Adoption can present us with many challenges. But how do we rise to those challenges? Listen in as Ella shares insights on dealing with the unexpected, coming from love and much more...

Ella Smith is Executive Director for Adoption Choices.  Originally from Colombia, Ella moved to the USA 23 years ago to the DFW area where she has strong connections and friendships.  Married to a loving husband for 25 years, they have two grown children: Christian who is a soccer coach, and David who is a pilot like his father.

Ella has an extensive background working with children and families since 2008, for the last 8 years her experience has been in the adoption field, Ella is a dedicated professional with a proven track record in facilitating international adoptions and nurturing positive family relationships. Experienced in navigating complex legal and cultural landscapes to ensure successful adoptions and compliance with country accreditations. Skilled in building rapport with diverse stakeholders, including service providers, adoptive parents, single parents of either gender, LGBTQ+ parents, birth parents and government agencies. Strong understanding of the adoption regulations and protocols. Committed to upholding the highest standards of ethics and professionalism in all endeavors. Ella is dedicated to ensuring that all children find loving and caring homes.

Ella holds a degree in social communication and journalism from Colombia and a master’s degree in marketing management. Now residing in the DFW area, she is passionate about advocating for children’s rights to be loved, valued, and respected.

Ella is excited to be part of Adoption Choices of Texas and to meet all the bravest and selfless parents who wants to create a better future for their child.

In her free time Ella enjoys traveling to her beloved Colombia, spend time with her diverse group of friends, and watching tv at home.  Ella also has a service dog named Stella.

https://www.adoptionchoicesoftexas.org/

https://www.facebook.com/AdoptionChoicesOfTexas/

Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Being told to just raise your kids doesn't sound like a great piece of advice. But it landed profoundly for Susan. She heard it as a pointer to stop trying to think too far ahead. To listen to wisdom in the moment. To stop overthinking. Who doesn't need less overthinking right? Listen in for your own aha moments.

Founder and Executive Director, Susan Silverman grew up in a family that fostered older children, and getting to know kids without a permanent, loving family of their own had a big impact on her. Now, she and her spouse have five children, three were born to them and two were adopted. She is the author of a memoir, Casting Lots: Creating a Family in a Beautiful, Broken World and has been featured in the New York Times, NPR, BBC, ABC, and more. Susan has a BA from Boston University, an Ed.M. from Harvard University, and an MA and Rabbinical Ordination from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.

Connect with Susan here

https://www.instagram.com/susansilverman7

https://www.2nurture.org/

https://www.facebook.com/2ndnurture/

https://www.instagram.com/2ndNurture

Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

We want our kids to grow. We know we have to nurture them to make that happen. So how do we do that? Listen in as Jenny who has 4 kids including her youngest who's adopted shares what she's learning about nurturing and more...

Connect with Jenny here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-fridge-413047134/

https://www.facebook.com/jenny.fridge

https://www.instagram.com/jennyfridge/

Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Our most profound learnings often come from the toughest moments. Born in Ethiopia, adopted by an American family at 5, Isaac shares his most transformative learnings. Inspirational!

Born in Ethiopia, Isaac spent time in an orphanage following the tragic loss of both parents. He was adopted at age 5 by an American family and made a profession of faith at age 7.

Here's a bit about Isaac from his website

One of the most profound lessons I’ve learned through my adoption journey is that my view of God shapes everything about my identity. I came to realize that who I am flows out of who I believe God to be—not the other way around. This struggle isn’t unique to adoptees or foster kids; it’s something every person wrestles with at some level. People often ask how I navigate my so-called identity issue—what it’s like to be a Black man raised by white parents, and how that dynamic shapes my sense of belonging.

I tell them that at its core, this isn’t really an identity issue—it’s a theological one..

https://www.instagram.com/isaacmelber/reels/

https://www.amazon.com/Twice-Delivered-Families-Worlds-Redeeming/dp/B0H2HH6785

https://www.isaacmelber.com/

Here's the interview with Isaac's dad David https://thriving-adoptees.simplecast.com/episodes/slowing-down-with-david-melber

Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

What if it's true. That we're fundamentally whole despite trauma. No, really. Listen in as previous guest and friend Marcy puts me on the spot. Make up your own mind...

Here's Marcy's interview https://thriving-adoptees.simplecast.com/episodes/the-other-side-of-shame-with-marcy-pusey

Here's more about that...and Marcy...

We've all felt shame - it's part of the human experience. But beyond it lies the peace we seek for ourselves and those we love. So how do we get to the other side of shame? Marcy and I go DEEP into this in one of my favourite conversations so far. We hope you love it too.

Here's how Marcy describes herself on her website: 

Jesus-follower, mom to 4 humans, two adopted through the foster system and two biological, multi-passionate mompreneur, best-selling author, international and 2xs TEDx speaker, networker, and mentor. 

My mission is to help people uncover and present their stories to help them finetune their uniqueness, empower their lives, and to maximize their potential. Here, we work together to create safe spaces and connections so that others feel worthy of value and love.

Watch her Tedx Talks:

How Story Empower Kids to Shape Our World

You Are More Than Your Traumatic Experiences

Find out more at:

https://www.facebook.com/MarcyPusey/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcypusey/

https://www.instagram.com/marcymarie/

https://marcypusey.com/

Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

What does healing mean to you? It means something different to everyone. Getting clear on what it means to you is profoundly helpful. Knowing how we heal is even more powerful. Listen in as Aysha and I dive deep into what helps us heal and what doesn't. 

"As a New York native, I am thrilled to lead Healing New York as the nation's oldest child-serving agency and help chart the way ahead to create a larger footprint."

Prior to joining Healing New York as President and CEO in May 2024, Aysha E. Schomburg served the Biden Administration as the Associate Commissioner of the U.S. Children’s Bureau within the Administration for Children and Families, where she advised on child welfare. Previously, Aysha served as the Senior Administrator for Program Oversight at New York City's Administration for Children’s Services, where she developed operational plans and coordinated COVID-19 guidance with the Department of Education and Department of Homeless Services. She also addressed inequities and racism in child welfare. In October 2021, the Aspen Institute named Aysha an Ascend Fellow. She holds a B.A. from the University of Virginia, an M.A. from New York University, and a J.D. from New York Law School.

https://healing-ny.org/

https://www.facebook.com/HealingNewYork

https://www.instagram.com/healing_newyork/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/healing-ny/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/aysha-e-schomburg-4647a518/

Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

We humans have a funny relationship with change. What if change was for the better? A change in how we think, how we feel, how we see ourselves? Listen is adoption leader and therapist Lisa shares insights on growth, learning and change...

Here's a bit about Lisa from her organisation's website:

Lisa Dominguez stepped into the CEO role in 2024, yet has a longstanding history with Paths for Families, as she first joined the organization in 2006 as a contract social worker, completing home studies, post-placements, and clinical services.

Her 25+ career has been centered around serving children and families, almost half of which was spent working exclusively in the adoption, foster care, and kinship community. She is a seasoned supervisor and trainer, providing perspective on trauma-responsive techniques for both parents and professionals locally, nationally, and internationally.

In 2022, she re-joined the team to step into the role of Chief Program Officer, which laid the groundwork for her trajectory to CEO as our founder, Janice Goldwater, was strategically making succession plans.

Lisa has stepped confidently forward in upholding and building upon the legacy of what Janice Goldwater has built at Paths for Families.

Lisa received her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Maryland, and her Master’s in Social Work from New York University. Outside of work, Lisa loves to travel, is a huge fan of fitness, and loves to spend time in nature.

https://pathsforfamilies.org/

https://www.facebook.com/pathsforfamilies

https://www.instagram.com/pathsforfamilies

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-dominguez-610126150/

Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Where are you living from? So many of us spend so much of our living from fear, worry and anxiety. How does this change? Listen in as adoptee Carmen shares her insights into living differently. Living from love.

Here's a bit about Carmen from her website:

Carmen is happily married for 40+ years. She is the mother of four and grandmother of six. She loves all things outdoors and anything related to water. Her passions are her work as a paraprofessional, writing, her faith and her family. She will always find a way to laugh at herself and find the bright side

More at

https://www.instagram.com/spaghetti.memior

https://spaghetti-memior.com/

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G1LK9B9S

Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

How much control do we have? How does humility help us see control more clearly? Adoptive mother and adoption professional Tina shares what she'd have done differently if she'd had a time machine including.. reading the Connected Child by Karyn Purvis.

https://lfcsmo.org/

https://www.facebook.com/LFCSMO/

https://www.instagram.com/lfcs.mo/

Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

Connection. We all want don't we? And we want our kids to feel connected to. How well are parents connected with us can influence how we connect with our kids. Listen in as adoptive mother of 4 Lenette talks about connection, raising kids with prenatal opioid and substance exposure and more...

Lenette Serlo is the Founder & CEO of Generation O, The National Organization for Opioid-Exposed Children, the first national movement dedicated to supporting families raising the half million children born with prenatal opioid exposure. A graduate of Michigan State University and an adoptive mother of 4 substance-exposed children, Lenette combines personal lived experience with a diverse professional background to advance both compassion and science in this emerging field.

Under her leadership, Generation O has become a growing voice for caregivers and a trusted source translating complex research into plain English. By spotlighting the long-term consequences of prenatal opioid exposure—including impacts on brain development, learning, and behavior—Lenette is raising awareness, building partnerships, and ensuring that the unique needs of these children are recognized in healthcare, education, and policy.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lenetteserlo/

https://www.facebook.com/lenetteserlo/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564529017720

https://generationo.org/

https://www.instagram.com/generation_o_org

https://www.linkedin.com/company/gen-o-nooec/

Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.