Best Zaira Podcasts (2025)

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Ashley Albert on Survival, Strategy, and Standing on Business 50:21

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28d ago50:21

50:21

In this episode of Adoptees Crossing Lines, Zaira is joined by Ashley Albert—organizer, survivor, and founder of Stolen Children’s Month. Ashley shares her journey from foster care and incarceration to becoming the first parent in Washington state to legally enforce and modify an open adoption agreement. Together, they speak truth to power about th…

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What We Carried from the Black Mothers March 43:16

1M ago43:16

43:16

In this episode of Adoptees Crossing Lines, Zaira sits down with her editor and friend J Way to reflect on their experience attending the Black Mothers March in Washington, D.C. From the powerful teach in and the emotional impact of firsthand stories to the joyful moments of community and connection, they unpack what it means to organize, to protes…

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Passion and Private Practice with Jana Parker, CEO of Mind by Design and Empower LEP 51:15

2M ago51:15

51:15

In this heartfelt and honest conversation, Jana Parker—school psychologist turned private practice owner—opens up about her winding journey from public education to entrepreneurship, and the personal growth, burnout, and breakthroughs along the way. Jana shares how her love of psychology began early, even if she didn’t fully understand where it wou…

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Adopted Twice: Kinship, Control, and the Cost of Silence 52:58

2M ago52:58

52:58

In this episode of Adoptees Crossing Lines, Zaira sits down with Kat Shahinian-Buffa to explore the layers of secrecy, grief, and reclamation embedded in kinship adoption. From being adopted the day she was born to uncovering that her sister is also her cousin through a DNA test, Kat walks us through her journey of survival, family deception, and i…

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Teaching and Thriving with Capriel Sides @thesidesofteaching 47:32

2M ago47:32

47:32

In this episode, Capriel Sides shares her passion for equity, effective teaching, and sustainable work-life balance. She reflects on her journey as a teacher, mentor, and instructional leader. She also dives into her content creation work with @shethesidesofteaching, where she offers honest, humorous takes on instructional strategies and the real-l…

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Raised by Auntie, Called Mom: The Complicated Truth of Kinship Adoption 50:59

3M ago50:59

50:59

In this powerful episode, attorney and pro-Black adoptee Aretha Frazier shares her story of being adopted by her aunt in a kinship placement that was far from simple. From navigating family loyalty and control to confronting abuse and the myth of gratitude, Aretha opens up about what it really meant to grow up in a household where blood ties didn’t…

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Surveillance, Saviors, and Screens: Media & Adoption with J Way 57:54

3M ago57:54

57:54

In this episode of Adoptees Crossing Lines, Zaira is joined by her editor, cinephile, and dear friend J Way. Together, they dive into how adoption narratives are portrayed in film and television, from tropes like the “grateful orphan” to more realistic depictions of systemic harm. J Way shares their experience as a transracial adoptee, the cultural…

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Mutual Aid as Resistance: Building Systems of Care 20:41

3M ago20:41

20:41

In this solo episode of Adoptees Crossing Lines, Zaira dives deep into the power and necessity of mutual aid. Drawing from personal reflection, historical examples like the Black Panther Party and the Young Lords, and global efforts from Sudan to Florida, this episode highlights how mutual aid has always been about survival. Zaira explores how mutu…

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Adoptee Storytelling & Film Advocacy 59:44

4M ago59:44

59:44

Adoptee Storytelling & Film Advocacy In this episode of Adoptees Crossing Lines, Zaira sits down with Alexandra, a British and American domestic transracial adoptee who grew up in her birth country of Hong Kong. Alexandra is the festival director of the Adoptee Film Fest, a global in-person and online film festival amplifying adoptee-centered films…

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Root Work and Resilience: The Fight for Black Families 47:25

4M ago47:25

47:25

Root Work and Resilience: The Fight for Black Families In this episode of Adoptees Crossing Lines, Zaira sits down with Tamara and Tracey Robertson, sisters, healers, and advocates serving as Healers in Residence with Movement for Family Power. Together, they discuss their journey of resisting the harms of the family policing system, while centerin…

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Adoption, Privilege, and the Stories We Tell w/ Patrick Armstrong 51:28

5M ago51:28

51:28

In this episode, we explore the complexities of adoption, privilege, and the narratives that shape our understanding of family. Through personal stories and critical reflections, we unpack the ways in which adoption is often framed as an unquestionable good while overlooking the systemic issues at play. We discuss the intersection of race, class, a…

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Adoptee Identity & Research: Roots and Self-Discovery with Annalisa Toccara-Jones 50:18

5M ago50:18

50:18

Send us a textBy Zaira

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Reflections on Grief, Healing, and Honoring My Mom 19:15

6M ago19:15

19:15

Send us a textBy Zaira

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The Role of Legal Advocacy in Family Reunification w/ Keshia Adeniyi 46:02

1y ago46:02

46:02

Send us a text Keshia The child welfare system is waging war on Black families, and Keshia Adeniyi-Dorsey is on the front lines. In this episode, she shares her journey from foster child to family defender, exposing the racist roots of CPS and the urgent need for change. Keisha breaks down her tactics for protecting families during CPS investigatio…

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Exploring Abolition, Intergenerational Trauma, and Creative Resistance w/ Benjamin Lundberg Torres Sánchez 54:17

1y ago54:17

54:17

Send us a text Benjamin Words matter. Especially when it comes to adoption. Benjamin Lundberg Torres Sanchez isn't just "adopted" - they were separated from their first family for 28 years. In this episode, we unpack how the language we use shapes our understanding of adoption. Benjamin shares their journey of rejecting industry terminology and emb…

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Unpacking Adoption w/ Henry: Identity, Community, and Healing 37:38

1y ago37:38

37:38

Send us a text Henry What happens when a Black child is adopted into a white Mormon family? The Mormon church silenced Henry's identity as a Black transracial adoptee, but he's done being quiet. From "colorblind" racism to the weight of forced gratitude, he exposes the ugly truth behind his adoption. We explore the impact of media representation, t…

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Adoption, Therapy, and Self-Discovery: Fai Knudson's Story 53:34

1y ago53:34

53:34

Send us a text Fai Knudson Fai Knudson grew up in a white, conservative town, always feeling different. As a biracial, transracial adoptee, Faye faced racism and isolation. Leaving their hometown ignited a journey of self-discovery, leading to advocacy and therapy focused on adoptee mental health. In this episode, Fai shares their powerful story, t…

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Finding Freedom: Reflections on One Year of No Contact 46:06

1y ago46:06

46:06

Send us a text 1 Year of No Contact It's been 365 days since I cut ties with my adopters to protect myself. A year of healing, self-discovery, and finding my voice. In this episode, I share my no contact journey, the reasons behind my decision, the process of healing, and the freedom I’ve found. Hear my story of setting boundaries, seeking safety, …

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Operation Stop CPS w/ Amanda Wallace 36:02

1y ago36:02

36:02

Send us a text Amanda Wallace Amanda Wallace helps families powerfully stop Child Protective Services from stealing their children. In this episode she talk about how you can do it too, how her organization reunited 20+ families, and why we should abolish the belief that the CPS system should even exist. Listen and let’s stop CPS. What we discussed…

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Adoption is not a part of God's plan 41:02

1+ y ago41:02

41:02

Send us a text Adoption is Not A Part Of God’s Plan People who adopt say it’s God’s plan for them to adopt. But, they almost never say that God’s plan is for them NOT to have children. This is just one of the many ways people use religion to justify human trafficking. I found out, through an archived article, that I was trafficked by the Church thr…

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Mila's Truth: Navigating Adoption, Liberation, and Community 58:08

1+ y ago58:08

58:08

Send us a text Mila's Truth: Navigating Adoption, Liberation, and Community The Church does an excellent job of silencing you if you oppose them. They’d even hire a marketing company to rebrand adoption so that their business as adoption middlemen can continue to thrive. But, it’s not just the Church. The dominant culture is to silence anyone who s…

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My Journey to Abolition 33:56

1+ y ago33:56

33:56

Send us a text My Journey To Abolition Every adult in my childhood has failed me, none of them did what they’re supposed to. Every part of the system failed me…it did exactly what it’s supposed to. The system kills children and breaks families, it must be abolished. In this episode, I share how I gradually evolved towards this deep belief starting …

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Navigating Change: A Conversation with Josh Lamers, Co-founder of Collective of Child Welfare Survivors 49:48

1+ y ago49:48

49:48

Send us a text Josh Lamers Adoption is trauma. How do we help surviving children heal the wounds they’ve sustained from the child welfare system? Josh Lamers, a transracial adoptee, is public enemy #1 for child welfare agencies in Canada. He joins the show to discuss what adoption and child welfare are like in Canada; and how his organization, Coll…

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Adoptees & Community 24:18

1+ y ago24:18

24:18

Send us a text Adoptees & Community Before I found other adoptees online I was lost. I wanted to know where I came from, and I wanted to know others like me. Most adoption communities center adoptive parents and foster parents. We are left out of the picture. This doesn’t make sense. This episode is a collection of my thoughts on this matter. “One …

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Confronting the Racist Legacy of the Child Welfare System w/ Alan Dettlaff 43:10

1+ y ago43:10

43:10

Send us a text Confronting the Racist Legacy of the American Child Welfare System It was when Alan arrived at a home with the cops to remove a child and heard his mother say “Charles, run, they're coming to take you and they're going to sell you to the white people” that he realized how the trauma of slavery cannot be disentangled from the trauma o…

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Unveiling Roots: The Journey of Gregory D. Luce, Attorney and Advocate for Adoptee Rights 42:19

1+ y ago42:19

42:19

Send us a text Unveiling Roots: The Journey of Gregory D. Luce, Attorney and Advocate for Adoptee Rights Us adoptees have to pay thousands of dollars and jump through hoops to unseal our records. This robs us of autonomy, dignity, and equality. Gregory D. Luce is an attorney who helps adoptees all across the US go through this hurdle. In this episo…

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Zaira Armendariz: Depression, Dating, and Self-Discovery 59:57

1+ y ago59:57

59:57

Join us as we journey alongside Zaira Armendariz, who has a BFA in Film Production and her own podcast, Complex, Like Wine. Together, we peel back the layers of her own experience with depression and anxiety. Zaira shares her strategies for maintaining mental wellbeing, from embracing hobbies like reading to the importance of setting boundaries. Sh…

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Torn Apart: How the Child Welfare System Destroys Black Families--and How Abolition Can Build a Safer World 1:10:02

1+ y ago1:10:02

1:10:02

Send us a text Torn Apart: How the Child Welfare System Destroys Black Families--and How Abolition Can Build a Safer World More than anyone else, black women get their children kidnapped by the state, by the child “welfare system”. This episode is about the whys and hows of abolishing a system built to strip families away from their children. Throu…

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Embracing Identity: John's Journey of Self-Discovery 39:14

2y ago39:14

39:14

Send us a text Reuniting with his birth family showed John McCormick, a transracial adoptee, a new world. He physically felt a relaxation he had never felt before, he connected with music and art like never before, and he started to own who he is - confidently - even when others denied his identity. This is the story of how John’s reunion with his …

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Emily's Journey: Identity, Language Learning, and Adoption Realities 40:40

2y ago40:40

40:40

Send us a text Emily's Journey: Identity, Language Learning, and Adoption Realities After 9 months of living with monks, Emily Harris was adopted from China. She was left behind by her bio family due to the One Child Policy. To process her loss of identity, she has started to learn Chinese with a community of adoptees. In this episode, she talks ab…

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Transforming Classrooms with Math Superpowers: Kristen Powers 50:40

2y ago50:40

50:40

Picture your favorite teacher. Got them in mind? Now imagine if they were given the freedom to teach without the constraints of standardized testing. That’s what Kristen Powers, the founder of Math Superpowers, is advocating for. With over a decade of teaching experience and a master's in elementary and math education, Kristen is on a mission to tr…

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Recess Reset: A Guided Meditation Journey for Educators 10:12

2y ago10:12

10:12

How often do you, as a teacher, take time to rejuvenate your mind, body, and soul? This 10-minute Recess Reset was made just for you: grab a bathroom break, and shake off the funk by employing deep breathing techniques and visualization to cultivate a tranquil space filled with unconditional joy, love, and learning. Enjoy! Miri xo Support the show …

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Adoption Trauma, Mental Health, and Suicide Risk with Lina Vanegas 46:04

2y ago46:04

46:04

Send us a text Lina Though Lina Vanegas was born to a Colombian family, she was forced to assimilate as a white jewish person. 38 years later, she’s unable to fully connect with her bio family nor speak their language. Forced assimilation is trauma. Her mission is to educate people on adoption trauma. In the episode, she gives a crash course on why…

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Mastering Your Classroom and Life with Kindergarten Teacher Gina Venancio 51:48

2y ago51:48

51:48

What happens when you land your dream job and it feels more like a battlefield than a classroom? Kindergarten teacher Gina Venancio knows that feeling all too well. After years of struggling to manage her classroom, a heart-to-heart with her teaching partner gave her the wake-up call she needed to take control. Gina embarked on a journey of researc…

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Balancing the Teaching Scale: Insights on Mental Health and Teacher Burnout with Brittany Wheaton 52:26

2y ago52:26

52:26

Have you ever found yourself struggling to maintain a healthy balance between your work and personal life, especially in a demanding profession like teaching? Our conversation with Brittany Wheaton, a K-8 art educator from Grand Rapids, Michigan, may hold some profound insights for you. Brittany takes us along on her journey, discussing the highs a…

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Season 2 Trailer: I’m Back! And Ever Changing 3:04

2y ago3:04

3:04

When I first started the Mindful Miri podcast, I set out to explore being a woman, having a body, and healing our relationship to our bodies. As I worked with clients individually, I noticed that those who came to me for body issues often had overall difficulty taking great care of themselves. And most of the requests and feedback I was getting cam…

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Navigating No Contact: Adoptees' Journeys to Healing 37:58

2y ago37:58

37:58

Send us a text Should you cut off your adoptive parents? Should you “go no contact” with your adoptive parents? “Oh hell no. Not this time. I’m done.” That’s what we felt before cutting off contact with your adoptive parents. Sometimes, the healthies thing we can do is to go no contact with our adoptive parents. Escaping abuse. Escaping racism. Esc…

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Navigating Holidays as an Adoptee: Exploring Complex Emotions and Self-Care 37:38

2y ago37:38

37:38

Send us a text Navigating Holidays as an Adoptee: Exploring Complex Emotions & Self Care For adoptees, holidays mean performance. Acting like you care, acting like you’re happy, acting like you’re grateful. And if you don’t perform, then you live in guilt. It’s ironic, because adoption itself is an act. Join us as we explore this and discuss what h…

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Challenging Adoption Norms and Embracing Queer Parenting: A Conversation with Yomi 42:43

2y ago42:43

42:43

Send us a text Adoptee Origin Story: Ayomide Bee Is Adoption Human Trafficking? With Ayomide Bee Selling children is human trafficking, so why isn’t adoption considered human trafficking? It’s state-sanctioned trafficking with a paper trail. Ayomide Bee shares her adoption story as a queer transracial adoptee. Her take is not only that same-sex cou…

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Activism & Origin Story: Erica Babino 29:44

2y ago29:44

29:44

Send us a text Activism For Adoptees With Erica Babino What’s it like to be an activist for adoptees? What’s the story of someone who is an adoptees activist? How would you feel if you discovered that your bio mom lives on your street, after you’ve been searching for her for 25 years? This week, we speak to Erica Babino a Black same race adoptee wh…

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A Bittersweet Farewell: Reflecting on Season One and Embracing Self-Care 5:38

2y ago5:38

5:38

Send us a textBy Dr. Noelle, Tosha, Lia

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Every Girl is a Pretty Girl with Christina Flach, Celebrity Makeup Artist & CEO, Pretty Girl Makeup 43:51

2y ago43:51

43:51

Christina Flach is a world renowned celebrity makeup artist with experience working with celebrity clientele, magazines, and big name brands. She has been featured in Vogue, People, Time, and Elle, as well as campaigns for Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Macy’s, and Bloomingdales. A more extensive list of her clie…

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Dr. Noelle's Origin Story: A Journey of Adoption, Identity, and Reunion 29:48

2y ago29:48

29:48

Send us a text Adoptee Origin Story: Dr. Noelle Two white people raised me, an African American child. I’m Dr. Noelle and this is the secret-filled story of my adoption after being an orphan in Texas. What we discussed (00:00) Cosplaying as adoptees? (01:35) The stories I was told (05:30) My abusive adoptive mother (06:15) Taking a DNA test to find…

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Navigating Adoption and Rediscovering Family: Lia's Journey 30:48

2+ y ago30:48

30:48

Send us a text Navigating Adoption and Rediscovering Family: Lia's Journey I’m Lia and this is my adoptee origin story from foster care to reuniting with my siblings. What I shared (01:02) What I was told about my bio parents (02:18) What actually happened (04:59) My adoptive parents (05:34) My birth father’s side of the story (06:36) My access to …

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Next Wave Mentorship: What would you tell your younger self? Here's your chance! 23:45

2+ y ago23:45

23:45

What would you tell your younger self? This question always seems to strike a chord with my guests and give them pause. Wouldn't it have been wonderful to have a cool, wise older woman sherpa you through your career, motherhood, and womanhood instead of floundering alone? Tyler Skinner is taking the "younger self" question to the next level with Th…

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Fit, Fat, and All That with Julia Parzyck, Eating Disorder Recovery Coach 25:00

2+ y ago25:00

25:00

Fit, Fat, and All That with Julia Parzyck, Eating Disorder Recovery Coach Mindful Miri Podcast, Episode 26 Topics Discussed: Julia's journey to becoming a coach in eating disorder recovery The importance of body positivity and unlearning societal beauty standards Inclusivity and diversity in the media Discrimination based on body size and appearanc…

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Exploring the Impact of Adoption on Mental Health: Insights from Adoptees 39:10

2+ y ago39:10

39:10

Send us a text Exploring the Impact of Adoption on Mental Health: Insights from Adoptees Why adoptees are more likely to attempt suicide Trigger Warning: Suicide, Suicidal ideation, Involuntary hospitalization Adoptees are 4x more likely to commit suicide, in this episode we unpack why that is. Being an adoptee is a lifelong sentence, we have to co…

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Un-Hustling Your Life with Paden Hughes, Amazon Best-Selling Author, Speaker & HSP Coach 51:35

2+ y ago51:35

51:35

In this episode, we discuss how Paden Hughes went from a life of constant hustle and high ambition to finally listening to her body protesting it all. We talk with the Author/CEO about how to get back up after burning yourself out, how to navigate being a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), and managing it all while being a mom and a CEO. We also talk a…

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Navigating Parenthood as Adoptees: Insights from Dr. Noelle and Tosha 31:22

2+ y ago31:22

31:22

Send us a text Adoptees as parents Parenting as an adoptee What’s it like when you’re adopted and then become a parent? We discuss the unexpected joys and reliefs of parenting, the mistakes we were almost programmed to make, how parenting can heal us, how to tell your children you’re adopted, and being careful about not placing a burden on our chil…

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You Are Not Your Size With Lindley Ashline, Body Liberation Activist 47:30

2+ y ago47:30

47:30

In this week's episode, we discuss issues of #race, #weight, and systems of #oppression with Lindley Ashline. Other themes: - Embracing our true selves - #bodypositivity for larger bodies - How systems are not built for all sizes - #weightstigma as an offshoot of #racism About Lindley Ashline: Lindley Ashline creates photographs that celebrate the …