Discussing Luck, Burdens & Blessings in Adoption with the Transracial Journeys Community
Born In June Raised In April: What Adoption Can Teach the World
Release Date: 03/27/2025
April Showers, May Flowers, and the Adoption Rain Wall (with Bryan Post)
Born In June Raised In April: What Adoption Can Teach the World
In this special April 2026 episode, host April Dinwoodie leans into the deep symbolism of her namesake month. While society often encourages adopted individuals and families to skip straight to the "flowers"—the sunshine, the gratitude, and the "happily ever after"—April and her dear friend, trauma expert Bryan Post, argue that you cannot have growth without the rain. They deconstruct the "April Showers" of the adoption experience: the grief, the loss, and the emotional releases that are often dismissed as "dramatic" but are actually vital for wholeness. Bryan shares insights on how...
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Exploring the Complexities of Adoption: Luck, Lore, and Pop Culture with Sullivan Summer
Born In June Raised In April: What Adoption Can Teach the World
In this deep-dive conversation, April Dinwoodie sits down with Sullivan Summer, an independent scholar, poet, and adoptee rights advocate, to unpack the layers of the adoption experience. From the "luck" narrative to the realities of transracial adoption, they explore how media and pop culture shape our understanding of family. Sullivan shares her work with Adoptees for Family Preservation and her own podcast, Adoption Pop!, highlighting why disrupting traditional narratives is essential for authentic storytelling and systemic change. Key Takeaways The "Luck" Complex: Why the concept of...
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How to Love a Transracially Adopted Person – Part 10: Loving Protection
Born In June Raised In April: What Adoption Can Teach the World
In this powerful tenth installment of How to Love a Transracially Adopted Person, host April Dinwoodie marks ten years of writing at the intersection of Valentine’s Day and Black History Month with a clear and urgent message: love without protection is no longer enough. What began as a reflection on romantic love and adoption has evolved into something deeper — a reckoning with identity, loss, belonging, race, safety, and responsibility. In this episode of Born in June, Raised in April, April examines the incomplete love narrative often attached to adoption and challenges the cultural myth...
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Running Towards the Burning Building: 10 Years of Adoption Insight
Born In June Raised In April: What Adoption Can Teach the World
In this episode of "Born in June, Raised in April," host April Dinwoodie reflects on the journey of the podcast as it celebrates its 10th season. Joined by executive producer Kyle Ferreira, they discuss the significance of the conversations held over the years, particularly those with April's parents, which have profoundly shaped her understanding of adoption and identity. April emphasizes the importance of having difficult conversations about adoption, grief, and family dynamics, highlighting how these discussions can foster deeper connections and understanding among families. The episode...
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Reimagining Traditions: Adoption, Identity & Belonging with Dr. Anthony Hynes
Born In June Raised In April: What Adoption Can Teach the World
In this heartfelt conversation, host April Dinwoodie invites Dr. Anthony Hynes to explore what it means to break and remake traditions through the lens of adoption. Dr. Hynes reflects on childhood memories, evolving holiday practices, and the emotional complexity that often surfaces for adopted persons during the holiday season. He also shares insights from his work with children and families, emerging trends in the adoption and child-welfare landscape, and his experience in community at Together on the Journey Family Camp. A grounded and intimate look at how traditions shape identity—and...
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Setting Our Holiday and Community Tables with Melissa Guida-Richards
Born In June Raised In April: What Adoption Can Teach the World
In this November episode of Born in June, Raised in April: What Adoption Can Teach the World, April sits down with author, educator, and Late Discovery adopted person Melissa Guida-Richards (@adopteethoughts) for a grounding, honest, and deeply human conversation. Fresh off co-hosting the Adoption Changemakers Conference, Melissa returns to reflect on the joys, challenges, and lessons learned from creating space within the adoption community—an effort that is meaningful, but not always easy. As we close out National Adoption Awareness Month and move into a holiday season filled with memory,...
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Behind the Mask: Belonging, Identity, and Community with Melissa Guida-Richards
Born In June Raised In April: What Adoption Can Teach the World
This October, we’re going Behind the Mask — looking at what we hide, what we reveal, and how adopted people learn to show up as their full selves. April sits down with Melissa Guida-Richards — adopted person, author, and creator of the Adoption Changemakers Conference — to talk about authenticity, culture, and the importance of real connection in the adoption community. Together, they explore what it means to unmask, how to hold space for nuance, and where joy and healing live in this work. Follow Melissa Guida-Richards on social media @adoptee_thoughts and visit adoptee-thoughts.com...
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Back to School with Student Questions & Inclusive Classrooms
Born In June Raised In April: What Adoption Can Teach the World
In this back-to-school episode of Born in June, Raised in April: What Adoption Can Teach the World, April Dinwoodie and podcast producer Kyle Ferreira get into a conversation about the powerful and often surprising questions April has received from students—both adopted and not—about adoption, identity, and belonging. From “What happens when someone is adopted an is mistreated?” to “Were you ever angry at your birth parents?” these honest questions open the door to conversations about family, race, mental health, and resilience for all children. April also offers five...
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Back to School, Back to Truth: Conversations on Race, Adoption & Journalism with Ahna Fleming and Libby Hobbs
Born In June Raised In April: What Adoption Can Teach the World
This August, as we embrace the “Back to School” season of Continued Learning & Growth, I welcome two incredible young journalists, Ahna Fleeming and Libby Hobbs, for a conversation rooted in truth-telling, identity, and resilience. After a painful racial slur was used toward me during a public process in my own town, I was searching for connection and healing. Around the same time, I read Ahna’s powerful New York Times article about a similar experience of being targeted by the very same word. When I reached out to her, she introduced me to her friend Libby, whose journey as a...
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Blended Together: The Beauty of Belonging and The Freedom to Be
Born In June Raised In April: What Adoption Can Teach the World
In this special July episode of Born in June, Raised in April: What Adoption Can Teach the World, we explore the beauty and complexity of belonging—and the deep yearning for the freedom to be fully ourselves. I’m joined by my dear friend and creative collaborator Johnny Wright as we share space and vision around a new offering we’re bringing into the world—one created especially with Black and Brown youth in mind, particularly those growing up in White families and communities. This conversation is about more than programs or plans—it’s about culture, care, and connection. It’s...
info_outlineIn March 2025, I am so fortunate and honored to welcome some of the members of the Transracial Journeys Community, Co-Directors Mary Halm and Karen Thomas. We dive into this idea of luck in adoption and the blessings and burdens that come along with this experience. We also hear from one of the Board of Directors of TRJ, and adoptive parent, Michelle Daray. There are so many incredible gems in this one! For any member of the adoption community, this is a must listen episode.