#26 - Stephanie Drenka: Korean Adoptee & Birth Family Search

Stephanie Drenka is a Korean adoptee who shares her journey from growing up in a white family in Texas, feeling like she does not fit in, to searching for her birth family and after years reuniting with them. Her story is filled with many ups and downs from internal racism, going on a Korean TV show, meeting her birth mother for the first time and creating a strong bond with her middle sister.

Stephanie also sheds a light on adoption as a whole, from unresolved trauma and loss from the separation, abandonment issues in later relationships and being told to feel grateful for being saved.

Lastly the episode touches on the very important topic of Asian Hate Crimes and Stephanies on experiences with being sexualised as an Asian women from a very young age. We are planning a second episode focusing solely on this topic as well, as Stephanie who is a writer and studied Asian American and Women’s Studies has done extensive research on it.

Follow Stephanie on Instagram, read her blog and check out her amazing articles.

Be sure to rate & review the show on Apple Podcasts! It will really help us grow & reach more people!

Follow us on Instagram for daily inspirational stories!

Or check out our YouTube & website!

Want to connect with Festus directly? Hit him up on Instagram