In this episode of Finding Family DNA, Jay and co-host Misty Gillis introduce Carla Salvatierra, a 29-year-old woman born in Los Angeles County who has spent years searching for the truth about her biological father. After discovering that neither the man on her birth certificate nor the man her family insisted was her father shared any DNA with her, Carla found herself starting completely from scratch — with no name, no country, and no answers. With the help of Misty's careful DNA analysis and genealogical research into Guatemalan civil records, the team was able to narrow Carla's birth father down to one of three brothers living in the United States. Despite sending letters and making direct contact with one of the brothers, the family has gone silent — and in a first for the show, Carla comes on air to make a heartfelt, tearful plea directly to her birth father. A devoted mother of two who runs her own construction company, Carla isn't asking for money or a lifelong commitment — she simply wants to know where she comes from, see her father's face, and finally have the medical history her children deserve.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen — your support helps fund our pro bono DNA cases. Also, if you want to support our mission more directly, join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/findingfamilydna

Watch this podcast right now on YouTube!

https://youtu.be/A3QY9_5aDf8

00:00 Intro

00:11 Welcome and case overview

00:51 When DNA matches don't respond

01:07 Misty's outreach strategy

02:16 Introducing Carla Salvatierra

03:02 Growing up not knowing her father

04:38 DNA tests rule out two possible fathers

08:03 What led Carla to BirthParentFinder

09:51 Taking the Ancestry DNA test

10:38 How Misty analyzed the DNA matches

12:04 Narrowing it down to three brothers

13:23 Sending letters with no response

14:01 Ad break

14:32 How Jay finally made contact

16:08 Ruben goes silent

17:20 Misty's theory on the birth father

18:16 Carla's reaction to the breakthrough

21:42 Carla's plea to her birth father

23:21 Carla's family and life today

24:39 Who Carla is — business, family, hobbies

27:06 A message to the birth father's family

27:43 Every child deserves the truth

30:07 Closing thoughts from Jay and Misty

Follow the show here:

https://www.instagram.com/findingfamilydna/

https://www.instagram.com/lasleuth

https://www.instagram.com/birthparentfinder/

Are you looking to find your birth parents? Get in touch with Jay and his team!

https://www.birthparentfinder.com

https://www.instagram.com/birthparentfinder

This podcast was edited using PodShuttle, the fully-remote podcast editing and management service owned and operated by CHOBO Studios. For more info, visit podshuttle.io and follow us on Instagram to see more shows we've helped bring to life.

https://www.instagram.com/chobostudios

https://www.instagram.com/podshuttle

Finding Family DNA, Birth Father Search, DNA Genealogy, Guatemalan Heritage, Adoptee Story, Birth Parent Found, BirthParentFinder, Emotional Reunion, Closed Adoption Search, Family Discovery

In this episode of Finding Family DNA, attorney, author, and TEDx speaker Maria Leonard Olsen shares the shocking DNA discovery that changed her identity forever. After taking a 23andMe test, Maria learned that the man who raised her was not her biological father. What followed was a years-long search that led her to an aging Hollywood actor, former NFL player, and legendary Del Mar horse handicapper living in California. Maria opens up about navigating a non-paternity event (NPE), meeting her biological father for the first time at a racetrack, and how DNA testing can uncover life-changing family secrets no one saw coming.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen — your support helps fund our pro bono DNA cases. Also, if you want to support our mission more directly, join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/findingfamilydna

Watch this podcast right now on YouTube!

https://youtu.be/9fgw0OmtUPc

00:00 Welcome and Subscribe

00:54 Meet Today’s NPE Guest

03:34 Maria’s Upbringing and Doubts

05:29 23andMe Surprise Revealed

08:05 Tracking Down Bio Dad

10:41 NPE Community and Conferences

13:26 Break and Sponsor Message

14:09 First Meeting at the Racetrack

17:17 Why Some Reunions Fail

22:21 Pandora’s Box of DNA Testing

24:27 Identity Faith and Forgiveness

30:29 Advice Resources and Closing

32:31 Book Plug and Final Thanks

Follow Maria here:

https://www.marialeonardolsen.com/

https://www.instagram.com/mariaolsen49/

Check out her book here: https://www.amazon.com/50-After-Reframing-Next-Chapter/dp/1538109646

Follow the show here:

https://www.instagram.com/findingfamilydna/

https://www.instagram.com/lasleuth

https://www.instagram.com/birthparentfinder/

Are you looking to find your birth parents? Get in touch with Jay and his team!

https://www.birthparentfinder.com

https://www.instagram.com/birthparentfinder

This podcast was edited using PodShuttle, the fully-remote podcast editing and management service owned and operated by CHOBO Studios. For more info, visit podshuttle.io and follow us on Instagram to see more shows we've helped bring to life.

https://www.instagram.com/chobostudios

https://www.instagram.com/podshuttle

NPE story, non paternity event, 23andMe discovery, DNA surprise, genetic genealogy, family secrets, finding biological father, DNA identity discovery, adoption and DNA, birth father reunion, ancestry DNA, family mystery, DNA testing podcast, unexpected DNA results, identity and family history, Chris Olsen

In this episode of Finding Family DNA, we follow Porsha Jones’ powerful journey from loss to reconnection. Adopted at birth and later losing both of her adoptive parents as a teenager, Porsha grew up navigating life on her own while carrying questions about where she came from. After years of searching, she turned to Jay Rosenzweig and BirthParentFinder.com—and in a matter of hours, her birth mother was found. What followed was an emotional surprise reunion that changed everything. Three years later, Porsha shares how that moment transformed her life, the deep bond she’s built with her mother, and the healing that comes from finally knowing your roots.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen — your support helps fund our pro bono DNA cases. Also, if you want to support our mission more directly, join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/findingfamilydna

Watch this podcast right now on YouTube!

https://youtu.be/vQctv3vZn4o

00:00 Show Welcome and Host Intro

00:32 Subscribe and Mothers Day Giveaway

01:11 Meet Porsha Jones

02:01 Adopted at Birth

02:27 Losing Adoptive Parents Young

03:09 Raised by Older Brother

04:10 Why They Adopted

04:43 Loneliness Growing Up

05:12 Learning She Was Adopted

06:27 What She Was Told About Birth Mom

06:49 Searching as an Adult

08:15 How Jay Found Priscilla

08:39 Kept the Original Birth Certificate

10:06 The Surprise Reunion Setup

11:06 Promo and Reunion Video

11:37 First Meeting Reactions

12:02 Name Confusion and Sister Story

13:12 Birth Mom Reaction Clip

14:08 What Reunion Changed

15:52 Building a Relationship Over Years

16:19 Aneurysms and Recovery

17:26 Bond with Birth Mom

18:11 Respecting Her Past

18:57 Jail and Clean Record

19:35 Why She Never Searched

20:44 Granddaughter Meets Grandma

21:36 Siblings and Louisiana Roots

23:31 Cousin Eric Connection

24:08 Three Years Later Reflection

26:02 New Life and New Home

26:40 Host Wrap Up and Thanks

28:03 Photo Request and Farewell

Follow the show here:

https://www.instagram.com/findingfamilydna/

https://www.instagram.com/lasleuth

https://www.instagram.com/birthparentfinder/

Are you looking to find your birth parents? Get in touch with Jay and his team!

https://www.birthparentfinder.com

https://www.instagram.com/birthparentfinder

This podcast was edited using PodShuttle, the fully-remote podcast editing and management service owned and operated by CHOBO Studios. For more info, visit podshuttle.io and follow us on Instagram to see more shows we've helped bring to life.

https://www.instagram.com/chobostudios

https://www.instagram.com/podshuttle

adoption story, birth mother reunion, adoptee journey, finding biological family, DNA reunion, family reunion story, adoption podcast, genetic genealogy, emotional reunion, adoptee stories, long lost family, identity and adoption, finding birth parents, family healing, reunion story