The Adoptee Next Door podcast

#Society #Adoption #Family #Racism #Culture #The Adopted Life

28:47

Tyler Summitt, son of legendary coach Pat Summitt, as well as the Co-Founder of Pat Summitt Leadership Group , shares the group’s mission, the story of Pat’s humble beginnings, the art of mastering full executive decision making in 90 second or less, the "secret sauce" to Pat’s leadership, what she definitely didn’t understand about, but learned from, a 5-year-old’s soccer game, how to visualize winning in a (very, very) highly detailed way, the key component that gets you to over a 90% success rate, and the answer to the mystery of just who is “Trish”? Mentioned in this episode: This episode is brought to you by Pat Summitt Leadership Group. Pat Summitt Leadership Group…

The Adoptee Next Door

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There is something temptingly tidy about the idea of adoption: a family with extra love and resources meets a child in need of both. The Adoptee Next Door takes the listener beyond the sparkly fairy tale of adoption.
angieadoptee.substack.com

13 episodes

The Adoptee Next Door

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updated 28 days ago

Series home•Feed

13 episodes

#Society #Adoption #Family #Racism #Culture #The Adopted Life

All episodes

The Adoptee Next Door

1
Let's Read "You Should Be Grateful" Together! 1:28

28 days ago1:28

1:28

If you’re reading this, I already know something important about you: You care. You’re willing to engage with adoptee perspectives in a way that so many people aren’t. And for that, I’m deeply grateful. Because you’re here, I know that you understand that adoption isn’t a simple “happily ever after.” You know that love is important, but it’s not a substitute for racial identity, community, or space to process loss. But, perhaps you haven’t gotten around to reading my book, You Should Be Grateful! I want to invite you to dig deeper with me through a self-paced book club —a space designed to challenge old narratives and build something better. I’ve created a guided book club slide deck that includes: ✅ Thought-provoking discussion prompts ✅ Action steps to make real, meaningful change ✅ A live Zoom session with me to unpack it all (April 2025) And because I love sharing my creative process with you, I’m throwing in some fun extras: 🎹 A personal piano performance 🎧 The Spotify playlist that shaped my writing process 📖 A few hilarious behind-the-scenes audiobook moments Join Now: ✨ $5 for non-subscribers - Sign up here! ✨ FREE for all paid Substack subscribers (Email me at angela@theadoptedlife.com , and I’ll send you the deck.) Get full access to The Adopted Life at angieadoptee.substack.com/subscribe…

The Adoptee Next Door

1
Patrice Martin: How Long Lost Family Went High, While Other Adoption Media Goes Low 51:27

1 year ago51:27

51:27

(Yes, the episode title is derived from Michelle Obama's famous line; "when they go low, we go high!") Television influences public opinion of adoption. It's easy to see the influence shows like Annie and The Blind Side have had as they highlight the savior tropes and downplay or ignore the adoptees journey of grief and loss. To my amazement, Long Lost Family seems to buck the trend! This show (which aired on TLC from 2016-2019) focuses on reuniting adoptees with their biological family. In the adoptee-world, shows like this often are termed 'reunion porn.' But this was different. Adoptee, Patrice Martin, was cast on Season 6, Episode 8 and to my amazement they resisted the urge to exploit her story. The production team treated her and her story with the humanity and care that we adoptees desire. Stunned and impressed, I just had to speak with the team that put this episode together. Listen to learn more about how a network television resisted the inevitable ratings gold. This episode features: Patrice Martin - Adoptee Kathryn Takis - Long Lost Family producer Lisa Joyner - Host of Long Lost Family Jen Utley - Director of Family Research at Ancestry.com Leslie Mackinnon - Therapist for Long Lost Family cast and crew You can reach out to Angela through her website or on Instagram @angieadoptee. Get full access to The Adopted Life at angieadoptee.substack.com/subscribe…

The Adoptee Next Door

1
Alexandra "ALX J": Transgender adopted teen discusses race, adoption, and LGBTQ intersectionality 50:40

4 years ago50:40

50:40

Back in 2016, Angela had 12 year old transracial adoptee Alex, as a guest on her web series, The Adopted Life. In this episode, Angela reconnects with Alex, now a 17 year old transgender woman, to discuss adoption, the intersections of LGBTQ culture, and how quarantine provided a silver lining for Alex's transition period. You can reach out to Angela through her website or on Instagram @angieadoptee. Get full access to The Adopted Life at angieadoptee.substack.com/subscribe…

The Adoptee Next Door

1
Tiffany Henness: Could The Book Of Psalms Help Us Rethink The Fairy-Tale Adoption Narrative? 43:59

4 years ago43:59

43:59

Angela talks with Tiffany Henness about the surprising grief she experienced during her pregnancy and childbirth of her two biological kids. As a Christian she challenges the fairy-tale narrative about adoption and wonders if Christians may be use the book of Psalms to think differently about helping children through adoption. You can reach out to Angela through her website or on Instagram @angieadoptee. Get full access to The Adopted Life at angieadoptee.substack.com/subscribe…

The Adoptee Next Door

1
Kristen Garaffo: Everyone Just Assumed I Was White 51:04

4 years ago51:04

51:04

Kristen and I talk about her identity as a white-passing Latina, adopted from Paraguay to Washington DC. The first time Kristen and I chatted she told me that she has only recently begun identifying as Latina. You can reach out to Angela through her website or on Instagram @angieadoptee. Get full access to The Adopted Life at angieadoptee.substack.com/subscribe…

The Adoptee Next Door

1
Torie DiMartile: Amy Coney Barrett and the White Savior Narrative 53:03

4 years ago53:03

53:03

Over the past week it's become clear that most U.S. Americans view Amy Coney Barrett’s transracial family as noble, good and representing all things decent. However, transracial adoptees have a different take. It seemed to showcase white saviorism and virtue signaling. Torie and Angela discuss why the Supreme Court nominee's comment was so polarizing and why conversations about transracial adoption are so divided that even hearing directly from transracial adoptees, isn't enough to counter the dominant fairytale narrative. You can reach out to Angela through her website or on Instagram @angieadoptee. Get full access to The Adopted Life at angieadoptee.substack.com/subscribe…

The Adoptee Next Door

1
Jay Johnson: "What Is a Late Discovery Adoptee?" 47:40

5 years ago47:40

47:40

The impacts of being told that you were adopted late in life are far reaching. One Late Discovery Adoptee (LDA) says "It feels like a cruel joke. Finding out that you are adopted late in life destroys part of your identity and turns your life upside down." Some parents think they are protecting their child by not telling them. However, finding out as an adult is undoubtedly a shock and for many LDA's they can't help but wonder what else their parents' may have lied about? But Jay sees it differently. He explains how he differentiates a secret versus a lie. You can reach out to Angela through her website or on Instagram @angieadoptee. Get full access to The Adopted Life at angieadoptee.substack.com/subscribe…

The Adoptee Next Door

1
Maya Holmes: Is Same-Race Adoption The Answer? 36:02

5 years ago36:02

36:02

Angela speaks with Black adoptee Maya Holmes, who was adopted by Black parents as an infant. Maya shares her perspective and challenges Angela's assumptions about racial identity formation for black same-race adoptees. You can reach out to Angela through her website or on Instagram @angieadoptee. Get full access to The Adopted Life at angieadoptee.substack.com/subscribe…

The Adoptee Next Door

1
Nancee Winslow: Who Would I Be If I Hadn't Been Adopted? 49:48

5 years ago49:48

49:48

Angela speaks with adoptee Nancee Winslow, about nature vs. nurture, reuniting with birth family members, and adoptees feeling the need to prove they are "well-adjusted" with their adoption. Nancee shares a powerful story about the moment she told her 4-year-old son that she was adopted, and his emotional reaction. You can reach out to Angela through her website or on Instagram @angieadoptee. Get full access to The Adopted Life at angieadoptee.substack.com/subscribe…

The Adoptee Next Door

1
Tony Hynes: A Black Son with Two White Moms 43:11

5 years ago43:11

43:11

Tony Hynes is a transracial adoptee, and was adopted by white lesbian moms in the mid 1990s. A judge told his parents “A white, same-sex-headed household is not the right household to raise a black child in,” and at the age of 7, Tony was asked to choose between his birth family and his adoptive family. Tony and Angela discuss racism and homophobia in this podcast. You can reach out to Angela through her website or on Instagram @angieadoptee. Get full access to The Adopted Life at angieadoptee.substack.com/subscribe…

The Adoptee Next Door

1
Jessenia Parmer: Did My Adoption Give Me a "Better Life?" 33:39

5 years ago33:39

33:39

Angela speaks with transracial adoptee; Jessenia Parmer about the need for more mental health awareness among adoptees. They both address the fear and courage it takes to challenge the mainstream positive narrative of adoption, by acknowledging stories of trauma and loss. You can reach out to Angela through her website or on Instagram @angieadoptee. Get full access to The Adopted Life at angieadoptee.substack.com/subscribe…

The Adoptee Next Door

1
Sam Collier: “She Can’t Have the ‘Mom’ Space” 43:06

5 years ago43:06

43:06

Angela speaks with Black adoptee; Sam Collier about the complications of reuniting with his birth family. They discuss Sam’s new book “A Greater Story” and why he considers himself to be “rescued.” You can reach out to Angela through her website or on Instagram @angieadoptee. Get full access to The Adopted Life at angieadoptee.substack.com/subscribe…

The Adoptee Next Door

1
Introducing "The Adoptee Next Door" 3:18

5 years ago3:18