Open Adoption Project

Molly, an adoptee from Colombia, talks about the importance of elevating adoptee voices and processing her own adoption story and trauma. She talks about “coming out of the fog,” reflecting on adoption policy, and the importance of having cultural and racial mirrors, honoring international adoptee’s cultures of origin. Molly works professionally as a social worker and shares how her thoughts regarding adoption have evolved with her reunification with her first family.

Rebekkah was adopted by her stepfather as a child. She placed her daughter for adoption as a young adult. She talks about racism, the importance of education in adoption, adoption language, and other thoughts as a birth mom, and shares her story with raw vulnerability.

Shane and Alisha are foster parents who have cultivated an open and loving relationship with their foster children's mother. We loved hearing their perspectives about caring for foster children and building relationships that are child-centric.

In this episode, we hear from Kim Perry (who we also interviewed in episodes 23 and 32, about her experiences as an adoption professional and adopting her daughters from Ecuador). This week we hear about Kim's experience as a gestational carrier, We love Kim's frank and honest thoughts. Follow her on Instagram @its.kimperry

Have you ever wondered what the differences between domestic infant adoption and foster to adopt are? Joseph and Melissa are currently parenting 8 children! Among the children they are raising they have two kids adopted through domestic infant adoption, three biological children, and three foster children who they are on track to adopt. In this episode, they share advice for families considering fostering and thoughts on helping children work through trauma.

Gina is a birth mom who placed her daughter for adoption in a semi-open adoption 21 years ago. She shares the feelings and struggles from her journey in this episode, and her jaw-dropping story of reunification with her daughter. Gina is the author of "A Seemingly Unfillable Heart: An Adoption Journey" which is a memoir about her adoption story.

Find Gina on Instagram @ginacrottswriter

Addison, an adoptee who was born in China, shares her story and talks about Asian hate and the challenges of being raised in a white family. Be sure to check out Addison and Libby's podcast, Adoptee Meets World, available on Apple Podcasts and most other places you find podcasts. Also follow them on Instagram @adopteemeetsworld_

This week on the podcast we hear from Michael and Tony, an adoptive couple, who share their story of adopting their daughter and then becoming foster parents in the state of California.

In this episode, we hear from Sarah, a birth mom, who shares her story of placing two of her children for adoption in the same adoptive family. She discusses some of the challenges she's faced and the importance of education in adoption. Sarah runs the Instagram page @adoptioneducationkeys, which she created as a space to have hard conversations.

We are excited to share another adoptee voice in this week's episode. Mary from @becauseadoption shares her story as an adoptee, including the heartache and challenges she's faced. The adoption community needs to hear adoptee voices. This vulnerable episode shares another valuable adoptee voice. We hope you feel growth while hearing Mary's story, thoughts, and struggles.

Check out her website at becauseadoption.com