Life on Play

Welcome back to another episode of Life on Play! This time, Derrick is winging it and getting completely vulnerable about the highs and lows of human connection. Fresh off celebrating his 19th birthday surrounded by friends and enjoying his favorite comfort foods—spam musubi and teriyaki chicken—Derrick reflects on what it truly means to build a genuine support system.In this episode, Derrick dives deep into the hard work it takes to build and maintain relationships. He opens up about the fear of vulnerability, the difficulty of letting people in, and the pain of past betrayals—including a highly personal story about his medical charts and being outed by his mom before he was ready.Despite the hardships, the core message of this episode is one of hope and community. Derrick explores the beauty of finding your "chosen family," why you shouldn't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone, and how the smallest actions can create a massive ripple effect in someone else's life.Topics covered in this episode:• Reflections on turning 19 and the joy of having friends who actually show up for you.• The heavy lifting required to build close, trusting friendships.• Navigating family trauma, breached trust, and the painful experience of being outed.• Viewing the people in your life as "puzzle pieces" that make up a bigger picture.• The ripple effect: how dropping a tiny pebble into water creates waves.• A reminder that it is okay to lean on others and that you don't have to carry your burdens completely alone.As always, you are loved and you matter. If you have a topic you want to hear about, or if you're interested in being a guest on the show, reach out to Derrick via direct message on Instagram or TikTok!

In this raw and deeply personal second episode of Life on Play, we explore the heavy realities of navigating the foster care system and the lifelong impacts of childhood trauma. Through an honest reflection on the adoptee experience, this episode sheds light on the emotional weight carried by children in the system and the unique challenges faced by adoptive families. The conversation dives into the difficult but necessary process of working through past hardships rather than suppressing them. Listeners will discover why choosing to forgive those who caused pain is a crucial step toward finding inner peace and reclaiming control over the future. Tune in for an inspiring reminder that while we cannot change our history, we hold the power to shape our own healing, because life doesn't come with a pause button.

Welcome to the premiere episode of Life on Play. In this raw and unfiltered introduction, I share the timeline of my life so far—from the foster care system and a difficult adoption to navigating mental health struggles and homelessness—and how I'm finally taking charge of my own independence. Life doesn't come with a pause button, so we have to keep moving forward.