In this episode of Voices of Adoption, host Donna Pope interviews Tarcia Smith, host of the Adoption Journey podcast and co-founder of Black Adoptees Meetup. Tarcia shares her personal adoption story, her complicated reunions with both biological parents, and why she built a national community for Black adoptees who felt underrepresented in traditional adoption spaces.

In this episode of Voices of Adoption, host Donna Pope interviews Rachel Forbes, a Korean American adoptee and licensed clinical social worker who specializes in trauma-informed therapy. Adopted from South Korea at three months old by white Jewish parents, Rachel's journey through depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts ultimately led her to become a therapist dedicated to helping other adoptees heal.

Colton was adopted at three months old into a family where four out of five children were adopted. Growing up black in a white family felt regular until others started pointing out the differences.

In this episode of Voices of Adoption, host Donna Pope interviews Dr. Brett Furst, a clinical psychologist and adoptee who specializes in treating adult adoptees struggling with substance abuse and personality disorders. Dr. Furst shares his personal adoption story and the specialized treatment programs he developed after noticing adoptees weren't responding to traditional interventions.

In this episode of Voices of Adoption, hosts Donna Pope and Nathan Gwilliam interview Linda Sexton, an adoptive mom who became an open adoption pioneer over 30 years ago when she and her husband were rejected by traditional agencies for being "too old" at 36 and 42. Building Connection Linda shares how she initially believed open adoption benefited birth parents most, only to discover the real winner is always the child. She reveals the defining moment at her son's birth mother's wedding when 4-year-old Finley ran from the altar into her arms, proving there was room for both mothers in one child's heart. Her children now maintain relationships with biological siblings, with Finley having a full birth brother after his birth parents later married each other. Practical Wisdom Linda explains why adoptive parents should actively seek connections with birth family members even when birth parents aren't available, emphasizing that children need these relationships for identity development and stability. She addresses common fears about confusion and competition, sharing how mutual respect between families creates magic for everyone involved. This episode shows how open adoption creates opportunities for children to grow up whole when families approach relationships with flexibility and love. Build stronger adoption relationships by subscribing to Voices of Adoption. #OpenAdoption #AdoptiveParenting #AdoptionJourney #VoicesOfAdoption #AdoptionCommunity #BirthFamilyConnection #OpenAdoptionWorks #AdoptionAdvice #AdoptiveFamily #AdoptionLove #AdoptionStory #AdoptionSupport #AdoptionAwareness #AdoptionPodcast #ModernAdoption Follow or Subscribe to Voices of Adoption on your favorite platform: Website: http://www.VoicesOfAdoption.org YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@voicesofadoptionshow Twitter/X: https://x.com/voices_adoption Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/voicesof_adoption/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577208399818 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@voices_of_adoption LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/voices-of-adoption/ Follow Nathan Gwilliam: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathangwilliam Follow Donna Pope: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-pope-41652ba Follow Linda R. Sexton (AUTHOR of award-winning THE BRANCHES WE CHERISH: AN OPEN ADOPTION MEMOIR): Website: http://lindarsexton.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-r-sexton-1b7a13170 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindarsextonauthor X(Twitter): https://twitter.com/lindarsexton Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lindarsextonauthor Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-branches-we-cherish-an-open-adoption-memoir-linda-r-sexton/20200003 Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Branches-We-Cherish-Adoption-Memoir/dp/1592113818 “If you loved The Branches We Cherish, a quick review on Amazon or Goodreads makes a huge difference!”

Liz DeBetta always carried a deep intuition that her birth mother loved her and was thinking about her. As a domestic infant adoptee who grew up in a loving family in New Jersey, she discovered at 14 that writing could help her process the big emotions she felt but couldn't name.

In this episode of Voices of Adoption with host Donna Pope, Gene Trowbridge shares his perspective as both an adoptee and adoptive parent. His multi-generational adoption story includes a childhood sister who mysteriously vanished, a 50-year wait to search for birth family, and lessons from both sides of adoption.

In this episode of Voices of Adoption, host Donna Pope speaks with Craig S. Hyman, an adoption life coach with 35 years of experience helping adoptees and families. Craig shares his complete adoption journey from being placed at 11 months old into a loving extended family to his transformative reunion with his biological family in 1987.

In this episode of Voices of Adoption, host Donna Pope interview Amy Geller, therapist, researcher, and adoptee born in 1970 during the peak year for domestic infant adoptions. As the only girl and only adoptee in a family with four biological sons, Amy shares perspective on adoption dynamics that help families thrive across generations.

In this episode of Voices of Adoption, host Donna Pope interviews Emily Meikle, who placed her daughter Beth for adoption at age 16 and reunited with her 17 years later. Emily's story demonstrates how faith, supportive parents, and divine guidance can transform an unplanned pregnancy into a journey of love, sacrifice, and eventual reunion that honors both birth and adoptive families.

In this episode of Voices of Adoption, host Donna Pope interviews Christine Miskonoodinkwe-Smith, Indigenous writer and survivor of Canada's Sixties Scoop, a government policy that forcibly removed an estimated 20,000 Indigenous children from their families between the 1950s and 1980s. Taken from her mother at age three alongside her sister, Christine experienced abusive placement, foster care cycling, and complete disconnection from her Cree heritage and language.

In this episode of Voices of Adoption, host Donna Pope interviews Roderick Edwards, a prolific author of 50+ books who transforms his adoption story into advocacy.

In this episode of Voices of Adoption, hosts Donna Pope interviews Mike Gaines, who was born with drugs in his system and adopted at 18 months by a 45-year-old single mother facing significant barriers. The state initially resisted the placement due to her age, marital status, and the child's medical challenges, but her faith and determination prevailed. Foundations of Trust and Care Mike shares how his adoptive mother carefully withheld sensitive information until he reached emotional maturity at age 18, then revealed his birth circumstances, including drug exposure and parental rights termination at the hospital. Her timing allowed Mike to process his story fully, appreciating her wisdom in protecting him while maintaining honesty about his origins. Family, Faith, and Community His mother built a strong support network through church, godparents, and extended family to overcome single-parent limitations. This foundation enabled Mike to excel academically despite early predictions of developmental delays, eventually becoming a podcast host, children's book author, and adoption advocate who encourages families to consider older or medically complex foster children. Mike’s journey demonstrates how prepared single parents with faith, planning, and community support can transform adoption challenges into thriving family outcomes. Subscribe to Voices of Adoption for stories of adoption success against the odds. Follow or Subscribe to Voices of Adoption on your favorite platform: Website: VoicesOfAdoption.org | YouTube: @VoicesofAdoptionShow | Twitter/X: voices_adoption | Instagram: voicesof_adoption | Facebook: Voices of Adoption | TikTok: @voices_of_adoption | LinkedIn: voices-of-adoption Follow Nathan Gwilliam on LinkedIn: @nathangwilliam Follow Donna Pope on LinkedIn: @donna-pope-41652ba Follow Mike Gaines: Website: thepositivegaines.com | Facebook: thepositivegaines | Instagram: @thenewpositivegaines | Twitter: @GainesPositive | YouTube: @thepositivegaines942 #AdoptionStories #AdoptionJourney #AdopteeVoice #SingleParentAdoption #AgainstAllOdds #FamilyLove #FosterCareAdoption #OlderChildAdoption #VoicesOfAdoption #AdoptionPodcast #AdoptionSuccess

In this episode of Voices of Adoption, hosts Donna Pope and Nathan Gwilliam interview Brett and Bonnie Hilton about their decades-long adoption journey. After Bonnie learned at 14 she couldn't bear children, the couple explored surrogacy, adoption, and multiple paths to parenthood. Loss to Adoption The Hilton's experienced surrogacy that resulted in quadruplets born at 24 weeks. After losing all four babies, including their son Adam who lived 10.5 months, they pursued domestic adoption through LDS Family Services. Following their first two adoptions, they expanded through international adoption in Ukraine, ultimately building a family of four children across nine adoption attempts. Adoption Costs and Faith Brett discusses adoption finances openly, sharing the financial fears adoptive parents face and the miraculous provision they experienced. The couple addresses genetic concerns, bonding with adopted children, and Brett's belief that no child arrives by accident. Their Ukraine adoption process reveals the complexities of international adoption systems and why fewer children find families today. This adoption story demonstrates faith, persistence, and the transformative nature of the adoption process. Subscribe to Voices of Adoption for more stories of search, reunion, and healing. Follow or Subscribe to Voices of Adoption on your favorite platform: Website: http://www.VoicesOfAdoption.org YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VoicesOf_Adoption Twitter/X: https://x.com/voices_adoption Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/voicesof_adoption/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577208399818 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@voices_of_adoption LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/voices-of-adoption/ Follow Nathan Gwilliam: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathangwilliam Follow Donna Pope: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-pope-41652ba

In this episode of Voices of Adoption, hosts Donna Pope and Nathan Gwilliam interview Jeff Forney, whose creative approach to finding adoption records in 1991 led to a successful birth mother reunion and ultimately inspired a community-building photography project. His six-month search involved writing to hospitals using different strategies, including one breakthrough letter that provided the missing pieces to locate his birth mother in Portland, Oregon. Creative Search Success Jeff shares his detailed search process through the Adoptee Liberty Movement Association support group and describes the emotional first phone call he recorded on a 90-minute cassette tape. His reunion brought both joy and challenges as his birth mother wanted to blend families immediately, requiring careful navigation of boundaries and expectations. The experience taught him that reunion relationships need the same gradual building as any friendship, with both parties respecting each other's existing family connections. Building Adoptee Community This search experience eventually evolved into the Innocent People Project, where Jeff has photographed and shared stories of over 100 adoptees, including celebrities like Ray Liotta. His work validates that adoptees can love their adoptive families while still needing to understand their origins, and that gratitude shouldn't be demanded but naturally developed. Jeff's story demonstrates how adoption search can lead to both personal healing and community service when approached with healthy boundaries and mutual respect. Subscribe to Voices of Adoption for more authentic adoptee stories and reunion insights. Follow or Subscribe to Voices of Adoption on your favorite platform: Website: http://www.VoicesOfAdoption.org YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@voicesofadoptionshow Twitter/X: https://x.com/voices_adoption Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/voicesof_adoption/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577208399818 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@voices_of_adoption LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/voices-of-adoption/ Follow Nathan Gwilliam: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathangwilliam Follow Donna Pope: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-pope-41652ba Follow Jeff Forney: Website: https://jeffforney.com/ Innocent People Project: https://jeffforney.com/innocentpeople/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeffforney/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeffforneyphoto/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/jeffforneyt3 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffforney #VoicesofAdoption #AdoptionPodcast #JeffForney #JeffForneyPhotography #InnocentPeopleProject #AdopteePhotographer #AdopteeVoice #AdoptionStories #BirthMotherReunion #AdoptionSearch #AdoptionReunion #AdopteeExperience #AdoptionJourney #RayLiotta #RayLiottaStory #CelebrityAdoptees #ReunionStories #FindingOrigins #AdopteeIdentity #AdoptionCommunity #Adoption #Adoptee #LosAngeles

This is Part 2 of our conversation with Lorah Gerald, "The Adopted Chameleon," from Voices of Adoption. If you missed Part 1, where she shared her baby scoop era story and the electric shock of finding her siblings at 53, be sure to check it out first. Continuing with our conversation on the Voices of Adoption with host Donna Pope, Lorah Gerald, focuses on her healing journey and practical strategies for adoptees and families navigating baby scoop era trauma. After meeting her biological siblings at 53 and experiencing the "electric shock" of connection, Lorah developed evidence-based approaches to recovery that she now shares through her advocacy work. Healing Modalities Lorah discusses her journey through trauma-informed yoga therapy, Kundalini practices, and energy healing work that helped her process decades of suppressed emotions. She explains how movement-based therapies can help adoptees reconnect with their bodies after early separation trauma and provides specific techniques for nervous system regulation. Family Communication Strategies This episode explores practical approaches for adoptive families to create authentic dialogue about adoption without triggering defensive responses. Lorah shares specific language and timing strategies that help families move beyond "Don't you know we love you?" conversations toward genuine understanding and support. Advocacy and Community Building Lorah explains how her personal healing led to community organizing and support group facilitation. She discusses the importance of adoptee-led spaces and how sharing lived experiences helps transform adoption practices for future generations while supporting current families in crisis. Don't miss our upcoming episodes featuring more adoptee advocates working to improve adoption outcomes through education, policy change, and family support services. Subscribe to Voices of Adoption for more stories of search, reunion, and healing. Follow or Subscribe to Voices of Adoption on your favorite platform: Website: http://www.VoicesOfAdoption.org YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VoicesOf_Adoption Twitter/X: https://x.com/voices_adoption Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/voicesof_adoption/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577208399818 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@voices_of_adoption LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/voices-of-adoption/ Follow Donna Pope: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-pope-41652ba Follow Lorah Gerald: Website: https://lorahgerald.com/ Email Contact: lorahwg@gmail.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorah-gerald-0ba69648/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theadoptedchameleon/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheAdoptedChameleon/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theadoptedchameleon Twitter: https://x.com/@theadoptedchameleon Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lorahwg/ #BabyScoopEra #AdoptionHealing #AdoptionTrauma #AdopteeVoice #TraumaInformedYoga #AdoptionRecovery #LorahGerald #AdoptedChameleon #AdoptionAdvocacy #HealingJourney #AdopteeSupport #VoicesofAdoption #AdoptionCommunity #EmbodimentHealing #AdoptionWisdom

In Part One of this two-part series on Voices of Adoption, host Donna Pope speaks with Lorah Gerald, known as "The Adopted Chameleon," whose baby scoop era story reveals how four million families were separated by societal shame between 1945-1972. Historical Trauma Lorah's father served his country overseas while that same country violated his parental rights by never informing him of her birth. Her capable mother was deemed unfit simply for being unwed, reflecting systematic practices that separated families based on shame rather than child welfare. This historical context illuminates how past adoption practices continue to impact families today. Electric Connection At 53, Lorah experienced what she describes as an "electric shock" when first touching her biological sisters - a physical and emotional jolt that unleashed decades of suppressed grief, joy, and recognition. The reunion revealed shared mannerisms and synchronicities that validated the deep energetic bonds that transcend physical separation. Communication Barriers Despite loving adoptive parents, Lorah discovered that declarations of love can inadvertently shut down essential conversations about identity and belonging. Her experience reveals how well-meaning families can create communication barriers when trauma responses meet unprocessed grief, and why professional support helps navigate these complex dynamics. This episode demonstrates how understanding adoption's historical context and emotional complexity can help families build authentic relationships where difficult conversations become pathways to healing. Don't miss Part Two, where Lorah shares her healing strategies and advocacy work transforming adoption practices for future generations. Subscribe to Voices of Adoption for more stories of search, reunion, and healing. Follow or Subscribe to Voices of Adoption on your favorite platform: Website: http://www.VoicesOfAdoption.org YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VoicesOf_Adoption Twitter/X: https://x.com/voices_adoption Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/voicesof_adoption/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577208399818 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@voices_of_adoption LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/voices-of-adoption/ Follow Donna Pope: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-pope-41652ba Follow Lorah Gerald: Website: https://lorahgerald.com/ Email Contact: lorahwg@gmail.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorah-gerald-0ba69648/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theadoptedchameleon/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheAdoptedChameleon/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theadoptedchameleon Twitter: https://x.com/@theadoptedchameleon Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lorahwg/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/Lorahwg

In this episode of Voices of Adoption, hosts Donna Pope and Nathan Gwilliam speak with Patti Eddington, whose life story reads like a mystery novel; three birthdays, multiple birth certificates, and a childhood disguise that lasted decades. Hidden Identity Adopted at four after living in foster care, Patti grew up believing the version of her origins her loving parents shared. Patti discovered at 15 that her birth certificate showed November 15th while she'd been celebrating November 20th her entire life. At 55, a chance comment from a beautician about her childhood hair transformation sparked the first questions about her past. DNA Discovery A DNA test gift from her daughter at age 60 shattered everything Patti thought she knew about her identity. The results revealed no connection to the family she believed was hers and instead connected her to relatives with names like Lopez and Cantu. What followed was a journey into her true heritage, including meeting biological family members who had been searching for her and discovering she had lived with relatives as a toddler before being placed in the court system. Family Secrets Patti's story explores the complex layers of adoption secrecy, multiple birth certificates, changed birthdays, and the trauma of family separation that occurred when she was taken from loving relatives at age two. Her journey reveals both painful separations and the healing that can come through truth and connection across decades, while honoring the adoptive parents who raised her with love. This episode demonstrates how identity searches can reveal both painful separations and unexpected family bonds waiting to be rediscovered. Subscribe to Voices of Adoption for more stories of search, reunion, and healing. Follow or Subscribe to Voices of Adoption on your favorite platform: Website: http://www.VoicesOfAdoption.org YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VoicesOf_Adoption Twitter/X: https://x.com/voices_adoption Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/voicesof_adoption/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577208399818 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@voices_of_adoption LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/voices-of-adoption/ Follow Nathan Gwilliam: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathangwilliam Follow Donna Pope: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-pope-41652ba Follow Patricia Ann Eddington: Website: https://pattieddington.com/ Email: pattieddington@yahoo.com; pattieddingtonauthor@gmail.com Audio Book: https://rbmediaglobal.com/audiobook/9798855559422/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Patti-Eddington-Author/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pattieddingtonauthor/

In this episode of Voices of Adoption, hosts Donna Pope and Nathan Gwilliam interview Julie Ryan McGue, whose medical needs at 52 sparked a transformative search journey with her identical twin sister. Their five-year quest through Illinois's evolving adoption system led to wonderful discoveries, including their Native American heritage and connections with half-siblings living nearby. A Journey of Growth Julie shares how she worked through the confidential intermediary system and navigated different perspectives within her family about adoption search. With patience and professional support, she eventually connected with her birth mother, who had maintained privacy about the twins for decades. Their relationship grew from initial hesitation to ongoing contact and mutual healing. Building Understanding Julie emphasizes how adoption creates complex identity questions alongside love and belonging, advocating for counseling support during search and reunion processes. Her story showcases how adoptees can honor both their adoptive families and birth connections while finding their complete identity. The special bond she shared with her twin sister throughout their upbringing and search provided unique strength and perspective. This episode shows how adoption creates opportunities for expanded family connections and personal growth when approached with understanding and support. Discover resources for adoption search and reunion by subscribing to Voices of Adoption. Follow or Subscribe to Voices of Adoption on your favorite platform: Website: http://www.VoicesOfAdoption.org YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VoicesOf_Adoption Twitter/X: https://x.com/voices_adoption Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/voicesof_adoption/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577208399818 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@voices_of_adoption LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/voices-of-adoption/ Follow Nathan Gwilliam: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathangwilliam Follow Donna Pope: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-pope-41652ba Follow Julie Ryan McGue: Website: https://juliemcgueauthor.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julieryanmcgue/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/juliermcgue Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juliemcguewrites/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-ryan-mcgue-a246b841/ Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21085620.Julie_Ryan_McGue Email: julie@juliemcgueauthor.com Books: Twice a Daughter: https://www.amazon.com/Twice-Daughter-Search-Identity-Belonging/dp/1647420504 Belonging Matters: https://www.amazon.com/Belonging-Matters-Conversations-Adoption-Kinship/dp/1958714801 Twice the Family: https://www.amazon.com/Twice-Family-Memoir-Love-Sisterhood/dp/164742786X

Julie Brumley thought her same-race domestic adoption was trauma-free until mysterious "flashbacks to nothing" began paralyzing her during intimate moments. Despite loving adoptive parents, she carried cellular memories from surviving two abortion attempts and four different caregivers in her first seven weeks of life. Origins A professor's blunt warning that unresolved adoption issues would "harm people" sent Julie on a decade-long quest to uncover trauma stored in her nervous system. She reveals how traditional talk therapy missed 80% of the healing work happening in the body. Recovery Julie explains her seven-phase somatic approach that transforms people-pleasing and external validation into authentic self-belonging. She demonstrates why adoptee anger typically masks deeper grief and how body-based therapies like EMDR access primal wounds. Impact This episode shows that all adoptees carry trauma regardless of circumstances, but healing is absolutely possible when we address where trauma actually lives in the body. Discover hope and healing for adoption trauma - SUBSCRIBE to Voices of Adoption.\ Follow or Subscribe to Voices of Adoption on your favorite platform: Website: http://www.VoicesOfAdoption.org YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VoicesOf_Adoption Twitter/X: https://x.com/voices_adoption Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/voicesof_adoption/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577208399818 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@voices_of_adoption LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/voices-of-adoption/ Follow Julie Brumley: Website: https://cominghometoself.co/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliebrumley_ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@julie_brumley Email: julie@cominghometoself.co; support@cominghometoself.co