Once Upon A Time...In Adopteeland

Jennifer Dyan Ghoston
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Through an audio drama and episodes of thought-provoking conversations, the listening audience can learn some of the issues faced by those affected by adoption. The adoptee is at the center of all conversations had with other members of the adoption constellation.

  1. 2 DAYS AGO

    246. Greta Handgis (Fadness): "Looking For Me In All The Right Places"

    Greta Handgis (Fadness) is a domestic same-race adoptee adopted through Lutheran Welfare Services in a closed adoption in 1968. She was relinquished immediately at birth and spent no time with her teenage biological mother. After a month in foster care, she was adopted. She was raised in a family with a younger sister, who was also adopted, and an older brother, who is the only biological child of her adoptive parents. She is in reunion with both her paternal and maternal families but is estranged from her birth mother after a 30-year relationship. She has two full-blood siblings, two half-blood siblings and is extremely close to her maternal aunt. Greta earned a degree in theatre and played NCAA women’s basketball on a full-ride scholarship. After college, Greta spent 10 years as an actor in Los Angeles before moving to Phoenix in 2001. She is a playwright, actor, acting coach and a former paralegal in the public defender system in Phoenix. She recently wrote and performed her award-winning one-woman show "Searching for Me in All the Wrong Places” in Los Angeles and is currently developing a new one-woman show that focuses on her adoption story as well as integrating other voices that make up the adoption constellation. In recovery from anorexia, Greta hopes that through her art she might help someone feel a little less alone as well as bring awareness to those who don’t know or understand the complexities of adoption and the challenges it can cause. Creativity, connection and community have been so healing in her navigating her own path, and also having an amazing husband, rescue dog and therapist doesn’t hurt either. Website: https://gretafadness.com/ https://events.adoptionmosaic.com/wte-reg-disordered-eating https://www.eventbrite.com/e/live-podcast-event-with-atmom-special-guests-tickets-1413096101479 Music by Corey Quinn

    1h 10m

  2. 19 AUG

    245. Danielle Orr: "I Wanted To Heal My Heart"

    Original air date: August 16, 2022 Danielle Orr is a writer, painter and animal lover. She is currently working on her memoir. Music by Corey Quinn

    53 min

  3. 12 AUG

    244. Jenna Lowe: "Frequency Astrology As An Adoptee's Tool"

    Jenna Lowe is a domestic same race adoptee, adopted through Catholic Charities in a closed adoption. Her biological half-brother was also placed into the same family when Jenna was 17 months old. She is in reunion with both her paternal and maternal birth families and finds it her personal mission to spread awareness around relinquishment trauma to other adoptees, members of the adoption constellation, and humanity at large. Jenna is a trauma-informed holistic spiritual consultant; her approach to healing blends Ayurvedic science, astrology, and general energy work to meet the unique needs of her clients https://www.frequencyastrology.com/ Music by Corey Quinn

    1h 11m

  4. 5 AUG

    243. Bridgett McGowen-Hawkins: "Voice Isn’t Just Expression—It’s Equity"

    Bridgett McGowen-Hawkins is an award-winning international speaker, author, and publisher who energizes audiences and empowers voices. A late discovery adoptee, Bridgett found out at the age of 31 that she was adopted, an experience that reshaped her understanding of identity, family, trust, and truth. Today, she shares her story to support others with healing, speaking boldly, and reclaiming their narratives. Bridgett is on a mission to inspire a global audience to reframe public speaking and communication not merely as a professional skill but as a fundamental human right and a lever of influence, equity, and justice. She is the founder of Press 49, a hybrid publishing company that amplifies untold stories and transformational voices. Website: https://www.bridgettmcgowen.com/ Book recommendations: The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel van der Kolk M.D., Lions Roaring Far From Home by Aselefech Evans , Kassaye Berhanu-MacDonald, et al., Journey of the Adopted Self by Betty Jean Lifton. Music by Corey Quinn

    1h 2m

  5. 29 JUL

    242. Jackson TerKeurst: "The Only Way Forward Is Back"

    Jackson TerKeurst’s new book, The Only Way Forward is Back: A Story of War, Adoption, and Finding Your Purpose in God’s Plan, is an inspirational memoir taking the reader on a journey through war-torn Liberia to the United States, watching God do a mighty work during difficult and heart-breaking circumstances. Jackson is an entrepreneur and leader who continues to defy the odds as a first-generation immigrant from West Africa who owns and runs a small business. The adopted son of bestselling author and speaker Lysa TerKeurst, Jackson is passionate about drawing together people from diverse backgrounds to experience authentic community. He lives with his wife and their two children outside Nashville, Tennessee. Website: https://www.jacksonterkeurst.com/ Music by Corey Quinn

    54 min

  6. 22 JUL

    241. Dan Smith: "Sharing is a Part of My Healing"

    Original air date: January 10, 2023 Dan Smith is an adoptee in reunion who co-facilitates a support group with Adoption Network Cleveland for all members of the constellation. It meets the last Thursday of each month online. He resides in Ohio and enjoys his retirement after a career as a firefighter. Music by Corey Quinn

    41 min

  7. 15 JUL

    240. Zhen E (pronounced like Jenny): "Abducted Through Holt"

    Original air date: June 14, 2022 Zhen E (pronounced like Jenny) is a transnational transracial Korean Adoptee who was abducted through Holt in the 1970s to an all white family and community. She and her husband Robert (also white) are foodies and travelers and cat-parents to 4 cats and proud parents to Jordan and his wife Skyler and grandparents to granddaughter Jasmine Nari (3 years) and grandson Soren Eujin (3 weeks). Zhen E is an adoptee advocate and has gone to Washington DC, LA, and the Iowa Legislatures to pass the Adoptee Citizenship Act.   Zhen E has performed her pieces "Black Box: An Adoption Story Choreopoem" and other spoken word poetry about adoption at several play festivals, at KAAN and IKAA in the US and Seoul, South Korea.   Music by Corey Quinn

    54 min

  8. 8 JUL

    239. Laura L. Engel: "You'll Forget This Ever Happened: Secrets, Shame and Adoption in the 1960's"

    Original air date: May 2, 2023 Laura L. Engel likes to say she is late to the game as a budding new author. Originally from Biloxi, Mississippi, Laura has lived in Southern California for over 50 years. She and her husband, Gene are the proud parents of six grown children along with their significant others. They are delighted to be Grammy and PaPa to ten grandchildren. Recently retired after 30 plus years as a regional sales representative for an international title insurance company, Laura left the corporate world and plunged headlong into her second career as a writer in 2017. Laura has had two scenes from her memoir chosen for the San Diego Memoir Showcase. Her scene, 'Secret Son' is published in the award winning anthology 'Shaking the Tree'. Her scene 'Do They Know?' was selected as one of the ten winners for the San Diego Memoir Showcase in 2018. It was published in 2019 in Amazon Best Seller and Award winning Shaking The Tree 2 and Shaking The Tree 3. She is a current member of the International Women Writers Guild and President of the San Diego Memoir Writers Association. Laura's memoir is 'You’ll Forget This Ever Happened'. Check out her website for more information regarding her memoir. https://lauralengel.com/ Music by Corey Quinn

    1h 17m
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About

Through an audio drama and episodes of thought-provoking conversations, the listening audience can learn some of the issues faced by those affected by adoption. The adoptee is at the center of all conversations had with other members of the adoption constellation.

Information

  • Creator
    Jennifer Dyan Ghoston
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    246
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 Jennifer Dyan Ghoston
  • Show Website
    Once Upon A Time...In Adopteeland

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