Description
What It Really Takes to Keep Going When Life Doesn’t Follow the Plan
What happens when grief, parenting, leadership, and faith all collide in one life story? In this conversation, I sit down with Debbie Simmons to talk about the moments that shaped her most—and the choices that kept her moving when it would’ve been easier to stop.
Debbie’s story doesn’t fit into a neat box. She’s a former engineer, the CEO of Anchor Point, an author, a speaker, and a mother of nine adopted children. Yet what stayed with me most was how honestly she talked about loss, courage, health, family, and the weight of building something meant to serve other people.
We get into what it means to take the next step when you don’t have the full picture, how vulnerability can make room for real community, and why grit alone isn’t always enough. Debbie also shares a few hard-earned lessons about boundaries, trust, adoption, and the kind of legacy that starts long before the end of your life.
If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re strong enough for the chapter you’re in, this episode may leave you thinking about that in a whole new way.
About the Guest
Debbie Simmons is the CEO of Anchor Point, a nonprofit leader, author, speaker, wife, mother of nine adopted children, and grandmother of fifteen. Her work centers on trust, healing, leadership, and living with intention.
Timestamps
0:50 - I welcome Debbie Simmons and we begin with the story behind the bio
3:27 - Debbie shares the parts of her life that can’t fit into one sentence
9:29 - We talk about nonlinear life paths and the value of every chapter
12:59 - The painful season that became important later
18:49 - How Debbie built a nonprofit one step at a time
23:08 - Why she sees herself as a builder, not a maintainer
41:28 - How adopting nine children changed her understanding of family
48:22 - Where she found her limits and what it cost to ignore them
56:30 - We discuss risk, uncertainty, and trusting without full clarity
73:31 - Debbie explains what legacy means to her now
Debbie's Resources:
Free book, The Heart of Legacy:theheartoflegacy.com
If this conversation speaks to you, listen to the full episode and share it with someone who may need the reminder that tomorrow is a fresh start.
#TheCuriousStoryteller #DebbieSimmons #Legacy #Adoption #FaithAndResilience
Hosted by Reid Miles.
Conversations unfold naturally — no scripts, no rush.
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