They Say You Can't Choose Your Family, But Some Do

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You've heard the saying, 'Blood is thicker than water,' right? Yet for many people, family is not just about blood or DNA — it's about deep connections .

For those people, chosen family could be close friends, people who share similar identities, people who went through similar experiences, or something else that forms a bond.

We hear stories from people about their chosen families.

We also speak with marriage and family therapist and sexologist Dr. Lexx Brown-James, about why chosen families are vital in people's lives.

In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment to help you make sense of what's going on in your community.

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This episode was produced by Brianna Scott and Mallika Seshadri. It was edited by William Troop. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.