CNN Philippines, the most trusted name in news in the Philippines announces the
release of its first podcast, “Suddenly Family,” hosted by Emmy-winning journalist Samuel Burke. Inspired by
three astonishing DNA results in his own life, Burke masterfully draws on his own experiences as he
unravels the mysteries of over a dozen families around the world whose lives are unexpectedly turned
upside down by DNA testing.
In 2019, Burke gifted his father a DNA test, only to discover they’re not related to the Burke family and that
his small Jewish family is actually part of a large Mormon family. As he delved deeper into his family roots,
Burke also learned his mother had a sister whom she had no knowledge of. And, astonishingly, Burke found
out that a cousin who his family believed had died of AIDS, is actually alive.
“As a journalist, I’ve always lived to ask meaningful questions,” Burke says, “but I never dreamed I’d have to
ask questions this intimate to my own family and to perfect strangers who have allowed me into the most
earth-shattering moments of their lives.”
The inaugural episode launches on February 19 on all podcast platforms of CNN Philippines: Spotify,
Apple, Google and YouTube. “Suddenly Family” delves into the unexpected and sometimes dark side of
consumer DNA testing. New episodes will be available every week, for free through 2021. Link of the
Suddenly Family podcast: http://bit.ly/SuddenlyFamilySpotify
For decades, DNA kits were used by the medical and legal communities to trace paternity, better understand
genetic diseases, and as evidence in crime scenes. Now, the sky-rocketing popularity of these at-home kits
is exposing ancestry and genealogy secrets for families across North America and Europe while it’s just
begun to take off in Asia. Stunningly, 27% of mail-in DNA testing say they learned about close relatives they
didn’t know about previously (Pew Research).
EPISODE 01: THE GIRL NEXT DOOR
A woman who feels out of place in her own family has a DNA
result that gives a whole new meaning to “the girl next door.”
EPISODE 02: FILIPINO FAMILY BOMBSHELL
A man from Alabama holds the fate of a man from the
Philippines in his hands.
EPISODE 03: A GAY MAN’S SHOCKING DNA SURPRISE
Wolf Martinez gets an astonishing DNA result
he never thought could happen.
EPISODE 04: SMALL JEWISH FAMILY MAKES BIG MORMON DISCOVERY
The host of “Suddenly
Family,” Samuel Burke, finds out he’s not related to his very own Burke family.