Once Upon A Time...In Adopteeland

Jennifer Poole was adopted as an infant in a closed adoption. She holds a Masters Degree in Interfaith Pastoral Counseling, where she wrote her thesis on “Openness in Adoption as an Opportunity for Spiritual Growth”. It was during this time, in 2001, that she initiated her reunion with her birth mother and later with her birth father. Passionate about supporting families, she is certified in Hand in Hand Parenting, Redirecting Children’s Behavior, the Enneagram, and Whole Person Design Life Coaching. Drawing from a large tool box which includes continuing education in Mindfulness, High Conflict Diversion, ADHD, ACES, Attachment Theory and Trauma Informed Care, Jennifer provides counseling and coaching to help families move from conflict to the connection they seek. She also works with Adoption Mosaic as a co-teacher and parenting consultant. As their adoptee outreach coordinator, she interviews adoptees to help find panelists for their “We the Experts” series. She currently lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband. Together they have 4 grown children. Websites: https://www.feelmorelove.net/ https://adoptionmosaic.com/ Music by Corey Quinn

Edward Di Gangi is a returning guest. Adopted at birth, Edward Di Gangi was born and raised in New York City. Although he knew for most of his life that he was adopted, it wasn’t until he approached his 70th birthday that he began to search for the identity of his birth mother. His journey and the many surprising discoveries he made as he searched are recounted in his memoir, The Gift Best Given. Edward and his wife now live in Hillsborough, North Carolina. He is a popular book club presenter and podcast guest. The Gift Best Given is his first full-length book. In this episode, Edward shares the research he continues to do in preparation for his next book, how he has come to better understand the birth mother’s experience, the month of May and how some things have not changed since 1948, the year he was born. Website: https://www.digangiauthor.com/ Music by Corey Quinn

Heather G. Marshall is an adoptee, author, speaker, teacher, and traveler. Her short fiction has been published in a variety of journals, including Black Middens: New Writing Scotland, and Quarried, an anthology of the best of three decades of Pine Mountain Sand and Gravel. Her first novel, The Thorn Tree, released in 2014 (MP Publishing). When the Ocean Flies, Heather’s second novel (Vine Leaves Press), released in February 2024. Her TED talk, “Letting Go of Expectations,” centers around her adoption and reunion. In addition to writing, Heather is a mindfulness and yoga teacher and offers mindful writing classes and workshops for adoptees. Originally from Scotland, Heather emigrated to Ireland and then the US. She’s currently based in Massachusetts. Website: heathergmarshall.com When the Ocean Flies TEDx: "Letting go of Expectations" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meka3_pUVqc Music by Corey Quinn

Michael Knox is a returning guest, and after four years of listening to podcasts and interacting with his biological family, he has a different view on adoption. Coming out of the fog, he thinks is a real thing. Nobody can really define it, but there are things that he discovered that might help explain it for some people. The fact that after 25 years of sobriety, his way of handling it was going back to drinking was the wrong way to deal with it. Michael was adopted in 1961 in Illinois. He grew up with two younger sisters; 1 adopted 1 bio. His family moved to Southern California when he was five. He has been married for 38 years and has three wonderful children and two granddaughters. He worked in the television industry for many years and moved his family to Atlanta work on Olympics and never left Atlanta. Around 2002, Michael started running, biking and swimming one thing led to another and he started doing Iron Man triathlons. If you asked him to describe himself in 2019 he would say “A husband, father, grandfather & athlete”. He did both Ancestry and 23andMe out of curiosity and was never searching for family. there was a match on 23andMe and life changed forever! Now, he describes himself as ADOPTED, husband, father, grandfather & athlete. At years 58 years old on July 3 2019, Michael found his birth mom and maternal half brother and sister. With a little more research he found his birth father who passed away in 2011. He had 4 sons and 1 daughter. Michael now has a total of 9 siblings! Michael's first appearance was during Season 3, episode 44. Recommended Books: "The Girls Who Went Away"- Ann Fessler, "The Primal Wound"-Nancy Verrier, "The Body Keeps the Score"-Bessell van der Kolk Recommended Podcasts: Adoptees on, Who am I really?, Adoption; The Making of Me, Pulled by the Root, The Adoption Files, Thriving Adoptees, Voice of Adoptees, Adoption Unfiltered, Unraveling Adoption, Birth Mom’s Real Talk, DNA Surprises, Everything is Relative, and NPE Stories Music by Corey Quinn

Valerie Naiman is the author of the newly released book Mystic Masquerade, An Adoptee's Search for Truth, which was compiled from decades of diaries and journals she wrote during her biological & spiritual search. Valerie is also a singer, story-song writer and is working on an album of her adoptee story songs. Besides that, she's a founder of the first permaculture designed eco-village in North America called Earthaven Eco-Village. As an onotologist studying the art of beingness, she's become a spiritual guide to many seeking to find truth in their lives. Valerie holds a Master of Arts from the Univ. of Miami, and is the president of the Spirit Foundation, an NPO that supports disenfranchised children. Valerie now lives in Asheville, NC with her honeybees, chickens & dwarf goats. Valerie’s new book is available in print, ebook and soon to be release audiobook. You can find parts of it on her website http://valerienaiman.com or order on Bookshop, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble. Music by Corey Quinn

Eva Asprakis was raised in South London by her American mother and Cypriot stepfather, who subsequently adopted her. She now lives in Nicosia with her partner, and is the author of two contemporary fiction novels. https://www.eva-asprakis.com https://www.instagram.com/eva.asprakis Music by Corey Quinn

Leslie Pate Mackinnon, L.C.S.W. resides in North Carolina and presents nationally and internationally on issues that impact families conceived through adoption and third party reproduction. She trains therapists, agencies, and universities across the U.S. on the complex issues that accompany adoption and ART. She offers individual consultation and supervision groups for therapists and provides more intensive training seminars and workshops for professionals looking to become adoption and MPE competent. Leslie also offers consultations and brief therapy to clients all around the world via Zoom. You can contact her by email at lesliepatemackinnon@gmail.com www.UntanglingOurRoots.org Leslie maintains a psychotherapy practice in the Atlanta area. Her specialties include individual, group, and couples therapy, as well as expertise in third-party reproduction and adoption issues. Website: https://lesliepatemackinnon.com/about/ Music by Corey Quinn

Monica Hall was born in Canada, adopted by American parents, and raised in Anchorage, Alaska. Growing up in a house filled with dysfunction, Monica rebelled against her strict Catholic parents in a downward spiral of delinquency. After being raped and finding out she was pregnant, her parents pushed her to up give her daughter–her only known blood relative– for adoption. Her experiences as an adoptee and a mother who relinquished a child for adoption kicked off a decades-long search for family and belonging. Over the course of 44 years, Monica got sober, embarked on a journey of self-discovery and self-love, and found ways to come out the other side stronger than ever. After being reunited with her biological family, Monica learned that she was indigenous and began traveling to Canada to connect more with her biological family, roots, and culture. She also makes frequent visits to Anchorage, the land of her youth. Family is one of the most important things in Monica’s life. Today, she has strong relationships with her daughter and son, as well as the daughter she was reunited with eighteen years after relinquishing her for adoption. She is also very close to her grandchildren and (adoptive) brother. Website: https://www.monicahall.com/ Music by Corey Quinn

Marilyn Mendenhall Waugh is the Director of Adoption Concerns Triangle of Topeka, a search and support group serving those in Northeastern Kansas, and past president of the American Adoption Congress. She is a frequent conference presenter on ethical search and reunion techniques. For the past 28 years, Marilyn has volunteered in the Post Adoption Services of the Kansas Division for Children and Families and was presented their 2014 Kansas Service Award. "Four Birthmothers-For Mothers", a film by Jean Strauss https://vimeo.com/119964199?fbclid=IwAR1trqaG6l_KmBuo5zTPJgEGz0G97OAGefedo7jgXHs8HZtLI_NgBRm0LWo https://adopteesunited.org/

Melissa Brunetti is a domestic adoptee from the baby scoop era and even though she had what she calls a 'good adoption with great adoptive parents' that doesn't mean she doesn't still have scars from her relinquishment. She says that she sees her healing journey as a gift that has shown her hidden treasures among the trauma. Melissa is the podcast host of Mind Your Own Karma The Adoption Chronicles and is a Somatic Mindful Guided Imagery Practitioner which is a newly emerging and highly effective somatic modality that can heal trauma of all kinds. She hopes her story gives you hope, encouragement and a feeling of community. Podcast: www.mindyourownkarma.com Website: https://www.somatichealingjourneys.com/ Music by Corey Quinn

Kelsey Vander Vliet Ranyard is a birth mother who has spent several years working in the adoption field—both as a paralegal on the West Coast and in adoption agencies in the Midwest and East Coast. Kelsey is the fourth generation in her family to relinquish a child for adoption and her whole life has been uniquely impacted by adoption as a result. She earned her undergraduate degree from South Dakota State University and is currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Kelsey is the Director of Advocacy and Policy at Ethical Family Building where she works on important public policy issues impacting the adoption triad and adoption professionals. She is co-producer of an upcoming documentary, Love, Your Birth Mom, and co-author of Adoption Unfiltered: Revelations from Adoptees, Birth Parents, and Adoptive Parents, publishing in December 2023. Kelsey resides in Northern California with her husband and daughter.. Kelsey is now the Director of Advocacy and Policy at AdoptMatch in California. Adoption Unfiltered: Revelations from Adoptees, Birth Parents and Allies on Amazon.com Podcast: https://www.twistedsisterhoodpodcast.com/ Music by Corey Quinn

Tara Griffith is an adoptee, adopted at the age of 13, through an open kinship adoption. She is a birth mother of almost 18 years in an open adoption. Tara is a licensed clinical social worker in the state of Florida who has spent the last 14 years working in the field of adoptions. She opened a DCF licensed adoption home study agency in 2021 in hopes that she could better be able to educate adoptive families pre and post adoption regarding the importance of always remaining adoptee centered and regarding the nuances that develop as a child lives outside of their family of origin. Tara provides adoption competent therapy to all members of the adoption constellation. As well, she provides adoption education consultations for families, agencies and attorneys. https://savinggraceadoptionservices.com/ https://www.rootedinadoption.com/ Music by Corey Quinn

Sara Easterly is an award-winning author and essayist. Her latest book, Adoption Unfiltered (Rowman & Littlefield, Dec 2023), is a collaboration with birth parent Kelsey Vander Vliet Ranyard and adoptive parent Lori Holden. Her spiritual memoir, Searching for Mom, won a 2020 Illumination Book Award gold medal, among many others. Sara’s adoption-focused articles and essays have been published by Psychology Today, Dear Adoption, Feminine Collective, Her View from Home, Red Letter Christians, and Severance Magazine, to name a few. Sara is Founder of Adoptee Voices and previously led one of the largest chapters of the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI), where she was recognized as SCBWI Member of the Year. She is a trained facilitator and staff member with the Neufeld Institute. Sara resides outside of Seattle with her husband, two daughters, and a menagerie of rescued fur-babies. As an adoptee, she has a passion for helping others understand the often-misunderstood hearts of adopted children. Find her online at https://saraeasterly.com/ https://adoptee-voices.com/ Adoption Unfiltered: Revelations from Adoptees, Birth parents, Adoptive Parents, and Allies available on Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/Adoption-Unfiltered-Revelations-Adoptees-Adoptive/dp/1538174693/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3CEMXIV5XIDQL&keywords=adoption+unfiltered&qid=1706624058&sprefix=%2Caps%2C105&sr=8-1 Searching For Mom: A Memoir available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Searching-Mom-Memoir-Sara-Easterly/dp/0578601958/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3T8RJV7GXFQAK&keywords=searching+for+mom+sara+easterly&qid=1706624112&sprefix=sara+easter%2Caps%2C113&sr=8-1 Music by Corey Quinn

Returning guest David Bynum was born and adopted at birth in Columbus, Oh. He began his search in 2018 and is currently in reunion with both sides of his biological family. He is a married father of three and grandfather of six. He is a U.S. Army Veteran and Retired Correctional Officer. David Recently retired from coaching High School Football at Reynoldsburg High School due to the Coved – 19 pandemic. David and his wife Marie own ByDam Multimedia, which is the parent company to Star107fm https://www.star107fm.com/personalities an online radio station that has a global presence. His company recently produced his latest award winning documentary release, “From A Place of Love – My Adoption Journey” https://tubitv.com/movies/596100/from-a-place-of-love-my-adoption-journey which is gaining national attention in the adoption/foster community. David enjoys traveling, boating, fishing, and spending time with family. Music by Corey Quinn

Original Air Date: May 11, 2021 Barbara Robertson is affiliated with NAAP (National Association of Adoptees and Parents) and co-facilitates a virtual support group Adoption Network Cleveland once a month. She is a contributor to "Black Anthology: Adult Adoptees Claim Their Space" (The An-Ya Project) https://www.amazon.com/s?k=adult+adoptees+claim+their+space&crid=3MHVR2DDF70GC&sprefix=adult+adoptees+claim+their+space%2Caps%2C248&ref=nb_sb_noss Co-editing by Charles Yingling at The Blueroom Studios, Nashville, TN Music by Corey Quinn

Angie Giles is an international adoptee, orphan, sister, daughter, wife, mother, friend and craft entrepreneur. In the beginning, the only thing she knew was her biological mother's name, Isabel Gamez. Angie was given up at 6 days old to the Rosa Virginia Peletier orphanage on June 22, 1978. She was given the name Rutilia De Los Angeles Gamez at birth. Angie was born in El Salvador, Central America and at the age of three adopted by Tom and Charlene Smith. She is the youngest of eight, but grew up as an only child. During her youth in West Des Moines, IA and living in a White household was complex and disorienting. She is a survivor of physical and sexual abuse. She is currently finding her roots through DNA testing. Angie has been a part of Adoptees Connect Nashville founded by Pamela Karanova for several years and enjoys the connection with other adoptees. Music by Corey Quinn

Iris P. Bryant is a recent widow and mom of two young adults. She is passionate about helping women find purpose on the other side (or smack dab in the middle) of pain. She has served an online community at irispbryant.com for several years. She is also an adult adoptee and she created The Adoptees in Arms community to help adult adoptees find hope and peace in God’s word. In addition to these ministries, Iris faithfully serves as a worship leader in her local church. When she is not writing or serving in ministry, she enjoys traveling, reading, visiting the beach, and spending quality time with her family and friends. Books published by Iris Peterson Bryant: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=iris+peterson+bryant&crid=29OS0MGA1PSUR&sprefix=iris+peterson+bryant%2Caps%2C117&ref=nb_sb_noss Music by Corey Quinn

Dr. Sara Docan-Morgan is Professor of Communication Studies at the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. She earned her PhD from the University of Washington. Her research has been published in Adoption Quarterly, the Journal of Family Communication, the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, Communication Quarterly, Family Relations, and the Journal of Korean Adoption Studies, as well as in edited volumes. Her research focuses on how personal identity and family identity are formed, maintained, and negotiated through communication in both adoptive and birth families. She teaches courses about how communication shapes, and is shaped by, interpersonal relationships and identity. Sara is a transnational Korean adoptee who was adopted at the age of 4 months. She has been in reunion with her Korean family since 2009. https://tupress.temple.edu/books/in-reunion Music by Corey Quinn

Original Air Date: October 12, 2021 Ridghaus relinquished a son at 19 and then later, at the age of 35, learned that he had been relinquished and adopted. Ridghaus is the co-creator of the 6WAM (Six Word Adoption Memoir). He has spent the last 20 years teaching as a professor in English, Communication, Media, and Law from his graduate degrees in English (MA), Communication (MA), and Jurisprudence (JD). He recommends for LDAs the Private Facebook Late Discovery Adoptee Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/latediscoveries Music by Corey Quinn

Original Air Date: November 23, 2021 Jean A. S. Strauss is an adoptee who located her birth family in 1988, a life-changing experience which she continues to learn from today, thirty-three years later. She is the author of five books (three about adoption search and reunion) and over 80 films, 55 of which are focused on the need for adoptee access to records. These works are all streamed online, for free, including two features which aired on PBS (one in which YOU are a star!) Worn a lot of hats, but work in the adoption arena has been among the most meaningful of pursuits of her life. Born in California, now living in Massachusetts, with a lot of moves in between. Hats: wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, friend, writer, filmmaker, legislative advocate, rower, candidate, adventurer - and citizen. Music by Corey Quinn