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You can spend decades feeling like your story starts in the middle, then one DNA match changes everything. We sit down with Pekitta Tynes, a professional comedian, inspirational speaker, and the author of Thank God I Was Adopted Because DNA Is No Joke, and she brings humor and honesty to the parts of adoption that are hard to say out loud. Pekitta was abandoned without a birth certificate, moved through foster care, and was adopted at nine, which meant even basic facts like a birth date had to be guessed and assigned just so life could move forward. We talk through what it really takes to begin an adoption search when you have missing records and big emotions. Pekitta shares the early clues that helped her keep going, the role of adoptee support groups in learning the language of adoption trauma, and the practical reality that some people will not talk, not help, or will disappear into silence. We also dig into the difference between closed adoption and open adoption, and why secrecy can echo for years in identity, trust, and relationships.

Then we get into the DNA testing side: AncestryDNA, 23andMe, and deeper analysis tools, plus what it feels like to see a first cousin match show up on your screen. Pekitta is clear about the warning label here: DNA can give you answers, but it can also hand you truths you did not expect, so emotional preparation matters. We close with one of her best takeaways for adoptees and anyone carrying unresolved pain: write it down, tell the story, and let the feelings rise so you can finally process them.

If this conversation helps you, subscribe, share it with someone who is searching, and leave a review so more adoptees and families can find this podcast.

Music by Curtis Rodgers IG @itsjustcurtis
Produce and Edited by Lisa Sapp
Executive Producer Lisa Sapp
Executive Producer Johnnie Underwood

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Adoption can hold joy and ache in the same breath. We open with reunion—meeting a sister after years—and the quiet courage of calling a birth parent “mom,” even while honoring the mother who raised us. From there, we move through grief, village support, and a practical update on a genealogy case that’s finally in motion. The heart of our conversation explores transracial adoption: why the numbers are growing, how economics and systems shape who adopts, and what it really takes to raise a child whose race and culture differ from your own.

We get specific. Representation starts with small choices—books and dolls that look like your child—and grows into bigger commitments: finding mentors and barbers, choosing teachers and communities that reflect them, and learning the language of care. For Black girls, hair is identity and dignity; we unpack the Crown Act’s context and why hair literacy is parenting, not a nice-to-have. We also share ten insights gathered from adult transracial adoptees: love deeply, talk about race and adoption early and often, build mixed-race friendships, and never pretend differences don’t exist. A diverse neighborhood helps, but it won’t do the work for you.

Ethical questions surface—cultural loss, power imbalances, and the dangers of a rescue mindset—and we answer with intentional parenting: relationship over rescue, respect over control, listening over certainty. Along the way, we highlight Sandra Bullock’s public blueprint for awareness-driven love: celebrate heritage, prepare kids for bias, and keep learning. If family is commitment plus culture, the job is to widen the table so children can hold all their parts with pride.

If this conversation moved you, follow So I’m Adopted on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube, share this episode with a friend, and leave a review so more families can find us. What’s one small act that made you feel seen? Tell us.

Music by Curtis Rodgers IG @itsjustcurtis
Produce and Edited by Lisa Sapp
Executive Producer Lisa Sapp
Executive Producer Johnnie Underwood

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What happens when the truth comes early, a storm knocks out the island’s power, and a single name spoken in a courtroom echoes for decades? We bring you Jennifer’s journey—from being adopted at two days old on Guam to leading an NYC adoption agency for older youth—and the winding path between belonging, uncertainty, and grace.

We talk about the power of honest language in childhood and how it turns “You’re adopted” from a weapon into a badge of identity. Jennifer shares how race and visibility shaped daily life when strangers questioned family resemblance, and why being the only sibling placed for adoption can hold both gratitude and unanswered why. A typhoon delayed the phone lines, a JAG attorney steadied the process, and years later a letter reopened a closed adoption with care, caution, and compassion. The first reunion happened at a family gathering; the next brought both families together, proof that love can hold complexity without breaking.

We go deep on adoption‑competent therapy—why standard counseling often stalls with adoptee‑specific trauma, ambiguous loss, and reunion dynamics, and how specialized clinicians change the work. Jennifer traces her calling to public service, moving to New York, and stepping into leadership at an agency that finds families for teens in foster care. The job brings vicarious trauma, but also purpose: a daily commitment to permanence, safety, and dignity for youth who’ve been told they don’t matter.

If you’ve ever stared at a blank line on a birth certificate or felt the pull to find a missing piece of self, this conversation offers language, tools, and a little hope. Subscribe, share this episode with someone who needs it, and leave a review with the moment that stayed with you most. Your voice helps others find the support they deserve.

Music by Curtis Rodgers IG @itsjustcurtis
Produce and Edited by Lisa Sapp
Executive Producer Lisa Sapp
Executive Producer Johnnie Underwood

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What happens when a four-year-old's brave disclosure at a doctor's appointment changes the trajectory of her entire life? Sana Latrice Cotton joins us to share her extraordinary journey through foster care, adoption, and eventual reconnection with her biological family that will leave you breathless with its divine orchestration.

From being separated from her twin brother when he was incarcerated at age 15 to discovering her future husband's grandmother had mysteriously kept her childhood photo for years, Sana's story reveals how our deepest wounds often become our greatest purpose. Her raw account of navigating multiple family systems—biological, foster, and adoptive—illuminates the complex emotions adoptees experience while seeking identity and belonging.

Now the founder of Unashamed Inc., Sana has transformed her trauma into purpose by creating community for teenagers in foster care—the "forgotten" age group she believes needs the most support. Her organization provides branded merchandise that removes stigma and celebrates foster youth identity, while her "Roots and Wings" program helps adult adoptees locate their biological families. Her recent discovery of her biological father's family after decades of searching offers hope to anyone still looking for answers.

The most powerful moment comes when Sana reveals how opening her mouth as a child not only saved her life but continues to save others through her advocacy work. "Tell your story," she urges, "because it's attached to the freedom of so many other people." Whether you're an adoptee, foster parent, or someone who loves someone touched by adoption, this conversation will remind you that no part of your story is wasted when you have the courage to share it.

Follow Sana on social media @SanaLatrice or visit her nonprofit at unashamedinc.org to learn how you can support foster youth in finding their voice and purpose.

Music by Curtis Rodgers IG @itsjustcurtis
Produce and Edited by Lisa Sapp
Executive Producer Lisa Sapp
Executive Producer Johnnie Underwood

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This intimate conversation offers a rare glimpse into how adoptees and their families navigate the complex emotions that arise when biological relatives are found. We explore the tension between excitement and caution, the fear of rejection from both sides, and the healing that happens when communication remains open.

• The deep need adoptees have to understand their biological origins beyond their loving adoptive homes
• How medical appointments can become unexpectedly painful moments for adoptees lacking family health history
• The "tunnel vision" adoptees sometimes experience in their excitement to connect with birth relatives
• Fears adoptive family members may have about being replaced or forgotten
• How children of adoptees process meeting biological relatives at their own pace
• The importance of allowing organic relationships to develop without pushing
• Finding balance between honoring adoptive family bonds while exploring biological connections
• The concept that "two things can be true at the same time" in adoption relationships

Join us on Instagram and Facebook at @soImAdopted and subscribe to our YouTube channel "So I'm Adopted" to continue this important conversation.

Music by Curtis Rodgers IG @itsjustcurtis
Produce and Edited by Lisa Sapp
Executive Producer Lisa Sapp
Executive Producer Johnnie Underwood

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What happens when an adoptee grows up in an open adoption during the 1990s and becomes a children's book author? Sasha Sedman takes us through her remarkable journey, revealing the beautiful complexity of relationships that form when adoption is treated with honesty from the beginning.

Sasha shares the extraordinary story of her birth - how her adoptive mother became friends with her birth mother during pregnancy and was even present in the delivery room. From a wicker bassinet rescued from an alley to Raggedy Ann dolls that connect generations, the physical objects of Sasha's adoption story symbolize the thoughtful ways her families remained connected throughout her life.

The conversation explores the nuanced dynamics between adoptive and birth families, particularly the different comfort levels each person brings to these relationships. Sasha recounts meeting her paternal biological family in her twenties and discovering shared physical traits she'd never experienced before. She articulates the delicate balance of boundaries, explaining how her adoptive parents empowered her with freedom of choice while preparing her for the realities that birth family members might also have their own boundaries.

Most powerfully, Sasha reveals how her adoption experience directly influences her work as a children's author. Her book "First Day: An Adoption Story" provides families with a universal adoption narrative and space to document their unique stories. She also discusses "All Out of Ducks," her humor-filled book about parental exhaustion that incorporates critical maternal mental health resources she wishes she'd had during her own postpartum depression.

The episode culminates with Sasha's wisdom on normalizing diverse family structures and validating the complex emotions that accompany adoption. As she puts it, "Any feelings you have are valid, and any feelings other people have are valid" - a perspective that creates space for honest conversations and deeper connections in all types of families.

Ready to explore the world of open adoption through a storyteller's eyes? Listen now and discover how one author is helping families write their own narratives of belonging.

Music by Curtis Rodgers IG @itsjustcurtis
Produce and Edited by Lisa Sapp
Executive Producer Lisa Sapp
Executive Producer Johnnie Underwood

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Saran T. Baker never imagined that at 24, fresh out of college with her first job, she would suddenly become the adoptive parent to her younger siblings after her mother's tragic death. Yet somewhere deep inside, she always knew this would be her path.

Growing up in what she candidly describes as the "hell home," Saran developed an early determination to one day provide her siblings with the safety and stability she never had. When her mother's fatal car accident made this a sudden reality, she navigated the complex interstate adoption process between Florida and Maryland, all while grieving and trying to build her own adult life.

"I inherited a hot mess," Saran shares with striking honesty, describing children already carrying the weight of trauma, abuse, and abandonment. Without a parenting model to follow, she cobbled together approaches by watching others and relying on prayer. When her five-year-old sister asked to call her "mom" after a difficult day at kindergarten, Saran agreed—only to find herself hiding in closets, overwhelmed by a title she never experienced in a healthy way herself.

Music by Curtis Rodgers IG @itsjustcurtis
Produce and Edited by Lisa Sapp
Executive Producer Lisa Sapp
Executive Producer Johnnie Underwood

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Imagine uncovering hidden family truths and forming unbreakable bonds across unexpected paths. Join us, John and Lisa, in a heartfelt exploration of adoption, identity, and the relationships that shape our lives. This episode features the inspiring Kalila Scott Sumners, who offers a deeply personal glimpse into her adoption journey. From being embraced as a "chosen child" to the emotional complexities of meeting biological family members, Kalila's story is one of resilience, love, and self-discovery. Listen as we highlight the significance of maintaining a positive narrative about one's origins and the journey of reconnecting with biological roots.

Kalila's candid reflections reveal the joys and challenges of adoption, emphasizing the importance of understanding one's lineage, especially during major life events like marriage and pregnancy. As we share our own personal growth stories and aspirations for 2025, we also honor notable adoption figures such as Josephine Baker and President Gerald Ford. Their stories, along with Kalila's, demonstrate the profound connections and unique experiences fostered through adoption. This episode sheds light on the emotional journeys of adoptees, the yearning for familial connection, and the unexpected blessings that come with navigating these complex relationships.

Explore the intricate dynamics of adoption and family as we discuss the challenges of uncovering hidden truths and the emotional struggles tied to meeting biological parents. We delve into the universal longing for belonging and the balance between loyalty to adoptive families and acceptance from biological roots. Through personal anecdotes and powerful exchanges, we underscore the need for support, understanding, and celebrating the enduring resilience of adoptive families. Join us for an illuminating conversation on the unbreakable bonds formed through adoption and the lifelong impact on identity and relationships.

Music by Curtis Rodgers IG @itsjustcurtis
Produce and Edited by Lisa Sapp
Executive Producer Lisa Sapp
Executive Producer Johnnie Underwood

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