Defining Diego

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Somethin' Else / Sony Music Entertainment

English Documentary Kids & Family Parenting Relationships Society & Culture Explicit

Apple Podcasts Website RSS

Episodes 26

Avg. Duration 39m

Activity Dormant

Since Jan 2022

Latest Episode Apr 2025

Publishing Details

Schedule

Weekly

Format

Serial

Hosting

rss.pdrl.fm

Contact & Outreach

About This Podcast

Defining Diego is the story of one Guatemalan adoptee and his mother, a reporter who documented their journey from his earliest steps, as they try to understand how international adoption boomed and busted, and what it all means for families like theirs, with feet in two worlds. When Laurie Stern set out to adopt a baby from Guatemala in 1999, she thought the process would be pretty straightforward. Lots of people were doing it. But the adoption was held up just as she went to Guatemala to get her son, Diego. That began a journey of discovery. What unfolds is the story of why international adoption peaked — and then collapsed — in Guatemala. It is also the story of how Diego, now 24, learned to be a Maya man with deep roots both in his birth village and Minnesota, where he still lives. Now, Diego has questions about his adoption, too — like why tiny Guatemala was such a popular choice for many adoptive parents in the U.S. and Europe in the early 2000s. As one of more than 50,000 Guatemalan adoptees, Diego’s still figuring out what it means to be Guatemalan, American, indigenous Tzutujil, and an adoptee raised by white parents in St. Paul, Minnesota. At its heart, Defining Diego is a deeply personal narrative: of a mother and son grappling with big questions about identity and health, and the meaning of home and family. Using 20+ years of the family’s archive recordings, we hear Diego grow up — and begin his own journey of self-discovery Defining Diego is part of The Binge - subscribe to listen to all episodes, all at once, ad-free right now. From serial killer nurses to psychic scammers – The Binge is your home for true crime stories that pull you in and never let go. Follow The Binge Crimes and The Binge Cases wherever you get your podcasts to get new stories on the first of the month, every month. Hit ‘Subscribe’ at the top of the Defining Diego show page on Apple Podcasts or visit GetTheBinge.com. The Binge – feed your true crime obsession. A Sony Music Entertainment production. Find out more about The Binge and other podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts.

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Recent Episodes

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S2E10 Defining Diego | Adoptee Voices

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Aa Tiko' travels to a meet up of Guatemalan adoptees in Washington D.C., though he’s a little unsure of what he’ll find there. He talks to three different adoptees from two different continents about…

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A birth family reunion in 2022 helps Diego piece together more parts of his identity, but it also sparks new questions that he struggles to process — especially as he and Laurie grapple with what it…

S2E7 Defining Diego | 7. What's On Paper

Nov 14, 2022 47m

It’s 2022, and Diego has a mission: to reclaim his Guatemalan citizenship. But on the ground in Guatemala City, he finds that his identity as an adoptee is still complicated, even 23 years…

S2E6 Defining Diego | 6. Resist and Release

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We hear from a family whose adoption was in-progress when the Guatemalan government shut everything down. A few years after his fateful diagnosis, Diego is a surly teenager. The family’s figuring…

S2E5 Defining Diego | 5. When Everything Changed

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When Diego turns 12, he’s diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, and his entire world turns inside out. The family goes into survival mode. Sick and angry Diego acts out — and Laurie and Dan…

S2E4 Defining Diego | 4. The Fall of International Adoption

Oct 24, 2022 35m

The international adoption racket is surging — and it’s gotten way out of control. All over the world, ugly stories begin to surface: of stolen children, shady adoption lawyers, and birth mothers…

S2E3 Defining Diego | 3. Baby Boom

Oct 17, 2022 38m

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S2E1 Defining Diego | 1. My Two Mothers

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Defining Diego have?

Defining Diego has published 26 episodes since January 2022, covering topics in Documentary, Kids & Family.

Is Defining Diego still active?

Defining Diego is currently dormant with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 39m.

How do I contact Defining Diego for sponsorship or guest appearances?