The Adoption Roadmap Podcast

Your dream is to become a mom. My dream is to help you get there. I am Rebecca Gruenspan, a single mom through domestic adoption and an adoption consultant for over a decade. I’ll be your guide, along with other adoption professionals and members of the adoption constellation, walking you step by step down this beautiful and complex path of adopting your baby. This isn't just another podcast sharing adoption stories. If you're genuinely committed to diving in with an open heart, eager to learn everything there is to know about adopting a baby, this is for you!

The Adoption Roadmap Podcast is a kids podcast hosted by Rebecca Gruenspan, with 144 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Rebecca Gruenspan hosts The Adoption Roadmap Podcast, a kids show with 144 episodes published.

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  The Adoption Roadmap Podcast

  Ep. #145: The Adoption Roadmap, Step 2: How to Create an Adoption Profile That Makes Expectant Moms Stop and Read

  Aug 12, 20261h 17m

  Most hopeful adoptive parents think creating an adoption profile is about showcasing their accomplishments, beautiful photos, or writing the perfect story. In reality, the most successful adoption profiles aren't about impressing anyone. They're about helping an expectant mother picture her child growing up in your family. In this episode, Rebecca walks through the second step of the Adoption Roadmap and shares exactly what makes an adoption profile stand out. From choosing the right photos and writing authentic copy to avoiding common mistakes that unintentionally push expectant mothers away, she breaks down every section of the profile and explains why each detail matters. You'll learn how to create a profile that feels genuine, tells your family's story with warmth, and gives an expectant mother the confidence to imagine her baby growing up surrounded by love. What We Cover: Why your adoption profile is the most important tool in your adoption journey How to write a profile that connects instead of trying to impress The biggest mistakes families make with photos and wording What every section of your adoption profile should include How to help an expectant mother envision her child in your family The language and phrases to avoid in your profile Why authenticity always matters more than perfection How thoughtful design, great photos, and even video can strengthen your profile RG Adoption Consulting Website → ⁠ https://rgadoptionconsulting.com⁠ Book a Complimentary Adoption Strategy Session → ⁠ https://rgadoptionconsulting.com/contact Are You Ready to Adopt? Take the Quiz to Find Out → https://www.rgadoptionconsulting.com/quiz Before you choose an agency, spend money, or move forward—start with these 10 honest conversations that will help you: https://www.rgadoptionconsulting.com/10-conversations-before-you-adopt Tune in to The Adoption Roadmap Podcast every Wednesday. If you like what you hear, I'd appreciate a follow and 5-star rating & review! THANK YOU! For questions about adoption, episode suggestions or to appear as a guest on The Adoption Roadmap Podcast, email⁠⁠⁠⁠ support@rgadoptionconsulting.com⁠⁠⁠

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  The Adoption Roadmap Podcast

  Ep. #144: Adoption Isn't Always Beautiful | Janelle Basham

  Aug 5, 20261h 16m

  Some of the most important lessons about adoption don't come from adoptive parents. They come from the people who made adoption possible in the first place. When Janelle Basham placed her daughter for adoption 32 years ago, she wasn't in the hospital. She wasn't holding her baby as she said goodbye. She was sitting on a blue couch in another state, watching TV, while another family welcomed her daughter home. Now, more than three decades later, Janelle has something few people in adoption have: hindsight. As a birth mom, adoption educator, and Executive Director of BraveLove, she's spent years helping families understand what birth mothers are really experiencing—and what hopeful adoptive parents need to know if they want to build relationships rooted in trust, respect, and healing. This conversation challenges common assumptions about adoption, explores the power of consistent open adoption relationships, and offers practical wisdom that can change not just one family's story—but generations to come. In this episode, we talk about: What birth moms wish hopeful adoptive parents understood before a match ever happens Why consistency after placement matters more than grand promises before it The truth about open adoption, broken agreements, and rebuilding trust How language shapes the way birth moms—and adopted children—experience adoption What ethical adoption really looks like from a birth mother's perspective Why healthy adoption relationships aren't built overnight—but can become generational About Janelle Basham: Janelle Basham is a birth mom, adoption educator, speaker, and the Executive Director of BraveLove, a nonprofit organization dedicated to changing the perception of adoption through education, storytelling, and support for birth mothers. After placing her daughter for adoption more than 32 years ago, Janelle has devoted her career to advocating for ethical adoption practices, empowering birth moms, and helping adoptive families build healthier, more compassionate relationships. Through BraveLove, she provides resources, community, and education that center the voices and experiences of birth mothers while promoting openness, respect, and lifelong connection. Do you have an adoption "Kismet Moment" you'd like to share? Tell us the story here to be apart of my upcoming podcast episode! https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/BNfyVlIUm5b Connect with Janelle: Website: https://www.bravelove.org/ Family Life Services: https://www.familylifeservices.org/ If you liked this episode check out: Episode 77 | what Birth Moms Wish You Knew with Jessie Mattos on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/4sz5RqcGJxWD3LXZ2UeYrC?si=8908629d122f4e12 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-adoption-roadmap-podcast/id1747000048?i=1000701880720 RG Adoption Consulting Website → ⁠ https://rgadoptionconsulting.com⁠ Book a Complimentary Adoption Strategy Session → ⁠https://rgadoptionconsulting.com/contact Are You Ready to Adopt? Take the Quiz to Find Out → https://www.rgadoptionconsulting.com/quiz Before you choose an agency, spend money, or move forward—start with these 10 honest conversations that will help you: https://www.rgadoptionconsulting.com/10-conversations-before-you-adopt Tune in to The Adoption Roadmap Podcast every Wednesday. If you like what you hear, I'd appreciate a follow, a 5-star rating & review! THANK YOU! For questions about adoption, episode suggestions, or to appear as a guest on The Adoption Roadmap Podcast, email⁠⁠⁠⁠ support@rgadoptionconsulting.com⁠⁠⁠

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  The Adoption Roadmap Podcast

  Ep. #143: The Emotional Work Before Adoption | Julie Fried

  Jul 29, 202657 min

  There’s a difference between preparing for adoption… and preparing yourself to become a parent. When systems strategist, podcaster, and adoptive mom Julie Fried began her adoption journey, she thought she could research her way through it. Spreadsheets, Facebook groups, Google searches—she approached adoption like any other complex project. But what she discovered was that the biggest work wasn’t logistical. It was emotional. In this honest and deeply thoughtful conversation, Julie shares the lessons she learned about grief, open adoption, slowing down, and making peace with a path that looked different than the one she had imagined. From pausing after her home study to process infertility, to navigating an unexpected NICU experience, to making one of the hardest decisions her family has ever faced, Julie offers wisdom that every hopeful adoptive parent needs to hear. In this episode, we talk about: Why researching more isn't always the same as moving forward in your adoption journey The emotional work every hopeful adoptive parent should do before becoming a parent How grief and adoption can coexist—and why processing one strengthens the other What Julie learned after shifting from "no" to embracing the possibilities of open adoption How a NICU stay became an unexpected gift during the transition into parenthood The heartbreaking decision to decline adopting her daughter's half-sibling—and how they made peace with it About Julie Fried: Julie Fried is the host of The System for Everything podcast, where she shares practical systems that simplify business, motherhood, and everyday life. A systems strategist by profession and adoptive mom to her daughter Ellie, Julie brings honesty, empathy, and thoughtful perspective to conversations about adoption, infertility, and parenting. Through her own journey, she has become a passionate advocate for slowing down, processing grief, and embracing adoption with openness and intention. Connect with Julie: Website: https://dallasgirlfriday.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesystemforeverything?utm_source=chatgpt.com Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-system-for-everything/id1818831243 RG Adoption Consulting Website → ⁠ https://rgadoptionconsulting.com⁠ Book a Complimentary Adoption Strategy Session → ⁠https://rgadoptionconsulting.com/contact Are You Ready to Adopt? Take the Quiz to Find Out → https://www.rgadoptionconsulting.com/quiz Before you choose an agency, spend money, or move forward—start with these 10 honest conversations that will help you: https://www.rgadoptionconsulting.com/10-conversations-before-you-adopt Tune in to The Adoption Roadmap Podcast every Wednesday. If you like what you hear, I'd appreciate a follow, a 5-star rating & review! THANK YOU! For questions about adoption, episode suggestions, or to appear as a guest on The Adoption Roadmap Podcast, email⁠⁠⁠⁠ support@rgadoptionconsulting.com⁠⁠⁠

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  The Adoption Roadmap Podcast

  Ep. #142: Birth Mom & Adoptive Mom Together: The Reality of Open Adoption with Lindsay McKenzie & Hali

  Jul 22, 20261h 8m

  Building an open adoption relationship isn't about having the perfect plan. It's about choosing honesty, trust, and putting the child at the center...again and again. In this deeply moving conversation, Rebecca sits down with adoptive mom Lindsay McKenzie and birth mom Hali to share what open adoption has actually looked like for them over the past six years. Together, they pull back the curtain on the fears, insecurities, boundaries, and beautiful moments that have shaped their relationship—and why openness isn't something you schedule, it's something you build. From meeting for the very first time to navigating difficult conversations, milestones, and the questions their son is beginning to ask, Lindsay and Hali offer an honest, hopeful look at what happens when two mothers choose to work together with love, respect, and one shared priority: their child. Whether you're considering adoption, preparing to meet an expectant parent, or already navigating an open adoption relationship, this episode is filled with wisdom that will stay with you long after it ends. In this episode, we talk about: What hopeful adoptive parents are really afraid of before meeting an expectant mom—and what helps those fears fade What open adoption actually looks like years later (and why it doesn't require rigid rules or schedules) How trust is built through honest conversations, healthy boundaries, and mutual respect Why letting your child lead conversations about their adoption story creates confidence instead of confusion The language that strengthens connection—and the phrases both adoptive and birth parents wish people would stop using Practical advice for anyone preparing to build an open adoption relationship rooted in authenticity, vulnerability, and love About Lindsay McKenzie & Hali: Lindsay McKenzie is an adoptive mother, adoption advocate, and adoption strategist with RG Adoption Consulting. After navigating infertility and her own adoption journey, she now helps hopeful adoptive families prepare for the emotional, practical, and relational realities of adoption. Lindsay is also the author of The Story of You, a children's book created to help adopted children grow up knowing and celebrating their unique story from the very beginning. Hali is Miles' birth mother and a passionate advocate for openness, honesty, and child-centered adoption. Through her relationship with Lindsay and their shared commitment to keeping Miles at the heart of every decision, she is helping reshape what open adoption can look like. Together, Lindsay and Hali are committed to showing families that healthy, respectful relationships between adoptive and birth parents are not only possible—they can become one of adoption's greatest gifts. RG Adoption Consulting Website → ⁠https://rgadoptionconsulting.com⁠ Book a Complimentary Adoption Strategy Session → ⁠https://rgadoptionconsulting.com/contact Are You Ready to Adopt? Take the Quiz to Find Out → https://www.rgadoptionconsulting.com/quiz Before you choose an agency, spend money, or move forward—start with these 10 honest conversations that will help you: https://www.rgadoptionconsulting.com/10-conversations-before-you-adopt Tune in to The Adoption Roadmap Podcast every Wednesday. If you like what you hear, I'd appreciate a follow, a 5-star rating & review! THANK YOU! For questions about adoption, episode suggestions, or to appear as a guest on The Adoption Roadmap Podcast, email⁠⁠⁠⁠ support@rgadoptionconsulting.com⁠⁠⁠

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  The Adoption Roadmap Podcast

  Ep. #141: They Didn't Grow in My Belly: Talking to Adopted Kids About Bodies and Where They Came From

  Jul 15, 20261h 24m

  Every child deserves to see themselves reflected in the story of how life begins. But for adopted children, donor-conceived children, and children born through surrogacy or IVF, traditional conversations about reproduction often leave them feeling like an exception instead of part of the story. In this episode, Rebecca sits down with family physician and educator Dr. Robin Dickinson to explore how parents can talk about bodies, reproduction, consent, and adoption in ways that build confidence instead of confusion. Together, they unpack why the language we use matters, how to make birth stories both truthful and empowering, and why these conversations should start much earlier than most parents realize. Whether you're parenting through adoption or simply want to raise body-confident, emotionally secure children, this conversation offers practical tools that every family can use. In this episode, we talk about: Why every child shares the same origin story—and how that simple truth creates belonging How traditional sex education unintentionally leaves adopted children out of the conversation Why using anatomically correct language helps protect children and build body confidence How to tell your child's adoption story honestly while honoring their birth parents with compassion What "the body remembers" means for children adopted at birth and how to parent with greater sensitivity How to teach consent, healthy relationships, and body safety from the earliest years—not just during the "sex talk" About Dr. Robin: Dr. Robin Dickinson is a family physician, educator, and creator of a comprehensive body literacy and reproduction curriculum designed to help parents have honest, age-appropriate conversations with children. Passionate about inclusive education, Dr. Robin teaches families how to talk about bodies, reproduction, consent, and relationships in ways that affirm every child's story—including adoptees, donor-conceived children, and children born through surrogacy or assisted reproductive technology. Through her work, she helps parents replace shame with confidence and create conversations that foster belonging from the very beginning. Connect with Dr. Robin: Website: https://docrobinschool.com/ Free Parent Guides: https://docrobinschool.com/talk Resources Mentioned: Project 127: https://www.project127.org/ The Body Keeps the Score: https://www.besselvanderkolk.com/resources/the-body-keeps-the-score RG Adoption Consulting Website → ⁠https://rgadoptionconsulting.com⁠ Book a Complimentary Adoption Strategy Session → ⁠https://rgadoptionconsulting.com/contact Are You Ready to Adopt? Take the Quiz to Find Out → https://www.rgadoptionconsulting.com/quiz Before you choose an agency, spend money, or move forward—start with these 10 honest conversations that will help you: https://www.rgadoptionconsulting.com/10-conversations-before-you-adopt Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theadoptionroadmap Tune in to The Adoption Roadmap Podcast every Wednesday. If you like what you hear, I'd appreciate a follow, a 5-star rating & review! THANK YOU! For questions about adoption, episode suggestions, or to appear as a guest on The Adoption Roadmap Podcast, email⁠⁠⁠⁠ support@rgadoptionconsulting.com⁠⁠⁠

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