Best The Ideation Project Podcasts (2025)

1
An International Adoptee's Journey with Anna Lehnardt 32:41

2M ago32:41

32:41

In this episode, we sit down with Anna Lehnardt, an international adoptee, to learn about the personal and emotional challenges from her experience of growing up in a family across borders. From navigating identity to facing the complexities of belonging, this conversation sheds light on the realities of international adoption.…

1
Adoption and Suicidal Ideation: A Conversation with Beth Syverson 44:16

3M ago44:16

44:16

In 2019, when Beth Syverson's adopted son Joey was 15, he was hospitalized with a mental health crisis. While there, Beth discovered he had been using cannabis, psychedelics, and more. It has been a sometimes-excruciating marathon since then, with runaways, overdoses, psych hospitals and treatment centers, relapses, suicidal ideation, and anxiety &…

1
Pioneering Openness with Linda R. Sexton 35:13

4M ago35:13

35:13

Linda R. Sexton shares her experiences and insights regarding open adoption, including the challenges and benefits involved. She also discusses the importance of prioritizing the child's needs, maintaining open communication with birth parents, and the potential for intergenerational trauma to impact adoptees. Additionally, Linda shares about her b…

1
An Adoption Triad Interview 37:40

5M ago37:40

37:40

Birth mom, Sara Jane, returns to the podcast with her daughter, Courtney, who she placed for adoption, and Courtney's adoptive mom, Jeanette. We get to hear thoughts from these three women who are from different parts of the adoption triad, and who have all become family. They share what open adoption looks like for them and how their relationships…

1
S3 E10 - A Public Journey of Stepping Back as CEO with Zahra Davidson 56:48

5M ago56:48

56:48

Today, I'm speaking to the wonderful Zahra Davidson about her process of letting go of being CEO of her organisation, Huddlecraft. Zahra spent 8 years founding and developing Huddlecraft, a social enterprise specialising in peer-to-peer learning, action and change. In spring this year Zahra stepped back after a 15 month transition process, handing …

1
Book Club: Selling Transracial Adoption 31:31

5M ago31:31

31:31

Anna Lehnardt, a Chinese-born adoptee, shares her experience and thoughts after reading "Selling Transracial Adoption" by Elizabeth Raleigh. She shares some of her own experiences as a transracial adoptee and thoughts on how policy and practice can be improved to focus more on adoptees rather than adoptive parents.…

1
Book Club: Orphan Train 29:23

6M ago29:23

29:23

Sharolyn Swenson, an adoptee, joins our special NAM book club episode to discuss Christina Baker Kline’s book “Orphan Train.” If you haven’t read the book yet, please skip this episode to avoid potential spoilers. Sharolyn shares her thoughts and insights after reading the novel. Lanette and Sharolyn delve into the book’s portrayal of adoption and …

1
Book Club: The Girls Who Went Away 48:42

6M ago48:42

48:42

An adoptee shares her personal journey of adoption and the impact of the book, "The Girls Who Went Away," by Ann Fessler, also an adoptee, in this special NAM book club episode. "The Girls Who Went Away" is a memoir/biography about mothers who relinquished their children for adoption before Roe v. Wade on her perspective towards his birth mother, l…

1
Book Club: Far From the Tree 56:50

6M ago56:50

56:50

Adoptee Devanie Roberts discusses the book "Far from the Tree" by Robin Benway in this special National Adoption Month book club episode. Please do not listen to these episodes if you have not read these books and do not want to potentially hear spoilers. "Far From the Tree" is discussed through lenses of adoption, and Devanie shares her thoughts a…

1
Establishing Psychological Safety with Dr. Jeff Thompson 44:09

6M ago44:09

44:09

Dr. Jeff Thompson discusses how we can establish and maintain psychological safety within relationships. He shares how active listening can enhance connections. We also discuss how to address conflict and find resolutions. This episode offers incredibly valuable insights for anyone looking to improve important relationships, both within the adoptio…

1
Improving Family Communication Patterns 29:03

6M ago29:03

29:03

In our last episode, we discussed Family Communication Patterns Theory (FCPT), which describes how families communicate and create a shared social reality. The theory was developed by Koerner and Fitzpatrick in 2002. In this episode, we discuss how FCPT and how families can improve and enrich communication, applying Dr. Murray Bowen’s Family System…

1
Identifying Family Communication Patterns 36:26

8M ago36:26

36:26

In this episode, Shaun and Lanette discuss the Family Communication Pattern Theory, by McLeod and Chaffee, and its adoption application. focusing on conformity and conversation orientation, and how these patterns can impact families, particularly in the context of adoption. They analyzed various family dynamics portrayed in movies and TV shows, ide…

1
Substance Exposure in Utero: A Guide For Prospective Adoptive Parents 2:44

8M ago2:44

2:44

Get the guide, FREE of charge, here: Substance Exposure in Utero: A Guide For Prospective Adoptive Parents Hi Adoption Friends, We’re Shaun and Lanette, co-hosts and creators of the Open Adoption Project. We hope this guide is a helpful tool for you as you counsel and discuss how you are able to support and help children exposed to substances in ut…

1
The First Families Project - Research Opportunity For Birth Mothers 2:29

8M ago2:29

2:29

The purpose of this research is to understand the context and the decisions women made when deciding to place a child for adoption. To Participate, need to: Be age 18 or older Identify as a woman Speak & Understand English Have placed a child for adoption in the US after ‘94 Currently reside in the US Participants will complete: (1) approx. 90 min.…

1
The Lost Coin with Dr. Stephen Rowley 42:29

9M ago42:29

42:29

Stephen Rowley, Ph.D., is a psychotherapist practicing in Bainbridge Island, Washington. Dr. Rowley's book, The Lost Coin: A Memoir of Adoption and Destiny, was published by Chiron Publications, Sept. 2023. With his background as a psychotherapist and educator, his interest in Jungian psychology and Zen Buddhism, Dr. Rowley discusses what fundament…

1
Reflections and Regrets with Amy Seek 1:03:18

9M ago1:03:18

1:03:18

Amy Seek shares her experiences with adoption as a birth mom, and how her relationship with her son has evolved. She shares about the importance of transparency and honesty in open adoption conversations and the need for improved ethical practices as we strive to better support mothers and their children. Amy’s book “God and Jetfire: Confessions of…

1
Rallying Around Adoptees and Children in Care with Lexi Condie 41:56

10M ago41:56

41:56

Adoptee Lexi Condie shares her experience in this touching episode. Lexi was adopted by Aymee and Reed at age 8 along with her older brother Tyler, who was the son of Reed. Aymee and Reed decided it would be best to let Lexi and Tyler stay in contact with their mother (Stevoni), who was in prison at that time. Over the years Lexi developed a fantas…

1
Giving Grace with Cadon Riley 47:25

11M ago47:25

47:25

In this episode, we learn about the experience of foster care alumni Cadon Riley, including his experience being adopted and later returning to the foster care system. Cadon and Shaun discuss some of the challenges Cadon has experienced, and his hopes for how our community can improve experiences for other youth in care and in need of support. Cado…

1
A Birth Mom's Perspective on Child-Centered Openness with Kaira Dark 44:22

11M ago44:22

44:22

Kaira Dark is a birth mom who placed her son for adoption about 20 years ago. The adoption began as semi-open, and became open later. Kaira shares about her struggles with the trauma she experienced and how her experiences and perceptions have shifted over time. We love hearing from birth moms and really enjoyed learning from Karia's experiences.…

1
S3 E9 - How do I face the end of my pet's life with love? - with Sieske Valk 1:04:43

11M ago1:04:43

1:04:43

Today we're talking to Sieske Valk about the difficult, and often avoided part of pet ownership - the end of their life. Sieske is an End of Life Doula and an advocate for ageing pets; She guides pet guardians through the autumn of their best friend's life. Combining a background in veterinary medicine and the social sciences, she has set up Autumn…

1
Establishing and Maintaining Healthy Boundaries 39:41

12M ago39:41

39:41

In this episode, Lanette and Alisha discuss establishing and maintaining healthy boundaries, both in open adoptions and when caring for children in foster care. We address some frequently asked questions regarding this subject, including how to create healthy communication patterns and how to mediate challenging situations.…

1
Why Open Adoption? 35:43

1y ago35:43

35:43

There are two kinds of openness in adoption—structural and communicative. Both are important in supporting identity and development of adopted individuals, as supported by academic research. We discuss the differences between structural and communicative openness and tips for adoptive parents for practicing openness in a more adoptee-centered way. …

1
S3 E8 - Ending a much-loved creative project (and the void that follows) with Kim Willis 1:00:49

1y ago1:00:49

1:00:49

Welcome back writer, journalist and strategist Kim Willis to the show! You may remember Kim from series 2 when we talked about Knowing When To Quit the desire to have children (the pod's most downloaded episode to date). Today we're back discussing Kim's decision to quit her creative project Heroine's Journey - an event series, which championed fem…

1
Challenges in Transracial International Adoption with Christelle Pellecuer 1:06:17

1y ago1:06:17

1:06:17

Christelle Pellecuer returns to the podcast to discuss some tough questions and challenging aspects of adoption, particularly transracial and international adoption, in this episode. She discusses the importance of honesty and transparency in adoption. She also considers what potential impacts of a lack of structural and communication openness may …

1
The Openness Guide for Adoptive Parents: What You Should Know About Open Adoption 5:54

1y ago5:54

5:54

We have a new adoption openness guide, “The Openness Guide for Adoptive Parents: What You Should Know About Open Adoption,” which was released today. The message we often see in the adoption community is, "Open adoptions are good! Do them!" with little guidance on how to make it work. This guide and workbook bridges that gap and teaches adoptive pa…

1
“It’s Not Me, It’s You” 32:17

1y ago32:17

32:17

Cultivating and nurturing any relationship takes work and dedication. Relationships in open adoption are sometimes hard to maintain. In this episode, we discuss some questions we’re asked frequently regarding how to move forward in adoption relationships when things get complicated, and considerations when trying to choose a path forward. In partic…

1
Disenfranchised Grief 36:36

1+ y ago36:36

36:36

We wrap up National Adoption Month with a discussion about disenfranchised grief and some highlights and lessons learned during 100 episodes of the Open Adoption Project podcast (so far). Disenfranchised grief is grief that is not recognized as valid by society, and is prevalently experienced in the adoption community. We talk about how those who a…

1
Embryo Adoption 35:09

1+ y ago35:09

35:09

In this episode we introduce a discussion and questions regarding the similarities and differences between embryo adoption and traditional adoption. A guest couple shares their experience with embryo adoption. We share results from a small survey we posted on our instagram about embryo adoption, and discuss the section on embryo adoption from “The …

1
Belonging Matters with Julie McGue 45:36

1+ y ago45:36

45:36

Julie was adopted as an infant with her twin sister. In this episode she shares how medical issues pushed her to connect with her birth family nearly 50 years after being adopted. She writes extensively about finding out who you are, where you belong, and making sense of it. Julie’s debut memoir, “Twice a Daughter: A Search for Identity, Family, an…

1
Shifting the Focus 21:38

1+ y ago21:38

21:38

When we recently discussed orphan trains, one thing that stood out to us was that the policies and practices during this time were adoptive parent-focused. This problem persisted over time, like during the Baby Scoop Era. In this episode, we discuss why this focus on adopters is problematic, and actionable ways adoptive parents can shift the focus …

1
Ruptured Attachments 21:06

1+ y ago21:06

21:06

In this National Adoption Awareness Month special, we hear adoptee Sara Odicio, LSW, of Core of Adoption. She talks about ruptured attachments. We then discuss some of Dr. Bruce D. Perry’s research on child attachment and development, and eight ways caretakers can help nurture children who struggle with secure attachments. We reference two articles…

1
Things I Want You to Know: Adoptee Perspectives 22:29

1+ y ago22:29

22:29

In this National Adoption Awareness Month special, we hear from four adoptees—Melaina, Sara, DaKota, and Jori—and some things each of them want people to understand about being adopted.

1
Openness Considerations for Caretakers with Liz Rivera 14:22

1+ y ago14:22

14:22

Foster care trainer with Utah Foster Care Liz Rivera shares her thoughts on openness in foster care situations. She discusses the importance of prioritizing meaningful relationships for children in care and honoring children's roots.

1
Building an Adoption Profile: A Birth Mom’s Tips 10:06

1+ y ago10:06

10:06

In this episode of our National Adoption Month series, we hear from Leah Outten, a birth mom who consults with prospective adoptive parents, about her top tips for building an adoption profile with expectant parents in mind.

1
Communication and Community with Sara Jane Schenk 33:59

1+ y ago33:59

33:59

Sara Jane Schenk is a birth mom of about 16 years and has had a very open adoption the entire time. She talks about the importance of communication within the adoption community, destigmatizing adoption, and the supporting village that helped her through placement.

1
What Happened to You: Understanding Childhood Trauma with Liz Rivera 43:20

1+ y ago43:20

43:20

In this episode, foster care trainer Liz Rivera shares key takeaways from the book, What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Bruce D. Perry. Her experience working at Utah Foster Care for more than 2 decades shines in this conversation about childhood trauma and finding peace and healing.…

1
Preserving Culture with Anna Maria DiDio 46:10

1+ y ago46:10

46:10

In this episode of our National Adoption Month series, our Director of Communications, Alisha Gallagher, interviews Anna Maria DiDio, an author and adoptive parent. Anna Maria shares her experience of realizing the importance of nurturing cultural connections and helping individuals who were adopted preserve their cultural identities.…

1
The City of Copenhagen 22:35

1+ y ago22:35

22:35

Welcome to another episode of Public Sector Change Makers by taking a journey through the digital transformation of The City of Copenhagen, one of Denmark’s largest employers. With 45,000+ employees, 3000 managers, 7 different administrations and each with their own committees, Copenhagen is among the top 5 fastest growing big-city destinations in …

1
Adoption History: Orphan Trains 33:06

1+ y ago33:06

33:06

This episode dives into the history of orphan trains in the United States. The orphan trains operated from 1854 through 1929, relocating from about 200,000 children. In this episode, we discuss the orphan train using accounts from a historical nonfiction book called “Orphan Train Rider” by Andrea Warren. This book primarily follows the memories of …

1
From Madagascar to France with Christelle Pellecuer 56:59

1+ y ago56:59

56:59

Christelle was adopted at 10 year old from Madagascar to France after her mother passed away. She shares about her experience as a black adoptee growing up in a white community, about the challenges of being an International adoptee with very little knowledge about her story, and the cultural changes in her life. Learn more on her website christell…

1
“I Don’t Think I Would Have Chosen Adoption Without Openness” with Leah Outten 50:04

1+ y ago50:04

50:04

In this episode of our National Adoption Month series, we hear from Leah Outten, a birth mom who placed her daughter for adoption as a teenage mother, and maintained a very open adoption throughout her daughter’s childhood and on into adulthood.

1
STIB-MIVB - Brussels Intercommunal Transport Company 28:36

1+ y ago28:36

28:36

Welcome to the first episode of Public Sector Change Makers by taking a journey through the digital transformation of STIB, one of Belgium's largest employers and the epicentre of Brussels public transportation. STIB presents a vivid illustration of distinctive public sector challenges and their path to circumventing these hurdles via the embrace o…

1
S3 E7 - Should I just quit and become a freelancer? With Anna Codrea-Rado 1:06:54

1+ y ago1:06:54

1:06:54

Always wanted to go freelance? Today I'm talking to Anna Codrea-Rado - a journalist, podcaster and campaigner, whose writing has appeared in the New York Times, The Guardian, BBC and many others. I brought Anna on as a specialist in working life and freelancing. She's the author of 'You're The Business' - a book which supports people to make it alo…

1
More People to Love: Season 3 Recap 30:39

1+ y ago30:39

30:39

In this episode we recap the third season of the show, remembering some experiences we heard about regarding open adoption over the past 15 months and discussing how the adoption community can better support adoptees and birth parents through openness in both adoption and dialogues.

1
S3 E6 - The Unexpected Joy of Heartbreak with Rosie Wilby 1:00:44

1+ y ago1:00:44

1:00:44

Today we're talking about Knowing When to quit relationships. We live in a society which tells us that the hallmark of a good relationship is one that lasts for a long time, but does that mean that we often stay in relationships too long? Today's guest is Rosie Wilby - an award-winning comedian, author, speaker and the creator of global hit podcast…

1
Adoption Through a Scholarly Lens with Professor Abbie Goldberg 32:11

1+ y ago32:11

32:11

Doctor Abbie Goldberg is a professor at Clark University in Massachusetts. As a professor of psychology, her research regarding adoptive and diverse families, open adoption, transracial adoption, and foster care have immense importance in the adoption community. In this episode, she shares pieces of her extensive knowledge, including the importance…

1
Motherhood: Equal and Different with Stevoni Doyle and Aymee Condie 1:13:28

1+ y ago1:13:28

1:13:28

Stevoni Doyle and Aymee Condie are mothers connected initially through shared love for their children. In this episode, these strong women share their story, beginning with Stevoni’s children being cared for by Aymee. Over the years, they have built a beautiful family and strong friendship, where they support one another in their roles as mothers. …

1
Intentional Cultural Connections with Robert Reese 46:14

1+ y ago46:14

46:14

In this episode we hear from Robert Reese. Robert was adopted from South Korea as an infant, and was raised in the United States. When he was 16, he began searching for his birth mom. He shares what searching was like for him, and how his adoptive parents supported him in that endeavor. He also discusses racial and cultural mirrors and thoughts reg…

1
The Adoption Constellation with Professor Michael Grand 1:05:13

1+ y ago1:05:13

1:05:13

In this episode, we hear from Professor Michael Grand, the father of the term “adoption constellation.” Professor Grand shares highlights from his academic career as a psychology professor in and researcher who spent years studying a myriad of aspects relating to adoption. He discusses his professional research and his personal experience as a step…

1
Boundaries with Hopscotch Songs 38:04

2y ago38:04

38:04

Joanna Pace, a teacher and adoptive parent, shares lessons she’s learned about helping children set boundaries, and what led her to write the “Setting Boundaries” song with her musician husband and partner at Hopscotch Songs. She talks about how parents can help children advocate for their safety and why boundaries matter, both in the adoption worl…

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