Who Am I Really?

Jen had a very nice childhood with her parents and never really wanted to search for her birth parents until her friends started having kids. But the ultimate spark that ignited her desire to search came from a family tragedy. In the aftermath Jen located her birth mother and they connected over social media, but Jen could never get her mother on the phone and that gave her a bad feeling. While she’s thankful for the few answers she did get about her past, Jen wishes she had not been deceived and has a warning for other adoptees seeking reunion. On her reunion trip her birth mother bitterly showed her true colors. Thankfully,contacting her birth mother did allow her to connect with other really cool relatives, and find her paternal half-brother who is ecstatic to know her. The post http://www.whoamireallypodcast.com/030-dont-fall-for/ (030 – Don’t Fall For “I Can’t Talk To You On The Phone”) appeared first on http://www.whoamireallypodcast.com (Who Am I...Really? Podcast). Jen (https://www.temi

Louise was one of four a dual heritage children raised by white parents in England. She had a fantastic childhood. So much so that she has adopted twice. But along her impulsive journey into reunification, Louise was exposed to uncomfortable situations including her biological grandfather’s impending death, overt racism in her mother’s family, and total rejection by her biological father. Unfortunately, Louise’s mother’s withholding of facts also prevented her from knowing her sister, who once was interested in reunification. The post http://www.whoamireallypodcast.com/024-im-deeply-hurt-hope-youre-happy/ (024 – I’m Deeply Hurt, But I Hope You’re Happy) appeared first on http://www.whoamireallypodcast.com (Who Am I...Really? Podcast). Louise (https://www.temi.com/editor/t/TaeoAVKLDyHNg1FfTXW2PviFtukKwyzNQjwkOfBM2uoV8PnXcVIW-yi2lxEHh_NemcTVdsSvw2FlWfUVNNF0A17kdYY?loadFrom=SharedLink&ts=2.04 (00:02)): If you rush these things, you can really damage any sense of long term relationship with people and I

Marcie finally felt plugged into her biological family after years of divisive behavior from her adopted mother. Her mother never nurtured a bond between Marcie and her adopted siblings and had a hard time overcoming some of her own childhood issues. In reunion, Marcie connected with her biological father who amazingly helped solidify a deeper connection to Marcie’s aunt, his sister. Marcie and her aunt both share an innate connection to their own spirituality. Even though her biological mother was not in a place to be part of Marcie’s reunion with her father, she was able to make a really good connection with another aunt on her maternal side of the family. In hindsight Marcie wishes she had been true to herself throughout her journey, reaching out sooner and making sure to meet her relatives when the opportunities presented themselves. She admits that sometimes it’s okay for each us to be selfish along our journey as long as it is done with kindness and compassion for others. The post http://www.w

Michael grew up in Coney Island, Brooklyn, NY. He led a comfortable life in the Williams loving home when he accidentally discovered, at 12 years old, that he was adopted. The discovery that he actually had another identity created conflict in him, especially during his teen aged years. With spontaneity, tenacity, and a fair bit of luck Michael was able to track down the phone number for a long lost cousin in NY. She sounded the alarm to the family that Michael had found her, and a series of holiday season reunions ensued. But his reunification was not without its resentment. Over the course of two decades he satisfied his curiosity to uncover every detail he could about who he really is. It was an emotional journey of discovery that led him all they way to his family’s roots in the South. The post http://www.whoamireallypodcast.com/019-michael-w/ (019 – Adoption Was Chapter Two Of My Life, I Had To Learn About Chapter One) appeared first on http://www.whoamireallypodcast.com (Who Am I...Really

Jennifer had a very happy childhood and always felt special because she was an adoptee; she knew her parents really wanted her. Their family was heavily involved with the Children’s Home Society in Los Angeles where her mother did fund-raising work. Jennifer so appreciated her loving parents for their lifetime of love and support, but as she got older, she had a feeling that she would be close to her birth mother and that she was likely more like her than her adopted mother. After her own son had a positive reunion experience with a daughter he fathered years ago, Jennifer decided she would make an an attempt at reunion herself. On pure luck she was given year’s worth of microfiche data that had her family tree’s information. Jennifer’s mother had always hoped for their reunion, and even welcomed Jennifer’s adopted brother into their family too. The post http://www.whoamireallypodcast.com/016-jennifer-p/ (016 – Shall we Cry? No, Let’s Just Laugh!) appeared first on http://www.who

Tom advocates for adoptee rights and shares his personal experiences about being adopted. He was adopted as an infant and things went so well his parents decided to adopt two older boys when Tom was two years old. Their adoption is where his trouble started. Life became chaotic in their home because the older boys were difficult for his parents to control. Tom was feeling sidelined. Sadly, one of the older boys sexually abused him resulting in issues he’s dealt with most of his life. Searching to repair his past he sought counseling, connected with his biological mother, and tracked down his biological father. But Tom was never quite able to gain the sense of belonging he was searching for. The post http://www.whoamireallypodcast.com/012-tom-a/ (012 – I Need This For My Sanity) appeared first on http://www.whoamireallypodcast.com (Who Am I...Really? Podcast). Tom (https://www.temi.com/editor/t/kMOWYPYEldugSEc1LLcIJ6wvedKAM_1PwoxoPRBe1sPvRPh8gr8YNvvqmDDm2ks1AVfyxnEiX6t9_v5ztECCKfSRmho?loadFrom=DocumentDee

Steve was raised in Baltimore, MD in a predominantly Jewish suburban neighborhood. But as he looked around at his friends and other families, he truly questioned his own identity, especially as an adoptee. In an era before electronic record keeping, Steve used his street savvy to buy the information he needed about himself in order to advance his search for his biological family. More crafty thinking led Steve right to his biological mother’s front door. He wanted to meet her, but not necessarily reveal that he was her son. He knocked on her door with a story that should have gotten him sent on his way. Instead she invited him in! Just wait until you hear his crafty approach to introducing himself to his biological mother, and the truth about his European heritage. The post http://www.whoamireallypodcast.com/010-steve-h/ (010 – How Can I Meet Her Without Telling Her Who I Am?) appeared first on http://www.whoamireallypodcast.com (Who Am I...Really? Podcast). Steve (https://www.temi.com/editor/t/oCr3_Cobx

In adoption, Julie grew up in the Midwest with a family of trans racial adoptees. Her brothers are adopted from Vietnam, and her sister is white. Each of them has a different perspective on searching for their biological families. Julie has always been curious. She told me that in the moments after her son was born and he was placed in her arms, she could forgive her biological mother, and release the anger she previously felt about her rejection. In that moment, she clearly understood the everlasting bond of a mother to her child. The post http://www.whoamireallypodcast.com/006-julie-r/ (006 – I Forgave Her When My Son Was Born) appeared first on http://www.whoamireallypodcast.com (Who Am I...Really? Podcast). Julie (https://www.temi.com/editor/t/gc-ycAL_VRYtt6lQkTt2ovQolVfQax5o_bvFwV9L0qnaSPgL3wWRMs4mCL4JdmUBGhbVCRNgArwiY2RmROqslC6X9QA?loadFrom=SharedLink&ts=0.22 (00:00)): Yeah. When I had my son, like the moment I gave birth to him, I will say like the second he was placed in my arm and

Terry shared the story of his biological parents’ wartime extra marital affair that brought him to life.  He said his adopted parents felt he was “the sun the moon and the stars”, and spoiled him that way. As a teen, Terry wanted to apply for a job and needed his birth certificate from his parents. But that simple request worried his mother deeply about her place in his heart because she thought he was beginning a search for his biological family. He didn’t connect with his biological mother until his own parents were in failing health, but what an emotional day it was when he did finally meet his first mom! The post http://www.whoamireallypodcast.com/005-terry-c/ (005 – Part of Her Memory That She Lost Was Me) appeared first on http://www.whoamireallypodcast.com (Who Am I...Really? Podcast). Terry:                          https://www.temi.com/editor/t/kK6zo1uFgeTdE4st0X

Kathleen grew up with five siblings, and they were all biologically related to her parents–she was the only adoptee! As a child she was told that she was adopted, but it didn’t quite sink in until the topic of adoption came up in conversation and her mother reminded her, “you’re adopted too.” But what blew my mind was how the search for her first family wasn’t originated by her, her family found her and knew exactly where to look The post http://www.whoamireallypodcast.com/003-kathleen-m/ (003 – When the Search Finds You) appeared first on http://www.whoamireallypodcast.com (Who Am I...Really? Podcast). Kathleen:                     https://www.temi.com/editor/t/prv9wVvTWzZRvxW7Pm2ShA2WuGlSPd57t6uQcdZlzRJX3IyDrHkFV6wcUI4kJ__giG0fEK64-ufxuxKpbQfJHCIeTaE?loadFrom=DocumentDeeplink&ts=0.02 (00:00)               You me

I’ve shared an adoptee bond with my dear high school friend Andre for years. In this episode, Andre shares the story of his loving adopted family, being the older sibling to his adopted parent’s biological son, and the truth about how he came into this world. His biological mother never forgot him and honored his life every year. Andre:                         https://www.temi.com/editor/t/b7CODb9t6EbuzWLlsB0Za-uulHngfVMvHP9wvURf-o5f23sABGIfelW29awvs2ia14u73H7rHSn7VHvX-xPBRP4RDc4?loadFrom=DocumentDeeplink&ts=2.71 (00:02)               You go up to the judge, she has my case. She opens this Manila folder and I was like, there it is, like I'm this close. So then she proceeds to go through and she says that, you know, I have information here but you can't have it. Voices:    &n

I’m devoting this program dedicated to helping people placed into adoption to explore their own emotions, desires, and questions about reuniting with their biological family by asking others like us to tell their own true stories. I’m so thankful for the life that my adopted parents gave me, but I also had the incredibly good fortune to be reunited with my biological mother in 2009. Our story is amazing to me because our reunification unfolded in a way that I never could have predicted. However everyone’s search and discovery journey is different and we’ll share an array of stories in this podcast. Read Full TranscriptDamon:                       00:09               Hi, I’m Damon Davis and I’m launching a new podcast series called, Who Am I Really? I’m devoting this program to helping peo