Family Twist: A Podcast Exploring DNA Surprises and Family Secrets

What would you do if a simple DNA test revealed that everything you knew about your identity was a lie?

In this episode, Corey and Kendall Stulce sit down with Amber Von Moesner to unravel her incredible journey of discovering she was donor conceived. Amber shares her emotional rollercoaster from the moment she received unexpected DNA results to the heartwarming reconnection with her biological father and half-siblings. This episode delves deep into the complexities of identity, the impact of long-held family secrets, and the profound connections that can emerge from the most unexpected revelations.

Key Benefits for Listeners:

1. Navigating Family Secrets: Learn how to cope with and understand the impact of discovering life-altering family secrets.
2. Understanding Donor Conception: Gain insight into the emotional and practical aspects of donor conception, from both the donor's and the child's perspectives.
3. Building New Relationships: Discover the possibilities and challenges of forming relationships with newfound biological family members.

Amber on Twitter

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What if you discovered you were a triplet, separated at birth, and had siblings living just miles away?

Join Corey and Kendall Stulce as they delve into an extraordinary story with guests Kenny, Ricky, and Jules, who host the podcast "Luke, Who is Your Father?" These triplets, separated at birth, share their emotional journey of discovering each other and reconnecting despite the odds. From the initial revelation to forming lasting bonds and uncovering their shared past, this episode explores the deep, complex emotions and experiences of reuniting with long-lost family.

Key Benefits for Listeners:

1. Emotional Connection: Gain insight into the powerful emotions involved in discovering and reuniting with long-lost family members.
2. Understanding Complex Family Dynamics: Learn about the intricacies of family relationships, especially in the context of adoption and donor conception.
3. Inspiration and Hope: Find inspiration in the resilience and determination of individuals seeking to reconnect and build relationships despite difficult circumstances.

Guest bios from Luke Who is Your Father website:

Jules is Baby A- 31 years old, the hellraiser, idea-haver, “act first, ask questions later” problem child of the trio. She’s quick to crack a joke or challenge you to a competition. She is seasoned in sales and has found a home in the Med-Tech industry. She lives with her equally mischievous partner and their four cats in Southeast Austin. You can find her doom-scrolling Tik-Tok, creating mixed-media art projects, or scouring the city for the best seafood platter- all of which is a lot more mild-mannered than what she used to get up to.

Kenny is Baby B—31 years old, the mediator, peacemaker, Oreo center of the trio. She’s a little more reserved, but blunt and sarcastic with a bit of a dry sense of humor. She is the Senior Graphic Designer for the Cyber Intelligence Team of a world renowned cyber security company where she has worked for about a year and a half. Kenny lives with her boyfriend and partner-in-crime along with two rescue pups in their home in South Austin. You can find Kenny frequenting the local dives, poorly playing pool, catching up on the massive quantities of content on streaming services, or searching out any body of water within 100 miles.

Rikki is Baby C—31 years old and a true Cancer— bold and brazen on the outside, soft and emo on the inside. She is Head of Sales at Scribe Media (our pod producer) and has been with the company for four years. Rikki shares her home in Austin with two dogs, a cat, and her boyfriend, Collin. Collin is the caretaker of the home, and Rikki is the curator. She is always on the lookout for anything that can make her house look more like a dreamy 70s bungalow. In her free time, Rikki enjoys reading (mostly horror), watching movies (mostly horror), rowing on Town Lake, and eating at all of Austin’s best new restaurants.

Guest links:

Luke Who is Your Father website

Instagram

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Kendall and Corey talk about seven different significant events from Aug. 11 to Sept. 4, and why we celebrate and remember them.

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We were inspired to dig up this interview after we spoke to writer-producer-director Del Shores, creator of "Sordid Lives." This bonus episode is an interview Corey did with the legendary Rue McClanahan, discussing her role as Peggy in the TV series, "Sordid Lives." We hope you enjoy this never-before-published interview. (The audio isn't great as it's a 15-year-old audio recording.)

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Kendall and Corey met when Corey performed in Del Shores' play, "Sordid Lives." We were fortunate enough to befriend Del and share some amazing moments with him and his collaborators, including Leslie Jordan, Ann Walker and Beth Grant.

In this episode, Kendall and Del discuss their similarities including growing up in the Southern Baptist church, marrying women and the challenges of being gay in the South.

The Del Shores Foundation: LGBTQ

Del Shores' website

Guest bio:

Del Shores is the writer/director/producer of the films Sordid Lives, Blues for

Willadean, Southern Baptist Sissies and A Very Sordid Wedding.  He wrote and

executive produced the MGM feature Daddy's Dyin';...Who's Got The Will?  His

plays Cheatin’, Daddy’s Dyin’ (Who’s Got The Will?), Daughters of the Lone Star

State, Sordid Lives, Southern Baptist Sissies, The Trials and Tribulations of a Trailer

Trash Housewife, Yellow, This Side of Crazy and A Very Sordid Wedding are all

published by Concord/Samuel French. In television, Del Shores wrote, directed,

executive produced and created the LOGO series, Sordid Lives: The Series. He also

wrote and executive produced Showtime's groundbreaking Queer As Folk for the

last three seasons, wrote and produced for Dharma & Greg and Ned & Stacey. 

He has directed Academy Award winners Octavia Spencer and Whoopi Goldberg,

Grammy Award winner Olivia Newton-John; Emmy winners/nominees Beau

Bridges, Delta Burke, Leslie Jordan, Bonnie Bedelia, Bobbie Eakes, Patrika Darbo

and Rue McClanahan; Spirit Award winner Dale Dickey; Screen Actor's Guild

Award-winner Beth Grant; as well as Caroline Rhea, Debby Holiday and David

Steen.

As a performer, Shores has performed in hundreds of standup gigs and in 2018

completed a national tour of his critically acclaimed award-winning one-man

play Six Characters In Search Of A Play directed by Emerson Collins. The play was

filmed and is now streaming worldwide. His standup shows Del Shores: My

Sordid Life Del Shores: Sordid Confessions and Del Shores: Naked.Sordid.Reality

were filmed, also directed by Collins, and are distributed by Breaking Glass

Pictures. His tenth play A Very Sordid Wedding (based on his 2017 film) had its

world premiere September 2021, playing to sold out houses at Kalita Humphries

Theatre in Dallas for Uptown Players. Shores directed. In November 2021, he

directed his eleven play In Memoriam of Lena at Northwestern State University in

Natchitoches, Louisiana where his has teaches Playwriting and Acting For The

Camera yearly as a guest artist. Lena marked his first world premiere with a cast

of students. Shores has won multiple awards for his plays and films, including a

GLAAD Award, an NAACP Award and a LA Weekly Lifetime Achievement award

winner. In 2023 he was awarded The Chuck Rowland Pioneer Award by LA’s

The Celebration Theatre.

Shores shares the passion of The Del Shores Foundation in “finding and

facilitating success for the next generation of Southern LGBTQ+ writers.”

(delshoresfoundation.org). Shores resides in Los Angeles with his three little

bitches Bitsy Mae, Gracie Louise and Sissy Marie. He is the proud father of two

grown daughters Rebecca and Caroline.

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Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/FamilyTwistPodcastAfterHours

Bob Sorrentino is the adoptive father of two, and the host of the podcast, Italian Genealogy With Bob Sorrentino. Bob always knew his four grandparents all came from Italy, but after a DNA test, he found family he didn't know existed in the country. "Better late than never," is an Italian phrase that sums up Bob's journey. The stories he heard from his new family are too wild to be coincidences.

"The most amazing part of the meeting was a photo of my parents' wedding with my grandmother's handwriting in Italian on the back. Blows you away," Bob said.

Guest bio: Robert Sorrentino is a retired bank executive that has now devoted his life to Italian roots and genealogy. Robert has a blog, podcast and YouTube channel.

Bob's book, "Farmers and Nobles: The Genealogy History of Two Italian American Families"

Bob's podcast, Italian Genealogy With Bob Sorrentino

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Our guest, Jon Baime, is the writer, producer and director of the documentary, "Filling in the Blanks." After taking a DNA test five years ago, Jon discovered he and his two brothers were the result of donor conception. To process the revelation, Jon decided to make a film, which includes his story, his brothers' stories and several other stories from NPEs (non-paternity event), who turn out to be Jon's half siblings.

"Filling in the Blanks" description: Where do I come from? For some, the question has a simple answer - for others, the truth can be much more complicated. With the rise in popularity of at-home DNA tests, it's now easier than ever for people to uncover their family history and, sometimes, things their parents wish would stay buried. Interested in learning more about his family heritage, director Jon Baime took an at-home DNA test and uncovered a family secret that has been hidden for half a century. Featuring in-depth interviews with Jon's siblings as well as a treasure trove of family photos and films spanning 70 years, "Filling in the Blanks" takes audiences on a journey as Jon explores the meaning behind his discovery and expands on what it means to be family.

Filling in the Blanks trailer

"Filling in the Blanks" on Apple TV

"Filling in the Blanks" on VUDU

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Jimmy Amisial's life was changed forever. In 2017, he was home in Haiti visiting from the U.S. where he was studying. On New Year's Eve, Jimmy discovered a crowd making a commotion. There was a naked baby, screaming, in a pile of garbage. The people gathered around thought the child was cursed so they wouldn't touch him. The baby was in distress, covered in fire ants. Jimmy saw a precious living soul, and he knew he had to save the baby. Soon, Jimmy was asked to become the permanent caregiver for the baby, the most-difficult decision Jimmy ever had to make. Jimmy shares what happens next in this episode.

Jimmy Amisial's Instagram

4thelovefoundation

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Getting to help share Tamika Felder's story is an honor for us. Tamika looked forward to becoming a Mom since she was a young girl playing with her dollies. A cancer diagnosis at age 25 dashed her dream of having a baby. Acts of kindness from strangers helped Tamika's dream finally come true. These former strangers have formed a modern family. We were also thrilled and surprised to hear Stephanie Levich's family twist during the episode!

Guest bios:

Tamika Felder is a cervical cancer survivor. She founded Cervivor, a global community of patient advocates who inspire and empower those affected by cervical cancer by educating and motivating them to use their voices for creating awareness to end stigma, influence decision and change, and end cervical cancer.

Stephanie Levich is a fertility and family building expert, author and entrepreneur. With over 20 years of experience in the fertility industry, her passion stemmed from her own parents' journey to create their family through adoption as well as her personal experience dealing with IVF. Stephanie created Family Match Consulting, a world-renowned fertility consulting firm specializing in egg donation, sperm donation, and surrogacy. Family Match is the premier fertility consulting firm for an ever-growing roster of A-List celebrities, CEOs, and prominent sports and political figures who require extra support and privacy as they navigate their family-building journey.

Guest links:

Stephanie Levich's Instagram

Tamika Felder's Instagram

Family Match Consulting Website

People Magazine article

cervivorbaby Instagram

Stephanie's book "From The Start: A Book About Love and Making Families"

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Join us for Family Twist After Hours, our weekly unfiltered bonus podcast featuring personal stories, family secrets, behind-the-scenes conversations and plenty we don't share on the regular show.

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How do you rebuild your identity after discovering long-hidden family secrets?

Join Corey and Kendall Stulce as they sit down with Robin Schepper, a former White House staffer, adoptive mother, and author, to delve into her remarkable journey of uncovering her biological father's identity through DNA testing. Robin shares her emotional experiences, from navigating her mother's long-held secrets to embracing her new-found family connections and the challenges and rewards of adoption. This episode explores themes of identity, family dynamics, and personal resilience.

Key Benefits for Listeners:

1. Understanding DNA Discoveries: Gain insight into the emotional and practical aspects of uncovering family secrets through DNA testing and how to navigate these revelations.
2. Adoption Perspectives: Learn about the complexities and joys of adoption from a mother's perspective, including the challenges faced and the deep rewards gained.
3. Building Resilience: Discover strategies for coping with and overcoming personal and family challenges, emphasizing the importance of connection and authenticity.

Tune in to hear Robin Schepper's inspiring journey of uncovering her past, embracing new family connections, and finding strength in authenticity!

Guest bio

For more than thirty years, Robin Schepper served at the highest levels of American politics and government. She worked on four presidential campaigns and in the Clinton White House, was staff director for the Senate Democratic Technology and Communications Committee under Senator Tom Daschle and served in the Obama White House as the first executive director of Michelle Obama’s anti-obesity initiative, Let’s Move! She has advised numerous numerous non-profits and helped draft policy reports for the Bipartisan Policy Center. Robin lives in Steamboat Springs, Colorado with my husband, kids and rescue dogs.

Robin Schepper's website

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Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/FamilyTwistPodcastAfterHours