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

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.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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Episoder(54)

The Montana Records That Led Misty to a Killer

The Montana Records That Led Misty to a Killer

In this episode of Finding Family DNA, Jay and Misty step away from adoption reunions to revisit a 47-year-old Montana cold case Misty worked during her time at Parabon NanoLabs. In December 1978, 16-...

6 Okt 30min

CeCe Moore Gets Canded: DNA, Friendship & the Stories Behind the Cases

CeCe Moore Gets Canded: DNA, Friendship & the Stories Behind the Cases

When we recorded this episode of Finding Family DNA, we had no idea that CeCe Moore was about to be announced as a RootsTech 2027 keynote speaker. Now, with that announcement official, the timing of t...

23 Sep 47min

A Tragic Discovery About My Birth Father Led Me to My Sister | Ep. 51

A Tragic Discovery About My Birth Father Led Me to My Sister | Ep. 51

In this episode of Finding Family DNA, we follow the story of a woman who set out to find the birth father she never knew, hoping for closure but bracing herself for anything. Using DNA and genetic ge...

8 Sep 29min

50 Episodes of Finding Family DNA: A Look Back

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In this episode of Finding Family DNA, we're celebrating a major milestone with a special look back at the journey so far. Host Jay Rosenzweig sits down with longtime co-host Misty, plus the studio te...

25 Aug 1h 2min

From the Primal Wound to the Paternal Wound

From the Primal Wound to the Paternal Wound

In this episode of Finding Family DNA, filmmaker Rebecca Autumn Sansom joins Jay to share the story behind her acclaimed documentary, Reckoning with the Primal Wound, and the winding path that led her...

11 Aug 46min

I Broke Into an Adoption Agency to Find My Name

I Broke Into an Adoption Agency to Find My Name

In this episode of Finding Family DNA, we sit down with an author and adoptee who turned a decades-long search for her birth family into three deeply personal books. Adopted in Denver in the early 196...

28 Jul 36min

A Regifted DNA Kit Uncovered My Birth Parents

A Regifted DNA Kit Uncovered My Birth Parents

In this episode of Finding Family DNA, we meet a California adoptee who grew up knowing she was adopted but never imagined how her story would unfold. After decades of quiet curiosity, a chance moment...

14 Jul 43min

DNA Revealed The Shocking Truth About My Birth Parents

DNA Revealed The Shocking Truth About My Birth Parents

In this episode of Finding Family DNA, Jason didn't learn he was adopted until his late 40s — and a simple request for his original birth certificate cracked open decades of family secrets. After a DN...

30 Jun 38min

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