Secret Son

On today's episode, Patricia Knight Meyer and I talk black market babies, the power of genetic mirroring and the magic of Glen Campbell. Join us!A baby-scoop era black-market "adoptee," Patricia was sold along a curb outside a Texas hospital and grew up with no legal identity, date of birth, legal adoption, or court appointed guardian. Thus, despite one shady attorney’s best laid plans, at 18 she set out to unravel her mystery and obtain a legal birth certificate. At 40, she reunited with both biological parents, and she is currently seeking representation for her memoir, in which she shares how she uncovered the dirty deal that drove a life of deception, fueled her "adoptive" parents' life-long addictions and stole her true identity.Born with a love of writing, she earned a Journalism degree from the University of Texas, has been published in numerous newspapers and magazines, and dedicates her life to inspiring creativity in others. Active in adoption and writing communities, she blogs about her reunion experience at MyAdoptedLife.com and administers the Adoption Constellation Search and Reunion Facebook support group. She is a member of the National Association of Memoir Writers, the Adoption Knowledge Affiliates, and The Writers’ League of Texas. Bouncing between the Texas Hill Country and New Orleans, she works as a book publicist and content strategist, and attends an annual writing retreat in Costa Rica. A video of her reunion with her birth father has almost 300,000 views on YouTube.This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Nothing stated on it, either by its hosts or any guests, is to be construed as psychological, medical or legal advice. To make a one-time donation or become an ongoing patron: https://www.patreon.com/secret_son Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1659085017 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/secret_sonMike Personal Site: www.miketrupiano.com Produced by: Trout Sound GbR Trupiano & Staudt copyright 2024 All rights reserved

Emma Stevens and I discuss being the adoptee chameleon, secondary rejection and scanning strangers' faces wondering if they might be family. Join us!  Emma Stevens is a U.S. domestic adoptee from birth and has survived layers of trauma that have put her on multiple journeys. She developed the inner strength and courage to surmount the many struggles she faced. Her traumas were born from first being relinquished and then becoming an adoptee who struggled with being forced to wear an impossible mask of playing the part of the “good adopted child.” Her childhood upbringing of an authoritative, cult-like family, predisposed Emma to several more struggles. One of them was falling prey to an exploitative therapist where she unknowingly entered a cultic, one-on-one relationship with her psychologist. Someone who was to help, support, and provide healing – instead, held Emma captive in a psychological nightmare. Because of these past traumas, it’s Emma’s desire to be part of the movement that is dedicated to help bring forth change to the way our world views the needs and support of adopted individuals, as well as bring awareness of the exploitation that can occur by the hands of counselors, therapists, and other healthcare professionals. By sharing her experience of being exploited by her abusive psychologist/social worker, Emma feels strongly to expose and bring light to what an unethical, boundary-less, professional therapy situation may look like. This memoir is Emma Stevens’ second book. Her first was The Gathering Place: An Adoptee’s Story. She has an undergraduate degree in journalism and has completed Master’s level course work in psychology, specializing in Marriage, Family, and Child counseling. She has two adult children and two cat children who she adores. This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Nothing stated on it, either by its hosts or any guests, is to be construed as psychological, medical or legal advice. To make a one-time donation or become an ongoing patron: https://www.patreon.com/secret_son Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1659085017 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/secret_sonMike Personal Site: www.miketrupiano.com Produced by: Trout Sound GbR Trupiano & Staudt copyright 2024 All rights reserved

 Amy Lokken and I delve into the challenges of being a transracial Minnesota adoptee, the openness of 1970s hippies and the fiery spirit of Betty Jean Lifton. Join us!Amy Lokken is a biracial, transracial adoptee, born in the Upper Midwest in the mid-sixties. She  currently lives in San Francisco. Amy is the author of two memoirs. The first, beloved i am, chronicles her life as an adoptee, growing up in various parts of the U.S.A. as her family moved several times due to her adoptive father’s job. The book takes the reader through her search and reunion with her biological mother and her mother’s three other children. Amy's second book, Finding Richard, focuses on the search for her biological father, learning and processing the devastating truth—that racism stole her entire family of origin. Both books are available on AmazonThis podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Nothing stated on it, either by its hosts or any guests, is to be construed as psychological, medical or legal advice. To make a one-time donation or become an ongoing patron: https://www.patreon.com/secret_son Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1659085017 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/secret_sonMike Personal Site: www.miketrupiano.com Produced by: Trout Sound GbR Trupiano & Staudt copyright 2024 All rights reserved

Join Shane Bouel and I as we delve into searching, societal resistance to our search and piecing together our new identity.  Shane Bouel, an Australian adoptee, is a compelling voice shedding light on the intricate journey of adoption. In his thought-provoking piece Understanding the Unseen Journey of Adoptees, he explores the three half-lives of adoption, delving into the complexities faced by adoptees as they navigate identity, family, and community. Shane's work serves as a poignant call for societal understanding, empathy, and a reevaluation of adoption narratives. This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Nothing stated on it, either by its hosts or any guests, is to be construed as psychological, medical or legal advice. To make a one-time donation or become an ongoing patron: https://www.patreon.com/secret_son Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1659085017 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/secret_sonMike Personal Site: www.miketrupiano.com Produced by: Trout Sound GbR Trupiano & Staudt copyright 2024 All rights reserved

Searching and finding disrupts long-standing family dynamics. Jack Dermody and I delve into how newly arrived adoptees are like bombs thrown into a family and how the knowledge gained by searching offers us an invaluable new perspective on ourselves. Letting go of what could have been, Billie Eilish and even Lawrence Welk make an appearance. Wunnerful!   Born in 1945, Jack Dermody is one of the original Baby Scoop adoptees. He is a facilitator, trainer, national public speaker and linguist with 28 years of experience in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the U.S. working with instructors and teaching adults and college students from many walks of life. Specialty: Language Acquisition, especially English Language Learning This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Nothing stated on it, either by its hosts or any guests, is to be construed as psychological, medical or legal advice. To make a one-time donation or become an ongoing patron: https://www.patreon.com/secret_son Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1659085017 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/secret_sonMike Personal Site: www.miketrupiano.com Produced by: Trout Sound GbR Trupiano & Staudt copyright 2024 All rights reserved

Anna Fienbork was adopted as an infant after five days at the hospital. The fact of being adopted was part of her life from early on. The emotional wounds of this early trauma of separation eventually lead her to doing emotional and spiritual work to face what felt like a black whole inside of her – the sense of having no roots, of somehow being utterly flawed. Her personal path has brought Anna to working with people, helping them to integrate their inner wounds, their lost inner children."Reconnect - Come home to yourself" could be described as the motto of Anna's work with people. She is also interested in exploring where we are not connected to ourselves, where doubt is quietly - or not so quietly - gnawing at us and we cannot feel that we have earned our place in the world. Reconnect means reconnecting - to yourself. This can happen in small, everyday moments and then slowly grow. It is about becoming more aware of our needs, feelings and sensations and integrating them - entering into a deep connection with ourselves, because you are the most important person in your life.Having felt the utter sense of helplessness of having been given away, Anna learned about the importance of self-empowerment. To her this is primarily about accepting ourselves as we are now, because this helps us to better perceive our own value. We can then be clearer about ourselves, know what our needs are, set better boundaries, have relationships at eye level and learn to regulate ourselves in challenging situations. And this in turn leads to a feeling of inner freedom and joy - even in difficult situations.https://www.annafienbork.de/________________________________________________________________________________________________This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Nothing stated on it, either by its hosts or any guests, is to be construed as psychological, medical or legal advice. To make a one-time donation or become an ongoing patron: https://www.patreon.com/secret_son Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1659085017 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/secret_sonMike Personal Site: www.miketrupiano.com Produced by: Trout Sound GbR Trupiano & Staudt copyright 2024 All rights reserved

Join Emily and I as we discuss Paris, embracing the sublimity of a neurodivergent mind and fearfully admitting to others what they actually already know about us. Emily is a 40-year old domestic infant adoptee, born outside of Chicago, Illinois. Her roots are planted in Bismarck, North Dakota and other neighboring Badlands communities. Emily is an artist, writer and musician much like various members of her biological family. She is currently focused on trauma healing and substance abuse recovery, issues commonly faced among members of the adoptee community.  This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Nothing stated on it, either by its hosts or any guests, is to be construed as psychological, medical or legal advice. To make a one-time donation or become an ongoing patron: https://www.patreon.com/secret_son Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1659085017 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/secret_sonMike Personal Site: www.miketrupiano.com Produced by: Trout Sound GbR Trupiano & Staudt copyright 2024 All rights reserved

David Lynch's story and mine run rather parallel. BPD adoptive mother? Check. False leads in our father searches? Also check. Our Lady of Corporal Punishment primary school? Oh, yeah. Join David and I as we delve into these topics, Barbara De Angelis and much more!  David Lynch is an adoptee who searched and found his birth mother in 1992-93. He is a writer, graphic designer, and musician who lives in a rustic cabin in Western North Carolina.This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Nothing stated on it, either by its hosts or any guests, is to be construed as psychological, medical or legal advice. To make a one-time donation or become an ongoing patron: https://www.patreon.com/secret_son Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1659085017 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/secret_sonMike Personal Site: www.miketrupiano.com Produced by: Trout Sound GbR Trupiano & Staudt copyright 2024 All rights reserved

From rural Chile to urban Sweden, Maria Diemar started life with a huge journey.Join Maria and I as we discuss kidnapping investigations, maddening bureaucratic red tape and '90s Nordic Neo-Nazis.Los Secretos are everywhere! My name is Maria Diemar. I’m 47 years old, adopted, a teacher and mother of 3 boys. I was born in Chile then adopted in Sweden where I grew up but I currently live in Dallas/USA. In the last 12 years I have lived in Japan, Australia, and the US. I’m Mapuche, the largest group of indigenous people in Chile. I was sent to the airport in Stockholm when I was 10 weeks old where I met my white Swedish foster parents. After living with them for 6 months, they adopted me in the court of Stockholm. Many years later, I learned that my mother never actually gave me up for adoption; I was stolen from her in the delivery room. As a young adult, I searched for my Chilean family for 7 years and was reunited 20 years ago. Despite that, I didn’t meet my mom in person until last fall; I wasn’t ready until then. I have 4 siblings in Chile and travel to Chile frequently to be with them. I’m part of a Swedish organization called chileadoption.se and we help reunite Chilean families with their children that were taken and adopted abroad. I also have a Instagram and Facebook page where I share my experiences as an adoptee @I_own_my_story_maria_diemar  This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Nothing stated on it, either by its hosts or any guests, is to be construed as psychological, medical or legal advice. To make a one-time donation or become an ongoing patron: https://www.patreon.com/secret_son Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1659085017 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/secret_sonMike Personal Site: www.miketrupiano.com Produced by: Trout Sound GbR Trupiano & Staudt copyright 2024 All rights reserved

 Dave Brown has his own Tales of the City. Join us for episode #11 of Secret Son as we discuss coming out in the 70s, implicit memory and meeting inebriated relatives for the first time. Thanks for listening!I  am a domestic adoptee born in Virginia, raised in San Diego, CA, and have lived in the San Francisco Bay Area most of my adult life. I have a Bachelor's in Business Management and am a retiree from the University of California.Three and a half years ago, I decided to take a DNA to find answers to shake off the shroud of secrecy. I found what I was looking for, but I was also unprepared for the upheaval in my life.I created My Refocused Life to document my journey, never anticipated how much I would change. https://www.facebook.com/myrefocusedlifeI wrote this three years ago when I first saw my birth parents' pictures.A Mirror Man is someone with mirrored-self mis-identification, i.e., unable to recognize themself in a mirror. As a teen, I would spend much time looking at myself in the bathroom mirror, not because I was a budding narcissist, but because I didn't recognize myself. I realize it is because I didn't see my parents in me. It was the same for my adoptive brother; we both felt like we had Martian DNA, although he fits in more than I did. I was the dorky kid who was merely tolerated.I didn't have kids, so I didn't experience the sensations and wonders of adoptee friends who had kids. I hadn't thought about it until I heard other adoptees talk about how huge that was to see themselves reflected in their children.Seeing the pictures of my birth parents for the first time made an emotional and physiological impact. Seeing myself reflected in them and vice versa hit me like a tsunami. I looked just like my father and had a resemblance to my mother. They were both beautiful. I noticed the facial features, the mouth, the shape, and the color of the eyes. But what got me is that my birth father and I stand the same way, his head tilted to the right as mine. I had always hated that aspect of myself. Now I think it's cool. This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Nothing stated on it, either by its hosts or any guests, is to be construed as psychological, medical or legal advice. To make a one-time donation or become an ongoing patron: https://www.patreon.com/secret_son Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1659085017 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/secret_sonMike Personal Site: www.miketrupiano.com Produced by: Trout Sound GbR Trupiano & Staudt copyright 2024 All rights reserved