Family Twist: A Podcast Exploring DNA Surprises and Family Secrets

By Corey and Kendall StulceSociety & Culture History Parenting Kids & Family

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Family Twist: A Podcast Exploring DNA Surprises and Family Secrets episodes

November 11, 2025One Test. Two Brothers. Two Different Truths.
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What if a simple birthday gift revealed a secret your parents had been carrying for more than three decades?
For his 36th birthday, Nick’s siblings gave him a 23andMe kit. It seemed like a fun way to learn more about his ancestry, until his parents sat him down with a truth that changed everything. Nick discovered that he was donor conceived, while his brother was not.
In this first part of Nick’s story, he shares what it felt like to have the truth land without warning, why he chose compassion instead of anger, and how this discovery ultimately strengthened his relationship with the father who raised him.
Nick also explains the fertility practices of the 1980s, including sperm washing and sperm mixing, and how secrecy became standard procedure for families like his.
And when his test results came back, the surprises were just beginning.
One Test. Two Brothers. Two Different Truths.
What We Talk About
How a DNA test transformed a birthday gift into a life-changing discovery
The moment Nick’s parents told him the truth about his conception
How secrecy was encouraged in fertility medicine during the 1980s
The emotional impact of realizing your family story is incomplete
Why Nick’s empathy toward his parents shaped their healing
The mix of gratitude and confusion that comes with learning you are donor conceived
The unregulated side of the fertility industry and its lasting effects
Discovering 14 half-siblings, including two raised by the donor
Finding a new sense of identity and belonging after a DNA surprise

Key Quotes
It was the shock of my life. I did not see it coming whatsoever.
I could see the fear in my parents’ eyes, and I just wanted to make sure they were okay.
When I found out I was donor conceived, it didn’t break our relationship. It made it stronger.
Doctors told them, ‘Don’t ever say anything. There’s no way this will ever come out.’
Takeaways
DNA tests can reveal truths that change entire family narratives.
Secrets meant to protect can create years of emotional weight.
Empathy and openness can lead to unexpected healing.
The fertility industry’s lack of oversight has left many families without answers.
Understanding your origins can strengthen, not destroy, family connections.

Reflection Questions for Listeners
How would you respond if you learned your family story wasn’t what you thought?
What might honesty bring to a family that has held on to a secret for years?
How do we redefine family when biology and identity diverge?
What does compassion look like in moments of shock or betrayal?

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30 min
November 04, 2025The Not-So Only Child
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What happens when a single email from a stranger confirms the secret you have been living with your whole life?
In this episode, Rich Boerner returns to Family Twist to share the second half of his extraordinary story. In Part One, Rich discovered the truth about his father after finding a Polaroid tucked inside his mother’s old address book. That discovery shattered the story he had grown up believing and opened the door to an entirely new family.
In Part Two, Rich picks up the story a decade later, when an unexpected email from a woman claiming to be his half-sister pulls him into the next chapter of his life. What follows is an emotional mix of disbelief, connection, and forgiveness.
Rich talks about how he went from shock to understanding, how he built a new relationship with his sister, and why finally learning the truth changed the way he viewed both of his parents. He also shares how the process of telling his story became a healing experience, first for him and then for his children.
The Not-So Only Child
In this episode
How one photo uncovered a lifetime of secrets
The decade between discovery and connection
What it feels like to finally meet a sibling who already knew the truth
The complicated emotions of forgiveness after decades of silence
How Rich turned his discovery into his memoir and audiobook The Not-So Only Child
Why storytelling can be one of the most powerful forms of healing

About Rich Boerner
Rich Boerner is a veteran radio producer, audio storyteller, and the author of The Not-So Only Child: My True Story. His book began as an experiment in the recording booth, speaking his story aloud rather than writing it, and evolved into an audiobook and memoir that explores identity, loss, and reconnection.
You can find The Not-So Only Child on Amazon in print, ebook, and audiobook formats.
Why this episode matters
Rich’s journey is about more than DNA surprises. It is about what happens after the truth surfaces, when you have to decide whether to open the door to the people and the pain that come with it. His story reminds us that healing often begins with honesty, and that our voices, even shaky ones, can help others feel less alone.
Listen now
Subscribe to Family Twist wherever you get your podcasts and hear more stories that prove family secrets are the ultimate plot twist.
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Want more Corey and Kendall?
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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26 min
October 28, 2025I Found My Father’s Name in My Mother’s Secrets
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What if the father you spent your life wondering about turned out to be someone you already knew?
As a kid growing up on Long Island in the 1970s, Rich Boerner learned not to ask too many questions. His mother had her version of the truth and repeated it word for word whenever he asked. His father was a man from Milwaukee who left when he found out she was pregnant. That was all she would say.
It was a story that sounded just plausible enough to stop the conversation. For years, Rich focused on his own life instead. He went to college, built a career in radio, started a family, and kept that mystery locked away in a quiet corner of his mind.
But after his mother passed away, everything changed. While cleaning out her apartment, Rich opened an old address book. Inside was a Polaroid photo and a note that would unravel decades of silence. His father wasn’t a stranger from another state. He was someone who had always been there.
In this first half of our two-part conversation, Rich joins Corey and Kendall to talk about growing up with half-truths, the cost of protecting a parent’s secret, and what it feels like when the life you’ve built suddenly shifts under your feet. His story reminds us how deeply love and deception can intertwine and how the search for truth can begin long after we think the story is over.
In this episode
Life as an only child raised by a single mother in a working-class New York neighborhood
The “three-sentence story” his mother told and why he believed it for so long
What he found among her letters after her death
The Polaroid that rewrote everything he thought he knew about his father
How grief can become the moment of truth

Guest
Rich Boerner is a longtime radio executive and the author of The Not-So Only Child: My True Story. The memoir chronicles the discovery of his hidden family and his path toward forgiveness, recorded and produced in his own home studio.
Coming in Part Two
Rich reconnects with the sister who knew the secret all along and learns how his father’s final wish tied their two families together. He also shares the late-night creative process that turned his story into an audiobook for his children and for anyone who has ever had to rebuild their sense of self from the truth.
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27 min
October 21, 2025 When Kendall’s Story Became Her Mirror
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What happens when the podcast that’s helping you make sense of your DNA surprise starts to sound a little too familiar?
For many listeners, Family Twist is more than a podcast, it’s a lifeline. That’s exactly how it felt for Jai, whose own DNA discovery journey unfolded side by side with the stories she was hearing from Corey and Kendall. As an adoptee navigating identity, belonging, and the shock of hidden truths, Jai found comfort and courage in Kendall’s openness about rejection, reconnection, and redefining family.
This episode is for anyone who has listened to a story that suddenly felt like their own. Jai reminds us that healing doesn’t just happen through discovery, it happens through connection.
What Listeners Will Gain
1. A mirror for your own journey.
Jai’s story echoes the emotions so many of us face: curiosity, grief, hope, and the courage to seek truth even when it hurts.
2. A lesson in empathy and resilience.
She talks candidly about how Kendall’s story gave her language for emotions she didn’t yet know how to name and how compassion builds bridges even between strangers.
3. A reminder that you’re not alone.
Through podcasts, online communities, and real-life connections, Jai found strength in realizing that others have walked this road and survived it.
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Want more Corey and Kendall?
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.
Your Patreon membership also helps cover the costs of keeping Family Twist going. Plus, subscribers get new Family Twist episodes a day early!
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33 min
October 15, 2025 Right to Know: Healing in Real Time
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This episode feels like the heart of Family Twist. It’s about what happens when we stop hiding, start talking, and realize we’re all part of a much bigger family than we thought.
Right to Know: Healing in Real Time
Corey shares the mic with other board members from Right to Know, the organization making sure everyone has access to their own origin story. These conversations aren’t polished or easy, but they’re full of heart, honesty, and hope.
Debbie Olson talks about the strange beauty of finding family while also finding your purpose. She turned her DNA discovery into a mission to make sure no one goes through it alone.
Kara Rubinstein Deyerin and Brad Ewell share the story behind the name Right to Know and how they built a space for people who are still reeling from the shock of new truths. Their message is simple: healing doesn’t come from pretending it didn’t happen. It comes from community.
And Steven Osborne reminds us what real courage sounds like when he tells the story of confronting his mother after decades of secrets. It’s raw, it’s human, and it’s a reminder that honesty doesn’t always heal overnight, but it’s always the first step.
This episode also celebrates the Untangling Our Roots Summit, where adoptees, donor-conceived folks, NPEs, and their families come together to laugh, cry, and find connection in the chaos. It’s proof that healing can be loud, messy, and even joyful.
Family secrets might be the hardest stories to tell, but when we tell them together, they turn into something bigger, understanding, compassion, and sometimes even a little karaoke.
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Want more Corey and Kendall?
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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14 min
October 07, 2025The Fertility Industry’s Dark Secret, Told by Two of Its Kids
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This episode nearly vanished. Literally. When Corey bumped into fellow podcaster Jeremy Bryant at a New England podcast event, he recognized his voice before placing his face. Then it hit him, they had already recorded an episode of Family Twist with Jeremy, but somehow, that recording got lost.
So here it is. Jeremy’s story is about learning he was donor-conceived, discovering a growing list of half-siblings, and reconciling that truth after the father who raised him had already passed. It’s also about navigating what happens when the story you’ve always been told turns out to be wrong. Also, Jeremy hosts a paranormal podcast, so yes, you may hear something strange in the background.
The second half of the episode features an update with Jeremy’s half-sister Amber. Her discovery led to a national media moment. Amber is the creator of Biohacked, both a podcast and a documentary project about donor conception, secrecy, and the need for reform in the fertility industry. She also created a welcome packet for new half-siblings, because when your biological father helped conceive dozens of people, there is some onboarding involved.
Together, Jeremy and Amber offer two very different reactions to the same truth. One chose peace. One chose action. Both are unforgettable.
The Fertility Industry’s Dark Secret, Told by Two of Its Kids
Topics Covered
Jeremy’s discovery story and the moment his mom told him the truth
Grieving a lost parent while uncovering a second one
What happens when you meet your biological father after a DNA surprise
Amber’s origin story, and how it unraveled completely
From being called a “miracle baby” to finding out the truth
Creating a welcome packet for incoming half-siblings
How donor-conceived people are fighting for regulation, recognition, and rights
The emotional fallout of secrecy in the fertility industry

Resources Mentioned
Jeremy’s podcast, Paranormal the New Normal
Amber’s podcast and documentary project, Biohacked
Donor Conceived Community (donorconceivedcommunity.org)
NPR and other national media coverage of Amber’s story

Share Your Story
Have you uncovered a secret through a DNA test or a forgotten conversation?
Contact us at [email protected]. We’re always looking for the next twist.
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1 hr 5 min
September 30, 2025My Birth Father Is Either One of Two Twins… or Their Dad
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What if the first clue to your DNA surprise was hidden in your parents’ wedding video — and years later, the search pointed to identical twins?
Episode Overview
In this episode of the Family Twist podcast, Corey and Kendall talk with Emily, a fellow New England podcaster who uncovered her DNA surprise in an unforgettable way. As a child, she noticed she was in her parents’ wedding video, and that observation launched decades of questions about her identity.
Emily’s journey stretched from childhood curiosity to a paternity test at Dunkin Donuts, to the unique complication of identical twins in DNA testing, and the heartbreak of a mother who could not talk about the past. Along the way, she faced silence, secrecy, and the reality that reunion is rarely the fantasy we imagine.
This is a story of identity, resilience, and what happens when nature and nurture collide in unexpected ways.
My Birth Father Is Either One of Two Twins… or Their Dad
What You’ll Learn
How a wedding video sparked Emily’s search for her biological father
Why secrecy and shame around conception left lasting scars
How identical twins complicate DNA test results in family discovery
Why a parent’s lack of curiosity can be as painful as rejection
How adoptees and NPEs balance gratitude for their raising families with the right to know their origins

Episode Chapters
00:00 – Welcome and introduction to Emily
01:00 – Discovering she was in her parents’ wedding video
02:00 – Learning she was adopted by her raising father

03:00 – Secrecy and shame around her conception

04:00 – Tracking down her first possible father

05:00 – Paternity test at Dunkin Donuts

06:00 – DNA testing with 23andMe, Ancestry, and GEDmatch

08:00 – The identical twins twist

10:00 – Meeting her biological father for the first time

12:00 – Family synchronicities and high school connections

14:00 – Building a relationship with her biological father and siblings

16:00 – Navigating her mother’s silence

18:00 – The weight of “you should be grateful” in adoptee experiences

20:00 – Kendall’s parallels in adoption reunion

24:00 – Managing reunion expectations versus reality

26:00 – Finding connection through music

28:00 – Closing reflections and resources
Resources and Mentions
New England Podcasters Group: Join here
Right to Know: righttoknow.us
NPE Friends Fellowship: npefellowship.org
Donor Sibling Registry: donorsiblingregistry.com

If Emily’s DNA surprise story resonated with you, share this episode with someone navigating adoption, donor conception, or an NPE discovery. Subscribe to Family Twist on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Leaving a review helps more people discover stories of adoption reunions, family secrets, and DNA testing.
Family Twist is a podcast about DNA surprises, NPE experiences, adoption journeys, and donor conception stories. Hosted by Corey and Kendall Stulce, the show features real conversations about identity, family, and belonging. In this episode, Emily shares how she uncovered her DNA surprise through a wedding video, the unique challenge of identical twin DNA results, and the impact of family secrecy on her search for truth.
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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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33 min
September 23, 2025Why This Episode Left Us in Tears (and Hope)
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Can we ever truly feel safe if we don’t know where we came from?
Episode Summary:
In this deeply emotional episode of Family Twist, we welcome Bryan Post, world-renowned therapist, author, and adoptee, for a conversation that feels more like a healing session than an interview.
Bryan speaks directly to the heart of what many adoptees feel but struggle to articulate: the hidden trauma, the nervous system overload, the sense of disconnection that lingers, even in the midst of reunion.
For co-host Kendall, this conversation became personal fast. Bryan didn’t just talk theory, he listened, responded, and gently guided Kendall through some of his deepest emotional truths. It was a moment of unexpected vulnerability, and it reminded us why these stories matter so much.
If you’re adopted, donor-conceived, part of the foster care system, or love someone who is, this episode offers real insight, real compassion, and a roadmap for healing.
Why This Episode Left Us in Tears (and Hope)
Key Takeaways:
Trauma lives in the body: Even with a loving adoptive family, separation at birth creates nervous system disruptions.
Adoptees often regulate by pleasing: Bryan breaks down the “good kid” survival strategy and why it’s exhausting.
Healing starts with understanding: Bryan explains the difference between punishment and regulation and why love always works better than fear.
This was a real therapy moment for Kendall: Bryan’s response to Kendall’s story was one of patience, empathy, and genuine support.

Pull Quotes:

"If I can help one person feel seen, then that’s why I share my story." – Kendall
"Trauma isn’t what happens to you—it’s what happens inside you as a result." – Bryan Post
"Adoptees are master regulators. We survive by making sure everyone else is okay." – Bryan Post
Resources Mentioned:
Bondify (therapy app)
From Fear to Love: Your Essential Guide to Parenting Adopted and Foster Children
The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk (book recommendation)
Family Twist episode: Wendy Kramer on Donor-Conceived Identity

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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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46 min
September 16, 2025When Your DNA Test Turns Into a Movie Script
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What happens when a DNA test flips your world upside down and you decide to make a comedy about it? Actor, writer, and producer Lisa Brenner joins Corey and Kendall to talk about her new film One Big Happy Family, opening in AMC Theatres on October 3, 2025.
Inspired by her own discovery at age 40 that the dad who raised her wasn’t her biological father, Lisa transformed a life-altering revelation into a heartfelt comedy. In this episode, she shares how she worked through shock and grief, why she wanted to honor her mother instead of vilifying her, and how humor became her way of finding perspective.
The conversation also celebrates the late Linda Lavin, star of Alice, who delivers her final screen performance in One Big Happy Family. As lifelong fans, Corey and Kendall reflect on Linda’s impact, her strength as a trailblazing actor, and the legacy she leaves behind.
This episode is a reminder that family is complicated, comedy can heal, and DNA discoveries don’t always have to end in tragedy, sometimes they spark laughter, connection, and a brand-new story.
When Your DNA Test Turns Into a Movie Script
Topics We Cover
How a “just for fun” DNA test led to Lisa’s shocking discovery at 40
Why she chose comedy instead of melodrama to tell her story
The secrecy and shame around early IVF and donor conception in the 1960s
Honoring her mom’s role in her life and avoiding the blame game
The wild experience of finding multiple donor-conceived siblings
Working with the legendary Linda Lavin in her final film role
Why community and connection are so vital after a DNA surprise

Resources & Links
🎬 One Big Happy Family — Official Website
❤️ More Family Twist episodes at familytwistpodcast.com

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31 min
September 09, 2025Switched at birth and silenced for decades
This is the rescued first conversation with author Shirley Muñoz Newsom, whose memoir The Little Dark One: A True Story of Switched at Birth chronicles discovering—at age 43—that she was switched at birth. She grew up in Gillette, Wyoming, knowing she didn’t fit, searching through library microfiche long before Google, and navigating an emotionally unavailable home where affection and belonging were withheld. In this raw, intimate talk, Shirley shares how a National Enquirer ambush multiplied the trauma, why writing opened the floodgates after decades of suppression, and how finding Aunt Mary and a constellation of cousins helped her reclaim her Mexican heritage—down to learning tortillas and recognizing a face she finally resembled.
We thought this recording was gone due to severe audio issues. Thanks to new editing tools, we recovered enough to share it. It’s not perfect, but the immediacy is powerful.
Why this story matters
A firsthand account of being switched at birth, told after decades of silence
The cost of secrecy, shame, and small-town gossip on a child’s identity
Surviving not one, but two dysfunctional families, and choosing healing anyway
Reclaiming erased culture and kinship, from Aunt Mary to a growing cousin network
How a grandson’s challenge—“What if you help just one person?”—sparked a book

Highlights and themes
Finding out at 43: DNA confirmation of what had been whispered for years
Media exploitation: A blindsiding National Enquirer spread, consent ignored
Family dynamics: “I was never hugged, never told I love you,” blamed as “not his”
Counseling and craft: Writing unlocked feelings after a lifetime of pushing them down
Community as medicine: UTOR summit resonance, podcasting as shared healing
Heritage reclaimed: Meeting Aunt Mary, cooking lessons, and cultural belonging
Recognition and reception: Positive reviews, and becoming a National Indie Excellence Awards finalist (as Shirley shares)

Memorable moments you’ll hear
“I did all my research through microfiche at the library.”
“The first time in 43 years anyone said, You look just like your mother.”
“I was never hugged, never told ‘I love you.’”
“I opened the Enquirer and there was my high-school photo for the world to see.”
“Writing the book—after two chapters, the dam finally broke.”
“My grandson said, What if you help one person?”

About the guest
Shirley Muñoz Newsom is the author of The Little Dark One: A True Story of Switched at Birth. After a lifetime of not belonging, she reclaimed her identity, faith, and heritage, and now speaks to help others move from silence to voice.
Light notes from the room
A quick dog roll call breaks the ice—six tiny pups on Corey and Kendall’s side, dachshunds on Shirley’s, and a six-pound “watchdog” cameo
A shout-out to Aunt Mary’s tortillas and the tender reminder that practice, practice, practice is its own love language

Audio note
Rescued recording. This episode was salvaged from a damaged session using new editing tools. You may hear glitches and level shifts, but the story’s heart is intact.
Call to action
Read The Little Dark One
Share this episode with anyone navigating DNA surprises, adoption, or family secrecy
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32 min