Parenting Different

Parenting Different
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The Parenting Different Podcast is the go-to show for adoptive parents who want to raise children who feel seen, heard, and truly valued. Hosted by Anna Bernacki, Director of Community at Parenting Different, this podcast blends expert insight with real lived experience from adoptees, birth parents, and adoptive families.

  1. hace 6 días

    It's Not Just Hair: What Every Parent Needs to Understand About Identity, Dignity, and Connection

    What if one of the greatest opportunities to build trust with your child has been hiding in plain sight? In this powerful conversation, Anna sits down with Tamekia Swint, founder of Styles 4 Kids, to unpack why hair care is so much more than learning the right products or mastering a braid. It's about identity. It's about dignity. It's about helping children of color feel seen, valued, and proud of who they are. Together they share honest stories about the fear, shame, and overwhelm so many transracial adoptive and foster parents experience, while offering practical hope for creating connection instead of conflict.  This episode challenges the way we think about hair, reframing it not as a luxury or an optional skill, but as a basic part of caring for a child well. You'll walk away understanding why "hair day" can become one of the most meaningful bonding experiences in your home, why community matters more than another YouTube tutorial, and how something as simple as learning to care for your child's hair can strengthen their confidence for years to come. If you're raising a Black or biracial child, this conversation has the potential to change not just how you do hair, but how you parent.

    45 min

  2. 11 jun

    Finding Identity, Belonging, and Healing as a Transracial Adoptee with Michael Gaither

    What happens when you spend nearly five decades wondering where you came from? In this powerful conversation, Anna Bernacki sits down with transracial adoptee Michael Gaither, a retired educator, former principal, executive coach, and adoption advocate. Michael shares his deeply personal journey of growing up as a Black child in a White family in 1970s Nebraska, navigating identity, race, belonging, and the lifelong questions that many adoptees carry.  Michael speaks candidly about the challenges of living between two worlds, the pressure to hide his struggles, and the ways adoption shaped his understanding of himself. He reflects on the anger, anxiety, and isolation he experienced growing up, as well as the profound impact of meeting a Black mentor who helped him begin to see himself differently. Connect with Michael Gaither Beyond the Moment Adoption Studio Beyond the Moment Adoption Studio Resources and Courses Payhip Store – https://payhip.com/BeyondTheMomentAdoptionStudio?utm_source=chatgpt.com Free Resource: Seven Conversations Every White Parent Must Have With Their Black Child - Available free through Michael's website

    1 h 13 min

  3. 29 may

    “My Brain Broke”: Trauma, Survival, and Learning to Heal

    Dr. Danisha Keating joins Anna for a raw conversation about trauma, survival mode, parenting, and healing. From homelessness and raising her siblings to earning a PhD while battling severe anxiety, Danisha shares what it really means to overcome without pretending it was easy. Together, they discuss trauma-informed parenting, accountability, nervous system healing, and helping kids move beyond survival mode.

    1 h 2 min

  4. 14 may

    He built the platform and became the voice people trusted, then walked away. What happened?

    In this raw conversation, Anna and Isaac unpack the moment everything shifted for him. Not because the mission failed, but because something deeper inside no longer fit. This episode dives into the identity crisis that comes when your success no longer feels like truth, the grief adoptees carry but rarely name, and the quiet pressure to perform, achieve, and prove your worth… even when it’s costing you everything. If you’ve ever felt like you had to earn your place in the world, this one will hit deeper than you expect. We learn that sometimes walking away isn’t failure, but rather the first honest step toward becoming who you actually are.

    50 min

  5. 30 abr

    From Lived Experience to Advocacy

    In this insightful interview, Dr. Adam Anthony shares his personal journey as a Black adoptee, the complexities of identity and belonging, and his impactful work in mentorship and advocacy within the adoption community. Discover how lived experience fuels empowerment and how to support adopted children and youth effectively. Dr. Adam Anthony is an educator, speaker, and leadership development strategist whose work centers on identity, belonging, and healing-centered growth. An adoptee and former foster care youth, Dr. Anthony brings lived experience and research-informed insight to support individuals and communities in resilience, purpose, and self-discovery. He holds a Doctor of Education in Leadership and a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Trevecca Nazarene University, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Communications from the University of Evansville. Dr. Anthony’s professional experience spans educational, faith-based, and nonprofit settings, where he passionately partners with leaders and organizations to see, heal, and lead young men with foster care and adoption experiences on a deeper level. Dr. Anthony is the founder of EmpowerMENt, a platform dedicated to equipping young men of color, especially those with foster care or adoption backgrounds, with tools for emotional wellness, personal development, and leadership.

    42 min

  6. 17 abr

    The Hidden Struggles of Raising Kids with RAD

    This conversation delves into the challenges of parenting children with Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) and the systemic issues surrounding the lack of understanding and resources for this condition. It highlights the emotional toll on families, the impact on relationships, and the need for greater awareness and support for adoptive parents dealing with RAD. The conversation delves into the profound impact of Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) on families, highlighting the challenges of parenting, the need for mental health services, the long-term effects of RAD, the necessity for system reform, and coping strategies and support. The speakers emphasize the importance of early identification of RAD and the need for seeking help and support. You can follow Andy on all platforms at @andyfilmsandhikes

    1 h 4 min

  7. 10 abr

    Healing After Failed Adoptions & Finding Hope

    What happens when an adoption doesn’t go through? No one really talks about what comes next. In this deeply moving conversation, Valerie Marble shares the story behind the launch of Beyond the Match Foundation, a groundbreaking initiative created to support families navigating the heartbreak of failed adoptions. From the financial devastation of lost funds to the emotional toll that often goes unseen, this episode sheds light on a reality many families quietly endure. But this isn’t just a story about loss, it’s about rebuilding. Valerie introduces a new model of care that combines financial grants, mental health resources, and meaningful gestures like Mother’s Day gift baskets designed specifically for adoptive moms at every stage of the journey. This episode offers hope, validation, and a reminder that even in the most painful disruptions, healing and support are possible. https://astepaheadadoption.com/foundation/

    31 min

  8. 3 abr

    Adoption Ethics: Red Flags Every Parent Must Know

    Adoption is often painted as a beautiful, selfless act, but what happens when we look beneath the surface? In this deeply honest and eye-opening conversation, Anna Bernacki sits down with birth mother advocate Jessie Mattos to unpack the ethical complexities that many families never see coming. From hidden coercion to overlooked birth mother support, this episode challenges the narratives that have shaped adoption for decades. Jessie brings nearly a decade of experience and her own lived story to shed light on what truly ethical adoption should look like. She shares powerful insights into red flags adoptive parents must watch for, the emotional realities birth mothers face, and why centering the adoptee is essential for long-term healing. This isn’t just about doing adoption “right” it’s about confronting uncomfortable truths so that children, birth parents, and adoptive families can all thrive. If you’re considering adoption, already parenting through it, or simply want a more honest understanding of its impact, this episode will change the way you think and feel about adoption forever. What You’ll Learn: The biggest red flags and green flags when choosing an adoption agencyHow subtle coercion shows up in adoption (and why it matters)Why open adoption should be the standard—not the exceptionThe lifelong impact of adoption language on adoptee identityHow adoptive parents can build trust and security through relationshipsThe truth about birth mothers and breaking harmful stereotypesWhy “love isn’t the reason” behind placement decisions Join the Parenting Different newsletter here: https://www.parentingdifferent.com/free Subscribe for more episodes on adoption, trauma, identity, and parenting with truth and care.

    59 min
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The Parenting Different Podcast is the go-to show for adoptive parents who want to raise children who feel seen, heard, and truly valued. Hosted by Anna Bernacki, Director of Community at Parenting Different, this podcast blends expert insight with real lived experience from adoptees, birth parents, and adoptive families.

Información

  • Creador
    Parenting Different
  • Años de actividad
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodios
    32
  • Clasificación
    Apto
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Parenting Different
  • Mostrar sitio web
    Parenting Different

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