Carlos has wanted children since he was 17. He started researching adoption in his mid-twenties and, ten years later, he's stuck in stage one but excited about his future as a single adopter for one or two children.

Charlie and Ben had said they felt unable to take a child with complex medical needs but when their daughter was born and taken straight to intensive care, they knew they wanted to make it work. They talk about early contact sessions and the toll they took. They also talk about their family's delight in meeting the new baby and how much joy she's brought into their lives.

On our 100th episode, Miles and Pip talk openly about the process of adopting their daughters and Miles tells us about being best known for "poisoning" a fellow contestant, in front of seven million people, on the hit BBC TV show Traitors!

Traitors Season Two

Peter and Tor adopted their children over a decade ago and they talk about what it's like to parent teens. They also share what they've learnt along the way and what they wish they'd known when they started out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLuEY6jN6gY

Max and his husband adopted their son just over a year ago. Max was concerned about the assessment process because he has a trans history and has anxiety. Luckily, they had an awesome social worker who made things as easy as possible. Max talks about the joys (and tiredness!) of parenting.

Adam and Oliver were struggling with family finding when they came to the NFS summer camp. The people they met gave them the strength to continue and their son came home weeks later. They talk about the highs and lows, including how they've dealt with their son initially bonding more with Oliver than with Adam. They even tell us all about their "Jar Fairy" who magically sends messages to the people their son misses.

Brian and Kevin knew they wanted to adopt. They imagined themselves with one new born baby, but as their assessment progressed, they realised they wanted siblings. With a few months, they had a two-year-old and a one-year-old.

Lee and John adopted their son three years ago when he was two. They talk about preparing for transracial adoption; the things they got right and the mistakes they made. They also talk about how the first six weeks were difficult but overall their journey has been joyful.

• Why I'm No Longer Talking To White People About Race (Book) by Reni Eddo-Lodge Buy from Waterstones
• White Fragility (Book) by Robin DiAngelo Buy from Waterstones
• Colin in Black and White (Netflix) Watch on Netflix (account required)
• The Cultural Iceberg - https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Edward-T-Halls-Cultural-Iceberg_fig2_361162662