About this episode

Samantha Shields shares her journey of searching for her origins, reuniting with her birth mother, and finding self-acceptance amidst family trauma.

Born in San Francisco in 1970 and adopted from foster care as an infant, Samantha (Sam) Shields spent years searching for answers about her origins and the feelings of loss and disconnection that shaped her life. After reuniting with her original mother at age 27, Sam navigated a complex and deeply meaningful relationship that ultimately helped her confront family trauma, find self-acceptance, and begin writing a memoir about her reunion journey.

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