Podcast
Thriving Adoptees - Let's Thrive
Hosted by Simon Benn · EN
Let's thrive.
Thriving Adoptees helps adoptees thrive.
What does thriving mean to you?
Healing? Post Traumatic Growth? Evolving?
Listen in as we explore what's helped adoptees do all that...
Email me at simon@thrivingadoptees.com if you'd like to have a chat about being a guest on the show.
There have been 93,000 downloads of the show since launch in April 2021.
27episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Fundamental Wholeness
1w ago00:53:52Tap to summarizeHow would it feel to know that You are whole under your trauma? To know that You are intact, undamaged and complete despite your trauma. That everyone else is too. Listen in as I explore our Fundamental Wholeness with Donna Pope, adoptive mother, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and executive director. Here's more about Donna from her agency's website: Donna is an irreplaceable member of our adoption agency, dedicated to aiding women who are contemplating placing their child for adoption. Helping women through an unexpected pregnancy has become her life’s journey. She is seldom “off duty.” On weekends she communicates with birth mothers to aid them with their financial concerns or traveling to a hospital to ensure they are receiving the best medical possible. Her resolute dedication and heartfelt compassion make her an essential figure in supporting these women throughout their entire journey. Donna ensures that every person who works at Heart to Heart Adoptions treats birth mothers and adoptive families with respect and compassion. She insists on a non-judgmental approach to every situation. She creates a safe and nurturing space for them to share their concerns, dreams, and worries. By approaching each individual with empathy and without judgment, Donna ensures that these exceptional women have the necessary guidance and resources to make well-informed decisions. Donna’s expertise within the Utah Adoption Agency lies in her ability to find the perfect match between birth mothers and adoptive families, making her an invaluable asset to our agency. https://hearttoheartadopt.com/ https://www.facebook.com/HeartToHeartAdoption https://www.instagram.com/hearttoheartadoptions/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-pope-41652ba/ Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.
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Support Not Gratitude With Randi Thompson
2w ago00:55:24Tap to summarizeExpecting gratitude from adopted kids turns them against us. We are here to support them! Listen in as Randi shares her learnings on supporting her kids to help them thrive including expectations, acceptance and more... When Randi Thompson visited an orphanage in Kazakhstan more than 20 years ago, she saw teens forced to move out with no place to go, no skills, and no hope. Inspired to create a new future for these kids she went to work building Kidsave programs and she hasn’t stopped since. Randi is a 30-year veteran of outcome-based marketing and communications projects designed to effect social change. In 2016, Randi was awarded the Department of Health and Human Services Children’s Bureau Adoption Excellence Award for Child Welfare/Judicial Systems Change for Weekend Miracles. Randi is active in the Equity Committee of the Foster Together Network a group working to increase and enhance the provision of culturally responsive and competent care for Black children, in an effort to facilitate well-being and improve their life outcomes. To Randi, a mother, wife, daughter, sister, and grandmother, family is everything. https://www.facebook.com/KidsaveInternational/ https://www.instagram.com/kidsave/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/randi-thompson-a15a078/ https://www.kidsave.org/ Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.
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Challenging Narratives With Kareemah Baker
3w ago00:51:23Tap to summarizeSo many of us are challenging other people's narratives, but what if we challenge our own? This invariably leads to the insights that power our growth, fuel our relationships and succeed. Listen in as Kareemah shares her biggest insights to catalyse insight in yours. Kareemah Harris-Baker’s story is one of resilience. As an adoptee who lost both her adoptive parents by the age of nine, Kareemah’s early life was shaped by profound transitions—and an unwavering sense of purpose instilled by her late parents. Kareemah works at New Jersey’s Department of Children and Families as Assistant Director of the Office of Adoption Operations. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kareemah-h-baker-lsw-mpa-830079a2/ https://www.facebook.com/Ladyk583/ Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.
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Realisations Are Everything With Cheryl Fix
4w ago00:47:55Tap to summarizeTime isn't the greatest healer because if there's no change, there's no healing. So what IS the greatest healer? Realisations. Those profound insights that help us see differently, more clearly and better. Listen in as we talk realisations, grace and space... Cheryl Fix is Executive Director of the Alberta Foster and Kinship Association, find out more at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryl-fix-4b7b36b/ https://www.facebook.com/Albertafosterandkinshipassociation/ instagram.com/afka_caregiver_support https://afkaonline.ca/ Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.
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Healing, Wholeness & Growth With Lynda Monk
4w ago00:43:44Tap to summarizeHealing, Wholeness & Growth. What do they mean? How do they fit together? How can we enjoy more of all three? Listen in as adoptee and social worker Lynda shares powerful insights and strategies. Lynda is an Adoptee, Registered Social Worker (MSW, RSW) Director of the International Association for Journal Writing, IAJW.org and Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) Find out more at: https://www.amazon.com/Adoptees-Guide-Healing-Wholeness-Growth/dp/1963667328/ LyndaMonk.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyndamonk/ Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.
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Looking Forward With Richard Kingswell
4w ago00:41:11Tap to summarizeGoing through tough stuff? Really tough? Tomorrow's going to be better...Listen in as Richard shares insights on hope, optimism and persistence... Richard is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of FosterVA and Extra Special Parents, organisations he established to strengthen foster care services and improve outcomes for children, young people, and families across Virginia. With a strong background in social work and decades of experience working alongside young people, Richard brings both professional depth and personal conviction to his leadership. Richard believes foster care works best when families feel genuinely supported, listened to, and respected. His leadership is grounded in relationships, transparency, and a commitment to doing what is right for children and those who care for them. Through initiatives such as The Kingswell Conversations, he creates space for open, honest discussions about foster care, leadership, and the real experiences of families and professionals in the field. Outside of work, Richard enjoys hiking and kayaking, unwinding with a good film, cooking for family and friends, and playing board games. He is also a dog lover and values the balance that time away from work brings, helping him stay grounded and connected to what matters most. Find out more at https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardkingswell/ https://www.fosterva.org/ https://www.espva.org/ https://www.facebook.com/FosterVA https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1cwslKf_116XfeZ5eyTjcA https://www.facebook.com/extraspecialparents Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.
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Victim - Survivor - Thriver With Jane Baker
Jun 2501:02:39Tap to summarizeWhen we can see that our past and our trauma don't define us, we leave victimhood behind. Listen in as clinical social worker Jane shares learnings on what helps us move on...looking at what's going on in our heads, hearts and bodies. Jane Baker, LICSW is a clinical social worker with concentration in trauma, attachment, and family systems. With her beginnings in the field of foster care and adoption over 25 years ago, she is experienced with the unique needs of adoptive families and children with early childhood trauma. This experience now includes recovery for other life changing situations such as Veterans issues, PTSD, divorce recovery, and grief/loss. She includes EMDR, and biofeedback in addition to traditional therapeutic approaches. Connect with Jane here: https://www.adoption-associates.com/ Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.
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Unflappable With Renée Freudenberger
Jun 2500:48:25Tap to summarizeRaising kids challenges all parents. The more trauma, the bigger the challenges. Listen in as adoptive mother Renée shares her learnings on commitment, sticking with it and being unflappable as we raise our kids to thrives Here's an extra thought from Renée... "Of all the things that I said that children need to thrive, I wish I had added fun! Children need the opportunity to explore who they are in ways that disarm their fight or flight. We always exposed our foster children, and later our daughter, to lots of different activities (sports, dance, art, theater, camps), where she could learn something new and have fun. There, she could also make mistakes and realize it was okay to make those mistakes and that she could figure out her own solutions. We call that the dignity of risk, and it certainly helps build resilience!" https://www.linkedin.com/in/renee-freudenberger-6481b018/ https://www.woodfords.org/ https://www.facebook.com/woodfords Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.
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Filled With Joy With Valerie Marble
Jun 2400:46:47Tap to summarizeDo you want more joy in your life? Who doesn't? How is joy possible despite the tough stuff - like failed adoptions? Listen in as adoptive mother and adoption coach Valerie jumps into joy... Valerie is the owner of A Step Ahead Adoption Services and has many roles within ASA. As an adoption coach, she walks alongside families as they navigate their adoption journey, as well as oversees all of the adoption coaches, and maintains close working relationships with our trusted agencies and attorneys while working to build new relationships for the future. It is very important to Valerie to keep open, honest communication with both providers and clients alike. Valerie and her husband, Bryce, have been blessed by adoption not one, but three times! They have walked through the trials of foster care, have been past clients of ASA and have experienced the heartbreak of a failed adoption before being blessed with their youngest. Her career in adoption began a few years ago as an adoption coach with ASA. Her clients always appreciated her first-hand experience and honesty. Before becoming an adoption coach, she worked for eight years in the medical field as an x-ray tech. She turned her passion for patient care into something so much bigger and targeted to a subject that is so close to her heart! When Valerie was approached about taking over ownership of the company, it was an instant YES! She has the perfect mentor, Diane Hogan (previous owner/founder of over 24 years) and team behind her to help accomplish so much in the adoption world! Adoption education, specifically education on transracial adoption, is very important to Valerie. After working with ASA, you will not only walk away with a new member of your family, but you will also be educated on how to appropriately navigate the adoption world and care for your adopted child. It is Valerie’s mission to make all families who work with ASA feel supported every step of the way, from the beginning stages of their adoption to finalization. Valerie’s past experiences give her a very unique perspective to offer all of her clients. https://www.facebook.com/ASAAdoption/ https://astepaheadadoption.com/ https://www.instagram.com/astepaheadadoptionservices/ Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.
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Sensitivity With Greg Franklin
Jun 2300:58:06Tap to summarizeSensitivity oils relationships like nothing else. Listen in as adoptive dad and adoption lawyer Greg and I dive deep into sensitivity, compassion and communication so we cal all thrive. Adoptions and assisted fertility make up 90% of Greg's legal practice. An adoptive parent himself, Greg Franklin understands the challenges and joys of adopting a child. Adoptions involve a highly emotional area of law in which any legal misstep can cause devastating effects. With more than 25 years of adoption experience, Greg's goal is to develop a legally secure plan that serves the best interests of the child and respects the wishes and interests of both the adoptive or intended parents and the birth parents or gestational carriers. Greg works extensively with LGBT clients, and has represented clients in cases which have broken new ground in this area. Greg is passionate about adoptions — he is a frequent lecturer and author on ethics and adoption-related topics and he works tirelessly to achieve a positive result for adoption families. In his representation of birth parents, Greg will assist in locating adoptive parents, negotiating open adoption and post-adoption contact agreements, and coordinating the process with the hospital and the adoptive parents. Greg has considerable experience in the developing area of assisted fertility, including surrogacy and gestational carrier agreements, donor embryos and eggs, and in obtaining parentage and pre-birth orders. Greg also helps to create permanent families through stepparent and co-parent adoptions, grandparent adoptions, extended-family custody agreements, foster care and international adoptions. He will assist in selecting the right avenue for achieving adoption goals, including the decision about whether to pursue domestic or international adoption, the choice between agency and private adoptions, selecting home study resources, managing subsidy and Adoption Tax Credit issues, and locating post-adoption services. Find out more about Greg here: https://www.adoptionny.com Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.
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