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Born In June Raised In April: What Adoption Can Teach the World

April shares her very personal experience as a transracially adopted person growing up in New England and explores adoption and all its many layers. Each episode is anchored in the months of the year, connecting poignant holidays, rituals, rites of passage, and celebrations to adoption, identity and family. We follow her as she opens up a conversation about the beauty and complexity of adoption through interviews and reflections.
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Born In June Raised In April: What Adoption Can Teach the World
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Now displaying: Page 1
Feb 29, 2024

In February 2024, I give you the 8th installment of How to Love a Transracially Adopted Person, titled “She Cried.” In this part of the series I recount recently trying to find an old letter that my bio cousin had sent me but in trying to find that I stumbled upon the letter I had originally sent my birth mother that she had sent back to me but upon opening it this time I found something new. This discovery conjured up a new sense of love and loss.   

Jan 31, 2024

The new year is upon us but I still continue to see the same inappropriate social media postings surrounding children and youth who have been adopted particularly Black & Brown children being adopted into white families. In this January episode, I dive into how important it is to protect adopted children from social media exploitation. I also discuss the urgency of physical protection of Black and Brown adopted children and youth and the role hair touching plays.

Dec 26, 2023

As another year ends for JuneinApril, I take a quick look back on the amazing family members/guests I had on the show this year. I am so blessed to have so many amazing human beings in my life and honored that they would take the time to talk about my journey with me! Along with this, I wrapped up the year with three wishes for 2024 and beyond.

Nov 29, 2023

For National Adoption Awareness Month I discuss my involvement with Adopt Us Kids and the incredibly rewarding event I have been part of for a few years now. And as the winter holidays begin, I talk about the importance of involving the ones closest to us to the holiday table.

Oct 30, 2023

During my Birthday month I take sometime to reflect on what I know about my beginnings and thoughts and questions about the day I was born. And because it’s Halloween, I get into the realities of masking feelings surrounding the emotions that can come up at this time of year. 

Sep 30, 2023

As fall begins this year, I take this time to sit and reflect on Septembers of my past and the feelings and emotions I had round what it was like going back to school and getting back into that academic rhythm. I also discuss what parents and professionals can do better to help ensure that their child feels safe and secure in their transitions back to school.

Aug 29, 2023

As we prepare children for back to school, who better to discuss this transition as it relates to adoption than Dr. Orit Goldhamer (aka Dr. G.) Dr. G works as a school Psychologist at the Churchill School in New York City, where we work together to create affinity spaces for students, supportive spaces for parents, and educate the broader school community. Drawing on her two decades of experience we discuss what students, parents, and professionals need to be doing better for those experiencing adoption.

Jul 26, 2023

This month, I bring together some of my nieces and nephews of experience. From oldest to youngest, Albert, Mackenzie, Michon, Kyle & Cooper. These are my sibling’s kids, the ones who grew up knowing their Aunt “A” looked a bit different but never questioned why I was there or the love that we had for one another. My relationships with all of my nieces and nephews were the stepping stones to a lot of the work that I do today with youth. If you ever wanted to know more about me and how I build relationships with children and young people, this is the episode to listen to!!

Jun 30, 2023

In this short episode, I talk with my brother of experience, Jim and his wife Keiko about all the reasons why we love our father! I also am able to bring in a special guest, my father’s great grandson, Jim’s grandson, my great nephew, Landon James to talk about his “Old Papa”

Jun 23, 2023

Part of a new limited series, this episode is about my mother of origin, Helen June. With help from cousin Sean McCarthy & nephew Drew Tandal, we dive into the emotions surrounding our journey of finding family of origin as well as how they see Helen in me.

May 24, 2023

Part of a new limited series, this episode celebrates my mother of experience, Sandra Dinwoodie. With the help from my older brother Jim and his wife Keiko, we dive into all the things our mom got right and they ways she continues to inspire the next generations. 

Apr 29, 2023

Part of a new limited series, this episode explores some of my emotions connected to  transracial adoption juxtaposed to my surroundings as a kid. I also pull in my parents to hear from them on how they raised me and my siblings as well as what they think that could have done better. 

Mar 22, 2023

After 7 years of conversation with some of the most poignant and inspirational people I have had the privilege to know; I sit down with the person who inspired me to start this podcast in the first place, my birth cousin, Madeline Bell. We cover family connections, luck in Adoption and so much more! 

Feb 28, 2023

In this February episode, I take a look back on the last 4 seasons of the show; I’ve had some remarkable guests with some even more profound highlights & conversations. I am so incredibly grateful to everyone who has been apart of this journey with me!

Jan 31, 2023

Later this year, the Born in June, Raised in April podcast will relaunch with a new format and new content! But before we do, I have to pay homage to the many amazing people who made this all possible! In January 2023, I take a look back on the first 3 seasons of the show; how this all started, who planted the seed, and some of the incredibly profound guests I was blessed to have on the show!

Dec 24, 2022

For the December 2022 Episode I welcome dear friend, colleague, and fellow transracial adoptee, Nathan Ross. In this episode we discuss his experiences of family, holidays around this time of year, as well as other parts of the year and we also dive into some of the harder parts of adoption/ foster care as it relates to racial identity development.

Nov 29, 2022

In this November episode April welcomes sisters Cassandra and Julia for a healing and heartfelt conversation about their journey of sisterhood and adoption. This month during National Adoption Awareness Month, we go deep into the importance of knowing where you come from and who you are connected to, the life-long impact of adoption, and the reality that there is no one way to experience adoption. 

Oct 25, 2022

It’s another year around the sun…My Birthday month has arrived and I decided to sit down with my producer Kyle Ferreira to discuss all the things October has to teach us! Along with the theme of Birthdays, and with Halloween quickly approaching, Kyle and I dive into what it means to “Wear a Mask” as a cover for what we may be feeling. It’s also National Bullying Prevention Month, and we make room to break down the terrible situation  that happened in LA earlier this month, with an elected official making racist remarks about a transracially adopted child.

Sep 29, 2022

In September 2022, I sit down with NFL’S Chief National Reporter, Steve Wyche. Although Steve doesn’t have a personal connection to adoption, he does have a personal understanding of what it means to move around the world as a biracial person in America. This month, Steve and I discuss our shared experiences of identity development, our lives growing up, and the incredible impact Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling in protest against police brutality of people of color, has had on the world. 

Aug 29, 2022

In August 2022, I sit down with my producer/nephew, Kyle to discuss all things “Back to School”. We dive into our thoughts around what it was like for us during school, our feeling around this ever growing fear of school shootings, what parents and professionals can do to help alleviate some of their children’s worries, and the importance of connection and validation.

Jul 28, 2022

In July 2022, I sit with Korean American adoptee, Milton Washington. Orphaned and adopted at the age of eight, and brought to the States at the age of ten, Milton had plenty to say and stories to tell about his experiences in a new family, with a new language and new culture. This month we discuss the intersection between freedom and independence as it relates to adoption, family, and identity. 

Jun 28, 2022

In June 2022 I sit down with author, inspiring motivational speaker, and viral sensation, Derek “Rapping Dad” Clark! Derek and I discuss so much from foster care to fathering with so many poignant moments shared. And of course he wouldn’t be the “Rapping Dad” without dripping a rhyme or two!

DISCLAIMER: This episode contains challenging subject matter including violence, suicide, & sexual violence. Viewer discretion advised...

May 30, 2022
In May 2022 April sits with transracially adopted person, Amira Rose Davis. Amira is the Assistant Professor of History, African American Studies, and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Penn State University. This month April and Amira discuss the intersections of Mother's Day, Birthdays, and adoption. They also take time to share their thoughts around the recent abortion laws and tragic school shootings.
Apr 27, 2022
In April 2022, host April Dinwoodie sits down with her producer to answer questions from listeners.  This episode April dives into all things identity, family, facing embracing differences and this month's theme of naming & claiming as well as “April showers, bring May flowers”. 
Mar 29, 2022

In this Women’s History Month episode host April Dinwoodie sits down with an amazing women, writer, editor, performer, teacher and adopted person, Susan Ito. Together they discuss the complex realities around what it means to be lucky in adoption as well as the importance of documenting narratives in adoption.

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