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When TRA's Become Parents

DAWTA The Podcast

Release Date: 05/24/2023

DJ Elley Phunk - Identifying Through Music show art DJ Elley Phunk - Identifying Through Music

DAWTA The Podcast

Hello, my name is Dionne Draper and I am the writer, actor and producer of DAWTA a semi-autobiographical one woman musical, the roots of this podcast series, and I live with the complex transracial adoptee experience.  Self regulation, or put simply the ability to manage our emotions and impulses is a particular challenge for transracial adoptee and fostered people. Season 2 is full of interviews with members of the community about wellbeing activities that support our self-regulation. From Djing to climbing to weightlifting (that’s me), and more. Join me for this wellbeing series as we...

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Music Therapy - 'Feeling Comfortable Being Vulnerable' show art Music Therapy - 'Feeling Comfortable Being Vulnerable'

DAWTA The Podcast

TRIGGER WARNING: Self Harm is discussed in this episode. Hello, my name is Dionne Draper and I am the writer, actor and producer of DAWTA a semi-autobiographical one woman musical, the roots of this podcast series, and I live with the complex transracial adoptee experience.  Self regulation, or put simply the ability to manage our emotions and impulses is a particular challenge for transracial adoptee and fostered people. Season 2 is full of interviews with members of the community about wellbeing activities that support our self-regulation. From Djing to climbing to weightlifting...

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When Women Lift show art When Women Lift

DAWTA The Podcast

  DAWTA The Podcast Season 2 Episode 2 - Pat Tru Fitness  ‘When Women Lift’ Main Intro Hello, my name is Dionne Draper and I am the writer, actor and producer of DAWTA a semi-autobiographical one woman musical, the roots of this podcast series, and I live with the complex transracial adoptee experience.  Self regulation, or put simply the ability to manage our emotions and impulses is a particular challenge for transracial adoptee and fostered adults. So, Season 2 is full of interviews with members of the community about wellbeing activities that support our self-regulation....

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Mum, we've got the same nose! show art Mum, we've got the same nose!

DAWTA The Podcast

Hello, my name is Dionne Draper and I am the writer, actor and producer of DAWTA a semi-autobiographical one woman musical, the roots of this podcast series, and I live with the complex transracial adoptee experience.  Self regulation, or put simply the ability to manage our emotions and impulses is a particular challenge for transracial adoptee and fostered adults. So, Season 2 is full of interviews with members of the community about wellbeing activities that support our self-regulation. From Djing to climbing to weightlifting (that’s me), and more. Join me for this wellbeing series...

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Solo, but not alone! show art Solo, but not alone!

DAWTA The Podcast

Hello It's been a while but DAWTA The Podcast is back with Season 2, following a fantastic Season 1 with Lisa Marie-Simmons. Thanks Lisa. For Season 2 I will be riding solo, but certainly not alone. So join me, Dionne Draper for more knowledge from the experts and lived expertise from the guests. DAWTA The TRA Podcast - Telling Real Accounts. Info:  IG: soullife05  

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DAWTA @ The Mount Without Live  (Black Identity Part II) show art DAWTA @ The Mount Without Live (Black Identity Part II)

DAWTA The Podcast

Part 2 Welcome to Episode 6 of DAWTA The Podcast LIVE!! ( Part 2) Whoop, whoop! This live episode was recorded on Tuesday 3rd October at the beautiful and atmospheric crypt of The Mount Without in Bristol. Shout out to Lottie, Tom and Mira. Joined by my fabulous co-host Lisa Marie Simmons, (in the house!!) and the warmest and most insightful audience in Bristol, we dive into our enormous theme, ‘Black Identity’. In Part 2 we invite DAWTA The Podcast therapists Lana Lynn Moreno, Celena Lewis and health practitioner Michael Earle to the DAWTA sofa, to delve further into the theme of Black...

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Live @ The Mount Without (Black Identity Part 1) show art Live @ The Mount Without (Black Identity Part 1)

DAWTA The Podcast

  Welcome to Episode 6 of DAWTA The Podcast LIVE!! ( Part 1) Whoop, whoop. This live episode was recorded on Tuesday 3rd October at the beautiful and atmospheric crypt of #TheMountWithout in Bristol. Shout out to Lottie, Tom and Mira. Joined by my fabulous co-host Lisa Marie Simmons, (in the house!!), the wonderful DAWTA guests and the warmest and most insightful audience in Bristol, we dive into our enormous theme, ‘Black Identity’. Research: 'Loving Blackness as Political Resistance', Bell Hooks Love this! The VW Beastie boys started- it- all quest continued. Was it unequivocally...

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TRA's and Birth Fathers show art TRA's and Birth Fathers

DAWTA The Podcast

We love feedback. Please contact [email protected] with any questions you would like to ask Lisa or myself for our upcoming DAWTA The Podcast Q and A zoom special. All welcome, but priority given to TRA voices.   In thia special Episode 5 edition of DAWTA The Podcast 'TRA's and Birth Fathers' we centre and her search for her birth father.   Join us as we explore birth fathers in transracial adoption (TRA) and the complexity of the pervasive, negative image of black fatherhood. Where does it come from, and how does that obstruct the search for our black birth fathers? I also...

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TRA's and Religion show art TRA's and Religion

DAWTA The Podcast

In this Episode Lisa and I explore Sarah’s relationship with God, and we consider the wider question of TRA’s relationship with religion and spirituality. Why do TRA’s seek religion in their lives and what influences those decisions? And, how can religion impact a TRA’s reunion with birth families? In this our ‘Therapist View’ comes from Celena Lewis who has specialised in trauma and addiction for the past 18 years. Celena is a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP) and accredited with the National Counselling Society (MNCS). Celena...

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TRA Sons show art TRA Sons

DAWTA The Podcast

Show notes:  Dionne Draper and Lisa Marie-Simmons bring you DAWTA The Podcast, Episode 3 with a special focus on the Black, Male TRA (Transracial Adoptee) experience and a wider focus on Black, Male Mental Health.  Robert Lewtas is a transracial adoptee living in London and works as an accountant for a large theatre producer. He is a proud father who identifies as Black English..though others might disagree! Michael Earle is an award winning wellbeing consultant, international speaker, mental health practitioner and certified Nordic Walking instructor. He lives in Bristol with...

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Dionne Draper and Lisa Marie-Simmons are both black, transracial adoptees and the hosts of 'DAWTA' The Podcast.

Dionne Draper is the writer, actor and producer of DAWTA a semi-autobiographical multi-media work that centres the esxperiences of Sarah, a transracial adoptee. DAWTA, a one woman musical was the first live iteration (2019), then DAWTA Digital and immersive online version (2021) and now DAWTA the Podcast (2023), with support from Arts Council England.

Lisa is a multi-disciplinary storyteller bon in the US, adopted by a white family, subsequently re-homed to a white adoptive mother and her black husband, and raised in Boulder, Co. Lisa's work as a singer/songwriter, poet and essayist uses intimate details of her life to speak to a larger narrative.

DAWTA The Podcast centres on themes in Sarah's transracial adoption, with special guests and a 'Therapists' View'. Each episode covers complex, challenging and always heart-warming stories of the transracial adoptee experience, and the powerful path to self-actualisation.

SHOW NOTES

DISCLAIMER: We hope this episode offers you knowledge, comfort and support - perhaps some laughs too - however it is not meant to serve as a substitute for a relationship with a trained and licensed counselor or therapist.

  • Study 'From Being Adopted to Becoming a Parent' June 2018 - December 2021 Research team: Professor Beth Neil (Principle Investigator), Dr Julia Rimmer and Dr Irina Sirbu at the Centre for Research and Families at UEA 
  • Paper 'Indigenous Adoptees' Experiences of Racism in Transracial Adoption in Saskatachewan: Discovering Truth and Being Authentic (Copyright 2019:CJ McCloy)
  • Books 'Surviving the White Gaze' Rebecca Carroll, 'Eyes On The Proze (Black Civil Rights Movement), 'Negroverse' (Pocket Poets), 'The Primal Wound - In Search Of the Missing Piece' Nancy Verrier
  • TRA Networks - ICAV UK, Monarch Connections, Adoptee Thoughts

Today's Guest

Vik Fielder was born in London in 1971, adopted and moved to Somerset ata week old she now lives nestled in the Quantock Hills with her children. Vik really got into adoption advocacy during covid and has been running an adoptees only zoom chat since May 2020. Vik is also a founder member of the Adult Adoptee Movement.

Links 

https://inews.co.uk/author/vik-fielder

https://adultadoptee.org.uk/

https://adultadoptee.org.uk/kaepernick-transracial-adoption

https://adultadoptee.org.uk/the-importance-of-genetic-mirroring/

More info about:

Dionne and DAWTA at www.dionnedraper.com

Lisa Marie-Simmons at www.lisamariesimmons.com

Lana Lynn Mareno at Journey to Wellness at www.bs2therapyrooms.co.uk