In this episode, Ashley Bartels shares her remarkable journey through infertility, foster care, and the unexpected gift of adoption. Born with cerebral palsy and epilepsy, Ashley was told she’d never have children. Yet at 21, she fought to carry her first daughter, Shelby.

Years later, after longing for another child, Ashley and her husband Michael opened their home to two young sisters through foster care. The joy, heartbreak, and eventual reunification reshaped their understanding of love and surrender.

Just when they believed their fostering chapter had closed, a call came: a newborn baby girl who needed a family. Two days before Ashley’s 41st birthday, Meredith was placed in her arms—an answer to prayers she had nearly stopped praying.

Her story is a powerful reminder that even in the hardest detours, God is writing something beautiful.

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In this powerful episode, Shannon Phillips opens up about the raw, emotional path her family walked through adoption—from the heartbreaking surrender of her first child, Anna Marie, to the hard-won joy of welcoming her son, Thomas. Shannon shares the toll of legal battles, the weight of uncertainty, and the faith that carried her forward. Her story sheds light on the realities of adoption and foster care, the importance of support for families, and the resilience born from both grief and hope. This episode is a testament to love, perseverance, and the courage it takes to build a family through adoption.

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In this episode, Robin shares her journey as an Asian American adoptee raised in a white family—from her early years in foster care to navigating life between her adoptive and biological families. She reflects on the complexities of transracial identity, the impact of how her heritage was handled growing up, and what it has meant to know her biological parents. Robin’s story offers honest insight into the cultural and emotional layers of adoption and what they can teach all of us.

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In this episode, Rosa Hood shares her story of being adopted at birth and how it’s shaped every part of her life. She talks about her 25-year marriage, raising three daughters, and the faith that carried her through loss and healing. Rosa opens up about her gratitude for her adoptive parents, the courage of her birth mother, and her deep connection to Our Lady of Guadalupe. Her story is a beautiful reminder of how faith, family, and adoption are all part of one divine plan.

00:00 – Introduction & Family Background
03:16 – Rosa’s Adoption Story & the Miracle of Birth
12:12 – Motherhood, Faith & the Legacy of Guadalupe
17:05 – Loss, Gratitude & Family Connections
25:35 – Understanding Adoption: Fears, Traits & Identity
30:19 – Strength from Her Birth Mother & Faith Through Challenges
39:54 – Ministry, Teaching & Final Reflections

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Adopted at just 17 days old, Denise grew up surrounded by love, but always with questions. In this episode of Perfectly Placed you'll hear her powerful story of discovery, faith, and reunion. From learning she was adopted to the emotional moment she met her birth mother, sister, and later her birth father through DNA, Denise shares how each connection revealed a deeper sense of purpose. She also opens up about how her boutique, The Blue Butterfly, became a tribute to her journey and a way to give back to others touched by adoption.

00:00 — Introduction
01:29 — Denise’s Adoption Story
06:36 — Searching for Birth Parents
09:18 — Reuniting with Birth Mother
25:50 — Discovering Birth Father
36:56 — The Blue Butterfly Boutique
42:03 — Final Reflections on Adoption

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When Angie Guillory lost her young son, Landon, to cancer, her world was shattered. In this moving conversation, Angie shares how grief eventually led her and her husband, Lon, to adoption and to their daughter, Delilah Grace. With honesty and warmth, she reflects on love, loss, and the beauty of open adoption, offering encouragement and hope to anyone walking their own adoption journey. This episode is a testament to the resilience of a mother’s love—and how even in the depths of loss, joy and healing can be found.

Episode Highlights:
00:00 – Welcome to Perfectly Placed
01:35 – Angie’s Journey of Motherhood
03:16 – Landon’s Battle with Cancer
09:32 – Faith and Resilience Through Loss
12:04 – Choosing Adoption
15:28 – Meeting Delilah Grace
23:19 – Navigating Open Adoption
29:08 – Holding Space for Both Landon and Delilah
33:56 – Words for Future Adoptive Parents
36:47 – Final Reflections

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What does it mean to grow up caught between cultures? And how does adoption shape identity across a lifetime? Today's guest is Anna, an adult adoptee whose story begins in Calcutta, India and unfolds in Marshfield, Wisconsin.

Anna opens up about the joys and challenges of growing up in a multicultural household, navigating questions of heritage, and finding belonging. She shares how her family embraced her Indian roots, what it was like to wrestle with identity as she grew older, and why open conversations about adoption are so critical.

This honest, thought-provoking conversation touches on everything from cultural traditions and family bonds to adoption language, abandonment stories, and what adoptive parents need to know to better support their children. Anna’s reflections reveal both the beauty and complexity of adoption, and the lifelong journey of self-discovery it inspires.

Episode Highlights

• 00:00 – Welcome to Perfectly Placed
• 01:35 – Meet Anna Fisher
• 02:32 – Her adoption journey from Calcutta to Wisconsin
• 07:00 – Growing up in a multicultural household
• 11:15 – Conversations about identity and belonging
• 21:38 – Adoption language and shifting perspectives
• 25:36 – Childhood experiences that shaped her identity
• 27:24 – Stories of abandonment and discovery
• 33:34 – Advice for adoptive parents
• 39:01 – Closing thoughts and what’s ahead

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What happens when the dream of family collides with infertility, waiting, and even a contested adoption? In this episode, Perfectly Placed guest, Jen, shares the raw and beautiful journey of welcoming Evelyn and Asher through adoption. It’s a story of resilience, hard-won victories, and the unshakable love that binds a family together. Listen to hear about their "wild, wild rollercoaster!"

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