Hosting Let’s Talk Adoption back in 2010
At the time, it was one of the very first internet radio shows dedicated entirely to adoption, and over the years, it’s aired on platforms like Voice America and SiriusXM. Two decades later, it’s still going strong, and I couldn’t be prouder of what it’s become.
How Let’s Talk Adoption Began
When I founded Lifetime Adoption, I quickly realized that the paperwork and the process were only part of the story. Families needed something else: real conversations, real questions answered, real reassurance from people who understood what they were going through.
I started recording those conversations myself, sitting down with adoptive parents, birth parents, and adoption professionals to talk honestly about what adoption really looks like.
That original vision of open, honest conversation, with no topic off-limits, is still the heartbeat of the show today. I’ve since handed the mic to hosts Heather Featherston and Kim King, who release a new episode every single week. They’ve carried the torch beautifully, and I still listen to every episode myself.
Let’s Talk Adoption is proudly sponsored by the Lifetime Adoption Foundation, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit I founded to provide birth parent scholarships and adoption grants for children who are harder to place. It’s a cause that’s close to my heart, and one you’ll hear us mention from time to time.
What You’ll Hear on the Show
One thing I always wanted Let’s Talk Adoption to do differently: cover the whole picture of adoption, not just one corner of it. Over the years, episodes have dug into:
- Domestic and international adoption
- Adoption financing and grants
- The home study process
- Adoptee search and reunion stories
- Adopting older children and sibling groups
- Transracial adoption and fostering inclusivity
- Foster care and adoption law
- Open adoption and healthy relationships
Whether you’re just starting to explore adoption, you’re in the thick of the process, or you’re a family member trying to understand it better, I promise there’s an episode for you.
A Few Episodes I’d Point You To
If you’re new to the show, here are a few recent conversations I’m especially proud of:
- The Adoption Hospital Experience: What Really Happens? — Heather and Kim walk through what families can typically expect at the hospital, which is one of the most emotional and least-talked-about parts of an infant adoption.
- What Is ICPC? A Simple Guide to Interstate Adoption — A clear breakdown of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children, for any family adopting a baby born in a different state than the one they live in.
- Adopting as a Single Parent: Maureen’s Two Adoptions — Kim talks with a two-time single adoptive mom about growing her family through international adoption, including an unexpected connection made years later with another family from her daughter’s orphanage.
- Why Wouldn’t She Choose Us? — Heather and Kim talk honestly about the emotional side of waiting, especially when a family isn’t selected after being presented to an expectant mother. I remember how much families needed permission to talk about that feeling, and I’m glad the show gives them space to.
- Mardie Caldwell: 40 Years of Faith-Led Adoption — In this episode of Let’s Talk Adoption, I reflect on the vision behind Lifetime Adoption, the spiritual calling that defined its purpose, and my own path from infertility to a lifetime devoted to service. You can watch a video of this episode here:
Adoption Doesn’t End at Placement, And Neither Does the Podcast
Something I’ve believed since day one: a good adoption podcast has to follow families for the whole journey, not just the paperwork. It’s easy to think you only need adoption resources in the weeks before your baby arrives.
But identity, connection, and the birth parent relationship keep evolving for years, through the toddler years, the school years, and into your child’s own questions about where they come from. That’s why the show has never limited itself to pre-placement topics. It was never meant to be a checklist. It was meant to walk alongside families for as long as they needed it.
Why I Still Believe in Listening
I know how overwhelming the adoption process can feel. I’ve watched thousands of families go through it, and I went through pieces of it myself in building the Lifetime Adoption Agency. Hearing other people’s stories does something a checklist or a brochure never can: it reassures you that you’re not alone, and it gives you language for feelings you might not have known how to name yet. A podcast turns your commute, your chores, or your workout into a moment of real support.
Let’s Talk Adoption releases a new episode every week, and after more than twenty years, I still think it’s one of the most meaningful things I’ve built.
Listen to Let’s Talk Adoption
You can subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, YouTube Music, and via RSS. New episodes drop weekly at LetsTalkAdoption.com/episodes.
And if you’re just beginning your own adoption journey, I’d love for you to reach out to Lifetime Adoption, the agency I founded more than 40 years ago. We offer free applications, guidance through the adoption process, and real adoption stories from families who’ve been exactly where you are now.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who started Let’s Talk Adoption?
Mardie Caldwell, an adoption expert and the founder of Lifetime Adoption, started Let’s Talk Adoption in 2003 as one of the first internet radio shows dedicated entirely to adoption.
Who hosts Let’s Talk Adoption now?
Heather Featherston and Kim King currently host Let’s Talk Adoption, releasing new episodes every week featuring real adoption stories and expert advice.
Is Let’s Talk Adoption connected to Lifetime Adoption?
Yes. Let’s Talk Adoption is sponsored by the Lifetime Adoption Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit I founded that provides adoption education. Currently, Let’s Talk Adoption is hosted by Lifetime’s Heather Featherston and Kim King.
Where can I listen to Let’s Talk Adoption?
Let’s Talk Adoption is available on Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, YouTube Music, by email subscription, and by RSS feed, with new episodes published weekly at letstalkadoption.com.
Does Let’s Talk Adoption only cover infant adoption?
No. While infant adoption is a frequent topic, the podcast also covers international adoption, foster care adoption, adopting older children and sibling groups, transracial adoption, and adoptee search and reunion stories.
Does Let’s Talk Adoption cover life after placement, or just the adoption process?
Both. Alongside process-focused episodes on topics like financing and the home study, Let’s Talk Adoption features ongoing conversations with adoptive parents, birth parents, and adoption professionals about identity, connection, and parenting through adoption well beyond placement day.