Joon Ae is a Korean adoptee, mother, and writer. Estranged from her adoptive family, community means everything to her. She cultivates intersectional and justice-centered spaces such as Constellation and Voices and recently held an auction for the Abu Dayer family to escape genocide. If you enjoy and learn anything from this episode, please consider donating — even $1 helps.

Joon Ae and I talk about the need to de-normalize adoption and the beauty of a chosen family, and she refers to Kit Myers’ forthcoming book, The Violence of Love. We also talk about trauma and trauma mining. For our extended conversation on mental health, please consider joining the podcast’s Patreon, starting at just $3.

We challenge the existing systems of oppressive ideologies and academia, and Joon Ae reminds us of the importance of also envisioning and creating what could be. Abolition isn’t just an ending…it’s a beginning of something different. 

Please enjoy the vibrant and honest — Joon Ae.

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Joon Ae’s website

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