This is the rescued first conversation with author Shirley Muñoz Newsom, whose memoir The Little Dark One: A True Story of Switched at Birth chronicles discovering—at age 43—that she was switched at birth. She grew up in Gillette, Wyoming, knowing she didn’t fit, searching through library microfiche long before Google, and navigating an emotionally unavailable home where affection and belonging were withheld. In this raw, intimate talk, Shirley shares how a National Enquirer ambush multiplied the trauma, why writing opened the floodgates after decades of suppression, and how finding Aunt Mary and a constellation of cousins helped her reclaim her Mexican heritage—down to learning tortillas and recognizing a face she finally resembled.

We thought this recording was gone due to severe audio issues. Thanks to new editing tools, we recovered enough to share it. It’s not perfect, but the immediacy is powerful.

Why this story matters

• A firsthand account of being switched at birth, told after decades of silence
• The cost of secrecy, shame, and small-town gossip on a child’s identity
• Surviving not one, but two dysfunctional families, and choosing healing anyway
• Reclaiming erased culture and kinship, from Aunt Mary to a growing cousin network
• How a grandson’s challenge—“What if you help just one person?”—sparked a book

Highlights and themes

• Finding out at 43: DNA confirmation of what had been whispered for years
• Media exploitation: A blindsiding National Enquirer spread, consent ignored
• Family dynamics: “I was never hugged, never told I love you,” blamed as “not his”
• Counseling and craft: Writing unlocked feelings after a lifetime of pushing them down
• Community as medicine: UTOR summit resonance, podcasting as shared healing
• Heritage reclaimed: Meeting Aunt Mary, cooking lessons, and cultural belonging
• Recognition and reception: Positive reviews, and becoming a National Indie Excellence Awards finalist (as Shirley shares)

Memorable moments you’ll hear

• “I did all my research through microfiche at the library.”
• “The first time in 43 years anyone said, You look just like your mother.”
• “I was never hugged, never told ‘I love you.’”
• “I opened the Enquirer and there was my high-school photo for the world to see.”
• “Writing the book—after two chapters, the dam finally broke.”
• “My grandson said, What if you help one person?”

About the guest

Shirley Muñoz Newsom is the author of The Little Dark One: A True Story of Switched at Birth. After a lifetime of not belonging, she reclaimed her identity, faith, and heritage, and now speaks to help others move from silence to voice.

Light notes from the room

• A quick dog roll call breaks the ice—six tiny pups on Corey and Kendall’s side, dachshunds on Shirley’s, and a six-pound “watchdog” cameo
• A shout-out to Aunt Mary’s tortillas and the tender reminder that practice, practice, practice is its own love language

Audio note

Rescued recording. This episode was salvaged from a damaged session using new editing tools. You may hear glitches and level shifts, but the story’s heart is intact.

Call to action

• Read The Little Dark One
• Share this episode with anyone navigating DNA surprises, adoption, or family secrecy
• If this resonates, consider attending Untangling Our Roots, or reach out to your local support community