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PODCAST

Once Upon A Time...In Adopteeland

Jennifer Dyan Ghoston

Through an audio drama and episodes of thought-provoking conversations, the listening audience can learn some of the issues faced by those affected by relinquishment and adoption. The adoptee is at the center of all conversations had with other members of the adoption constellation.

society & culture personal journals

All Episodes

53:14

245. Danielle Orr: "I Wanted To Heal My Heart"

Once Upon A Time...In Adopteeland ·

2025/08/19

Original air date: August 16, 2022Danielle Orr is a writer, painter and animal lover. She is currently working on her memoir.Music by Corey Quinn

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01:10:51

244. Jenna Lowe: "Frequency Astrology As An Adoptee's...

Once Upon A Time...In Adopteeland ·

2025/08/12

Jenna Lowe is a domestic same race adoptee, adopted through Catholic Charities in a closed adoption. Her biological half-brother was also placed into the same family when Jenna was 17 months old. She is in reunion with both her paternal and maternal birth families and finds it her personal mission to spread awareness around relinquishment trauma to other adoptees, members of the adoption constellation, and humanity at large. Jenna is a trauma-informed holistic spiritual consultant; her approach to

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01:02:12

243. Bridgett McGowen-Hawkins: "Voice Isn’t Just...

Once Upon A Time...In Adopteeland ·

2025/08/05

Bridgett McGowen-Hawkins is an award-winning international speaker, author, and publisher who energizes audiences and empowers voices. A late discovery adoptee, Bridgett found out at the age of 31 that she was adopted, an experience that reshaped her understanding of identity, family, trust, and truth. Today, she shares her story to support others with healing, speaking boldly, and reclaiming their narratives.Bridgett is on a mission to inspire a global audience to reframe public speaking and

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53:49

242. Jackson TerKeurst: "The Only Way Forward Is Back"

Once Upon A Time...In Adopteeland ·

2025/07/29

Jackson TerKeurst’s new book, The Only Way Forward is Back: A Story of War, Adoption, and Finding Your Purpose in God’s Plan, is an inspirational memoir taking the reader on a journey through war-torn Liberia to the United States, watching God do a mighty work during difficult and heart-breaking circumstances.Jackson is an entrepreneur and leader who continues to defy the odds as a first-generation immigrant from West Africa who owns and runs a small business. The adopted son of bestselling author

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41:19

241. Dan Smith: "Sharing is a Part of My Healing"

Once Upon A Time...In Adopteeland ·

2025/07/22

Original air date: January 10, 2023Dan Smith is an adoptee in reunion who co-facilitates a support group with Adoption Network Cleveland for all members of the constellation. It meets the last Thursday of each month online. He resides in Ohio and enjoys his retirement after a career as a firefighter.Music by Corey Quinn

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54:18

240. Zhen E (pronounced like Jenny): "Abducted...

Once Upon A Time...In Adopteeland ·

2025/07/15

Original air date: June 14, 2022Zhen E (pronounced like Jenny) is a transnational transracial Korean Adoptee who was abducted through Holt in the 1970s to an all white family and community.She and her husband Robert (also white) are foodies and travelers and cat-parents to 4 cats and proud parents to Jordan and his wife Skyler and grandparents to granddaughter Jasmine Nari (3 years) and grandson Soren Eujin (3 weeks).Zhen E is an adoptee advocate and has gone to Washington DC, LA, and the Iowa

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01:17:13

239. Laura L. Engel: "You'll Forget This Ever...

Once Upon A Time...In Adopteeland ·

2025/07/08

Original air date: May 2, 2023Laura L. Engel likes to say she is late to the game as a budding new author. Originally from Biloxi, Mississippi, Laura has lived in Southern California for over 50 years. She and her husband, Gene are the proud parents of six grown children along with their significant others. They are delighted to be Grammy and PaPa to ten grandchildren. Recently retired after 30 plus years as a regional sales representative for an international title insurance company, Laura left the

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56:38

238. Rosalyn "Roz" Carter: "I Found Her"

Once Upon A Time...In Adopteeland ·

2025/07/01

Rosalyn “Roz" Carter is the co-host of the I Found Her podcast and Taya's birthmother. At the age of 16, Roz became pregnant and placed Deana, now Taya for adoption.She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from University of Phoenix and is a Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM). She was a member of Toastmistress in the early 1970’s before women could join Toastmasters.In 2005, she joined Toastmasters while employed at the City of Moreno Valley, and has served in many leadership positions, including

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59:07

237. Taya Reed: "I Found Her"

Once Upon A Time...In Adopteeland ·

2025/06/24

Taya Reed is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Supervisor with over 15 years oftherapeutic experience. She established her private practice, Sound House Therapy, 5 years ago. Adopted in 1970 during the Baby Scoop Era through the LA County Adoption Agency, Taya's personal experience within a closed same-race domestic adoption has profoundly shaped her professional journey. Taya is a US Armed Forces veteran and served in the Gulf War.Taya presented at the Adoption Knowledge Affiliates conference

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49:23

236. Angie: "Interconnectivity Among Adoptees"

Once Upon A Time...In Adopteeland ·

2025/06/17

Angie was born in Washington, DC in 1971.She spent the first couple of months at St. Ann's Maternity Home before being adopted by a somewhat older couple. She learned about her adoption as a young child after asking her mother if she had been adopted, as suggested by some classmates. Angie searched for and found her biological family in her early twenties and has been in reunion for about 30 years.https://www.patreon.com/c/adopteelandMusic by Corey Quinn

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01:03:44

235. Danna Schmidt: "Rituals of Healing From Birth to...

Once Upon A Time...In Adopteeland ·

2025/06/10

Danna Schmidt is an end-of-life navigator, ceremonialist, and adoptee who often writes about ritual and threshold moments at the bedside or graveside. Her writings have appeared in Adoptee Voices, Severance Magazine, Grown and Flown and in Maggie Oman Shannon’sCrafting Love: Sharing Our Hearts Through the Work of Our Hands.She has two works in progress: a hybrid guidebook,Funerals, Families & Other Exciting F Words,and her adoption memoir,What the Stork Brought, which chronicles family secrets

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44:14

234. Ed Di Gangi: "Gliding Through Goodbye"

Once Upon A Time...In Adopteeland ·

2025/06/03

Ed Di Gangi was adopted at the time of his birth. It wasn't until late in his adulthood that he chose to explore the identity of the woman who had placed him for adoption so many years before. His meticulous research led to his learning the circumstances of his birth and subsequent adoption. A dna sample helped him identify his birth father. While neither his father nor his first mother were still alive when Ed made his discoveries, he is in reunion with both maternal andpaternal half brothers and a

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51:01

233. Jean Widner: "The Adoption Paradox: Putting...

Once Upon A Time...In Adopteeland ·

2025/05/27

Jean Widner is the author of a new book,The Adoption Paradox: Putting Adoption in Perspective. Today we’re talking about her road to understanding adoption and why she wrote this important book. Jean was born in 1965 and raised in Washington State as an adoptee. After having a mostly positive adoption experience growing up, she shares her story, as it continues to evolve navigating adoption’s complexities. Her book includes a fascinating history of adoption, as well as individual stories frombirth

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55:54

232. Chris Benton: "Why Can't We Talk About My...

Once Upon A Time...In Adopteeland ·

2025/05/20

Chris Benton from the UK (Birmingham) was fostered until 2 years of age prior to adoption. He listens to OUATIA podcast while doing landscaping work for his business. He recently transitioned from tree surgery to grounds maintenance (landscaping).He has an adoptive older brother (troubled) and in contact with bio brother who is 4 years younger (also adopted out) who lives in the US (Michigan). Chris has spoken with foster father (foster mother has dementia) and in contact with bio mom (psych

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53:23

231. Stacey Gatlin: "Yes We Adopt"

Once Upon A Time...In Adopteeland ·

2025/05/13

Stacey Gatlin, a passionate servant leader, is on a mission to transform the lives of children, women, and families through her commitment to personal, professional, and community development. She transitioned her corporate experience in talent management, leadership, and project management into entrepreneurship and advocacy.Stacey was compelled to rewrite the narrative around Black adoption and fostering when she became a mom through adoption. Fueled to counteract negative stereotypes, she created

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55:10

230. Part 2/2 with Leslie Lee: "Connection with a...

Once Upon A Time...In Adopteeland ·

2025/05/06

Music by Corey Quinn

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01:10:16

229. Part 1/2 with Leslie Lee: "Connection with a...

Once Upon A Time...In Adopteeland ·

2025/04/29

Leslie Lee at the age of 58, is just beginning to explore what it truly means to be adopted. As a same-race adoptee, she was placed with her family at eight weeks old, according to the transcript she received from the agency (Louise Wise) that facilitated the adoption. For most of her life, she carried this part of her identity in silence—only sharing it with a select few friends and family members. Secrecy, and at times shame, shaped much of her experience.Today, she's married, a proud mother of

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47:50

228. Veronica: "Adoption Cost Adoptees So Much"

Once Upon A Time...In Adopteeland ·

2025/04/22

Veronica is the co-author of "Rooted in Adoption-A Collection of Adoptee Reflections" and the "Rooted in Adoption Journal" now on Amazon.Veronica's Instagram is @rootedinadoption0520 Recommendations: https://www.sdpb.org/2012-07-16/piecing-together-stories-of-families-lost-in-slavery https://growbeyondwords.com/2015/08/screening-questions-when-seeking-an-adoption-competent-therapist/Music by Corey Quinn

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46:43

227. Kimberly L. Carter: "Rise, Thrive, and Flourish"

Once Upon A Time...In Adopteeland ·

2025/04/15

Kimberly L. Carter is a women's leadership strategist, speaker, and author of the journal, “Rise, Thrive, and Flourish”. With a background in spirituality, empowerment, and Gen Z leadership development, she helps women and organizations cultivate confidence, clarity, and purpose. Through her consulting work, coaching, and vibrant online presence, Kimberly empowers the next generation of leaders to show up boldly, speak with authority, and lead with heart. She is a military veteran, holds an MBA and

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49:39

226. Laura Batt: "Bridging the Gap Between the...

Once Upon A Time...In Adopteeland ·

2025/04/08

Laura Batt (she/her) was adopted domestically as an infant and raised in a closed adoption. She has been in reunion with her biological family for 26+ years. Laura is also a birth/first parent to her oldest adult son. She is parenting another teenage son and young child with her significant other in Oregon.Laura worked in pregnancy and parenting support for 20+ years. She has a Master’s degree in social work, and she has certifications in adoption therapy and perinatal mental health. Laura has

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265 results

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