Finding Family

This week's episode features Dr. Sang Chi, one of my college friends who saw me through a really interesting time in my life.  He's one of those friends that I don't talk to regularly but we can always pick up from the last time we spoke, which I think you'll see in this conversation.  He talks about his life growing up in a Korean American household in Philly, going to Penn State, and his life now as a working dad of two kids.  

This week's episode is with Dr. Rosie Perez, an amazing professor, teacher, wife, mom, and so much more.  Our conversation covers her early life, education, and her journey into student affairs.  Take a listen!

Music by Yung Garaje Guapo
Editing by We Edit Podcasts

WE ARE FINALLY BACK!  After some major procrastination and the realization that I needed some help with editing the episodes... Finding Family is back.  I'm calling this Season 2 Part 2.  

We return with a conversation with Patrick, a former co-worker/friend from Seattle University.  Patrick shares his story of his family and upbringing, the complexities of being Catholic in a modern world (with a brother who is a Catholic priest), how the loss of a parent shows up today, and building a beautiful family with his wife and two kids.  This "fun dad" is a fun, creative, and intelligent guy and I hope you enjoy our conversation!  

Music by Yung Garaje Guapo
Edits by We Edit Podcasts

What a privilege it was to interview Goddexx.  In this episode we visit their complex family history and the many facets of chosen family.  I met Goddexx during their graduate school years on campus and have been honored to watch their transformation through the years.  

To learn about Goddexx's coaching and other services, please check out their website:
https://iamgoddexx.com/ and https://bit.ly/GoddexxFSC

Music by Yung Garaje Guapo

In this week's episode, I check in with my colleague and friend, Vernon.  He shares his story about growing up in the south, the child of educators, and the ongoing impacts they have on his life.  We also get to touch base about our chosen families including the moment that he and I became intentional friends.  Take a listen and let me know what you think.  

I've been so incredibly lucky to marry into a family who accepted me so openly from the beginning.  We live far from the rest of Ryan's family so most of our interactions are through phone calls, social media, and text messaging.  So I was really excited to spend some time with Jason, my brother-in-law, and learn more about how he thinks about family.  We had a really sweet conversation and I cherished the time together.  And I think it brought me closer to him because of it.  Listen in on our conversation.  You may notice the similarities and differences between his family experience and Ryan's.  

Connect with Jason @isojasonhamachek on Instagram.

Music by Yung Garaje Guapo

Jen, as many know her "Jen Cruz," and I met during her time as a student at Seattle University.  She was always outstanding and we bonded pretty quickly.  Jen would often call Ryan and I her gay dads.  

While we've spent a lot of time together, I appreciated learning more about her time in her hometown of Wapato, WA, her multicultural upbringing, how she developed her sense of family and community, and all of the ways her background shows up today as a PhD candidate at Harvard University.  She's one of the most down-to-earth, fierce, and community-minded people I know.  

We get pretty deep AND giddy in these conversations.  And there may be a special guest who joins us just to say hello. Take a listen!

If you want to connect to Jen on Instagram, you can find her @jennifer_laurennn. 

Music by Yung Garaje Guapo

This season I wanted to start branching out to folks I don't know and Mylene was my first interview of someone I truly did not know.  We chatted about the podcast and about her interest once before meeting up again to record this session.  So much of her story resonated with me and I was in awe to be interviewing someone who is so accomplished as a business woman.  Take a listen and hopefully some of her story resonates with you as well.

Mylene offers coaching sessions through her Leadership Ladder business and she discusses how she decided to create the business in this episode.  To learn more about Leadership Ladder and to contact Mylene directly, check out the Leadership Ladder website.

I also wanted to give a quick shout out to Desi Caswell at Fathom Branding & Business Strategy for the connection and support!

Music by Yung Garaje Guapo

Welcome to season 2 of Finding Family.  We’re starting this season off with an avid listener and a friend, Kevin, who was student when we first met.  Through the years we’ve kept in touch and I’ve had some of the most amazing conversations with him, including this one.  He shares some pretty sensitive experiences with his family so I thank him for being candid and honest.  What an amazing story to start off this season!  Take a listen.

You can find Kevin on IG by following him @waiakeabangah_808

Music by Yung Garaje Guapo

My final episode of season 1 featuring... me.  A lot of you asked to hear more of my story and while it was woven into the other episodes, I thought I'd share more about me, growing up with my family, and be a little more vulnerable with you.  It made a lot of sense to end this first season (I still cannot believe I'm saying this) with my stories and reflections from this season and start to create season 2 of the podcast.  What a dream come true.  

I have so much gratitude in my heart for all of you who listened in this season.  Whether it was one episode or all of them (#completionists), thank you.