The Overcoming Odds Podcast

She couldn’t tell anyone.

For five months, she sat alone, in her college dorm room, getting sick, not wanting others to know.

She said, “When I was a junior in college, I found out that I was pregnant. I was at a strict religious school and at the time … it was definitely frowned upon… I always dreamed of being a mom one day, I just knew it wasn’t the time. I had no way of providing the kind of life I thought my baby deserved. I really wrestled with this decision of what to do, how to handle the situation and while I was thinking through that, I had to hide my pregnancy…”

A decision had to be made.

She said, “In the end, when I realized that I couldn’t give her everything she deserved, I went ahead and made an adoption plan for her … Leaving the hospital without my newborn was probably the single most hardest thing, I have ever done in my life … The loneliness that envelopes you, the doubts, the fears, the worries of not doing the right thing or not ruining someone’s life … But, I knew at the time that I loved her so much, that I wanted more for her than I could give …”

For Adrian, doing the best she could with what she knew at the time was the only option.

What is the hardest decision that you have had to make in your life?

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

On Decisions: Know that you’ve done your best based on the information available

On Storytelling: Use your story to encourage and bring hope to others

On Judgment: Put yourself in the other person’s shoes

On Acceptance: Find a way to work through your fears and keep moving forward

***

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Transitions.

She was in 63 different foster homes between four and 21 years of age.

63 different placements, a number that is simply unimaginable to most, if not all, of us.

She said, “The experience going through 63 foster homes was a tough one to swallow because I knew what I was entitled to … and I also had to face the fact that there are going to be times that the people who are responsible for providing services to you, providing care to you, don’t love you …”

But, despite all of the challenges and the constant transitions, it was through the foster care system that Felicia Wilson ended up meeting a foster parent who changed her life for the better.

A foster mom that helped Felicia embrace her own identity, and feel comfortable in her own skin.

A foster mom that helped Felicia realize the importance of accepting the cards she has been dealt with in this lifetime and figure out a way to play them to her advantage.

A foster mom that helped Felicia develop confidence in her own abilities, which led her on an unexpected journey of starting, “Fear Everything & Rise,” a platform to better prepare young people affected by foster care with the tools necessary to grow and live prosperous lives beyond the child welfare system.

I asked, “If you were given one word to describe your foster mom, what would that word be?”

She said, “Loving … As a kid growing up not having that stable mother figure in your life … being a kid that went through 63 foster homes … I’ve always wanted that simple hug … I always wanted to know that someone accepted my flaws … I wanted to know that no matter what decisions I made, right or wrong, at the end of the day I wouldn’t be judged … I wanted to know that if I fell short of anything I tried in life … somebody would still accept me and love me the same…”

If YOU were given one WORD to describe either of your parents, what would that word be?

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

On Independence: With freedom comes great responsibility

On Growth: Push yourself outside of your comfort zone

On Letting Go: Let your wall down and let others in to help you

On Acceptance: Accept the cards you’ve been dealt in this life, and learn how to play them

He had three different names before he was three months old.

He said, “The first name I ever had was Jeremy Jones… In the foster homes … I was Toby … Now my given name, Aaron Parchem…”

For Aaron Parchem, silver medalist at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, adapting to new environments was not an option, but rather a necessity.

It is a skill that not only helped Aaron Parchem during his early childhood years, but also during his time as a figure skater.

He said, “In skating… when I tell people that I was a figure skater for the first time, you get kind of a blank look like, ‘Is this guy messing with me?’ … I’ve come to expect it and that is what it is … I don’t look like a figure skater … I didn't even when I did it … I am a straight, black male in skating… When you’re unique, you’re going to elicit unique responses…”

Embracing his identity and surrounding himself with giving people were the only ways to break through some of the remarks Aaron had received along the way as a figure skater, a profession that has taught him life lessons that cannot be replaced.

Look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself, “Am I happy with who I have become?”

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

On Challenges: “People rise to the occasion when they’re challenged”

On Empowerment: Live in the service of others

On Support Groups: Find people who’ll support you no matter what

On Self: Develop a good understanding of who you are on the inside (feelings, values, and tools that you can use to accomplish your goals)

“Anything is possible if you believe in yourself.”

He said, “I didn’t want to be a Catholic nun, but I wanted to be the Executive Director… I wanted to be the person who was able to make things happen for children… So, at 12 years old I started signing my name, ‘Nathaniel J. Williams, Executive Director.’”

He consciously thought of the end result, felt what it would feel like once he did achieve the end goal, and spoke it into the universe every opportunity he was given.

12 years later, his dream became a reality.

“Executive Director,” a title that became a part of Nathaniel J. Williams’ identity, and has been a part of it ever since.

As I was once told, “Seeing is believing.”

For Nathaniel J. Williams, it was no different.

In fact, one could argue that it is through visualization, Nathaniel J. Williams was able to acquire all of the positions he has had throughout his life including direct care worker, foster parent, nonprofit and for-profit organization founder, talk show host, and international motivational speaker.

What can you do today that will put you one step closer toward achieving your goal?

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

On Traumatic Experiences: Embrace them

On Environment: “Your five closest friends are often going to be an indicator of how successful you’re going to be”

On Visualization: Think it, feel it, act on it

On Gratitude: Be grateful for what you do have, not focus on what you don’t have

He was afraid to let the people know the real him.

He said, “I was ashamed, embarrassed and … afraid that people in my professional career were going to see this side of me…”

A situation that made Travis Lloyd realize the importance of living the story he wanted to live, and not the story that others wanted him to live.

A situation that made him realize the importance of continuing with his work, to inspire others who were living or lived in a similar upbringing that he did, even if it meant sacrificing everything to become something.

As fellow adoptee, Colin Kaepernick once said, “Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.”

For Travis Lloyd, it was no different.

He said, “I had just written my first song called, ‘No one else’ talking about no one else understands what’s going through my head… I had never showed anyone that song before… I performed this in front of 600 teenagers from all over the country who all grew up in foster care… I was shaking when I did it… Afterward… these kids just started attacking me… They wanted my signature, they wanted to talk to me, they wanted to share their stories with me… That felt so good to me to know that I was able to inspire them, to know that it’s possible to do something bigger… But, I still wasn’t to the point where I was ready to do that… I was ashamed… embarrassed… afraid that people in my professional career were going to see this side of me… So, I changed my name on social media…”   

A name change that at first allowed Travis to continue developing his message.

Since then, Travis has become one of the leading voices for foster youth around the world.

What are the sacrifices that you’re willing to make in order to continue doing what you love the most?

Where do you come from?

A question that some of us are fortunate to have an answer to, others not so much.

A question that sparks a story deep inside our hearts; a story that gives others hope to not give up when times get tough.

He said, “My mother… at 18/19 years old… had a six-month-old baby boy, $100, a plane ticket, a friend’s name in Chicago and she decided to start our life…”

Not the most ideal beginning, but sometimes the only thing we have is starting where we are, using what we have, and doing what we can.

For John Robinson, it was no different.

He continued by saying, “I believe people should overcome less.”

A motto that has become the guiding force behind his current work: to connect those who seek with those who raise their hand to give.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

On Family: A collective energy of those that care about each other

On Purpose: Focus on present-purpose

On Overcoming Odds: Trust yourself

On Growth: Ask yourself, “How do I?”

***

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving us a short review? It takes less than 60 seconds, and could make a huge difference in spreading the word of these inspiring/courageous conversations.


For information on how to join any of the upcoming, “Courageous Conversations”, please leave us a message via the “contact us” page on (https://www.overcomingodds.today/)


Interested in sponsoring any of our upcoming events? Please contact us via email ([email protected]) or website (https://www.overcomingodds.today/)


For more daily inspirational content, consider following us on:

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/_overcomingodds?lang=en

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/overcomingodds/?hl=en

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/overcomingodds.today/

Who are you?

A question that some, if not most of us, seek an answer to.

A question that led Joel de Carteret on a lifelong journey of self-discovery.

He said, “I was 35 years old and I didn’t know who I was… I wanted to write my own narrative…”

A journey that taught Joel two important life lessons:

1. If you want to do something, you have to do it yourself

2. Whatever you set your mind to, you can achieve

These are the lessons that have become Joel’s cornerstones as a filmmaker.

The profession that has allowed him to not only tell just any story, but stories that are making a difference.

Stories that give our time, on this pale blue dot, meaning.

Stories that inspire others to keep going during times of adversity.

Stories that can change your life, if you’re living your life authentically.

Are you living a true and authentic life?

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

On Identity: Stay curious about who you are

On Adversity: “Life will never give you anything you can’t handle”

On Self-Narrative: Who do you want to be and what do you stand for?

On Purpose: Tell stories that are going to make a difference

***

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving us a short review? It takes less than 60 seconds, and could make a huge difference in spreading the word of these inspiring/courageous conversations.


For information on how to join any of the upcoming, “Courageous Conversations”, please leave us a message via the “contact us” page on (https://www.overcomingodds.today/)


Interested in sponsoring any of our upcoming events? Please contact us via email ([email protected]) or website (https://www.overcomingodds.today/)


For more daily inspirational content, consider following us on:

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/_overcomingodds?lang=en

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/overcomingodds/?hl=en

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/overcomingodds.today/

“Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

A mindset that allows us to get through life’s toughest obstacles.

A mindset that allowed JT McCormick to overcome racism, poverty, and abuse to achieve the American dream.

A dream that taught JT the importance of not being defined by your past.

He said, “My name is JeVon Thomas McCormick. I’m half white, half black, I had no college degree, my father was a pimp, my mother was an orphan.”

A set of labels that would stop some, if not most of us, from going after our dreams.

But, JT McCormick was different.

He decided to use these labels in order to get to where he wanted to go.

He said, “I was whatever I needed to be in order to get to where I wanted to go.”

What’s stopping you from achieving the ideal version of yourself?

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

On Abuse: Learn how to avoid potentially abusive situations

On Perfectionism: Done is better than perfect

On Identity: “I was whatever I needed to be in order to get to where I wanted to go”

On Hardships: “If I made it through it once, I can do it again”

What defines a great leader?

A question that some, if not most of us, seek an answer to.

A question that more often than not will lead you on a life-long journey of trial and error in figuring out what makes you an effective leader.

For Jim Johnson, it was no different.

He said, “Leadership can be learned… Like anything in life you can become better at it by making it a study…”

A level of commitment to a process with no definite destination.

A level of commitment to becoming a student of life at all times.

A level of commitment that has led Jim to seek answers to the following questions in order to see the larger picture:

How do you influence people in leading them in a positive direction?

What are you all about as a person?

Are you going to lead by example?

Are you clear about your core values?

Are you going to find ways to add value to others?

“Start by trying to make a positive difference in one person”

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

On Relationships: Learn to build trust

On Trust: “Do what you say and say what you do”

On Leadership: “You can become better at leadership by making it a study”

On Influence: Find ways to add value and help others become better

Abuse.

An act he simply couldn’t escape during his early years.

He said, “I grew up in a fear-filled, violent background. My father was physically abusive to me, my mom was as well… I didn’t know what a loving family looked like, but I knew from a very early age that what I was experiencing was wrong.”

An environment that made him feel unsafe.

An environment that made him feel as if he was constantly walking on eggshells.

An environment that made him afraid to make mistakes.

A set of experiences that made him go from victim to survivor to advocate.

A set of experiences that led him to write his latest book, “Killing My Father Then Finding Him.”

A book that started a painful, but much-needed conversation.

A book that gave others a voice and helped them understand that they’re not alone.

He said, “I had so many people contact me… hundreds of people contact me… some I knew, some I didn’t know… emails… I got a phone call… I got contact from people saying, ‘I grew up the same way, but I always thought I was the only one.’”

Everyone has a story.

Live yours.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

On Forgiveness: Learn to forgive because it’ll free you to tell the truth

On Judgment: Approach people wanting to know “who they are”

On Discipline & Punishment: “Discipline is rooted with love ... punishment is rooted with anger”

On Hardships: Don’t give up