I'm Adopted, Now What?

In this debut episode, I’m just laying it all out there—because, honestly, where do we even start? From the nightmare of denaturalization (seriously, who thought that was a good idea?) to the endless attacks on abortion rights, it’s clear: men in power are obsessed with control, and it’s exhausting.

This is less of a polished talk (and advanced apologies for any gaffs in editing/sound... I'm a bit rusty) and more of a brain dump about how the current political chaos is impacting families, women, and anyone who isn’t straight, white, and male. Adoption doesn’t exist in a bubble, and this political climate shapes the way we think about identity, rights, and belonging.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, pissed off, or just plain tired of the constant attacks on basic human rights and the less-than-milk-toast news coverage of it—this one’s for you. Let’s vent, question, and maybe scream into the void together.

We start off with our new❓Q+A segment, where our host answers questions that were submitted by YOU! 💬⁠

👋🏼 Then we meet Anna and Zoe, both adopted from China between 10 and 12 months old. 🇨🇳⁠

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🙋🏻‍♀️ Anna used to feel secretive and confused about her adoption, but as she gets older, she feels more and more confident and open about it. Now, she's looking forward to exploring and learning more about Chinese culture.⁠

🙋🏻‍♀️ Zoe used to feel confused and upset about her adoption, but with age comes knowledge, so as she's gotten older, she's learned more about the "why" behind it. Now, with more understanding under her belt, she has comes to terms with her adoption. Now, she's excited to reach out to the adoptee community more and help others to feel that they are not alone.⁠

🎙️ After, join us for a quick reflection on today’s episode where host, Liza, shares how she breaks it all down. From taking notes ✍🏼 and active listening👂🏼 to unpacking the psychology behind each interview 🧠 and how she, herself, processes these conversations, 🙋🏻‍♀️ Liza gives insight into what you could take away from this episode, too.⁠

Trust us, you won’t want to miss out on this episode, so LISTEN NOW! 🎧⁠

LINKS:

🎤 Interested in being a guest on the show??⁠

https://calendly.com/imadoptednowwhat/podcast-guest⁠

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📲 Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for all the latest news, updates, & more!⁠

https://www.instagram.com/imadopted.podcast/⁠

https://www.facebook.com/imadopted.podcast⁠

📌 Anna and Zoe’s Voices of Adoption Instagram account:

https://www.instagram.com/voicesofadoption_/

📌 Hidden Brain episode, “The Story of Your Life”

https://hiddenbrain.org/podcast/the-story-of-your-life/

📌 Raymond Mar’s Human Brain Mapping Experiment: Personal Experience With Narrated Events Modulates Functional Connectivity Within Visual and Motor Systems During Story Comprehension

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/270107563_Personal_Experience_With_Narrated_Events_Modulates_Functional_Connectivity_Within_Visual_and_Motor_Systems_During_Story_Comprehension

📌 Gillie Bolton, Therapist

https://www.gilliebolton.com/

We start off with a new❓Q+A segment, where our host answers questions that were submitted by YOU! 💬⁠

👋🏼 Then, we meet Cameron, adopted from the United States when he was younger, 🇺🇲 though he can’t know for sure what age he was. Cameron used to feel left out and lost when it came to his adoption, but now he feels happy and confident, ✨⁠ and is looking forward to understanding his culture more.

🎙️ After, join us for a quick reflection on today’s episode where host, Liza, shares how she breaks it all down. From taking notes ✍🏼 and active listening👂🏼 to unpacking the psychology behind each interview 🧠 and how she, herself, processes these conversations, 🙋🏻‍♀️ Liza gives insight into what you could take away from this episode, too.

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Trust us, you won’t want to miss out on this episode, so LISTEN NOW! 🎧⁠

LINKS:

📌 Interested in being a guest on the show??

https://calendly.com/imadoptednowwhat/podcast-guest

📌 Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for all the latest news, updates, & more!

https://www.instagram.com/imadopted.podcast/

https://www.facebook.com/imadopted.podcast

📌 The All-or-Nothing-Marriage by Eli Finkel:

https://elifinkel.com/allornothingmarriage

We start off with a newly added Q+A segment, where our host answers questions that were submitted by YOU!

Then, we meet Jeanie - the owner/operator of the Banh Mi Oi cafe in West Roxybury, MA. Our host got to ask Jeanie some juicy questions about what it’s like to be an Asian woman owner in today’s social climate, how COVID has affected her business and the food industry at large, and how she feels about the future, as a female Asian restauranteur.

After, join us for a quick reflection on today’s episode where host, Liza, demonstrates how she breaks it down. From taking notes and active listening to unpacking the psychology behind each interview and how she, herself, processes these conversations, Liza gives insight into what you could take away from the episode too.

Trust us, you won’t want to miss out on this one, so listen now!

LINKS:

Interested in being a guest on the show??

https://calendly.com/imadoptednowwhat/podcast-guest

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for all the latest news, updates, & more!

https://www.instagram.com/imadopted.podcast/

https://www.facebook.com/imadopted.podcast

Top Ten Best Takeout Restaurant in Boston:

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/02/11/magazine/100-top-restaurants-takeout-boston-beyond/

Banh Mi Oi Cafe’s website:

https://banhmioi.cafe/

“American Dream” (and Harvard study) article:

https://eig.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/American-Dream-White-Paper-V5.pdf

We’re baaack, and kicking off season 3 with a new Q+A segment, where our host answers questions that were submitted by YOU!

Then, we meet Sungwon (Andrew), an adoptee who finds himself stuck somewhere between “I like it” and “I want it” when it comes to Korean influences in his life. After a friend introduced him to Korean art, music, fashion, and food, Sungwon felt a growing curiosity inside him for a culture he hadn’t really given any thought to… until now!

After, join us for a quick reflection on today’s episode where host, Liza, shares how she breaks it all down. From taking notes and active listening to unpacking the psychology behind each interview and how she, herself, processes these conversations.

Trust us, you won’t want to miss out on our first episode, so LISTEN NOW!

LINKS:

Interested in being a GUEST on the show??

https://calendly.com/imadoptednowwhat/podcast-guest

FOLLOW us on Instagram and Facebook for all the latest news, updates, & more!

https://www.instagram.com/imadopted.podcast/

https://www.facebook.com/imadopted.podcast

Hidden Brain episode on "Stereotype Threat":

https://hiddenbrain.org/podcast/how-they-see-us/

Brent Staples’ book (where he discusses his “Whistling Vivaldi” idea):

https://www.amazon.com/Parallel-Time-Growing-Black-White/dp/0380724758/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Did you like this episode?? Please consider leaving a review - they help SO much with the show's growth & visibility)!!

Our short summer break is over and we... ARE BACK! Today, on this mini episode, we talk all things Season 3 - what we've been up to & some of the changes you can expect to see in upcoming episodes.

First full episode goes live next week, so make sure you SUBSCRIBE, SHARE, and STAY TUNED for some epic conversations!

Interested in being a guest on the show??

https://calendly.com/imadoptednowwhat/podcast-guest

Follow us on Instagram & Facebook for all the latest news, updates, and more!

https://www.instagram.com/imadopted.podcast/

https://www.facebook.com/imadopted.podcast

On today’s episode, we welcome the show’s first mother-daughter DUO!

Join us as we welcome adoptee, Corrie, and her mother, Diana, to the show and chat about what it means to adopt, and be adopted. How does Corrie find harmony in feeling both blessed for the life she has and curious for the life she could have had? Does Diana feel guilty about taking Corrie from her birth country? How is Corrie’s memory of her childhood different from her mother’s memories of it? Does motherhood feel different when you’re an adoptive parent?

We get into all of those juice topics, AND MORE, so tune in and don’t miss this epic season finale!

I thought I knew my birthplace... but I was wrong.

Hi, I'm Liza, and I'm your host! On this episode, I share 2 new facts about my own personal adoption journey that I never knew before - my assumed birthplace and my assumed birthday. There's something wrong with both, but you'll have to listen to find out what!

In the adoption community, there is a phrase known as, “coming out of the fog”, an organic and non-linear process by which an [adult] adoptee begins to unlearn and deconstruct the mythologies taught to them about adoption by the adoptive family and mainstream society at large.⁠

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On this episode, we chat with Christine, the founder/CEO of Adoptee Bridge - an organization that helps adoptees make meaningful connections to their adoption stories by providing supportive, post-adoption services.

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She talks about the story behind the organization and reveals the truth that not every adoptee experiences coming out of the fog (though most do a some point in their lives). She also shares her own experience as a Korean adoptee, what coming out of the fog was like for her, and how she used it to create and shape the foundation of Adoptee Bridge. Listen now.

In the dictionary, the first definition of D i v e r s i t y says, “the state of being diverse; variety.”

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But the second definition is really where the heart of D i v e r s i t y lies, as it is, “the practice of including or involving people from a range of different social and ethnic backgrounds and of different genders, sexual orientations, etc.”⁠

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Let that sink in for a moment… Diversity is a p r a c t i c e.

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On today’s episode, we welcome our first Nepali adoptee, Sudha, and chat about just how important diversity can be. From living in a diverse community (or not), to having diversity within your own family, to considering how diverse the college you want to attend is… we talk about how crucial diverse environments are to identity development, and how people, places, & things that actively practice diversity are usually the first to thrive. Listen now.