What Would You Do If Your Identity Was Taken From You Overnight?

In about 30 seconds, one DNA test erased the name, the heritage, and the Latina identity Dr. Paulette Bethel had carried her entire life. The family she thought she came from was not the family her genes pointed to, and a long-held secret reshaped everything she believed about herself. In this episode, Paulette opens up about the grief of losing an identity that felt unshakable, what it took to rebuild from truth, and how that pain became the foundation for her NPE (Not Parent Expected) Identity Disruption Model, now helping thousands navigate the same kind of loss. Topics discussed: 00:00 - The moment a DNA test shattered her identity 02:33 - Growing up culturally fluid in New Orleans 03:50 - Joining the Air Force after a difficult divorce 06:38 - Building a blended TCK family across Asia 08:41 - Leading a foster care nonprofit in Hawaii 14:19 - Why she finally took the Ancestry DNA test 16:22 - Discovering zero percent Native American ancestry 18:24 - Grieving the loss of being Latina 20:28 - Creating the Identity Disruption model from her own pain 38:53 - Bella's front porch and the power of gathering CONNECT WITH DR. PAULETTE BETHEL: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulettebethel/ Get the free identity rebuild workbook: https://cultursmag.ac-page.com/identity-workbook ABOUT CULTURS: Reaching millions annually, CULTURS champions unique cultural identity, transforming culturally fluid populations (multiethnic and/or geographically mobile people like Third Culture Kids) from being invisible outliers to originals. This includes people of culture in the rapidly growing DNA testing-fueled Not Parent Expected (NPE) community. Our world-class, veteran team of researchers and professionals spans five continents. Get social with us: https://www.youtube.com/@CultursPodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/Cultursmag/https://www.facebook.com/cultursmaghttps://www.pinterest.com/cultursmag/ Join the CULTURS community: https://shop.cultursmag.com/products/culturs-membership Original Music by Tommy McMillion, McMillion Entertainment Makeup by Sedrique Olsen Styling by Sonja Henderson