All Episodes

May 27, 2025 22 mins

Imagine building out a detailed family tree… only to find out you’re not actually in it. That’s what happened to this guest from Australia, who took a casual DNA test at age 59—and uncovered a life-changing secret: he was adopted, and no one had ever told him.

In Part One of this deeply personal two-part conversation, we follow his journey from Aussie amateur genealogist to late-discovery adoptee facing a tidal wave of buried truths. And yes, he really did confront his adoptive parents the day before Mother’s Day.

Australia’s Adoption Scandal Hits Home and Hard

What’s Inside:

  • The shocking DNA result that unraveled six decades of belief
  • An Australian’s painful entry into the world of forced adoption
  • How “burned adoption papers” were meant to erase his truth
  • The first call with his birth mother—who had just broken a 59-year silence
  • A reunion with siblings who never knew he existed
  • A country’s legacy of secrecy—and one man’s refusal to stay silent

Why It Matters:

This isn’t just one man’s story—it’s part of a larger reckoning with Australia’s history of forced adoption, where thousands were stripped of their identities. And it’s a wake-up call for anyone who still believes their birth certificate tells the whole truth.

Heads-Up:

This episode discusses adoption trauma, family deception, and the emotional toll of late discovery. Please listen with care.

Coming Soon – Part Two:

The six-year legal battle to have his father’s name restored—and how he became one of Australia’s loudest voices fighting for adoptee rights.

Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Dateline NBC

Dateline NBC

Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.

The Breakfast Club

The Breakfast Club

The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!

Crime Junkie

Crime Junkie

Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.