Welcome back to Around the World with The Archibald Project! My name is Whitney and together with my husband Nick, we started our orphan care advocacy organization, The Archibald Project! We've been working hard to tell inspiring stories about vulnerable children ever since and our goal is to ultimately end the global orphan crisis through storytelling! We believe that the more people who see and hear our stories then the more people who will be inspired to get involved and help end the orphan crisis!
In today’s episode, Nick and I share an update about our life in the Republic of The Congo, what adopting three kids has been like while living in a developing country, and where The Archibald Project is headed! We answer questions about our own adoption including why we decided to temporarily move to the Congo and why we changed our kids names. We are so thankful for the incredible support we have received from you guys as we have walked through our adoption.
We hope you are encouraged by this podcast and enjoy our conversation!
Welcome back to Around the World with The Archibald Project! My name is Whitney and together with my husband Nick, we started our orphan care advocacy organization, The Archibald Project! We've been working hard to tell inspiring stories about vulnerable children ever since and our goal is to ultimately end the global orphan crisis through storytelling! We believe that the more people who see and hear our stories then the more people who will be inspired to get involved and help end the orphan crisis!
In today’s episode, we sit down with Oleg Lougheed, an inspiring young man who not only has started the non-profit Overcoming Odds, but he himself has indeed overcome many odds. Oleg entered an orphanage in Russia at age 9 to try and get his own life on track. Without a father present and an alcoholic mother, he did what he thought was the best option. Oleg's life is a testament to not giving up when times are tough. At the age of 12, Oleg was adopted from Russia and came to live with his new family in America. Since being in America, Oleg is helping other adoptees, foster youth, and adults find their voice and heal from their traumatic pasts.
We are beyond inspired by not only Oleg's adoption story, but for the way he is helping people heal. Oleg shares with us his emotions and feelings towards his own adoption, and how his adoptive parents helped him heal and really grow into the man he has become. If you know anyone who is adopted, is adopting or is thinking about adoption, we encourage you to listen to our podcast with Oleg as we think it will give incredible insight to an adopted child's thoughts and feelings. Thank you and enjoy our conversation with Oleg!
Welcome back to Around the World with The Archibald Project! My name is Whitney and together with my husband Nick, we started our orphan care advocacy organization, The Archibald Project. We've been working hard to tell inspiring stories about vulnerable children ever since and our goal is to ultimately end the global orphan crisis through storytelling! We believe that the more people who see and hear our stories then the more people who will be inspired to get involved and help end the orphan crisis!
In today’s episode, we catch up with our dear friend, and former media mission team member, Courtney Bolander. After our media mission in 2015, Courtney and her husband Ricky packed up their lives in New York and moved to Romania to start an organization called Radiant Hope that seeks to restore identity and dignity to youth that are vulnerable to human trafficking. Courtney shares with us how meeting one special girl in Romania changed the course of their lives and was a huge catalyst for starting Radiant Hope. Courtney talks about what a day in the life looks like for them in Romania and their desire to pour into youth and show them their worth and value.
I will mention, this podcast was recorded last August, so Courtney and Ricky have now been living in Romania for a little over a year. Alright guys thanks so much for tuning in, enjoy our inspiring conversation with our friend Courtney!
Welcome back to Around the World with The Archibald Project! My name is Whitney and together with my husband Nick, we started our orphan care advocacy organization, The Archibald Project. We've been working hard to tell inspiring stories about vulnerable children ever since and our goal is to ultimately end the global orphan crisis through storytelling! We believe that the more people who see and hear our stories then the more people who will be inspired to get involved and help end the orphan crisis!
In today's episode, we have an inspiring conversation with former foster youth, Maryssa Vasquez, as she shares with us about her past, growing up in foster care, and how an organization she joined in college has changed the direction of her life! Now, as the president of PUSH, Persevere UNTil Success Happens, Maryssa supports former foster youth by encouraging them and creating a space for them to heal by surrounding them with community. Maryssa is helping these youth overcome the odds and make it through college! Make sure you stick around until the end to hear her advice about how you can help support former foster youth make it through college and empower them to have a voice!
Enjoy our encouraging conversation with Maryssa!
Welcome back to Around the World with The Archibald Project! My name is Whitney and together with my husband Nick, we started our orphan care advocacy organization, The Archibald Project. We've been working hard to tell inspiring stories about vulnerable children ever since and our goal is to ultimately end the global orphan crisis through storytelling! We believe that the more people who see and hear our stories then the more people who will be inspired to get involved and help end the orphan crisis!
In today's episode, we have an inspiring conversation with Daniel and Shellee Hyde! Daniel and Shellee went from 0 to 6 kids in just 3 years! They share with us how they made the jump from 0 to 6, and what becoming foster parents was like for them and how it lead to the adoption of 4 of their children! During our conversation, Daniel and Shellee open up and give us a front row seat to what it was like to just show up and be consistent with the kids that came in and out of their care, even when there wasn't certainty or permanency in their journey.
Enjoy our encouraging conversation with foster and adoptive parents, Daniel and Shellee!
Welcome back to Around the World with The Archibald Project! My name is Whitney and together with my husband Nick, we started our orphan care advocacy organization, The Archibald Project. We've been working hard to tell inspiring stories about vulnerable children ever since and our goal is to ultimately end the global orphan crisis through storytelling! We believe that the more people who see and hear our stories then the more people who will be inspired to get involved and help end the orphan crisis!
In today's episode, we have the most inspiring conversation with foster mom Sherry, and her foster son's biological mom, Kami! We are thankful for Sherry's vulnerability as she shares how learning to love Kami and her family did not happen over night, as well as Kami's struggle to love and trust someone was hard at first, but so worth it. Although having had a rough start to their relationship, we see how loving a biological mom and cheering her on can change a family's outcome. After years of her son being in Sherry's home, Kami's son was reunified with Kami and her husband! Talk about inspiring and sacrificial love...
During our conversation Sherry and Kami talk about the awkward first car ride that Sherry offered after a visit, and the unexpected surprise visit Kami got on Christmas Eve from Sherry and her entire family. They share that listening and learning to press into love, even when it's hard, is always worth it.
I can pretty much guarantee that your hearts will be challenged to love harder after listening to our conversation with Sherry and Kami! We hope you enjoy our conversation with these two incredible women!
Welcome back to Around the World with The Archibald Project! My name is Whitney and together with my husband Nick, we started our orphan care advocacy organization, The Archibald Project. We've been working hard to tell inspiring stories about vulnerable children ever since and our goal is to ultimately end the global orphan crisis through storytelling! We believe that the more people who see and hear our stories then the more people who will be inspired to get involved and help end the orphan crisis!
In today's episode, we interview not 1, not 2, but 3 sisters living together... and fostering together!!! We are inspired by their commitment to the betterment of vulnerable children and their willingness to sacrifice comfort to care for these kids. Life can be crazy with "3 bosses" as they like to call themselves in their home, but they are quick to express that although challenging at times, foster care is the most rewarding and beautiful thing they have ever done.
During our conversation, Grace, Joy and Hope, share with us what a day in the life looks like, how they balance working full time, crazy schedules, and the countless visitations, doctors appointments and meetings for their gaggle of foster kiddos.
We hope you enjoy our conversation with the inspiring 3 Sisters!
Welcome back to Around the World with The Archibald Project! My name is Whitney and together with my husband Nick, we started our orphan care advocacy organization, The Archibald Project. We've been working hard to tell inspiring stories about vulnerable children ever since and our goal is to ultimately end the global orphan crisis through storytelling! We believe that the more people who see and hear our stories then the more people who will be inspired to get involved and help end the orphan crisis!
In today's episode, I catch up with 4 of my amazing friends and fellow adoptive mamas, aka the 'Mwana Mamas' as we like to call ourselves. When Nick and I traveled to Congo to meet our kids for the first time, we were with these women and their husbands! The leading up to traveling to Congo, while we were in country and in the waiing since returning from Congo, these women have encouraged me, laughed with me and cried with me through many different seasons.
During our conversation we share some memorable moments from our time in Congo, some difficult memories, and we cry and laugh a lot. Our hope is that you would feel encouraged to find people that you can walk through the adoption journey with.
I hope you enjoy my conversation catching up with the amazing Mwana Mamas!
Welcome back to Around the World with The Archibald Project! The Archibald Project is using storytelling to spark and expand a movement of people to care for orphaned and vulnerable children in creative and educated ways, in order to combat and end the global orphan crisis.
In today's interview we have an inspiring conversation with one of our dear friends, Hallie Graves! We’ve known Hallie for a few years and have gotten a front row seat to her journey to becoming a foster mom. Hallie is wonder woman in our eyes. Not only is Hallie an intentional friend, but she is a full time lawyer and a single foster mom, just to name a few. Hallie shares really practical advice for how to set your life up to receive a foster child and walks us through what a day in the life looks like for her and her 3 month old foster son. Towards the end of our conversation, Hallie shares with us some easy ways that you can get involved in foster care without becoming a foster parent.
I can assure you that Hallie’s life and passion to help vulnerable children will most definitely inspire you. Enjoy our conversation with the amazing Hallie Graves!
Welcome back to Around the World with The Archibald Project. My name is Whitney and together with my husband Nick, we started our orphan care advocacy organization, The Archibald Project. We've been working hard to tell inspiring stories about vulnerable children ever since and our goal is to ultimately end the global orphan crisis through storytelling! We believe that the more people who see and hear our stories then the more people who will be inspired to get involved and help end the orphan crisis!
In today's episode we have a fun time catching up with our old friends Smooth and Kelly Via. If you don't know who the Vias are then you're missing out. We'll cover our back story during our interview with them but in a nutshell the Vias were denied a VISA for their Ugandan daughter so they moved their then family of 5 to Uganda to be with their daughter. The Via's have been living in Uganda, doing regular life for the past 4 years and today we hear all about what life is like, how they feel about being in Uganda for so long, where they are in their adoption, how their kids have adjusted and what their future looks like as a now family of 8.
I do want to share that this was recorded last fall so if you know the Vias or follow the Vias on social media don't be confused when we talk about Kelly being pregnant or the fact that they've in the states. Since this podcast was recorded I'm happy to announce that Kelly has had a healthy baby boy named Corban (who was actually born on my birthday), and that all 8 Vias are back in Uganda and are doing well!
Enjoy our conversation with our dear friends Smooth and Kelly!
In our first episode of season 2 we connect with co-founders of The Archibald Project and learn what they've been up to over the past few months. We also introduce you to TAP's newest member, Amanda, and learn all about TAP's mission for ethical orphan care!
Through out the show we hear about TAP's newest webpage 'The 411 On The Global Orphan Crisis' and why anyone who is interested in caring for vulnerable children needs to go read this page now!