Somewhere Between Podcast

In this episode, Aimee and Alia are rejoined by Chinese adoptee, Shelley, to discuss their thoughts on the documentary, Found , available on Netflix. Along with the emotions this documentary provoked, they share how Found has impacted their views on DNA testing and the possibilities of them attempting their own birthparent search. They also discuss the importance that documentaries like Found and One Child Nation play in not only helping Chinese adoptees learn more about themselves and their past, but also acting as a tool for non-adoptees to educate themselves. You can find Shelley on Instagram @sea_shellz7 or through her now available website, shelleyrottenberg.ca !  *note: this episode was recorded in February 2022 See you guys next time! We've added music! Intro: Lights by Sappheiros (https://soundcloud.com/sappheirosmusic) Outro: herbal tea by Artificial.Music (https://soundcloud.com/artificial-music)

In the second episode of our TEA-series, short for The Engaged Adoptee, Ace is joined by Chinese adoptee, Hannah-Mei Grisley. Hannah-Mei is the founder of ‘Let's Chat Law', co-founder of ‘3 Cups of Cha' and exceptionally involved in the adoptee community by being the co-founder of Subtle Asian Adoptee Traits Europe, an Adoptee Representative for CACH-ALL and the UK Lead for China's Children International. “Superwoman” has been thrown around a lot whenever her name is mentioned. You can follow Hannah-Mei on Instagram @hannahmeigriz and check out the adoptee organisations she mentions @cach_all_org, @cci_adoptees, and @saat_europe.  *note: this episode was recorded in March 2021 See you guys next time! We've added music! Intro: Lights by Sappheiros (https://soundcloud.com/sappheirosmusic) Outro: herbal tea by Artificial.Music (https://soundcloud.com/artificial-music)

This month's episode is part of our new series "The Engaged Adoptee", where we interview adoptees who are actively engaged in the adoptee community. This episode features Lifang, a Chinese adoptee and founder of the organization, Adoptiepedia, which is the first interest group for all Chinese and Taiwanese adoptees in the Netherlands! She shares with us her experience growing up in the Netherlands, finding her birthparents, the importance of mental health and how she created Adoptiepedia.  You can follow Lifang and her organization on Instagram @mynameislifang and @adoptiepedia or you can visit her website: www.adoptiepedia.nl . *note: this episode was recorded in March 2021 See you guys next time! We've added music!    Intro: Lights by Sappheiros (https://soundcloud.com/sappheirosmusic)   Outro: herbal tea by Artificial.Music (https://soundcloud.com/artificial-music)

In this bonus episode, Maia, Aimee, and Alia discuss Chinese New Year with fellow Chinese adoptees, Tara and Blythe. Together, they share their first memories of the holiday, how they plan to celebrate it this year, and what it means to them. They also discuss feelings of discomfort around celebrating this holiday.  You can find Tara and Blythe on Instagram @landofrunningtara and @blytheshulan. For Chinese adoptees, you can also check out Tara's podcast, Adopted Babies from China.     See you guys next time! We've added music!  Intro: Lights by Sappheiros (https://soundcloud.com/sappheirosmusic)   Outro: herbal tea by Artificial.Music (https://soundcloud.com/artificial-music)

In this episode, it's time for Alia to be on the receiving end of the questions. Ace has a heart-to-heart with her and she dives deep into her experience of growing up and living in a family where her father is Pakistani and her mother Chinese. She shares about the ups and downs of having an extended family that don't share a culture, religion or traditions. She also shares how she got involved in the adoptee community and the origin story of how the podcast came to be. You can find Alia on Instagram @nerdy_noot_noot.  See you guys next time! We've added music! Intro: Lights by Sappheiros (https://soundcloud.com/sappheirosmusic) Outro: herbal tea by Artificial.Music (https://soundcloud.com/artificial-music)

We're back! This month's episode features Cambodian adoptee and filmmaker, Elizabeth Jacobs, who is currently working on her documentary, the Stolen Children, which will follow her on her journey back to Cambodia for the first time since her adoption. Join us as we discuss how the documentary started, her progress so far, the Lauren Galindo scandal, whether Angelina Jolie is involved and the importance of adoptees being in charge of films that showcase their stories. You can follow Elizabeth and her documentary on Instagram @lizziejacobs1 and @thestolenchildrenfilm or you can visit their website: www.thestolenchildrenfilm.com. To support her documentary, please visit her gofundme.  See you guys next time! We've added music! Intro: Lights by Sappheiros (https://soundcloud.com/sappheirosmusic) Outro: herbal tea by Artificial.Music (https://soundcloud.com/artificial-music)

In this episode, Maia, Aimee discuss advocacy as an Asian adoptee with Chinese adoptee and adoptee advocate/actress, Kira Omans. You can find Kira on Instagram @kiraomans and on Facebook as Kira Omans . We've added music! Intro: Lights by Sappheiros (https://soundcloud.com/sappheirosmusic) Outro: herbal tea by Artificial.Music (https://soundcloud.com/artificial-music)

In this episode, Maia, Ace, Grace, and Mei continue their discussion on advocacy starting with the topic of language and how it plays into communicating with people from other countries. As mentioned in the previous episode, education is an important aspect of advocacy and bridging the language gap allows us to listen and learn from other perspectives and experiences in different countries. They also discuss the backlash they’ve faced being an advocate and learning when to take a step back for their personal mental health. You can find Mei on Instagram @meitomko and @postnostalgia.prints . Grace can be found on Instagram @chemical.insomnia. We've added music! Intro: Lights by Sappheiros (https://soundcloud.com/sappheirosmusic) Outro: herbal tea by Artificial.Music (https://soundcloud.com/artificial-music)

In this episode, Maia and Ace discuss advocacy against racism with special guests and Chinese adoptees, Grace and Mei. They go in-depth on how they became advocates and what advocacy looks like. They also highlight the importance of not only correcting others' racist remarks and actions but also how important it is to educate yourself and unlearn the racial biases that you may have. Tune in next Monday for part 2 of the discussion and see the Google doc for helpful resources. You can find Mei on Instagram @meitomko and @postnostalgia.prints . Grace can be found on Instagram @chemical.insomnia . We've added music! Intro: Lights by Sappheiros (https://soundcloud.com/sappheirosmusic) Outro: herbal tea by Artificial.Music (https://soundcloud.com/artificial-music)

In this short bonus excerpt from Aimee and Spencer's conversation, they talk about Asian representation, what it means to them, and why it is so important. They also share their thoughts surrounding ongoing racial tensions and fighting against racism. You can find Spencer on Instagram @spencer_mdm. We've added music! Intro: Lights by Sappheiros (https://soundcloud.com/sappheirosmusic) Outro: herbal tea by Artificial.Music (https://soundcloud.com/artificial-music)

Join Aimee and Chinese adoptee, Spencer, as they discuss what it’s like growing up in an LGBTQ family and society, and the unique difficulties they faced growing up. They talk about their struggles with identity and connecting to Chinese culture as well as how they are reconnecting with it through their college experience. Spencer also talks about their difficult adoption backstory in which they learn more about the circumstances of their adoption and initial foster family. You can find Spencer on Instagram @spencer_mdm. We've added music! Intro: Lights by Sappheiros (https://soundcloud.com/sappheirosmusic) Outro: herbal tea by Artificial.Music (https://soundcloud.com/artificial-music)

In this interview episode, Alia is joined by adopted but not biologically related siblings Emma and Connor. Together share both the common and the different experiences they had growing up, their relationships with their family, the importance of Asian representation to them and where they are in their adoption journey. You can follow Emma on Instagram @emcol10 or @emcoography and access her website at emmacolton.com . Connor can be found on Instagram @cpcolton. We've added music!Intro: Lights by Sappheiros (https://soundcloud.com/sappheirosmusic) Outro: herbal tea by Artificial.Music (https://soundcloud.com/artificial-music)

Join us for the second part of Pema’s story of self discovery and her search for her birthparents. We pick up her journey when she arrives in China, where she volunteered with an orphanage, followed by a week spent with a searcher actively looking for her birth family. Pema shares some interesting and helpful tips learned from her search. If you’re planning on doing your own birth search, definitely give this episode a listen. You can find Pema on Instagram @_pemabear_ We've added music!Intro: Lights by Sappheiros (https://soundcloud.com/sappheirosmusic) Outro: herbal tea by Artificial.Music (https://soundcloud.com/artificial-music)

In this interview episode, Aimee is joined by Chinese adoptee, Pema. Join us for part 1 of exploring Pema's search for her birth parents. This episode focuses on the start of Pema's journey prior to her visit to China where she details the research she did to emotionally and mentally prepare herself. Aimee and Pema discuss stories of other adoptees birth searches as well as their experiences with DNA testing and more. You can find Pema on Instagram @_pemabear_ We've added music!Intro: Lights by Sappheiros (https://soundcloud.com/sappheirosmusic) Outro: herbal tea by Artificial.Music (https://soundcloud.com/artificial-music)

In the second part of this two-episode interview, Ace Arnsmar shares with Aimee his experience finding an Asian adoptee therapist as well as the steps he has taken in order to connect with the Asian adoptee community over the past year. It is with great excitement that we, the Somewhere Between Team, can announce that Ace will officially be joining us as both a host and social media manager. You can connect with Ace on Instagram @acearnsmar and you can also check out his own podcast, “A Conversation Ensued”, which can be found on Spotify and other streaming platforms.

In the first part of this two-episode interview, Aimee is joined by Filipino adoptee, Ace Arnsmar. Ace shares his story from growing up in a small Swedish town of 20 families to experiencing racism, moving to Germany, and coming out of the adoption fog during this tumultuous past year. Look out for the second part of this interview which will be released later this week. You can find Ace on Instagram at @acearnsmar. We've added music!Intro: Lights by Sappheiros (https://soundcloud.com/sappheirosmusic) Outro: herbal tea by Artificial.Music (https://soundcloud.com/artificial-music)

In this episode, Aimee is joined by Chinese adoptee twins, Lindsay and Stephanie. Together they explore the twin's experiences growing up together and the different journey's they had connecting with their Asian American identities. Tune in for some insightful discussion about how they found themselves in a world where everyone expects you to be something/someone else. This episode is dedicated, in loving memory, to Karlie

In this interview episode, Alia is joined by Molly C., a Chinese adoptee. Molly is currently attending medical school in Canada, and she shares her experience applying and getting into med school, and how adoption played a role in her application. Together, the two of them also discuss growing up with stereotypes and surviving Chinese school! Molly also has a YouTube channel for future med school applications: The Med Trek (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1oVma7TAvY4h68Kp749rnA) We've added music! Intro: Lights by Sappheiros (https://soundcloud.com/sappheirosmusic) Outro: herbal tea by Artificial.Music (https://soundcloud.com/artificial-music)

In this interview episode, Aimee is joined by Josh H, a Vietnamese adoptee. Josh is currently an admin for the SAAT Facebook page, and also works with the Asian Adoptee Chinese Language Table. Together, the two talk about Josh's experiences while living in Asia, being a SAAT admin and more! We've added music! Intro: Lights by Sappheiros (https://soundcloud.com/sappheirosmusic) Outro: herbal tea by Artificial.Music (https://soundcloud.com/artificial-music)

In this episode, we discuss growing up in white communities and the impact our childhood experiences had and continue to have on us. We are joined by Filipina adoptees, Allie Moreno and Arlynn Dunn, both of whom have been able to reconnect with their birth families. They share their experience as well as advice for those who are considering or in the process of searching for birthparents. We've added music! Intro: Lights by Sappheiros (https://soundcloud.com/sappheirosmusic) Outro: herbal tea by Artificial.Music (https://soundcloud.com/artificial-music)

In this interview episode, Alia speaks with Korean Adoptee, Rachel Forbes. Together they discuss helpful resources and go in depth about Rachel's journey with connecting to her adoption and the adoptee community. They explore the emotions related to adoption and accepting the different feelings and parts of yourself. Rachel also talks about how her experience with motherhood has been as well as her experience reaching out to her birth mother. RESOURCES: Jessenia Palmer "I Am Adopted"KAAN Korean American Adoptee NetworkI Am AdopteeGide Foundation - Moses FarrowInternal Family Systems (IFS) by Richard Schwartz (website: https://ifs-institute.com/) Facebook Groups:KAD Wellness ProfessionalsFor the Love of South KoreaSurviving Adoption GroupSubtle Asian Adoptee TraitsCT Korean AdopteesBooks: The Primal Wound by Nancy Verrier We've added music! Intro: Lights by Sappheiros (https://soundcloud.com/sappheirosmusic) Outro: herbal tea by Artificial.Music (https://soundcloud.com/artificial-music)

In this episode, we discuss growing up in white communities and the impact our childhood experiences had and continue to have on us. We are joined by Chinese adoptees, Aidan Traynor, Julia Wesman and Kaitlyn Rewis. We've added music! Intro: Lights by Sappheiros (https://soundcloud.com/sappheirosmusic) Outro: herbal tea by Artificial.Music (https://soundcloud.com/artificial-music)

In this interview episode, Aimee speaks with Chinese adoptee, Mia Casesa. Together they discuss her struggles with her adoptee identity, and how the book, Primal Wound by Nancy Verrier helped her to begin exploring her adoption journey. Mia also talks about her complicated relationship with her family and hopes that by sharing her story, other adoptees with similar experiences will feel less alone. We've added music! Intro: Lights by Sappheiros (https://soundcloud.com/sappheirosmusic) Outro: herbal tea by Artificial.Music (https://soundcloud.com/artificial-music)

In this episode, Aimee is joined by 2 couples, who found their partners through the Facebook group, Subtle Asian Adoptee Dating, which is a subgroup of Subtle Asian Adoptee Traits. Both couples share their adorable stories of how they met, what it's like dating a fellow adoptee, how they stay connected during quarantine and much more! In the order of their appearance is Korean adoptee, Matt Delatour and his partner, Chinese adoptee, Zoë Erb, and Chinese adoptee, Zoë H. and her partner, Korean adoptee, JP. We've added music! Intro: Lights by Sappheiros (https://soundcloud.com/sappheirosmusic) Outro: herbal tea by Artificial.Music (https://soundcloud.com/artificial-music)

Welcome to Somewhere Between, a podcast made by Asian adoptees for Asian adoptees. We hope that this podcast will provide a platform for fellow adoptees to share their opinions, stories, and experiences. If you are interested in participating in one of these episodes, shoot us an email at somewhere.between.podcast@gmail.com or you can join our Instagram family @somewherebetween.fam. We've added music! Intro: Lights by Sappheiros (https://soundcloud.com/sappheirosmusic) Outro: herbal tea by Artificial.Music (https://soundcloud.com/artificial-music)

In this episode, we discuss our adoption days, which some refer to as gotcha days or as Aimee's friend termed it, 'Adopt-iversary'. We share how we celebrate them, what they mean to us, and more! We are joined by Korean adoptee, Andrew Campbell. We've added music! Intro: Lights by Sappheiros (https://soundcloud.com/sappheirosmusic) Outro: herbal tea by Artificial.Music (https://soundcloud.com/artificial-music)

In this episode, we discuss how we celebrate our birthdays, whether we know the actual date of our birth and how that knowledge, or lack of, impacts how we feel about them. We are joined by fellow chocolate lovers, Filipino adoptee, JayMike, and Chinese adoptee, Tara Nolan. Tara Nolan also runs a podcast for Chinese adoptees called “Adopted Babies from China.” You can find her on Instagram @adoptedbabiesfromchinapod We've added music!Intro: Lights by Sappheiros (https://soundcloud.com/sappheirosmusic)Outro: herbal tea by Artificial.Music (https://soundcloud.com/artificial-music)

In this episode, we discuss China's One Child Policy, implemented from 1979 until 2015. We are joined by Chinese adoptees, Ming Foxweldon and Blythe Shulan.

In this episode, we share our thoughts and reactions to the documentary, One Child Nation (available on Amazon Prime Video ). We are joined by Chinese adoptee and CCI 2020 Intern, Shelley Rottenberg. You can find out more about her project here . We also recommend following CCI for more information on events and opportunities for Chinese adoptees.

In this episode, we discuss our struggles with identity and feeling somewhere between with one foot in our adoptive culture and another foot in our birth culture, but never feeling like we truly belong to either. We also provide some updates with the podcast including our name change and the indefinite pause on our racism series.

Disclaimer: some of the content in this episode may not be appropriate for all listeners, please use your discretion.In this episode we share our experiences with racism as children and how they've impacted us growing up. We are joined by Vietnamese adoptee, Josh.

In this episode we discuss learning to cook our culture's food, why food is important to us, and share some of our favourite dishes and our go-to bubble tea. We also recommend resources for fellow adoptees looking to explore their culture's cuisine. We are joined by Korean adoptee, Matt Delatour and Chinese adoptee, Julia Wesman.

Welcome back to another interview episode, where Aimee speaks with fellow Chinese adoptee and 2015 Pacific Miss Asian American, Kira Omans. Kira is also a model, actor, and adoptee advocate, based in L.A. Together they discuss martial arts, her passion for Chinese dance, DNA testing, identity crises, and more! You can find Kira on Instagram @kiraomans

In this episode, we share our awkward encounters when people find out we are unable to speak mandarin and the struggles we have encountered when learning a new language. We also recommend resources for fellow adoptees looking to improve their mandarin. We are joined by fellow Chinese adoptees, Laura Johnson, and Melissa Mangold. Follow Laura on Instagram:@laura.ekj and on YouTube: Laura E.K

On our first-ever interview episode, Aimee interviews her friend and fellow Chinese adoptee, Teri Tozzi. They discuss growing up in Italian families, dating as an adoptee, and more! Follow Teri on Instagram @teritozzi

In this episode, we discuss our relationships with our different names, the meaning behind them, and the struggles of identifying with them. We are joined by Chinese adoptee, Olivia Jin.

In this episode, we discuss searching for our birth parents, DNA testing, returning to our birth countries and more! We are joined by Korean adoptee, Mitchell Stone.