Thriving Adoptees - Let's Thrive

Are we focusing on ourselves, others, our kids? Our dreams or theirs? Our expectations or how they are doing? Listen in as single adoptive mom of 3 and adoption professionals shares a lifetime's wisdom...

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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.

"You are whole. We are whole. Nothing can change what is true." Provocative? Perhaps. Challenging? Definitely. True? That's for you to decide. Listen in as coach and son of an adoptee Garret dives deep into a profound exploration of wholeness.

Garret Kramer is the founder of Inner Sports, a visionary who for nearly three decades, has been providing transformative consulting services to athletes, coaches, actors, doctors, and business leaders. His extensive career also includes conducting workshops, daylong symposiums, and retreats for teams, organizations, universities, and schools.

Having introduced the "Direct Path of Self-Exploration" to the...

Transracial adoptee Gareth James feels like he got a golden ticket in life. Despite the racism he encountered. Life is contrast. Listen in as Gareth shares his insights on insights, thriving despite trauma and more...

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gareth-james-aa8448353/

https://www.amazon.com/Love-Happiness-G-I-James-ebook/dp/B0FRSVFDPT

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 would feeling fundamentally whole do for you? Knowing that trauma hadn't damaged the essence of You? That You are intact underneath your trauma, despite your trauma? Listen in as adoptee and Emotional Healing and Integration Guide Danielle asks me some great questions and I do my best to answer them.

Here's a bit about Danielle from her website:

"I suppose my own healing journey began the moment I was born.  Relinquished by my birth mother, I was  adopted by two amazing humans. However, heartache set in as I watched the mother who cared for me...

What if we could recycle our trauma? Make it into something profoundly useful? Something to drive our thriving? Something to fuel our growth? We can! Listen in as adoptee and birth mother Anne inspires us all...

Here's a bit about Anne from her website:

"I know what it feels like to carry things that should have broken you. Adoption. Abuse. Addiction. Years of making choices that almost erased me completely.

I also know what it feels like to get back up. Every single time.

I raised my kids as a single...

Are you hurting right now? Could you use some Super Self Care? Listen in as Renee shares insights aplenty into how we can make life just that little - or a BIG - bit easier. 

Renee received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin and her master’s degree in Clinical Child Psychology from Virginia Tech. She started her career as a case manager for the intellectual and developmental disabilities population at the local Community Services Board (CSB). While working, she obtained her Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) certi...

Mindset is rarely talked about in adoption and fostering. It's trauma all the way. Why is that? What can we learn from exploring mindset to be better and do better. Listen as the inspirational force of nature that is unofficially adopted Jamole  dives deep into normally uncharted waters...

Jamole Callahan spent six years in foster care living in nine different homes until he was emancipated at age 18. His road into foster care was paved with being the product of an affair, his father’s subsequent abandonment, then his mother’s drug addiction that left him to care for h...

Would you like to bounce back faster from setbacks in your life? What if resilience is seen not strengthened? Revealed in a moment not built over years? Instantaneous? Listen in as adoptee Roof shares what he's seen about resilience, mindset and more. His insights could catalyse yours.

Here's a bit about Roof from his website

"I didn't learn about resilience, openness, and foundation from a workshop. I learned it growing up.

My parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gentle, were two selfless human beings who offered over 40 children shelter a home where young children...

How would it feel to know that You are whole under your trauma? To know that You are intact, undamaged and complete despite your trauma. That everyone else is too. Listen in as I explore our Fundamental Wholeness with Donna Pope, adoptive mother, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and executive director.

Here's more about Donna from her agency's website:

Donna is an irreplaceable member of our adoption agency, dedicated to aiding women who are contemplating placing their child for adoption. Helping women through an unexpected pregnancy has become her life’s journey. She is seldom “off...

Expecting gratitude from adopted kids turns them against us. We are here to support them! Listen in as Randi shares her learnings on supporting her kids to help them thrive including expectations, acceptance and more...

When Randi Thompson visited an orphanage in Kazakhstan more than 20 years ago, she saw teens forced to move out with no place to go, no skills, and no hope. Inspired to create a new future for these kids she went to work building Kidsave programs and she hasn’t stopped since. Randi is a 30-year veteran of outcome-based marketing and communications projects de...

So many of us are challenging other people's narratives, but what if we challenge our own? This invariably leads to the insights that power our growth, fuel our relationships and succeed. Listen in as Kareemah shares her biggest insights to catalyse insight in yours.

Kareemah Harris-Baker’s story is one of resilience. As an adoptee who lost both her adoptive parents by the age of nine, Kareemah’s early life was shaped by profound transitions—and an unwavering sense of purpose instilled by her late parents. Kareemah works at New Jersey’s Department of Children and Families as Assis...

Time isn't the greatest healer because if there's no change, there's no healing. So what IS the greatest healer? Realisations. Those profound insights that help us see differently, more clearly and better. Listen in as we talk realisations, grace and space...

Cheryl Fix is Executive Director of the Alberta Foster and Kinship Association, find out more at:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryl-fix-4b7b36b/

https://www.facebook.com/Albertafosterandkinshipassociation/

instagram.com/afka_caregiver_support

https://afkaonline.ca/

Guests and the host are not (unless...

Healing, Wholeness & Growth. What do they mean? How do they fit together? How can we enjoy more of all three? Listen in as adoptee and social worker Lynda shares powerful insights and strategies.

Lynda is an Adoptee, Registered Social Worker (MSW, RSW) Director of the International Association for Journal Writing, IAJW.org and Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC)

Find out more at:

https://www.amazon.com/Adoptees-Guide-Healing-Wholeness-Growth/dp/1963667328/

LyndaMonk.com

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

Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists...

Going through tough stuff? Really tough? Tomorrow's going to be better...Listen in as Richard shares insights on hope, optimism and persistence...

Richard is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of FosterVA and Extra Special Parents, organisations he established to strengthen foster care services and improve outcomes for children, young people, and families across Virginia. With a strong background in social work and decades of experience working alongside young people, Richard brings both professional depth and personal conviction to his leadership.

Richard believes foster care works best when families feel genuinely supported, listened to, and...

When we can see that our past and our trauma don't define us, we leave victimhood behind. Listen in as clinical social worker Jane shares learnings on what helps us move on...looking at what's going on in our heads, hearts and bodies.

Jane Baker, LICSW is a clinical social worker with concentration in trauma, attachment, and family systems. With her beginnings in the field of foster care and adoption over 25 years ago, she is experienced with the unique needs of adoptive families and children with early childhood trauma. This experience now includes recovery for other life...

Raising kids challenges all parents. The more trauma, the bigger the challenges. Listen in as adoptive mother Renée shares her learnings on commitment, sticking with it and being unflappable as we raise our kids to thrives

Here's an extra thought from Renée...

"Of all the things that I said that children need to thrive, I wish I had added fun! Children need the opportunity to explore who they are in ways that disarm their fight or flight. We always exposed our foster children, and later our daughter, to lots of different activities (sports, da...

Do you want more joy in your life? Who doesn't? How is joy possible despite the tough stuff - like failed adoptions? Listen in as adoptive mother and adoption coach Valerie jumps into joy...

Valerie is the owner of A Step Ahead Adoption Services and has many roles within ASA. As an adoption coach, she walks alongside families as they navigate their adoption journey, as well as oversees all of the adoption coaches, and maintains close working relationships with our trusted agencies and attorneys while working to build new relationships for the future. It is very important...

Sensitivity oils relationships like nothing else. Listen in as adoptive dad and adoption lawyer Greg and I dive deep into sensitivity, compassion and communication so we cal all thrive.

Adoptions and assisted fertility make up 90% of Greg's legal practice.   An adoptive parent himself, Greg Franklin understands the challenges and joys of adopting a child. Adoptions involve a highly emotional area of law in which any legal misstep can cause devastating effects. With more than 25 years of adoption experience, Greg's goal is to develop a legally secure plan that serves the best interests of the child and respects th...

Could you do with higher self worth? Do you put yourself down? Do you see yourself as bad? Good enough? Rob aged out of foster care homeless at 18. He struggled to see his self worth. Listen in as he shares his learnings on seeing our essential goodness.

At any given time, there are more than 330,000 youth in foster care in the United States. An estimated 700 children enter the system each day, and most arrive with little more than the clothes on their backs. Those who do have belongings are often given a trash bag in which to...

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 ch...

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...

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...

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...

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 A...

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...

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...

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.

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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...

So many of us adoptees start believing there's something wrong with us it's embedded deep in our psyche. Until it comes to the surface and starts to diminish - sometimes slowly, sometimes quickly - often on the back of getting hold of new information. Validation from fellow adoptees helps greatly. Turning our pain into something that helps others can be transformational too. Listen in as Sheila sheds light on key healing drivers, starting the Felix Organization with fellow adoptee Darryl and more...

The Felix Organization was founded in 2006 by Rock ’n Roll Hall of Famer, Darryl “DMC” McDani...

Is unprocessed grief eating you up? It did for Neb. But how on earth can a 2 year old  handle the death of their mother? Neb's challenges continued...moving from home to a children's home and then a new home with an American family 9000 miles away from his homeland - Ethiopia. Neb blamed God, until he didn't. Listen in as he shares the epiphanies that got him back on the rails and thriving.

Connect with Neb here theethiopiancowboy11

More about Neb in the book by his mother https://www.amazon.com/Not-Forgotten-Wendi-Cross/dp/1637972210

Listen i...

Do you feel grounded? All the time? Some of the time? Life tests our grounding daily. So what helps us hold our ground more often and find it more quickly when we've lost it? Listen in as mom and leader Jami talks grounding, faith and much more. Deep and profound. Empowering

Foster care and adoption were not part of Jami’s dreams for her life, but God changed her heart when He made her aware, and she is passionate about helping others become aware too. She and her husband Clint are parents to their eight children (five th...

What can we learn about from someone who advocates for us from within the system? What life is really like for today's young adoptees?  Listen in as Rachael Maskell, MP for York Central shares her insights and vital research.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Adoption and Permanence (APPGAP) was established in February 2019 and aims:

to amplify the voices and experiences of adoptees and those in other forms of permanence and their families, 
to inform parliamentarians,
to promote the development and implementation of effective policy and practice.

The APPGAP is chaired by Ra...

What if we are whole despite all that's happened to us? How does connection help us heal? Listen in as Anna, Donna and I dive deep into two profound questions....

Here is Anna's first interview: https://thriving-adoptees.simplecast.com/episodes/anna-jinja

Anna used to spread hate about herself being adopted and did everything she could to avoid talking about it. Now she runs a podcast and discusses adoption all the time. So what changed? Listen in as we talk identity, transracial adoption and most of all, being authentic.

Anna Jinja Mather was adopted...

Unconditional Love. We only crave it because we don't feel it. Trauma gets in the way. Listen in as Jay, adopted from Costa Rica at 3 shares his journey to find it through therapy, soul searching and connection.

Here's a bit about Jay from his website

Jay Barbanel is a writer and creative based in Los Angeles.

Born in Costa Rica, raised somewhere in between.

His past didn’t arrive all at once.  It showed up in flashes.

In photos.  In names that didn’t fully belong to him yet.  So he f...

What is Fundamental Wholeness? How does seeing it transform our lives for the better? Listen in as my friend and past guest Jude Hung interviews me about this fresh and hopeful paradigm.

https://www.facebook.com/simonjbenn

https://thrivingadoptees.com/

https://thrivingadoptees.com/

https://www.instagram.com/simonjbenn/

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 grounding is the base from which we connect with others and allow them to feel safe and secure. Listen in as Judith and I explore self awareness, empathy, handling ambiguity and more. 

Find out more about Adoption in Merseyside here:

https://www.adoptioninmerseyside.co.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/adoptioninmerseyside/

https://www.facebook.com/adoptmerseyside

https://www.linkedin.com/company/adoptioninmerseyside/

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 the tough stuff happens to help us to our most profound learnings? Doesn't that change our minds about what we are going through? Listen in as Cara and I dive deep into expectations, empathy and much more. You're going to love this...

Here's a bit about Cara from her ministry's website:

As an educator, children’s ministry director, and life-long learner, I’ve dedicated my career to nurturing young minds and hearts. My personal journey as an adoptive parent has deepened my understanding of trauma and resilience. I’m passionate about empowering families and com...

What is family? It seems a simple enough question. And yet...listen in as we explore a broader answer with birth mother Janelle and her birth daughter Katherine who was adopted. Fascinating and nuanced. A great episode with light and dark, laughter and sadness.

Connect and find out more at:

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

https://www.bravelove.org/stories/meet-the-team-janelle-basham/

https://www.facebook.com/JoinBraveLove/

https://www.instagram.com/joinbravelove/

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

Guests and the host are not...

We don't know what we don't know. That's why other people's perspectives can help shift our perspective. Listen in as Teresa talks about opening ourselves up to new perspectives, exploring other people's perspectives and more.

Teresa Bernu has been a dedicated member of the ACI team since 2017. Before stepping into the role of Executive Director in October 2024, she served in various capacities, including Home Study Worker, Domestic Program Supervisor, and most recently, Associate Director. With over 15 years of experience in child welfare, Teresa has worked extensively in areas such as domestic infant adoption, foster care, and guardianship.<...