All My Love: Stories of Hope, Inspiration & Support From A Birth Mother
96 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 12 hours ago -coming soon
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Episodes
305: The Right (And Wrong) Way To Tell Your Child Their Adoption Story
June 03, 2022 07:00 - 39 minutes - 35.8 MBHow we see ourselves as adoptive parents is intricately tied with how we see our children via adoption, and ultimately how they see themselves. Seemingly heroic narratives like “saving a child” and seemingly innocuous ones like “we were meant to be togethe...
Foster Care Adoption: With President & CEO of The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, Rita Soronen
May 27, 2022 07:00 - 22 minutes - 20.3 MBDo you believe that it is too expensive to adopt a child from foster care? Or that you aren't qualified? Every five years, the Dave Thomas Foundation commissions The Adoption Attitudes Survey, which concerns contemporary attitudes toward adopting older chi...
Adoption Medicine: Tips For Raising A Happy and Healthy Adopted Child
May 18, 2022 07:00 - 35 minutes - 32.5 MBAdoption Medicine, the information and resources you may need for medical situations related to your adoption, is the focus of this podcast. If you are working with an adoption agency or attorney you may be asked to obtain medical information on the birth...
304: I'm An Adoptee & A Birth Mom: Here's What I Want Adoptive Parents to Know
May 06, 2022 07:00 - 37 minutes - 34.4 MBLike the ancient tale of the Six Blind Men and the Elephant, adoption is fertile ground for people "knowing" about it while experiencing only a fraction of it. From our limited experience we start to think we have a handle on it and we know the truth about...
Introducing The Feeling This Podcast: Season One Trailer
May 02, 2022 22:30 - 1 minute - 1.64 MBAdoption paths are unique and windy. Feelings like hope, sadness, triumph, and other emotions are a natural part of the deal. Welcome to Feeling This, an adoption podcast that focuses on this wide range of emotions and how to release emotional pain you may...
303: Helping Your Child Put Together Their Identity Puzzle
April 01, 2022 07:00 - 40 minutes - 37.1 MBIt’s normal -- celebrated even -- to wonder about and ask ourselves "Who am I?" After all, genealogy is cited as one of the top hobbies people have. There are TV shows with names like Finding Your Roots, Long Lost Family, and Who Do You Think You Are? help...
Overcoming A Failed Adoption Match
March 25, 2022 07:00 - 30 minutes - 27.7 MBOne of the greatest fears of adoptive parents is an adoption match falling through. This happens when an expectant mother chooses to parent instead of placing her child for adoption. Very few adoptive parents will ever begrudge a woman for making the decis...
302: Attunement In Adoptive Parenting
March 04, 2022 08:00 - 42 minutes - 38.6 MBWe talk often on this show about attunement in adoptive parenting, which is the process of intuiting in the moment what your child needs from you. The first step is to understand as best you can the perspective of an adoptee. You won’t get this from listen...
How To Get An Adoption Home Study: Why you need a home study, where to get it, what's involved, and how long it might take
February 22, 2022 00:00 - 31 minutes - 28.4 MBFor adoptive parents, obtaining a home study can be one of those most daunting and difficult parts of the adoption process. Demystifying the adoption home study is the goal of this podcast. Join host Nicole Witt and her special guest, Lori Fraas (Executive...
301: 9 Awkward & Messy Moments All Adoptive Parents Can Relate To
February 04, 2022 08:00 - 47 minutes - 43.2 MBTo kick off Season 3, we address how you can prepare for 9 of the most common awkward, delicate, tricky situations that come up for adoptive parents. Sometimes you find yourself in a situation with your child (you're not my real mom!), and sometimes it's w...
All About Adoption Outreach: How to get started with adoption advertising, social media, and DIY marketing to help speed up your adoption journey
January 21, 2022 08:00 - 28 minutes - 26.2 MBWhat is Adoption Outreach? Adoption outreach includes all the activities adoptive parents perform in order to meet potential birth parents. This includes word of mouth, internet advertising, social media, and other useful DIY techniques. Over the last deca...
Adoption Scams: How To Identify and Protect Your Family From Adoption Scams
December 17, 2021 08:00 - 26 minutes - 23.9 MBAdoptions scams occur when a person with no intention of placing her child for adoption deceives adoptive parents into financial or emotional support. This podcast explores how you can protect yourself from adoption scam situations. Contrary to what you ma...
209: The Best Advice for Adoptive Parents from Season 2: A look back at the amazing and insightful conversations in adoption we shared from 2021
December 03, 2021 08:00 - 28 minutes - 26.1 MBIn Season 2, we’ve heard from 10 amazing and fascinating people who have explored the complexities of adoption with us -- adoptees, an investigative journalist, birth moms, a therapist, a foster mom, adoptive moms and dads, the CEO of a large child welfare...
Preparing For Parenting & Life After Your Adoption: Questions & Answers About Raising Your Adopted Child
November 17, 2021 18:30 - 27 minutes - 25.6 MBIn this episode we are jumping ahead a little to tackle important questions adoptive parents will have about parenting their adopted child. Questions like, Will I bond with my adopted baby? Will I know how to take care of the baby to meet his or her needs?...
208: National Adoption Month with Rita Soronen of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
November 05, 2021 07:00 - 32 minutes - 29.5 MBHave you ever eaten a meal at Wendy’s? Have you ever perused the list of top Adoption Friendly Workplaces? Have you ever felt an ache in your heart about children who are in foster care, growing up without a permanent family taking care of them, loving the...
Adoption Self Care: How Empowering and Life-Changing Self Care Can Revitalize Your Adoption Journey
October 28, 2021 19:00 - 30 minutes - 28.1 MBToday’s episode focuses on an aspect of the adoption journey that is often overlooked: self care. Activities like yoga, meditation, and acupuncture are considered routine remedies for many physical and health issues in our daily lives. But have you ever co...
Exploring The Differences Between Adoption and Gestational Surrogacy
October 08, 2021 07:00 - 39 minutes - 35.8 MBWhat are the differences between gestational surrogacy and adoption? Well, for starters, most women who are considering adoption are never expecting to be in that position in the first place! With gestational surrogacy, a woman makes a conscious choice to...
207: Do Adoptive Families REALLY Need an Adoption-Competent Therapist?
October 01, 2021 07:00 - 34 minutes - 31.7 MBNot every adoptive family will need an adoption-competent therapist on hand, but many will at some point. This is not to pathologize adoption; lots of non-adoptive families also end up also seeking therapy for various struggles. But adoptive families are s...
206: From Infertility Grief To Adoption: How to Heal From Your Infertility Grief and Make Way for a Child
September 03, 2021 07:00 - 33 minutes - 27.9 MBNo baby should be born with a job, to quote Dr Phil. It’s just too much to expect a baby to fix anything -- a relationship, a heart, a life. But many people come to infant adoption after experiencing infertility and enduring some sort of loss. They might t...
How To Afford Your Adoption: Plan, Strategize, & Discover Smart Adoption Financing Options
August 24, 2021 20:30 - 58 minutes - 49.9 MBHow do families find the resources they need to build a family? Most people find it necessary to cobble together their funds through a variety of different methods. This episode covers some of the many different ways to fund your adoption, including: Savin...
205: 4 Myths Adoptive Parents Still Believe: Reframing the Adoption Narrative with Kelsey Vander Vliet Ranyard & Sara Easterly
August 06, 2021 07:00 - 43 minutes - 60.3 MBIf your main sources of information about adoption are from the loudest voices, you may be missing out on key facets that would help you better navigate your own adoption situation and better serve your child. You can’t see your own blind spots (by definit...
204: Losing My Son Twice: A Birth Mom's Story of Loss and Healing
July 02, 2021 07:00 - 33 minutes - 30.7 MBCandace Cahill placed her son as an infant in 1990. Their semi-open adoption closed when he was 8, but contact was reestablished at 18. After navigating the complexities of reunion for five years and only a single face-to-face meeting, Michael died in his...
203: From Adopting Parent To Adoptive Parent: Making the Transition From Adopting to Parenting
June 04, 2021 07:00 - 35 minutes - 48.7 MBThe journey of adopting a baby can be so uncertain and feel so all-consuming that sometimes, it’s hard to see past it. My guest today, Tim Elder, helps people become parents through adoption with his Infant Adoption Guide blog and podcast. We're talking wi...
Which Type of Adoption Is Right For Me?: Exploring the different ways to adopt a child & discovering which path is best for your family
May 25, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour - 83.4 MBThis episode explores the three main types of adoption: 1. Domestic newborn adoption: The most common path to adopting an infant (includes agency, attorney, and independent adoption). 2. Foster Adoption: Adopting a child from foster care. 3. Internatio...
202: How To Be The Adoptive Parent Your Child Needs You To Be
May 07, 2021 07:00 - 36 minutes - 50.3 MBIf you’ve ever wondered how you could have an open adoption when you can’t have contact with birth parents, you’ll want to make sure to catch this episode with adoptive parent counselors Katie Biron and Kara Andersen. We cover the differences between openn...
The Most Important Things That I've Learned From Other Birthmoms
April 22, 2021 07:00 - 25 minutes - 23.1 MBAdoption is not all unicorns and glitter! During my adoption, I relied heavily upon the experiences and wisdom of other birthmoms. I encourage you to do the same. Don't hesitate to seek out birth mother resources and support in your area. Here are some of...
The Most Important Things That I've Learned From Other Birthmoms: And What I Want To Teach Adoptive Parents
April 22, 2021 07:00 - 25 minutes - 23.1 MBAdoption is not all unicorns and glitter! During my adoption, I relied heavily upon the experiences and wisdom of other birthmoms. I encourage you to do the same. Don't hesitate to seek out birth mother resources and support in your area. Here are some of...
Using Positive Adoption Language: "Give Up A Baby" And Other Commonly Used Negative Adoption Expressions
April 15, 2021 07:00 - 35 minutes - 48.8 MBSubtly or explicitly, your words matter. Whether or not you realize it, children and others hear your expressions and form real opinions and feelings based upon them. As you move forward with adopting, spend a little time considering the language and termi...
201: Beyond The Shadow History of Adoption: A Look Back At 20th Century Adoption Practices With Bestselling Author Gabrielle Glaser
April 02, 2021 07:00 - 38 minutes - 52.8 MBHow different is adoption now compared with the closed adoption era? And what does that mean for adoptive parents? Gabrielle Glaser is the author, most recently, of American Baby: A Mother, A Child, and the Shadow History of Adoption, which tells the shock...
Things I Wish I'd Known Before Placing My Child For Adoption
March 17, 2021 07:00 - 30 minutes - 27.9 MBHello everybody and welcome to my very first podcast! I'm so glad you found me. If you are thinking about placing your child or looking for a family to adopt your child, please know that I made this podcast with you in my mind and heart. I've been living a...
Adoption Myths Versus Realities: Moving Beyond Common Adoption Misinformation, Beliefs, and Myths To Adopt Successfully
March 02, 2021 08:00 - 31 minutes - 43.6 MBThis episode of Adopting! pulls back the curtain on everything you think you know about adoption from movies, media, and popular culture. Explore common adoption myths and the corresponding truths and realities. All too often misinformation and false facts...
112: The Best Advice for Adoptive Parents from Season 1
February 01, 2021 08:00 - 32 minutes - 44.9 MBThis episode, like the podcast as a whole, is not for short-sighted people. This episode, like the podcast in its entirety, will appeal to people who want to be able to see more than one step ahead. Maybe 3 or 4 or 10 steps ahead. If this is you, you’re in...
Deciding If Adoption Is Right For You: Answers to Commonly Asked Questions As You Take The First Steps In Your Adoption Journey
January 26, 2021 08:00 - 28 minutes - 26 MBTaking the first steps on your adoption journey can be an overwhelming experience. Whether you are transitioning from infertility or are considering adoption for other reasons, you'll undoubtedly have a lot of questions as you get started. This episode of...
111: The Adopted Baby As A Blank Slate: Thoughts On The Nature vs Nurture Debate In Adoption With Lesli Johnson
January 15, 2021 08:00 - 38 minutes - 35.4 MBToday’s guest -- who consulted about adoption themes for the Hulu series Little Fires Everywhere -- wrote an article many years ago that goes viral just about every year. The article is called 10 Things Adoptees Want You to Know, and within it, Lesli Johns...
110: Figuring Out Open Adoption From Scratch: Lessons Learned by Two Pioneers, a Birth Mom and an Adoptive Mom
January 01, 2021 08:00 - 51 minutes - 47.3 MBCan you imagine fumbling around in the dark for one of the most important missions of your life, without having any training at all? Once the deep flaws in the closed adoption era started to become apparent, some adoption agencies decided to experiment wit...
109: The Research, Data & Stories Behind Open Adoption: An Interview with Dr. Abbie Goldberg
December 15, 2020 08:00 - 1 day - 38.4 MBSome people like stories. Others like numbers. In her book, Open Adoption & Diverse Families, Dr Abbie Goldberg has satisfied both camps, as well as those who equally love stories and data. Today’s guest has brought me a huge gift in the form of her resea...
108: Improving Adoption For Everyone: An Interview With Rebecca Vahle
December 01, 2020 08:00 - 19 minutes - 35.6 MBRebecca Vahle has witnessed the very beginning moments of hundreds of adoptions, starting with her three children, now young adults. Those three vastly differing experiences prompted her to create a program that standardizes care for potential adoption pla...
107: My Not-So-Open Kinship Adoption: Managing Emotions, Truth, And Family With Clemencia Deleon
November 15, 2020 08:00 - 39 minutes - 36.9 MBTo get ready for this episode -- which turned out to be on Emotional Intelligence in adoption relationships -- imagine that you are 18 years old and parenting a 4 month old boy, a path you don’t feel prepared for at all. You have an older half-brother; he...
106: "You're Not My Real Mom!" and Other Real Fears of Adoptive Parents: A Conversation with Sara Easterly
November 02, 2020 08:00 - 41 minutes - 38.4 MBIf you’ve ever feared not being considered the “real” parent, if you are unsure how you can co-exist in your child’s heart along with their birth mother or father, if you are curious about how an adoptee tries to “earn” their love from their adoptive paren...
105: Between the Pain of One Set of Parents and the Joy of Another: An Interview with Angela Tucker
October 15, 2020 07:00 - 40 minutes - 34.7 MBAngela Tucker is on a mission to center adoptee voices -- which have been historically marginalized -- because she considers adoptees the experts in the adoption experience. That’s a great point, and adoptive parents are wise to listen for understanding. I...
104: Ending Shame & Secrecy: A Discussion About Adoptee Rights With Rich Uhrlaub
October 01, 2020 07:00 - 40 minutes - 36.8 MBIn this episode, adoptee and activist Rich Uhrlaub addresses the ways that adoptees in many states don't have the same legal rights as the non-adopted. He tells us why original birth certificates were sealed in the closed adoption era, and what the ripple...
103: Inconceivable Yet True: Carolyn Savage's Journey Through Adoption, Surrogacy & Parenting
September 15, 2020 07:00 - 30 minutes - 28.1 MBIn this episode, Lori talks with Carolyn Savage, who has, perhaps, the twistiest-turniest journey to family you've ever heard of. Starting with an inconceivable snafu with a fertility clinic, within one year Carolyn (1) gave birth to a son she placed in th...
102: Birthmother Grief, Healing, and the Importance of Adoption Education: Interview with birth mother, educator, and adoption advocate Ashley Mitchell
September 01, 2020 07:00 - 27 minutes - 25.5 MBIn this episode, we hear from birth mom Ashley Mitchell of Big Tough Girl and Lifetime Healing Foundation. Now 14 years into her open adoption experience, she talks of grief and healing, and of the importance of adoption education for both adoptive and for...
101: Cultivating Openness In Your Adoption: A Conversation With Leah Campbell
August 07, 2020 07:00 - 31 minutes - 29.1 MBIn this episode, Lori Holden talks with single adoptive mom Leah Campbell about the unexpected way she became a mom to her beloved daughter, "Cheeks," now 7. Author of the just-released children's book The Story of My Open Adoption, Leah is a writer and mo...
Introducing Adoption: The Long View
July 02, 2020 03:20 - 53 seconds - 831 KBAdoption: The Long View is a truly informative podcast for adoptive parents, helping them to navigate the ever-changing, post-adoption world. If you thought adoption was something that ended when a child was placed with your family, think again. But don't...
Introducing Adopting! The Podcast
July 01, 2020 07:00 - 55 seconds - 853 KBAdopting? This is the podcast for you. Join host Nicole Witt as she presents a comprehensive adoption guide for adoptive parents who are just beginning their journey. Explore topics like how to complete a home study, adoption outreach, and transracial adop...