Adoptee Thoughts

On Season 2, Episode 1 of the Adoptee Thoughts Podcast, Nicole Chung, and host, Melissa Guida-Richards discuss their experience with losing a loved one as an adoptee, as well as their writing process. Nicole shares some of her story as an adoptee, and advice for adoptees looking to get into writing.

Nicole’s Bio:

Nicole Chung is the author of the nationally bestselling memoir All You Can Ever Know (Catapult, US; Pushkin Press, UK). Named a Best Book of the Year by two dozen publications, All You Can Ever Know was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award, a semifinalist for the PEN Open Book Award, an Indies Choice Honor Book, and an official Junior Library Guild Selection.

Chung’s writing has appeared in The New York Times, The New York Times Magazine, The Guardian, GQ, TIME , Longreads, and Vulture, among others, and she also writes a weekly Care and Feeding advice column for Slate. She is the editor-in-chief of the National Magazine Award-winning Catapult magazine and the former managing editor of The Toast. Her next book is forthcoming from Ecco Books/HarperCollins.

Find Nicole on Twitter: @nicolesjchung & Instagram: @nicolesjchung

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To read more of the work by your host Melissa Guida-Richards, check out guida-richards.com, or the podcast's website adopteethoughts.com.

My book is now available for preorder and in stores on October 5th!

📖What White Parents Should Know About Transracial Adoption: An Adoptee's Perspective on Its History, Nuances, and Practices
Buy here!

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Welcome to Adoptee Thoughts, where each week, we dive deep into the nuanced world of adoption—unpacking challenges, perspectives, and the tough conversations that too often go unspoken. Whether you're an adoptee, an adoptive parent, or simply curious about the realities beyond the mainstream narrative, this is a space for raw, thought-provoking discussions.

In this powerful episode, we dive into the world of adoption blogging with one of the key figures from the documentary An Update on the Family--Hannah Cho.

She is a transnational Korean American Adoptee, small business owner, mother and wife. Even though she knew from a very young age that she was adopted - she didn’t start accepting and ultimately embracing her adoption story until her twenties. Thanks to finding an amazing community online, first on youtube and then other social media platforms, she is now creating a space in the beauty industry for people who look like her and who like her, didn’t see others like them when growing up.

We also discuss the darker side of influencer culture, the commodification of adoption stories, and how viral fame can shape (and distort) narratives around adoptees and family life. What happens when content creation blurs the lines between storytelling and exploitation? And how do we shift the conversation to center adoptees rather than views and engagement metrics?

Find Hannah here: https://www.instagram.com/hellohannahcho/ and https://www.tiktok.com/@hannahchobeauty
**Join us as we break down the complexities of adoption, social media, and the responsibilities that come with storytelling in the digital age.**
We don’t shy away from the hard topics—because they matter.
**Subscribe & Stay Connected:** If this conversation resonates with you, don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to keep these discussions going. Your support helps bring more visibility to adoptee voices.
#AdopteeThoughts #AdoptionEthics #FamilyVlogging #HannahCho #AdopteeVoices Resources: Adoption & Foster Parent Influencing: https://www.thedailybeast.com/should-foster-parents-be-allowed-to-monetize-their-kids/ Who Adopts: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db12.pdf Family Vlogger Laws:
https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Family/parenting-influencers-speak-new-law-designed-protect-kids/story?id=111580202 Rehoming: https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2018/11/children-who-have-second-adoptions/575902/ https://www.newsweek.com/how-this-legal-woman-exposes-child-rehoming-ad-adoption-agency-viral-video-1667464 Adoption Disruption and Dissolutions: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GOVPUB-HE23_1200-PURL-gpo145740/pdf/GOVPUB-HE23_1200-PURL-gpo145740.pdf Books to Read: https://www.booksamillion.com/p/House-My-Mother/Shari-Franke/9781668065396?gQT=2 _____________________________________________ Music: Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/monument-music/better-off
License code: 0EIGKMEX90LYK9K4

On Season 3, Episode 6 of the Adoptee Thoughts Podcast, Christian Aragon and host Melissa Guida-Richards discuss the shocking story of his illegal adoption and reunion with his biological family. You may recognize some of his story from his viral video with "Put a Finger Down" challenge.

About the Adoptee:

Christian Matthew Aragon was illegally adopted and raised by a woman who claimed to be my birth mother. He found his biological family at 36 and is just now getting to start his life with them.

How to connect:

Follow him @mattaragon87 on TikTok!

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To read more of the work by your host Melissa Guida-Richards and resources available for purchase from panels to workshops, to book club information go to adopteethoughts.com or her Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/adoptee_thoughts/

Her book are available anywhere books are sold.

What White Parents Should Know About Transracial Adoption: An Adoptee's Perspective on Its History, Nuances, and Practices

Preorder the companion Workbook here:

Welcome to our latest episode of the Adoptee Thoughts Podcast! In this thought-provoking discussion, I delve into the complexities surrounding the decisions made by birth mothers and pregnant individuals to place children for adoption in the United States with Gretchen Sisson, PhD.

She is a sociologist with Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health at the University of California, San Francisco, and the author of Relinquished: The Politics of Adoption and the Privilege of American Motherhood, a critical, ten-year examination of domestic adoption. Centering the stories of relinquishing mothers, the book chronicles our country's refusal to care for families at the most basic level, and instead allow cultural and political ideas of adoption to advance an individual, private solution to large-scale social problems. A "comprehensive and harrowing debut" (Publishers Weekly, starred review) that "contributes to our national conversation of what reproductive justice really means" (Gloria Steinem), Relinquished is a necessary examination for our post-Dobbs era.

Adoption is a deeply personal and often emotionally charged journey, shaped by a myriad of factors including societal pressures, personal circumstances, and individual beliefs. Through insightful interviews and expert analysis, we unravel the layers of this complex topic, shedding light on the diverse experiences and perspectives of birth mothers and pregnant people.

Join us as we explore the nuanced reasons behind adoption decisions, from considerations of financial stability and educational opportunities to the emotional toll of unexpected pregnancies and societal stigma. We'll also discuss the importance of providing comprehensive support and resources to birth mothers throughout the adoption process, ensuring their voices are heard and their needs are met with empathy and understanding.

Whether you're an adoptive parent, adoption professional, or simply interested in understanding the dynamics of adoption in the United States, this episode offers valuable insights and perspectives that will deepen your understanding of this important topic.

Don't miss out on this enlightening conversation! Subscribe to our channel and hit the notification bell to stay updated on our latest episodes. Together, let's foster a greater understanding and appreciation for the complexities of adoption and the individuals impacted by this profound journey.

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION:

As a thank you for being such an amazing community I am giving away one (1) copy of Gretchen’s book, “Relinquished.” T

To enter you must:

1. Subscribe to my Youtube Channel @adoptee_thoughts
2. Comment your favorite part of the episode
3. For additional entries tag a friend in the comments that you think would benefit from listening to this podcast episode
4. Enter within 10 days from the release of this episode on March 25th, 2024
5. Winner Will be announced on April 5th, 2024

Connect with Gretchen here:

https://www.instagram.com/gretchen.sisson/

You can purchase her book here:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/relinquished-the-politics-of-adoption-and-the-privilege-of-american-motherhood-gretchen-sisson/19995515?ean=978125028

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For more adoption content, please like and follow: @adoptee_thoughts

https://www.tiktok.com/@adoptee_thoughts

https://www.instagram.com/adoptee_thoughts/

https://www.adopteethoughts.com

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When I wrote an essay about finding out I was adopted much later in life for @huffpost I never expected it to go viral and then find my passion in adoption education and advocacy for ethical, trauma-informed, and child-centered adoption practices. Reviews of "What White Parents Should Know About Transracial Adoption"

“A powerful, worthwhile addition to the growing body of work on race and parenting.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Melissa Guida-Richards lays bare a painful truth: That loss is central to adoption. For those who are adopted transracially and transnationally, the disappearance of culture, familiarity, and language carry added complexity. With grace and sensitivity, Guida-Richards offers clear, insightful guidance for adoptive parents to help their sons and daughters navigate the isolation, racism, and longing they inevitably feel.” —Gabrielle Glaser, author of American Baby

You can purchase my books here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2247656/melissa-guida-richards/

You can read the essay here: https:/...

Episode 6: An Interview with Anissa Druesedow Anissa E. Druesedow, mother, adoptee, activist, and deportee. In episode 6, she shares her story of family separation and deportation as an adoptee without citizenship. Adoptees for Justice Ways to Help

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To read more of the work by your host Melissa Guida-Richards, check out guida-richards.com, or the podcast's website adopteethoughts.com.

My book is now available for preorder and in stores on October 5th!

📖What White Parents Should Know About Transracial Adoption: An Adoptee's Perspective on Its History, Nuances, and Practices

Social:

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Instagram

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Mailing List: Subscribe Here