# Behind the Mask: Belonging, Identity, and Community with Melissa Guida-Richards

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/born-in-june-raised-in-april-what-adoption-can-teach-the-world-5808/behind-the-mask-belonging-identity-and-community-with-melissa-guida-richards
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/born-in-june-raised-in-april-what-adoption-can-teach-the-world-5808/behind-the-mask-belonging-identity-and-community-with-melissa-guida-richards.md
Podcast: [Born In June Raised In April: What Adoption Can Teach the World](https://stenobird.com/podcast/born-in-june-raised-in-april-what-adoption-can-teach-the-world-5808)
Published: 2025-10-22T14:01:00+00:00
Episode link: https://juneinapril.libsyn.com/behind-the-mask-belonging-identity-and-community-with-melissa-guida-richards
Audio file: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/juneinapril/October2025_JinA_c2.mp3?dest-id=356279
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/born-in-june-raised-in-april-what-adoption-can-teach-the-world-5808/episodes/behind-the-mask-belonging-identity-and-community-with-melissa-guida-richards
Duration seconds: 1730

## Resource

This October, we're going Behind the Mask — looking at what we hide, what we reveal, and how adopted people learn to show up as their full selves. April sits down with Melissa Guida-Richards — adopted person, author, and creator of the Adoption Changemakers Conference — to talk about authenticity, culture, and the importance of real connection in the adoption community. Together, they explore what it means to unmask, how to hold space for nuance, and where joy and healing live in this work. Follow Melissa Guida-Richards on social media @adoptee_thoughts and visit adoptee-thoughts.com for details about the Adoption Changemakers Conference. Follow April Dinwoodie on Instagram, Facebook, and X (Twitter) @JuneInApril, on YouTube @AprilDinwoodie, and visit JuneInApril.com to keep the conversation going.

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## Transcript

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