Running Towards the Burning Building: 10 Years of Adoption Insight
Born In June Raised In April: What Adoption Can Teach the World
Release Date: 01/20/2026
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...
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Truth, Timing & the Ties That Bind: La Tika Jeffery’s Journey to Her Father of Origin
Born In June Raised In April: What Adoption Can Teach the World
In this deeply moving June episode of Born in June, Raised in April: What Adoption Can Teach the World, host April Dinwoodie welcomes back La Tika Jeffrey—youth advocate, mother, and lived expert in foster care and adoption—for a raw and inspiring conversation about the power of uncovering truth and forging new family connections. Since her last visit back in December 2021, La Tika’s world has transformed in beautiful and complex ways. This episode follows her emotional journey to discover her father of origin after learning that the man she believed to be her biological father was not....
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Mothering Out Loud: Stacey Gatlin on Advocacy, Identity, and the Yes We Adopt Village
Born In June Raised In April: What Adoption Can Teach the World
In this Mother’s Day episode, April Dinwoodie sits down with Stacey Gatlin—founder of Yes We Adopt—to explore Black adoption, parenting after loss, and building community that centers authenticity and healing. Stacey shares her path through infertility, post-adoption depression, and the creation of Yes We Adopt—a platform that uplifts Black adoptive families, adopted persons, and birth parents. Together, they reflect on the power of community, the truth-telling needed in adoption spaces, and the mental and emotional load of mothering and leading out loud. A must-listen for anyone in...
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Chapter One and the Innocent People Project with Jeff Forney
Born In June Raised In April: What Adoption Can Teach the World
In April 2025 I sit down with Jeff Forney, a photographer specializing in advertising, music and celebrity portraiture. Jeff is currently working on “The Innocent People Project” - taking photos of adoptees and sharing their stories. In this episode we dive into the reasons behind starting this project, what it has meant to him and so much more!
info_outlineIn 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 also touches on the unique framework of using the calendar as a tool for exploring adoption-related themes, allowing for a structured approach to discussing complex emotions and experiences.
Keywords:
adoption, identity, family, podcast, conversations, grief, family dynamics, communication, personal journey, calendar framework
Takeaways:
Conversations with my parents have been transformational.
It's important to communicate experiences of adoption and family separation.
Adoptive families can relate to feelings of being 'othered' in their own lives.
The calendar serves as a universal framework for discussing adoption.
Both joy and grief can coexist in adoption celebrations.
Sound bites:
"Conversations with my parents have been transformational."
"It's about integrity in a way."
"Sometimes you have to run towards the burning building."
Chapters
00:00 Celebrating 10 Years of the Podcast
02:01 Transformational Conversations with Family
12:40 The Calendar as a Framework for Adoption
18:34 Navigating Joy and Grief in Adoption
22:10 What Adoption Can Teach the World
Calendar Conversations Podcast
Together on the Journey
https://www.transracialjourneys.org/family-camp/