DNA Surprises

Alexis Hourselt
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DNA Surprises

Welcome to DNA Surprises, a podcast that delves into the world of unexpected DNA discoveries. I'm your host, Alexis Hourselt. In July 2021, my life took a surprising turn when I found out l'm an NPE-a person who's experienced a non-paternal event. In other words, my biological father isn't who I thought he was. Join me as we explore the stories of NPEs, adoptees, and donor-conceived people and their families. Get ready to unravel the astonishing journeys that begin with a simple DNA test —this is DNA Surprises. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dnasurprises/support

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    Shannon W's DNA Surprise

    Not every DNA surprise has a happy ending. And sometimes, what seems like a happy ending takes a turn. But the opposite is also true. In this week’s episode, Shannon shares how she learned the truth about her paternity and had to wait several years before she could identify her biological father. When she finally found him, he was receptive, before quickly closing off any hope of a relationship…until he had another change of heart. Thank you for sharing your story, Shannon. If you’d like to learn more about Shannon’s therapy practice, visit CreatingSpaceTherapy.com. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dnasurprises/support

    47 min

  2. 15 OCT

    Alissa's DNA Surprise

    Many people in the DNA surprise community grew up with dads, or birth certificate fathers, BCFs as they’re often called. We are raised by these men and then one day, through a DNA test or other means, we learn that they are not our biological fathers. But what if you never really felt like you had a dad? How does a DNA surprise affect you? In this week’s episode, Alissa shares how her free-spirited mother had her and her twin brother on her own, before marrying their stepfather. Alissa remembers asking questions - “Do we have a dad?” And getting the same explanation each time. He lived in another state, he had gone to prison, they’d tried to make it work but did not. In her early 20s, Alissa attempted to build a relationship with who she believed was her biological father, Jim, even finding an “Uncle Dad” through his brother Rick. After taking a DNA test, everything she thought she knew was upended. Thank you for sharing your story, Alissa. For early access to ad-free episodes, join me over on Patreon at patreon.com/dnasurprises. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dnasurprises/support

    49 min

  3. 8 OCT

    Joan's DNA Surprise

    DNA Surprises bring up a range of emotions, and if there’s one thing I hope I’ve made clear on this show, all those emotions are valid. In this week’s episode, Joan shares why her DNA surprise was more of an interesting adventure than a dramatic event.  Her story is one of optimism, curiosity, and patience - it took her a decade to solve her mystery, and many questions remain unanswered. She discusses how she uncovered the truth and why she ultimately feels like her DNA surprise revealed that she had the best of both worlds. Thank you for sharing your story, Joan. Do you have a DNA surprise you'd like to share? Submit your story at ⁠www.dnasurprises.com⁠. Get early access to ad-free episodes by joining the ⁠DNA Surprises Patreon community⁠! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dnasurprises/support

    37 min

  4. 1 OCT

    Yvette's DNA Surprise (Update)

    Welcome to the 100th episode of DNA surprises! OK, technically I’ve had more than 100 episodes already, but this is the 100th DNA Surprise story I’ve had the privilege of sharing with you all. So, in celebration of 100 episodes, I thought we’d take it allll the way back to the beginning. In this week’s episode, I’m joined once again by Yvette, my very first guest on the podcast.  I am eternally grateful to those Season 1 guests. They responded to my call for guests with no guarantees on how their stories would be told or where. They trusted me with one of the most difficult experiences of their lives - and that’s where this all began. If you haven’t yet listened to Yvette’s story, I’ll give you a quick recap here, but I encourage you to pause this episode and go back to Season 1, episode one: Yvette’s DNA Surprise. In our first conversation, Yvette was coming fresh off of her DNA surprise. She’d figured out who her biological father was, and actually remembered meeting him one time in her life before he died. She had connected with her newfound siblings but hadn’t yet had the opportunity to meet them. Yvette had also gone no contact with her mother because of her anger and pain about the secret.  One of the biggest sources of joy in her story was her ethnic shift, with the discovery of her Sicilian heritage. Yvette felt immediately connected to her ancestors when she learned about this background and immersed herself in learning about the food and culture. One of the biggest sources of her pain is around the missed opportunity to connect with her biological father, who she seemingly shared countless similarities with. That was nearly two and half years ago, and in this week’s episode, Yvette joined me to share where things are now. She shares how she’s continued to navigate her ethnic shift and build deep connections with her Sicilian roots. She also gives a surprising update on her relationship with her siblings and tells us where things currently stand with her mother.  Thank you for sharing your story with us again, Yvette. Do you have a DNA surprise you'd like to share? Submit your story at ⁠www.dnasurprises.com⁠. Get early access to ad-free episodes by joining the ⁠DNA Surprises Patreon community⁠! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dnasurprises/support

    45 min

  5. 24 SEPT

    Ruby's DNA Surprise

    It’s your story. You have the right to tell it. This is something we hear a lot in the DNA surprise community - I say it a lot myself. In this week’s episode, Ruby shares a unique perspective on this philosophy. Ruby took her DNA test expecting to learn more about her Mexican heritage, and instead uncovers a half-sibling and learns her biological father is different from the man who raised her. Ruby reflects on her childhood suspicions, her complex relationships with her parents, and navigating the newfound truth.  She discusses the impact on her mental health, the role of therapy, and how she plans to incorporate her experience into her work as an artist. Thank you for sharing your story, Ruby.  Do you have a DNA surprise you'd like to share? Submit your story at ⁠www.dnasurprises.com⁠. Get early access to ad-free episodes by joining the ⁠DNA Surprises Patreon community⁠! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dnasurprises/support

    27 min

  6. 17 SEPT

    Beth's DNA Surprise

    What would you do if you found out that your biological father wasn’t the man who raised you, but someone you’d known in the periphery of much of your life? Someone who’d photographed weddings, even done your taxes? In this episode, Beth shares her journey after discovering her biological father was a long-time colleague of her mother. Beth talks about the strong connections she had with her birth certificate father and who she believed was her paternal grandmother, and the feelings she experienced after learning the truth. She reveals how she’s formed a close relationship with her biological father and maintains a lot of compassion for her mother. Thank you for sharing your story, Beth. Do you have a DNA surprise you'd like to share? Submit your story at www.dnasurprises.com. Get early access to ad-free episodes by joining the DNA Surprises Patreon community! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dnasurprises/support

    46 min

  7. 10 SEPT

    Doe's DNA Surprise

    What never fails to surprise me is how innocently DNA surprises begin. In this episode, we hear from Doe - yes, that’s a pseudonym - who uncovered her  DNA surprise in 2021.  A skillful genealogist, Doe bought a DNA test for her husband, who was curious about his family history. As it just so happened, she purchased the test during a buy one, get one free sale, so she decided to take a test herself. When she received her results, she learned that not only was her birth certificate father not her biological father, but that the story she’d always believed about her mother was false. In this episode, she shares how the discovery and the continued secrecy have affected her, and how she uses her experience to help others. Thank you for sharing your story, Doe. Join the DNA Surprises Patreon community⁠! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dnasurprises/support

    53 min

  8. 17 AUG

    Deanna's DNA Surprise

    Welcome to the Season 8 finale of DNA Surprises.  In this episode, I’m joined by Deanna, who shares her NPE story. Deanna has experienced unspeakable amounts of hardship in her life, from abandonment to abuse to her DNA discovery. Her story is difficult - and powerful. You’ll hear how she’s still reckoning with the what-might-have-beens and the whys. You’ll also learn how she’s moving forward, including being the person she needed when she was younger.  Thank you for sharing your story, Deanna. Join the DNA Surprises Patreon community! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dnasurprises/support

    1h 33m
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Trailer

About

Welcome to DNA Surprises, a podcast that delves into the world of unexpected DNA discoveries. I'm your host, Alexis Hourselt. In July 2021, my life took a surprising turn when I found out l'm an NPE-a person who's experienced a non-paternal event. In other words, my biological father isn't who I thought he was. Join me as we explore the stories of NPEs, adoptees, and donor-conceived people and their families. Get ready to unravel the astonishing journeys that begin with a simple DNA test —this is DNA Surprises. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dnasurprises/support

Information

  • Creator
    Alexis Hourselt
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2024
  • Episodes
    121
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Alexis Hourselt
  • Show Website
    DNA Surprises

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