Mixed Bag: Culture, Adoption and the Transracial Family

Mixed Bag: Culture, Adoption and the Transracial Family


Latest Episodes

Mixed Bag Monologue: Toward a Kinder State of “Wokeness”
May 10, 2019

A chance encounter with a Moroccan politician showed me the importance of being humble and curious, two traits sorely missing in society. As transracial adoptive parents, especially, we need to be an example of what that looks like.

A Native American’s Perspective on Transracial Adoption
March 04, 2019

Along with being part Irish, Corey Greaves is a descendant of the Blackfeet and Klickitat tribes. He's founder and president of Mending Wings, a ministry with the goal of helping Native American youth rediscover their culture,

Episode 7-Our Adoption Journey
February 21, 2019

Taking a break from the usual Q&A format to talk a bit more about my family's story and some of the changes we've made to blend our childrens' ethnic background into our lives. One resource that was especially helpful was the Refresh Conference. -

Episode 6: Raising a Child who Breaks the Mold and Forms their Own Identity
January 29, 2019

Steadfast. It’s not a word you hear often, but it’s a fitting description for Sasha Johnson, a twenty-something who was adopted when only 7 days old. Today she’s a single mom with two businesses and a strong sense of who she is,

Episode 5: The Culture of the Black Barbershop
November 01, 2018

Does darkening the door of a black barbershop seem like an act of desecration to you? Pastor Michael Thomas talks about the black barbershop experience and provides encouragement for adoptive parents who want to do right by their African American son.

Ep 4: Gas in the Tank—Giving Your Kids the Drive to Succeed
October 15, 2018

Like it or not, our lives are shaped by the expectations of others—both positively and negatively. Just ask Dr. Jessica Chandler Growing up in rural Mississippi, she was the daughter of a single mom, and had many obstacles to overcome.

Ep 3: Finding comfort in one’s skin—A South Korean adoptee’s journey to accepting her ethnicity
August 06, 2018

We each have a story of who we are and where we came from. For thirty-something Mattea Dibble it’s been more of a choose-your-own-adventure. Mattea was adopted from a South Korean orphanage at around 6 months of age and grew up in a small town in Washi...

Episode 2: The Culturally Competent Adoptive Parent
July 07, 2018

Seventeen years ago, Professor and licensed clinical social worker, Betsy Vonk, created a list of 39 recommendations for how adoptive parents could improve racial awareness, help their adoptive children connect with their culture,

Episode 1: DNA, Adoption and Identity
June 12, 2018

Professors Anita Foeman and Bessie Lawton discuss the DNA Discussion Project and their work helping people discover who they truly are. - Show Notes: - The DNA Discussion Project at West Chester University - The National Geographic,

Episode 1: DNA, Adoption and Identity - Mixed Bag: Culture, Adoption and the Transracial Family
June 11, 2018

Professors Anita Foeman and Bessie Lawton of West Chester University talk about the DNA Discussion Project and their work helping people discover who they really are. - Show Notes: - The DNA Discussion Project: https://www.wcupa.edu/DNADiscussion/