Episode 43 - Part 2 “Jo on Struggle, Support, and Speaking Out”

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In this second part of my conversation with Jo, we begin with the moment she met her birth father; a man who had known about her existence but didn’t surface until an argument broke out between them twelve years later. Jo shares the complexity of that reunion, the emotions it stirred, and how it shaped her understanding of belonging.

We also talk about the struggles she faced after the birth of her first child, what led her to seek support from Jigsaw Queensland, and how that experience became a turning point. From there, Jo reflects on her professional journey, her role in advocacy, education, and the adoption space today, and why she continues to amplify adoptee voices through her work.

Jo’s story reminds us that adoption is never a single moment, it’s a lifelong journey of reunion, identity, and healing. Her honesty about the challenges of meeting her birth father, navigating motherhood, and finding support through Jigsaw Queensland shows the resilience it takes to carry and transform that “bag of sad.”

Now, as President of Jigsaw Queensland and host of the Adopt Perspective podcast, Jo is using her lived experience to create change, connection, and understanding for others.

Jo, thank you for trusting me with your story and for the work you continue to do in this space.

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