Personal Trust Communities in Adoption with Mike Thorne - Ep 163
Release Date: 09/16/2024
The Plants Are Calling for the Adoption Constellation with Mee Ok Icaro - Ep 171
Unraveling Adoption
"The plants are always turning everything upside down because our culture is upside down." -- Mee Ok Icaro EPISODE SUMMARY: In this episode of Unraveling Adoption, I, Beth Syverson, welcome back Mee Ok Icaro, a previous guest who has shared her profound insights on adoption and healing through plant medicine. This episode is particularly special as we recorded as we prepared for an ayahuasca retreat in Costa Rica, where I participated in my first ceremony under Mee Okās guidance. We begin by discussing our feelings as the retreat approaches. I express my excitement mixed with a hint of fear,...
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Finding Empowerment through Sex Work as a Korean Adoptee with Kayla Tange - Ep 170
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Finding Empowerment through Sex Work as a Korean Adoptee with Kayla Tange "I can be in my body, and in that moment, I feel safe." -- Kayla Tange EPISODE SUMMARY: In this episode of Unraveling Adoption, I had the privilege of speaking with Kayla Tange, a Korean adoptee raised by Japanese-American parents. She has navigated a unique and complex journey through life as an exotic dancer, performance artist, and sex worker. Kayla shared her adoption story, detailing her early life in an orphanage in Seoul before being adopted at six months old. We explored how her experiences with ADHD and...
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From Ethiopia to America and Back Again: An Adopteeās Fight for Justice with Mike Davis and Maureen McCauley - Ep 169
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"I thought I'll go to the embassy and I'll clear this up. Yeah, that I was adopted legally and I was US citizen." -- Mike Davis READ THE TRANSCRIPT HERE: EPISODE SUMMARY: In this episode of Unraveling Adoption, I had the privilege of speaking with Mike Davis, an intercountry adoptee whose story sheds light on the often-overlooked complexities of adoption, particularly regarding citizenship issues. Mike was adopted from Ethiopia at the age of eight by an African-American single father and grew up in the U.S. However, in the mid-1990s, he discovered that he was not a U.S. citizen,...
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Educating the Next Generation: Adoption Messages in Children's Books with Allison Olson - Ep 168
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Creative Paths to Healing Childhood Trauma with Jonathan Moon - Ep 167
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āI'm telling all the skeptics who may be listening, just go in there with an open mind because you're not going to lose anything. You have so much more to gain.ā - Jonathan Moon EPISODE SUMMARY: In this episode of Unraveling Adoption, I had the privilege of speaking with Jonathan Moon, an adopted person who has navigated the complexities of relinquishment and adoption trauma. Jonathan's journey began in Korea, where he faced significant challenges as a child, including living on the streets and experiencing significant instability. He was adopted to the U.S. at the age of nine and...
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"I think my mom does a great job addressing this in the book, but open adoption is not without its challenges." - Belle Sexton Episode Summary: In this episode of Unraveling Adoption, I had the honor of speaking with Linda R. Sexton, an adoptive mom and author, and her 25-year-old daughter, Belle. This marks our first mother-daughter duo on the podcast, offering a unique perspective on open adoption. Linda R. Sexton is an author, speaker and blogger. She is an adoptive mom of two children, both in open arrangements, and is the author of the award-winning book, . The story is told with frank...
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The Intersection of Politics and Adoption with Mark H. - Ep 165
Unraveling Adoption
"The way that fascism triumphs is if everyone goes silent and becomes quiescent." - Mark H. EPISODE SUMMARY: In this episode of Unraveling Adoption, I, Beth Syverson, welcome Mark, a transracial adoptee from Korea and a passionate advocate for adoption-related issues. Together, we delve into the often-overlooked intersection of politics and adoption, particularly in the context of the upcoming U.S. presidential election. As an adoptive mom of a 20-year-old son, Joey, who is navigating his own path, I feel a deep responsibility to address the complexities surrounding adoption and how they...
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Unpacking Adoption Trauma: Insights from an Adoptive Parent with Stacey Uhrig - Ep 164
Unraveling Adoption
āThey [our kids] can't be more regulated than you are. They can only be as regulated as the least regulated person in the house.ā - Stacey Uhrig EPISODE SUMMARY: In this episode of Unraveling Adoption, I had the pleasure of speaking with Stacey Uhrig, an adoptive parent and certified trauma recovery coach. Stacey shared her journey into adoption, which began after her own struggles with infertility. She emphasized the emotional complexities and challenges that come with adoption, particularly the trauma that both adoptees and adoptive parents may face. Stacey discussed her...
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Personal Trust Communities in Adoption with Mike Thorne - Ep 163
Unraveling Adoption
"When I was nine years old,...my parents just looked at each other and looked back at me and said, Michael, we just want to tell you that we love you very much and that you're adopted." -- Mike Thorne =============== šGet our new book Adoption and Suicidality: š Community Calendar: āØHealing the Adoption Constellation database: šSign up for our Unraveling Adoption email list: ============== EPISODE SUMMARY: In this episode of Unraveling Adoption, I had the pleasure of speaking with Mike Thorne, an adoptee and community leader. Mike shared his journey of discovering his adoption...
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The Importance of Adoptee-Led Initiatives with Jessica M. Luciere - Ep 162
Unraveling Adoption
"I tell every adopted person that I meet that their story changes my own story. And it's the truth. It is the absolute truth." - Jessica M. Luciere In this episode of Unraveling Adoption, host Beth Syverson interviews Jessica M. Luciere, an inter-country, interracial adoptee from Colombia who works at Spence Chapin, a nonprofit adoption agency. Jessica shares her personal adoption story and highlights the importance of adoptee-led initiatives in the adoption community. She discusses the programming she has created at Spence Chapin, including Voices of Adoption for adoptees over 18 and...
info_outline"When I was nine years old,...my parents just looked at each other and looked back at me and said, Michael, we just want to tell you that we love you very much and that you're adopted." -- Mike Thorne
===============
šGet our new book Adoption and Suicidality: amazon.com/Adoption-Suicidality-Healthcare-Professionals-Unraveling/dp/B0DCBCTSLL
š Community Calendar: UnravelingAdoption.com/Calendar
āØHealing the Adoption Constellation database: UnravelingAdoption.com/Healing
šSign up for our Unraveling Adoption email list: http://eepurl.com/hVIAVX
==============
EPISODE SUMMARY:
In this episode of Unraveling Adoption, I had the pleasure of speaking with Mike Thorne, an adoptee and community leader. Mike shared his journey of discovering his adoption at age nine, which profoundly impacted his self-worth. We discussed the importance of building personal trust communitiesāsupportive networks that provide emotional and intellectual guidance, especially for those navigating the complexities of adoption.
Mike also reflected on his time as a board member of the National Council for Adoption (NCFA), emphasizing the need for diverse perspectives in adoption discussions. He encouraged listeners to seek out their own support systems and focus on their dreams rather than being held back by past experiences.
This episode serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of connection and understanding within the adoption community. I hope you find inspiration in Mike's insights and encourage you to explore his TEDx Talk and memoir for further understanding. Thank you for joining us, and I look forward to continuing this important conversation in future episodes.
RESOURCES:
Mike Thorneās information:
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Watch Mikeās TEDx Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/michael_thorne_three_words_that_can_transform_our_lives_they_aren_t_what_you_think?subtitle=en
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Read Mikeās memoir Hustle With Heart: Unlocking Self-Worth Through Personal Trust Communities: https://www.amazon.com/Hustle-Heart-Unlocking-Self-Worth-Communities/dp/1958729698/
Other resources mentioned in this episode:
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NCFA - National Council for Adoption: https://adoptioncouncil.org/
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Simon Bennās organization & podcast Thriving Adoptees: https://www.thrivingadoptees.com/
Other resources:
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APtitude Support Group for Adoptive Parents Facing Adoptionās Challenges: http://UnravelingAdoption.com/APtitude
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Other Parents Like Me - http://oplm.com
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Heather Ross - Life Coaching for Parents who have a child struggling with addiction: https://heatherrosscoaching.com/
===============
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 Unraveling Adoption on Patreon: http://Patreon.com/UnravelingAdoption
Check out our website: http://UnravelingAdoption.com
Create your own podcast through Libsyn: https://signup.libsyn.com/?promo_code=ADOPTION
===============
TIME STAMPS:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Unraveling Adoption
Welcome to the podcast and introduction of host Beth Syverson and her son Joey.
00:01:00 - Mike Thorne's Adoption Story
Mike shares his vivid experience of discovering he was adopted at the age of nine.
00:02:30 - Navigating Adoption Conversations
Discussion on the lack of resources and conversations around adoption during Mike's childhood.
00:03:55 - Understanding Late Discovery Adoptees
Exploration of the term "late discovery adoptee" and its implications.
00:05:00 - Age-Appropriate Communication in Adoption
The importance of age-appropriate discussions about adoption with children.
00:06:00 - Adoptee Perspectives in Education
Mike discusses his daughter's experiences as a teacher and the impact of sharing adoption stories.
00:07:00 - Mike's Leadership in Adoption Advocacy
Mike's involvement with the National Council for Adoption and the importance of adoptee voices.
00:08:30 - Adoptee Panel at NCFA Conference
Insights from the adoptee panel at the NCFA conference and its impact on attendees.
00:10:00 - The Need for Male Voices in Adoption
The significance of including male and non-binary perspectives in the adoption conversation.
00:11:00 - Evolution of NCFA
Discussion on the changes within the National Council for Adoption and its leadership.
00:12:00 - Mike's Future Goals in Maine
Mike shares his plans to connect with local organizations in Maine to support adoption and foster care.
00:13:00 - Corporate Leadership Background
Mike discusses his corporate experience and how it informs his approach to leadership.
00:15:00 - The Importance of Personal Trust Communities
Introduction to the concept of personal trust communities and their role in personal growth.
00:18:00 - Overcoming Perfectionism in Adoptees
Mike reflects on the perfectionism often experienced by adoptees and its roots.
00:20:00 - Building Supportive Networks
The importance of finding the right people to support you in various aspects of life.
00:22:00 - Adoptee Spaces and Support
The value of finding supportive spaces for adoptees to share their experiences.
00:24:00 - Challenges for Adoptive Parents
Discussion on the struggles adoptive parents face in understanding and supporting their children.
00:26:00 - Collaboration Among Organizations
The need for collaboration among nonprofits to improve outcomes for children in the adoption system.
00:28:00 - Mike's Vision for the Future
Mike shares his aspirations for making a difference in the adoption community.
00:30:00 - Encouragement for Listeners
Mike encourages listeners to focus on their dreams and find supportive communities.
00:32:00 - Conclusion and Resources
Wrap-up of the episode, including resources for listeners to connect with Mike and Beth.