DNA Surprises

How often do we hear on this show that people never felt like they fit in with their families growing up? This week’s guest, John, reveals that he felt the same way, and even held onto some guilt around his feelings. Fast forward to a little over two years ago, when his daughter took a DNA test and unearthed a surprise for the entire family: John wasn’t biologically related to any of the family he grew up with, because he was adopt...

Everyone has the right to know where they come from. They deserve to know their family history, stories and traditions. They have the right to know where their features come from and who else shares their aptitudes and interests. And just as importantly, or may most importantly of all, they have the right to know their medical history. 

In this week’s episode, Courtney shares why her discovery wasn’t a surprise to her. It wasn’t par...

DNA surprises are often devastating to the people who uncover them, but imagine if the truth was a relief? Danielle grew up believing that her mother had four children by four different men, making all of her siblings half-siblings.

After taking a DNA test, Danielle learned that she actually shared a father with her younger sister. This news was more than welcomed by Danielle, who had fond memories of who she thought was a step-fat...

At the end of every DNA Surprises episode, I ask my guests two questions. I ask for advice for people in our community, and I ask for advice for parents keeping a DNA surprise from their child. Time and time again, guests implore parents to tell the truth. But when is the right time to tell? And are the ramifications different than when a DNA surprise is uncovered with a DNA test?

In this week’s episode, Meaghan shares how one day, ...

Hindsight is 20/20. After experiencing a DNA surprise, it’s easy to look back at moments throughout our childhoods and realize that the truth was there all along.  Growing up in Indiana, Brittany always felt like an outsider. Her parents were divorced, and when she asked her dad if she could go live with him, he revealed that he wasn’t her biological father, which her mother denied.

Years later, Brittany took DNA test, which reveale...

This is part 3 of a 3-part series. If you haven’t listened to parts 1 and 2, be sure to go back and listen before starting this episode.

In Part 3 of Elizabeth’s story, we find out what happened after she visited her family and met her biological father for the first time ever. She shares what those first moments felt like and where things stand after her whirlwind trip. She also gives an update on her relationship with her raised f...

So what happened after Elizabeth sent off those letters to her siblings? In Part 2 of Elizabeth’s DNA surprise story, she reveals how she was able to make contact with several of her newfound siblings - and her biological father. 

I loved this conversation because we get a glimpse into the other side of the DNA surprise equation - the found family’s point of view. I reconnected with Elizabeth in January 2025 and two of her siblings,...

Welcome to a new season of DNA Surprises. We’re kicking this season off with a triple-episode premiere as we follow Elizabeth on her DNA surprise journey.

Elizabeth grew up knowing that the man she called “Dad” wasn’t her biological father, but she also grew up believing that the man she believed was, didn’t want to be part of her life. Her childhood was fraught with abuse and neglect and by the time she discovered the truth, she al...

Welcome to the season 10 finale of DNA Surprises. Buy one, get two. No, this isn’t an ad for the latest testing kit sale. In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Dave and Denise, a married couple who discovered that they were both NPEs after their grandson took a DNA test.

Before you listen to this episode, I want to take a moment to remind listeners that family secrets like these don’t stay hidden in the modern age of DNA testing, an...

When someone uncovers a DNA surprise, their family tree changes. That sounds simple, but the reality is that our roots, so many of the things that make us, us, come from generations before us. In this week’s episode Melissa shares her profound journey after discovering that the man who raised her is not her biological father. 

From uncovering clues in her late grandmother's writings to learning about her biological father's ...

If we don’t laugh, we’ll cry. DNA surprises can be gut-wrenching and difficult experiences, but some of us can find humor in almost any situation. In this week’s laughter-filled episode, Lauren LoGuidice tells the story of how she learned she was donor conceived. 

Lauren discusses how she never fit in with her raised family but was regularly dismissed and gaslit when she questioned why she looked so different. She shares how she con...

When someone opens up their DNA test results, the outcome isn’t always an explosive surprise. Sometimes, it takes a while of pulling at a thread before a truth is unraveled. In this week’s episode, Christine shares how her curiosity about one of her ethnicity results led to her shocking discovery that her dad isn’t her biological father. But in another twist, even after finding out the truth about her paternity, the mystery about h...

Imagine uncovering your DNA surprise, experiencing the shock and devastation that comes with it, and then learning that the surprise wasn’t a total surprise after all? Earlier this season, we heard a story like this, and in this week’s episode, you’ll hear another.

When Tamara confronted her mom about her DNA surprise, she was shocked to learn that they’d already discussed it when she was younger. For some reason the memory didn’t s...

After a DNA surprise is uncovered, many moments from the past come into focus. Especially moments that, in hindsight, were missed opportunities for parents to tell the truth.

In this week’s episode, Christina shares how she uncovered her DNA surprise and how she’s feeling about seven months into her discovery. She  discusses how she’s struggling with feelings of anger at her mother, especially when she reflects on times when her mom...

As we’ve heard earlier this season, many people within the DNA surprise community saw their test results as mere confirmation of something they’d long suspected. But as heard in this week’s episode, not everyone was able to put their finger on just why they felt different.

Chaya never felt like she fit in with her family. She found solace in music and the friendships she formed in the metal scene during her rebellious teen years...

After three years of making this podcast and speaking to people who’ve experienced life-altering DNA surprises, I’ve noticed several trends. One trend is that oftentimes, the biological father is someone a guest knew from childhood. Another trend is a tumultuous relationship with the mother.

In this week’s episode, Kim shares her emotional journey after discovering a family secret through genealogical research. She discusses the sh...

If you’ve had a DNA surprise, how many times have you been told you should write a book? This week’s episode is a story that is truly stranger than fiction. Traci shares how, at 19, her mother revealed the truth about her paternity. This truth sent Traci reeling, but her mother insisted that she always knew the truth. Her mom went on to explain the events that led them to that moment. It’s a story straight out of a true crime novel...

"I knew it!" Or,  "I had no idea." When it comes to DNA surprises, some people are completely blindsided. Others felt like they knew it all along. Danielle never felt like she fit in with her family. Her mother died when she was just three years old, and for the rest of her childhood, she was raised by her dad, who travelled often for work, and her aunt, her mother’s sister.

Danielle knew that her dad had difficulty conceiving her ...

Black sheep. Golden child. In the DNA surprise community, these are labels we hear a lot. In this week’s episode, Sarah shares her emotional journey before, during, and after, her DNA discovery. Growing up, she never felt like she fit in, but her concerns were often dismissed. Many years later, her suspicions were confirmed–her dad, Joe was not her biological father. But she didn’t know for sure who was.

Sarah’s story also touches ...