How DNA Led Me to a Father Who Never Knew I Existed
Finding Family DNA20 Marras 2025

How DNA Led Me to a Father Who Never Knew I Existed

In Episode 32 of Finding Family DNA, Jay and Misty sit down with Chakari Smith, an adoptee who grew up in Philadelphia and entered foster care at age 7 before being adopted at 11. Despite reconnecting with her birth mother later in life, Chakari never knew her father—until a combination of DNA testing, genealogy, and birth index research led Misty to uncover his identity. Chakari shares the emotional journey of discovering a half-brother, forming a relationship with her incarcerated father, and reflecting on the strength it took to break cycles of addiction. It’s a powerful story of resilience, reconnection, and redefining what family means.


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https://youtu.be/jUJs4nJfYzA


00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

00:21 Special Announcement: Patreon and YouTube Milestone

02:01 Guest Introduction: Chakari's Story

03:07 Chakari's Childhood and Adoption Journey

05:00 Reconnecting with Birth Family

11:46 Finding Chakari's Birth Father

13:29 PSA and Sponsor Message

15:07 The Search Process Explained

19:49 Connecting with Birth Father and Half-Brother

23:14 Building a Relationship with Birth Father


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https://www.instagram.com/birthparentfinder/


Are you looking to find your birth parents? Get in touch with Jay and his team!

https://www.birthparentfinder.com

https://www.instagram.com/birthparentfinder


This podcast was edited using PodShuttle, the fully-remote podcast editing and management service owned and operated by CHOBO Studios. For more info, visit podshuttle.io and follow us on Instagram to see more shows we've helped bring to life.

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#findingfamilyDNA #AdopteeVoices #AdoptionJourney #BirthParentSearch

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Jaksot(46)

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