After becoming an adoptive mom to black children, Gina Fimbel began to recognize that some things needed to change if she wanted her children to have the best chance at thriving in her family. Through friendships, education, and working with Be The Bridge, Gina has become a part of a movement of racial reconciliation that includes amplifying transracial adoptee voices. In a conversation that can often feel overwhelming, Gina's story and wisdom offers space to take this journey one step at time.

What is one of the best ways to learn how to be a better adoptive parent? By listening to the people who have already lived it. Tiffany and Jenn were both transracially adopted as children, but now they are adults who have insight on what helped and what hurt. They are here to share their stories, experience, and highlight the need for the adoptee voice. 

We're so honored to be featured in the Top 25 Adoption Podcasts on FeedSpot.

What started off as a lonely journey full of unknowns has culminated to Brittney and Kevin Borders fostering over 20 children and adopting their two sons. Their invaluable experience that includes infertility, fighting to reunite a child with her father, and adopting both a white and black son has left them with incredible wisdom to share.

We're so honored to be featured in the Top 20 Adoption Podcasts on FeedSpot.

Christine Beliard founded FAB Moms, Fabulous Adoptive Black Moms, when she noticed a need in her own adoption journey for more resources and community for Black families going through the adoption process. Christine's passion and wisdom dismantles stereotypes about Black families involvement in the adoption/foster care world, and also sheds light on the need for more people to get involved in caring for vulnerable children.

We're so honored to be featured in the Top 20 Adoption Podcasts on FeedSpot.

Despite an abusive home, living in foster care, and being adopted only to have his adoptive parents pass away far too soon, Steven has never given up. Today he is a professional athlete and an advocate for foster kids. Whether you are a foster or adoptive parent or spent time in foster care yourself, Steven's story will give you hope.

We're so honored to be featured in the Top 20 Adoption Podcasts on FeedSpot.

It's no secret that parenting through adoption can be difficult and make you feel isolated and alone. But, there is help and hope and today it comes through Melissa Corkum. Melissa is not only a Korean adoptee and adoptive mom herself, but she is a parent coach that helps families find brain-based solutions to challenging behaviors.

One of the devastating experiences in adoption is dissolution. Amber and her son Shea almost found themselves in this situation, yet today they are thriving as a family. Amber and Shea are with us today to share how they pushed through such a difficult experience.

Chrystal Smith had a difficult childhood that included brokenness and abuse, but she was not defeated. Instead, Chrystal started an organization that creates opportunities for the community to be a "village" of support for underserved children and families. Through her personal experience and work with Foster Village, Chrystal shows us how we can all come alongside children and families and show them they are not alone.

Keia Jones Baldwin is a proud, strong black woman with experience in adoption, and foster care, and raising children in a multicultural family. So when she got a call for another foster placement Keia didn't hesitate. But when she got to the hospital and the nurse pointed to a little white baby, Keia knew she was embarking on a whole new journey of racism, family, and love.

When Kylie decided to become part of a unique program that allows her to foster refugee children, she never expected to become a mom and a grandma in less than 3 months. But her willingness to say yes has changed lives and given her the most beautifully diverse family.

Cam Lee was adopted from South Korea at the age of 3. Years later he decided to search for and meet his birth mother. It was through this journey that he realized his life's calling was to help others navigate their own adoption story. Cam's personal experience and education as a counselor give him infinite wisdom that he shares with us today.

Have you ever wondered what an international adoption looks like once you get home? Our good friend Rachel Baxter shares what she has learned and what her family has been up to for the past 4 years since their special needs international adoption from China. 

Having grown up in 12 different homes, sleeping on floors and couches, living in a group home, and eventually aging out of the system, Tori Petersen offers an inside look at growing up in foster care and reminds us that it's never too late to find someone to call family.

Heather Avis and Mercedes Lara from The Lucky Few both have adopted children with Down Syndrome. From their incredible wisdom and experience they show us how to create a more inclusive world and shift the narrative around Down Syndrome.

Sixteen years after her adoption, Mary Grant received a message from a relative in Ethiopia who had been searching for her. This message would launch Mary on a journey that would eventually lead to her speaking to her mother for the first time. Mary's story of pain, healing, and family has wisdom and lessons for us all. 

When Martha Bonneau's 4 year old daughter said she wanted to find her birth family, Martha and her husband didn't know what to do other than to say "Okay" and hope that they would be able to give their daughter some answers. Little did they know that 6 years later their family of 4 would be on an airplane headed to China.

Lori Dortch was 17 years old, pregnant, and facing one of the biggest decisions of her life. Now, 25 years later, that decision has turned her into an advocate for birth moms across the country. No matter who you are, Lori and her husband Matt have wisdom you need to hear.

When Heather Oram and her husband started pursuing adoption, they never imagined they would have two kids and two different birth moms within 4 months of each other. It would have been easy to close themselves off, but instead they chose open adoption.

Suffering...It's one of those things we all want to avoid but inevitably finds its way into our lives. So how do we suffer well? Can we endure more than we think? Few people have as much to share in this area than our guest Liz Griffin. 

After suffering through a complicated six year adoption process, Liz and her husband finally brought their two children home. Two years later, at the age of 33, Liz suffered a stroke. This led to the discovery of brain aneurysms, a thyroid tumor, a heart defect, and a long road to recovery. But with incredible suffering comes incredible wisdom, and Liz is gracious enough to share it with us. 

Who am I? This is a question many of us ask for a variety of different reasons. But often this question gets amplified and infinitely more complicated with adoption. So how do we navigate these complexities as a parent guiding an adopted child, or as someone who was adopted? You talk to someone with experience.

Our guest, Zawadi, was born in rural DRC where his mother died in childbirth. He was adopted by white parents and lived in Eastern Africa for years before moving to America where he dealt with issues of identity, racism, and trying to fit in. Zawadi is now an adult with a wife and family that includes an adopted child of his own.

Now matter what side of adoption you come from, Zawadi's calm presence and personal story bring a wisdom, experience, and perspective that we can all learn from.

Have you ever thought about adopting an older child? How old is too old to be adopted? The answer might surprise you and our guest will challenge you.  

Annie endured a difficult childhood and didn't enter foster care until age 17. This left her with little hope of having a stable family to visit on weekends in college, or holidays, or anytime she just needed it. But against all odds, Annie was adopted at the age of 26!

This podcast will open your eyes to the realities of life for teenagers in the foster care system, and it will show you that there is no age limit for needing the love of a family.