Episode - 42 Part 1 “Jo on Reunion, Identity, and the Power of Story” Artwork

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.

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Australian Adoption Podcast - My Unknown Truth

Episode - 42 Part 1 “Jo on Reunion, Identity, and the Power of Story”

November 06, 2025 • Nadia Levett • Season 4 • Episode 42

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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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The Australian Adoption Podcast with host Nadia Levett!