Australian Adoption Podcast - My Unknown Truth
My Unknown Truth is a podcast sharing the stories and lived experiences of Australians who have been through adoption and foster care.
These stories are often complex, spanning over 50 years and touch on difficult truths, from growing up in an under-resourced system to Australia’s traumatic history of forced adoptions and Stolen Generations.
But within the darkness, there is also light; stories of hope, courage, resilience, and love. Hosted by Nadia Levett, an adoptee born and raised in Australia, this podcast is a deeply personal project.
It’s my wish that by sharing a range of voices and experiences, we can build greater awareness and understanding around adoption and foster care in Australia, spark informed conversations, and encourage others to share their truth, open hearts, minds, and homes to children in need.
- Update frequency
- every 35 days
- Average duration
- 44 minutes
- Episodes
- 42
- Years Active
- 2021 - 2025
Episode 41 - The Science of Calm: Dana Hargus Talks on Biofeedback, Attachment, and the Restore Method
Hey Listeners!
In this episode, I sit down with Dana Hargus - licensed professional counsellor, founder of Restore of Ada, and passionate advocate for trauma-informed healing.
Dana shares…
Episode 40 - Ryan Jon: Adopted…and Adept at Stirring Emotions
Welcome to The Australian Adoption Podcast, where we explore the stories that shape us; stories of identity, resilience, and the courage it takes to search your truth.
Today’s guest is s…
Episode 39 - Adoption Wasn’t a Big Deal for Michelle … Until It Was!
Today, we’re sitting down with Michelle- a mum, a midwife, a nurse, and someone who has walked the winding path of adoption and healing.
Adopted at six weeks old, Michelle grew up in so…
Trailer: Under the Radar - Stories That Needed Telling
Welcome to The Australian Adoption Podcast: My Unknown Truth, a space for the stories that live beneath the surface.
In this trailer, host Nadia Levett shares the origins of the podcast …
Episode 38 - “Winging It Since 1982: A Bonus Chat with Jo Sparrow”
Hey Everyone, and welcome to this special bonus ep of The Australian Adoption Podcast. This one’s a bit different - I’m flipping the mic and sharing an interview I did with Jo Sparrow o…
Episode 37 - "The Fire of Belonging: A Journey Through Loss and Sovereignty"
Welcome to Season 4 of The Australian Adoption Podcast, with your host Nadia Levett, where truth is reclaimed, stories are given a voice, and silence is broken.
Today, we are privileged…
Episode 36 - "Empowered Voices: Emily Hikaiti Elevating Youth in Australia's Care System"
Welcome to Season 3 of the Australian Adoption Podcast, with your host, Nadia Levett.
In today’s episode I’m joined by the inspiring Emily Hikaiti. Emily is an Australian-born Māori woma…
Episode 35 - "Adopted and Adopting: Peter's Journey of Love and Legacy"
"Welcome to the Australian Adoption Podcast, where we explore stories that inspire, challenge, and broaden our perspectives.
In this episode, we're honoured to introduce Peter, an 81-ye…
Episode 34 - FRAGILE, Handle with Care: Barton C Williams Story of War, Art & Identity
Hi listeners, today I am speaking with Barton.
A former Surf Life Saver, Australian barefoot water ski champion and an educator, Barton is also a published writer, an actor in film, tv…
Episode 33 - Every Child Deserves Better: Renee Carter on Reform, Resources & Adopt Change
Hi everyone, today I will be speaking to Renee Carter, CEO of Adopt Change Australia. Adopt Change is a non-profit organisation with its purpose to support children in need, focussing o…
Episode 32 - The Gift That Keeps on Giving: Kura Perkins on Love, Loss & Legacy
Hi everyone, today I speak with Kura.
Kura Perkins is a Perth-based adoptee. Born in 1975 and was adopted in Western Australia at 6 weeks of age to newly arrived immigrants from New Zea…
Episode 31 - Adopted & Amplified: Jim Moginie’s Soundtrack of Searching
Hi Listeners,
In this episode I sit down with Jim Moginie. We had an amazing conversation over zoom from his home in Ireland and I was fortunate to meet him for the launch of his new bo…
Episode 30 - “Make a Difference, Travel, Heal”: Denna’s Story of Adoption & Awakening
Hey guys,
Today I’m speaking with Denna.
Denna is an intercountry adopted person, born in Yogyakarta, Indonesia in 1979. She grew up in Mclaren Vale, South Australia, and an organisatio…
Episode 29 - Healing the Heart First: Alyson’s Woo-Woo Wisdom for Adoptee Wellness
Welcome to today's podcast.
My guest is Alyson, an Australian adoptee from the Baby Scoop Era of the 1970s. Alyson holds a Bachelor's degree in Naturopathy and is certified in a wide ar…
Episode 28 - When You’re Missing the Story: Julie on Health, Heritage & Making Sense of It All
Today I will be speaking to an international adoptee from Chicago, Julie who is also a author–memoirist, essayist, and columnist– who writes about finding out who you are, where you com…
Episode 27 - Six Weeks, Fifty Years, One Answer: Lisa’s Adoption Story Unfolds
Today’s guest, Lisa was born in England in 1970 and was adopted at six weeks of age into a family who had already adopted a son.
Lisa’s family moved to Australia when she was two years o…
Episode 26 - What Nanny’s Diary Revealed: Jo’s Late Discovery & the Search for Truth
Jo is a late discovery adoptee who discovered at the age of 46 that everything that she had known to be true about her identity and family was no longer, it was like a sudden and tragic…
Episode 25 - Of Priests, Nuns & DNA: Brendan’s Search for Belonging
When Brendan was eight years old, his parents told him he was adopted. In his late twenties, he found out the identity of his birth mother – but she wanted nothing to do with him.
For t…
Episode 24 - Unfolding the Self: Jo’s Path Through Forced Adoption & Healing
Jo is an adopted person, born in Adelaide in 1969. She lives with her family in Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Creativity has been a constant in her life and she worked in advertising, mark…
Episode 23 - Love That Lasts: Rowan Dent on Family, Success & Sacrifice
Today I am interviewing a gentleman by the name of Rowan Dent in Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
Rowan is a father of one who has been impacted by adoption and has seen first hand, the joy a…