Pause and Think

Can an adoptee feel deeply grateful for their life while simultaneously grieving what was lost? Jackie Darby and guest Dr. Mary Ann McMillan, author and professor, dive deep into this "both/and" reality in the foster care and adoption community. Discover how Mary Ann turned personal trauma into a mission to help others, the necessity of building chosen community, and how Jesus and therapy work hand-in-hand for true emotional and spiritual healing.

How does God take what was meant for harm and turn it into something used for good? On this episode of Pause and Think, host Aixa connects with Dr. Nicole Wilkie to explore the connection between child welfare, empirical research, and gospel hope. Together, they discuss the transformative power of belonging, the origin of the free Caleb Koala resilience project, and why the pursuit of good science continues to bring comfort and clarity to those serving vulnerable families.

What is it like to grow up in a family that fostered and adopted more than 70 children? Dr. Nicole Wilkie shares her remarkable story as the biological daughter of foster and adoptive parents. Together with Jackie, she discusses the joys, challenges, grief, purpose, and lifelong lessons that shaped her faith, her family, and her calling to serve vulnerable children around the world.

Healing isn't a destination—it's a journey best traveled with others. In this episode, Jackie and Aixa reflect on six years of walking alongside adult adoptees in a Spanish-speaking support group spanning Latin America. They discuss why vulnerability matters, how grief becomes a pathway to healing, and the incredible transformation they've witnessed as participants find their voices, share their stories, and experience God's restoring work.

Why do so many adoptees struggle with rejection, identity, and belonging—even in loving homes? In this vulnerable and eye-opening episode, Jackie and licensed therapist Irene Kim discuss the deep emotional impact of adoption, foster care, birth trauma, and healing. A conversation filled with compassion, truth, and hope.

In this deeply moving episode of Pause & Think Podcast, the conversation explores the science, soul, and sacred responsibility of motherhood. Joined by Irene Kim, this episode dives into postpartum healing, matrescence, nervous system attachment, foster care, adoption, and the emotional realities mothers carry after birth. Together, they reflect on how community, compassion, and intentional support can help mothers, babies, and families heal, bond, and thrive.

What happens when adoption is celebrated instead of kept secret? Cambria’s story is a moving testimony of openness, healing, and unconditional love. From “gotcha days” to becoming a mother herself, this episode explores the lifelong emotional journey of foster care, adoption and the importance of being fully known and loved.

Adoption often brings new beginnings—but what happens when those beginnings include a new name? Jackie and Aixa have an honest discussion about identity, healing, family belonging, and the spiritual significance of being “called by name.” This conversation offers encouragement for families navigating adoption and reminds us that our truest identity is ultimately found in God.

In this episode of Pause & Think, Jackie Darby sits down with Stephanie Fast to explore adoption, trauma, and the lifelong journey of healing. Together, they unpack powerful truths about parenting, faith, and identity—reminding us that healing is a process, not a quick fix.

Stephanie Fast’s life began with abandonment, uncertainty, and survival on the streets of Korea. In this deeply personal conversation with Jackie Darby, she shares how being left alone at a train station as a young child began a journey that would ultimately transform into a story of faith and redemption.

Stephanie discusses her search for identity  and why she wrote She Is Mine—a book intended to preserve her legacy for her children and bring awareness to the millions of orphans still waiting for a forever home.

Her story is a powerful reminder that even the most broken beginnings can lead to extraordinary purpose.