Episode 22: Building Family Beyond Bloodlines

Chosen family isn’t just a feel-good phrase. For many, it’s survival.

In this heartfelt and research-backed episode, we explore the meaning of chosen family and why so many people build deep bonds beyond biology.

From immigration and identity to grief, belonging, and healing, we share personal stories about finding safety, joy, and emotional grounding in relationships we intentionally create.

We unpack what social science says about chosen family, why it’s especially vital within immigrant and LGBTQ+ communities, and how these relationships strengthen mental health, resilience, and purpose.

Because sometimes the people who hold us up were never written into our family tree. They were written into our lives by choice.

Episode Sources

Conceptualizing “Family” and the Role of “Chosen Family” within the LGBTQ+ Refugee Community: A Text Network Graph Analysis - PMC
The Power of Chosen Family, and How to Find It - Newport Institute
What About Our Chosen Kin? Determining Who Counts as Family Within Family Therapy - McGill University
Blood is Thicker Than Water - The Tutor Bridge
Blood Is Thicker Than Water: Close Relationships With Family Members Increase Life Expectancy More Than Friends - Medical Daily
Power of Chosen Family - Psychology Today
Close adult friendships, gender, and the life cycle - Journal of Social and Personal Relationships
Chosen Families: Exploring the Impact of Peer Support Networks on Mental Health and Resilience Among Queer Individuals - International Journal of Recent Advances In Multidisciplinary Research
 Loneliness and Social Isolation as Risk Factors for Mortality: A Meta-Analytic Review - Perspectives on Psychological Science

Quiz Sources
State of the union: Canada leads the G7 with nearly one-quarter of couples living common law, driven by Quebec - Statistics Canada
No, Parent-Child Estrangement Isn't Just a Fad - Psychology Today