Videos/TV
A documentary film project by Glenn Morey and Julie Morey. Discussing an international journey through the personal memories and experiences of inter-country adoption from South Korea.
Joy, as the vice president of the camp, talk about how the kids feel as if the camp is the one time they can truly be themselves.
Joy shares her story with Julie Young of KoreanAmericanStory.org in August, 2014 at Camp Sejong in New Jersey. This video of Joy premiered at the Minnesota Transracial Film Festival (MNTRFF) on Saturday, November 8, 2014.
Fox Good Day NY
Aired: November 28, 2014
Adoptees Flip the Script on National Adoption Month.
Podcast/Radio
Joy Lieberthal Rho, adoptee, mother, and social worker, talks about discovering her multi-faceted identity, and how she was able to reunite with her birth mother along the way.
Jaeki and Jojo speak with Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Therapist Joy Lieberthal Rho about how Asian Americans can take care of their mental health with the rise of hate crimes.
Episode 35: Discovering Identity and Community - Diana speaks with Joy about adoptees navigating cultural and racial identity, evolving community connections, and the growing nuance in adoption conversations.
Episode 3: Prioritizing Maternal Mental Health for BIPOC adoptees - Joy shares insights on her parenting journey, motherhood milestones, and the importance of inclusive prenatal, postpartum, and mental healthcare for BIPOC adoptee parents.
Episode 12: Discovering Identity and Community - Joy speaks on how IAMAdoptee, a non-profit, can help adoptees navigate their adoption journey in regards to the family unit as well as sharing a bit about her expertise in this work
Joy discusses the emotions in open adoptions, with birth mothers, adoptees, and adoptive parents sharing their experiences.
Print/Quotes
“Living in Adoption’s Emotional Aftermath” by Larissa MacFaquhar
“K-drama Adoption Storylines Are Making Positive Strides, But There’s More Work to Do” by Jae-Ha Kim Joy reflects on nuanced portrayals and themes of adoptees K-dramas, highlighting the realism in shows and exploring identity, racism, and nationalism.
“One Mother, Two Mothers, No Mother” by Joy Lieberthal Rho. Joy reflects on the complexities of having both a birth mother and an adoptive mother. Through raising her own family and nurturing chosen relationships, she redefines motherhood as a shared, evolving experience that brings strength and connection.
“How K-Pop stars are leading mental health conversations” by Jae-Ha Kim Joy emphasizes the importance of representation for Asian American children, stating that visibility in all its forms helps combat loneliness, which deeply affects mental and physical well-being.
“Epik High’s Tablo on Trauma, Triumph, and the Truth” by Jae-Ha Kim
Joy praises Tablo for using his music to address trauma, highlighting how his transparency amid mental health stigmas inspires and guides young Asian Americans.
“How K-Pop stars are leading mental health conversations” by Jae-Ha Kim
Joy emphasizes that idols expressing struggles like exhaustion or anxiety can encourage fans to address their own mental health, advocating for healthier conditions that acknowledge idols’ humanity.
“Don’t Grieve Alone. Reach Out.” by Nicole Chung
Joy highlights the importance of long-distance connections during crises, as people seek comfort and support through calls and shared moments despite physical separation and emotional exhaustion.
“The Realities of Raising a Kid of a Different Race” by Karen Valbey
Joy highlights that adoption is complex and lifelong, encouraging adoptive parents to move beyond unrealistic expectations of “saving” their children or eliminating challenges. Instead, parents should provide support, as well as embrace and witness the child’s evolving identity.
“The sense of Guild and the Capacity for Concern in Adoptive Families”
Joy emphasizes that adoption should place the burden of connection on the parent, freeing the child to build a natural relationship without guilt or pressure.
