Who's On My Mind Podcast

🎧 Real stories. Real people. Real insights.On Who’s On My Mind, I dive deep into the lives of people who intrigue me—no script, no agenda, just meaningful conversations about their journeys, ideas, and experiences.

Who's On My Mind Podcast is a society podcast hosted by Serafin Farias, with 27 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Serafin Farias hosts Who's On My Mind Podcast, a society show with 27 episodes published.

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  Who's On My Mind Podcast

  Adoption, Secrecy, and the Baby Scoop Era | Patricia Knight Meyer

  Sep 21, 20261h 32m

  Patricia Knight Meyer grew up knowing she was adopted — but not that her adoptive parents never received her birth certificate, never saw adoption papers, and never legally adopted her at all. In this episode, Patricia — a writer, adoptee-rights advocate, and board member of the National Association of Adoptees and Parents — shares her story of growing up in a "black market adoption" during the Baby Scoop Era, discovering as an adult that no adoption had ever been filed, and later reuniting with both of her birth parents. We talk about adoption trauma, identity, the grief no one names, and what she wishes every adoptive parent knew. Patricia is the author of the new memoir *Wonderland: Memoir of a Black-Market Adoption*. CONNECT WITH PATRICIA KNIGHT MEYER: Website: https://myadoptedlife.com Father & Daughter reunion video: https://myadoptedlife.com/meeting-my-birth-father-our-reunion-video/ ABOUT PATRICIA KNIGHT MEYER: Patricia Knight Meyer is a writer, speaker, and adoptee-rights advocate whose own adoption is a window into the "Baby Scoop Era" — the decades of informal, unregulated adoption placements common from the 1940s through the early 1970s. She sits on the board of the National Association of Adoptees and Parents and has spent years helping other adoptees navigate identity, reunion, and grief. Her debut memoir is *Wonderland: Memoir of a Black-Market Adoption*. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 – Introduction: ten toes and a van with no papers signed 02:14 – Finding out at 12 she never had a birth certificate 03:54 – What that moment felt like 05:39 – How the adoption actually happened 12:07 – Where the adoption took place (Houston/Galveston, TX) 13:15 – What was the "Baby Scoop Era"? 17:20 – Why the Baby Scoop Era ended 19:06 – The hardest part of growing up adopted 22:09 – Carrying unnamed fear as a child 24:08 – Heritage camps and helping young adoptees today 28:41 – "Weren't we good enough?" — when adoptive parents feel hurt 35:44 – Finding community and starting to heal 42:04 – Where to start: books, groups, and resources 45:46 – Searching for and meeting her birth mother 59:22 – Meeting her birth father for the first time 1:11:02 – The insight her birth father gave her 1:13:02 – Why knowing your origin story matters 1:14:39 – The grief nobody acknowledges 1:15:14 – Advice for young adoptees 1:18:52 – Advice for adoptive parents 1:22:07 – Becoming a mother herself at 18 1:28:24 – Patricia's new memoir and book launch event 1:30:12 – Closing thoughts PODCAST LINKS: Website: https://www.WhosOnMyMind.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WhosOnMyMindPodcast Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/WhosOnMyMindPodcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whos-on-my-mind/id1783427441 SOCIAL LINKS: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WhosOnMyMind/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whosonmymindpodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@whos_on_my_mind_podcast X: https://x.com/Whos_On_My_Mind YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WhosOnMyMindPodcast #Adoption #AdopteeStory #BirthParents #FamilyReunion #AdoptionTrauma #Podcast

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  Who's On My Mind Podcast

  Inside NASCAR's Garage: Bent Rules, Bondo, and a Championship Ring | Keith Barton

  Sep 16, 20261h 13m

  Former NASCAR Cup Series mechanic Keith Barton takes us inside the garage — from Monday teardown to Sunday's checkered flag — to reveal how teams bent the rules, hand-built race cars, and survived 36 races a year on the road.Keith spent 20 years (1997–2017) working for teams like Bill Elliott, PPI Motorsports, Ricky Rudd, Jack Roush, Hall of Fame Racing, and JR Motorsports, where he earned a championship ring. Today he builds hot rods and classic cars with his son at Skin and Bones Inc. in Salisbury, NC.In this episode, Keith covers what a real race week looks like, how teams bent tech inspection rules (and got caught), the physics of aerodynamics and downforce, how NASCAR evolved from hand-built cars to carbon fiber and laser inspection, and the sacrifices behind a two-decade racing career.Connect with Keith Barton / Skin and Bones Inc.: Website: www.skinandbonesinc.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/skinandbonesperformance/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/skinandbonesperformance/Timestamps:0:00 – Introduction: Keith Barton's 20-year NASCAR career0:53 – A day at the track: tech inspection and testing in the late '90s4:58 – Working in the body shop and fabrication shop6:18 – Getting hired by Bill Elliott's NASCAR team7:33 – Team loyalty, crew chiefs, and NASCAR's cutthroat side13:49 – NASCAR explained like a football team15:41 – Inside a real NASCAR race week, Monday to Sunday20:46 – Bending the rules: tech inspection tricks and getting caught26:07 – Left-side weight, aerodynamics, and the physics of downforce29:19 – 36 races a year: the toll on family life31:06 – How Keith broke into racing39:53 – Daytona, Indy, and NASCAR's most memorable tech inspections44:36 – From hand-built cars to carbon fiber and laser inspection52:03 – How money and viewership have changed NASCAR54:31 – "Over the wall": inside the modern pit crew58:06 – NASCAR vs. Formula 11:00:08 – Regrets and advice for anyone in or entering NASCAR1:06:28 – The greatest day of his career, and building hot rods todayListen to the full episode: More episodes: www.WhosOnMyMind.com#NASCAR #Motorsports #RacingPodcast #NASCARHistory #BehindTheScenes

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  Who's On My Mind Podcast

  56 Years at Sea: The Hidden World Most People Never Get to See | Vernon Adkison

  Jul 3, 20261h 30m

  ⚓️ 🌊 What's it like to spend most of your life at sea—far from land, cities, and normal life—for decades at a time? In this episode, veteran mariner Vernon Adkison takes us inside a world most people never experience: the merchant marine. Over a 56-year career, he worked aboard cargo ships crossing global shipping routes, endured violent storms, lived through long stretches of isolation, and learned how massive ships are actually operated day-to-day. We explore the hidden structure of ship life—how crews function, how watchkeeping really works, and what it takes to survive and operate in extreme ocean conditions. Vernon also shares stories from Vietnam-era voyages, strange and unforgettable moments at sea, encounters with wildlife, and the transition from deep-sea shipping to becoming a marine pilot in Alaska and eventually working gold dredges in Nome. This is a look into a life shaped entirely by the ocean—its danger, beauty, and mystery. 🧠 Key Topics Covered What life at sea is actually like over decades Military background and transition into the merchant marine Structure of cargo ships and crew responsibilities Watchkeeping, navigation, and ship operations First voyages and Vietnam-era maritime routes Extreme storms and near-disaster experiences Culture, routines, and superstitions of sailors Isolation and psychological reality of long voyages Encounters at sea: wildlife, strange moments, and stories Becoming a marine pilot in Alaska Gold dredging in Nome and life after shipping 🎧 Powerful Moments from the Episode “We had a lot of fun on those old rust bucket freighters.” “You don't whistle on a ship because it’s bad luck.” “The ocean was teeming with dolphins—it was incredible.” ⏱️ Chapters What Life at Sea Is Really Like First Voyage: Vietnam Waters Understanding the Merchant Marine Ship Departments & Crew Roles Watchkeeping on the Open Ocean Daily Life on Cargo Ships Storms & Extreme Weather Global Sea Routes Pirates & Stowaways Strange & Beautiful Ocean Moments Becoming a Pilot in Alaska Massive Vessel Operations Gold Dredging in Nome Life After the Ocean 🌊 Guest Links Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vernon.adkison/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vernonadkison/ 🎧 Listen to the Podcast Website: www.WhosOnMyMind.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2tixBVnGPx8h72oOyjQNqC Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1783427441?mt=2&ls=1 #MerchantMarine #LifeAtSea #MaritimeStories #OceanAdventure #Seafaring #GoldDredging

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  Who's On My Mind Podcast

  The Only Way to Reach Mars May Be Human Hibernation | Dr. Ekaterina Kostioukhina

  Jun 23, 20261h 45m

  🚀 🪐 Dr. Ekaterina Kostioukhina joins me for a fascinating conversation on one of the most ambitious frontiers in science: human hibernation. Could humans one day enter suspended animation to survive long-duration space travel? Could hibernation help us reach Mars? And could the same science transform trauma care, organ preservation, and emergency medicine here on Earth? We explore the biology of torpor, hypometabolism, cryogenics, vitrification, adenosine, metabolism regulation, and space medicine, and why scientists—including researchers connected to NASA—are actively studying how to slow the human body down without causing harm. Dr. Kostioukhina explains how animals survive extreme metabolic shutdown, how medications like dexmedetomidine are being studied, and what human hibernation could mean for the future of medicine, space travel, and survival itself. If you’ve ever wondered whether suspended animation is science fiction—or science fact—this episode is for you. ⸻ 🎙 Listen on all platforms: 🌐 Website: WhosOnMyMind.com 🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whos-on-my-mind-podcast/id1783427441 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2tixBVnGPx8h72oOyjQNqC 🎧 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WhosOnMyMindPodcast ⸻ 📍 Guest Links – Dr. Ekaterina Kostioukhina 🌐 Website: https://www.drkostioukhina.com/hiberia Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ekaterina_kostioukhina_md YouTube: https://youtube.com/@drkostioukhinatv?si=f97UgcneHvDp4HDZ Linkedin: https://nz.linkedin.com/in/dr-kostioukhina X: https://x.com/Kostioukhina_MD ⸻ ⏱ Chapters: 00:00 The History of Human Hibernation 02:57 Could Humans Hibernate to Reach Mars? 05:57 The Psychological Cost of Deep Space Travel 09:00 What Animals Teach Us About Hibernation 11:51 Current Human Hibernation Research 21:26 Cryogenics, Vitrification & Organ Preservation 27:30 Can Human Torpor Actually Work? 30:56 Why Caffeine Works Against Hibernation 33:00 How Space Travel Changes the Human Body 37:13 Hibernation Lessons for Medicine 43:11 Metabolism, Temperature & Survival 50:39 The Future of Human Hypometabolism 56:53 Human Resilience in Extreme Conditions 01:04:42 Advances in Cryogenics 01:07:12 Nature’s Solutions to Metabolic Shutdown 01:11:22 Sleep vs Hibernation Explained 01:19:04 How Dr. Ekaterina Entered This Field 01:26:24 Space Rescue Protocols 01:30:14 Breath Control and Lowering Metabolism 01:39:10 How Hibernation Could Save Lives on Earth 01:42:29 The Future of Human Hibernation ⸻ Topics: Human hibernation, torpor, suspended animation, Mars travel, NASA hypometabolism research, cryogenics, metabolism, adenosine, dexmedetomidine, trauma medicine, organ preservation, emergency medicine, sleep science, space medicine, hypothermia research #HumanHibernation #SpaceMedicine #MarsMission #SuspendedAnimation #Cryogenics #Podcast

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  Who's On My Mind Podcast

  What Dying Children Teach Us About Life, Death & Parenting | Dr. Jared Rubenstein, Palliative Care

  Jun 9, 20261h 20m

  What can dying children teach us about life, death, parenting, and human connection? Dr. Jared Rubenstein is a pediatric palliative care physician, educator, and medical leader who has spent his career helping children and families navigate serious illness, grief, and end-of-life care with compassion and honesty. In this conversation, we explore what pediatric palliative care really is, the biggest misconceptions surrounding hospice and palliative medicine, how children think about death, and what families can learn from some of life's most difficult moments. Dr. Rubenstein shares powerful insights from years spent caring for seriously ill children and supporting parents through unimaginable challenges. We discuss communication, grief, hope, resilience, parenting, medical decision-making, and what dying children can teach all of us about life. Note: This episode includes discussion of childhood illness, death, grief, and hospice care. FOLLOW DR. JARED RUBENSTEIN: Website: https://JaredRubensteinMD.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrJRubenstein Canuck Place Children's Hospice: https://www.canuckplace.org ABOUT DR. JARED RUBENSTEIN: Dr. Jared Rubenstein is the Head and Medical Director of the Division of Palliative Medicine at BC Children's Hospital and Medical Director of Canuck Place Children's Hospice in Vancouver, Canada. Previously, he served as Program Director of Baylor College of Medicine's Pediatric Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship at Texas Children's Hospital. He is widely recognized for his educational work, speaking engagements, and short animated videos that help healthcare professionals and the public better understand palliative care, communication, grief, and serious illness. BOOKS & RESOURCES MENTIONED: The Private Worlds of Dying Children by Myra Bluebond-Langner PODCAST LINKS: Podcast Website: https://www.WhosOnMyMind.com Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1783427441?mt=2&ls=1 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2tixBVnGPx8h72oOyjQNqC TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Introduction 02:38 Why Choose Pediatric Palliative Care? 09:15 The YouTube Channel That Started by Accident 11:00 What Pediatric Palliative Care Actually Does 13:01 Which Children Receive Palliative Care? 17:01 Hospice vs. Palliative Care 18:38 Pediatric vs. Adult Palliative Care 20:25 Lessons from Hospice Volunteers 25:06 How Modern Medicine Changed Death 27:49 Misconceptions About Palliative Care 32:24 Why Families Fear the Conversation 34:47 What Dying Children Teach Us 41:42 What Parents Underestimate About Their Kids 44:46 The Questions Children Ask About Death 51:10 Meeting Families for the First Time 55:01 The "Elephant in the Room" Conversations 57:41 What Parents of Seriously Ill Children Teach Us 01:03:18 What Dying Children Taught Dr. Rubenstein About Life 01:12:10 Advice for Parents Facing Serious Illness 01:13:30 Managing Grief as a Physician 01:18:41 Where to Learn More About Dr. Rubenstein If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who may benefit from it. #palliativecare #HospiceCare #Parenting #Grief #Healthcare #PediatricPalliativeCare

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