Mark's Story

Becca's Story

In this episode, Becca Rothman, a comedian, activist, and mother shares the surprising story of discovering she was donor-conceived later in life. After years of living with a "clue" found by her sister, Becca finally used a DNA kit to uncover a biological father—a pediatrician—who shares her love of exclamation points. Becca discusses how she turned the entire journey into her 30-minute solo comedy show, Gifted. You can follow Becca's stand-up and storytelling journey on Instagram @BeccaRothman Resources Mentioned: The Lost Family: How DNA Testing Is Upending Who We Are [https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Family-How-Testing-Upending/dp/1419743007]by Libby Copeland The Sunday Story Seven IG @storyseven.al beccarothman.com [https://beccarothman.com/] Untangling Our Roots [https://untanglingourroots.org/] Conference NPE Stories Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/NPEStories] NPE Stories facebook page [https://www.facebook.com/NPEstories] https://www.facebook.com/NPEstories [https://www.facebook.com/NPEstories]

Mark's Story

Growing up with a "normal" Midwestern upbringing, Mark never felt different or disconnected from his family. However, after his father's death, a quest to explore his Portuguese heritage through a DNA test led to the staggering discovery that he was 100% Iberian and had zero Polish blood. Now, he shares his journey of navigating this new reality, confronting a mother whose memories are fading, and connecting with a biological family he never knew existed. Mark can be reached via email markthenpe@gmail.com Resources Mentioned: Right to Know [https://righttoknow.us/]  Severance Magazine  [https://severancemag.com/] DNA Surprises [https://dnasurprises.com/] with Alexis Hourselt NPE Stories Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/NPEStories] NPE Stories facebook page [https://www.facebook.com/NPEstories] https://www.facebook.com/NPEstories [https://www.facebook.com/NPEstories]

Alex's Story

Alex Frantz shares the life-altering discovery of being donor-conceived, a revelation triggered by a holiday DNA kit. They describe the shock of realizing they attended high school with their half-siblings. Alex recounts forming a deep, "seamless" bond with their biological father and half-brother over a shared love for music. Alex can be reached via instagram @bedhead_babe Resources Mentioned: Untangling Our Roots [https://untanglingourroots.org/] Alex's Band: The Eye Traps Instagram @theeyetrapsband NPE Stories Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/NPEStories] NPE Stories facebook page [https://www.facebook.com/NPEstories] https://www.facebook.com/NPEstories [https://www.facebook.com/NPEstories]

Dawn M's Story

Dawn grew up feeling a quiet sense that something didn’t quite fit, but it wasn’t until a search for her family’s past that everything she thought she knew began to shift. In this episode, she shares what it’s like to uncover the truth later in life—and how she’s finding her way forward, one piece at a time. Dawn can be reached via email thebeginningnpe@gmail.com Thank you to Dawn's daughter Olivia Hendrix for creating the newest NPE Stories podcast logo and graphics. Her art can be found @shop_94art on Instagram Resources Mentioned: GEDmatch [https://www.gedmatch.com/] The Stranger in My Genes [https://shop.americanancestors.org/products/the-stranger-in-my-genes-a-memoir?srsltid=AfmBOop5mi38s_Tp2Y-Zm0NpTfkgLFvptGdR9YZRhTMbEDqRBP507Yfv&pass-through=true]by Bill Griffeth NPE Stories Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/NPEStories] NPE Stories facebook page [https://www.facebook.com/NPEstories] https://www.facebook.com/NPEstories [https://www.facebook.com/NPEstories]

Molly's Story

In this episode, Lily sits down with Molly, who shares the complex layers of being both an adoptee and an NPE within a small-town dynamic where the adults knew the truth long before she did. Molly opens up about the "fairytale" highs and devastating lows of a reunion that ultimately didn't last, and how she has utilized EMDR therapy and her faith to process the profound grief and shame of those experiences. Resources Mentioned: Untangling Our Roots [https://untanglingourroots.org/] Summit Leslie Pate Mackinnon [https://lesliepatemackinnon.com/] EMDR Therapy Husband, Father, Killer: The Alyssa Pladl Story | Lifetime [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mupEC7nyVgY] The Kiss: A Memoir by Kathryn Harrison [https://www.amazon.com/Kiss-Memoir-Kathryn-Harrison/dp/0812979710] NPE Stories Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/NPEStories] NPE Stories facebook page [https://www.facebook.com/NPEstories] https://www.facebook.com/NPEstories [https://www.facebook.com/NPEstories]