Jacquelin Taybron in her words is an unapologetic International Adoptee, a cool ex-wife and a highly successful co-parent and grandparent. She was born in Landstuhl,  Germany in February of 1964, and is the youngest of four daughters. Jacquelin was content until she had a family of her own and realized she needed the whole truth. In this episode, Jacquelin shares her lived experience with all of it’s twists and turns.

Click here to send us a text. Also, our book “Pulled By The Root” is available at https://www.pulledbytheroot.com/book

https://www.pulledbytheroot.com/

Paige Strickland is an Ohio born Baby Scoop Era Adopted person. She has been in reunion with her biological mothers side for 33 years and 20 years on her fathers side. Paige is married with two daughters, two grandkids. She is also a licensed teacher and the author of two memoir books: AKIN TO THE TRUTH and AFTER THE TRUTH. In this episode Paige discusses reunion and how adoption is the gift that just keeps on giving, confirming that adoption is a life long experience.

Click here to send us a text. Also, our book “Pulled By The Root” is available at https://www.pulledbytheroot.com/book

https://www.pulledbytheroot.com/

Matt Otto is an adopted person based in New York City. He is a sound designer who received his MFA degree from the Yale School of Drama along with his BFA from Boston University. Matt shares the heart wrenching discovery that he was conceived as the result of a sexual assault. This difficult truth was not revealed to him even after he was in reunion with his first mom. The twists and turns of Matt’s story are captivating, inspiring and redemptive. Matt has taken his enormous talent and built a soul filling career, he has also built a beautiful family. We are joined by our in-house musician/ sound engineer Sean Farley to talk about the creative process and how sound/ music heals. This episode also includes and a on-the-spot surprise that moved us deeply. Matt is proof that we can find our way to full out living in spite of the difficulties adoption brings.

Disclaimer:
We experienced some technical issues during the recording of this podcast episode. The joys of the virtual experience. 

Click here to send us a text. Also, our book “Pulled By The Root” is available at https://www.pulledbytheroot.com/book

https://www.pulledbytheroot.com/

Dr. Joyce Maguire Pavao is the founder and CEO of the Center For Family Connections Inc. est. 1995-2012, The Adoption Resource Center est. 1979 and PACT (Pre/Post Adoption Consulting and Training), est. 1982. Dr. Pavao has built comprehensive post adoption services and has done training both nationally and internationally. She is a Lecturer in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and has written the book THE FAMILY OF ADOPTION. Her areas of specialty include complex blended families by adoption, step parenting, fostering, kinship, alternative reproductive technologies-specializing in child welfare. As and adopted person herself she understands that healing is deeply personal. This episode focuses on empathy, complex trauma and how we can take action steps to grow and heal at our own pace.

Click here to send us a text. Also, our book “Pulled By The Root” is available at https://www.pulledbytheroot.com/book

https://www.pulledbytheroot.com/

Leslie Pate Mackinnon is a therapist who specialized in issues that impact families conceived thought adoption and third party reproduction. For three decades she’s been sharing her expertise on these topics at conferences and events across the country and around the world. Her lived experience is that of a first mother who relinquished two sons for adoption the mid 1960’s and a quarter of a century later, gave birth and raised IVF twins. Her experiences in both, and her extensive academic training, have given Leslie a unique perspective into alternate methods of building a family. The tremendous losses inherent in adoption and 3rd party reproduction, are seldom, if ever, addressed ahead of time with families, which sets them up for irreparable damage and dysfunction. Leslie’s passion is educating therapists. She offers on-line supervision in Adoption Competency.
 Her story is included in the book The Girls Who Went Away and the documentary A Girl Like Her. Leslie was interviewed by Robin Roberts on Good Morning America, featured in Dan Rather’s report; Adoption or Abduction and appeared on the Katie Couric Show along along with her oldest son. She has appeared on CNN and is a consultant to those being reunited on TLC’s Long Lost Family.  Leslie is licensed in the state of Georgia.

This episode is overflowing with truth, heartache and hope. Leslie does not shy away from answering and asking the hard questions. It was a gift to hear her perspective and gain a deeper understanding of the collateral damage relinquishment can bring. 


Some of the content in this episode covers topics such as suicide & sexual abuse. 

Click here to send us a text. Also, our book “Pulled By The Root” is available at https://www.pulledbytheroot.com/book

https://www.pulledbytheroot.com/

Jean Provance is an energy packed force of nature! She is a domestic same race adoptee who compeleted her search and reunion in 2004 after discovering letters from her biological mother with the name of the case worker. She went on to reclaim her original name in 2010. Jean holds a Bachelors Degree in visual arts and psychology from Ramapo College and a Masters Degree in social work from New York University. She works as an intensive in community therapist with children, teens and families. Jean is also a licensed clinical social worker, a certified clinical trauma professional and has a certificate in adoption counseling. She has spoken at various conferences over the years as expert on adoption, adoption ethics, self care and keys to reunion success. Jean is the mother of two amazing children and just became licensed as a play therapist.

This episode is high octane, Jean takes us through her personal journey and packs the later part of the epsiode with a lot of practical advice. 

Click here to send us a text. Also, our book “Pulled By The Root” is available at https://www.pulledbytheroot.com/book

https://www.pulledbytheroot.com/

Darryl Nelson is an adoptee person who wrote the book A TIME LINE OF THE INJUSTICE OF ADOPTION LAW. Darryl was born in 1964 in Queensland, Australia. His birth certificate was altered by the Government to make it “as if” he was born to adoptive parents. When he was 14 years old he discovered he was adopted. It was not until he was 30 years old that laws changed in Australia and he was allowed to apply for information about his biological mother, who he discovered had tragically passed away when she was only 30. In 2020, Darryl took his case to the Supreme Court of Queensland for his adoption to be discharged. He represented himself and won. Darryl did not discharge his adoption out of malice but to set the record straight about his true identity. 

Darryl has comprehensive knowledge regarding the history of adoption, both of these episodes are historically compelling. His bravery to represent himself in court and to claim his truth is nothing less than inspiring. (Please note this episode may be triggering)

Click here to send us a text. Also, our book “Pulled By The Root” is available at https://www.pulledbytheroot.com/book

https://www.pulledbytheroot.com/

Darryl Nelson is an adopted person who wrote the book A TIME LINE OF THE INJUSTICE OF ADOPTION LAW. Darryl was born in 1964 in Queensland, Australia. His birth certificate was altered by the Government to make it “as if” he was born to his adoptive parents. When he was 14 years old he discovered that he was adopted. It was not until he was 30 years old that laws changed in Australia and he was allowed to apply for information about his biological mother, who he discovered had tragically passed away when she was only 30. In 2020, Darryl took his case to the Supreme Court of Queensland for his adoption to be discharged. He represented himself and won. Darryl did not discharge his adoption out of malice but to set the record straight about his true identity. 

Darryl has comprehensive knowledge regarding the history of adoption. Both of these episodes are historically compelling. His bravery to represent himself in court and to claim his truth is nothing less than inspiring. ( Please note this episode discusses abuse and other material that could be triggering)

Click here to send us a text. Also, our book “Pulled By The Root” is available at https://www.pulledbytheroot.com/book

https://www.pulledbytheroot.com/

Molly Washington is a split feather/ lost bird (Native American adopted person/ foster child) She is also an attorney who serves as the Chief Operating Officer for the Oregon Chapter of National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC-OR is a non-profit organization that supports and advocates for the inclusion of BIPOC contractors on construction projects, with the goal of achieving economic justice. Molly was formerly a construction and transactions attorney who previously served as in house counsel for the City of Portland. She currently serves on the Boards of the Native American Youth and Family Center, the NAYA Action Fund, the Safe From Hate Contractor Coalition Steering Committee and the AGC DEI Committee. Molly is married and has three beautiful children.
This episode speaks to how a crises can open a window of courage. Molly shares her relentless search for her identity and how finding her truth anchored her spirit. She also speaks to the importance of allowing space for the adopted person to ask questions without shame. A few days ago Molly sent me a picture of her new split feather tattoo, this power house woman has claimed her true self.

Click here to send us a text. Also, our book “Pulled By The Root” is available at https://www.pulledbytheroot.com/book

https://www.pulledbytheroot.com/

Dirk is a transracial adopted person who was adopted by white parents in 1960 during the Baby Scoop Era. He was raised is a small town in Central Illinois where he was the only person of color. Dirk has an older adopted brother and two sisters who were naturally born by his parents. His racial identity was a question mark for the first 50 years of his life. Dirk thought he was one race until it was confirmed that he was another. He came out of the fog about a year and a half ago, he is married with four grown children.
In this episode, we talk about the ache of not belonging, of not seeing yourself reflected back in those around you. Dirk’s ready smile, deep faith and passion for helping other adopted people navigate the issues of identity jumps straight to the heart. 

Click here to send us a text. Also, our book “Pulled By The Root” is available at https://www.pulledbytheroot.com/book

https://www.pulledbytheroot.com/