Roots and Branches Ep 40: Journey to Identity

Roots and Branches Ep 41: The Adoption Paradox

What happens when an adoptee spends a lifetime trying to understand the impact of adoption—not only on herself, but on everyone involved? Today on Roots and Branches: Adoption Stories, Janet Munro welcomes author, researcher, and adoptee Jean Widner. Adopted in 1965, Jean grew up in what appeared to be the ideal family. Her father was a school psychologist, her mother a registered nurse, and from the outside, everything looked perfect. Jean always knew she was adopted and even recalls proudly introducing herself as a child by saying, "I'm Jean, I'm adopted." But as the years passed, Jean began to recognize that many of the struggles she faced throughout her life were connected to adoption in ways she never fully understood as a child. Her journey led her to explore the emotional, psychological, and lifelong effects of adoption—not just for adoptees, but also for birth parents and adoptive families. Jean's search for answers eventually became the foundation for her book, The Adoption Paradox. Through interviews with more than 100 people touched by adoption, she uncovered common themes of identity, attachment, grief, loss, belonging, secrecy, and reunion. Her research challenges many of the assumptions society has long held about adoption and asks difficult questions about how adoption is practiced today. In this thought-provoking conversation, Janet and Jean discuss the realities of adoption then and now, the rise of the modern adoption industry, open versus closed adoption, and whether current practices truly prioritize the needs of children. They also explore the often-overlooked experience of infants who are separated from the only voice, heartbeat, scent, and environment they have ever known. Most importantly, Jean offers valuable insight into what adoptive parents can do to better prepare for the emotional realities of adoption and how they can help children navigate both the love and the loss that may accompany their adoption journey. This is an honest, compassionate, and deeply educational discussion that challenges listeners to think beyond simple answers and consider the many layers of adoption. Whether you are an adoptee, a birth parent, an adoptive parent, or simply someone interested in understanding adoption more deeply, this is a conversation you won't want to miss. #Adoption #JeanWidner #TheAdoptionParadox #AdopteeVoices #RootsAndBranches #AdoptionAwareness #BirthParents #AdoptiveParents #OpenAdoption #AdoptionTrauma #Identity #Family #AdoptionStories #JanetMunro #KPHREDRadio

Roots and Branches Ep 40: Journey to Identity

At fifty-two years old, Al Isaacs accidentally learned a life-changing truth: he was adopted. The discovery came during a conversation with his mother’s oncologist, who assumed Al already knew. But he didn’t. Everyone else in the family had known for decades — except him. Suddenly, the story Al believed about himself unraveled. Worse still, by the time the truth surfaced, both of his adoptive parents were suffering from dementia, leaving him with questions they could no longer fully answer. Why was the adoption kept secret? Were they trying to protect him? And what happens to a person’s identity when the foundation of their life suddenly changes? In this deeply emotional episode of Roots and Branches Adoption Stories, Al shares what it was like growing up not knowing he was adopted. Looking back, were there signs he was different from his parents? Did nature versus nurture shape him in ways he never understood? Did he ever feel disconnected without knowing why? We also explore the emotional impact of discovering the truth later in life. Did he feel betrayed? Did it cross his mind that he had been living a lie? What kind of support exists for late discovery adoptees whose entire sense of identity is suddenly shaken? Al’s adoption was arranged through what were known as “grey market” adoption practices in the late 1960s — informal, secretive arrangements that often left children with little access to records or truth about their origins. This episode dives into what those practices were and how they affected adoptees for generations. Determined to find answers, Al turned to DNA testing, genealogy research, and online detective work. His search eventually uncovered a half-sister and led him to an incredible discovery: his birth mother, Mary Smith, had once been a folk singer in New York who won a nationally televised talent competition called Sound of Youth — something like an early version of American Idol. That public performance became the clue that finally connected him to his roots. Al tells this extraordinary journey in his memoir, Finding Mary Smith — a story about secrecy, identity, family, forgiveness, and discovering that truth has a way of finding us, no matter how many decades have passed. #Adoption #LateDiscoveryAdoptee #FindingMarySmith #RootsAndBranches #AdoptionStories #DNA #Genealogy #FamilySecrets #Identity #NatureVsNurture #Adoptee #Memoir #GreyMarketAdoption

Roots and Branches Ep 39: The Day I was Told I wasn't Real

At seven years old, Charmaine Carey heard words that would shape the rest of her life. The day her adoptive parents brought home their biological son from the hospital, Charmaine sat excitedly waiting to meet her new baby brother. Instead, her adoptive father sat her down and told her she had not grown in her mother’s tummy, that the new baby was their “real” child, and that adoption would never be spoken about again. Until that moment, Charmaine had no idea she was adopted. That single conversation shattered her sense of identity and belonging. Suddenly she felt different, unwanted, and invisible inside her own family. When Charmaine returned to school and began asking classmates questions about adoption, she became isolated and bullied. At home, she experienced emotional abuse and neglect. Christmases became painful reminders that her brother mattered more. She watched another adopted girl at school being openly loved and supported by her family, which made her question why her own experience was so different. As Charmaine grew older, the damage followed her into adulthood. Feeling unworthy of love, she found herself repeatedly drawn into abusive relationships that mirrored the emotional pain of her childhood. For years, she believed she had to do whatever it took to be accepted and loved. Five years ago, Charmaine finally left her last abusive relationship and began the difficult process of healing. Today, she is passionate about helping adoptees and adoptive families better understand the hidden trauma children may carry. She believes adoptees need safe spaces to talk openly about identity, rejection, abandonment, and self-worth without fear of shame or silence. In this emotional episode of Roots and Branches Adoption Stories, Charmaine shares her deeply personal journey through trauma, survival, and healing — and explains why words spoken to children can leave lifelong scars. Hosted by Janet Munro on K-PHRED Radio. #Adoption #AdopteeVoices #AdoptionTrauma #RootsAndBranches #Healing #MentalHealth #FosterCare #ChildhoodTrauma #Identity #AdoptionStories

Roots and Branches Ep 38: Open Doors, Closed Files

Today on Roots and Branches Adoption Stories, Janet Munro speaks with Rachel Fulginiti — foster-to-adopt mother, podcast host, voice actor, and award-winning audiobook narrator — about her deeply emotional journey to motherhood after years of infertility, miscarriage, heartbreak, and uncertainty. Rachel spent more than a decade trying to become a mother. As someone used to working hard and achieving goals, infertility became one challenge she could not simply “fix.” Through devastating losses, financial strain, and soul-searching, Rachel and her husband eventually turned toward foster care and foster-to-adopt with cautious hope and open hearts. What followed changed their lives forever. Rachel shares how they welcomed two children into their family through very different adoption experiences. Their oldest daughter’s adoption remains fairly open, allowing connection to biological relatives and preserving important ties to family history and identity. Rachel explains why maintaining those connections matters and how openness can help children understand where they come from. Their younger son’s story is very different. He entered their lives through a safe surrender adoption, leaving almost no information about his biological family, medical history, or ancestry. Rachel speaks honestly about the emotional challenges that come with raising a child who may someday ask questions no one can answer. This episode explores the powerful differences between open and closed adoption, the emotional realities of foster-to-adopt parenting, and the lifelong importance of identity, truth, and belonging. Janet and Rachel also discuss miscarriage grief, infertility trauma, fear, faith, resilience, and learning to trust life’s unexpected path. Rachel’s story is one of courage, healing, and discovering that family is not always built the way we imagine it will be. It is a conversation filled with compassion, honesty, and hope for anyone touched by infertility, adoption, foster care, or nontraditional family-building. Topics include: Foster care and foster-to-adopt Infertility and miscarriage Open vs closed adoption Safe surrender adoption Identity and biological roots Trauma, healing, and resilience Faith and trusting the process Nontraditional paths to parenthood If this story speaks to you, please subscribe and share. Roots and Branches Adoption Stories YouTube Channel #AdoptionStories #FosterCare #FosterToAdopt #OpenAdoption #SafeSurrender #InfertilityJourney #RootsAndBranches #JanetMunro #AdoptionAwareness #Healing #Family #Podcast

Roots and Branches Ep 37: The Bond Before Birth

The conversation delves into the concept of surrogacy, exploring the process, emotional aspects, and post-birth relationships. It provides insights into the altruistic surrogacy model in Canada and the unique emotional experiences of surrogate mothers. The conversation delves into the altruistic nature of surrogacy in Canada, the challenges and considerations of surrogacy, the process of finding and supporting surrogate mothers, and a comparison of surrogacy in Canada and the US. It also explores the future of surrogacy and the need for more open conversations about the topic. Takeaways * Surrogacy as a selfless act * Altruistic surrogacy in Canada Surrogacy in Canada is based on altruism, with no financial compensation for surrogate mothers. * The need for surrogates is significant, and there is a lack of knowledge about surrogacy as an option.