[{"_1":2,"_296":-5,"_297":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_11":12},"root",{"_5":6,"_7":8,"_9":10},"theme",0,"baseURL","https://pocketcasts.com","locale","en","routes/_app.podcast.$podcastSlug.$podcastUuid.$episodeSlug.$episodeUuid",{"_13":14,"_15":16,"_17":18},"podcastUuid","623c3e00-60e5-013a-d72e-0acc26574db2","episodeUuid","97b291e0-92ad-44e4-8a8a-908b0cb55a92","dehydratedState",{"_19":20,"_21":22},"mutations",[],"queries",[23,290],{"_24":25,"_26":27,"_284":285,"_288":289},"dehydratedAt",1772885810127,"state",{"_28":29,"_270":156,"_271":272,"_273":-5,"_274":6,"_275":6,"_276":6,"_277":-5,"_278":-5,"_279":54,"_280":281,"_282":283},"data",{"_30":31,"_32":33,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":39,"_40":41,"_42":43,"_44":45,"_46":47,"_48":14,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":45,"_56":57,"_262":263,"_264":265,"_266":267,"_268":45,"_269":82},"url","sonymusic.com/podcasts","title","Defining Diego","slug","defining-diego","author","Somethin' Else / Sony Music Entertainment","description","Defining Diego is the story of one Guatemalan adoptee and his mother, a reporter who documented their journey from his earliest steps, as they try to understand how international adoption boomed and busted, and what it all means for families like theirs, with feet in two worlds.\n\nWhen Laurie Stern set out to adopt a baby from Guatemala in 1999, she thought the process would be pretty straightforward. Lots of people were doing it.\n\nBut the adoption was held up just as she went to Guatemala to get her son, Diego. That began a journey of discovery. What unfolds is the story of why international adoption peaked — and then collapsed — in Guatemala. It is also the story of how Diego, now 24, learned to be a Maya man with deep roots both in his birth village and Minnesota, where he still lives.\n\nNow, Diego has questions about his adoption, too — like why tiny Guatemala was such a popular choice for many adoptive parents in the U.S. and Europe in the early 2000s. As one of more than 50,000 Guatemalan adoptees, Diego’s still figuring out what it means to be Guatemalan, American, indigenous Tzutujil, and an adoptee raised by white parents in St. Paul, Minnesota.\n\nAt its heart, Defining Diego is a deeply personal narrative: of a mother and son grappling with big questions about identity and health, and the meaning of home and family. Using 20+ years of the family’s archive recordings, we hear Diego grow up — and begin his own journey of self-discovery\n\nDefining Diego is part of The Binge - subscribe to listen to all episodes, all at once, ad-free right now. \n\nFrom serial killer nurses to psychic scammers – The Binge is your home for true crime stories that pull you in and never let go. \n\nFollow The Binge Crimes and The Binge Cases wherever you get your podcasts to get new stories on the first of the month, every month. \n\nHit ‘Subscribe’ at the top of the Defining Diego show page on Apple Podcasts or visit GetTheBinge.com. \n\nThe Binge – feed your true crime obsession.\n\nA Sony Music Entertainment production.\n\nFind out more about The Binge and other podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts.","description_html","Defining Diego is the story of one Guatemalan adoptee and his mother, a reporter who documented their journey from his earliest steps, as they try to understand how international adoption boomed and busted, and what it all means for families like theirs, with feet in two worlds.

When Laurie Stern set out to adopt a baby from Guatemala in 1999, she thought the process would be pretty straightforward. Lots of people were doing it.

But the adoption was held up just as she went to Guatemala to get her son, Diego. That began a journey of discovery. What unfolds is the story of why international adoption peaked — and then collapsed — in Guatemala. It is also the story of how Diego, now 24, learned to be a Maya man with deep roots both in his birth village and Minnesota, where he still lives.

Now, Diego has questions about his adoption, too — like why tiny Guatemala was such a popular choice for many adoptive parents in the U.S. and Europe in the early 2000s. As one of more than 50,000 Guatemalan adoptees, Diego’s still figuring out what it means to be Guatemalan, American, indigenous Tzutujil, and an adoptee raised by white parents in St. Paul, Minnesota.

At its heart, Defining Diego is a deeply personal narrative: of a mother and son grappling with big questions about identity and health, and the meaning of home and family. Using 20+ years of the family’s archive recordings, we hear Diego grow up — and begin his own journey of self-discovery

Defining Diego is part of The Binge - subscribe to listen to all episodes, all at once, ad-free right now.

From serial killer nurses to psychic scammers – The Binge is your home for true crime stories that pull you in and never let go.

Follow The Binge Crimes and The Binge Cases wherever you get your podcasts to get new stories on the first of the month, every month.

Hit ‘Subscribe’ at the top of the Defining Diego show page on Apple Podcasts or visit GetTheBinge.com.

The Binge – feed your true crime obsession.

A Sony Music Entertainment production.

Find out more about The Binge and other podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts.","category","Society & Culture\n Relationships\n Documentary\nKids & Family\n Parenting","audio",true,"show_type","serial","uuid","fundings",[],"guid","","is_private",false,"transcript_eligible","episodes",[58,73,85,93,102,110,118,126,134,142,149,157,164,171,179,187,194,201,208,215,222,229,236,243,250,256],{"_48":59,"_32":60,"_34":61,"_30":62,"_63":64,"_65":6,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":45,"_13":14},"922ce62c-6bf2-40ea-950b-1d8c9cfff1a5","The Dark Trail of Sandra Bridewell - Dead Husbands & Stolen Identities","the-dark-trail-of-sandra-bridewell-dead-husbands-stolen-identities","https://pdst.fm/e/mgln.ai/e/143/traffic.megaphone.fm/SONY7965216727.mp3?updated=1745273988","file_type","audio/mpeg","file_size","duration",290,"published","2025-04-22T09:00:00Z","type","trailer","has_generated_transcript",{"_48":74,"_32":75,"_34":76,"_30":77,"_63":64,"_65":6,"_66":78,"_68":79,"_70":80,"_72":54,"_81":82,"_83":84,"_13":14},"d4fcf935-1d08-4b66-9d19-ee181d958805","Defining Diego | Adoptee Voices","defining-diego-adoptee-voices","https://pdst.fm/e/mgln.ai/e/143/traffic.megaphone.fm/SONY5737815687.mp3?updated=1714682465",1988,"2022-12-05T05:30:00Z","bonus","season",2,"number",10,{"_48":86,"_32":87,"_34":88,"_30":89,"_63":64,"_65":6,"_66":90,"_68":91,"_70":80,"_72":54,"_81":82,"_83":92,"_13":14},"d25fc8a7-0224-40a9-85fc-9526ef877844","Defining Diego | What Brought Me Here","defining-diego-what-brought-me-here","https://pdst.fm/e/mgln.ai/e/143/traffic.megaphone.fm/SONY3586889498.mp3?updated=1714682518",1455,"2022-11-28T05:30:00Z",9,{"_48":94,"_32":95,"_34":96,"_30":97,"_63":64,"_65":6,"_66":98,"_68":99,"_70":100,"_72":54,"_81":82,"_83":101,"_13":14},"be8abddd-5536-480a-a2e4-03eeaffc8772","Defining Diego | 8. 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In the age of DNA, not many things can stay buried forever. BioHacked S1: Family Secrets, explores how at-home genetic testing is upending the baby business, and putting the children of anonymous sperm and egg donors into direct conflict with the industry that created them. Coming March 9th.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Introducing BioHacked: Family Secrets

Episode Description

Never lose your place, on any device