Please join me as I speak with Connor Howe, a California(but also an Irish!) adopted person who has grown up as one of the first generation of "Open" adoptees.

After the birth of his child, Connor began to deconstruct from the adoption narrative. As a marketing professional, Connor brings both his lived experience as a young adoptee in open adoption and his education and work experience to the conversation.

Connor is known as Adopted Connor on social media and can be found at:

Mentioned in the episode:

Georgia Tann:

Financial reports for non-profits: all non-profits are required by the IRS to report their financials each year and make them publicly available. Note: just because an organization calls themselves a non-profit does not mean money is not being made. Take note of monies spent on advertising, legal fees, home studies, employee payroll, etc. You may find that many of the people hired by the non-profits are affiliated in some way with the org itself-in-laws, board members, other family members, etc. Many are affiliated with churches as well.

History of sealed birth certificates in the United States:

Adoption Law:

Irish Citizenship:

Thank you for listening!

Please join me as I talk with Andrea and Greg about the challenges of being in an adoptee/non-adoptee relationship. We recognize that this is just one couples relationship. Some of the topics discussed will feel relevant to many others in similar situations.

Mentioned in the episode:

Air Supply: A band from the 80s that specialized in ballads. They are either one of the worst things to come out of the time period, or a beloved rock band. You decide.

Adoptees Connect:

Thank you for listening!

Please join me and my guest Andrea Steiner Coates as we revisit the topic of adoptee/non-adoptee conversations. Curiosity is a necessary component.

Andrea is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, a Search Angel, and adoptee advocate and ally.

Be advised: this episode contains references to suicide and suicidal ideation.

Mentioned or referenced in the episode:

The Girls Who Went Away

Adoptees on:

The Alliance for the study of adoption and culture

Fog Lift

Please join me as I talk with Rena Joy. Rena is a Canadian adoptee, adopted as a toddler from foster care. Rena recently published her first book, a poetry collection titled Almost Loved. On this episode, Rena shares some of her poetry as we talk about how adoption has impacted her life, and some of the ways she copes with the trauma inherent in adoption.

Rena can be found at:

Please be aware that suicide and suicidal ideation are mentioned on the episode. If you are experiencing suicidal ideation, please reach out for help and support. I am including some of the hotline information here in the notes.

Somatic Therapy

Thank you for listening!

Please join me as I talk with Lorah Gerald about the courage required to navigate life as an adopted person, and as an advocate for the rights of children and adopted people.

Lorah is a Baby Scoop Era, domestic, same race adopted person. Lorah is also known as The Adopted Chameleon, and can be found at

Read on the episode today:

https://www.facebook.com/TheAdoptedChameleon/posts/pfbid02NV7744DZ2Qy2JVMqHvGeSrmY2ZiCr9xyfnT9c7AGCN6wMBuwTpbnBNKtMdmJu4bjl

What is NAAM?

Thank you for listening!

Please join Haley and I as we speak about pursuing identity in Alberta, Canada. We also talk about finding community in the process of navigating the challenges of being adopted.

Haley Radke is a domestically adopted person from Alberta Canada. Seeking answers and connection, she began a podcast to help her feel less alone with the traumas of adoption. In the process, she has grown as an individual while also inspiring others.

Haley can be found on numerous social media platforms. Please visit her website for more information about her podcast, mentoring work, speaking engagements, Patreon and more.

mentioned in the episode:

Poutine:

Are Alberta Adoption Records About to Become More Accessible?I Would Meet You Anywhere — Susan Kiyo Ito[Birth Mother] First Mother Forum: RIP: The fire behind adoption reform, Florence FisherOpen Adoption Records | Government of Prince Edward Island- yes, you can be fined and/or imprisoned in this province if you knowingly violate a contact preference form

Mental health support: get help - Canada.ca

The opinions of the host and their guest are just that, their opinions. The host is not a lawyer, therapist or adoption professional

Thank you for listening!

Please join me for a brief episode of the podcast. This is from a blog post I wrote in September of 2021.

The opinion of the host is just that, their opinion. The host is not a lawyer, or a therapist or an adoption professional.

Thanks for listening!

As part of NAAM, here is another short blog post from the early days of The Adoption Files.

Please join me as I speak with TJ Johnson. TJ is a musician, English teacher and Baby Scoop Era adopted person. She writes on Medium as The Onyx Phoenix. She contributed to the anthology Strangers by Adoption.

The Onyx Phoenix. – Medium

This conversation is part of our effort to amplify the voices of adopted people and others impacted by adoption during the month of November.

Please be aware that this episode includes graphic descriptions of child abuse.

Mentioned in the episode:

Amazon.com: Strangers By Adoption: 10 Adoptees Share Their Stories of Rejection and Abuse: 9780578495743: Sippel, Doris Michol, Musser, Sandy, Sippel, Doris Michol, Musser, Sandy, Sippel, Doris Michol, Yarrow, Patricia Vivien: BooksHome - Saving Our SistersPound Pup LegacyMoses Farrow

The opinions of the host and their guest are just that, their opinions. The host is not a lawyer, therapist or adoption professional.

Every state and region had its own child abuse reporting laws and helplines. We are including the link to the national helpline. If you know or suspect that a child is being abused, please report.

National Child Abuse Hotline - Childhelp

Thank you.

As a part of NAAM, I am sharing a reading of my very first blog post. Thank you for listening!