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Artwork for Family Twist: A Podcast Exploring DNA Surprises and Family Secrets

Family Twist: A Podcast Exploring DNA Surprises and Family Secrets

Corey and Kendall Stulce
Adoption
Family Secrets
DNA Testing
Identity
Family Dynamics
Mental Health
Donor Conception
Open Adoption
Trauma
NPE
DNA
NPE (not Parent Expected)
Family Relationships
Childhood Trauma
Grief
Mental Wellness
Resilience
Healing
Community Support
NPE Community

Family Twist shares real-life stories of DNA surprises, adoption, donor conception, NPE discoveries, and the secrets that reshape families.

Hosted by Corey and Kendall Stulce, each episode explores what happens when the truth about identity, parentage, or family history comes to light. These revelations sometimes happen by choice, often by accident, and always with life-changing impact.

Through... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes241Founded4 years ago
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Artwork for Family Twist: A Podcast Exploring DNA Surprises and Family Secrets

Latest Episodes

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Decades after Dixie went to live with relatives in Iowa, her biological sister Molly was still angry that they never grew up together. Another family member believed Dixie had been better off with the parents who raised her.

In Par... more

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What happens when you discover a family secret, but the people who kept it never know you found out?

Anita Johnson’s mother, Dixie, grew up on a farm in Iowa. Her parents doted on her, and she carried that love into adulthood. Duri... more

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Want more Corey and Kendall? Join us on Patreon for Family Twist After Hours, our weekly unfiltered bonus show with personal stories, behind-the-scenes conversations, family chaos, and plenty we wouldn't normally share on Family Twi... more

YouTube

Send us Fan Mail

Want more Corey and Kendall? Join us on Patreon for Family Twist After Hours, our weekly unfiltered bonus show with personal stories, behind-the-scenes conversations, family chaos and plenty we would not normally share on Family Twi... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Anita Johnson
Guest who wrote to share an adoption story about her late mother Dixie
Listener Guest
Episode: She Let Them Keep Their Secret
Al Isaacs
Comedian, memoirist, subject of the episode
Author of Finding Mary Smith
Episode: Everyone Knew He Was Adopted Except Him
Nicole Davis
Writer and adoptee, featured guest discussing her adoption story and DNA discoveries
Writer / Adoptee
Episode: The DNA Match She Almost Ignored
Louise McLoughlin
Journalist and host of You Look Like Me, donor conception advocate
You Look Like Me
Episode: When the Reporter Becomes the Story
Joan Moran
Author of Suddenly Jewish
Author
Episode: She Didn't Tell Me We Were Jewish
Julie Ann Brumley
Guest, adoptee and storyteller
Episode: What Happens When You Finally Look Like Someone?
Angie Miller
Licensed mental health therapist, wellness coach, speaker, host of the Strong Mind, Strong Body podcast
Strong Mind, Strong Body podcast
Episode: A Therapist Faces Her Own DNA Surprise in Real Time
Dr. Syb Brown
Adoptee journalist, advocate
Independent advocate/author
Episode: “You Don’t Get to Tell Adoptees How to Feel”
Paul T. O'Connor
Author and journalist featured in the episode
Episode: The Search for His Mother’s Past Led to a Shocking Discovery

Hosts

Corey Stulce
Co-host of Family Twist; brings warmth, insight, and personal experience with adoption and DNA-surprises; part of a couple that guides conversations with guests.
Kendall Stulce
Co-host of Family Twist; shares empathy and humor while guiding discussions about identity revelations and family twists.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 118 ratings
  • Community

    Corey and Kendall help to build empathy for a very specific community of individuals. And if by chance you happen to be in the family “twist” community, this is a place to feel like you are not alone. Happy listening!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Big Nic 22
    United Statesa month ago
  • Little Mister Victory

    Tina and I were grateful for the opportunity to be on this wonderful podcast and talk about our years working on the answer to the question: who was the woman who put Tina‘s father, who is an infant at the time, in the arms of a stranger on the day that America was celebrating the end of World War II.

    The questions were thoughtful and insightful, and what struck me was the obvious passion that these people have for the subject and their compassion for the people who find themselves asking the q... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BostonDave2013
    United Statesa month ago
  • Let the NPE Guest Speak Please

    The man who does the interviews on this show constantly disrupts the flow of his guest’s story by going off on a tangent about his story. I have heard his whole story so many times. 😳 He needs to let his guest speak and stop thinking the audience needs to hear his past repeated. You told your story in the first episode so now please give the floor to others.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    VintageLPs
    United States5 months ago
  • Interesting Topics but…

    I’m always fascinated by these types of stories and was delighted to find the podcast today. However, the weird Halloween music in the background is a major distraction. Off to find another podcast, unfortunately.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    LS6
    United Statesa year ago
  • So relatable

    When you finally find the podcast where people actually understand your experience, it’s nothing short of magic. I love how Corey and Kendall share a mix of personal stories with guest experiences, showing us the many ways that family DNA can provide that oh-so-unexpected twist! Thank you so much for all you do. We all feel more seen, heard, and understood because of your show.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Emily Aborn
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Episodes mix humor with heartfelt trauma, creating a supportive space for sensitive topics.
Guests bring diverse experiences from adoptees to donor-conceived individuals, broadening appeal.
Hosts feel like family to listeners due to warmth and authenticity.

Top Society & Culture Podcasts

Notes from the Edge
Notes from the EdgeGamut Podcast Network
The Ezra Klein Show
The Ezra Klein ShowNew York Times Opinion
This American Life
This American LifeThis American Life
Stuff You Should Know
Stuff You Should KnowiHeartPodcasts
Dream Life Club
Dream Life ClubSumi Krishnan
Behind the Bastards
Behind the BastardsCool Zone Media and iHeartPodcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

When the Reporter Becomes the Story
Q: What was your ultimate goal with the podcast, and do you plan to keep it going as long as stories exist?
The goal is to document and humanize the donor conception experience, highlight the evolving landscape, and foster a community where people feel seen and understood. The host emphasized that the stories are ongoing because families continue to discover and redefine their identities, with the show serving as a space for those revelations to be shared.
She Didn't Tell Me We Were Jewish
Q: How did the DNA discoveries change your sense of self and family connections?
DNA revealed unexpected half-siblings and a broader extended family, reshaping the narrator's understanding of lineage and identity and illustrating how modern genetics can uncover truths that rebuild or redefine family narratives.
She Didn't Tell Me We Were Jewish
Q: Why did your mother hide her Jewish identity, and how did that shape your family's story?
Her mother hid her Jewish identity as a survival strategy in a hostile era; the setting of that fear explains the secrecy and the subsequent impact on multiple generations, including how the truth finally shifts perceptions of family and belonging.
He Opened the Envelope His Mother Told Him to Destroy
Q: Have you connected with some cousins on that side as well?
Yes, a cousin reacted politely and shared new information, helping expand the family picture.
From Only Child to One of Twelve
Q: Did you know you were adopted?
Elizabeth confirms she did know and describes her early awareness and the long path to reunion, including meeting her birth family after decades of searching.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A real-life storytelling series that centers on DNA discoveries, adoption, donor conception, late-discovery NPEs, and the shifting family narratives that follow. Conversations mix personal journeys with guests who reveal the emotional and practical aftershocks of truth coming to light, from reunions and identity shifts to the healing and boundaries that emerge. The show often pairs intimate, candid interviews with broader themes like family secrets, belonging, and the evolving meaning of kinship in the modern world, all driven by two hosts who share their own adoption and DNA-search experiences. A standout throughline is the blend of vulnerability, humor, and practical guidance for listeners navigating similar twists in their own families.

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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. DNA Surprises
2. NPE Stories
3. LA Calling
4. Mothers, Lies and DNA Surprises
5. Finding Family DNA

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 4 years ago and published 241 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Anita Johnson
2. Al Isaacs
3. Nicole Davis
4. Louise McLoughlin
5. Joan Moran
6. Julie Ann Brumley
7. Angie Miller
8. Dr. Syb Brown

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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