Adoption: The Journey of Becoming Chosen

Today is the Season 2 finale and I’m excited for you to hear about Rob Leyder’s life. Rob is the first person I met who had the same origin story. It felt the most appropriate to have him close out this season. Rob is a geninue, intentional, and hilarious person. He is an incredible story teller and as he shares his story, you feel like you are living it with him. Next season will be coming out in the spring and it will be Enneagram and Adoption. If you are/know an adoptee who is familiar with the Enneagram and would like to be on the show, please let me know!

Email me at: [email protected]

Rob's contact: [email protected], Instagram: @robertpjleyder

Simon Benn is from the UK and has found his voice advocating for adoptees by working with the family system as a whole. His philosophy on life and happiness is refreshing, bold, and though provoking. He talks about the difference of having a hand-me-down thought and how we cannot have secondhand epiphanies. There was just gold in this conversation there are two parts.

Simon Benn is from the UK and has found his voice advocating for adoptees by working with the family system as a whole. His philosophy on life and happiness is refreshing, bold, and though provoking. He talks about the difference of having a hand-me-down thought and how we cannot have secondhand epiphanies. There was just gold in this conversation there are two parts.

Jessica Pudwill shares her story of fighting for friendship and intentional connection. She has a heart for people of all abilities to have access to becoming a parent. Her mother’s strength and determination to make a family as someone who had a physical disability is inspiration to Jessica.

Kimmy Graves shares about what it was like to go back to South Korea and meet some of her biological family. She was adopted with her twin sister to a loving family in the 80s. She is vulnerable and real as she opens up about the loss of her mom and how she and her husband have continued to weave who she was into their lives.  

Kimmy's Instagram is: @kimmy_graves

Kelsey Nikcevich recently graduated, got married, moved, and is looking for a new job all during a global pandemic, all in 4 months.  As someone who was born in America, is white and then adopted by white parents, she shares about the stereotypes and biases that she faced of people around her.  

If you would like to connect to Kelsey, here's how you can:

Instagram: @kelseymnik

Genova Schultheis is a 21 year-old who lived most of her life in Indianapolis, IN.  She shares about going from home to home and what it's like to feel like you have a "return date".  She processes what family means to her and how she fights to be chosen by friends, family and other loved ones.

If you would like to contact Genova, you can: 

Instagram: @genovaschultheis

Twitter: @genova1543

Facebook: Genova Schultheis

Kyle Raak shares about his journey to vulnerability, openness, and becoming chosen.  He has a passion for story telling and helping others find their truest identity.  

You can connect with Kyle:

Instagram: @kyleraak

Email: [email protected]

Lucia Bastnagel is a 23 year old who lives in Indianapolis, IN. Her story to become chosen been complicated, heartbreaking, and healing. She is inspiring and is incredibly strong to have such a positive outlook on life after all that she has been through.

You can connect with Lucia on Instagram: @lucia_23

Caryn Schierbeek shares about motherhood, racism, and what it was like growing up as a cultural orphan.  She cares deeply for creating space for everyone to belong and shares about the success and struggle in that calling. 

If you related or would like to hear more from Caryn, you can reach her at: [email protected]