by Corey and Kendall Stulce
Welcome to Family Twist, the podcast that dives deep into the tangled webs of family secrets and DNA surprises. Each episode, hosts Corey and Kendall Austin Stulce explore the complex and challenging truths that come with discovering you are a non-parent expected (NPE) individual—someone whose familial origins aren't what they seemed. Through candid interviews with people from the NPE, adoptee, and donor-conceived communities, Family Twist offers a platform for stories of unexpected parentage, family secrets, and the quest for identity. From the joyful to the heartbreaking, our guests share their journeys of discovery, acceptance, and healing. Why subscribe? Family Twist isn’t just another family history podcast. It’s a support network, a place for healing, and a beacon for anyone navigating the emotional landscape of familial discoveries. Whether you’re directly impacted by these issues or just fascinated by the profound effects of family secrets, this podcast provides insights and company as you journey through the often-unspoken parts of family life. Join us as we unravel the hidden threads of the past, bringing them into the light to foster understanding and connection. Hit subscribe to never miss an episode of Family Twist — where family stories are heard, secrets are revealed, and healing begins. And remember, family secrets are the ultimate plot twist!
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Publishing Since
4/5/2022
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April 15, 2025
<p>In the continuation of Jeremy’s deeply moving story, everything changes with one message: “We discovered we have a brother.” After a lifetime of being the family secret—unwanted by a mother who abused him, erased by a father who walked away—Jeremy took the risk of opening the door. And what came through was nothing short of transformational.</p><h1>The Day I Was No Longer a Ghost</h1><p>In Part 2 of this powerful two-part episode, Jeremy walks us through:</p><ul><li>Reaching out to the man who abandoned him—and the cold reply he didn’t expect</li><li>The email from his siblings that knocked him to his knees</li><li>Holding a cousin’s hand for the first time and realizing, this is my family</li><li>The lifelong wounds of rejection—and how healing begins with being seen</li><li>The joy, awkwardness, and grace of building real relationships with newfound siblings</li><li>Why a “Gotcha Day” means more when you’ve never been claimed before</li><li>How love, when it’s real, doesn’t flinch</li></ul><br/><p>This is not a fairy tale. It’s better. Because it’s earned.</p><p>Through tears, therapy, and unflinching vulnerability, Jeremy built something stronger than a reunion—he built a family.</p><p>If you’ve ever wondered what it would feel like to finally belong, this episode is for you.</p>
April 8, 2025
<p>When Jeremy first reached out to Family Twist, his email stopped us in our tracks. The pain, the longing, the strength—it was all there in his words. In this raw and unforgettable episode, Jeremy shares the first part of his life story: a childhood marked by instability, abuse, and the aching absence of family identity.</p><h1>"Brace for Impact": Surviving Trauma and Searching for Identity</h1><p>Born from an affair, Jeremy was raised by a mother struggling with addiction and severe mental health issues. He endured emotional and physical abuse, neglect, and an ever-changing last name as men cycled in and out of their lives. With no father in sight, and a mother who viewed him more as a weapon than a son, Jeremy’s early years were filled with fear and confusion.</p><p>But even in the darkest corners, Jeremy found light. Music became his refuge. His innate charm became a survival tool. And while he spent his teenage years couch-hopping and navigating life without consistent love or safety, the dream of finding his real family—the people who looked like him, sounded like him, belonged to him—never truly disappeared.</p><p>In this first part of Jeremy’s journey, we explore:</p><p>The lifelong effects of in utero and childhood trauma</p><p>How music and performance became lifelines</p><p>Surviving parental neglect and emotional abandonment</p><p>The deep yearning to know where—and who—you come from</p><p>How internalized fear of rejection shapes adult relationships</p><p>Jeremy’s story is heartbreaking, brave, and deeply human. It’s also just the beginning.</p><p>Stay tuned for Part 2, where a chance encounter at a wedding leads to a stunning discovery—and the beginning of a love story no one saw coming.</p>
April 1, 2025
<p>In this powerful and timely episode, Corey and Kendall sit down with Alexis Hourse;t, the creator and host of <a href="https://dnasurprises.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the DNA Surprises podcast </a>— a show dedicated to exploring the emotional complexity of unexpected DNA discoveries. Alexis shares her own deeply personal story of finding out through a consumer DNA test that she was not who she thought she was—and how that revelation sent her on a journey of identity, belonging, and healing.</p><h1>DNA Surprises in a Time of Erasure</h1><p>Alexis opens up about:</p><ul><li>Navigating the shock of discovering her African American heritage after being raised with a different understanding of her identity</li><li>The emotional impact of losing connection to a culture she never got to fully claim growing up</li><li>How starting DNA Surprises just months after her discovery became a crucial tool for healing</li><li>The importance of community when family and identity are thrown into question</li><li>How recent political efforts to erase history and the unexpected bankruptcy of 23andMe complicate DNA journeys today</li></ul><br/><p>This episode goes beyond the personal and dives into how larger societal forces—racism, history erasure, and privacy concerns—affect individuals finding their roots through DNA.</p><p>Whether you are part of the DNA surprise, adoption, NPE (Not Parent Expected), or donor-conceived communities, or simply someone interested in the power of personal storytelling and resilience, this episode will resonate.</p><h2>About Alexis Hourselt</h2><p>Alexis Hourset is the creator and host of DNA Surprises, a podcast that shares the journeys of people who experience unexpected DNA discoveries, also known as DNA surprises. Since launching in 2021, Alexis has built a strong community, providing a platform for others navigating identity shifts, family complexities, and the emotional impact of uncovering hidden histories. She is also a writer, speaker, and advocate for those processing the often-complicated realities of DNA testing.</p><p>Alexis lives in Arizona with her family and is passionate about building spaces where people feel less alone on their journey to understanding themselves.</p><h3>Connect with Alexis:</h3><p>🎧 Listen to DNA Surprises: <a href="https://www.dnasurprisespodcast.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.dnasurprises.com</a></p><p>📸 Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dnasurprises" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@dnasurprises</a></p><h3>In this episode:</h3><p>✔ What it's like to discover you’ve been living with a hidden identity</p><p>✔ The healing power of community and podcasting</p><p>✔ Why history and identity matter more than ever right now</p><p>✔ Coping with the emotional weight of family secrets</p><p>✔ The unexpected ripple effect of 23andMe’s bankruptcy on DNA discovery journeys</p><p>Listen, Rate & Subscribe</p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/family-twist/id1618794558" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/2ca58fb6-a31e-460d-be69-f21b91d3eeba/family-twist" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Amazon</a></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mYW1pbHktdHdpc3QuY2FwdGl2YXRlLmZtL3Jzc2ZlZWQ?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjYmLfT4ZH3AhUqGVkFHXIMCdwQ9sEGegQIARAD" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a></p>
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