Choosing Adoption

About Choosing Adoption

Choosing Adoption creates community for expectant and birth parents navigating one of life's most personal decisions. Host Donna Pope, Executive Director of Heart To Heart Adoptions with over 25 years of experience, provides space where your story matters and your voice is valued. Each episode features birth parents who share their journeys of challenges, growth, and healing after placement. If you're considering adoption or seeking connection in your ongoing experience, this podcast offers practical guidance, emotional support, and faith-centered encouragement. Connect with others who truly understand your path and find the resources you need at every stage of your journey. New episodes every week because no one should walk this path alone. Subscribe for birth parent support that meets you exactly where you are.

Publisher

Donna Pope

Category

kids & family · kids & family

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

11 Aug 2025

Latest episode

1 May 2026

Latest episodes

14 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   1 May 2026

   She Said the Family Had a Light Around Them

   Victoria Slappy never planned to become an expert on all three sides of the pregnancy decision, but life gave her the full range. An abortion at sixteen that still haunts her. A first adoption that dissolved into silence after six months. And a second adoption that built a family bond she never expected. On this episode of Choosing Adoption, she holds nothing back. Two Adoptions, Two Realities Victoria walks through the devastating contrast between her first adoption, where the adoptive family cut all contact and pursued legal restrictions, and her second, where the family embraced her, her husband, and all five of her daughters as extended family. She explains what made the difference: authenticity over performance, cultural awareness, and a willingness to treat the relationship like a partnership rather than a transaction. What Abortion and Adoption Taught Her About Choice At sixteen, Victoria chose abortion under family pressure and has counted that baby's birthday every year since. Years later, pregnant again and already parenting five daughters, she chose adoption and describes the pregnancy as an unexpected surrogacy, one where she treasured every kick and heartbeat because she knew it was her last time with him. Her side-by-side emotional comparison of both experiences is something every person navigating this decision deserves to hear. Advice for Birth Parents, Adoptive Families, and the Children They Share Victoria delivers direct guidance for adoptive families: stop performing, be organic, and understand that a birth mother can tell the difference between a sales pitch and a real person. She also sounds a critical warning about open adoption agreements in states like Ohio, where they function as moral contracts with no legal enforcement after rights are signed away. Listen to the full episode on Choosing Adoption to hear Victoria's complete story and the message she has already recorded for her son to hear someday. Download Your Free Introductory Adoption Guide at ChoosingAdoption.com. #Adoption #OpenAdoption #ClosedAdoption #BirthMom #BirthMotherStory #ChoosingAdoption #AdoptionPlan #TransracialAdoption #AdoptionJourney #AdoptionStory #BirthParent #AdoptiveFamily #AdoptionSupport #HeartToHeartAdoptions #OpenAdoptionAgreement #AdoptionAdvice #AdoptionAwareness #ProLife #AdoptionVsAbortion #BirthMotherHealing Follow or Subscribe to Choosing Adoption on your favorite platforms: Website: https://choosingadoption.com/ YouTube: http://youtube.com/@ChoosingAdoption Twitter/X: http://x.com/choosingadoptn Instagram: https://instagram.com/choosingadoptionshow/ Follow Donna Pope: LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/donna-pope-41652ba/

2. 

   31 Mar 2026

   A Mother of 8 Explains the Adoption Decision Nobody Talks About

   Eight children. Three lost to foster care. Two abused in state placements. And one mother who decided the system would never choose for her again. In this episode of Choosing Adoption with host Donna Pope, birth parents Malena and Chuck share how they turned to open adoption to protect their younger children and keep siblings together. When the System Took the Choice Away Malena did everything CPS demanded and still had her son taken at birth. The federal 15-of-22-month rule terminated her parental rights, and her lawyer told her she would have kept them if she had surrendered sooner. That loss, and the abuse her older boys suffered in care, drove every decision that followed. Choosing the Family and Keeping Brothers Together Malena and Chuck chose Heart to Heart Adoptions and found a family committed to keeping birth parents involved. When their eighth child arrived five months early after a life-threatening pregnancy, they asked the same family to take him too. Today, they receive monthly updates through Our Hearts Connect, and the adoptive family recently visited on their own, something Malena says is better than anything she has gotten from family members who adopted her older children. Discover what becomes possible when birth parents take the lead in choosing their child's future. Subscribe to Choosing Adoption for stories that show what open adoption looks like when families build it together. #ChoosingAdoption #BirthParentStory #OpenAdoption #FosterCare #CPSReform #AdoptionIsLove #BirthMotherVoice #BirthFatherStory #SiblingAdoption #AdoptionAdvocacy #HeartToHeartAdoptions #BirthParentRights #FosterCareReform #OurHeartsConnect #PreeclampsiaSurvivor #NICUBaby #AdoptionPodcast #RealAdoptionStories #BirthParentPerspective #AdoptionJourney Follow or Subscribe to Choosing Adoption on your favorite platforms: Website: https://choosingadoption.com/ YouTube: http://youtube.com/@ChoosingAdoption Twitter/X: http://x.com/choosingadoptn Instagram: https://instagram.com/choosingadoptionshow/ Follow Donna Pope: LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/donna-pope-41652ba/ Follow Melana: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KraziikittiAkaViolentK TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lanakraziikitti

3. 

   27 Nov 2025

   Because We Loved Him — We Chose the Life That Gave Him More

   In this episode of Choosing Adoption with host Donna Pope, birth parents Kaylee and Elijah sit alongside adoptive parents Paul and Cassie with baby Seth to share their adoption story together. This rare conversation reveals what happens when both families commit to building an open adoption relationship from day one.

4. 

   24 Nov 2025

   Birth Parents Find Hope Through Open Adoption While Homeless

   Alexandra and Michael Hatherley were living in the woods in Florida when Alexandra discovered she was pregnant with Owen. In this episode of Choosing Adoption with host Donna Pope, they share how they found Heart To Heart Adoptions and made the choice to place their son for adoption while relocating from Florida to Utah for a fresh start.

5. 

   31 Oct 2025

   Native American Birth Mother Finds Her Light in Choosing Adoption

   Jonessa Price, a 28-year-old Native American birth mother from Arizona, shares her adoption journey and the challenges she faced navigating the Indian Child Welfare Act while seeking the right path for her son.

6. 

   17 Oct 2025

   When Birth Mothers Choose Adoption Out of Love

   In this episode of Choosing Adoption, Emily shares her birth mother journey that began when she discovered her pregnancy at 16. Her mother's immediate response set the tone for everything that followed: wrapping her arms around Emily and saying they'd get through it together. Her adoption counselor made clear to everyone that this was Emily's decision alone, creating space for her to choose without pressure from any direction. Finding the Right Family and Building Trust Emily spoke with multiple families before finding the one where she felt an instant bond. The relationship built during pregnancy proved genuine when her daughter Beth was born. Emily describes the placement as the hardest thing she's ever done, crying for six months afterward, yet she never doubted her decision. She learned to hold both grief and peace at the same time, missing her baby while finding joy in seeing Beth thrive. A Mother's Love Twenty-five years later, Emily maintains a close relationship with Beth and her adoptive family. She went dress shopping with Beth two days before her wedding and sang at the ceremony. The adoptive mother describes their relationship as a team, with both mothers providing what the other cannot. Emily's message challenges the harmful phrase that birth mothers give up their children, instead offering a truth that transforms the narrative: I didn't give you up, I gave a mother's love. Listen now to hear how love creates families in unexpected ways. Follow or Subscribe to Choosing Adoption on your favorite platforms: Website: https://choosingadoption.com/ YouTube: http://youtube.com/@ChoosingAdoption Twitter/X: http://x.com/choosingadoptn Instagram: https://instagram.com/choosingadoptionshow/ Follow Donna Pope: LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/donna-pope-41652ba/ Follow Emily Meikle: Instagram: https://www.youtube.com/@emilymeiklemusic

7. 

   9 Oct 2025

   Loved Her Enough to Let Her Go

   In this episode of Choosing Adoption with host Donna Pope, birth mother Kaylee Anglesey challenges the misconception that birth mothers don't care enough about their children. At 19, she placed her daughter because she loved her so much that giving her the life she deserved mattered more than keeping her close. This perspective reveals adoption as an act of profound love rather than abandonment.

8. 

   2 Oct 2025

   Premature Adoption Story - A 32 Week Bundle of Joy

   In this episode of Choosing Adoption, host Donna Pope speaks with McKenzie, a 24-year-old mother of three who traveled from Ohio to Utah for an adoption placement.

9. 

   25 Sept 2025

   Adoption Journey When Family Support Fails and Love Finds a Way

   In this episode of Choosing Adoption, host Donna Pope talks with Kenia about her personal journey of placing her child for adoption. Kenia shares her struggle to parent during the first months with little help from the birth father or family. When promises of support fell through, she felt alone and overwhelmed. She explains how financial help was not enough without emotional and physical presence. Family Challenges Kenia shares how the birth father's absence despite promises, combined with inadequate family support, led to her feeling isolated and overwhelmed. She explains how financial support alone wasn't enough when what she needed was physical and emotional presence during this challenging time. Open Adoption Success Despite keeping her adoption decision secret from her family initially, Kenia built a strong relationship with her son's adoptive family. She discusses moving from agency communication to direct contact and the emotional experience of meeting her son again after placement when he had grown from a baby to a walking toddler. When support systems fail, adoption can provide children with the stability they deserve while allowing birth mothers to maintain meaningful connections. Subscribe to Choosing Adoption for more stories about finding solutions when traditional support systems fall short. Follow or Subscribe to Choosing Adoption on your favorite platforms: Website: https://choosingadoption.com/ YouTube: http://youtube.com/@ChoosingAdoption Twitter/X: http://x.com/choosingadoptnInstagram: https://instagram.com/choosingadoptionshow/ Follow Donna Pope LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/donna-pope-41652ba/ #Adoption #AdoptionJourney #BirthMother #OpenAdoption #AdoptionStories #BirthMotherAutonomy #RespectBirthMothers #AdoptionChoices #AdoptionSupport #AdoptionAdvocacy #AdoptionPolicy #FamilyThroughAdoption #EveryStoryMatters #AdoptionCommunity #AdoptionAwareness #EmpowerBirthMothers #AdoptionSupportNetwork #WomenSupportingWomen #EthicalAdoption #AdoptionLove

10. 

    18 Sept 2025

    Ethical Adoption Stories Centered on Respect and Women’s Autonomy

    In this episode of Choosing Adoption, host Donna Pope speaks with Daliya Brown about her three adoption experiences and her strong advocacy for birth mother autonomy. Daliya shares her journey traveling from Pennsylvania to Utah for placement, comparing her experiences with both agency support and private adoption arrangements. Different Approaches Daliya discusses the stark differences between working with agencies versus private adoption, emphasizing how agency support provided advocacy and protection that private arrangements lacked. She addresses common misconceptions about birth mothers' decision-making capabilities and explains why interstate travel options matter for women's individual circumstances. Autonomy Matters Daliya advocates for respecting women's choices about where to give birth, which families to choose, and how much contact to maintain. Her experiences demonstrate that birth mothers are capable adults making informed decisions about their bodies and their children's futures, regardless of external opinions or restrictive policies. Birth mothers deserve respect for their decision-making abilities and the freedom to choose what works best for their unique situations. Subscribe to Choosing Adoption for more stories that honor women's autonomy in adoption decisions. Follow or Subscribe to Choosing Adoption on your favorite platforms: Website: https://choosingadoption.com/ YouTube: http://youtube.com/@ChoosingAdoption Twitter/X: http://x.com/choosingadoptn Instagram: https://instagram.com/choosingadoptionshow/ Follow Donna Pope #Adoption #AdoptionJourney #BirthMother #OpenAdoption #AdoptionStories #BirthMotherAutonomy #RespectBirthMothers #AdoptionChoices #AdoptionSupport #AdoptionAdvocacy #AdoptionPolicy #FamilyThroughAdoption #EveryStoryMatters #AdoptionCommunity #AdoptionAwareness #EmpowerBirthMothers #AdoptionSupportNetwork #WomenSupportingWomen #EthicalAdoption #AdoptionLove

11. 

    11 Sept 2025

    Interstate Adoption Support That Changed Everything

    In this episode of Choosing Adoption, host Donna Pope speaks with Angel, who traveled from Hawaii to Utah for adoption placement, and Laraine, her social worker. Angel shares how interstate adoption support provided her with the resources and family connection she needed during a complicated situation involving marriage difficulties and an unsupportive biological father. Building Relationships Angel describes spending nearly two months in Utah, developing a close relationship with the adoptive family through shared experiences and constant support. She explains how the agency helped bring her father from Arkansas to be present during delivery and provided comprehensive care that made her feel "spoiled" with support she'd never experienced before. Honest Guidance Angel emphasizes the importance of agencies providing balanced information about both positive and negative aspects of adoption rather than using money or false promises to influence decisions. Her story demonstrates how proper support and honest communication can lead to positive outcomes for everyone involved. When women receive the support they need, they can make informed decisions that benefit their children and themselves. Subscribe to Choosing Adoption for more stories about finding support during difficult decisions.

12. 

    4 Sept 2025

    5 Birth Mother Truths Everyone Needs to Hear

    In this episode of Choosing Adoption, host Donna Pope welcomes Lynea Krukiewicz, a birth mother advocate with 35 years of experience since placement, along with Laraine Moon. Together, they challenge misconceptions about birth mothers and address controversial topics around interstate adoption and coercion allegations. Community Support Lynea and Laraine advocacy work with the Utah Adoption Council and organize annual birth mother dinners. She emphasizes that birth mothers are intelligent women making informed decisions about their children's futures, often while facing societal judgment and legislative restrictions. Rights Matter The discussion addresses current legislative debates about birth mother rights and interstate adoption restrictions. Lynea advocates for birth mothers to have access to options across state lines and argues against policies that limit their freedom to choose the best placement situation for their children. Five key truths that challenge common misconceptions: Experience over stereotypes - Using Donna Pope's statistics about age and parenting experience Love as motivation - Drawing from Lynea's emphasis on love-driven decisions Intelligence over coercion - Using Lynea's direct quote about coercion allegations Support over restrictions - Addressing the interstate adoption debate Missing voices - Using Lynea's criticism of lawmakers not consulting birth mothers Birth mothers deserve respect, support, and the freedom to make choices without restrictions or assumptions about their mental capacity. Follow or Subscribe to Choosing Adoption on your favorite platforms: Website: ChoosingAdoption.com/ YouTube: youtube.com/@ChoosingAdoption Twitter/X: x.com/choosingadoptn Instagram: instagram.com/choosingadoptionshow/ Follow Donna Pope: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/donna-pope-41652ba/ Follow Lynea Krukiewicz LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lynea-krukiewicz-1b395285/ Website: https://www.lifeafterplacement.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifeafterplacement Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lifeafterplacement/ Email: hi@lifeafterplacement.org Follow Laraine Moon LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/laraine-moon-11781059/ Follow A Act of Love Adoptions Website: aactofloveadoptions.com Facebook: facebook.com/aactoflove Instagram: instagram.com/a_act_of_love Twitter: twitter.com/ActofLoveAdopt TikTok: tiktok.com/@actofloveadoptionsutah LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/a-act-of-love-adoptions Pinterest: pinterest.com/aactoflove YouTube: youtube.com/@actofloveadoptions

13. 

    11 Aug 2025

    The Birth Mother Who Made Me a Mom

    In this premiere episode of Choosing Adoption, discover the extraordinary 26-year journey between Donna Pope and Monica, the birth mother who placed her son Josh for adoption and forever changed both their lives. The Decision Monica shares her raw truth about choosing adoption while struggling with addiction and homelessness, unable to care for her four-year-old son. With no resources and pregnant again, she faced an impossible choice between caring for one child versus two. The Prayer Two years after placement, Monica hit rock bottom in jail. A desperate prayer for healing became the turning point that led to 24 years of sobriety, a master's degree, and finally becoming the mother her older son Aaron deserved. The Question Years later, 8-year-old Josh confronted his adoptive mother about why Monica placed him but kept his older brother. Hear how this family navigated brutal honesty and why witnessing Josh thriving finally freed Monica from guilt. Join Donna Pope for advice on adoption boundaries, birth father safety concerns, and why adoption doesn't have to be the end of the story. Subscribe to Choosing Adoption podcast and join our community sharing real experiences that matter.

14. 

    11 Aug 2025

    Choosing Adoption - Trailer

    Choosing Adoption creates community for expectant and birth parents navigating one of life's most personal decisions. Host Donna Pope, Executive Director of Heart To Heart Adoptions with over 25 years of experience, provides space where your story matters and your voice is valued. Each episode features birth parents who share their journeys of challenges, growth, and healing after placement. If you're considering adoption or seeking connection in your ongoing experience, this podcast offers practical guidance, emotional support, and faith-centered encouragement. Connect with others who truly understand your path and find the resources you need at every stage of your journey. New episodes every week because no one should walk this path alone. Subscribe for birth parent support that meets you exactly where you are.

Contact Choosing Adoption

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.