The Resilience Project

18 Episodes
Subscribe

By: Julie Brumley

Illuminating the unseen impacts of adoption — for all who’ve been touched by it.The Resilience Project Podcast brings voice, visibility, and validation to the parts of adoption society rarely names - but all of us feel. Through a trauma-informed somatic lens, host Julie Brumley explores the lived experiences of the entire adoption constellation, with a tender emphasis on the adoptee experience.This podcast goes beyond storytelling into soul-telling. It offers embodied insight, compassionate education, and a path toward awareness, strength, and hope. Each episode invites listeners to understand adoption more deeply - not just with the mind, but with the...

You Are Not a Burden: The Hidden Identity Belief Many Adoptees Carry
Today at 1:00 PM

In this heartfelt episode, Julie Brumley shares her personal journey from feeling like a burden to embracing her healing. She discusses the transformative power of community, understanding body sensations, and shifting perspectives to foster belonging and self-compassion.

Key Topics:

The origin of the phrase "I am a burden" and its emotional impactHow sensations in the body reveal subconscious beliefsAnnouncing a free online event for adoptees exploring identity on March 3rdThe difference between knowing concepts and integrating them into healingThe importance of community in the healing processChallenging the victim mindset and reframing trauma as happening...


Surrender Over Control: The Missing Piece in Adoptee Healing
#16
02/12/2026

Discover how surrender, rather than control, can transform the adoptee’s healing journey. In this episode, Julie explores the deep psychological and somatic stages of adoptee awareness and how embracing surrender leads to genuine self-belonging.

In this episode:

The misconception that mastery and control are the core issues for adopteesHow early trauma impacts our response to loss and controlThe adoptee consciousness model: five pivotal stages of awarenessKey somatic cues associated with each stageThe importance of surrender as a radical act of self-trust and agencyPractical prompts for identifying your current stage and practicing surrenderResources for de...


Intimacy and Adoption: Why Love Feels Complicated
#15
02/05/2026

Slides that I shared - https://drive.google.com/file/d/13QWm6K6AIEwWYVNtO-ZNHTwB7WPscNlT/view?usp=sharing

Summary
In this episode of the Resilience Project Podcast, Julie explores the complexities of love, intimacy, and interdependence, particularly in the context of adoption. She discusses how early experiences shape our ability to connect with others and emphasizes the importance of self-love and understanding our internal family systems. Through practical insights and personal anecdotes, Julie encourages listeners to reflect on their relationships and take actionable steps towards healthier connections.

Takeaways

We...


Un-M-Othered: A Revolution in Adoptee Healing
#14
01/29/2026

Summary 

In this episode of the Resilience Project podcast, host Julie Brumley welcomes Dr. Liz DeBetta, an adoptee and creator of the award-winning performance 'Un-M-Othered.' The conversation centers around the upcoming retreat, 'Un-M-Othered: A Revolution in Adoptee Healing,' designed specifically for adoptees. Julie and Liz discuss the importance of community in healing, emphasizing that true healing goes beyond traditional talk therapy and requires a deeper, embodied approach. They highlight how the retreat will provide a safe space for adoptees to explore their stories, reclaim their voices, and connect with others who share similar e...


Adoption From Both Sides: A Conversation With My Adoptive Mom (Love, identity, and the lifelong impact of adoption)
#13
01/22/2026

Summary
In this heartfelt episode of The Resilience Project, host Julie Brumley engages in a candid conversation with her mother, Karen, about their experiences with adoption. Julie expresses her gratitude for her mother's unwavering support and love throughout her life, emphasizing the importance of understanding the complexities of adoption from both the adoptee's and adoptive parent's perspectives. Karen shares her journey of becoming a mother through adoption, her initial feelings, and the evolution of her understanding of what it means to raise an adopted child. The discussion delves into the emotional nuances of adoption, including the...


When Rejection Becomes a Story We Live By (And How We Heal It)
#12
01/15/2026

Summary
In this conversation, Julie Brumley explores the core issues faced by adoptees, particularly focusing on rejection and its profound impact on identity and emotional health. She discusses the emotional imprints of rejection, the concept of rejection sensitivity, and provides practical exercises for processing and reframing limiting beliefs. The conversation emphasizes the importance of self-acceptance and emotional regulation in overcoming the challenges associated with adoption.

Takeaways

Adoptees wrestle with core issues like identity, loss, rejection, shame, guilt, and grief.Rejection is a powerful experience that occurs pre-verbally for adoptees.Emotional imprints...


From Survival to Self: The Work That Keeps Working
#11
01/08/2026

As we move into a new year, this episode feels especially meaningful.

In today’s conversation, I’m sharing a powerful episode recorded with my longtime friend and fellow coach, Becky, from about a year ago - during a season when both of us were deeply immersed in our own journeys of identity, healing, and self-discovery.

At the time, neither of us could have fully known how much would continue to unfold in the months ahead. And yet, listening back now, I’m struck by how relevant and grounding this conversation still is - espe...


We’re Half Adopted: Conversations About Identity, Family, and Belonging
#10
01/01/2026

Keywords
adoption, identity, family, heritage, emotions, personal growth, belonging, reunion, cultural connections, resilience

Takeaways
The importance of understanding one's identity and heritage.
Experiencing a sense of home can be transformative.
Cultural connections can deepen one's understanding of self.
Reunion with biological family can evoke strong emotions.
Navigating relationships requires understanding and effort.
Emotional intelligence is crucial for personal growth.
Adoption experiences shape family dynamics and communication.
Self-awareness is key to emotional well-being.
Creating traditions can foster a sense of belonging.
Seeking understanding...


Belonging Didn’t Come From Fitting In
#9
12/25/2025

Connect with Mike here - https://www.facebook.com/mike.potratz.2025

Keywords
adoptee, resilience, somatic healing, trauma-informed coaching, mental health, self-discovery, emotional healing, personal growth, community support, empathy

Summary
In this episode of the Resilience Project Podcast, host Julie Brumley interviews Mike, a client who shares his journey as an adoptee navigating trauma and healing. They discuss the challenges of feeling like a misfit, the turning points that led Mike to seek help, and the transformative power of somatic work. The conversation emphasizes the importance of community, trust, and...


When Joy and Grief Share the Same Room
#8
12/18/2025

In this week’s episode of The Resilience Project, I’m joined by two of my closest friends — Becky and Erin — for a raw and tender conversation about grief. Not the polished kind, not the kind we talk about in theory… but the grief that lives in real life, real bodies, and real friendships.

We recorded this together in La Quinta, sitting in the same condo with mountains behind us and a whole lot of emotion between us. Each of us showed up carrying something different - Becky in the fresh ache of losing her mom, Erin reactivate...


The Grief Beneath the Gratitude (Why Grief Is Not the Same as Loss)
#7
12/11/2025

The Adoptees Journey - Cameron Lee Small

https://a.co/d/4PYHq1p

The Grief Recovery Handbook

https://a.co/d/b3z5QR1

The Seven Core Issues in Adoption and Permanency

https://a.co/d/gHgj3LI

Processing Emotions Exercise

https://www.cominghometoself.co/offers/btaYBmJo/checkout

Grief Recovery Specialist - Adoptee - Karen Kagawa

https://www.griefrecoverymethod.com/grms/karen-kagawa

Keywords
adoption, grief, unresolved...


The Journey to Self-Trust: Lessons from a Broken Hard Drive
#6
12/04/2025

Here's the link to the reel about Brene's marble jar theory:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DQpIryxjSZO/

Here's the link to Dr. Masaru Emoto's experiement:

https://youtu.be/lUIJjiQCV34?si=PlD8-rAwTG0qc_95

Here's the pdf of what I shared on screen:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Y5HMSpCl3ZW4dYKRVYGBORLK5aKMnF06/view?usp=sharing

Keywords
trust, self-trust, resilience, Brene Brown, personal growth, emotional well-being, marble jar theory, self-love, accountability, relationships

Summary
In this episode, Julie Brumley explores...


The Power of Vulnerability: Navigating Shame and Guilt
#5
11/27/2025

Here are the pdfs of what I shared in the podcast

Acrostics and Limiting Beliefs -https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vwJSRMzBb67gq9vk1cJ3V5YVr8nJ4C8p/view?usp=sharing

Shame Resilience & Critical Awareness -https://drive.google.com/file/d/14zFIqEz0YsGS0S87hhDSOu7eKrY0YClj/view?usp=sharing

Summary

In this episode of The Resilience Project, Julie Brumley delves into the complex emotions of shame and guilt, exploring their differences and how they impact our lives. She shares insights from Brene Brown and introduces practical...


Loss - The First Landscape Adoptees Walk Through
#4
11/20/2025

Summary:

This episode of the Resilience Project delves into the complex topic of loss, particularly from the perspective of adoptees. Julie Brumley explores three distinct types of loss: ambiguous, vicarious, and secondary, and discusses how these losses are deeply embedded in the lives of adoptees from birth. The episode aims to increase awareness and understanding of these unique experiences, offering insights from experts like Gabor Mate and personal reflections from Julie's own life.

Keywords:

loss, adoptees, ambiguous loss, vicarious loss, secondary loss, Gabor Mate, trauma, adoption, identity, healing

<...


Statistics that will blow your mind and why identity is different for adoptees
#3
11/13/2025

Summary

In this episode of the Resilience Project podcast, host Julie Brumley, a trauma-informed adoptee coach and somatic healing guide, explores the complex topic of identity for adoptees. She shares statistics on adoptee mental health and suicide rates, discusses the challenges of identity formation due to early life disruptions, and offers a new definition of identity from an adoptee perspective. Julie emphasizes the importance of reclaiming identity from within and introduces the concept of a "belonging blueprint" to help adoptees find self-belonging and healing.

Keywords

adoptee identity, trauma healing...


Uncovering the Skeletons: A Journey to Self-Belonging
#2
11/06/2025

Keywords

adoption, trauma, resilience, self-discovery, healing, interdependence, primal trauma, self-worth, emotional health, somatic healing


Summary

In this episode of the Resilience Project podcast, Julie Brumley shares her journey as a trauma-informed adoptee coach and somatic healing guide. She discusses the importance of confronting past traumas, particularly those related to adoption, and how they inform present behaviors and relationships. Julie emphasizes the need for self-awareness, acceptance, and the release of stored emotions to facilitate healing. She also explores the concepts of interdependence and self-worth, ultimately finding her purpose in...


Navigating Truth in Adoption
#1
10/31/2025

keywords
adoption, healing, trauma, truth, society, modalities, adoptees, experience, God, understanding

summary
In this conversation, Julie Brumley discusses the challenges of speaking one's truth in a society that often misunderstands the experiences of adoptees. She emphasizes the importance of healing modalities that can help adoptees process and release trauma held in their bodies.

takeaways

Doing things God's way doesn't always make sense to society.Speaking one's truth can be challenging due to societal perceptions.Adoptees often face misunderstanding from the greater society.Healing modalities are essential...


Trailer
10/31/2025

Website

Instagram: @juliebrumley_

Facebook: julierasbrum

TikTok: @juliebrumley_

Click to Join My Free Adoptee Facebook Group

You Tube: @julie_brumley