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. 29 mai

    “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

  2. 14 mai

    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

  3. 30 avr.

    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

  4. 17 avr.

    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

  5. 10 avr.

    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

  6. 3 avr.

    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

  7. 20 mars

    Adoption, Identity, and the Search for Who We Really Are with Simon Benn

    Simon Benn spent most of his life believing he had a “good” adoption story. Raised in a loving home, he didn’t carry the obvious wounds many adoptees describe. But at 40 years old, a simple revelation that a childhood teddy bear came from his birth mother shook something deep inside him. What followed was a painful question many adoptees quietly carry: If she loved me… why didn’t she keep me? Years later, reading his birth mother’s letter would completely transform that belief. In this powerful conversation, Simon shares how that moment helped him move from feelings of rejection to a profound sense of connection and love. His journey reveals that identity isn’t just about where we come from it’s about how we interpret our story, and whether we allow it to define or free us. This episode goes beyond adoption labels and digs into something universal: the human search for meaning, belonging, and truth. Simon also shares insights from interviewing hundreds across the adoption constellation and introduces his THRIVE framework offering a new way to think about trauma, healing, and growth. His message is clear: healing doesn’t come from staying stuck in the past—it comes from expanding who we become. What You’ll Learn: How a childhood object unlocked hidden adoptee griefWhy feelings of abandonment can shift into understanding and loveThe balance between exploring your past and not getting stuck in itHow understanding the “why” can strengthen parenting and relationshipsThe THRIVE framework: Trauma, Healing, Resilience, Identity, Vision, EmpowermentWhy healing requires growth not just timeA powerful mindset shift for adoptive parents: it’s not about fixing your child 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.

    32 min

  8. 5 mars

    Parenting Kids With Trauma: When Love Isn’t Enough

    Melissa Smallwood’s story is layered with resilience, heartbreak, healing, and deep commitment to children from hard places. Removed from her home as a child and placed into foster care, Melissa aged out of the system as a teen mom, never imagining that one day she would become both an adoptive parent and a trauma therapist working in child welfare. In this powerful conversation, she shares how her lived experience shaped the way she parents children with complex trauma and how her family ultimately grew to include seven children through a combination of step-parent adoption, foster care adoption, and unexpected family connections. The conversation dives into the realities many adoptive and foster parents face but rarely talk about—triggering moments when parenting mirrors your own childhood trauma, the painful decision to pursue residential treatment for a child, and the emotional toll of loving kids who are struggling deeply. Melissa offers wisdom on maintaining connection, prioritizing safety for the entire family, and showing up for children even when healing takes years. You’ll also hear practical guidance for parenting trauma-affected teens how to balance accountability with compassion, why consequences still matter, and how “scaffolding” life skills can prepare kids for adulthood when their developmental age doesn’t match their biological age. This episode is an honest, hopeful conversation for parents navigating the messy middle of trauma, healing, and unconditional love. What You’ll Learn: What it’s like to grow up in foster care and later become an adoptive parentHow trauma triggers can resurface when fostering or adopting childrenWhen residential treatment becomes necessary—and how to stay connectedWhy safety for the whole family must be the top priorityHow to parent trauma-affected teens using “scaffolding” instead of controlThe importance of relationship over rigid rules during adolescenceHow adoptive parents can support healing without taking responsibility for the outcome 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.

    57 min
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À propos

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.

Informations

  • Création
    Parenting Different
  • Années d’activité
    2025 - 2026
  • Épisodes
    30
  • Classification
    Tous publics
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Parenting Different
  • Site web de l’émission
    Parenting Different

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