Lucky Bastard: Reclaiming Identity and Finding Family

In episode of Voices of Adoption, Anthony Akerman, the acclaimed South African playwright and author, dives deeper into his adoption journey and the meaning behind his memoir title "Lucky Bastard." Anthony shares the remarkable coincidences that surrounded him long before his adoption reunion - from university classmates to teachers married to his cousins and paths unknowingly crossed with biological relatives throughout his life. He reveals how adoption shaped his relationships, leading to repetitive patterns of abandonment, choosing partners who would abandon him, and how therapy helped him understand his "repetition compulsion." Anthony also explores the literary connections between adoption stories, from Oedipus to Moses, and how storytelling became his path to healing. Despite recent health challenges, Anthony maintains his perspective as a "lucky bastard" - someone who found two families, healing, and happiness after decades of searching for belonging.

This episode offers hope for adoptees struggling with identity, attachment, and family relationships while highlighting the transformative power of owning your story.