What happens when adoption stories celebrated as humanitarian triumphs conceal painful truths beneath the surface?

In this episode, I'm joined by author Paige Towers to discuss her book What They Stole: A Familicide Rooted in Intercountry Adoption.

The book examines the origins of international adoption through the story of Harry Holt and the rise of what became Holt International. Set against the aftermath of the Korean War, it explores the complicated legacy of intercountry adoption — including family separation, coercion, identity loss, and the lasting impact on adoptees and biological families.

This is a difficult but important conversation about history, ethics, trauma, and the stories that often go untold.