Adoption from 3 Perspectives with Kevin Burgart - Ep 86
Release Date: 03/27/2023
Shedding Light on Children of Priests with Brendan Watkins - Ep 161
Unraveling Adoption
"The Church, of course, is doing everything it can to silence victims." - Brendan Watkins EPISODE SUMMARY: In this episode of Unraveling Adoption, the host, Beth Syverson, interviews Brendan Watkins, an Australian adoptee who shares his emotional journey of discovering his origin story filled with religious intrigue. Brendan found out that his birth mother became pregnant in the 1950s and relinquished him for adoption, and later became a nun. He then discovered that his birth father was a Catholic priest. Brendan's memoir, Tell No One, sheds light on the challenges faced by children of priests...
info_outline
Homeschooling Complexities for Adopted Children with Rae (Adoptee Reclaimed) - Ep 160
Unraveling Adoption
"I never learned the word stress until I was 14 years old. And I can guarantee you I was very stressed well before the age of 14." -- Rae =============== 📘 Order our book Adoption and Suicidality: 📆 Community Calendar: ✨Healing the Adoption Constellation database: 💌Sign up for our Unraveling Adoption email list: =============== EPISODE SUMMARY: In this episode of Unraveling Adoption, host Beth Syverson interviews Rae, whose handle is Adoptee Reclaimed. Rae discusses how being homeschooled from kindergarten through high school in a conservative family led to feelings of isolation...
info_outline
The Stolen Legacy of Indigenous Adoption with Pete Patton - Ep 159
Unraveling Adoption
"I really want to focus on the collective nature of being stolen, because it wasn't just me. It was the vast majority of Native adoptees." -- Pete Patton Episode Summary: In this episode of Unraveling Adoption, co-hosted by Beth Syverson and her son Joey, they interview Pete Patton,LCSW, an Indigenous Inuit adoptee who shares his experiences of being stolen and adopted. Pete discusses the historical context of racism in Oregon and the impact it had on Native American communities there and elsewhere. He also delves into his journey of reconnecting with his Indigenous heritage and the healing...
info_outline
Adoption and Suicidality with Joey Nakao, Dr. Joyce Maguire Pavao, Bruce Porth, Janell Strube, Laura L. Engel, Lorraine Dusky, Terri Dreismeier, and Melissa Brunetti - Ep 158
Unraveling Adoption
Adoption and Suicidality with Joey Nakao, Dr. Joyce Maguire Pavao, Bruce Porth, Janell Strube, Laura L. Engel, Lorraine Dusky, Terri Dreismeier, and Melissa Brunetti - Ep 158 "Despite working hard on a daily or moment-to-moment basis to stay alive, the poem revealed a thin thread of hope that by turning toward and befriending my pain, I might just find a way through it." -- Bruce Porth, one of the book’s contributors ❤️🩹 If you or someone you know is suicidal, please call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. (Outside US, call your area’s crisis line.) ❤️🩹...
info_outline
Rituals and Relationships in Adoption Reunion with Elizabeth Barbour - Ep 157
Unraveling Adoption
"I think my mom, my adoptive mom, was probably scared that she was going to lose me to my birth family." -- Elizabeth Barbour EPISODE SUMMARY: In this episode of Unraveling Adoption, host Beth Syverson interviews guest Elizabeth Barbour, an adoptee who has been in reunion with her birth parents and 11 siblings since 1999. Elizabeth shares her personal adoption story and highlights the importance of navigating search and reunion in a healthy way. She emphasizes the need for support, education, and personal growth for all members of the adoption triad. Elizabeth also discusses the significance...
info_outline
Understanding The Foster Care to Prison Pipeline with Desmond DeRoo and Sara DeRoo - Ep 156
Unraveling Adoption
“Love is the biggest and best thing that she did — unconditional love." Desmond DeRoo EPISODE SUMMARY: In this episode of the podcast, I had the privilege of speaking with Desmond DeRoo, a 30-year-old currently serving his second prison term in Michigan. Desmond, who was adopted by Sarah DeRoo at the age of five after being in the foster care system, shared his experiences of growing up as a biracial child in a small white town in Michigan. Despite facing intense early childhood trauma and struggles with impulsive behavior, Desmond emphasized the importance of unconditional love and...
info_outline
The Impact of Colonization on an Inuit Greenlander Adoptee in Denmark with Kâlánguak Absalonsen - Ep 155
Unraveling Adoption
"We have only ourselves. And when I'm thinking about that, I'm thinking how strong we are. Because we have survived and still live and still create and still talk about our history." -- Kâlánguak Absalonsen Episode Summary: In this episode of Unraveling Adoption, I had the privilege of speaking with Kâlánguak Absalonsen, an adopted person from Greenland living in Denmark. Kâlánguak shared her unique perspective on adoption, colonization, and the challenges faced by Inuit people in Denmark. She highlighted the impact of colonization on adoption practices and the struggle to maintain...
info_outline
Finding Meaning in Adversity with Stephen Rowley - Ep 154
Unraveling Adoption
"The experience of being stuck is a pretty good place to be, I think, a lot of times in therapy and life." - Stephen Rowley Podcast Episode Synopsis: In this episode of Unraveling Adoption, I had the pleasure of speaking with Stephen Rowley, a school administrator, college professor, and psychotherapist who shared his fascinating journey of adoption and destiny. Steve's memoir, The Lost Coin: A Memoir of Adoption and Destiny, delves into the complexities of adoption and the impact it has had on his life. Steve shared insights into his adoption experience, including the profound moment of...
info_outline
Unraveling Adoption Update: New Book Launch and Other Collaborations with Beth Syverson - Ep 153
Unraveling Adoption
Podcast Episode Synopsis: In this episode of Unraveling Adoption, I, Beth Syverson, provide a detailed update on the latest happenings within the Unraveling Adoption community. As an adoptive mom to my son Joey, we are dedicated to delving into the complexities of adoption and providing support to those impacted by adoption. Book Launch Announcement: The main highlight of this episode is the impending launch of our first book in the Unraveling Adoption book series. Titled Adoption and Suicidality, this anthology features stories, poems, and resources for adoptees, families, healthcare...
info_outline
Insights from Plant Medicine for the Adoption Constellation with Mee Ok Icaro and Leslie Pate Mackinnon - Ep 152
Unraveling Adoption
“Psychedelics can offer a portal to other consciousnesses and open spaces beyond our regular reality.” -- Mee Ok Icaro (adoptee) “Psychedelics can be a powerful tool for deep work and accessing feelings”. - Leslie Pate Mackinnon (birth mom) “Psychedelics can lead to transformative experiences, dividing life into before and after the journey.” -- Beth Syverson (adoptive parent) *********** All adoption constellation members (adoptees, birth/first parents, adoptive parents, and other allies) are invited to a Medicine Circle on July 7, 2024, led by Mee Ok Icaro and...
info_outlineIn this week’s Unraveling Adoption podcast, Beth talks with Kevin Burgart from the Nashville area. He’s an adoptee, adoptive parent of two children with significant special needs, and recently he became the adoptive parent of his grandchild as well. Since Kevin has been on both sides of this equation, he has a unique perspective on adoption. His life has been more challenging than most in many ways. We will dig into the obstacles he’s faced, and talk about what resources he’s found to help him cope.
===============
📆 Community Calendar: UnravelingAdoption.com/Calendar
💌Sign up for our Unraveling Adoption email list: http://eepurl.com/hVIAVX
===============
RESOURCES:
Kevin’s information:
-
Find Kevin on Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/kevin.burgart.1
Helpful resources mentioned in this episode:
-
The Primal Wound by Nancy Verrier: https://amzn.to/40bfXX0
-
Journey of the Adopted Self by Betty Jean Lifton: https://amzn.to/42RZLMj
-
Adoptees On podcast with Haley Radke: https://www.adopteeson.com/
Other Resources:
-
APtitude Support Group for Adoptive Parents Facing Adoption’s Challenges: UnravelingAdoption.com/APtitude
-
Other Parents Like Me - https://www.facebook.com/other.parents.like.me
-
Heather Ross - Life Coaching for Parents of Addicted Teens: https://heatherrosscoaching.com/
-
Find a Tele-Therapist: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/online-counseling
===============
Unraveling Adoption is produced and hosted by Beth Syverson
Music written and performed by Joseph Nakao
Email questions or comments to [email protected]
Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube
Support UnravelingAdoption on Patreon: Patreon.com/UnravelingAdoption
===============
TIME STAMPS:
1:22 Kevin’s adoption story and childhood
2:53 How adoption affected Kevin’s teen years with emotional and behavioral issues
3:38 The start of Kevin’s search for his biological family, then blocked for 41 years
6:24 Adoptive parents were loving and helpful with search
8:04 New research about biological family in 1991, more falsehoods, adoptees beware!
9:21 Registration with databases, a few teasers
10:20 Finally received birth certificate after 48 years, but all his parents were gone by then
12:45 Pursuing other family members through DNA, expectation v. reality
17:35 Does Kevin feel “lucky” to escape being raised by his birth family?
19:05 Connections with Kevin’s 15 bio siblings
21:52 Deciding to adopt older children with special needs
24:10 Disruptions and chaos with adopted siblings
27:20 Major struggles with adopted son because of so much trauma in his life
33:55 Adopting their son’s infant child
37:30 How Kevin reckons with parenting these troubled children
39:00 Resources that have helped Kevin, and advice for adoptees in search