This episode is dedicated and in tribute to Ricky Lamont Boone. August 7, 1962-January 2, 2025.

Music by Corey Quinn

Dr. David McCarty-Caplan (PhD) is a researcher, educator, writer, and consultant whose professional experience focuses on issues of identity development, support of underserved populations, racial equity, and pursuit of social justice. David was born in Bogota, Colombia but adopted and raised in a white Jewish family in the United States. This lived experience has profoundly shaped his personal and professional interests and he is increasingly involved in work dedicated to adoption consciousness and education, through research on and consulting with organizations, families and individuals working to explore adoption-related issues. He is particularly passionate about helping adoptees and their families navigate race/racism, religious identity, and sense of belonging.

Websites: https://www.davidmccartycaplan.com/_files/ugd/0bdc61_f4e764d3d33e4ebb9f5f215bf0418cb5.pdf

https://www.nuroots.org/david

Music by Corey Quinn

D. Yvonne Rivers is a returning guest. She is the host of the Birth Moms Real Talk Podcast.

Since 1988, D. Yvonne Rivers Aka Phoebe has been a champion of a cause, from business success, domestic violence, re-entry, and adoption community. One facet of this global business expert is an esteemed speaker, facilitator, and trainer across the globe on four continents.

Another facet of this woman started in 1973 with the birth of her son who she championed for family assistance for support to raise as an unwed mother at age 19. Life changes as she ‘did her best’ to place her son in a loving home. Yvonne had such ambition and brilliance, finishing a pre-med program in 3 years and accepted to medical school. 

Yvonne’s journey to become a ‘change-maker in her life and others began in 1973. Over 30 years, she continued the search with letters, journaling, speaking on panels and processing her grief and loss alone. Yvonne was unrelenting and never gave up. 2015 gave her a breakthrough with finding a picture of her son on social media. With boldness, she reached out, not knowing whether she would get rejection or acceptance. 

The Courage of a Birth Mother Overcomes All. Yvonne met her son in 2018. Through sitting in rooms of support groups and conferences, Yvonne found she had created a pathway of peace as a Birth Mother for herself and the “Now” is the time to help others in the adoption constellation. Yvonne launched “Birth Moms Real Talk podcast in June 2021. After Season One, BMRT podcast has reached over 185,000 persons and over five thousand downloads. BMRT hosts Saturday Chats with all members of the triad and has an audience who write letters and comments of the magnificence impact in their lives. 

Website: https://phoebemarketing.com/

Black Voices Amplified Link: https://birthmomsrealtalk.com/episode/episode-71-yvonnes-journey-live-podcast-at-black-voices-amplified-summit-2024

Music by Corey Quinn

Reflecting on words from eleven prior adoptee guests for Black History Month"

In order of appearance:

Dr. Syb Brown, Isaac Etter, Maya Holmes, Sandria Washington, Dr. Jack Rocco, Kenneth Bonomo, Joi R. Fisher-Griffin, David Bynum, Dr. Patrice Martin, Iris Bryant and Dr. KE Katherin Garland.

Thank you for your generous gift of sharing a part of your story on the show.

Each adoptee has been a guest on this podcast. Go to https://www.onceuponatimeinadopteeland.com/ to listen to their full episode.

Music by Corey Quinn

Dewi Sungai Marquis-Houston is a mixed-race Native Bornean (Ngaju Dayak, Banjarese, Sundanese, English) mother, wife, and filmmaker who was born in Indonesia, adopted as an infant by white American parents, renamed “Amy" (a name she has since rescinded to reclaim her birth name), and raised in the U.S. in white suburbia. Dewi's experiences as a transracial adoptee led her to a filmmaking career that centers marginalized voices and challenges narratives spun from white supremacy culture and colonialist worldviews. As an Indigenous transnational adoptee, being in community and collaborating with Native people across the U.S. has helped her heal from the impact of colonization on her own life and lineage. Dewi is a proud member of A-Doc, Brown Girls Doc Mafia, BIPOC Editors, Creative Nations, Kin Theory, and Mountain Media Arts Collective, and was an inaugural fellow at Denver-based Cine Fe.

Websites: https://www.eight16creative.com/. https://www.mynameisnotamy.com/

https://adopteesunited.org/. https://www.adopteesforjustice.org/

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Diego Vitelli is a dedicated adoptee-focused therapist, relationship expert, and advocate for racial diversity and LGBTQ+ inclusion. An international adoptee from Colombia, Diego was adopted at approximately five years old by an Irish-Italian family outside of Boston. His lived experience as an adoptee fuels his deep passion for amplifying adoptee voices and fostering spaces where identity, belonging, and healing can thrive.

Now holding a master’s degree in Couples and Family Therapy, Diego specializes in working with adoptees and their families, as well as others navigating complex relationship structures and dynamics. His therapeutic approach is rooted in empathy, cultural awareness, and a commitment to social justice. Whether working with individuals processing adoption-related trauma or those striving for deeper connection within their relationship(s), Diego brings insight, warmth, and a keen understanding of identity’s role in shaping relationships.

Beyond his clinical work, Diego has been a steadfast mentor to adoptees of all ages. He previously served as a youth mentor at Amara, a Seattle-based adoption agency, facilitating post-adoption support programs. He continues to be a supporter of the Colombian adoptee community, having served as an administrator for a global private Facebook group of over 2,400 Colombian adoptees. Additionally, as a Chair member of Aireroots, a local BIPOC adoptee organization, Diego is dedicated to creating inclusive spaces for BIPOC adoptees of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. Through community-building, advocacy, and collaboration with like-minded organizations, he works to ensure that adoptees—especially those from marginalized backgrounds—have access to support, visibility, and empowerment.

A fierce advocate for racial equity and LGBTQ+ inclusion, Diego’s mission extends beyond adoption. He is committed to helping individuals and people(s) navigate identity, intimacy, and connection in a way that honors their unique experiences.

Websites: https://www.adopteefocusedtherapy.com/ https://aireroots.com/ https://adoptionmosaic.com/

Mentioned: "Adoption Unfiltered: Revelations from Adoptees, Birth Parents Adoptive Parents and Allies" by Sara Easterly  (Author), Kelsey Vander Vliet Ranyard  (Author), Lori Holden(Author)

Sara Docan-Morgan’s book; “In Reunion: Transnational Korean Adoptees and the Communication of Family" available on https://www.uwlax.edu/profile/sdocan-morgan/ and Amazon.com

Music by Corey Quinn

Paul Kimball is an active musician in Stockton California. He conducts Musicals, The Zion Chamber Orchestra and Pops Choir and recently retired after 36 years as a music teacher with the Lincoln Unified School District.

He is French Horn player. As a baby, Paul lived in Foster Care after being relinquished by his first mother, a concert cellist, at 5 days old. He was adopted on his first birthday by a liberal Berkeley family in the 1960’s. He is married to Doctor Dominee Muller-Kimball. They have two daughters and one and one beautiful grandson!

Paul loves hiking. His Memoir, We are all Human Beings/An Adoptee Ponders is available on Amazon and Outskirts Press. He is currently working with California Alliance for Adoptee Rights on legislation that would allow unrestricted access to Original Birth Certificates to Adult California born adoptees.

Paul's memoir, "We are all Human Beings; An Adoptee Ponders is available on Amazon.com.

YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erHylYLHqXg&t=68s

Music by Corey Quinn

Jennifer Hiltebeitel (HILL-ta-bite-el) is a returning guest.

Jennifer is an adopted person on a lifelong healing journey. She was adopted through the county foster care system in Pennsylvania in the early 70s and just obtained her original birth certificate in 2023. She met her biological mother at 17 and father at 21 before the internet existed and has ongoing relationships with extended members of her biological family. Jennifer loves helping others - especially adoptees - process their stories through the lens of the Enneagram: a personality tool for self growth and navigating relationships.

Jennifer has a MEd in Multicultural Education and an Enneagram Certification).

If you are interested in discovering the Enneagram as a tool to help you process your adoption story email Jennifer at [email protected] to set up your first coaching session or schedule a free 30-minute consultation with her at https://calendly.com/jhiltebeitel to see if you would benefit from Enneagram coaching.

Music by Corey Quinn

Astrid Castro is a returning guest.

Astrid is the founder and CEO of Adoption Mosaic, an adoptee-led, BIPOC woman-owned business that creates for and connects our adoption constellation community through adoptee-centered events, education courses, and consultations. For over three decades, Astrid has served the adoption constellation through a variety of innovative programing designed to highlight the adoptee experience. Prior to creating Adoption Mosaic, Astrid worked in both the private and public sectors of various adoption organizations such as the Oregon Post Adoption Resource Center (ORPARC), Holt International and Rocky Mountain Adoption Exchange, to name just a few. Astrid is aware of the benefits of post-adoption services for individuals and their families and seeks to bring these services to the adoption community. Her life-long interest in adoption is rooted in her own adoption at the age of four from Colombia (along with her older sister). Astrid has been in reunion since December 2012 with her birth family in Colombia.

Website: https://adoptionmosaic.com/

Music by Corey Quinn

Sharon Butler-Obazee, an adoptee, attended Cal State Hayward. She worked in human services and tenured with the insurance industry as a medical sales rep. After retirement, she became certified under the International Coaching Federation after attending Professional Christian Coaching before starting her coaching practice.  

Her handle on social media was @adoptionclarity, where she encouraged an adoptee-centric philosophy. She became a Board Member of the Post Adoption Center for Education and Resources. She acquired Strengths-Based Coaching certification, where she encouraged families to support their strengths and encourage their children to use their strengths as well.  

As an adoptee, she had a hard time investigating her heritage because she felt she did not deserve to know her background out of loyalty to adoptive parents.  After several years of therapy and adoptee support groups, she was able to break through her thinking to use Ancestry to complete her search.  She received a response in 48 hours and had a chance to meet her bio-dad before he passed. She has added Butler to her name in honor of her heritage.

Website: https://giftfamilyservices.com/ https://giftfamilyservices.com/.../growing-intentional.../. Growing Intentional Families Together, LLC. "We would love to meet you and want to keep you in the loop".

Music by Corey Quinn