Cameron Lee Small, 39, originally named He Seong Lee, was adopted from Korea at the age of two by white parents and grew up in a small town in Wisconsin. But he was never interested in knowing more about his native country or exploring his own feelings about being transracially adopted. But that changed in his 20s. Today, Small is a licensed therapist who specializes in helping transracially adopted adults and children, their parents and families, to grow in their journey and to acknowledge the complexities inherent in transracial and transnational adoption. 

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Music appears under license with Blue Dot Sessions.

Wayne Kangas, 34, grew up in a small town in remote and rural northern Minnesota. He always felt different and spent his childhood trying to fit in — by excelling in sports and trying not to draw too much attention to himself academically. Kangas got a chance to experience Korea a a college student more than 10 years ago. But you’ll hear why he chose to return to northern Minnesota and continue to make it his home and of how both Korea and the Finnish-American culture he grew up in are equal parts of him. 

Music under license with Blue Dot Sessions.

“Can’t Help Falling In Love,” by Kina Grannis, from the original motion picture soundtrack for”Crazy Rich Asians,” appears courtesy of Warner Brothers.

“Black Swan,” by BTS, appears courtesy of Bighit Entertainment.

“Zappaguri,” from the original motion picture soundtrack for “Parasite,” appears courtesy of Jung Jae-il.

Jon F. Jee Schill, 33, has been helping to build and sustain the Korean adoptee and Asian-American communities in the Twin Cities for several years. But it might surprise you to learn a little more about his back story, and his feelings towards Korea and his adoptee identity. 

Music appears by license with Blue Dot Sessions.

Navigating multiple identities like being queer and a Korean adoptee has been interesting, says Shawyn Lee, 41. “We’re quick to throw people in boxes,” says the Hermantown, Minn., resident. But the labels aren’t always accurate and don’t allow people full visibility. In this episode, Lee talks about the complexity of identity, relationships, owning up to your truths and why adoptee voices matter. 

Music under license with Blue Dot Sessions.

Emma Wexler, 22, is a Vietnamese adoptee who grew up influenced by the experiences and writings of Korean adoptees. She has thought a lot about identity and race, intercountry adoption and privilege, socio-economics, race and child displacement. The future medical school student has always felt different – from being raised by a single white woman within the Jewish faith, as an Asian-American adoptee not particularly connected to Vietnamese culture, and as an adoptee who was outside of the more dominant Korean adoptee community. Now, she hopes those spaces can also make room for adoptees from other countries to be part of the collective voices.

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Korean adoptee Mila Konomos, 44, has spent a lifetime pondering the meaning of family, first as an adopted child to white American parents stationed on military bases in places such as Japan and the Philippines, later meeting her biological Korean parents to becoming a mother to biracial children in the U.S. But neither her adoption nor reunion with bio family has brought her a sense of wholeness. Now a performance artist, social and racial justice rights activist, partner and mother, this episode explores how Konomos’ life experiences has shaped who she is today. 

Music appears under license with Blue Dot Sessions.

What do you do when you become an adopted parent’s caregiver and there might be unresolved issues related to your childhood and adoption? Sarah MeeRan Cave, 33, a Korean adoptee and an accomplished violinist, composer, and teacher, talks about caring for an aging parent, her relationship with the violin and teachers along the way, and what it’s all ultimately taught her about her own path to healing.

Music by license with Blue Dot Sessions.

“The Mother,” “Sonata Duet for Violin and Cello, op.1” and “Maya” (by Shakti with new arrangement),” appears courtesy of Sarah MeeRan Cave.

Sharon Jung, 37, is on a redemptive journey. Adopted from Korea at the age of four, Jung, along with her twin sister, would learn devastating details about the separation from their first family and what the adoption agency did to make that happen. It ultimately led them down a path to the wrong family. Jung also experienced abuse and mistreatment in her adoptive family, which spiraled into despair and drug abuse. But through it all, Jung’s story is about finding how to love even when you feel unworthy of it, and of how her twin never gave up on her.

Note: This episode includes mentions of child sexual abuse, drug abuse, self-harm and rape.

Music appears by license with Blue Dot Sessions

Tupac Shakur appears under fair use courtesy of Entertainment One.

Logo: Rusty Detty

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Taneka Hye Wol Jennings, 34, works towards social justice and immigrant rights as the deputy director of Hana Center in Chicago, Ill. She also uses that passion to advocate for the Korean adoptee community through organizations like KAtCH in Chicago and others. Listen as Jennings steps out of her comfort zone to share some of her reflections as an adoptee, daughter and partner.

Music by license with Blue Dot Sessions / Logo by Rusty Detty

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