In this week’s episode of your favorite Korean Adoptee podcast, the Janchi Boys sit down with Tia Stark to talk about birth work, community, and much, much more! Tia shares her story and how she found herself connecting to the Korean community. She also talks about how birth work has helped her think differently about birth mothers and first families and how we think about those relationships.
Later, we do the food eating portion cause you know we do! See y’all in 2022!
Show Notes
// Meet Tia Stark
In this episode we talk about:
- The Last Intro of the Yeaaaar: 1:04
- Tia’s adoption story: 6:27
- Defining “Birth Work”: 9:16
- Growing up in SoCal: 11:00
- Engaging with the Korean culture/community: 14:31
- The differences in our journeys: 17:12
- Internalized mindsets: 20:48
- Deconstructing internalized values + the rock climbing community: 25:44
- Conversations about adoption with other diasporic Koreans: 32:58
- Birth work and compassion for birth mothers: 40:24
- The Food Eating Portion: 50:46
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The Janchi Show Quick Bio
We’re three Korean Adoptees spread out around America and each of us are at different stages in life. We’ll talk about the Korean adoptee experience from our perspectives and learn more about our shared culture, usually with food. And it won’t just be the three of us; each week we’ll have other adoptees from all over the world joining us to talk about what makes us similar and what makes us unique. So join the party!
// Meet the Janchi Boys!
Nathan Nowack
Nathan was adopted from Seoul at 5 months old and raised in a small town in Oklahoma by a loving family and non-biological adopted sister. After college in Colorado he later moved to Los Angeles to pursue a digital media career and eventually started 2 photography companies. He has a wife and 3 kids and has reconnected with his biological family in 2014. In 2021, Nathan and his family moved back to Colorado to be closer to family and start a new chapter in their lives.
Connect with Nathan!
Patrick Armstrong
Patrick was adopted from Seoul by a white family in Indiana. He is also the president and co-founder of All Times Are Local, a Chicago-based nonprofit focused on helping older foster youth. He attended college at Purdue University in West Lafayette and currently resides in Indianapolis.
Connect with Patrick!
- Website: http://www.alltimesarelocal.org
- LinkedIn: http://linkedin/in/patrickarmstrong219
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/patrickintheworld
K.J. Roelke
KJ was adopted from Daegu and raised in Dallas, Texas with his two biological, older siblings and his younger sister, adopted from Russia. After spending a decade in the Midwest for college and career, he and his wife are back in Dallas and living large! He has been on his journey of discovery since 2015 and spends his days populating the internet with content.
Connect with K.J.!
// Listen to/Watch The Janchi Show on all major platforms:
- Apple: http://janchishow.com/apple
- Spotify: http://janchishow.com/spotify
- Youtube: http://janchishow.com/youtube
// Join the Asian Podcast Network:
- Website: https://asianpodcastnetwork.com/
- Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/asianpodcastnetwork/
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// The Janchi Show is produced by Just Like Media:
- Website: http://www.justlikemedia.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/justlikemedia
Executive Producer: Jerry Won
Creative Director: Michelle Nam
Audio & Video Engineer: K.J. Roelke/Patrick Armstrong
Graphic Design: Nathan Nowack