses her work with Korean Kids and Orphanage Outreach Mission (KKOOM)

16:05 Discussing the Side by Side Project

18:49 The importance of sharing adoptee experiences

22:00 Reflections on "coming out of the fog"

27:21 The duality of adoption as family creation and separation

36:43 Mailé's call to action

39:00 Closing remarks from Paul

39:35 Maggie closes the episode