Wandering Tree ®, LLC Podcast

Have you ever wondered about the deeper psychological impacts of adoption? Join us as we plunge into the emotionally charged story of Andy Wallis, a man adopted in 1973 who has grappled with undiscovered impacts of adoption trauma for over a decade. Andy's unique and poignant tale navigates through his experiences with attachment and detachment in relationships, and how his current partner has been instrumental in his healing journey.

Andy doesn't shy away from sharing his trials and tribulations. He reveals his run of five kilometers a day for a local hospice, inspired by naysayers who said he couldn't. This act of defiance led him to further explore his mental health, culminating in his enrollment in a college course to better understand himself. The episode takes an intimate turn as Andy recounts his quest to obtain his adoption file and original birth certificate, his thoughts on biological family, and the insecurities he copes with regarding his two unknown siblings and absent father. Join us to gain a deeper understanding of adoption's complexities, mental health struggles, and the resilience of the human spirit through Andy's story.


IG: https://www.instagram.com/whos_wally_blog/https://www.instagram.com/whos_wally_blog/
Website: https://www.whoswally.co.uk/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/andy.wallis.3572/
Book: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/whos-wally-andy-wallis/1144152386

Find your people, cherish your people and love your people.

#adoptee #adoptees #adopteevoices #adopteestories #adopteestrong #adoptionreality #adopteejourney #adoption #wanderingtreeadoptee 

Ryan Anderson, who imparts his moving journey of self-discovery and acceptance take us on an unforgettable journey of discovery and growth. Born and raised as an outsider in Scotland, Ryan opens up about his unique experience of grappling with various socio-cultural and economic factors that set him apart from the crowd. His narrative takes a surprising turn when he uncovers his adoption at the age of 18, a revelation which consequently reshapes his identity and propels him on a path of self-acceptance.

Join us on this enlightening odyssey as Ryan courageously embarks on a quest to find his biological family tucked away in the cultural mosaic of Morocco. He sheds light on the roller-coaster of emotions he experienced, from the initial shock, through the struggle, to his unabated determination. Fascinatingly, Ryan introduces us to his concept of having three families – his adoptive family, foster family, and DNA family - and the unique process of reconnecting with them. Tune in to witness an exploration of identity, resilience, and the power of acceptance, culminating in an inspiring message of living life to its fullest.

Find your people, cherish your people and love your people.

 More ways to connect with Ryan:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4C-LNcmxdFk

Please see Ryan's  full 20 page life story which goes into more details.
https://peshy37.wordpress.com/2021/02...

IG:  https://www.instagram.com/peshy37/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/peshy

Do you need to find some light within you during the daily wins and losses of the adoptee journey? This episode welcomes international adoptee, author, and adoptee empowerment life coach Michelle Madrid. She shares intimate insights from her own experiences growing up in foster care, being labeled with limiting words, and the intense feelings of being unwanted by her birth and adoptive parents. What if you could reclaim your identity and purpose?

As we explore the adoptee journey further, Michelle unveils the eight pain points that many adoptees grapple with - from the deep sense of unwelcome they often experience to the pain of broken bonds and having the truth concealed from them. We reflect on the fear of abandonment that lies at the heart of these pains and how it can manifest as people-pleasing and a lack of self-acceptance. We also discuss the powerful exercise, "Putting Down the Baggage," which Michelle has designed to help adoptees recognize and let go of the emotional burdens they've been carrying since childhood.

Finally, Michelle gives us a sneak peek into her upcoming podcast, Electricity of You. Here, she aims to provide a safe and sacred space for adoptees to reconnect with their light, ignite their purpose and share their grief. This episode provides profound wisdom and advice on the adoptee journey, the power of reclaiming identity, and the healing power of sharing grief. So, are you ready to light up your inner electricity?

Find your people, cherish your people and love your people.
#adoptee #adoptees #adopteevoices #adopteestories #adopteestrong #adoptionreality #adopteejourney #adoption #wanderingtreeadoptee

Visit Michelle online at http://TheMichelleMadrid.com.
Here’s the link to the book’s product page on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Let-Us-Be-Greater-Adoptees/dp/160868847X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=SVDF0EUYX7PS&keywords=Michelle+Madrid&qid=1694831079&s=books&sprefix=michelle+madrid%2Cstripbooks%2C92&sr=1-1

Also great ways to connect with Michelle include:
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/LetHerBeGreater
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themichellemadrid
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-madrid-62b1661a/
YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@TheMichelleMadrid

Have you ever felt the transformative power of community and connections? Join us as we dive into deep conversations with Erin, Cindy and Annie from Hiraeth, Hope, and Healing about their journeys of self-healing and discovery. They share their poignant stories of self-discovery, revealing how a nurturing community has become their backbone to joy. Each narrative is packed with inspiring tales of their retreat experiences that has allowed them to unfurl their authentic selves without judgement. 

The suitcase is dropped in the room and the guest dive into the sanctuary these retreats present, forming a cocoon for adoptees and NPEs to forge real connections and form lifelong bonds.  They underline the crucial roles understanding and empathy play in dealing with member of this community, and how a supportive each person in navigating this voyage. This episode is a treat for anyone intrigued by the intertwining realms of adoption and genealogy, and the therapeutic power of unity. Get ready to be moved and inspired by their stories, and possibly see the world through a different lens.

It gets real and emotional in this episode where we welcome our special guests, Linda and Louise, a birth mother and adoptee duo, who bravely share their poignant journey of reunion, self-discovery, and bonding. Prepare to be moved as together, we unpack the life-altering experiences that marked Linda's past - from enduring abuse to meeting Louise's birth father, and Louise's exploration of her adoption's emotional impact that eventually led her to solace in martial arts.

The episode takes an emotional turn when Linda and Louise recount the intricate details of their reunion journey. Each revelation, from the anticipation of their first meeting to the development of their bond through frequent communication, is a testament to their resilience. The challenges they faced, such as building trust amidst processing trauma and navigating misunderstandings, will make you appreciate their strength and the commonality we find within the community. Their coping mechanisms,  highlight the variety of ways one can navigate life's unexpected turns.

As we wind down, we delve into the surprising silver lining the COVID-19 pandemic brought about, enabling Linda and Louise to strengthen their bond. and leverage the power of online support groups. 

Their advocacy for adoption legislation and their use of online platforms to share their story further underscores the positive impact of  connections.

What does it mean to be a birth mother? How do you navigate the emotional terrain of unplanned pregnancies, the heart-rending decision of adoption, and the aftermath of that choice? These are the raw realities we tackle in this potent episode, guided by the strength and resilience of author and birth mother, Candice Cahill. This conversation is a deep dive into Candice's personal journey—sharing her story, her grief, and her healing—providing invaluable insight into the often unseen dimension of adoption.

Candice's book, 'Goodbye Again,' is a testament the difficult journey following her decision to place her child for adoption. Undeniably, the emotional challenges of holidays and family events leave a lasting mark, but Candice shares how the unwavering support of her partner played a pivotal role in her healing process. As we navigate the complex landscape of motherhood after adoption, delve into the grief that often lingers and the importance of honoring one's role in the adoption process another layer of healing with Host Lisa Ann takes place. 

Find your people, cherish your people and love your people.
#adoptee #adoptees #adopteevoices #adopteestories #adopteestrong #adoptionreality #adopteejourney #adoption  #adopteesinreunion #wanderingtreeadoptee 

Connect with Candice here:
Website: https://candacecahill.com/
Linked Tree: https://linktr.ee/candacecahill
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/candace.cahill.16/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/candace_cahill_/
Book via Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Goodbye-Again-Candace-Cahill-ebook/dp/B0BLZSB8Y4/ref=sr_1_1?crid=S51TUVC5Z2CQ&keywords=candace+cahill&qid=1688936642&sprefix=candace+cahill+%2Caps%2C91&sr=8-1

What if you had the chance to hear a powerful story of adoption, mental illness, and healing from someone who experienced it firsthand? We're honored to have Danielle Gaudette, author of Healing Tree, share her incredible journey with us.

From being adopted just 10 days after her birth to reuniting with her biological mother at 21, Danielle opens up about the challenges she faced growing up with an adopted mother suffering from bouts of mental illness and how it affected her own life perspectives and health.

Together, we discuss the struggles she faced with loyalty, anxiety, and neurosis when reconnecting with her birth family. Danielle shares how Body and Brain became a vital outlet for her healing process. Through her experiences at the center, Danielle learned about her own energy and how to ground herself, leading to significant personal growth and understanding.

In our conversation, Danielle and I examine the eight steps of healing and self-discovery, emphasizing the importance of practice and patience in order to retrain our brains and create the lives we want for ourselves. We also discuss the power of muscle memory in building cognitive development. Finally, Danielle shares her insights on the process of healing for adoptees and the importance of self-mastery and self-growth in order to authentically support others with similar experiences.

Check out the Pilot Course: Self-Mastery for Adoptees https://info.bodynbrain.com/smp-a
 
or 

Connect with Danielle via the following 
FB - https://www.facebook.com/danielle.gaudette.33
Website - https://www.daniellegaudette.com/
IG - https://www.instagram.com/danielle.gaudette/
Good Reads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22338461.Danielle_Gaudette

Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/stores/Danielle-Gaudette/author/B09X7BJD4C?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

What happens when two domestic adoptees and passionate artists join forces in advocating for their community? In a captivating episode of Wandering Tree Podcast, we're thrilled to have Rebecca Autumn Sansom and Liz DeBetta sharing their stories, artistry, and insights on the adoptee experience.

Liz, who was adopted at birth, has been using her talents as a writer to share her journey and healing process in her upcoming book, while Rebecca, a dedicated documentary filmmaker, is working on a mission to incorporate more adoptees' voices and create connections. In this heartwarming conversation, we explore the importance of community building, connection, and empathy to heal the primal wound of adoption. We also discuss the power of art in understanding and supporting the adoptee community, and the exciting collaboration between Rebecca and Liz – Operation Fog Lift. So, join us as we celebrate these unique stories, experiences, and the transformative power of art and connection.

Guest Nicole shares with us her early desires to give back to adoptee community, how she think she wanted to search for her biological family and the point in time when she realized the moment was now. 

Nicole is a domestic, transracial adoptee born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. She grew up knowing she was adopted. Her father, a decorated Marine turned Catholic priest adopted her after she had been left with him when she was three years old. Mother’s Day has always been particularly difficult for Nicole, having been raised by a single Father, it defined the fact that she did not fit in.

Early in her marketing career, Nicole joined the adoption community through volunteer work with Adoption Network Cleveland, a non-profit that supports everyone touched by adoption.  After serving on the special events committee, Nicole was asked to join the Board of Directors. Through this work, she accepted adoption as a “complex, lifelong, intergenerational journey with ongoing impact for all whose lives are touched by it.” This epiphany helped her realize her feelings of pain, confusion and self-doubt were a natural part of the adoptee journey – and inspired her to dive into the work of healing. Nicole spent years on what she calls her journey of self-discovery, working to understand how being abandoned and adopted shaped her thought patterns, decisions and relationships. 

This journey inspired her to share her truth, validate and uplift her fellow adoptees. In 2019, she launched her blog and social media platforms, “The Adoptee In Me - a place to share the journey of self-discovery.” Since then Nicole has shared her lessons learned about identity, change, loss and love, aiming to inspire reflection and conversation to inspire adoptees to embrace their inner adoptees. She is also a member of the Fireside Adoptees leadership team.

A few years ago, Nicole embarked on a new chapter of her adoptee journey to find the mother who left her behind – and that is the focus of this conversation. The search began with her original birth certificate, involved multiple third-party organizations, and lasted much longer than anticipated. Tune in to join us for a story about the emotional rollercoaster of search, self-discovery, loss and hope.


Connect with Nicole via your social media platforms and Fireside Adoptees 
https://www.instagram.com/theadopteeinme/
https://www.facebook.com/theadopteeinme/

Welcome to Season 3, Episode 5. Let's keep moving forward adoptees, sharing our life experiences and bonding in community. The collective goal of our guests and host is to create a safe space and have key conversations regarding the adoption reunion experience with biological family members. 

Laurie is a domestic adoptee. She was placed in her adopted family at around one month old. She came with some health issues, she had a club foot and eye problems. She was the third adopted child to join the family, she joined a sister and brother, none biologically related. At age 25 she found her bio mom, since then the relationship has been a rollercoaster of emotion. For 20 years Laurie tried to build a relationship with a man she thought was her bio dad. After taking a DNA test, she discovered the truth. Another man was her bio dad. Finding him was easy, but sadness came as he rejected her because of differences in beliefs. In all, Laurie has developed rich relationships with a couple of new siblings. She doesn't regret the search, but wished she had been educated on the many emotional ups and downs this process can take.

Find your people, cherish your people and love your people.

#adoptee #adoptees #adopteevoices #adopteestories #adopteestrong #adoptionreality #adopteejourney #adoption  #adopteesinreunion #wanderingtreeadoptee