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July 22, 2025 26 mins

J. Steven Osborne believed he knew where he came from until an ancestry DNA test turned his world upside down. What started in 2021 as a casual curiosity for Native American heritage ended with a jaw-dropping response: a first cousin in Prince Edward Island. And his father? Not who he thought. Join Corey as Steven recounts the powerful, painful, and sometimes absurd journey that unraveled in real time.

In this Part One of the conversation, Steven takes us back to a childhood in Tory Hill, Kentucky—full of blended houses, foster kids, Pentecostal rituals, and 14 siblings. A loving but turbulent family life set the stage, and his father Jack became his emotional anchor. But on a flight home from Hilton Head, his sister’s DNA match confirmed what shattered everything: his biological father was someone else entirely.

A DNA Discovery on the Tarmac

This episode ends at that gut-punch moment—leaving listeners hanging, hearts racing, and fingers gripping the armrest. Part Two dives deeper into grief, identity, forgiveness… and yes, more revelations that defy fiction.

📘 Teaser for DNA – Did Not Anticipate

Steven co-wrote the memoir with his wife, forensic genealogist Becky Brower Osborne. Originally meant as healing journaling, the story morphed into an 80,000-word rollercoaster of intrigue, humor, heartbreak, and redemption—from disbelief to forgiveness, and finding belonging in unexpected places DNA Did Not Anticipate+9DNA Did Not Anticipate+9Buzzsprout+9.

Praise for the book:


🗣️ This Episode Is For You If You’ve Ever…

  • Wondered who you are when DNA contradicts family lore
  • Experienced the emotional wreckage of a mistaken identity
  • Found healing in humor, resilience, and forgivenes
  • Crave a raw, deeply personal story told with both sharp wit and open heart

📌 What You’ll Hear in Part One

  • 🧬 The “Aha!” moment on a plane when everything changed
  • Emotional flashbacks to Pentecostal upbringing and chaotic blended family life
  • The love story of Steven and Becky and how writing became his therapy
  • Hints of the darker revelations waiting in Part Two

🔗 Links & Resources

❤️ Why We Love This Episode

Steven’s story is a testament to resilience: finding humor in heartbreak, courage in chaos, and family in truth. It’s a must-listen for anyone redefining their past—especially when that journey begins at 30,000 feet.

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