Adoption Pop!
Welcome to Adoption Pop! where a podcast journalist, a filmmaker, and a cultural critic burst pop culture’s favorite adoption tropes. Each episode, we’ll dive into movies, TV, and reality shows, from prestige dramas to the classics, to ask what these stories are really saying, and not saying, about adoption. And we’ll get real about representation: how the world sees us, and how we see ourselves.
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Penny Serenade (1941): Adoption on the Silver Screen
12/31/2025
Penny Serenade (1941): Adoption on the Silver Screen
004 | Penny Serenade (1941): Adoption on the Silver Screen The 1941 sentimental classic, Penny Serenade, stars Irene Dunne and Cary Grant as a married couple who replace children more often than they replace the needle on their sitting room Victrola. Join podcast journalist Haley Radke, filmmaker, Kristal Parke, and cultural critic Sullivan Summer as we challenge marriage and adoption propaganda during Hollywood’s Golden Age on this episode of Adoption Pop! Penny Serenade (1941) was directed by George Stevens, based on the novella by Martha Cheavens. This episode aired on December 31, 2025. In it we discussed and/or relied upon: , Cary Grant Retrospective: Penny Serenade Adoptee activist Connor Howe posts and videos of adoptees meeting adoptive families, without the inspirational background soundtrack. may have been the United States’ most notorious child trafficker. Policies and procedures pioneered by her for the purposes of kidnapping and selling children are still used today across the adoption industry. Actress Jane Biffle played one-year-old Trina Adams in Penny Serenade, her only film credit. “,” New York Times (March 17, 1938) Marilyn Ann Moss, Giant: George Stevens, a Life on Film (2004) Marshall B. Jones, Crisis of the American Orphanage, 1931-1940, Social Service Review (December 1989) , Los Angeles Times (July 26, 2020) Mia Laurenzo, “,” WLRN (January 30, 2019) From 1854 to 1929 transported children from northern cities to foster homes in rural areas to perform labor. Despite the moniker, many of these children had living parents. Peter B. Flint, “,” New York Times (September 6, 1990) Travis Tritt, “” The Adoption Pop! theme music is The Chase by Audiogreen. We’d love to hear what you thought of this episode, and what you’d like for us to cover in the future. Find, follow, like, and subscribe to Adoption Pop! at our , , , , and wherever you get your podcasts. Podcast journalist Haley Radke is at and on , , and . Filmmaker Kristal Parke is at , on , , , and . Cultural critical Sullivan Summer is at , on , and on .
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The Family Stone (2005): Adoption on the Big Screen
12/24/2025
The Family Stone (2005): Adoption on the Big Screen
003 | The Family Stone (2005): Adoption on the Big Screen In this episode of Adoption Pop!, podcast journalist Haley Radke, filmmaker Kristal Parke, and cultural critic Sullivan Summer delve into the dysfunctional dynamics of The Family Stone. Race, queer rights, adoption, heirloom jewelry, and a beloved family recipe for strata—this film has everything (except maybe likeable characters engaged in healthy communication). But don’t take our word for it. Sit through what is perhaps the cringiest Christmas Eve dinner in history, and judge for yourself. The Family Stone (2005) was written and directed by Thomas Bezucha, and produced by Michael London. This episode aired on December 25, 2025. In it we discussed and/or relied upon: Adoptees On podcast, Adoptees On podcast, Craig T. Nelson played Hayden Fox, coach of a fictional NCAA Division I football team in the ABC sitcom from 1989-1997. According to Miriam Webster dictionary, “smarmy” is an adjective that means “revealing or marked by a smug, ingratiating, or false earnestness,” or “of low sleazy taste or quality.” As in, Sullivan believes Everett Stone is smarmy. Rachel McAdams played Regina George, the primary antagonist in the 2004 film, . We only wear pink on Wednesdays. Roger Moore, “’The Family Stone’ speaks volumes with sign language,” (December 27, 2005) The Adoption Pop! theme music is The Chase by Audiogreen. We’d love to hear what you thought of this episode, and what you’d like for us to cover in the future. Find, follow, like, and subscribe to Adoption Pop! at our , , , , and wherever you get your podcasts. Podcast journalist Haley Radke is at and on , , and . Filmmaker Kristal Parke is at , on , , , and . Cultural critical Sullivan Summer is at , on , and on .
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The Grinch (2018): Adoption on the Big Screen
12/17/2025
The Grinch (2018): Adoption on the Big Screen
002 | The Grinch (2018): Adoption on the Big Screen Terrorizing Whoville and inciting holiday joy for almost 70 years, podcast journalist Haley Radke, filmmaker Kristal Parke, and cultural critic Sullivan Summer bring an adoptee lens to the only adaptation of the classic, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! that turns the title character into an orphan. The Grinch (2018) was written by Michael LaSieur and Tommy Swerdlow, directed by Scott Mosier and Yarrow Cheney, and produced by Universal Pictures. This episode aired on December 17, 2025. In it we discussed and/or relied upon: 23andMe, “,” pre-release version (2018) “” was written and recorded by Eric Carmen in 1975, appearing on his self-titled album. In 1996 it was covered by for her album, Falling into You. (1925-2022) was a British-American-Irish treasure, with an 80-year career in film, stage, and television, including the crime show (1984-2003). Anthony D’Alessandro, “,” Deadline (November 7, 2018) , directed by Robert Zemeckis, Universal Pictures (1985). . , directed by Richard Donner, Amblin Entertainment (1985) , Dr. Suess (Random House, 1957) television special, directed by Chuck Jones and Ben Washam, CBS (1966) starring Jim Carrey, directed by Ron Howard, Universal Pictures (2000) , the comic strip by Harold Gray, has been adapted numerous times for stage and screen. Nancy Newton Verrier, (Gateway Press, 2003) Pharrell Williams, “,” Despicable Me 2 (2013) , directed by Wolfgang Reitherman, John Lounsbery, and Art Stevens, Walt Disney Productions (1977) Rotten Tomatoes, “” Tyler the Creator, “,” The Grinch (2018) The Adoption Pop! theme music is The Chase by Audiogreen. We’d love to hear what you thought of this episode, and what you’d like for us to cover in the future. Find, follow, like, and subscribe to Adoption Pop! at our , , , , and wherever you get your podcasts. Podcast journalist Haley Radke is at and on , , and . Filmmaker Kristal Parke is at , on , , , and . Cultural critical Sullivan Summer is at , on , and on . So raise a glass and give a toast, to kindness and love, the things we need the most!
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Elf (2003): Adoption on the Big Screen
12/10/2025
Elf (2003): Adoption on the Big Screen
001 | 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, and produced by New Line Cinema. This episode aired on December 10, 2025. In it we discussed and/or relied upon: Back to the Future, directed by Robert Zemeckis, Universal Studios (1985). The infamous “Calvin Klein” scene is . Barbara Bisantz Raymond, (Grand Central Publishing, 2009) Criminal (March 15, 2019) Flagrant Clips @flagrantclips on YouTube, (August 7, 2024) Mia Elkins, “,” The Merionite (December 16, 2024) Neil Miller, “40 Things We Learned from Jon Favreau’s ‘Elf’ Commentary,” Film School Rejects (December 23, 2011) Patrick Cremona, “” RadioTimes.com (December 23, 2022) Shania Twain, “,” The Woman in Me (1995) The Adoption Pop! theme music is The Chase by Audiogreen. We’d love to hear what you thought of this episode, and what you’d like for us to cover in the future. Find, follow, like, and subscribe to Adoption Pop! at our , , , , and wherever you get your podcasts. Podcast journalist Haley Radke is at and on , , and . Filmmaker Kristal Parke is at , on , , , and . Cultural critical Sullivan Summer is at , on , and on . We love you! We love you! We love you!
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Welcome to Adoption Pop!
11/18/2025
Welcome to Adoption Pop!
Welcome to Adoption Pop! where a podcast journalist, a filmmaker, and a cultural critic burst pop culture’s favorite adoption tropes. Each episode, we’ll dive into movies, TV, and reality shows, from prestige dramas to the classics, to ask what these stories are really saying, and not saying, about adoption. And we’ll get real about representation: how the world sees us, and how we see ourselves. In your feed every Wednesday, beginning December 10, 2025. Find us on , , , and wherever you get your podcasts. Haley Radke is a Canadian domestic adoptee, the founder of Haley Radke Media, Inc., and host of , one of the most successful and longest-running adoption-related podcasts in the world, with over 1.5 million downloads globally. You can find her at and on , , and . Kristal Parke is an Opaskwayak Cree, transracial adoptee filmmaker, editor, producer, speaker, and podcaster. You can find Kristal at her , and on , , , and . Sullivan Summer is a US domestic, transracial adoptee, independent scholar, essayist, critic, poet, and podcaster. You can find her at her , on , and on . Promotional photograph by Ekow @VOLTSTILLS. The Adoption Pop! theme music is The Chase by Audiogreen, license number TTStandard8099-1761936903. Additional sounds for this Trailer are by: Popping Cork by milcahrawr -- -- License: Creative Commons 0 Cork pop.wav by ross_sinc -- -- License: Attribution 3.0 Cork pop by dr19 -- -- License: Creative Commons 0 Vinyl Backspin and Beat Scratch.wav by ZeSoundResearchInc. -- -- License: Creative Commons 0 Bubble Pop UI and Game Sounds Multiple Samples by el_boss -- -- License: Creative Commons 0
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