Dr. Hollee McGinnis — a Korean adoptee, scholar, and founder of Also-Known-As, Inc. — joins the show to explain the complexities of adoption, identity, and healing. The conversation explores the ways adoptees navigate belonging, loss, and cultural difference, offering wisdom for individuals, families, and communities to support authentic connection and emotional growth.

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Timestamps:
00:00 - Coming Home: The Kinship and Journey of Adoption
01:13 - Introducing Dr. Hollee McGinnis: Scholar, Social Worker & Adoptee Leader
02:21 - Hollee’s Early Story: Adoption, Identity & Childhood Reflections
03:35 - Realizing Racial Difference: Navigating Cultural Identity in America
05:44 - Exploring Identity: College, Cultural Dissonance & Senior Thesis
06:50 - The Complex Losses and Gains in Adoption
08:07 - Founding Also Known As: Embracing Multiple Identities
10:06 - Shame, Belonging, and the Challenge of Assimilation
12:04 - Adoptee Psyche: Early Imprints, Loss & Healing
14:42 - Remembering Our Beginnings: The Hidden Losses in Adoption
15:38 - Reclaiming Korean Roots: Food, Kimchi, and Embodied Healing
19:43 - Coming Home to Self: Embodiment, Trauma & Wholeness
21:19 - Cancer, Early Adversity & Intergenerational Healing
23:43 - Overachievement & People-Pleasing: The Impacts of Adoption Trauma
26:47 - Pathways to Healing: Naming, Digesting, and Reclaiming Self
28:32 - Beyond Productivity: Redefining Success, Value & Enoughness
29:48 - “You Should Be Grateful”: Shedding Conditioned Responses
31:18 - The Ongoing Spiral of Identity Work & Meaning-Making
33:04 - Post-Traumatic Growth: Moving Through Grief to Wholeness
36:01 - Processing Adoption Myths: From Luck to Loss to Integration
37:46 - Guidance for Adoptive Parents: Self-Work and Holding Space
40:20 - Embracing Both Families: Adoption as More Love and More Heartache
41:35 - Transforming Pain to Purpose: Mindset Shifts & Agency
42:36 - The Flow of Healing: Befriending All Parts of Ourselves
44:38 - Riding Emotional Waves: Practices for Core Self & Growth
48:10 - The Golden Buddha: Rediscovering Our Inner Light
51:18 - Rapid-Fire Questions: Beauty, Humanity & Lasting Truths
54:28 - Connect with Dr. Hollee McGinnis & Closing Inspiration

Hollee's Links:

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hollee.mcginnis/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/hollee-a-mcginnis-phd-msw-ba03114/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hollee.mcginnis/

The Human Beauty Movement Links:

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Jennifer Norman Links:

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