Family Twist: A Podcast Exploring DNA Surprises and Family Secrets
Episodes
How a Nurse Practitioner Survived a Second DNA Discovery
02 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In Part One, Lisa shared her extraordinary adoption reunion story. A closed adoption, a lifetime of questions, a birth family who lived down the stree...
How a Nurse Practitioner Discovered Her Real Roots
25 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With the Trump administration moving to reclassify nursing so it no longer counts as a professional degree for federal student aid, this episode could...
What If the Donor’s Kids Have No Idea You Exist
18 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when you discover a whole set of siblings who grew up in the donor’s home, but you are not sure they even know you existIn part one, a ...
One Test. Two Brothers. Two Different Truths.
11 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if a simple birthday gift revealed a secret your parents had been carrying for more than three decades?For his 36th birthday, Nick’s siblings g...
The Not-So Only Child
04 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when a single email from a stranger confirms the secret you have been living with your whole life?In this episode, Rich Boerner returns t...
I Found My Father’s Name in My Mother’s Secrets
28 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if the father you spent your life wondering about turned out to be someone you already knew?As a kid growing up on Long Island in the 1970s, Rich...
When Kendall’s Story Became Her Mirror
21 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when the podcast that’s helping you make sense of your DNA surprise starts to sound a little too familiar?For many listeners, Family Tw...
Right to Know: Healing in Real Time
15 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode feels like the heart of Family Twist. It’s about what happens when we stop hiding, start talking, and realize we’re all part of a muc...
The Fertility Industry’s Dark Secret, Told by Two of Its Kids
07 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode nearly vanished. Literally. When Corey bumped into fellow podcaster Jeremy Bryant at a New England podcast event, he recognized his voice...
My Birth Father Is Either One of Two Twins… or Their Dad
30 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if the first clue to your DNA surprise was hidden in your parents’ wedding video — and years later, the search pointed to identical twins?Epi...
Why This Episode Left Us in Tears (and Hope)
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Can we ever truly feel safe if we don’t know where we came from?Episode Summary:In this deeply emotional episode of Family Twist, we welcome Bryan P...
When Your DNA Test Turns Into a Movie Script
16 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when a DNA test flips your world upside down and you decide to make a comedy about it? Actor, writer, and producer Lisa Brenner joins Cor...
Switched at birth and silenced for decades
09 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is the rescued first conversation with author Shirley Muñoz Newsom, whose memoir The Little Dark One: A True Story of Switched at Birth chronicl...
An Adoptive Parent’s Perspective on Open Adoption
02 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Family Twist, Corey and Kendall sit down with Mary, adoptive mom to previous guest Chris Martin. If you haven’t already, we recom...
When “Donor Conceived” Becomes Your Life’s Plot Twist
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Family Twist, Corey and Kendall sit down with storyteller and comedian Becca Rothman to talk about her remarkable DNA discovery and...
Things Adoptees Hear That Make Us Want to Scream
19 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Family Twist, Corey and Kendall get raw, real, and a little ranty. It’s part group therapy, part comedy roast, and all about the ...
Ghosting the Ghost Parent
12 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this candid conversation, Corey and Kendall tackle one of the most painful realities in the adoptee and DNA surprise world — reaching out to a bi...
The Return to Man Weekend: Family, Fire Pits, and Full-Circle Moments
05 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this heartfelt follow-up to one of our earliest episodes ("The Man Weekend"), Kendall shares stories from a recent rustic getaway with members of h...
Love Beyond DNA: The Man Who Raised Me
29 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In Part 2 of our conversation with author and advocate J. Steven Osborne, we explore what happens after the shock of a DNA discovery, when the dust st...
A DNA Discovery on the Tarmac
22 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
J. Steven Osborne believed he knew where he came from until an ancestry DNA test turned his world upside down. What started in 2021 as a casual curi...
The Adoption Paradox
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Author, adoptee, and fierce truth-teller Jean Widner returns to Family Twist—and this time, she’s holding a finished book in her hands. In this em...
Addiction, Absence, and the Road Back to My Birth Father
08 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In Part 2 of our powerful conversation with Chris, the emotional stakes deepen. Chris takes us through the winding road of reconnection with his birth...
Two Families, One Primal Wound
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Chris’s story may not begin with a shocking discovery but it’s no less extraordinary. In this episode, Kendall and Corey sit down with Chris to ex...
What Happens When a Transracial Adoptee Tells the Whole Truth?
24 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In Part 2 of our powerful conversation with Lisa MM Butler, we go deeper into what happens after the DNA tests, after the reunions, and after the loss...
DNA Doesn’t Lie, But Families Do
17 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In Part One of this powerful two-part episode, Corey and Kendall sit down with Lisa, who shares the beginning of her journey into the world of unexpec...
Team Red and the Ultimate Family Plot Twist
10 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when you pair a woman searching for her birth family with an uncle who’s all-in for the ride? You get Team Red: Kayli and Dan, standout...
They Erased His Father. He Wrote Him Back In.
03 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Peter’s story doesn’t end with a DNA test or a family reunion. It enters the courtroom.In this gripping conclusion to our two-part conversation wi...
Australia’s Adoption Scandal Hits Home and Hard
27 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Imagine building out a detailed family tree… only to find out you’re not actually in it. That’s what happened to this guest from Australia, who ...
Family Is Complicated, And We’re Not Done Talking About It
20 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this milestone episode, the hosts of Family Twist take a heartfelt, unfiltered look back on three years of storytelling, 150 episodes, and the ever...
The Birth of the Donor Sibling Registry
13 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this powerful, first-time full release of our conversation with Wendy Kramer, co-founder of the Donor Sibling Registry (DSR), we explore the deeply...
The Pain We Carry, the Monsters We Love
13 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
🩸 Episode Summary:In this hauntingly heartwarming bonus episode of Family Twist, Corey and Kendall open the crypt to their other podcast, Horror He...
Why I’m Not Angry They Didn’t Tell Me She Was Dying
06 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Listener Note: This episode contains sensitive content, including the death of a pet, home invasion, and terminal illness.In this powerful continuatio...
Embracing the Beautiful Mess of Surprise Family
29 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Family Twist, Corey and Kendall sit down with Eve Sturges, therapist, writer, and host of the podcast Everything’s Relative, to s...
The Full Story You Haven’t Heard (Until Now)
22 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Family Twist, we’re celebrating a major milestone—three years of storytelling, surprise DNA discoveries, and untangling family secret...
The Day I Was No Longer a Ghost
15 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the continuation of Jeremy’s deeply moving story, everything changes with one message: “We discovered we have a brother.” After a lifetime of...
"Brace for Impact": Surviving Trauma and Searching for Identity
08 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When Jeremy first reached out to Family Twist, his email stopped us in our tracks. The pain, the longing, the strength—it was all there in his words...
DNA Surprises in a Time of Erasure
01 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this powerful and timely episode, Corey and Kendall sit down with Alexis Hourse;t, the creator and host of the DNA Surprises podcast — a show ded...
My Family Was Right Next Door
25 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if your biological family—siblings, a mother, even potential fathers—had been living just a few towns away your entire life, and you never kn...
The Long Road Home to Irish Citizenship
18 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when the country of your birth refuses to acknowledge where you really come from? For adoptees, proving their origins can be a legal nigh...
Uncovering My Secret Irish Heritage Through DNA
11 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this intimate and reflective solo-hosted episode, Kendall dives deep into a powerful conversation with guest John Portmann, exploring themes of fam...
When Open Adoption Isn’t So Open
04 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Family Twist, Corey and Kendall sit down with Connor, who is in the process of writing a memoir about his experience with open adop...
What Happens When Your “Aunt” Is Actually Your Mother?
25 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when the life you’ve always known changes in an instant? For Natalie, a single conversation just before her 18th birthday unraveled eve...
From DNA Surprise to Maximum Security
18 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What would you do if a DNA test revealed a biological parent you never knew existed—who also happened to be serving a life sentence in a maximum-sec...
Shocking Family Secrets Keep Unraveling
11 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In part one, we learned how Brad Ewell’s entire world changed with a single DNA test. What he thought was just a fun ancestry experiment unraveled a...
From Horror Fan to Horror Story
04 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Some stories are so unbelievable, they sound like they belong in a movie. But this isn’t fiction—this is Family Twist. And for this special crosso...
Stream NPE Documentary for Free
29 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Family Twist, we sit down with Jon Baime, the writer, producer, and director of the powerful NPE documentary, Filling in the Blanks...
Lost and Found: The Adoption Story Behind Family Twist
21 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Corey and Kendall take a trip down memory lane, revisiting Kendall’s incredible adoption story—the inspiration behind Family Twist. For new listen...
Why Saying No to Family Can Be the Healthiest Choice
14 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this unforgettable continuation of Karen’s journey, we dive deeper into the raw, real, and often messy world of family relationships. Karen opens...
A Half-Sister's Passing and an Adoptee's Awakening
07 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if the worst day of someone else’s life was also the beginning of your greatest revelation? In this jaw-dropping episode of Family Twist, we ex...
Twisting Out of 2024 and Into 2025
31 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We reflect on our wonderful guests from 2024, and tease what's to come in 2025!
Breaking the Stigma as the Child of an Affair
17 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Episode Description:In this special expanded edition of Family Twist, Corey and Kendall revisit 2024’s most downloaded episode featuring Pam, a cour...
The Lost Episode of Family Twist
10 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Make sure and listen to episode 100 of The Family Twist Podcast before listening to this "lost," bonus episode with Monica Hall.The Lost Episode of Fa...
Unearthing Grit, Family Secrets and Finding Strength
03 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Family Twist, Corey and Kendall sit down with Jill Krizinovich, better known by her pen name, Margo Reilly. Jill is the author of t...
Turning Thanksgiving Memories into Traditions
26 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to a special Thanksgiving episode of Family Twist! As the holiday season kicks off, Corey and Kendall take a brief pause to share heartfelt mo...
Switched at Birth, Saved by Love
19 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For Shirley, life was a mystery with pieces that never quite fit—until a DNA test in 2001 revealed the unthinkable truth: she had been switched at b...
This Episode Will Change How You See Adoption
12 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In part two of this eye-opening conversation, Kendall Stulce and Rich Uhrlaub pick up where they left off, diving even deeper into the emotional highs...
The Musical Exposing Adoption’s Darkest Secrets
05 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this gripping episode, Kendall Stulce opens up a powerful, no-holds-barred conversation with writer, advocate, and adoptee Rich Uhrlaub, the creati...
Tricks, Treats, and Trauma Healing: A Halloween Crossover Special
29 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this special Halloween crossover episode, Corey and Kendall invite listeners into the unique space where family stories and horror healing meet. As...
What Your Therapist Isn’t Telling You
18 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this special crossover bonus episode, we share an insightful conversation from our sister podcast, Horror Heals, where we explore how horror can be...
Discovering Roots in Sicily and Indigenous Heritage
15 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In Part 2 of our heartfelt conversation with Cree filmmaker, Kristal Parke, we explore her journey of reconnecting with her Opaskwayak Cree Nation roo...
The Primal Wound: Adoption’s Hidden Trauma
08 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this powerful episode of Family Twist, Corey and Kendall Stulce sit down with Cree filmmaker and adoptee, Kristal Parke, to discuss her impactful d...
Spooky Season with Kendall and Corey
01 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Family Twist, Corey and Kendall Austin Stulce reflect on their Halloween experiences growing up, contrasting their childhood tradit...
Relinquishment, Addiction, and the Healing Power of Water Part 2
24 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Relinquishment, Addiction, and the Healing Power of Water Part 2
Relinquishment, Addiction, and the Healing Power of Water Part 1
17 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Family Twist, Corey and Kendall Stulce sit down with David to explore the profound and raw themes of relinquishment, addiction, and...
Bonus: Monstrous Childhood to Healing Monster
13 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Hello, friends! Kendall and Corey launch their new podcast, Horror Heals, today, and we wanted to share one of the first episodes with you. If you lik...
If You Only Knew: Navigating DNA Surprises and the NPE World Part 2
10 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this compelling episode of the Family Twist podcast,Corey and Kendall Stulce sit down with Lezlee, author of If You Only Knew:Navigating DNA Surpri...
If You Only Knew: Navigating DNA Surprises and the NPE World Part 1
03 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this compelling episode of the Family Twist podcast,Corey and Kendall Stulce sit down with Lezlee, author of If You Only Knew:Navigating DNA Surpri...
Challenging the Concept of Anonymity in Adoption
20 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Family Twist podcast, Kendall takes the reins as he engages in a heartfelt conversation with fellow adoptee, Greg Gentry. The t...
Adoption Songs Part Two
13 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In part two of this conversation, Kendall Stulce and guest, Lori Evans Ermi, discuss their experiences with adoption and the importance of community a...
Adoption Songs Part 1
06 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Family Twist, Lori shares her extraordinary journey of adoption, intertwined with her love for music and family dynamics. Lori reca...
Black Market Babies and Astonishing Family Secrets Part 2
30 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Twists of Fate: Diana's Journey of Identity and Family SecretsIn this episode, Diana shares her astonishing journey of discovering her true origins. B...
Black Market Babies and Astonishing Family Secrets Part 1
24 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Twists of Fate: Diana's Journey of Identity and Family SecretsIn this episode, Diana shares her astonishing journey of discovering her true origins. B...
Adoption and Identity: A Path from Self-Harm to Self-Healing
16 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How does growing up as an Asian adoptee in a white family influence mental health and identity?This episode delves into Joey's personal story of being...
Positive Reunions and Painful Rejections
09 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How does the journey of seeking one’s birth parents unfold in real life, with all its emotional complexities?For many, the decision to seek out biol...
A Journey of Self-Discovery and Transition
02 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this conversation, Corey Stulce interviews Jordan Elizabeth Braxton about her transition journey and her experiences as an intersex woman. Jordan s...
Pod Swap with Forty Drinks
25 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever felt like you were hiding behind a mask, both personally and professionally?Comedian Lauren shares her DNA surprise and the realization ...
Horror Heals!
25 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How can horror movies become a source of comfort and healing?Corey and Kendall Stulce announce the launch of their new podcast, Horror Heals, which fo...
The Psychological Effects of Parental Lies
18 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever wondered about the emotional rollercoaster of discovering long-lost family through DNA testing?The Psychological Effects of Parental Lie...
The Need for Policy Changes in Adoption with Dr. Joyce Maguire Pavao
11 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever wondered about the secrets and stories hidden within the world of adoption?Dr. Joyce Maguire Pavao shares her personal journey of being ...
Indigenous Bombshell and Embracing a Two-Spirit Life
04 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wondered what it's like to discover your true heritage and embrace a multifaceted identity amid societal norms?We're presenting a "remix" episode...
I Knocked On My Birth Mother's Door
28 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How can attending an adoptee summit transform your understanding of identity and connection?In this episode of Family Twist, we're joined by Monica Ha...
Adoptive Mom Builds Relationships with Birth Families
21 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wondered how an open adoption can transform lives and bridge the gap between adoptive and birth families?In this episode of Family Twist, we dive...
High Vibrations with the Adoptee Author of Practically Still a Virgin
14 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Adoptee Monica Hall discusses her journey from leaving corporate America to starting her own soap company and finding her indigenous roots. She shares...
Family Shadows and the Children of Affairs
07 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wondered how discovering hidden family secrets can transform your sense of identity and belonging?In this episode, Kendall continues the conversa...
How to Redirect Thoughts to Manifest the Life You Desire
30 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Can you transform trauma into a powerful personal narrative? In this compelling episode of Family Twist, we delve into the journey of healing and self...
Untangling Our Roots: The Power and Pitfalls of Genetic Discoveries
23 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever imagined discovering a completely different truth about your past as an adult?This episode delves deep into the powerful, emotional jour...
Unregulated Donation with Spermworld Documentary Director
16 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever wondered about the alternative ways people can become parents in today's world? This episode delves deep into the fascinating and someti...
Opening Up About Being the Child Result of an Affair
09 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are you grappling with the complexities of family identity and secrets?In this episode of Family Twist, we delve deep into the emotional journey of Pa...
Adoptee Writes His Own Script Part One
02 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever wondered how uncovering hidden family truths could reshape your identity and relationships? Dive into the first part of this intriguing ...
Adoptee Writes His Own Script Part Two
02 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever thought about the impact of meeting your birth parents can have on your life and existing family relationships? In this compelling secon...
Discovering I'm 'A Stranger in My Family'
26 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this surprise-filled episode of Family Twist, we dive into filmmaker Luke Davies’ compelling journey of self-discovery, ignited by the results of...
DNA Surprise Transforms Strangers Into Sisters
19 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this gripping episode of "Family Twist," we delve into Sharon Adams' remarkable journey of self-discovery, initiated by a curiosity-driven DNA test...
The Comedy of Discovering I'm Not Who I Thought
12 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dive into an uproariously insightful episode with Lauren, a stand-up comedian whose journey from genealogical confusion to comedic triumph is anything...
DNAngels: Guardians of the DNA Galaxy
05 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we're thrilled to conclude the conversation Jennifer Schweibinz from DNAngels, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping individ...
Farewell to King Richard
28 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Corey here. Comedy has always been a passion of mine. I started watching stand-up on HBO when I only caught a handful of the jokes. Richards Lewis wou...
From DNA Trauma to DNAngel Part One
27 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In an episode that epitomizes the very essence of Family Twist, we unveil a story so captivating it blurs the lines between disbelief and destiny. Sit...
From DNA Trauma to DNAngel Part Two
27 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the second half of our eye-opening episode, Family Twist host Kendall continues the conversation with Jennifer from DNAngels. This segment illumina...
A Deep Dive into Donor Conception and Connection
20 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week, our guest, Jaclyn Frosolone, shares her compelling narrative, shedding light on the profound impacts of discovering one's origins in the wo...
Navigating Multiracial Identity and Family Dynamics in Adoption
13 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this soulful episode of the Family Twist podcast, we are joined by Janeen, a vibrant soul who embarked on an unexpected journey into her past, unra...
College Student Reveals I Have 75 Brothers and Sisters
06 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode takes us through an extraordinary exploration of family, identity and the unforeseen connections DNA testing can reveal. Our guest, Brenn...