Introducing Adoption Pop!
Because She's Adopted Podcast
Elf (2003): Adoption on the Big Screen The best way to spread Christmas cheer is by singing loud for all to hear! Whether it’s your first time watching this holiday classic, or your fiftieth, you’ve probably never watched Elf like this before. Podcast journalist Haley Radke, filmmaker Kristal Parke, and cultural critic Sullivan Summer–all adoptees themselves–explore the adoptee experience alongside adoptee Buddy the Elf, including adoptee terminology, biological parent fantasies, cultural identity struggles, and more. Elf (2003) was written by David Berenbaum, directed by Jon Favreau,...
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14 Christy & Scott
Because She's Adopted Podcast
Episode 14 | Christy & Scott In this episode of Because She's Adopted, hosts Kristal and Stewart Parke team up with Christy and Scott Gilvear for a podcast “double date,” diving into the nuances of marriage, family life, and the ever-evolving conversations around adoption. They explore the importance of communication, and the support systems that help navigate the challenges of being adopted and being in a partnership with an adoptee. The conversation highlights the significance of personal growth, emphasizing the shared journeys of understanding, boundaries and validation. Guest...
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13 Linda Pevac
Because She's Adopted Podcast
Episode 13 | Linda Pevac In this episode of the Because She's Adopted podcast, host Kristal Parke interviews Linda Pevac, an adoptee, author, and survivor. Linda shares her harrowing experiences of childhood trauma, the impact of hypervigilance, and the healing power of creativity. The conversation delves into the complexities of relationships with adoptive parents, the inner critic, and the importance of self-compassion. Linda also discusses her experiences with abusive therapy, the journey of caring for her parents, and the significance of emotional sobriety. Throughout the episode, Linda...
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12 Kim & Emma
Because She's Adopted Podcast
Episode 12 | Kim & Emma In this episode of Because She's Adopted, hosts Kristal Parke, Kim, and Emma explore the complexities of adoption, personal stories, and the importance of community. Kim shares her adoption journey, including her reunion with her birth mother and the emotional challenges that come with it. Emma provides her perspective as a partner supporting Kim through her experiences. Together, they discuss the significance of connecting with other adoptees and the impact of their relationships on their identities. Guest Bios Emma is an editor and producer based in Brooklyn, New...
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11 Chris Williams
Because She's Adopted Podcast
Episode 11 | Chris Williams Host Kristal Parke welcomes fellow adoptee and comedian, Chris Williams to recap a week in The Big Apple where Kristal’s film, Because She’s Adopted, was the official selection for The Adoptee Film Festival and had its New York City Premiere at the Caveat Theatre in Manhattan. From Central Park to Broadway, hotdogs to hamburgers, they cover it all in this lighthearted episode. Guest Bio Chris Williams is a stand-up comedian and producer from Los Angeles, currently based in Santa Barbara. Audiences are drawn to his intelligent, relatable, and irreverent style of...
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10 Christy Gilvear
Because She's Adopted Podcast
Episode 10 | Christy Gilvear Host Kristal Parke welcomes fellow adoptee Christy Gilvear for a powerful conversation about adoption, faith, and growing up in a high-control religious environment. Together, they unpack how those experiences shaped their identity, relationships, and journey toward healing. This episode of Because She’s Adopted offers an honest look at self-discovery, resilience, and finding freedom beyond the beliefs we were raised in. Guest Bio Christy Gilvear is the creator of The Rooted Petal and host of the upcoming Green Alchemy Podcast. Through plants, storytelling, and...
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09 Dr.Richard Wenzel
Because She's Adopted Podcast
Episode 9 | Dr.Richard Wenzel Dr. Richard Wenzel shares a riveting NPE journey that began with an at-home DNA test and unfolded into the discovery that his father was not his genetic father. The conversation traces childhood memories surrounding a sibling’s secret adoption, a pediatrician who “knew and lied,” and a later-in-life reckoning with identity, family history, and medical ethics. Richard explains why genetic secrets harm patients, how falsified family histories misdirect care, and why he advocates for clinician candor: “Just tell the truth.” Guest Bio For three decades, Dr....
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08 Erin
Because She's Adopted Podcast
Episode 8 | Erin In this heartfelt conversation, host Kristal Parke sits down with Erin, co-founder of Hiraeth Hope and Healing, Inc., to explore what it means to discover you’re an NPE (Not Parent Expected) and how she turned that revelation into one of purpose by creating community spaces for NPE's, adoptees, and donor-conceived individuals. Guest Bio In 2017, Erin unexpectedly discovered that she is an NPE (Not Parent Expected) while delving into her family history. Since then, she has devoted much of her time to assisting others in their quests to find family connections, serving as a...
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07 Sydney Curtin
Because She's Adopted Podcast
Episode 7: Sydney Curtin In this heartwrenching conversation, host Kristal Parke sits down with Sydney Curtin, as she opens up about relinquishment and open adoption. Guest Bio Sydney Curtin is a dynamic speaker, author, multi-business owner, consultant, life coach, and serial entrepreneur. With over ten years of professional experience and an impressive résumé, Sydney extends her knowledge to empower others to change their lives, too. Overcoming a dark and haunting past, Coach Curtin found herself at a crossroads — her story could either make her or break her. Choosing strength over...
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06 Do You Know What The 60's Scoop Was? Pt.2
Because She's Adopted Podcast
Kelowna adoptees Kristal and Chrystal welcome 60's scoop survivors Tina Taphouse and Nadine McSpaddan as they courageously share their journey back to their roots and inform us on one of Canada's darker times in history.
info_outlineEpisode 12 | Kim & Emma
In this episode of Because She's Adopted, hosts Kristal Parke, Kim, and Emma explore the complexities of adoption, personal stories, and the importance of community. Kim shares her adoption journey, including her reunion with her birth mother and the emotional challenges that come with it. Emma provides her perspective as a partner supporting Kim through her experiences. Together, they discuss the significance of connecting with other adoptees and the impact of their relationships on their identities.
Guest Bios
Emma is an editor and producer based in Brooklyn, New York. Her background is in visual art and museum education, where she’s created audio guides, wall texts, and podcasts.
Kim is a visual artist and designer based in Brooklyn, New York. Kim enjoys beach detritus, Halloween decorations, and their dog, Nova.
Connect with Kim
Emma’s Mom’s Memoir - Waiting to Forget by Margaret Moorman
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/916335.Waiting_to_Forget
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/wildbod?igsh=N3V4ZHRscmticWpq
Website: http://Wildernessbodies.com
Kim's Art Show
https://www.wassaicproject.org/exhibitions/this-must-be-the-place
Connect with Kristal
Website: https://kristalparke.net/
Merch | Voices Collection: https://kristalparke.net/merch/
Email: kristal@becauseshesadopted.com
Socials:
@kristalparkeofficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristalparkeofficial/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KristalParkeOfficial
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kristalparkeofficial
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