DNA Discoveries

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Did you do your DNA test to find out if you’re Irish? If you are like the host, Edward Looney, that’s why he spit in a tube and sent it off to the lab. He ended up finding family he never knew he had. This is a podcast about people who discovered family– parents, brothers, cousins. Listen for heart warming and tear jerking stories about DNA Discoveries that have changed lives.

Edward Looney


    • Jan 6, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 38m AVG DURATION
    • 37 EPISODES

    4.9 from 19 ratings Listeners of DNA Discoveries that love the show mention: stories, listening, great, dna discoveries.



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    Latest episodes from DNA Discoveries

    Episode 35: Duane Found His Unwed Mother

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2025 40:35


    Many decades ago, unwed mothers were sent away to boarding homes and hospitals and ultimately would give their child up for adoption. Duane knew that his biological mother was one of those unwed mothers. In this episode of DNA Discoveries, Duane shares how he went about finding her, the reactions of his adoptive family, and other discoveries he found along the way. Contact Edward and express your interest in sharing your story on an episode: E-mail: dnadiscoveriespodcast@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/dnadiscoveriespod Host site: dnadiscoveries.fireside.fm (dnadiscoveries.fireside.fm)

    Episode 34: Karen Kingsbury's Novel, Now Turned Movie, Tells the Story of Unexpectedly Finding Family

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2024 13:59


    Christian novel writer, Karen Kingsbury has adapted her novel to a feature film, "Someone Like You." It is a story of embryo adoption and how one of the characters finds out the info about her adoption, how she receives it, and how she processes it. It's a story of finding family on the big screen, and it's' in theaters beginning April 2. Check your local listings.

    Episode 33: Lisa Was a Super Sleuth and Found An Uncle

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2024 96:56


    In this episode, Lisa shares her story of how she came to know about a new family member, and how she went about searching and finding information. She figured it out and has been in touch with the new found family and was able to confirm all the facts surrounding the story.

    Episode 32: Bryan and Sandra Share How, As a Couple, They Welcomed and Accepted Bryan's Daughter

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2024 41:03


    Bryan and Sandra enjoyed watching tv shows about finding family. Little did they know that one day they would have a story to tell. In a joint conversation, they together share the story of Bryan finding out he had a daughter from his younger days and how as a husband and wife they accepted her into their family. Get ready for a beautiful and inspiring story! Share your story by emailing dnadiscoveriespodcast@gmail.com or visiting https://dnadiscoveries.fireside.fm/contact Follow the podcast on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DNADiscoveriesPod/

    Episode 31: Barbara Lane's Quest to Find Her Long Lost Sisters Separated in Childhood after Abandonment

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2024 46:23


    Barbara has a story that you won't believe. Her mother abandoned her and her sibling in their house. Child services became involved, and several of the children were separated from each other. In her memoir "Broken Water" she shares how she searched for her ten sisters and in this episode she shares many details of her life story. It's a story of finding family! Buy her book: https://www.amazon.com/Broken-Water-Extraordinary-True-Story/dp/B0BYVFQTCR/ Share your story by emailing dnadiscoveriespodcast@gmail.com or visiting https://dnadiscoveries.fireside.fm/contact Follow the podcast on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DNADiscoveriesPod/

    Episode 30: Robert Found a Nephew...Or Did He?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2023 36:34


    I've known Robert for years since I worked in his community. He reached out on Facebook to tell me he had his own DNA Discovery and would be happy to share it on the podcast. He shares about his adoption and how he happened upon his nephew. Or did he? Today's episode is sponosred by Magic Mind: https://magicmind.com/dnadisco Share your story by emailing dnadiscoveriespodcast@gmail.com or visiting https://dnadiscoveries.fireside.fm/contact Follow the podcast on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DNADiscoveriesPod/

    Episode 29: Robin Schepper Found Her Way and the Identity of Her Bio Dad

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2023 44:18


    Robin Schepper grew up not knowing who her biological father was, though her mother wanted her to lie and tell people her step-father was. Different names circulated as to who her brith father was, from the name of the birth certificate to another name suggested by her grandmother. Robin shares her story of identifying her biological father on this episode of DNA Discoveries. Buy her book: https://www.amazon.com/Finding-My-Way-Identity-Political/dp/195485496X Visit her website: https://robinfschepperauthor.com/ Share your story by emailing dnadiscoveriespodcast@gmail.com or visiting https://dnadiscoveries.fireside.fm/contact Follow the podcast on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DNADiscoveriesPod/

    Episode 28: Bridget Found Family That Looked Like Her

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2023 39:52


    Bridget discovered she was an NPE and shares with listeners what that meant for her, her family, how she coped, how she met her new relatives, and how she moved on after the news. Share your story by emailing dnadiscoveriespodcast@gmail.com or visiting https://dnadiscoveries.fireside.fm/contact Follow the podcast on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DNADiscoveriesPod/

    Episode 27: Carmen Rita Wong Asks the Question "Why Didn't You Tell Me?"

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2023 40:38


    Carmen Rita Wong is an American radio, television and online journalist, and personal finance expert at CNBC who also has been on quite the family roller coaster wide related to the identity of her father. Raised by a Chinese a father, she presumed he was her father, only to be told someone else was, and then had that rug pulled out from under her feet one day by surprise. Carmen offers profound insights into her journey that are sure to inspire others in a similar situation. Buy her book: https://www.amazon.com/Why-Didnt-You-Tell-Me/dp/0593240251 Share your story by emailing dnadiscoveriespodcast@gmail.com or visiting https://dnadiscoveries.fireside.fm/contact Follow the podcast on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DNADiscoveriesPod/

    Episode 26: John Found His Father-in-Law's Long Lost Brother and Doesn't Have a Happy Ending Yet

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2023 33:12


    This episode is unique for a few reasons. First, John is sharing his wife's story. Second, the story doesn't have a happy ending of family uniting and relationships forming. This is a story that is left to speculation and waiting. But what is certain, is that he found the relative and no one wants to talk about. it. Share your story by emailing dnadiscoveriespodcast@gmail.com or visiting https://dnadiscoveries.fireside.fm/contact

    Episode 25: How Jon Baime Filled in the Blanks and Documented it Along the Way

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2023 23:22


    Jon Baime has been helping people tell their stories about anything under the sun through his work in media. But after taking an autosomal DNA test, he now had a story to document and tell--he was donor conceived and discovered his biological dad and siblings. His documentary, Filling in the Blanks, is now available on streaming platforms. In this interview, you will hear parts of Jon's story, but you will want to stream the documentary for the full story. Watch it on Apple TV: https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/filling-in-the-blanks/umc.cmc.51crlr0tajnaqqpu4s9w1ldhc, Buy or rent on Prime: https://www.amazon.com/Filling-Blanks-Jon-Baime/dp/B0CBHDZN74/ or search for it on your favorite streaming platform. Share your story by emailing dnadiscoveriespodcast@gmail.com or visiting https://dnadiscoveries.fireside.fm/contact

    Episode 24: Kim Found Our Her Dad was the Brother of Her Mom's Best Friend

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2023 32:34


    Kim's presumed father died before she was born. Years later she took her autosomal dna test and learned her father was her mother's best friend's brother. She shares her story of finding family in this episode of DNA Discoveries. Share your story by emailing dnadiscoveriespodcast@gmail.com or visiting https://dnadiscoveries.fireside.fm/contact

    Episode 23: Two Eds Meet Up in Chicago

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2023 33:44


    Ed joined us back on episode 10 and shared his story. Since the interview back in 2021, Ed and Edward have stayed in touch, exchanging texts and messages about the DNA Discoveries podcast. In this update episode, the two Eds share a conversation from a hotel lobby and Ed provides updates about his genealogical vocation. Listen to Ed's first intervidew here: https://dnadiscoveries.fireside.fm/familyresearch Share your story by emailing dnadiscoveriespodcast@gmail.com or visiting https://dnadiscoveries.fireside.fm/contact

    Episode 22: Gerard, You Have a Son!

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2023 52:18


    In this episode, Gerard shares his story of discovering that he had a son and how he fostered a relationship as the time went on. Share your story by emailing dnadiscoveriespodcast@gmail.com or visiting https://dnadiscoveries.fireside.fm/contact

    Episode 21: Bob Used to be Italian

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2023 33:40


    After being gifted an autosomal DNA test kit, Bob was surprised to learn he wasn't Italian. He was even more surprised to find out that who he believed his father was, was in fact, not his father. He does come to learn the identity of his birth father and other very interesting stories about him. Share your story by emailing dnadiscoveriespodcast@gmail.com or visiting https://dnadiscoveries.fireside.fm/contact

    Episode 20: Oscar's Search to Clarify Misinformation and Find His Grandpa

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2023 39:49


    Oscar shares his story about wanting to learn more about his grandfather. When parts of his mother's story didn't add up, he found his answers through an autosomal DNA test kit. Share your story by emailing dnadiscoveriespodcast@gmail.com or visiting https://dnadiscoveries.fireside.fm/contact

    Episode 19: Robert's Two Sons Gifted Him a New Family

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2023 43:02


    Robert's DNA discovery and story of family is a thriller. He was told for many years about his father only to find out that wasn't the name of his father. But could it be that man was still his father, but he had assumed a different identity? It's a mystery that emerged after Robert's two sons gifted him autosomal dna test kits which gave him a new family. Follow on Facebook: Share your own story of finding family by emailing: dnadiscoveriespodcast@gmail.com.

    Episode 18: Beth Found Her Answers, a Brother, and Family

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2023 54:38


    Beth was told lies from her mother about the name and identity of her father. With the help of an autosomal DNA test kid, Beth got closer to the answer, and one day, the greatest surprised happened, she matched with a brother. Her life has never been the same. This is Beth's story of finding family.

    Episode 17: Beth Hired a Detective to Find Her Mom and Found Her Dad Through a DNA Test Kit

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2023 38:10


    Today's episode is a joint episode with Beth and her biological dad. She shares her experience and disappointment in finding her birth mother but the great joy in finding her biological father after a few years of searching. Her dad shares how he reacted to and received the news that he had another child he didn't know about. Share your DNA story by email dnadiscoveriespodcast@gmail.com or by visiting dnadiscoveries.fireside.fm (dnadiscoveries.fireside.fm)

    Episode 16: How Chrysta Bilton Processed Her Normal Family of 35+ Siblings

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2022 52:05


    Chrysta Bilton recently penned her memoir titled "Normal Family: On Truth, Love, and How I Met My 35 Siblings" with Little, Brown and Company. She shares many stories of her life growing up and then the shocking realization that she had over 35 siblings from donor conception. At first resisting the new family, Chrysta eventually warms up to these siblings, who she now calls family. Hear her share about her life and experiences in this conversation with Edward Looney. Chrysta's website: (https://www.chrystabilton.com/ (https://www.chrystabilton.com/) Buy Normal Family: https://www.amazon.com/Normal-Family-Truth-Love-Siblings/dp/0316536547/ (https://www.amazon.com/Normal-Family-Truth-Love-Siblings/dp/0316536547/)

    Episode 15: The Adoption of Story of David Scotton

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2022 31:32


    The adoption story of David Scotton will be told on the big screen on September 9th in the new movie Lifemark. David's story isn't one of an autosomal DNA test kit, but I thought it was a story worth sharing on DNA Discoveries because of the tagline, Stories of Finding Family. *This episode does address the topic of abortion. It is not the intention of DNA Discoveries to be political, it happens to be a part of his story.

    Episode 14: Annette Introduces Us to Her Papa

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2022 43:42


    In the first episode of DNA Discoveries, we met Annette and learned her story about finding her biological father. They forged a mother-father relationship, so much so, that Annette moved to be closer to him. Today on DNA Discoveries, Annette is back and she introduces us to her dad.

    Episode 13: What Ken Learned About Himself When He Did a DNA Test

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2022 44:15


    Ken shares his adoption story on this episode of DNA Discoveries and reveals a shocking fact he didn't know until he began this process.

    Episode 12: Mike's DNA Discovery in the 1990's, 2018, and still today

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2022 30:01


    Mike knew from early on that he was adopted. Not knowing anything about his family health history, he looked for information about his biological family the old fashioned way in the 1990's. His discovery of information didn't stop then, because the technological advancements with DNA and its popularity, allowed him to discover much more in recent years.

    Episode 11: Larecia is Making up for Lost Time after Finding Her Father

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2022 52:51


    Larecia was on a quest to find her biological father. After many years, she finally found the answers she was looking for, and now is making up for lost time. You can read the Guardian article at: https://www.theguardian.com/global/2021/nov/21/i-took-a-dna-test-and-found-a-whole-new-family Follow Larecia on social media: https://www.tiktok.com/@beautybuttafly/ https://www.instagram.com/mrsbosslady26/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/larecia.whitehead To share your DNA Story on the podcast contact: dnadiscoveriespodcast@gmail.com.

    Episode 10: How Ed Found the Identity of His Biological Grandfather through Genetic Genealogy and Reading the CMs

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2022 55:09


    Ed had a passion for family genealogical research. He wanted to know everything about his family. When his father took a DNA test, a new mystery presented itself, and his passion for family research became genetic genealogy. Being quite the sleuth, Ed was able to identify his father's biological dad, and this new family welcomed both Ed and his dad into their clan.

    Episode 9: Brandy's Struggle to Identify the Mystery Man in the Photo Years Later

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2021 60:29


    Brandy learned at a young age her dad wasn't her dad, and that the mystery man in a vacation photo was her biological dad. She struggled to identify the man, but with lots of help and perseverance, she now knows his name and connected with a sister.

    Episode 8: How Peter Connected with Relatives on His Dad's Biological Side and the Finding of a Bonus Cousin

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2021 31:29


    In fifth grade, Peter had an unusual encounter at school and wondered who a mysterious family member was. Years later, he would discover family on his dad's biological side. His ancestry search took him even further to find a relative no one knew about. This is Peter's DNA Discovery story of finding family.

    Episode 7: The Ups and Downs of Kristi's Search for Family and the Blessings She Found Along the Way

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2021 32:04


    Kristi knew she was adopted and wanted to search for her birth parents. Her test yielded results which helped her find additional blessings along the way. Kristi shares the ups and downs of her search with us today.

    New Episodes Beginning in September

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2021 3:28


    Have you discovered family through the DNA kits? Maybe it is time for you to share your story? DNA Discoveries is now recruiting new interviewees. Allow Edward Looney to help you tell your story with the rest of the world! Contact via dnadiscoveriespodcast@gmail.com or via the Contact feature on dnadiscoveries.fireside.fm

    Episode 6: I Am Complete Because I Found My Dad with Nina Manzare

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2020 25:58


    Nina Manzare was told at a young age that the man she called dad wasn't really her father. It wasn't until taking a DNA test that she confirmed that was true. Her search led her to discover half-siblings which paved the way to her becoming complete by finding her dad.

    Episode 5: Two Sisters Deliver a Birthday Surprise with Chera

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2020 24:13


    Edward Looney interviews Chera who shares about her discovery of her half-sister and how they accidently surprised their biological father with the news on his birthday.

    Episode 4: A Family Reunion Orchestrated by God with Kenny

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2020 48:32


    Kenny was in his twenties and the first year of his marriage when after hearing a sermon at his church about family and identity that he knew he wanted to find his birth family. Little did he know that God already was working on the heart of his birth father. Kenny's story will fill the listener with wonder and awe.

    Episode 3: I Was An Only Child Until I Found My Sisters with Penny Kinsey

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2020 14:15


    Penny Kinsey grew up as an only child until she discovered her biological father and his children. She shares her story of discovery and the relationships that have followed.

    Episode 2: My Mom and I are the Same Person with Tiffany Dean

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2020 46:08


    Tiffany Dean was separated from her mother at the age of two and later in her life she learned the name of her mother. A few months ago she decided to search for her mom. This is the story of a mother-daughter reunion and what led to that life-changing moment.

    Episode 1: My Dad and I are Inseparable with Annette Broussard Boyd

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2020 50:43


    For most of her life, Annette Broussard Boyd called one man dad. Until they both did an ancestry test and she discovered she was not listed as his daughter. This led to a search for her biological father whom she discovered three years ago. In this episode of DNA Discoveries she outlines her search and story for the man she knows now to be her father.

    Introducing DNA Discoveries

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2020 5:05


    Edward Looney introduces a new podcast about finding family through the popular dna test kits and looks forward to the many stories that will be shared by his guests.

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