Thriving Adoptees - Let's Thrive

Resilient When Triggered With Jenn Meyer

20 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Would you like to be triggered less? More resilient when you are triggered? Listen in as Jenn and I dive deep into resilience for insights on how you ...

Changing First With Mercedes Bristol

16 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It's a trap we all fall into. Thinking that others will change. Waiting for others to change. But we have to change first. Listen in as Mercedes share...

Identity In Christ With Kirti Pickard

13 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Born in India, Kirti Pickard was abandoned as a baby and spent her three and a half years in an orphanage. She was adopted at four. She is the host of...

Discovering & Sharing Our Uniqueness With Chris Johnson

06 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What if discovering and sharing our uniqueness drives our thriving? How does that help us tough times. Chris is dad to 10 including 7 through  adopti...

Superpowered With Wes Cuell

05 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What would it do for you to find your superpower? What if your difference IS your superpower? Listen in as adoptee Wes dives into difference, superpow...

Handling Tough Emotions With Rhiannon Franklin

04 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Handling tough emotions is human's biggest challenge. And it's particularly tough for adoptees and adoptive parents given the complex emotions around ...

The Past Doesn't Determine The Future With Robin Sizemore

28 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Hope. The hope that the past doesn't determine the future. A positive outlook. Life as an adoptive parent and as an adoptee can be tough. What keeps u...

Changing Life For The Better With The Altmans

25 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Altman family was formed by a unique set of circumstances that no-one could have predicted. This episode is a little different to honour that. A p...

Still Learning With Kim Smith

24 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Raising kids - adopted or not - isn't a sprint. It's a journey. And the more we learn, the easier we can navigate the bumps along the way. Listen in a...

Love Without Rules Jenn Noble

23 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Is love with rules really love? Probably not. And yet so many of us have only felt conditional love. Having her first daughter taught adoptee Jenn lov...

Loving Ourselves With Melissa Butkovich-Carraway

20 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What matters more than loving ourselves? And yet...so many of us believe that voice in our heads that doesn't love us. Listen in as Melissa shares her...

Doing Things Differently With Gladys Blackwell

17 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

When we know better, we do better. Experienced adoption professional got a second chance at parenting after adopting her grandson when she was 55. Lis...

Having A Fabulous Life With Anna Bernacki

16 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What if we could have a fabulous life, whatever our story? Thriving doesn't look like an option for some. But what if it is? Listen in as adoptee, ado...

Finding Our Place With Matt Waller

13 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Finding our place - our home and our place in the world - is profound. Listen in as Matt who's fostered and adopted shares his learnings on self worth...

Levelling The Playing Field With Karen Barrick

12 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Adoptees often start life at a disadvantage. How do we level the playing field so they can enjoy the same opportunities as others? Listen in as Karen ...

Busting Beliefs With Angie White

27 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

 Does the desire for validation hold us back? How do you react when you or your beliefs are challenged? Listen in as adoptee Angie talks about surfac...

Faith Is Bigger Than Fear With Wendi Cross

26 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Life can feel pretty scary. But what if we felt differently about that fear? What if faith felt bigger than that fear? Listen in as mother of 6 includ...

Open To It All With Cindy Sarai

21 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What we resist persists. Especially our feelings. So what if we could be open to our feelings? Be openhearted. Ride life's emotional rollercoaster wit...

The Art Of Adoptive Parenting With Dr Ray

20 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Raising adoptive children and teens is an art not a science. It's something you get a feel for. Listen in as adoptive father of 10 Dr Ray shares his i...

Goodbye Shame With Penny Rowntree

19 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Shame is a big obstacle to our thriving. So how do we say goodbye to it? How is shame different to guilt? Listen in as Penny dives deep into shame, gu...

Humility With Arnie Eby

16 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

How often do you realise that you're wrong? It's incredibly freeing. It's the ultimate lubricant for life. It reduces frustration and oils relationshi...

Rising Above Trauma With Joanna Abruscato

15 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Are we going to rise above trauma or to succumb to it? Perhaps one of the most profound questions we can ask. Listen in as foster/kinship parent Joann...

A Well Of Hope With Niemah Scherlacher

14 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Rejection can tear us apart. How do we put ourselves back together? Where does the strength come from? Where do we find the hope before we find that s...

Letting It Go With Rachel Medefind

13 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Holding on to anger holds us back. It stops us thriving. And it yet we all do it to some extent. It's part of the human condition. Listen in as Rachel...

Space To Grow With Jenny Brewer

12 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Rumi once said “Yesterday I was clever so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise so I wanted to change myself.” One of the most profound th...

Choosing Hope Carly Souza

09 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Hope is sometimes in short supply within adoptive families navigating tough stuff. Why is that? How can we overcome fear, choose hope and enjoy a brig...

Enabling Thriving With Damon Cates

23 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How do we enable ourselves and others to thrive? Big question! Listen in as Damon shares what helps him thrive and empower his colleagues, foster yout...

Doing Our Own Work with Laura Adams

22 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Raising adopted kids isn't about fixing them, it's about growing us. Doing Our Own Work is one of those themes that comes up again and again on Thrivi...

Open To Learning with Rashunda Williams

17 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How open are you to learning? When we know more we do better. So lifelong learning isn't something to be shunned by our impatience, but welcomed in. L...

Purpose In The Pain Donna Pope

16 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are you suffering right now? It probably - or definitely - doesn't feel like it, but finding the purpose in that pain somehow makes it more bearable. ...

Grateful For The Tough Stuff With Jacee Low

12 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tough stuff feels, well, tough. But with hindsight it becomes clear that the tough stuff prompts our biggest learnings. What if we could see the gift ...

Remarkable Resilience With Sharon Butler-Obazee

11 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If you're going through tough stuff, this one's for you. Truly inspirational. Adopted at 9 months Sharon grew up in an alternative universe. One that ...

Persisting In Adversity With Alaina Colón-Gnotek

10 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If you're in hell keep going. But how? Listen in as Adoption Permanency Director Alaina dives into digging deep, what empowers us to persist through t...

Added Value With Vince Smith

08 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Vince's mission is to add value to everyone he meets. Listen in and let him add value to you with his insights, learnings and wisdom. Vince and his wi...

Hope with Erin Argue & Megan Ransom

05 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If things are looking tough right now, here's some hope for you...According to one of my mentors - Richard Wilkins "The past is a place of reference, ...

Healing Secondary Trauma Jaycie Bias

04 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Secondary trauma can build up within us without us noticing. Even veteran therapist Bessel van der Kolk who's the author of the bestselling book The B...

Advocacy & Systems Michelle D Seymore

03 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are you advocating for your child or change? As every parent knows systems can be very tricky to navigate and change. The better we can understand the...

A Leap Of Faith With Terri Marcroft

02 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Does fear hold you back? Fear of the unknown? Fear of things not working out? Sometimes life requires us to make a leap of faith. Listen in as Terri t...

Opening Our Hearts With Shamele Jenkins

21 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Can you open your heart more fully? Shamele has opened her heart to 4 kids through adoption, another through a special guardianship and over 300 more ...

Insights In The Moment With Steve Valdez

13 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Change is hard. Until an insight happens. Whether that's about how we feel, what causes those feelings, our behaviour or anything else. So changing is...

Balancing Perspectives with Ryan Hanlon

12 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From rainbows and unicorns to adoption is trauma. Pendulums swing too far before they settle into balance. Listen in as we find a more balanced approa...

Tackling The Tough Stuff With Melody Marshall

12 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It takes courage to tackle the tough stuff in adoption. It takes courage to love our kids when that love isn't reciprocated. Listen in as Melody talks...

Helping Them Heal With Heather Branam

10 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If I can't heal, I can't help them heal. That's the truth that hit Heather like a tonne of bricks. The more whole we feel, the better placed we are to...

Thankful For My Scars With Trent Taylor

07 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sexual abuse and neglect leave deep scars. How can anyone become grateful for these? In one of our most profound turnaround stories ever, Trent shares...

Handling Pain With Cindy Boecking

06 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How do you handle pain, like when your son says he hates you? There's something that us humans don't like about complexity. And yet adoption IS comple...

What Do You Need Right Now? With Rebecca Harvin

01 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

So many of us so much time ruminating on the past or worrying about the future. What Do You Need Right Now? The question can shock us into the present...

Our Best Selves With Rob Lamarche

31 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We all want to be our best selves, not just for ourself but for our family. So what does that mean? How do we do that? Listen in as adoptive dad, adop...

Beyond What's Possible With Karyn Kunst

30 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Do you suspect you may be playing life small? Do you want more? Perhaps something is holding you back? Listen in as adoptee Karyn explores growing bey...

Thriving With Joy With Marcia Earhart

29 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Grief touches us all. Sometimes we resist it, but what we resist persists. So what do we do? Marcia has experienced a lifetime of grief including the ...

God Adopted Us First With Alice Murray Adoption Attorney & Writer

28 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How does being adopted into God's family shift our ideas on family and identity? What role does faith play? Listen in as Alice and I dive into riding ...

Fear & Faith With Matthew Straeb

24 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Fear & Faith. Two words we don't usually hear together. How does fear hold us back, how does faith spur us on? Listen in as Matthew and I dive deep in...

The Feeling Of Thriving With Jodi Jackson Tucker

19 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

 What help us feel that we are thriving? Feeling it. Not thinking it. Not judging it. Feeling it. Listen as Jodi and I dive deep into the feeling of ...

Celebrating Us With Anita Bucher

23 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How do we celebrate ourselves when we don't know how we came about, feel unwanted or an accident? Listen in as adoptee, adoptive parent and adoption p...

Seeing The Big Picture With Cindy Stogel

18 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

So many of have so much going on we can't see the wood for the trees. Today's interview is a chance to stand back and see the big picture - what helps...

Our Past Doesn't Define Us With Krystal Trocki

29 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How do we free ourselves from the past? By seeing that it doesn't define us. Listen in as Krystal, adopted in her 30's talks about getting stronger th...

Our Spirit Isn't Traumatised with Dana Hargus

27 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What if there's part of us that's not traumatised? Because it can't traumatised? Wouldn't that be a great place to find and live from? Listen in as we...

Love AND Heartbreak With Lisa Chism

26 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What happens when your search for belonging leads to both love and heartbreak? Listen in as adoptee Lisa shares what she's learned from her rollercoas...

Reconnecting With Heritage With Tami Garcia

22 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Do you feel disconnected from your cultural heritage or identity? Tami did - even though she wasn't adopted. She was determined her daughter who was b...

Thriving No Matter What With Wilson Munsterman

20 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Can we thrive despite what happened in to us? If so how? Listen in as Wilson describes how he turned his life around after some difficult years in his...

Meaning & Community With Andrew Lewis

19 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Looking for inspiration? Andrew, father of three - including one through adoption - shares his insights on igniting our passion, finding meaning and c...

Moving Beyond Pain With Tanya Kaanta

18 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Looking for more peace and less pain? Listen in as Korean adoptee Tanya shares her learnings so far.  We dive into healing, freedom with painful emot...

Getting Comfortable With Meredith Shepard

15 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What if thriving is being comfortable with where we are on our journey? Comfortable with what we don't know? Comfortable in our own skin? Listen in as...

Choosing To Thrive With Sharla Kinman

14 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What if you could choose to thrive? Forgive others more easily. Feel spontaneous gratitude from within. Rise above your circumstances. Listen in as ad...

Holding Onto Hope With Morganne Crouser

13 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Some believe that some kids and adults broken. That's downright demoralising, depressing and disheartening. There's no hope. Listen in as Morganne bri...

Open To Change With Irene Steffas

12 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Some say change is hard. What if believing that is keeping us stuck? Even if it's change for the better? What if we were open to change? Held our expe...

Thriving Together With Linda R. Sexton

11 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If we want adoptees to thrive, adoptive parents and birth parents all need to thrive. Listen in as we dive into thriving across the adoption triad. An...

Goodbye Shame With Anna Schocket

08 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Guilt is feeling bad about what we've done. Shame is feeling bad about who we are. And it's the feeling that fuels imposter syndrome. What if there wa...

Flow & Purpose Francine Apy

07 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are you looking for more ease and flow in your life? Who isn't? Listen in adoptive mother and coach Francine shares her insights on flow helps us thri...

From Stuck To Thriving With Jackson Terkeurst

01 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Left for dead in a war zone. Now Jackson Terkeurst is speaking to the world. Listen in as this truly inspirational adoptee shares what helped move fro...

Finding New Solutions with Kelly Henderson

31 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If we always do what we've always done, we'll always get what we've always got. We need new solutions if we are going to move forward with the tough s...

Going For Growth Jenifer Jarriel and Jesse Booher

30 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How do we grow? What kind of environment helps us grow? How do we harness our mistakes for growth? Listen in to this empowering, metaphor rich dive in...

Thriving with FASD Brian Roberts

29 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

FASD is caused by exposure to alcohol in utero. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition with lifelong cognitive, emotional a...

Lifelong Learning With Dr Rick Morton

25 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How does lifelong learning help us show up better with our families, friends and the rest of the world. Dr Rick's passion is palpable. Listen in as we...

From Eruption To Peace With Diana Kayla Hochberg

16 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Finding out she was adopted at 38 caused a seismic eruption for Diana. The world disappeared from under her feet. Everything she'd believed about hers...

Joy Is An Inside Job Leigh Lincoln

11 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How much are you enjoying life? The more deeply we can see that joy  is an inside job the more we can enjoy life. Listen in as we dive into accepting...

Want to be in our new book for adoptive parents?

09 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Want to be in  our new book for adoptive parents? Listen in as fellow adoptee and friend Jude interviews me about the book. I'm gathering wisdom fro...

Unlimited Potential Meghan Anderson

08 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Unlimited potential. A tantalising idea isn't it? One that seems a long way from our experience. So what brings it closer? What takes it further away....

Grace, Safety & Vulnerability With Jenn Hook

07 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What does thriving mean to you? Everyone has a different definition. One that feels authentic to them. Giving ourselves grace, feeling safe and being ...

Feeling We Belong With Amiee Sadler

03 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Do you feel you belong? Do the ones you love feel they belong? Listen in as we explore belonging, grace and the power of unconditional love. Profound ...

Relishing Ourselves With Kelly Tronstad

02 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

"We act how we feel" what a truthbomb! But how do you feel? How do you feel about yourself? Listen in as we dive deep into acceptance, gratitude so we...

At Peace with Anna Maria DiDio

01 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We all have trauma. Infertility traumatises and miscarriage takes that to a different level of pain. For Anna Maria miscarriage prompted depression. L...

Constructive Selfishness With Abby Hasberry

30 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Who do you prioritise? Whose needs come first? Putting ourself first is seen as selfish and therefore, bad. Listen in as Abby and I discover construct...

Self Awareness For Adoptive Parents With Annette Williams

26 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Thriving starts with us. If we want our kids to thrive, we need to be thriving. And that all starts with self awareness. Listen in as Annette shares i...

Slowing Down With David Melber

19 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How fast are you living your life? Today's frantic pace of life means opportunities to learn, grow and connect with the people we love the most pass u...

The Cure Is In The Pain With Stacey Gagnon

17 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Trauma can be so painful that we back off it. We numb it. We suppress it. And so it lingers. What if we did the opposite? We embrace it. When do so, m...

Regardless Of Our Mood - Adrian Burks

15 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If we are ok with not feeling ok, we are always ok. One of my favourite sayings. Listen in as Adrian shares his learnings on navigating life with more...

Following Our North Star - Niall McKeever

26 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Decisions. Decisions. Decisions. They become a lot easier with a North Star to follow. Podcaster Niall has interviewed an incredible array of talent i...

Walking With Humility With Kristin Orphan

23 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Do you want change for the better? There's a part of us that always thinks it is right. And it feels good to be right. But it gets in the way of the c...

At Ease With Jean Widner

22 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Who doesn't want more ease? More peace? How? That's the question. Listen in as Jean shares her insights on how insights help us to more ease. With our...

Advance Your Advocacy With Marcy Bursac

21 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Do you want to take your advocacy to the next level? When we know more, we achieve more. When we focus more, we achieve more. Listen as adoptive mothe...

Getting Comfortable With Rabail Ahmed

20 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Do you feel comfortable in your own skin? Being adopted can feel distinctly uncomfortable. Whether that's due to others or ourselves. Listen in as Rab...

Resilience & Persistence With Betsy Arnold

19 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How do we bounce back? Keep going when all seems lost? Listen in as adoptive mother Besty and I explore answers to these big questions and more...Bets...

Advocating, Fiercely With Becky Fawcett

14 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

"Other people's opinions of us are none of our business." Winston Churchill. I love that quote. For me it's about doing what feels authentic to me. Be...

Deserving To Thrive With Doug Henderson

12 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Do feel different? Less than? Do you deserve to thrive? Doug always felt different. But he didn't know he was adopted until he was 12. Listen as we di...

The Path To Empathy Laura Engel & Hannah Andrews

10 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Another episode with a difference courtesy of two ladies with huge hearts. Empathy for others in the adoption constellation is foundational to thrivin...

Delivering On The Promise With Fraser McKinlay

08 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Promise is that Scotland's children and young people will grow up loved, safe and respected. This episode dives into how Fraser, his team and part...

Bigger Than Our Trauma Cher Ofstedahl

28 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

At times our trauma threatens to overwhelm us. To overcome us. But how would it be to see that we are bigger than our trauma? Not just to see that. To...

A Broader Perspective With Danny Huerta

23 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are you feeling out of balance? I know I do sometimes. And often because our perspective is to narrow. Listen in as Danny shares a broader, and deeper...

Seeing Our Inherent Goodness With Matthew McCall

14 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There's no such thing as bad kid. There's no such thing as a bad adult. Although that doesn't stop us feeling bad right? Listen in as Matthew and I di...

Walking Each Other Home With Chasity Galyon

10 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is trauma getting in the way on your journey to home? To peace? Is your ego pulling you off the path?  Adoptive mom Chasity was adopted by her step-f...