Sounds like the father’s wife is an absolute nightmare, maybe the worst person on earth…if you take everything the guest said at face value. I think I’m going to be in the minority here, but I question the integrity of someone who infiltrates, then exposes, a private Facebook group under the guise of “research” and seeking “understanding”. That’s why I’m skeptical about her story and her role in it. As far as her claim that she’s back on the pod for closure? Seems more like she has an axe to grind given how uber prepared she was for a big public moment (complete with sensational excerpts from the private Facebook group to up the outrage/drama factor). I think she’s done a huge disservice to our community— regardless of how much truth there is to her story. To me, this is the epitome of a “cautionary tale.” I think it could make otherwise open new family members run the other way (my family listened to this podcast regularly after my surprise appearance, and some still do for perspective…I’m sure others families do too). I’m disappointed Lily gave her a platform. (3 stars bc I don’t want to hurt the overall rating of an otherwise great resource).

I really like the stories, rate them 5 stars. I was very disappointed in this special episode. Boring.

This is the most important episode of all! We may all have different twists & turns in our discovery of our truth, but our Drs could have informed us decades earlier. Could I have had better cardiac care decades ago? Could my health issues have helped my dad if we could have known each other more than 9 months before he died? My medical records are false for the first 64 years of my life. When I told a friend my story, she said that they test cancer & transplant patients for possible biological matches every day. She said it is very common to discover a dad is not bio. They just say, “ He is not a match.” Insane. Absolutely harmful. Everyone needs to hear this episode.

This podcast has been an important part of my healing journey since I found out my Dad wasn't my biological father nearly 5 years ago. Lily's calm voice and ability to expose the raw emotion from these shocking DNA truths have helped me process. Listening to the guests share their stories is comforting knowing I'm not alone. I've been able to heal with you all, thank you!

When I found out I was an NPE this is the first podcast I could find on the subject and it has helped me tremendously! It’s amazing hearing everyone’s different stories and has helped me navigate my own NPE journey. So many great resources and advice as well!

Finding out I am an NPE was extremely isolating. After a while I found this, my first NPE podcast, and it has helped enormously. Almost every episode has me shouting “YES!! Exactly!!” and the host is so empathetic, asks just the right amount of questions and lets the guests tell their stories. It brings a sense of community that fights back against the isolation. I’ve cried, I’ve laughed, I’ve calmed and I’ve learned so much. The podcast is a godsend. Thank you.

I am not an NPE & knew very little about this subject until I read Dani Shapiro’s book & then started listening to her podcast. The toxic consequences of keeping secrets comes up repeatedly in all these heart-wrenching stories. My heart goes out to all these NPEs who are victimized by self-centered, narcissistic adults (parents) & other family members who continue the legacy of ‘protecting’ the perpetrators (parent/liars) & punishing the innocents (NPEs). They should be ashamed! Lily—keep up your good work. You are providing a wonderful & very necessary service to your NPE community. I’m grateful I haven’t suffered this particular type of loss/trauma but have had other difficult losses in my life. We should all try to embrace each other—especially in this day & age w/ so much polarization everywhere.

I just found out days ago that I am an NPE. It has been very overwhelming, not really anyone to talk with about this as mostly don’t get what this means. People say things like..at least you had a family…etc, etc. NOT HELPFUL. Hearing these stories help. This whole process has caused a lot of pain and silent reflection. Thank you for all who share.

I am not a NPE but a half sibling found by a NPE. I have listened to every episode to date. It has helped me understand and be supportive of my NPE brother’s journey. He has been a blessing. Thank you Lily!

This podcast has been so helpful in allowing me to understand and accept this change in my life. It lets me know that I’m not alone and has helped me to not feel the shame that I felt in the beginning.

Excellent podcast and extremely helpful. I love the format and the easy conversations that take place. This is a safe place to come to and learn.

This is so elegantly produced. I’ve listened to every episode at least 3 times, and I get so excited for each new one. Thank you! One thing. Guests should be told not to write and read their stories. Difficult to follow. I’m sure they do so because they’re anxious, but it’s hard to listen. I switch off immediately. They read so fast and sound less authentic than those talking with this great host. I guess if it was my podcast I’d tell readers not to read their stories. I’d love to hear some of these, expressed more organically. But impossible to listen to these. That said. All others are just beautiful. Just let go, & talk to Lily!

I can’t begin to explain how much this podcast helped me and guided me through a very tough time in my life. The stories made me feel like I wasn’t alone. I can’t thank Lily enough for putting this out in the world, for NPE’s like me who are trying to process a new identity. If you are an NPE, donor conceived, or adopted, give this podcast a shot. It truly saved me.

I can’t thank you enough for your podcast , it’s hard finding all this out and then to be rejected by the bio family..it’s so nice to know I am not alone. Thank you for all you do ❤️gretchen

This podcast has been such support and a literal life saver after finding out a DNA surprise in my mature years. Lily is a very wonderful, compassionate listener and understands because she too is an NPE. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I am not an NPE but this is one of my favorite podcasts to listen to. Lily’s way of “interviewing” almost seems like a therapy session for a lot of people that find themselves discovering this life changing news. I appreciate how she just listens and only asks questions when something may need clarification. I empathize a lot with the NPE’s and wish all of them peace and happiness.

I loved this episode. Thank you!

The stories here are so enlightening and often times, sad. I myself, am not an NPE, but after obtaining my DNA results, found that my deceased father is. A few days before his death, he expressed his sadness that his mother, who placed him in a foster home, didn’t come back for him. The BCF that he thought was his biological father, turned out not to be. I know from a conversation with my mother that he searched for this man all of his life. He would have been searching in vain. I’ve narrowed down some likely possibilities, but can’t be 100% certain who the actual bio dad is. I don’t know if I’ll ever get answers, and wish that he was still alive so I could let him know, but as long as I’m alive, there is hope. Much respect for all the people who have made themselves vulnerable to the possibility of rejection, to find their truth.

I love this podcast Lily, It’s helpful in navigating through all the roller coaster feelings of being NPE !! Love hearing all the stories and you always ask important questions. Thanks for providing such a therapeutic tool for us NPE’s.

I am sincerely grateful that this podcast exists. This platform is so therapeutic. It’s helpful to know that we are not alone.

In listening to NPE stories and Lily the NPE host, I am ever so grateful for this NPE Podcast. Lily is so gracefully sincere. As an NPE and finding out two year ago, I can’t thank you enough ! The NPE stories are so heartfelt. It feels better to know we are not alone in these journeys. Kindly~ Karen5176

Listening to other’s experiences have helped me to heal and put my own emotions into perspective. Love this podcast and the peace it has brought to me!

What an amazing podcast. Seriously, this Podcast got me through the darkest part of my NPE journey. Lily is awesome. Total genius. What a platform she’s created for people to just share from their heart.

Don is a good storyteller in relaying his complex family constellation. I've subscribed to his podcast too. I was a little confused when he referred to Mexico a few times. I think he meant NEW Mexico? I have listened to many many NPE podcasts and I think the reason for the prevelance of narcissistic mothers is that those are the NPEs who are blindsided and need to tell their stories. If the mother was mentally healthy, she either told the truth early on or, when confronted with it, told the truth and put her child first. Those NPEs are not as likely to show up on podcasts. Thx for your podcast, Lily, and thx to Don for his story.

All the feels🥰

I am not sure why it took me so long to find this podcast. It is so nice to now I am not alone. I have always known I had a different father but I just never knew him. I know him now. These pod cast are helping me with my emotions.

This podcast is a labor of love for its creator. She simply allows people to tell their uncensored story. There are no ads and no sponsor. I am grateful for this non-commercial approach to sharing an important issue around the planet. Do yourself a favor and just listen to the storytellers express themselves in their own voices. You will not regret it.

After discovering I was an NPE in 2021, this podcast was one of the first resources I found that made me feel not so alone in my discovery process. They’re real raw stories that are so helpful to the NPE community and I’m thankful this podcast exists.

This podcast is a lifeline. After I found out I was an NPE I listened to almost every episode and it helped me untangle my own hairball of emotions and not feel so alone.

Thank you, Lily! Finding your podcast early last year helped me more than therapy or the fb groups! These stories have helped me feel less alone. I have so much gratitude for you and the people that have shared their stories.

Thank you for bringing our stories to life and helping us to heal. I urge everyone to listen ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

I love Lily’s podcast because unlike some other podcasts she features regular people— our friends-our neighbors - people in our communities. I get so much out of listening to the stories. Thank you Lily and her guests for providing support to us NPEs.

As I listen to the stories I find myself nodding in agreement and even talking to my phone agreeing with the stories that these people are telling. A lot of them are stories of my life. Emotions I’ve felt, the way my family responded ... it’s amazing to see all of the similar emotions and actions that are in all these different families... even across country lines, across ethnic lines, across economics lines...

I have enjoyed these stories so much. I find myself nodding my head at so many similarities to other NPE’s when hearing them. My daughter gave me Ancestry December 2018 as a gift because I told her that’s what I wanted. My results came in 2/1/2019 and at the top of my matches listed a man’s name I didn’t know. It stated he was my Father. The relationship was parent/child. I was so confused & distraught! My ethnicity was also not what I was told. I am 34% Scottish & 15% Irish & no German like I was told my entire life. I was 53 at that time & raised by a different man. Currently I have met & developed a beautiful Father/Daughter relationship with this man that I look just like! I have also developed a great relationship with my new aunt & numerous cousins that I look just like. The sad part of this is my family of origin is not in my life & I have a new 1/2 brother I haven’t met. This discovery will change your life forever & nothing or nobody can prepare you for that.

I found out via an Ancestry.com test in 2018, and this show makes me feel like I’m not alone. Thank you, Lily, and all of your amazing and brave guests who share their stories. This isn’t something that even my closest friends and family understand - but you guys do ❤️

I am not an NPE, but I cannot get enough of this podcast. I look forward to every episode.

I’m an NPE. I recommend this to all listeners. Good job, Lily.

First off, I am not an NPE nor do I know of anyone who is. I just find this subject matter so interesting. The host of the podcast seems so compassionate and calming that you would feel comfortable spilling your whole NPE story to her! I wish she would post more than one episode a week❤️

The last episode...”scott’s story” 8/05/2020...was probably the best yet! What an amazing take he has on his situation and overall view of his “new” life! Down to earth and such a real guy! I wish he was my therapist lol. Great Episode!!! 👍🏽👍🏽

Lilly was made for this. She lets the people tell the stories without interruption and she has such a beautiful and gentle way of supporting the person while they tell the story. Thank you for this podcast! I had a woman contact me on Ancestry last week who found out she was an NPE and I immediately told her about this podcast so that she didn’t feel alone.

I appreciate that this podcast is created by an NPE who truly understands the emotional rollercoaster involved. I love this Podcast and believe it is a safe place for NPE’s to tell their stories without fear of being sensationalized.

As a newly discovered NPE, I was so excited to see this new podcast. I really enjoyed hearing the first two stories and can relate to all the issues at stake. Trying to balance my need to know with my mom’s desire to keep it a secret, discovering new siblings of differing openness to me and in my case my BF is quite wealthy and feeling like he thinks I’m just after some kind of inheritance.