This episode is catching up with two old friends who unintentionally took a break from podcasting for a year. We catch up with updates on our health, our lives, and learnings from the last year. We are excited for you to listen and want to hear from you - Adoptees, have you ever met with a fortune teller? What was your experience like? Disclaimer: Laura and Katie are NOT physicians. This podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. The information provided should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, and those seeking personal medical advice should consult with a licensed physician. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on Adopting Wellness Podcast. Contact us: Adopting Wellness Instagram: @adoptingwellnesspod (http://www.instagram.com/adoptingwellnesspod) Email us: [email protected] Adopting Wellness Podcast Website (http://podserve.fm/w/adoptingwellnesspod) Katie's instagram: @katiethekad (http://www.instagram.com/katiethekad) Laura's instagram: @lauraisalot (http://www.instagram.com/lauraisalot) Laura's website: http://www.lauraisalot.com (http://www.lauraisalot.com/) Adopting Wellness Team: Graphic Designer: Charlotte Carbone (http://www.instagram.com/charcarbone)

Today we are joined by the fierce and wonderful Alana Hook. Alana is a domestic, infant, private closed adoption in reunion. Alana is a masters level clinician who works in public defense as an advocate and mitigation specialist as well as a community mental health therapist. She uses reality based approaches to support all people in finding their path, embracing their own recovery and reconnecting with their power. Disclaimer: Laura and Katie are NOT physicians. This podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. The information provided should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, and those seeking personal medical advice should consult with a licensed physician. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on Adopting Wellness Podcast. Contact us: Adopting Wellness Instagram: @adoptingwellnesspod (http://www.instagram.com/adoptingwellnesspod) Email us: [email protected] Adopting Wellness Podcast Website (http://podserve.fm/w/adoptingwellnesspod) Katie's instagram: @katiethekad (http://www.instagram.com/katiethekad) Laura's instagram: @lauraisalot (http://www.instagram.com/lauraisalot) Laura's website: http://www.lauraisalot.com (http://www.lauraisalot.com/) Adopting Wellness Team: Producer: Patrick Armstrong (http://www.instagram.com/patrickintheworld) Graphic Designer: Charlotte Carbone (http://www.instagram.com/charcarbone)

Laura and Katie discuss turning 40, how grief and loss plays out in every-day life, being a late bloomer, and the difficulties of advocating for your own health as a patient. Disclaimer: Laura and Katie are NOT physicians. This podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. The information provided should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, and those seeking personal medical advice should consult with a licensed physician. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on Adopting Wellness Podcast. Contact us: Adopting Wellness Instagram: @adoptingwellnesspod (http://www.instagram.com/adoptingwellnesspod) Email us: [email protected] Adopting Wellness Podcast Website (http://podserve.fm/w/adoptingwellnesspod) Katie's instagram: @katiethekad (http://www.instagram.com/katiethekad) Laura's instagram: @lauraisalot (http://www.instagram.com/lauraisalot) Laura's website: http://www.lauraisalot.com (http://www.lauraisalot.com/) Adopting Wellness Team: Producer: Patrick Armstrong (http://www.instagram.com/patrickintheworld) Graphic Designer: Charlotte Carbone (http://www.instagram.com/charcarbone)

Laura and Katie give some personal downloads on health and life. They deep dive into how relinquishment triggers experiences outside of human adoption, and talk about learnings and takeaways from therapy. Also, we apologize for Katie's terrible mic sound quality this month--we are working to improve for the future! In this episode, we mention the below resources: Pamela Karanova: https://pamelakaranova.com/ Maggie Smith IG: @maggiesmithpoet Contact us: Adopting Wellness Instagram: @adoptingwellnesspod (http://www.instagram.com/adoptingwellnesspod) Email us: [email protected] Adopting Wellness Podcast Website (http://podserve.fm/w/adoptingwellnesspod) Katie's instagram: @katiethekad (http://www.instagram.com/katiethekad) Laura's instagram: @lauraisalot (http://www.instagram.com/lauraisalot) Katie's website: http://www.katiethekad.com (http://www.katiethekad.com/) Laura's website: http://www.lauraisalot.com (http://www.lauraisalot.com/) Adopting Wellness Team: Producer: Patrick Armstrong (http://www.instagram.com/patrickintheworld) Graphic Designer: Charlotte Carbone (http://www.instagram.com/charcarbone)

Kate is a Certified Health Coach who works with fellow adoptees and others to find balance with their health and wellness. Kate believes in a growth mindset and works with her clients on their everchanging identities and how this influences their health. Kate strives to educate adoptees with the understanding that even with an unknown family health history there is empowerment in what you can control. Over the last 4 years, Kate has supported hundreds of clients as they explore and identify challenges and establish realistic and attainable goals on their journey to wellness. Kate is a Certified Health Coach specializing in hormone health and gut health. Kate holds a BS in Human Performance and Sport from Metropolitan State University of Denver. Tune in on Apple or Spotify podcasts and let us know your thoughts! In this episode, we mention fellow adoptee podcasts: The Janchi Show: https://janchishow.com/ Conversation Piece Podcast: https://www.conversationpiecepod.com/ Contact us: Adopting Wellness Instagram: @adoptingwellnesspod (http://www.instagram.com/adoptingwellnesspod) Email us: [email protected] Adopting Wellness Podcast Website (http://podserve.fm/w/adoptingwellnesspod) Katie's instagram: @katiethekad (http://www.instagram.com/katiethekad) Laura's instagram: @lauraisalot (http://www.instagram.com/lauraisalot) Katie's website: http://www.katiethekad.com (http://www.katiethekad.com/) Laura's website: http://www.lauraisalot.com (http://www.lauraisalot.com/) Adopting Wellness Team: Producer: Patrick Armstrong (http://www.instagram.com/patrickintheworld) Graphic Designer: Charlotte Carbone (http://www.instagram.com/charcarbone)

Laura and Katie celebrate 2024 by sharing what lessons they want to live by in 2024. They talk about the hardships of asking for help and why it's complicated as an adoptee, and how to lean in on professionals for support. Tune in on Apple or Spotify podcasts and let us know your thoughts! Contact us: Adopting Wellness Instagram: @adoptingwellnesspod (http://www.instagram.com/adoptingwellnesspod) Email us: [email protected] Adopting Wellness Podcast Website (http://podserve.fm/w/adoptingwellnesspod) Katie's instagram: @katiethekad (http://www.instagram.com/katiethekad) Laura's instagram: @lauraisalot (http://www.instagram.com/lauraisalot) Katie's website: http://www.katiethekad.com (http://www.katiethekad.com/) Laura's website: http://www.lauraisalot.com (http://www.lauraisalot.com/) Adopting Wellness Team: Producer: Patrick Armstrong (http://www.instagram.com/patrickintheworld) Graphic Designer: Charlotte Carbone (http://www.instagram.com/charcarbone)

In episode 14, Katie spends time sharing her wins and losses in 2023 and throws in some vulnerability, childhood memories, and therapeutic proud moments of younger Katie. Thanks for joining us on this journey and for tuning in to our podcast this year! @lauraisalot and @katiethekad cannot wait for what's in store for 2024!! **Please consult a physician for any and all health questions, concerns, treatment. Adopting Wellness is NOT providing medical advice. Tune in on Apple or Spotify podcasts and let us know your thoughts! Blue Bear Apothecary: Follow on IG: https://www.instagram.com/bluebear.apothecary/ Shop here: https://bluebear-apothecary.shop/ Contact us: Adopting Wellness Instagram: @adoptingwellnesspod (http://www.instagram.com/adoptingwellnesspod) Email us: [email protected] Adopting Wellness Podcast Website (http://podserve.fm/w/adoptingwellnesspod) Katie's instagram: @katiethekad (http://www.instagram.com/katiethekad) Laura's instagram: @lauraisalot (http://www.instagram.com/lauraisalot) Katie's website: http://www.katiethekad.com (http://www.katiethekad.com/) Laura's website: http://www.lauraisalot.com (http://www.lauraisalot.com/) Adopting Wellness Team: Producer: Patrick Armstrong (http://www.instagram.com/patrickintheworld) Graphic Designer: Charlotte Carbone (http://www.instagram.com/charcarbone)

In episode 13, Laura and Katie are so happy to come together and discuss our successes, wins, and struggles. In the midst of Katie's great health news and Laura launching a business with her biological mother, it was a really wonderful conversation of catching up and talking about the adoptee experience in estrangement, family, NAAM (National Adoption Awareness Month). Tune in on Apple or Spotify podcasts and let us know your thoughts! Blue Bear Apothecary: Follow on IG: https://www.instagram.com/bluebear.apothecary/ Shop here: https://bluebear-apothecary.shop/ Contact us: Adopting Wellness Instagram: @adoptingwellnesspod (http://www.instagram.com/adoptingwellnesspod) Email us: mailto:mailto:[email protected] Adopting Wellness Podcast Website (http://podserve.fm/w/adoptingwellnesspod) Katie's instagram: @katiethekad (http://www.instagram.com/katiethekad) Laura's instagram: @lauraisalot (http://www.instagram.com/lauraisalot) Katie's website: http://www.katiethekad.com (http://www.katiethekad.com/) Laura's website: http://www.lauraisalot.com (http://www.lauraisalot.com/) Adopting Wellness Team: Producer: Patrick Armstrong (http://www.instagram.com/patrickintheworld) Graphic Designer: Charlotte Carbone (http://www.instagram.com/charcarbone)

Episode 12, we give a warm welcome to Rebecca Berg! Rebecca describes herself as “human first, dietician second.” She is a registered dietician committed to showing up as her full authentic self in work with clients helping them slow down, ditch frustrating food rules and beliefs, and develop skills to eat, move and BE at ease. Rebecca is also a domestic same-race adoptee and is passionate about working with adoptees on their relationship with food and their well being. Tune in on Apple or Spotify podcasts and let us know your thoughts! Contact us:Adopting Wellness Instagram: @adoptingwellnesspod (http://www.instagram.com/adoptingwellnesspod)Email us: mailto:mailto:[email protected] Wellness Podcast Website (http://podserve.fm/w/adoptingwellnesspod)Katie's instagram: @katiethekad (http://www.instagram.com/katiethekad)Laura's instagram: @lauraisalot (http://www.instagram.com/lauraisalot)Katie's website: http://www.katiethekad.com (http://www.katiethekad.com/)Laura's website: http://www.lauraisalot.com (http://www.lauraisalot.com/) Adopting Wellness Team:Producer: Patrick Armstrong (http://www.instagram.com/patrickintheworld)Graphic Designer: Charlotte Carbone (http://www.instagram.com/charcarbone)

Katie and Laura get together after taking some time to recover from illness. They talk about the societal shame of not being "fine," not being able to talk about it, and how it correlates to adoptees' way of making others feel comfortable. Life can feel very heavy and it was refreshing to talk to each other about normalizing how we feel, even when it's not what others want to hear. Tune in on Apple or Spotify podcasts and let us know your thoughts! Contact us: Adopting Wellness Instagram: @adoptingwellnesspod (http://www.instagram.com/adoptingwellnesspod) Email us: mailto:[email protected] Adopting Wellness Podcast Website (http://podserve.fm/w/adoptingwellnesspod) Katie's instagram: @katiethekad (http://www.instagram.com/katiethekad) Laura's instagram: @lauraisalot (http://www.instagram.com/lauraisalot) Katie's website: http://www.katiethekad.com (http://www.katiethekad.com/) Laura's website: http://www.lauraisalot.com (http://www.lauraisalot.com/) Adopting Wellness Team: Producer: Patrick Armstrong (http://www.instagram.com/patrickintheworld) Graphic Designer: Charlotte Carbone (http://www.instagram.com/charcarbone)