Adopt Perspective Adoption Podcast

Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow for Jigsaw Queensland
  • 5.0 (5)
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Honest conversations about adoption, identity, trauma and belonging - told by the people who live it. Adopt Perspective is a podcast for anyone affected by adoption, especially adopted adults, parents who lost children to adoption and their families. We explore adoption trauma, adoption loss, identity, belonging and reunion through lived experience. Featuring personal stories and expert conversations, we examine late discovery adoption, forced adoption, intercountry adoption, searching, reunion and healing. Listener discretion advised.

  1. HACE 11 H

    Adoption Reunion in Australia: Felicity Lawson

    Felicity Lawson is an adopted person born at Hornsby Hospital, NSW in 1975. Over the past 32 years, she has searched for and reunited with both her mother and father - a long and complex journey marked by hope, heartbreak, and identity shifts. In this episode of Adopt Perspective, Felicity shares her lived experience of adoption reunion in Australia, reflecting on growing up adopted, navigating adoptive family dynamics, and the emotional realities of searching for biological parents. We also explore the broader legacy of the Forced Adoption Era (1940s–1980s) and the ripple effects of reunion - not just for adopted people, but for mothers, fathers, adoptive parents, siblings, partners and extended family members. Felicity is currently writing a resource book focused on adoption reunion in Australia, documenting lived experiences across the adoption community. In this conversation, she shares what reunion has taught her and how others can contribute to this important project. To find out more, you can email Felicity at adoptionreunion@outlook.com. If you are an adopted person, parent of loss, adoptive parent, sibling or child of an adopted person, or someone navigating search and reunion, this episode offers insight, validation and practical wisdom. Chapters  00:00 Felicity Lawson's Adoption Journey 08:57 The Impact of Reunion on Identity 15:51 Navigating Relationships with Birth Parents 22:51 Understanding the Forced Adoption Era 30:53 The Importance of Documenting Experiences 🎧 If this conversation resonates, subscribe for more honest discussions about adoption, identity and the lived experience of adopted adults, mothers and fathers who lost children to adoption and therapists, researchers and policy makers in this space.  This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to ⁠http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/podcast⁠   To be considered for interview on the podcast, fill in the prospective guest form you'll find on the podcast page of the website.   Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (⁠www.jigsawqueensland.com⁠)  Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast  Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland   If you are looking for support and reside in Queensland, Australia, you can reach Jigsaw Queensland's Forced Adoption Support Service on toll-free 1800 21 03 13, or you can call Jigsaw on 07 3358 6666. If you live in another state of Australia, you can still call the Forced Adoption Support Service in the state that you're calling from. In every other state of Australia, Relationships Australia operates this service.  A big thank you to Matt Sparrow for composing and recording our original theme music.   We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing.

    32 min

  2. 17 FEB

    Adoption and Addiction with Paul Sunderland

    Paul Sunderland is a renowned addiction specialist and psychotherapist. With over 35 years of experience, Paul's groundbreaking work has illuminated the deep and often-overlooked links between adoption, trauma, and addiction. His powerful presentations, shared widely by the adoption community, have resonated with thousands around the world. In this episode, we explore the lifelong impact of early maternal separation, how adoption shapes identity and mental health, and why adopted people may face a heightened vulnerability to addiction. Whether you're an adopted person, a parent of loss, an adoptive parent, or a professional working in the therapeutic or community services space, Paul's wisdom offers invaluable understanding and hope. This episode will resonate with adopted adults, parents who lost children to adoption, siblings, adoptive parents, practitioners, and anyone seeking a deeper, more honest understanding of the lifelong impacts of adoption.    🎧 If this conversation resonates, subscribe for more honest discussions about adoption, identity and the lived experience of adopted adults, mothers and fathers who lost children to adoption and therapists, researchers and policy makers in this space.  This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to ⁠http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/podcast⁠   To be considered for interview on the podcast, fill in the prospective guest form you'll find on the podcast page of the website.   Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (⁠www.jigsawqueensland.com⁠)  Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast  Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland   If you are looking for support and reside in Queensland, Australia, you can reach Jigsaw Queensland's Forced Adoption Support Service on toll-free 1800 21 03 13, or you can call Jigsaw on 07 3358 6666. If you live in another state of Australia, you can still call the Forced Adoption Support Service in the state that you're calling from. In every other state of Australia, Relationships Australia operates this service.  A big thank you to Matt Sparrow for composing and recording our original theme music.   We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing.  Titles Understanding Adoption and Addiction The Intersection of Trauma and Addiction Chapters 00:00 Meet Paul Sunderland: Addiction Specialist 01:25 Exploring Adoption, Trauma, and Addiction 07:24 The Impact of Adoption on Mental Health 11:10 Understanding PTSD and Complex PTSD 14:26 The Primal Wound and Addiction Vulnerability 18:01 Coping Mechanisms and Self-Soothing Patterns 23:10 The Role of Shame in Adoption Experiences 26:16 Types of Addiction Beyond Substance Abuse 32:05 Understanding Codependency in Adoption 39:19 Identity and Emotional Regulation Challenges 43:39 The Importance of Psychoeducation 47:49 Effective Therapy for Adopted Individuals 53:53 Self-Help Strategies for Adopted People 58:49 Supporting Adopted Individuals: The Role of Families 01:01:10 Professional Support for Adopted People 01:02:55 Final Thoughts on Recovery and Healing

    1 h y 7 min

  3. 10 FEB

    The Silent Struggle of Fathers in Adoption - Phil Kenward

    In this episode of Adopt Perspective, Jo Sparrow speaks with Phil Kenwood, a father who shares his deeply personal story of losing a daughter to forced adoption in 1970. The conversation explores the emotional impact of adoption on fathers, the stigma surrounding men's mental health, and the importance of support groups. Phil discusses his journey of healing, the challenges of reconnecting with his daughter after many years, and the need for men to share their stories and seek help. The episode highlights the often unheard voices of fathers in the adoption narrative and emphasises the significance of empathy and support in the healing process. This episode will resonate with adopted adults, parents who lost children to adoption, siblings, adoptive parents, practitioners, and anyone seeking a deeper, more honest understanding of the lifelong impacts of adoption.  Takeaways Jigsaw Queensland has launched a men's support group for those affected by forced adoption.Phil Kenwood emphasizes the stigma that prevents many fathers from sharing their experiences.The coercive nature of the adoption process in the past left lasting emotional scars.Phil's experience illustrates the profound impact of losing a child to adoption.The reunion with his daughter brought both joy and emotional turmoil for Phil.Phil's journey highlights the importance of mental health support for fathers.Yoga and therapy have been crucial in Phil's healing process.The need for men to openly discuss their grief and experiences is vital.Phil believes that just one supportive person could have changed many adoption outcomes.The episode aims to raise awareness about the emotional struggles faced by fathers in adoption. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Men's Mental Health and Support Groups 02:03 Phil Kenwood's Journey: A Father's Perspective on Adoption 10:35 The Impact of Forced Adoption on Lives 18:07 Reunion and Its Emotional Toll 21:13 Healing and Support: Finding Peace 27:46 The Unheard Stories of Fathers in Adoption "If just one person had been supportive..." "I suffered from anxiety for years." "Men need to talk and not hold onto grief." 🎧 If this conversation resonates, subscribe for more honest discussions about adoption, identity and the lived experience of adopted adults, mothers and fathers who lost children to adoption and therapists, researchers and policy makers in this space.  This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to ⁠http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/podcast⁠   To be considered for interview on the podcast, fill in the prospective guest form you'll find on the podcast page of the website.   Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (⁠www.jigsawqueensland.com⁠)  Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast  Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland   If you are looking for support and reside in Queensland, Australia, you can reach Jigsaw Queensland's Forced Adoption Support Service on toll-free 1800 21 03 13, or you can call Jigsaw on 07 3358 6666. If you live in another state of Australia, you can still call the Forced Adoption Support Service in the state that you're calling from. In every other state of Australia, Relationships Australia operates this service.  A big thank you to Matt Sparrow for composing and recording our original theme music.   We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing.

    30 min

  4. 4 FEB

    Adoption Trauma and Identity: Reunion, Loss and the Lifelong Impact of Adoption with Tracy Graham

    In this episode, Jo Sparrow speaks with Tracy Graham, an adopted adult who shares her lived experience of adoption trauma, identity and reunion across the lifespan. Tracy reflects on growing up in her adoptive family, the silence and emotional harm she experienced, and how adoption loss shaped her sense of self. The conversation explores adoption identity, motherhood, and the emotional labour often carried by adopted adults, as well as the realities of adoption reunion. Tracy’s story highlights the power of truth-telling, reconnection, and the role of narrative in healing and meaning-making.  00:00 Tracy's Early Life and Adoption Experience 08:16 The Impact of Adoption on Identity 16:34 Moving to Australia: A New Beginning 18:34 Navigating Motherhood and Family Expectations 22:03 The Search for Biological Family 33:57 Discovering the Truth About Her Origins 36:10 The Impact of Early Separation 37:52 Navigating Relationships with Biological Family 40:15 Understanding Silence and Emotional Barriers 42:52 The Risk of Asking About the Past 45:22 Serendipity in Family Connections 49:53 Building Relationships with Siblings 52:34 The Complexity of Family Dynamics 58:30 Releasing Emotional Burdens 01:02:27 Leaving a Legacy for Future Generations This episode will resonate with adopted adults, parents who lost children to adoption, siblings, adoptive parents, practitioners, and anyone seeking a deeper, more honest understanding of the lifelong impacts of adoption.    🎧 If this conversation resonates, subscribe for more honest discussions about adoption, identity and the lived experience of adopted adults, mothers and fathers who lost children to adoption and therapists, researchers and policy makers in this space.  This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to ⁠http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/podcast⁠   To be considered for interview on the podcast, fill in the prospective guest form you'll find on the podcast page of the website.   Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (⁠www.jigsawqueensland.com⁠)  Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast  Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland   If you are looking for support and reside in Queensland, Australia, you can reach Jigsaw Queensland's Forced Adoption Support Service on toll-free 1800 21 03 13, or you can call Jigsaw on 07 3358 6666. If you live in another state of Australia, you can still call the Forced Adoption Support Service in the state that you're calling from. In every other state of Australia, Relationships Australia operates this service.  A big thank you to Matt Sparrow for composing and recording our original theme music.   We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing.

    1 h y 6 min

  5. 27 ENE

    Adoption Trauma, Identity & Reunion | An Adopted Adult’s Experience | Clare Cochrane

    Adoption trauma, adoption identity, and adoption reunion are lifelong experiences for many adopted adults.  In this episode of Adopt Perspective, Clare Cochrane shares her lived experience of adoption, reunion, and dual belonging.  Clare was born in Perth in 1966 and adopted at just two weeks of age. She grew up knowing she was adopted and describes her experience as a “good adoption.” Yet, like many adopted adults, Clare has come to understand that good does not mean uncomplicated - and it does not mean without cost.  Raised as the youngest of four children and the only adopted child in her family, Clare speaks about growing up feeling different, living across continents and cultures, and carrying both belonging and loss. As an adult, Clare experienced adoption reunion with her biological parents, who had married and raised other children...revealing the complex reality of biological connection without shared history, and shared history without biology.  This conversation explores adoption trauma beyond simplified narratives, the shaping of adoption identity across the lifespan, and why reunion is a process rather than a moment. Clare reflects on guilt, divided loyalties, emotional walls built for survival, and the deep work of learning later in life to feel safe enough to be vulnerable.    This episode will resonate with adopted adults, parents who lost children to adoption, siblings, adoptive parents, practitioners, and anyone seeking a deeper, more honest understanding of the lifelong impacts of adoption.    Episode Chapters:  00:00 The Journey of Adoption and Identity  10:02 Navigating Dual Belonging and Family Dynamics  20:10 Reunion and the Complexity of Relationships  29:55 The Emotional Landscape of Adoption  40:09 Finding Self and Healing Through Vulnerability   🎧 If this conversation resonates, subscribe for more honest discussions about adoption, identity and the lived experience of adopted adults, mothers and fathers who lost children to adoption and therapists, researchers and policy makers in this space.  This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/podcast   To be considered for interview on the podcast, fill in the prospective guest form you'll find on the podcast page of the website.   Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com)  Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast  Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland   If you are looking for support and reside in Queensland, Australia, you can reach Jigsaw Queensland's Forced Adoption Support Service on toll-free 1800 21 03 13, or you can call Jigsaw on 07 3358 6666. If you live in another state of Australia, you can still call the Forced Adoption Support Service in the state that you're calling from. In every other state of Australia, Relationships Australia operates this service.  A big thank you to Matt Sparrow for composing and recording our original theme music.   We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing.

    34 min

  6. TRÁILER

    Trailer

    Welcome to Adopt Perspective, a podcast for anyone affected by adoption. This podcast is a production of Jigsaw Queensland Inc., however the views expressed are those of the people participating, and not necessarily Jigsaw Queensland. The podcast discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised.   Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland   If you'd like to find out more, go to the podcast page on www.jigsawqueensland.com and you'll find a wealth of information and resources. To be considered for interview on the podcast, fill in the prospective guest form on the podcast page of the website.   If you are looking for support and reside in Queensland, you can reach Jigsaw Queensland's Forced Adoption Support Service on toll-free 1800 21 03 13, or you can call Jigsaw on 07 33 58 66 66. If you live in another state of Australia, you can still call the Forced Adoption Support Service number and your call will be answered by the Forced Adoption Support Service in the state that you're calling from.  In every other state, Relationships Australia operates this service. A big thank you to Matt Sparrow for composing and recording our original theme music.   We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing.   Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland

    1 min

  7. 28/10/2025

    Ryan Anderson

    Today’s conversation is one that takes us across continents, cultures, and the complex search for identity that so many adopted people navigate. Ryan Anderson is an intercountry adoptee who now lives in Scotland. Ryan was born in Morocco and adopted at six months old after being found on the streets of El Jadida. He was fostered by a Moroccan family prior to being adopted at 3 months of age and came to live in Scotland with his adoptive parents in 1990 when he was 6 months old—but it wasn’t until he was 18 that Ryan even learned he was adopted. For 13 years, he kept that secret to himself, carrying the weight of shame, confusion, and longing. Today, Ryan is an advocate for adoptees and mental health awareness. His journey has taken him around the world—literally walking the streets of Morocco, appearing on Moroccan television in hopes of finding his biological family, and facing some very precarious situations along the way. Ryan is open about his struggles with identity, mental health, and substance use, and the steps he’s taken to heal. This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes  Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com)  Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland  We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing.

    50 min

  8. 14/10/2025

    Tammy Richie - Loss, Reunion and the Bonds That Shape Us

    Born in 1972 in Toowoomba and adopted into a family in Boonah, Tammy Richie’s story is one of heartbreak, resilience and rediscovery. In this episode, Tammy shares her remarkable journey — from learning she’d lost her twin at birth to finding her biological family decades later. A veteran of the Australian military, mother and advocate, Tammy speaks with depth and honesty about trauma, love, and the spiritual threads that connect us across time and loss. This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes  Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com)  Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland  We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing.

    51 min
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Honest conversations about adoption, identity, trauma and belonging - told by the people who live it. Adopt Perspective is a podcast for anyone affected by adoption, especially adopted adults, parents who lost children to adoption and their families. We explore adoption trauma, adoption loss, identity, belonging and reunion through lived experience. Featuring personal stories and expert conversations, we examine late discovery adoption, forced adoption, intercountry adoption, searching, reunion and healing. Listener discretion advised.

Información

  • Creador
    Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow for Jigsaw Queensland
  • Años de actividad
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodios
    118
  • Clasificación
    Apto
  • Copyright
    © Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow for Jigsaw Queensland
  • Mostrar sitio web
    Adopt Perspective Adoption Podcast

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