This episode may contain sensitive and triggering content and is intended for mature audiences only. Please take care while listening.

In this latest installment of Chat's with Kat, we hear from Melissa, who was adopted by family friends in her teen years. Melissa and Kat talk about her family upbringing and the circumstances which led to her adoption. Specifically, she recounts the pain and loss she experienced with her adoptive mother, which led to her emancipation, but which has also bettered her life. Melissa also shares her journey of adopting her two children and how she and her husband have worked to help them understand their adoption through the lens of their adoption experience. Tune in to hear more!

In this episode, we hear from Cody, a Russian adoptee. Cody shares with us his adoption experience of coming to the United States, not knowing much information about his biological family, the support he received from his new family, and the trouble he experienced to claim US citizenship. Cody shares his perspective on how he faced difficulty connecting with others but how grateful he feels about his adoption through it all.

*An Update*

In our newest installment for Season 2, we are featuring a new segment called Chats with Kat. In our first episode of the season, we hear returning Russian adoptee, Svet, give an update to her story of visiting an orphanage in Ukraine to continue her humanitarian work as a photo journalist. She powerfully tells the story of visiting this orphanage, in the midst of war, and how her photos have helped her not only capture these children's heartbreaking story, but also connect their experience back to her adoption.

Support Svet's work and contact her here:

www.svetjacqueline.com

[email protected]

@___svetj

linktr.ee/svetj

Meet Theodora, an adoptee from Denmark! Theodora is a psychological and spiritual counselor who works to help adoptees recover and heal from trauma and abuse. In this episode, hear her story of how she struggled to simultaneously live with her adoptive parents and live her purpose of helping adoptees. She tells us about how she got into her work, how to set healthy boundaries, and strategies for how to heal from narcissism and abuse.

You can find and follow Theodora here:

Instagram: @soulfultheodora

Facebook: Narcissism and Adoption Page

Website: https://bio.site/SoulfulTheodora

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@soulfultheodora/videos

In our latest episode, we hear from Kat, who is also our podcast producer! Kat was adopted from Russia and learned of her adoption when she was 7 years old. She tells of her self-discovery when she learned that she was adopted and how her learning greatly impacted to need to know "Kat". Hear the strong feelings Kat expresses about her adoption and how it affected her relationship with her adoptive mother. She remarks upon her struggles growing up as well as many of the identity themes adoptees face. Finally, we hear Kat's stance on who she wants to be based on her past and how she intends to move forward in a changed and positive manner. Tune in now!

A sneak peek of what's to come on season 2 of Voice of Adoptees

In this newest episode, Claire, a Russian adoptee, speaks on various topics that most adoptees can understand and appreciate. Claire was adopted at 2 years old, along with 3 other Russian adoptees to complete the family. She began questioning her background after high school and has experienced the pains of being an outsider. She touches on topics such as her childhood, her relationship with her siblings and parents, and her thoughts as she moves forward in her journey.

We meet Sara who hails from Kansas and works in adoption advocacy. Listen in as we hear her story of living through two different foster families and a different perspective of working for child services. We gain exclusive access to someone who has witnessed, firsthand, the foster care system and the trials and tribulations that come with it.

Be a Guest: voiceofadoptees.com

In this episode, we meet Melissa, a Columbian adoptee, who found out she was adopted at 19 years old. She recounts this experience and her various emotions about her upbringing. Melissa shares her thoughts on the struggles and tensions she faced growing up in her adoptive family as they connect to her culture and race. We also learn of her excitement and hopes for visiting her biological family later this year and reconnecting to her Columbian roots for herself and her family.

Find and Follow Melissa here:

Book: What White Parents Should Know About Transracial Adoption

Podcast Host of Adoptee Thoughts

Twitter: @adoptee_thoughts

Instagram: @adoption_thoughts

Facebook Page: Adoptee Thoughts: Discovery the Nuances of Transracial Adoption

Website: www.adopteethoughts.com

This episode contains sensitive content. Please take care while listening. 

In this newest episode, we meet Anne, a writer and writing coach.  She dives deep into her perspective about her adoption through a lens of deep-seeded identity loss and trauma.  Anne explores her current life challenges and experiences and how her adoption has changed her outlook on her life as she "woke up" to her experience. Listen to the strong feelings Anne shares about her adoption and how she feels her past is shaping her future. 

Find and follow Anne here:
Website - https://www.anneheffron.com/
Instagram - @anne_heffron
Twitter - @anneheffron 
You Don't Look Adopted book - 

Amazon 
Barnes and Noble