Sabrina is an adopted person with many questions, her story begins in Texas where she was born and adopted illegally. She was abused the entire time she was with her adopters. After years of therapy and healing Sabrina tried to reach out to the state of Texas to get her original birth certificate without success. Her story takes so many twists and turns, including an overnight runaway mission to keep her out of the hands of authorities and her step father. On April 22nd, 2003 Sabrina ran to find her own voice, and she did at just 18 years old. In this conversation, Sabrina peels back the layers of her story with unflinching honesty revealing just how complicated adoption is even with biological relatives. We are releasing this episode today, on April 22nd in honor of her “Freedom Day”. Sabrina is living proof that our spirits are mighty. In her words, “Sometimes we just need to know that we are heard”.

Content Warning: In this episode, we discuss difficult topics that may be triggering for some audiences including sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and kidnapping

https://www.pulledbytheroot.com/

Jeff Forney is an adoptee and an LA based photographer focusing on advertising, music and celebrity. He is in reunion-currently working on a project in the adoptee world called the ‘Innocent People Project’ where he aims to share the adoptee experience. In this powerful episode, Jeff speaks to the issues surrounding adoption with deep compassion. He believes in the power of human stories and the healing it can create. Jeff feels a non-adoptee’s view on adoption is not an adoptee’s view on adoption, in between is a gap he hopes to fill. As he so eloquently states; 'Adoptees carry burdens, some being the burden of explanation, the burden to be affirming and the burden of loyalty. An adoptees ‘book of life’ starts on chapter two. How often does one purchase a book and start on chapter two?? Confusion would set in. What is going on? Who are these people and what is their purpose? What would normally be an introductory chapter to characters and plot, is now a whodunnit that would impress Hitchcock. This project does not look to make a single story into a stereotype. Each story is unique and valid adding to the many stories that make up the adoption mosaic. Often people come into the adoption world with innocent intent falling into the hands of an adoption industry that needs some serious reworking and legislation. We are a global community of disconnect that is finding its voice, in real time. A minority hidden in plain site, covered in guilt, shame and self worth issues as well as potentially a whole host of others. Some adoptees fall out of the ‘Adoption Issues Tree’ and hit only one branch, and some hit every single one of them. It’s different for everyone, yet we all have a common thread. Stay curious…and be grateful. Gratitude loosens the grip of inadequacy. Gratitude is liberating.





For more about Jeff and the ‘Innocent People Project’;
https://jeffforney.com/
https://jeffforney.com/innocentpeople/

https://www.pulledbytheroot.com/

Monica Hall is an adoptee and birth mother. She is also the author of her memoir, "Practically Still a Virgin”, which will be released on Saturday March 23rd. Born in Canada, she was adopted by American parents and raised in Anchorage, Alaska, where she spent the first sixteen years of her life and had many of the foundational experiences that drive her writing.

She is a business consultant and entrepreneur who has founded several companies and has worked in advertising and marketing for more than two decades. Monica is telling her life story to provide understanding, courage, and empowerment, showing that no matter the difficulties, it's possible to heal and succeed.

Monica is a speaker, coach, and mentor. She has three grown children and lives in Sacramento, California. In this episode Monica shares her unique point of view on the trials and tribulations of being adopted. Her humor, positive energy and talent are abundant. This heartfelt conversation will leave you thinking.

For more about Monica:
https://www.monicahall.com/
https://www.monicahall.com/author


Content Notice:
This episode contains sensitive material, that may be difficult for some listeners.

https://www.pulledbytheroot.com/