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In this second part of my conversation with Jo, we begin with the moment she met her birth father; a man who had known about her existence but didn’t surface until an argument broke out between them twelve years later. Jo shares the complexity of that reunion, the emotions it stirred, and how it shaped her understanding of belonging.

We also talk about the struggles she faced after the birth of her first child, what led her to seek support from Jigsaw Queensland, and how that experience became a turning point. From there, Jo reflects on her professional journey, her role in advocacy, education, and the adoption space today, and why she continues to amplify adoptee voices through her work.

Jo’s story reminds us that adoption is never a single moment, it’s a lifelong journey of reunion, identity, and healing. Her honesty about the challenges of meeting her birth father, navigating motherhood, and finding support through Jigsaw Queensland shows the resilience it takes to carry and transform that “bag of sad.”

Now, as President of Jigsaw Queensland and host of the Adopt Perspective podcast, Jo is using her lived experience to create change, connection, and understanding for others.

Jo, thank you for trusting me with your story and for the work you continue to do in this space.

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The Australian Adoption Podcast with host Nadia Levett!

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Hey everyone, welcome to The Australian Adoption Podcast: My Unknown Truth.

In this two-part episode, I’m chatting with Jo - an adoptee, advocate, and the voice behind the Adopt Perspective podcast. Jo was born in 1971, right in the middle of Australia’s closed adoption era, and her story is one of deep reflection, resilience, and truth-telling.

In Part 1, we talk about Jo’s early years - being chosen from a hospital nursery, growing up on a grain farm, and navigating a complex relationship with her adoptive family. She opens up about the emotional impact of being “un-mothered,” the silence around her origins, and how grief showed up in her body long before she had words for it.

Jo’s honesty is powerful, and her story speaks to so many of us who’ve felt that ache of not quite belonging.

Let’s dive in.

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Thanks for listening! Follow me on Instagram or find me on Facebook or Twitter.
The Australian Adoption Podcast with host Nadia Levett!

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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 how her journey as a mother to an adopted son led her into the world of biofeedback, attachment theory, and frequency-based care. With over 25 years of experience, she’s built a healing model that blends science, compassion, and practical tools for families navigating trauma, adoption, and regulation. From PEMF devices, tapping to TBRI and online support, Dana’s Restore Method offers a pathway to calm; one frequency at a time.

If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who might need it. Until next time, take care and keep creating space for healing.

To learn more about Dana’s programs, including Restore of Ada and her online platform Restore+, visit https://restoreofada.com/about-restore

Support the show

Thanks for listening! Follow me on Instagram or find me on Facebook or Twitter.
The Australian Adoption Podcast with host Nadia Levett!