What happens when a brilliantly creative person finds time on their hands during a worldwide pandemic? If you're Cory Goodrich, the stars align in a way that opens doors, and you churn out a hopeful and poignant memoir called Folksong.

Cory's memoir touches on the pain and hope she felt through her journey at the end of her mother's life and through the discovery soon after that her mother had been keeping a secret about Cory's paternity for decades.

In the first 4 minutes of today's podcast, you'll hear a ballad sung by Cory Goodrich. Then we'll get started with the conversation!

In the conversation, you’ll meet Cory's editor, Elizabeth Lyons. The funny Cory/Elizabeth duo documents the twists involved in crossing paths and bringing Folksong to life. Cory then explores the ways creative expression has been life-saving to her. Her art has taken on new life and new meaning since she discovered that music and acting (and even painting!) are in her DNA.

We learn about Cory's journey of mourning three losses at once: losing her mother to death, losing the belief that her father was her biological father, and losing her self-identity. And we get to hear how she was able to work her way through it.

Cory aims to de-stigmatize mental health issues for those with an NPE discovery. If in the aftermath of a DNA discovery, you have the thought "I am going crazy," Cory wants you to know she's been there, too.

If you've struggled with your sanity, if you've had suicidal ideation, considered or tried therapy and medication to get you through it, Cory wants you to understand you are not alone.

Cory also addresses the mothers out there who hold a secret about their child's genetic origins. She speaks to these mothers with honesty and compassion. This part of the conversation offers reassurance and encouragement some might need it: parents who are scared, fearful, and uncertain about what they should do about the knowledge of their child's parentage.

Your child might be angry, she says, but if they are like Cory, once the anger resides the empathy moves in. A most powerful comment Cory makes about her mother was this: "I never would have stopped loving her."

"I am so grateful for who I am today because of this," says Cory near the end of the episode. Stay to the end & hear an original song of Cory's inspired by her grief and healing journey.

If you are a mother or parent keeping a DNA secret...

If you are a family member who wants a family secret to stay under wraps...

If you are a sibling who finds out your brother or sister is a half sibling, or that you have a new sibling you didn't know about...

And especially if you're an NPE struggling...

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Cory's website

The Folksong website

Directory at MPEcounseling.org (formerly NPEcounseling.org)

Mental health professional training for NPE support:

- Parental Identity Discovery by Jodi Klugman-Rabb

- NPE Trauma-Informed Coaching sponsored by NPE Friends Fellowship

A note from Brianne:

As a professional in a genetic counseling niche that touches on many different areas of medical and mental health, I get the chance to learn and understand about the gifts and skills that come to the table when we take a team mindset. There are so many ways that different professionals excel and bring their knowledge and talents into the lives of others, and it’s a passion of mine to find ways to make collaboration work well. I am so glad that Cory shared her mental health experience and highlighted what worked for her.

Find more resources to support understanding for those with a DNA discovery HERE:

www.watersheddna.com/resources