Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to meet your father for the first time as an adult? David Castillo’s extraordinary journey on Good Life Stories takes listeners through the emotional landscape of growing up without knowing half of your identity, and the miraculous circumstances that finally brought him face-to-face with his dad at age 38.

David’s story begins with a lifetime of questions and searching. Growing up, he knew his father’s name and would regularly open phone books in different cities, hoping to find him. During his Navy service in San Diego, he actually found his father’s number and called, but didn’t follow through. Years later, he discovered his father and half-brother were living in San Diego at the exact same time—a missed connection that haunted him. “I look back on that and I’m like, man, I wish I would have just had the courage to pick up the phone and call,” David reflects.

The breakthrough came through David’s work as a political appointee at the VA in the early 2000s. When his half-brother’s case crossed his desk, the shared family name was too much of a coincidence to ignore. Despite the unusual circumstances, David found the courage to make what could have been an incredibly awkward phone call. “I called him and I said, hey, this is going to sound crazy, but I think we might be related,” he remembers.

That call led to a parking lot meeting at Andrews Air Force Base, where the physical resemblance between the two brothers immediately confirmed their relationship. David describes the surreal moment of seeing his father’s photograph for the first time in his brother’s apartment, followed by the life-changing phone call from his dad that same night. “It was weird, honestly… he just jumped into conversation. It’s like he wasn’t surprised.”

The timing proved providential when both David and his father found themselves traveling to Seattle for business—David for his VA work, his father as a high-end furniture salesman. Their first in-person meeting took place at a hotel in Western Washington, when his father knocked on David’s door at midnight Pacific time. This began a precious relationship that lasted until his father’s passing in September 2020, including opportunities for David’s son to know his grandfather.

Beyond the family reunion, the episode explores how David found healing and expression through music during his college years in Seattle. Growing up in a musical family with a mother who played folk guitar and wrote songs, David initially didn’t pursue music seriously. However, college introduced him to collaborative songwriting and performance, leading to a band that played regularly throughout Seattle’s legendary 1990s music scene.

From starter venues like the Off Ramp Cafe to prestigious spots like the Phoenix Underground, David’s band carved out a place in Seattle’s music ecosystem. “We were playing like two, three times a week… in between class,” he recalls. The music became cathartic, allowing him to process the complex emotions around his missing father, relationships, and identity. “I got a chance really to kind of write about things that I was just in turmoil over… There’s a couple of songs that we wrote that really, at the heart of them were about my dad, who I didn’t know at the time.”

David’s reflection on timing reveals the wisdom gained through his journey: “I really feel like I met him when I was supposed to and where he and I were both ready to start that relationship.” His story demonstrates how the universe sometimes provides exactly what we need, exactly when we’re ready to receive it.

The episode beautifully weaves together themes of identity, courage, family, and creative expression. David’s experience growing up feeling “different from all your friends” because he didn’t have his father, while being surrounded by “a lot of really good men” who provided positive influence, speaks to the complex nature of family and belonging.

Today, David continues his musical journey, reuniting annually with his college bandmate Tom to rework old songs and create new ones. “The beautiful thing about being a musician is you’re really never done. You can always get better. You can always learn something new,” Tracy observes, capturing the ongoing nature of both musical and personal growth.

About David Castillo

Growing up in a single parent home with four children, you learn a great deal about making things last and doing a lot with a little. I remember my mom doing the best she could to put food on the table and clothes on our backs, while simultaneously working a low paying job and going to school. Experiencing my mom’s determination and commitment to our family gave me a great appreciation for the value of saving, working hard and dedicating my efforts to something bigger than myself.

Today, as a financial advisor, I am able to put those values to work. I partner with my clients to help determine their needs, desires and goals. Together, we then work through an established process to help determine the most appropriate financial strategy to help achieve those goals.

One of the things I most enjoy about being a financial advisor is the opportunity I have, on a daily basis, to impact the lives of others in our community. When I’m not working at Edward Jones, I coach high school football. I coach because I love to teach, and it helps me hone the teaching skills I use every day with my clients. I am a veteran of the United States Navy and a member of both the VFW and American Legion.

My wife, Callie, and our son, Caidan, and I live in the Edmonds area. I care deeply about their future, and I want to ensure that we live the best possible life and are prepared to handle any challenges that the future might present. I bring that same level of commitment and preparation to my clients.

I attended the University of Washington and received a BA in political science, and I have a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Gonzaga University.

Links:

• Instagram – https://instragram.com/dbcastillo
• Twitter/X – https://x.com/davidbcastillo

About Tracy Crowley

Tracy Crowley has always been an entrepreneur. Whether it was making gowns for fellow Army wives, taking portraits in black and white, or working on her other businesses, she is always learning something new.

That passion for learning something new and giving something back collide nicely in this podcast.

Join Tracy for Good Life Stories, where simple curiosity brings out great stories, every single time.

Check out Tracy’s new book! https://tracycrowley.life/