Brittney, from Connecticut, grew up knowing but not closely connected with her biological mother .

After a bombshell moment where her mom revealed the truth about her paternal parentage, Brittney felt like she was left to clean up the mess of lies.

She was conflicted about searching for her birth father because of her loyalty to her adoptive father. Brittney said she was glad she searched because what she learned filled a hole she didn't even know was in her.

This is Brittney's journey.

Who Am I Really?

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Gabe called me early one morning from Salt Lake City, Utah. Gabe is a black transracial adoptee, and a transgender man from a family and community that didn't know how to talk about who he is as a person.

After a tough time coming out to his adoptive family, Gabe's reunion revealed his birth parents' secret that their children had a full blooded brother they hadn't known about. Now, Gabe finds himself questioning where he belongs as he doesn't feel like he fits in either family.

This is Gabe's Journey.

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Andrie, who lives in Duluth, Georgia, learned she was adopted as a kid, then started coping with the rejection she felt by making up stories about her birth parents, a habit that carried into adulthood.

Searching for her truth, Andrie found her birth father, but has chosen to distance herself from him

When she met her birth mother Andrie found a woman she has a lot in common with and whom she says she absolutely loves.

This is Andrie's journey.

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Daughter Dee lives in Maryland with me. Dee had a wonderful upbringing in Philadelphia, PA where she was cherished and celebrated on her birthdays. When she was fresh out of college Dee's adoptive mother passed away. Dee learned she was adopted and her world turned into a question mark while mourning.

As a late discovery adoptee (LDA), she faced secondary rejection, unanswered questions. And misattributed parentage.

This is daughter D's journey

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Samantha, from south Florida, watched her adoptive mother reunite with the son she placed for adoption. Samantha found herself anticipating her own reunion one day, so she decided to take action. When she located her birth mother, she learned the woman was very young when she gave birth, was told to forget about the whole thing and had built walls around herself from the trauma of her youth.

Samantha remains a positive person, even though she feels like she's an outsider looking in on her birth family.  

This is Samantha's journey

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Emma described her adoption with words and concepts like "purchased", "captor", and "Stockholm syndrome". Those aren't the ideas behind a healthy parent child relationship

When she decided to find her birth mother, Emma would not be deterred by the redacted information her case worker gave her, so she took action... illegally, to steal her birth mother's name.

In reunion Emma lacked the tools to maintain a relationship with her birth mother, and stood face to face with her birth father who portrayed himself as an innocent bystander, not a biological relative.

This is Emma's journey.

The Gathering Place, An Adoptee Story

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Rebecca, from Tallahassee, Florida, grew up in a religious home where she was over protected and adoption was not discussed or explored. In reunion, She learned her social worker who helped her placement had remained friends with her birth mother and was able to connect them immediately.

Rebecca is the documentarian behind the movie Reckoning With The Primal Wound, a visual exploration of the landmark book, "The Primal Wound" by Nancy Verrier. She's worked on the movie and an audio version of the book. One has gone very well. The other is blocked by a litigious brick wall that Rebecca didn't anticipate and that's triggering adoptee abandonment issues.

This is Rebecca's journey

Reckoning With The Primal Wound

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Carlyn (Kar-leen), from Santa Fe, New Mexico, grew up in a junkyard house in a tough relationship with her adoptive mother. Caryln felt over protected, trapped, and wondering why that was her life.

After submitting a DNA test for fun, Carlyn was connected with a biological relative she had never heard of forcing her adoptive sister to finally reveal Carlyn's adoption. The news sent a wrecking ball, sailing through her life. Carlyn's newly found DNA matched biological sister was seeking connection because the woman never really had a family. Soon the pair were told they had no time to waste meeting Carlyn's birth mother.

This is Carlyn's journey.

Purchase Junkyard Girl

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Today you're going to meet candidate for Congress Maxwell Frost who called me from Orlando, Florida. Maxwell is a transracial adoptee who grew up loved and supported. When he found himself at a crossroads in his life, the decision to run for public office are not, he realized he wanted to get some answers about his birth mother and his adoption.

Speaking with the woman Maxwell learned about the cycle of poverty her community has faced. Hearing her story and her unscripted delivery of one of his life mantras was part of what he needed to validate his run for office.

This is Maxwell's journey

Maxwell Frost For Congress

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This is a special episode of the, Who Am I Really? podcast. My guest today is Pamela Karanova, who first appeared on the show on episode 160, "Stepping Into A Space Of Freedom". She told her story of addiction, thoughts of taking her own life and debilitating depression all in the context of her journey through adoption and reunion.

Thankfully, Pam has recovered from much of her life's trauma and finding her way out of the darkness inspired Pam to create some special things. I brought Pam back because she is the empowering adoptee advocate behind two amazing movements - Adoptee Remembrance Day, a global observance of several serious adoptee focused issues and Adoptees Connect

a soon to be international movement to get adoptees together in person to support one another. I asked Pam to share about the movements she has started.

Adoptee Remembrance Day #AdopteeRemembranceDay #ARD #AdopteesWeRemember

Adoptees Connect: https://adopteesconnect.com/

Plant an affiliate: https://adopteesconnect.com/start-an-affiliate/

TED Talk: Adoption, DNA, and the Impact on a Concealed Life

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