Open Adoption Project
Lanette & Shaun Nelson
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About This Podcast
This podcast is about connecting. It's about growing. It's about stretching. In society nowadays, it's easy to fall into echo chambers. This is not an echo chamber. Open Adoption Project is a community dedicated to listening and learning, and building relationships based on healthy respect and communication.
The Open Adoption Project focuses on improving adoptee experiences by encouraging open communication between all members of the adoption constellation, nurturing ongoing open adoption relationships and promoting ethical adoption practices. Follow us on Instagram @OpenAdoptionProject and at our website, openadoptionproject.org (http://openadoptionproject.org).
Everyone is welcome here. Considering adopting? Adoptive parents tune in as we listen and learn from adoptees first and foremost. Adopted individuals share a wide spectrum of experiences, including search and reunion. This podcast is a safe space for any perspectives and experiences adoptees and first parents share, while adopters and those wanting to adopt listen and learn. Academics and others also share with us.
This podcast is a passion project. No one here is connected to any adoption agencies. We do not profit from this podcast. It is a volunteer project we embrace to better enable adoptees and birth parents / biological parents to share their stories.
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Recent Episodes
From Secrets to Self-Discovery with Bob Sutherland
In this episode, we hear from Bob Sutherland as he shares his powerful personal story of adoption, identity, and self-discovery. Bob reflects on his challenging upbringing, being raised by a…
Finding Family Through DNA: Adoptee Diane Rosenblum’s Journey
In this episode, Diane Rosenblum shares her powerful journey of self-discovery, identity, and reconnection. Adopted in 1964 through a closed adoption, Diane shares how she uncovered her biological…
Discovery, Reconnection, and the Adoption Experience with Edward Di Gangi
In this episode, Edward Di Gangi recounts discovering his adoption status through personal documents and later reconnecting with his biological family. He shares a private adoption story, shaped by…
Journey and Discovery with Emma Boggess
Emma opens up about her adoption story, growing up with loving parents who were transparent about the process. Her journey took a surprising turn when an Ancestry DNA test revealed her Jewish…
Book Club: The Baby Thief with Heather Rodriguez
This National Adoption Month Book Club episode dives into the shocking true story of Georgia Tann, a once-celebrated American adoption pioneer who was, in fact, a baby trafficker. This book, written…
Book Club: All You Can Ever Know with Anna Lehnardt
In this special book club episode, we’re joined by adoptee Anna Lehnardt to discuss All You Can Ever Know by Nicole Chung—a powerful memoir about transracial adoption, identity, and the search for…
Representation Matters with Allison Olson
In this episode, Allison Olson, an adoptee and adoptive parent, returns to the podcast, sharing her unique perspective from two sides of the adoption journey. She discusses her upcoming children’s…
Broken Adoptions, Bold Advocacy with Dawn J. Post
In this episode with Dawn J. Post, a New York City–based children’s rights attorney, we talk about her work addressing critical issues within the adoption system—particularly broken adoptions and the…
The Power of Support with Janelle Basham, Executive Director of Brave Love
In this episode, we sit down with Janelle Basham, Executive Director of BraveLove. Janelle shares her personal journey as a birth mother, beginning at age 17 and leading to her current role with…
An International Adoptee's Journey with Anna Lehnardt
In this episode, we sit down with Anna Lehnardt, an international adoptee, to learn about the personal and emotional challenges from her experience of growing up in a family across borders. From…
Adoption and Suicidal Ideation: A Conversation with Beth Syverson
In 2019, when Beth Syverson's adopted son Joey was 15, he was hospitalized with a mental health crisis. While there, Beth discovered he had been using cannabis, psychedelics, and more. It has been a…
Pioneering Openness with Linda R. Sexton
Linda R. Sexton shares her experiences and insights regarding open adoption, including the challenges and benefits involved. She also discusses the importance of prioritizing the child's needs,…
An Adoption Triad Interview
Birth mom, Sara Jane, returns to the podcast with her daughter, Courtney, who she placed for adoption, and Courtney's adoptive mom, Jeanette. We get to hear thoughts from these three women who are…
Book Club: Selling Transracial Adoption
Anna Lehnardt, a Chinese-born adoptee, shares her experience and thoughts after reading "Selling Transracial Adoption" by Elizabeth Raleigh. She shares some of her own experiences as a transracial…
Book Club: Orphan Train
Sharolyn Swenson, an adoptee, joins our special NAM book club episode to discuss Christina Baker Kline’s book “Orphan Train.” If you haven’t read the book yet, please skip this episode to avoid…
Book Club: The Girls Who Went Away
An adoptee shares her personal journey of adoption and the impact of the book, "The Girls Who Went Away," by Ann Fessler, also an adoptee, in this special NAM book club episode. "The Girls Who Went…
Book Club: Far From the Tree
Adoptee Devanie Roberts discusses the book "Far from the Tree" by Robin Benway in this special National Adoption Month book club episode. Please do not listen to these episodes if you have not read…
Establishing Psychological Safety with Dr. Jeff Thompson
Dr. Jeff Thompson discusses how we can establish and maintain psychological safety within relationships. He shares how active listening can enhance connections. We also discuss how to address…
Improving Family Communication Patterns
In our last episode, we discussed Family Communication Patterns Theory (FCPT), which describes how families communicate and create a shared social reality. The theory was developed by Koerner and…
Identifying Family Communication Patterns
In this episode, Shaun and Lanette discuss the Family Communication Pattern Theory, by McLeod and Chaffee, and its adoption application. focusing on conformity and conversation orientation, and how…
Frequently Asked Questions
Open Adoption Project has published 134 episodes since April 2021, covering topics in Kids & Family, Parenting.
Open Adoption Project is currently highly active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 44m.
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