Family Twist: A Podcast Exploring DNA Surprises and Family Secrets Corey and Kendall Stulce

How can attending an adoptee summit transform your understanding of identity and connection?
In this episode of Family Twist, we're joined by Monica Hall for an insightful discussion on the Untangling Our Roots Summit. Monica shares her profound experiences at the summit, emphasizing the healing power of connecting with others who have similar adoption-related experiences. The episode explores the emotional journey of adoptees and birth parents, highlighting stories of reunions, the deep sense of loneliness many adoptees face, and the importance of compassion and understanding in these unique relationships.
I Knocked On My Birth Mother's DoorBenefits of Listening:
Gain insight into the transformative power of adoption summits and how they foster healing and connection.Learn about the emotional impact of reunions between adoptees and their birth families, including heartwarming and challenging stories.Understand the importance of listening to birth parents' stories to grasp the full scope of the adoption experience.
Tune in to hear Monica's moving stories and discover how shared experiences at adoption summits can lead to profound healing and connection—listen now!

Ever wondered how an open adoption can transform lives and bridge the gap between adoptive and birth families?
In this episode of Family Twist, we dive deep into the profound experiences and insights of Lori, an adoptive parent and advocate for open adoption. Lori shares her journey of navigating the complexities of adoption, the importance of openness, and the lasting impact on both her children and their birth families. If you're an adoptive parent, a birth parent, or anyone touched by adoption, this episode will provide valuable perspectives and practical advice.
Adoptive Mom Builds Relationships with Birth FamiliesBenefits of Listening:
Discover the real meaning of open adoption and how it can positively affect the adoptee's life and family dynamics.Learn from Lori's personal experiences and professional insights on building healthy, honest relationships between adoptive and birth families.Gain practical advice on handling the emotional and psychological aspects of adoption for both parents and children.
Don't miss this heartfelt and informative episode to gain new insights and practical tips on navigating the world of open adoption—tune in now!Guest bio:
Lori Holden is author of the groundbreaking book Adoption Unfiltered: Revelations from Adoptees, Birth Parents, Adoptive Parents, and Allies, co-authored with adoptee Sara Easterly and birth parent Kelsey Vander Vliet Ranyard. She wrote the highly acclaimed The Open-Hearted Way to Open Adoption with her daughter's birth mom, is host of the podcast Adoption: the Long View, and has explored adoption for 17 years at LavenderLuz.com. Lori was nominated by Senator Michael Bennet to be honored as an Angel in Adoption® by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute.
Guest links:
Book: The Open-Hearted Way to Open Adoption: Helping Your Child Grow Up Whole
Podcast: Adoption: The Long View
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Adoptee Monica Hall discusses her journey from leaving corporate America to starting her own soap company and finding her indigenous roots. She shares anecdotes about selling peppermint soap to a gay community and the success of her products. Monica also opens up about her personal life, including her experiences with relationships and her challenging childhood.
She talks about her spiritual practices and the importance of maintaining a high vibration. The conversation touches on the power of storytelling and the healing process, as well as the impact of adoption on individuals and families. Monica discusses her experiences with family dynamics, including distancing herself from toxic family members and the realization that she had been enabling their behavior. She reflects on her upbringing and the impact it had on her relationships and self-worth.
Monica also talks about the process of writing her memoir and the challenges she faced in condensing her story. She shares her journey of reconnecting with her biological daughter and the complexities of being an indigenous person. Overall, Monica's story is one of resilience, healing, and the search for identity and belonging.
High Vibrations with the Author of Practically Still a VirginBenefits of Listening to This Episode:
Inspiration for Entrepreneurial Ventures: Learn how Monica turned her passion for natural products and herbology into a thriving business, providing practical inspiration for listeners looking to start their own entrepreneurial journeys.Insights into Personal Growth Through Heritage: Gain insights into how connecting with one's cultural and familial roots can lead to significant personal growth and self-discovery.Understanding the Impact of Adoption on Identity: Monica discusses her experiences with adoption from both personal and professional perspectives, offering listeners deeper understanding of how early life experiences can shape personal identity and relationships.
Guest bio:
Monica Hall is a speaker, writer, coach, and entrepreneur. In addition to working as a business consultant, Monica has founded several companies, including an eponymous skincare line and a successful business centered on natural, chemical-free body care, and has worked in advertising and marketing for more than twenty years.
Her entrepreneurial spirit is fueled by the often traumatic experiences of her youth, which helped to cultivate the fierce and fearless personality that prepared her to build and direct successful industry-leading companies. Monica loves sharing her story and giving hope to those in crisis, which she has done for over three decades. She devotes much of her time to working with women by guiding them through life’s challenges. This has been instrumental in her development, and Monica describes it as a life-changing experience.
Freely giving her time has helped her to shed a self-centered worldview and gain new insight into human motivation and interactions.
Connect with Monica:
https://www.instagram.com/monicahallauthor/
About Practically Still a Virgin
A gripping memoir recounting a fifteen-year-old adoptee's experience of rape and the pregnancy that changed her life.
Adopted and raised during Alaska’s lawless 1970s oil-boom era, Monica grows up amid trauma and dysfunction. As a teen, she rebels into delinquency.
When Monica is raped and becomes pregnant, her religious parents push her into giving up her baby, her only known blood relative for adoption. These events kick off a decades-long search for family and belonging.
Thread by thread, she weaves...

Ever wondered how discovering hidden family secrets can transform your sense of identity and belonging?
In this episode, Kendall continues the conversation with Pam, an NPE (not parent expected) individual. They discuss the possibility of being the product of an affair or open relationship, and the challenges that come with it. They also talk about the importance of love and acceptance in reunion experiences, as well as the complexities of family dynamics and secrets.
Kendall shares her own experiences with her birth mother and the emotions that come with uncovering family secrets. The conversation highlights the need for processing and healing in order to move forward. The conversation explores the themes of self-discovery, the impact of family secrets, and the importance of love and acceptance. It delves into the movie "Soul" and how it relates to the journey of the soul and personal experiences. The conversation also touches on the idea that connecting with biological family members is part of one's soul's journey and the importance of embracing that connection. It concludes with a discussion on the complexities of family secrets and the need for honesty and open communication.
Family Shadows and the Children of AffairsBenefits of Listening:
Being the product of an affair or open relationship can present unique challenges and complexities in one's identity and family dynamics.Reunion experiences can be filled with mixed emotions, and it's important to navigate them with love, acceptance, and understanding.Family secrets can have a lasting impact on individuals and relationships, and it's important to process and heal in order to move forward.The journey of uncovering family secrets can be both painful and therapeutic, allowing for personal growth and a deeper understanding of oneself. Self-discovery is a significant part of the NPE journey, and it can be influenced by various factors, including personal experiences and external influences.Family secrets and shame can have a damaging impact on individuals, preventing them from acknowledging and accepting their true origins.Connecting with biological family members is seen as part of one's soul's journey, and it is important to embrace that connection and the stories it brings.Honesty and open communication are crucial in navigating the complexities of NPE discoveries and building meaningful relationships with biological family members.
Discover more captivating family stories here!Listen, Rate & Subscribe
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Can you transform trauma into a powerful personal narrative?
In this compelling episode of Family Twist, we delve into the journey of healing and self-creation with guest Dee Wallace, celebrated actress and healer. Dee shares her unique insights on how to redirect energy and thoughts to manifest the life you desire, inspired by her own experiences in both Hollywood and personal healing practices.
How to Redirect Thoughts to Manifest the Life You DesireThis episode explores the vital connection between personal philosophy and healing, providing listeners with a profound understanding of how our energies and beliefs shape our lives. Whether you’re dealing with family trauma, seeking personal growth, or curious about how to harness your inner power, this conversation offers transformative perspectives.
Listeners will gain:
Strategies to harness and redirect personal energy to foster healing and positive outcomes.Insights into overcoming trauma by rewriting personal narratives, supported by real-life examples and Dee’s extensive experience.Practical advice on cultivating self-love and responsibility, essential for anyone looking to empower their life choices and relationships.
Dive into this episode to discover how to redefine your story and heal from past traumas, guided by Dee Wallace’s inspiring journey and expertise.

Have you ever imagined discovering a completely different truth about your past as an adult?
This episode delves deep into the powerful, emotional journeys that unfold when hidden family truths come to light through DNA testing and genealogical discoveries. For anyone curious about their own family background or grappling with questions of identity, this podcast provides a compelling exploration of the complexities involved in uncovering one's true heritage. In it, we revisit past guests from Family Twist that are taking part in the Untangling Our Roots conference in April 2024.
Untangling Our Roots: The Power and Pitfalls of Genetic DiscoveriesBenefits of Listening:
Gain insight into the emotional and psychological impact of uncovering unexpected family secrets and how individuals navigate these discoveries.Understand the broader implications of DNA testing and genealogy in redefining family relationships and personal identity.Be inspired by real-life stories of reconciliation and the quest for truth, showing the resilience and transformation possible when confronting the past.
Uncover the hidden stories of family, identity, and resilience that resonate with us all by listening to this insightful episode of the Family Twist podcast.Guest episodes:
Brad Ewell: NPE Held Prisoner by Parental Secrets
Jon Baime: NPE's Documentary is Filling in the Blanks
Peter J. Boni: Unveiling the Secrets of Assisted Reproductive Technology
Wendy Kramer and the Donor Sibling Registry Part 1
Lauren LoGiudice: The Comedy of Discovery
Michelle Tullier: NPE: Guess What? My Dad is Not My Dad.
Right to Know
National Association of Adoptees and Parents