203 episodes
Who Am I Really? Damon L. Davis
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- Education
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4.9 • 191 Ratings
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Adoptees telling their own stories of life in adoption, their search for their birth family, and how their reunion attempt turned out. Stories that make you laugh, cry, or simply say "wow".
This podcast has two purposes:
1) To help you explore your own feelings about your adoption, accept your desire understand your own personal history, and decide for yourself whether reunification with your biological relatives is right for you. It will help you understand how others have dealt with issues related to protecting the feelings of their adopted families who may be supportive of your search, or question your motives and present challenges.
2) For non-adoptees, this podcast will help you understand some of what is in the minds of your friends, family members, or others who are adopted. Perhaps you had questions for them but you didn’t know if you should ask.
The stories will make you smile or bring you to tears, but they’re all true as told by the people who lived them. In them, I hope you’ll find something that inspires you, validates your feelings about wanting to search, or motivates you to have the strength along your journey to learn “Who Am I Really?”
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196 - A Forever Family: Fostering Change One Child At A Time
Rob called me from right here in Maryland. Trigger warning. Rob shares his harrowing story of his childhood surviving, mental and sexual abuse under the guardianship of his parents. After their deaths Rob went into foster care and became homeless, navigating life with his belongings shuttled from place to place in trash bags. Rob fought hard but struggled to overcome the trauma of his life until he finally visited his mother so he could set himself free.
Rob found love with his husband, Reese, and they've created a family.
He is the founder of Comfort Cases (www.ComfortCases.org) a charity that helps foster children to navigate foster care with dignity.
Rob's Book: A Forever Family: Fostering Change One Family At A Time
This is Rob's journey.
Who Am I Really?
Who Am I Really? Website Share Your StoryDamon's story
Find the show on:
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197 - Why Such A Secret?
Lisa and I connected right before she was going to meet her biological father for the first time and a cousin she's completely enamored with. Lisa shared that she was adopted as an infant into a failing marriage where divorce soon followed. While other people outwardly noticed how different she looked from her brother, she considered him, her brother, no matter what, despite her status as an adoptee.
But after everyone passed away, Lisa felt like she was finally free to pursue connections to her birth family. I would normally share a bit about her reunion here, but we don't know anything yet. So I'll simply say this is Lisa's journey so far...
Who Am I Really?
Who Am I Really? Website Share Your StoryDamon's story
Find the show on:
InstagramFacebookAppleYouTubeSpotifyGoogleTuneIn StitcherPlayer FMPodbean -
182 - Avoiding Dysfunction For My Mental Health
David, from San Jose, CA said when he was a kid he knew he was talented and smart but his gifts didn't seem to measure up to his adoptive parents expectations. When David learned he was adopted the news, left him wanting to find his birth mother rebelling and challenged to control his behavior.
In reunion, David found his paternal family, but similar elements of dysfunction in their family and drastically differing opinions prevent him from getting any closer. This is David's journey.
Who Am I Really?
Who Am I Really? Website - http://www.whoamireallypodcast.com/Share Your Story - bit.ly/2imgrtv_Share
Damon's own story in print and audio:
Damon's story "Who Am I Really? An Adoptee Memoir” - https://amzn.to/2Y9RNf8
Listen On
Apple Podcasts - http://apple.co/2oOd25mSpotify - https://spoti.fi/2RN3jcB Google Play - http://bit.ly/2oEU7bHTuneIn - http://tun.in/piyg9Stitcher - http://bit.ly/2DsqBxk_StitcherPlayer FM - https://player.fm/series/who-am-i-reallyPodbean - bit.ly/2I0ITeY_PodbeanYouTube - http://bit.ly/2oF3yrH
Social Media
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/WAIReally/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/waireally/ -
183 - The Journey Changes Your Soul
Jack from Phoenix, Arizona, said as a boy, he was kept separate from his sister who was biologically related to his parents. While he was interested in reunion jack was clearly told his desires were unacceptable. He held off from searching for years only to find later that his birth mother was eagerly awaiting his return.
On his paternal side, Jack was met with a wall of protection with the exception of one sister. From a distance jack says he's learned more about his paternal family than they probably know about themselves.
This is jack's journey
Who Am I Really?
Who Am I Really? Website - http://www.whoamireallypodcast.com/Share Your Story - bit.ly/2imgrtv_Share
Listen On
Apple Podcasts - http://apple.co/2oOd25mSpotify - https://spoti.fi/2RN3jcB Google Play - http://bit.ly/2oEU7bHTuneIn - http://tun.in/piyg9Stitcher - http://bit.ly/2DsqBxk_StitcherPlayer FM - https://player.fm/series/who-am-i-reallyPodbean - bit.ly/2I0ITeY_PodbeanYouTube - http://bit.ly/2oF3yrH
Social Media
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/WAIReally/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/waireally/
Damon's own story in print and audio:
Damon's story "Who Am I Really? An Adoptee Memoir” - https://amzn.to/2Y9RNf8 -
184 - Merging Who I Was Supposed To Be With Who I Am
Heidi, from Silicon Valley, California, grew up walking on eggshells, crying a lot and "staying small" in her world despite being gifted. She found her maternal family guided by a somewhat famous reunion specialist who helped the reunion along.
Heidi says reunion can be weird and awkward for how much time has passed while an adoptee tries to get to know their biological relatives in the present. Her reunions are further complicated by the emotions of her birth mother and birth father being the opposite reactions to her return than she expected. This is Heidi's journey
Lyrics to Looking For Me (Lyrics)
Looking for Me (Heidi Frederick © 2021)
My life a blurry canvas, full of pain and sometimes numb
No voice, no choice, grasping for joy, yet slipping through my hands
So lost without direction, afraid to ask for help
full of fear and loneliness, days and nights all by myself
Silent struggle of a misfit, just trying to fit in
please tell me what to hope for, don’t let me down again
Missing peace, missing pieces, yet not a search for them,
I’m looking for me, to set me free, know who I truly am
Searching for places, strangers faces, no reflection found
was looking for them, yet searching for me
alone, yet in a crowd
If you could only know, my motive is so pure
Not looking to replace you, our relationship, secure
It’s not them I’m looking for, it’s me I long to know,
You chose me then, you choose me now, but I need to heal and grow
Can’t imagine, what they went through, so young and so alone
knowing she’s a part of you and suddenly she’s gone
They told you to move on, you’ll have more kids one day
It’s better not to hold her, just turn and walk away
Searching for places, strangers faces, no reflection found
was looking for you, but searching for me
still alone, yet in a crowd
Ties that bind, can’t be broken with false promised and empty words
After all this is your child, yet, she’s no longer yours
She’s spent her whole life wondering, if one day you would meet
no bitterness or resentment, not filled with rage or hate
With secrets and shame comes darkness, but courage and hope bring light
Walls come down, healing is found, not easy, but worth the fight.
My life, now a mosaic of brokenness and light
To rise and shine for all to see, to pass the torch of life
Searching for places, strangers faces, my reflection found
In my search for you, I’ve been set free
my soul no longer bound.
Searching for places, strangers faces, my reflection found
In my search for you, I’ve been set free
my soul no longer bound.
Who Am I Really?
Who Am I Really? Website - http://www.whoamireallypodcast.com/Share Your Story - bit.ly/2imgrtv_Share
Listen On
Apple Podcasts - http://apple.co/2oOd25mSpotify - https://spoti.fi/2RN3jcB Google Play - http://bit.ly/2oEU7bHTuneIn - http://tun.in/piyg9Stitcher - http://bit.ly/2DsqBxk_StitcherPlayer FM - a href="https://player.fm/series/who-am-i-really" rel="noopener noreferrer"... -
185 - Cosmically Related
Donna, from Scottsdale, Arizona, had a condition at birth which meant she was going straight to the hospital before her adoption, insuring her detachment from her birth mother and her future family, until she recovered.
When she was a teenager, Donna was cut off by her adoptive father when she got pregnant then placed her own daughter for adoption.
In reunion, Donna has found a best friend in her birth mother, a birth father who's too full of himself and unkind to remain in contact with, and her daughter whom she had to wait years for until the time was right for everyone to connect more deeply.
This is Donna's journey
Who Am I Really?
Who Am I Really? Website - http://www.whoamireallypodcast.com/Share Your Story - bit.ly/2imgrtv_Share
Listen On
Apple Podcasts - http://apple.co/2oOd25mSpotify - https://spoti.fi/2RN3jcB Google Play - http://bit.ly/2oEU7bHTuneIn - http://tun.in/piyg9Stitcher - http://bit.ly/2DsqBxk_StitcherPlayer FM - https://player.fm/series/who-am-i-reallyPodbean - bit.ly/2I0ITeY_PodbeanYouTube - http://bit.ly/2oF3yrH
Social Media
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/WAIReally/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/waireally/
Damon's own story in print and audio:
Damon's story "Who Am I Really? An Adoptee Memoir” - https://amzn.to/2Y9RNf8
Customer Reviews
I’m not alone💜
I truly appreciate your work. Listening to the podcast has helped me to relate to other adoptees, as I was feeling so alone in my grief and pain throughout my reunification. Thank you for all you do Damon!
Finally!
I’ve finally found a good podcast. You are a fantastic host..... most podcast hosts love to hear their own voice and ruin the conversation with like like like and um....they whine and grope the English language. They are impossible to listen to. Your voice is lovely and you are polite. Finally the truth about adoption has come to the light. Unfortunately.... people are sensitive and defensive and selfish and can’t handle the reality that there is only ONE way to have a baby and do it right. Only ONE way.
Keep up the good work.
❤️
As the parent of adult adoptees, this podcast has helped me understand the many faces and facets of adoption. It’s opened doors for deeper conversations and better relationships. Grateful for it.
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