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.

Modern Family “Pilot” (2009): Adoption on the Small Screen 01/21/2026

Modern Family “Pilot” (2009): Adoption on the Small Screen 007 | Modern Family “Pilot” (2009): Adoption on the Small Screen For 11 seasons the Dunphys, the Delgado-Pritchetts, and the Tucker-Pritchetts influenced modern American families’ views on gender roles, inter-generational relationships, and transnational adoption. Listen in as podcast journalist Haley Radke, filmmaker Kristal Parke, and cultural critic Sullivan Summer break down the pilot episode of ABC’s Modern Family. Because the circle of life has to start somewhere. Modern Family was created by Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan. Its “Pilot” episode (September 23, 2009) was written by Steven Levitan and Christopher Lloyd, and directed by Jason Winer. This episode aired on January 21, 2026. In it we discussed and/or relied upon: aired on ABC from 1991-1999. aired on ABC and CBS from 1989-1998. Its breakout star, , played both the dorky next door neighbor, , and Steve’s stylish alter ego, Stefan. Since recording this episode, Sullivan and Kristal have had occasion to discuss privately Haley’s unique contributions to this podcast, and we have come up with the following: (1) She’s very accurate. Whereas Sullivan and Kristal often misremember plot points or dialogue, Haley always gets them right. (2) Her facial expressions alone are worth watching on YouTube. (3) She is Adoption Pop!’s resident audio expert. We sound good because of Haley. (4) She has a decade-long record of devotion to the adoptee community. It is not an exaggeration to say this podcast, and many projects like it centering adoptee stories, would not exist without her. According to Miriam-Webster dictionary, is “the act or practice of conspicuously displaying one’s awareness of and attentiveness to political issues, matters of social and racial justice, etc., especially instead of taking effective action.” Used in a sentence: The separating of children from their parents, extended biological family, community, country, and culture can often be avoided completely with monetary resources far below what it costs a person or couple to adopt; Mitchell’s claim that Lily “would have grown up in a crowded orphanage” if it not for he and Cam is mere virtue signaling. Miriam-Webster defines as “a preceding event, condition, or cause.” was a US government plan to transport Vietnamese children out of the country during the final days of the Vietnam War. Critics claimed the program was fueled by politics and white saviorism. It is undisputed, however, that many of the children were not orphans. Marc Freeman, Modern Family: The Untold Oral History of One of Television’s Groundbreaking Sitcoms (St. Martin’s Press, 2020). Reeshma Haji and Fabio Fasoli, “,” LGBTQ+ Family: An Interdisciplinary Journal, Vol. 18, No. 2, 119-134 (2022). Kimberly McKee, Adoption Fantasies: The Fetishization of Asian Adoptees from Girlhood to Womanhood (Ohio State Press, 2023). In Season 3 Episode 5 of Friends “.” Ross’s list of five celebrities he would most like to sleep with, otherwise known as a “hall pass,” is laminated, indicating that it cannot be changed. Haley’s hall pass has on it, and it’s laminated. We just know it. If it’s been a minute since you’ve seen the antecedent to Cam Tucker’s “Circle of Life” spotlight moment, you can check out the original source material . 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 . /episode/index/show/6ce62b00-e947-41c2-9cc3-5a642d2ba14d/id/39710170

K-Pop Demon Hunters (2025): Adoption on the Big Screen 01/14/2026

K-Pop Demon Hunters (2025): Adoption on the Big Screen 006 | K-Pop Demon Hunters (2025): Adoption on the Big Screen Breaking Netflix streaming and box-office records, and charming the critics, podcast journalist Haley Radke, filmmaker Kristal Parke, and cultural critic Sullivan Summer go all-in on summer 2025’s breakthrough hit, K-Pop Demon Hunters. Clever humor, catchy tunes, and storylines exploring shame and generational trauma, the Huntrix girls and the ladies of Adoption Pop! show how adoptee-resonant storytelling is really done done done. K-Pop Demon Hunters (2025) was written by Danya Jimenez, Hannah McMechan, Maggie Kang, and Chris Appelhans, and directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans. This episode aired on January 14, 2026. In it we discussed and/or relied upon: According to Spotify, the song “” from the K-Pop Demon Hunters Soundtrack has been streamed more than 1 billion times on the platform. Jeremy Fuster wrote, “‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Becomes Netflix’s First Box Office No.1 With $18 Million Weekend,” for The Wrap (August 24, 2025): (2004) stars Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet as a couple who goes through a medical procedure to have each other erased from their memories forever. Correction: On , Kristal referred to Sex and the City: the Movie as “a s*** movie.” She has since called this comment “too aggressive,” and has softened her stance to “strong dislike.” (But she’s still wrong about it being better than K-Pop Demon Hunters). 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 . /episode/index/show/6ce62b00-e947-41c2-9cc3-5a642d2ba14d/id/39661465

Sex and the City: The Movie (2008): Adoption on the Big Screen 01/07/2026

Sex and the City: The Movie (2008): Adoption on the Big Screen 005 | Sex and the City: The Movie (2008): Adoption on the Big Screen Slip on your Manolos, pour yourself a Cosmo, and listen in to podcast journalist Haley Radke, filmmaker Kristal Parke, and cultural critic Sullivan Summer pick up where the turn-of-the-century HBO juggernaut left off: with Samantha and her celebrity boy toy on the west coast, Miranda living in something less than domestic bliss in Brooklyn, Carrie finally settling down with Big, and Charlotte, making her fairy tale dreams of motherhood complete … through international adoption? Sex and the City: The Movie (2008) was written and directed by Michael Patrick King, and was based on the book by Candace Bushnell and series by Darren Star. This episode aired on January 7, 2026. In it we discussed and/or relied upon: Adoptees On podcast : Grace Newton Alexandra Stevenson and Zixu Wang, , New York Times (September 6, 2024) Felix Gillette, It’s Not TV: The Spectacular Rise, Revolution and Future of HBO (2022) Josh Friedman, “,” Los Angeles Times (June 2, 2008) Kimberly McKee, Adoption Fantasies: The Fetishization of Asian Adoptees From Girlhood to Womanhood (The Ohio State University Press, 2023) The Nicole Evelina, Sex and the City: A Cultural History (2022) Ramin Setoodeh, , Newsweek (March 13, 2010) Tabitha Britt, , People (March 1, 2024) Sharon LaFraniere, “,” New York Times (August 4, 2011) Chinese adoptees can access resources and support from . 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 . /episode/index/show/6ce62b00-e947-41c2-9cc3-5a642d2ba14d/id/39448520

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 . /episode/index/show/6ce62b00-e947-41c2-9cc3-5a642d2ba14d/id/39448505

The Family Stone (2005): Adoption on the Big Screen 12/24/2025

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! /episode/index/show/6ce62b00-e947-41c2-9cc3-5a642d2ba14d/id/39272850

Elf (2003): Adoption on the Big Screen 12/10/2025

Welcome to Adoption Pop! 11/18/2025

Adoption Pop!

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