DNA Surprises

Tamarra's DNA Surprise

One of the most disorienting parts of a DNA surprise is realizing that the truth has often been there all along. Things that once seemed insignificant – the way you looked, the questions you asked, the places you felt like you belonged – can suddenly take on an entirely different meaning. Tamarra grew up knowing she looked different from the rest of her family. She asked questions about her darker features from an early age, but accepted the explanation she was given about where they came from. Years later, a DNA test finally gave her a very different answer. In this week’s episode, Tamarra shares how her DNA surprise changed the way she understood her childhood, her identity, and her family. She also shares her search for her biological relatives and the connections that have helped her finally feel seen. Thank you for sharing your story, Tamarra. Tell your story. Support the show.

Josh's DNA Surprise

A common theme in the DNA surprise community is coming to terms with the fact that we’ll never get answers to the many questions we carry after uncovering in the truth. In some cases, people even grow up with questions without ever expecting to get the answers. Josh was raised by his grandparents and grew up believing a man named Donald was his biological father. But as he got older, he began to question whether the story he'd been told was true. Those questions stayed with him for nearly 30 years before he finally decided to take an AncestryDNA test. In this week's episode, Josh shares his search for his biological father, the many surprising connections he’s made along the way, and what it’s been like to learn both the difficult and beautiful parts of his father’s story. Most of all, he shares the sense of closure he feels now that he finally knows the truth. Thank you for sharing your story, Josh.

Nichell's DNA Surprise

What happens when you spend your whole life searching for where you belong – only to discover shocking information after decades of putting the pieces together? Nichell grew up knowing she was different. Raised in an African American family, she looked different from the people around her, and from an early age, she wondered about the identity of her biological father. Over the years, she found family, faced unanswered questions, and built relationships that shaped her understanding of who she was. Decades later, her daughter took a DNA test. In this week's episode, Nichell shares how she uncovered her biological father’s identity, difficult truths about her origins, and an unexpected relationship that helped her find something she'd been searching for all along: belonging. Thank you for sharing your story, Nichell.

Bonus Episode | Inside Rhythm Is a Dancer with Lauren Caster

Hey everyone! We’re still on a summer break, but I’m excited to share a bonus episode with you in the meantime. In this episode,  I am joined by Lauren Caster, the writer, director, producer, and star of the new feature film, Rhythm Is a Dancer. The film follows Roe, a young woman conceived through sperm donation, as she navigates questions of identity, family, and what it means to search for the person who helped create her. I talk with Lauren about the film, the themes it explores, and the experiences that inspired it. It’s a story that will resonate with many in our community, and I'm excited to share our conversation with you. The film, which also stars Tate Donovan and Amy Aquino is available on demand wherever you stream films. Be sure to check out Rhythm is a Dancer wherever you stream films, or on https://rhythmisadancer.movie/.

Brytanie's DNA Surprise

***SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: DNA Surprises will be taking a short summer break during July and August. I’m excited to come back in September refreshed, recharged, and with more stories from the NPE, adoptee, and donor conceived communities. Thank you for listening, sharing, and helping make this community what it is. Have a wonderful summer, and we’ll see you in September!**** DNA surprises take time. Time to for the secrets to be kept. Time for them to be uncovered. Time to connect with newfound family members. So much of this experience is a waiting game In the season 14 finale of DNA surprises, Brytanie shares how her difficult upbringing made feeling like an outsider in family seem normal. She never felt like she belonged, so she never suspected that the man she believed was her biological father, wasn’t. It wasn’t until a DNA test, and later, a seemingly harmless comment, revealed the truth. Thank you for sharing your story, Brytanie. Support the show.

Tracy's DNA Surprise

Sometimes, DNA surprises aren’t about misattributed parentage. Sometimes, the biggest surprises are the feelings we experience as we explore biological connections. In this week’s episode, Tracy shares how she always knew was adopted, and always knew that she wanted to find her biological parents. Much to her surprise, after she reunited with both of them, she uncovered complicated feelings around boundaries and what she expected from her relationships. Overall, Tracy’s experience is one of acceptance - of her life and family. Thank you for sharing your story, Tracy. Support the show.

Nick B's DNA Surprise

The more, the merrier. Wouldn’t it be great if everyone involved in a DNA surprise had this mentality? While that’s unfortunately not always the case, this week’s guest has had an incredible time connecting with the family he discovered after taking a DNA test. Nick shares why growing up, learning about his paternal side never really factored into his thinking, and how a DNA test changed everything. Thank you for sharing your story, Nick. Support the show.

Linda Pevac's DNA Surprise

Words have power. Language is how we make meaning of the things we’ve experienced. For some, having language around DNA surprises, adoption, and donor conception helps people feel less alone. And others take it even further, using the power of language to write about their experience. In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Linda Pevac, also known by her pen name, Emma Stevens. Linda has penned three books about her life as a baby scoop era adoptee. We discuss her DNA surprise journey and why writing has been a powerful tool in sharing her story. Thank you for sharing your story, Linda. https://emmastevenswriter.com/books/ Support the show

Billy's DNA Surprise

After a DNA surprise, it’s common to look back and reflect on moments where the truth was right there in front of you. A slip of the tongue, that eerie feeling that something just wasn’t right. But you don’t know it until you know it. In this week’s episode, Billy shares how he brushed up against the truth years before he learned the truth about his paternity. He shared what he’s learned, what relationships he’s built, and how his DNA surprise gave him an even stronger appreciation for his dad. Thank you for sharing your story, Billy. Support the show

Ann's DNA Surprise

For some people, one of the trickiest things about DNA surprises is that they force us to see our parents as human. It can be uncomfortable to come to terms with infidelity in a marriage, or that your parent would lie to you. In this week’s episode, Ann reveals how she uncovered four DNA surprises in her family. As the “found family” member in each surprise, Ann shares why she felt it was important to be open to the new people in her life. Thank you for sharing your story, Ann. Support the show.

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Stephanie’s DNA Surprise

What are you? For those of us who are quote “ethnically ambiguous,” this question is one we hear over and over again when meeting new people. In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Stephanie, who fielded questions about her ethnic background her entire childhood. She spent much of her early life trying to connect with others, to fit in somewhere. It wasn’t until much later that a DNA test revealed the truth. Stephanie reached out to me because she wanted to explore her feelings around her ethnic shift with someone who had been there. We discuss some complicated feelings around feeling the need to “earn” our identity. She shares how she’s connecting to her roots, and why having this information makes the “What are you” question a little easier to navigate. Thank you for sharing your story, Stephanie. Support the show.

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Patrick's DNA Surprise

Papa was rollin’ stone. It’s a tale as old as time, and a phrase we’ve heard more than once on the podcast. But sometimes, there’s more to the story. Welcome to the Season 14 premiere of DNA Surprises. In this week’s episode, Patrick shares how taking a 23andme test out of curiosity led him down an unimaginable road - one that made things make sense while simultaneously upending everything he knew. He shares how he made his discovery, from his initial thoughts to what happened when he finally learned the truth. Patrick also demonstrates a positive, empathetic mindset for everyone involved in his story. Thank you for sharing your story, Patrick. Listen to Patrick’s song, “Dark Horse,” here. Support the show.

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Rebecca's DNA Surprise

An interesting thing about DNA Surprises is how much they can rock your identity, not once, but over and over again. Every time a layer is pulled back with new information, the foundation on which you’ve built your identity shifts. In this week’s episode, Rebecca, an adoptee, shares her heartbreaking - and heartwarming - DNA discovery. She reveals how she connected with her biological mother, and eventually, identified her father. Her story reveals how learning the truth can bring a lot of pain, but beautiful relationships, too. Thank you for sharing your story, Rebecca. Support the show.

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Randy's DNA Surprise

One of the things I’ve learned from hosting DNA Surprises is that these discoveries don’t lose their impact with age. Whether someone is 25, 45, or 70, learning that the man who raised you is not your biological father can shift your understanding of your identity in an instant. In this week’s episode, Randy shares how a DNA test organized by his half-sister uncovered that truth. With both of his parents already gone, he began the long process of piecing together the identity of his biological father - following DNA matches, working with relatives, and navigating a trail of clues that stretched across years. Randy reflects on the twists and turns of his search, and how the age we are when we make these discoveries can impact what happens after the truth is revealed. Thank you for sharing your story, Randy. Support the show.

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Nick's DNA Surprise

My therapist once told me, “Some of us heal out loud so others don’t have to.” I think of that almost every time I get a note from a podcast listener telling me how much the stories people share each week have helped this. In this week’s episode, I’m joined by someone who is healing out loud for the donor conceived community. Nick, host of the Inconceivably Connected podcast, shares how he discovered in his thirties that he was donor conceived. He recounts how his parents decided to reveal the information and how a DNA test helped fill in the rest. Since his discovery, Nick provides a platform for others to share their experiences being donor conceived, and has even written a book about his experience. Thank you for sharing your story, Nick. Support the show.

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Robin N's DNA Surprise

It’s usually the fathers. When people open up their DNA results, it’s the dad’s side that doesn’t line up, and the DNA surprise experience begins. But sometimes, it’s the mothers. In this week’s episode, Robin shares how she uncovered a shocking secret after taking Ancestry and 23andme tests. Her story highlights the impact of family secrets and the power of learning the truth. Thank you for sharing your story, Robin. Support the show.

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Amber's DNA Surprise

Fool me once, shame on you…fool me twice? That expression doesn’t exactly translate to the DNA surprise community. As I often say, we believe what our parents tell us, and many times, our surprises are shocking even to the people who raised us. In this week’s episode, Amber shares the winding road she walked before discovering the truth about her paternity. She reveals the steps she took more than once to connect with biological family, and how it ultimately led her to amazing relationships. Amber’s story is one of compassion, persistence, and optimism. Thank you for sharing your story, Amber. Support the show.

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Sonya's DNA Surprise

Surprise: an unexpected or astonishing event, fact, or thing. Yet, for many people there was always a sneaking suspicion. A wondering. The unthought known. This week’s episode is not one of those cases. When Sonya first took her DNA test, she was quickly able to make it make sense. It wasn’t until years later that she found a truth she never saw coming. Sonya shares how she found the identity of her biological father with the help of a search angel, how she’s working through her surprise without clarity from her mother, and how she frames her story in light of her upbringing. Thank you for sharing your story, Sonya. Support the show.

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Shaun's DNA Surprise

Have you ever made a decision without thinking about the long-term consequences? It’s a pretty normal human experience, right? Now imagine making a decision and never being faced with the consequence for 20 years. In this week’s episode, Shaun shares how his decision to become a sperm donor in his early twenties carried a gravity he didn’t realize until much later. He reveals how he learned that he is the genetic parent of adult children who may or may not have known that they were donor conceived, how he has connected with them, and how his decision has impacted the people in his life. He also discusses the joy, grief, and responsibility he feels as a biological parent. Thank you for sharing your story, Shaun. Support the show.

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Ellen’s DNA Surprise

“ My quest to find my past would return again and again in the years to come like a lighthouse beacon that flashes bright and then fades only to return again.” This quote, written by Steve Pemberton and shared by this week’s guest, perfectly captures the hold that DNA surprises have on so many. There are periods of intense focus - on our feelings, research, and desire for connection. These are sometimes followed by periods where thoughts and feelings are fleeting, especially as time goes on. But they often return again, just like a lighthouse beacon. In this week’s episode, Ellen shares how she learned the truth about her paternity more than two decades ago. Since then, she embarked on a quest to learn the truth about her biological father. She’s encountered acceptance, quiet rejection, and obstacles that have prevented her from fully connecting with her newfound family, but she holds onto her desire for truth and connection. Thank you for sharing your story, Ellen. Support the show.

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