This one’s gonna stick with you.
Jessica’s not just a mom—she’s a mom of six, a brand-new nana, a business owner, and someone who’s walked through grief, healing, and hope in some of the rawest ways imaginable. In this episode, we talk about what it really looks like to build a family—through birth, loss, and international adoption.
We cover:
Lose a child at 37 weeks and still growing your family
The wild (and painfully slow) ride of international adoption
Facing the backlash of being a white mom raising a Black son
How she knew her adopted son was meant to be hers—even when the “movie moment” never came
The hard, beautiful lessons in patience, identity, and trauma
Why “bonding issues” and “it’s too expensive” are myths worth breaking
And yes, what happens when your adoption post goes viral and the internet comes for you
Spoiler: Giraffes and God both make appearances.
Whether you’re a parent, someone considering adoption, or just curious about the real-life stuff people don’t put on Instagram, this one’s for you.
FOLLOW JESSICA: 👉 Instagram: @jessicamandile
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Timehop (for the memory lane scroll)
Adoption Airfare (for more affordable travel)
Foster care vs. international adoption pros and cons
Real talk on the “white savior” narrative
YOUR HOST: Jess, your go-to mom friend who’ll cry with you, laugh with you, and probably forget where she put her coffee. Again.
Connect With Me:
Subscribe
Follow on @bestjesscampbell for updates
Leave a review on your favorite podcast platform
Popular Podcasts
Boysober
Have you ever wondered what life might be like if you stopped worrying about being wanted, and focused on understanding what you actually want? That was the question Hope Woodard asked herself after a string of situationships inspired her to take a break from sex and dating. She went "boysober," a personal concept that sparked a global movement among women looking to prioritize themselves over men. Now, Hope is looking to expand the ways we explore our relationship to relationships. Taking a bold, unfiltered look into modern love, romance, and self-discovery, Boysober will dive into messy stories about dating, sex, love, friendship, and breaking generational patterns—all with humor, vulnerability, and a fresh perspective.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com