This week, Mal + Kate chat with birth mom Muthoni Gaciku as she shares her story of adoption and the experience of parenting after placing her firstborn daughter with an adoptive family in 2016. Muthoni is a birth mom in an open adoption. She is passionate about advocating for ethical adoption practices, inclusive post-placement care for birth parents, and rigorous training for prospective adoptive parents who want/are open to adopting transracially. Muthoni lives in Texas with her husband and sons.

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This week, Mal + Kate chat with adult adoptee and identical twin, Julie Ryan McGue. Julie is author of Twice a Daughter: A Search for Identity, Family, and Belonging, that released in May 2021, and has since won multiple awards. She shares her story of her search for her biological family, instigated by health concerns and her desire to know her medical history. Tune in as she talks about her experience of growing up in a closed adoption and all of the twists and turns that came along with her search for her birth family.

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This week, Mal + Kate welcome guest Karla Ray as she shares her story of adoption. Karla is a broadcast journalist with more than 16 years experience producing investigations that make an impact. Born and raised in the Midwest, Karla was placed for adoption at birth and recently connected with several of her biological siblings and her biological father, who had no prior knowledge of her existence, through AncestryDNA. Tune in as she shares her journey of discovering the past.

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This week on the Funding Love Podcast, Kate shares a huge life update: she and her husband have welcomed a second baby girl into their family through adoption!

Tune in as she shares pieces of the story to growing her family, while Mal asks lots of questions about what it is like walking through the adoption process multiple times. This episode is full of honest and real moments and we hope that you enjoy it and glean insight into the adoption journey, as a whole.

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Happy New Year from Mal + Kate!       

On this week's episode, Mal + Kate share all about their new words for the year and what goals and visions that have set for the 2024. They also talk about what is coming up for Funding Love this year and share The Funding Love Book Club's first selection!

If you would like to join The Funding Love Book Club, be sure to grab a copy of American Baby by Gabrielle Glaser. We will be reading it all together over the next three months. As you're reading, if you would like to share thoughts, comments, or questions with our Book Club Hosts, email them to [email protected] with the subject Book Club! In addition to sharing their personal thoughts on American Baby from the perspective of each corner of the adoption triad, The Funding Love Book Club: Season One hosts, Mal, Kate, Jessie, + Allison, will be reading and chatting about all of our listener questions and comments on the first Book Club Podcast dropping April 1st.

We can't wait for you to join us!

Book Club Pick #1!
American Baby by Gabrielle Glaser
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We hope your holiday season is merry and bright. This week's mini-episode is full of Christmas cheer as Mal + Kate share their favorite childhood Christmas memory and wish all of our Funding Love Podcast listeners and very Merry Christmas.

See you next year!

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This week Mal + Kate take a look back at 2023 and all of the amazing things that have happened in and around Funding Love. They discuss their favorite moments from the year, while also dreaming ahead for the future. They ALSO drop big news about the new 2024 Funding Love Podcast Series, The Funding Love Book Club!

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This week, Mal + Kate talk with friend and fellow adoptive mom, Ashley Workman, as she shares her story of adoption. Ashley is an adoptive mama to a 7 year old girl named Sunny Clementine. She is a former teacher who is now a full-time homeschool mom, and Travelmation supervisor. Ashley, her husband Jimbo, and Sunny live in the Sunshine State of Florida.

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This week Mal + Kate talk with friend, and Funding Love Alumni, Jessie Mattos. Jessie is a birth mom and ethical adoption advocate and professional. She placed her daughter for adoption in 2011 and while her journey to healing started out rocky, she has since found support and self-acceptance through being in community with other birth moms and learning from all sides of the adoption community. We can’t wait for you to hear her story and her perspectives on the need for post-placement support.

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Thanksgiving is over and Christmastime is officially here!

This week, Mal + Kate reminisce on memories and family traditions from Christmas Past, while sharing memories and family traditions they choose to create and carry on in their own families. They also share their secret Christmas WISH of being able to raise $40K in one day this Giving Tuesday.

Give to our Giving Tuesday Campaign!

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