Episode Description – Jacob: When Adoption Breaks Down

In this episode of Color Shift, host Nathan Choi talks with Jacob, who shares a powerful and often overlooked side of adoption — what happens when an adoptive placement doesn’t last.

Adopted from Ethiopia at age two and raised in Brisbane, Jacob spent his early childhood in an Australian family until, at age eleven, he was handed over to the Department of Human Services. From there, he entered the foster care system, moving through multiple placements, navigating instability, and enduring experiences no child should have to face. By eighteen, he aged out of care and stepped into adulthood completely on his own.

Despite losing connection with his adoptive parents, Jacob maintains a strong, meaningful relationship with his adopted sister—a bond that helped him stay grounded through years of upheaval.

In our conversation, Jacob opens up about the realities of bouncing from home to home, the emotional weight of feeling unwanted, and the resilience required to build a life without familial stability. His story shines a light on the gaps in both adoption and foster care systems, and on the strength it takes to survive when every anchor is pulled away.

This episode is a raw and necessary look into the experiences rarely talked about in adoption: breakdown, displacement, and the long road toward creating your own sense of safety and belonging.

ICAV -Intercountry Adoptee Voices

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If you are a transracial adoptee and want to share your story email me at: [email protected]