In this powerful and timely episode, Corey and Kendall sit down with Alexis Hourse;t, the creator and host of the DNA Surprises podcast — 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.

Alexis opens up about:

• Navigating the shock of discovering her African American heritage after being raised with a different understanding of her identity
• The emotional impact of losing connection to a culture she never got to fully claim growing up
• How starting DNA Surprises just months after her discovery became a crucial tool for healing
• The importance of community when family and identity are thrown into question
• How recent political efforts to erase history and the unexpected bankruptcy of 23andMe complicate DNA journeys today

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.

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.

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.

Alexis lives in Arizona with her family and is passionate about building spaces where people feel less alone on their journey to understanding themselves.

🎧 Listen to DNA Surprises: https://www.dnasurprises.com

📸 Instagram: @dnasurprises

✔ What it's like to discover you’ve been living with a hidden identity

✔ The healing power of community and podcasting

✔ Why history and identity matter more than ever right now

✔ Coping with the emotional weight of family secrets

✔ The unexpected ripple effect of 23andMe’s bankruptcy on DNA discovery journeys

Listen, Rate & Subscribe

Apple

Amazon

Spotify

What if your biological family—siblings, a mother, even potential fathers—had been living just a few towns away your entire life, and you never knew?

In this emotionally charged episode of Family Twist, we meet a mother-daughter duo who peel back the layers of a decades-old secret. The mother was adopted in the 1950s under a veil of societal shame. Decades later, her daughter took on the role of family detective, determined to uncover the truth about her mother’s origins—and what she discovered would shock even the most seasoned genealogy sleuth.

From anonymous letters and DNA testing to surprise wedding encounters and jaw-dropping family resemblances, this story unfolds like a mystery novel with real-life stakes: identity, legacy, and longing.

You’ll hear how:

• A chance obituary led to a massive family discovery
• A doppelgänger sister was hiding in plain sight—on Facebook
• A private investigator cracked open the story with information from an unexpected source
• Coincidences piled up: haunted mansions, sandwich shop sightings, even a Panera encounter
• The power of persistence brought long-lost relatives face to face

This is a tale of secrets kept, lives intertwined, and a daughter's relentless drive to give her mother the one thing she deserved all along: acknowledgment.

Whether you’re part of the adoption, NPE, or DNA surprise community—or simply love a gripping human story—you do not want to miss this episode.

Trigger warning: This episode includes discussions around adoption, familial rejection, and grief.

What happens when the country of your birth refuses to acknowledge where you really come from? For adoptees, proving their origins can be a legal nightmare—especially when official documents don’t tell the whole truth.

In this two-part Family Twist special, our guest shares his astonishing journey to uncover his heritage, navigate international red tape, and fight for his rightful place as an Irish citizen. Part 1 set the stage for his shocking discovery—now, in Part 2, we dig into the legal battle that changed everything.

📌 In this episode, you’ll hear:

✅ Why Ireland’s citizenship laws left adoptees in legal limbo

✅ How a DNA expert became the key to proving the truth

✅ The years-long legal fight that almost ended in defeat

✅ A surprising twist that opened the door for other adoptees

✅ What it feels like to finally hold an Irish passport after a lifetime of uncertainty

This is a story about resilience, justice, and the power of DNA to rewrite history. If you’ve ever questioned the meaning of identity, this episode is a must-listen.

🔊 Don’t miss Part 1! If you haven’t heard the first half of this conversation, go back and listen before diving in.

🎧 Subscribe, share, and join us for this unforgettable journey on Family Twist!

#FamilyTwistPodcast #AdoptionStory #DNAChangesEverything #LostAndFound #IdentityMatters #AdopteeRights #IrishCitizenship

4o