What happens when love is present — but cultural understanding isn’t?

This podcast is made possible by the Raising Me Foundation.

In this powerful conversation, Bri sits down with Stephanie Nguyen Draper to unpack cultural trauma, transracial adoption, and the identity struggles that come with being raised between cultures. Together, they explore what adoptive parents need to understand about belonging, resentment, beauty standards, and why love alone isn’t enough.

In this deeply honest and emotional first guest episode, Bri welcomes her longtime friend Stephanie to talk about growing up Black and Vietnamese in Utah, entering foster care at 15, and being adopted by a white mother.

They unpack:

• What “cultural breakage” really feels like
• The loneliness of being mixed and not feeling “enough” anywhere
• Why resentment toward adoptive parents can happen (and what it actually means)
• The myth that love alone is enough in transracial adoption
• The questions every adoptive parent should be asking
• What Stephanie wishes her moms had known while raising her
• And the powerful question: “Do you feel beautiful?”

This conversation is raw, compassionate, and necessary — especially for adoptive parents, interracial families, and anyone navigating identity between cultures.

If you are raising a child of another race, this episode isn’t an attack — it’s an invitation.

And if you grew up feeling like you didn’t fully belong anywhere, this space is for you.

You’re not alone.

You’re not “too much.”

And you’re not wrong for asking questions.

🤍

In the inaugural episode of the Raising Me Podcast, host Bri Ray shares her journey of creating a platform for mixed families and individuals. She reflects on her personal experiences with identity, loss, and the impact of her father's passing. The episode introduces the concept of community and support for those navigating similar challenges, emphasizing the importance of open conversations about race and identity.

Keywords:

Raising Me Podcast, identity, mixed families, community, loss, Project Black Girl, Bri Ray, personal growth, cultural identity, parenting