Who Am I Really?

Ashley had one of those moments where talking to her biological sister felt so familiar it was like texting and and responding to herself.  But her birth mother’s pain and uneasiness over Ashley’s desire to learn anything about her birth father was too much for the woman, and their relationship suffered. When she found her birth father Ashley, predictably, learned that he didn’t know she existed. But incredibly he learned that his wife, who was not Ashley’s birth mother, already knew her husband had a child out there, even though he didn’t. Read Full TranscriptAshley:                        00:00:02          I was worried about her because she just is so constantly, basically, it seemed like she was depressed about the situation. I just wanted to make it go away. I just wanted her to know I had a good life. I was happy. I’

Neal’s search didn’t take off until he was 66 years old! He got a DNA kit for his birthday and within months he was in touch with his paternal family. Ohio’s open original birth certificate help him learn his birth mother’s name, but he couldn’t find a single maternal connection during his search. This episode was just about to be wrapped up to go live, when Neal circled back to share some big news.Read Full TranscriptNeal:                           00:01               He didn’t really remember very much about my biological mother and that’s a, that’s a search that continues to this day. Um, and sort of like, uh, everything that was fast and relatively easy about finding my genetic father and his family has been difficult about trying to find my genetic mother.Voices:&

Serena told me she had a similar experience to what a lot of adoptees feel, even though she grew up with her birth mother. I’m always talking about empathizing with others, so I wanted to hear her story. Serena told me about her birth on a Native American reservation in Arizona then her mother moving away. She was adopted by her father when he married her mother, but Serena never knew her biological father. When her paternal family called to say her birth father was ill, she was too stunned to act quickly, so she only met his relatives at his chaotic funeral. Take a moment to listen to the parallels between what I’ll call Serena’s “adoption adjacent” experience and those of other adoptees.Read Full TranscriptSerena:                        00:02              &

Rick’s birthmother relinquished him into foster care where he was terrorized as a toddler. He was eventually adopted around age 6 but always felt like an outsider. At 16 years old he reunited with his maternal family who informed him his mother was institutionalized for paranoid schizophrenia. Their reunion didn’t go at all how he had hoped. When he found his birth father, the man was incarcerated but welcoming. Eventually, Rick distanced himself from his birth father and when he tried to reconnect, it was too late.Read Full TranscriptRick:                            00:03               Like this was part of her schizophrenia, you know, so she believes that she had another child. I’m an only child. She believed that she had a girl that was taken away from her too. So this is a lot for a 16 yea

Born in the Panama Canal Zone, Stephanie was adopted by a US military family stationed there in 1961. She was never told she was adopted, but she always knew there was a family secret. When she was 43 years old Stephanie discovered the secret was her own adoption.Because she was born in the Panama Canal Zone, her adoption records were available through a Freedom of information Act request (FOIA). Unfortunately, that didn’t lead to a reunion with her biological mother. After 13 years, she has never heard from her biological mother.Fortunately, she reunited with her birth father and his entire family has warmly welcomed her. Stephanie says “For the first time I know how it feels to look into the eyes of those whom I share a connection with. That cannot be described with words.”The post 029 – A Lifetime of Interveners Saw Me Through appeared first on Who Am I...Really? Podcast.Stephanie (00:04):Cause you know, I never really looked at it that way before to say, wait, nobody uses the same pen

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?Who Am I Really? Website Share Your StoryDamon's story Find the show on:InstagramFacebookAppleYouTubeSpotifyGoogleTuneIn StitcherPlayer FMPodbean

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.Who Am I Really?Who Am I Really? Website Share Your StoryDamon's story Find the show on:InstagramFacebookAppleYouTubeSpotifyGoogleTuneIn StitcherPlayer FMPodbean

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. Who Am I Really?Who Am I Really? Website Share Your StoryDamon's story Find the show on:InstagramFacebookAppleYouTubeSpotifyGoogleTuneIn StitcherPlayer FMPodbean

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 morning. As a late discovery adoptee (LDA), she faced secondary rejection, unanswered questions. And misattributed parentage. This is daughter D's journey Who Am I Really?Who Am I Really? Website Share Your StoryDamon's story Find the show on:InstagramFacebookAppleYouTubeSpotifyGoogleTuneIn StitcherPlayer FMPodbeanlVMPWZJEKn38hrIydEs4

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 journeyWho Am I Really?Who Am I Really? Share Your StoryDamon's story "Who Am I Really? An Adoptee Memoir” Listen OnApple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PlayTuneInStitcherPlayer FMPodbeanYouTubeSocial MediaFacebook Instagram

Emma described her adoption with words and concepts like "purchased", "captor", and "Stockholm syndrome". Those aren't the ideas behind a healthy parent child relationshipWhen 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 StoryWho Am I Really?Who Am I Really? Website Share Your StoryDamon's story Find the show on:InstagramFacebookAppleYouTubeSpotifyGoogleTuneIn StitcherPlayer FMPodbean

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 journeyReckoning With The Primal WoundWho Am I Really?Who Am I Really? Website - http://www.whoamireallypodcast.com/Share Your Story - bit.ly/2imgrtv_ShareDamon's story "Who Am I Really? An Adoptee Memoir” - https://amzn.to/2Y9RNf8Social MediaFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/WAIReally/Instagram - https://www.instagram

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 GirlWho Am I Really?Who Am I Really? Website - http://www.whoamireallypodcast.com/Share Your Story - bit.ly/2imgrtv_ShareListen OnApple Podcasts - http://apple.co/2oOd25mSpotify - https://spoti.fi/2RN3jcB Google Play - http://bit.ly/2oEU7bHTuneIn - http://tun.in/piyg9Stitcher - http://bit.ly/2DsqBxk

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 https://www.frostforcongress.com/ (Maxwell Frost For Congress) Who Am I Really? Who Am I Really? Website - http://www.whoamireallypodcast.com/ (http://www.whoamireallypodcast.com/) Share Your Story - http://bit.ly/2imgrtv_Share (bit.ly/2imgrtv_Share) Listen On Apple Podcasts - http://apple.co/2oOd25m (http://apple.co/2oOd25m) Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2RN3jcB (https://spoti.fi/2RN3jcB)  G

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. https://adopteeremembranceday.com/what-is-adoptee-remembrance-day-october-30th/ (Adoptee Remembrance Day ) #AdopteeRemembranceDay #ARD #AdopteesWeRemember Adoptees Connect: https:

Lynn, from Danville, Virginia knew she was adopted, but she never knew the secret that hers was a kinship adoption... and she had always known her birth mother. So, Lynn didn't have a reunion as much as a re-introduction to her birth mother through the lens of her true relationship to Lynn. Meeting her birth father, things started off great but the honeymoon faded leaving Lynn confused, but open to exploring how to repair things. Lynn spends her extra time advocating for young pregnant women at a clinic where she lives and she hopes adoptive parents will educate themselves about how to navigate adoption. This is Lynn's journey. Who Am I Really? Who Am I Really? Website - http://www.whoamireallypodcast.com/ (http://www.whoamireallypodcast.com/) Share Your Story - http://bit.ly/2imgrtv_Share (bit.ly/2imgrtv_Share) Listen On Apple Podcasts - http://apple.co/2oOd25m (http://apple.co/2oOd25m) Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2RN3jcB (https://spoti.fi/2RN3jcB)  Google Play - 

Donna, from Scottsdale, Arizona, had a condition at birth which meant she was going straight to the hospital before her adoption, insuring her detachment from her birth mother and her future family, until she recovered. When she was a teenager, Donna was cut off by her adoptive father when she got pregnant then placed her own daughter for adoption. In reunion, Donna has found a best friend in her birth mother, a birth father who's too full of himself and unkind to remain in contact with, and her daughter whom she had to wait years for until the time was right for everyone to connect more deeply. This is Donna's journey Who Am I Really? Who Am I Really? Website - http://www.whoamireallypodcast.com/ (http://www.whoamireallypodcast.com/) Share Your Story - http://bit.ly/2imgrtv_Share (bit.ly/2imgrtv_Share) Listen On Apple Podcasts - http://apple.co/2oOd25m (http://apple.co/2oOd25m) Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2RN3jcB (https://spoti.fi/2RN3jcB)  Google Play - http://bit.

Heidi, from Silicon Valley, California, grew up walking on eggshells, crying a lot and "staying small" in her world despite being gifted. She found her maternal family guided by a somewhat famous reunion specialist who helped the reunion along. Heidi says reunion can be weird and awkward for how much time has passed while an adoptee tries to get to know their biological relatives in the present. Her reunions are further complicated by the emotions of her birth mother and birth father being the opposite reactions to her return than she expected. This is Heidi's journey Lyrics to Looking For Me (Lyrics) Looking for Me (Heidi Frederick © 2021) My life a blurry canvas, full of pain and sometimes numb No voice, no choice, grasping for joy, yet slipping through my hands So lost without direction, afraid to ask for help full of fear and loneliness, days and nights all by myself Silent struggle of a misfit, just trying to fit in please tell me what to hope for, don’t let me down again Missing peace, missing pieces,

Jack from Phoenix, Arizona, said as a boy, he was kept separate from his sister who was biologically related to his parents. While he was interested in reunion jack was clearly told his desires were unacceptable. He held off from searching for years only to find later that his birth mother was eagerly awaiting his return. On his paternal side, Jack was met with a wall of protection with the exception of one sister. From a distance jack says he's learned more about his paternal family than they probably know about themselves. This is jack's journey Who Am I Really? Who Am I Really? Website - http://www.whoamireallypodcast.com/ (http://www.whoamireallypodcast.com/) Share Your Story - http://bit.ly/2imgrtv_Share (bit.ly/2imgrtv_Share) Listen On Apple Podcasts - http://apple.co/2oOd25m (http://apple.co/2oOd25m) Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2RN3jcB (https://spoti.fi/2RN3jcB)  Google Play - http://bit.ly/2oEU7bH (http://bit.ly/2oEU7bH) TuneIn - http://tun.in/piyg9 (

David, from San Jose, CA said when he was a kid he knew he was talented and smart but his gifts didn't seem to measure up to his adoptive parents expectations. When David learned he was adopted the news, left him wanting to find his birth mother rebelling and challenged to control his behavior. In reunion, David found his paternal family, but similar elements of dysfunction in their family and drastically differing opinions prevent him from getting any closer. This is David's journey. Who Am I Really? Who Am I Really? Website - http://www.whoamireallypodcast.com/ (http://www.whoamireallypodcast.com/) Share Your Story - http://bit.ly/2imgrtv_Share (bit.ly/2imgrtv_Share) Damon's own story in print and audio: Damon's story "Who Am I Really? An Adoptee Memoir” - https://amzn.to/2Y9RNf8 (https://amzn.to/2Y9RNf8) Listen On Apple Podcasts - http://apple.co/2oOd25m (http://apple.co/2oOd25m) Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2RN3jcB (https://spoti.fi/2RN3jcB)  Google Play - ht