What Happened to Family of Nomads? A Raw Look at Jessica Roderick’s Real Journey
I used to watch Family of Nomads for travel inspiration, but their recent journey revealed something much deeper than RV life.
I’ve followed Family of Nomads on YouTube and Instagram for a while now. What started as admiration for a family living freely on the road turned into something more complex, emotional, and honestly, human. Their journey isn’t just about RV travel. It’s about healing, change, and learning when to let go.
TL;DR: What You Need to Know
- Jessica Roderick founded Family of Nomads after her daughter Addison’s health recovery in 2020.
- The family sold everything to live full-time in an RV, gaining popularity for their honest, healing-focused content.
- Jessica is now divorced, openly queer, and in a relationship with Brittanie Benavidez.
- Addison stepped away from social media after posting about how the nomadic life affected her mental health.
- As of 2025, Jessica continues her journey with her younger children, Grace and TJ, while Addison lives with relatives.
- The brand has grown to 1.35M YouTube subscribers with an estimated $5M valuation.
Meet the Family of Nomads
Jessica Roderick, the woman behind Family of Nomads, began her RV lifestyle in 2020 with three kids, Addison, Grace, and TJ, and her then-husband Dub McCorkle. They sold most of what they owned and hit the road to find a new way of living.
What made their story stand out was not the aesthetics or gear. It was the reason behind it. Jessica’s eldest daughter, Addison, had just come out of a long and difficult health battle, and the family wanted to reclaim their time together.
Today, things look different. Jessica is now divorced, openly queer, and in a new relationship. She continues to share her life online, but the family’s dynamic has shifted.
Jessica’s New Chapter
In 2023, Jessica came out publicly as queer and introduced her partner, Brittanie Benavidez, on Instagram. In a Pride Month post, she wrote:
“One year ago today we told the internet we weren’t just best friends, and no one was surprised.”
She now refers to herself as a “Queer Mom of Teens” in both her Instagram and TikTok bios, and continues to build a community around authenticity and resilience.
Who’s Who in the Family
| Name | Age (as of 2025) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jessica | 37 | Content creator, solo mom, and founder of the channel |
| Addison | 17 | Eldest daughter, no longer in videos |
| Grace | 14 | Middle child, still seen occasionally |
| TJ | 12 | Youngest, often featured in content |
| Dub McCorkle | Late 30s (est.) | Jessica’s ex-husband, no longer involved in the brand |
Jessica and Dub married in 2019 and later separated. Jessica now travels with Grace and TJ.
Why They Chose the Nomad Life
Addison’s diagnosis of PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome) deeply impacted the family. After her recovery, they felt like they needed to reset away from routine, pressure, and static living.
Jessica once wrote:
“Life is short, and we are not promised tomorrow. Stop waiting for this crazy stage of life to end. Live now.”
So they sold 90 percent of their belongings, bought a fifth-wheel camper, and committed to full-time RV life.
Where Is Addison Now?
As of late 2023, Addison is no longer part of the YouTube or Instagram content.
Reddit discussions confirm that Addison posted a TikTok explaining how the nomadic lifestyle negatively affected her mental health. She shared that the constant moving made her feel isolated and unstable, even contributing to disordered eating and anxiety.
She also stated that:
She assumed the RV trip would be temporary but it became their full-time life. Despite her struggles, she asked viewers not to target her mother, as the social media income helps support her younger siblings.
The video was deleted, and she is now reportedly staying with extended family.
Public Reaction and Online Debate
Jessica has faced criticism for documenting Addison’s medical journey and other private moments online. While some followers appreciate her transparency, others have raised concerns about oversharing and child privacy.
That said, many have acknowledged Jessica’s efforts to create financial stability through her content and maintain a positive online persona even during tough personal transitions.
Note: Addison is a minor. Her story includes sensitive topics. Please respect her privacy and avoid resharing removed content.
2025 Channel Growth Update
Since this article was first written, Jessica Roderick’s online presence has grown even more.
As of mid-2025:
- YouTube Channel: @Jessica_Roderick
- Subscribers: 1.35 million
- Total Videos: 653
- Estimated Monthly Revenue: \$19,000+
- Annual Income Estimate: Around \$230,000
- Channel Net Worth: Estimated at over \$5 million
Jessica continues to create steady content focused on travel, parenting, healing, and solo queer motherhood. Her brand remains one of the most followed in the nomad YouTube community.
Also read: How Kristin Wilson Built a Life Abroad: Lessons for Dreamers Like Me
Where Are They in 2025?
Jessica still travels part-time but now spends most of the year in South Carolina, creating a hybrid lifestyle between stability and adventure. Grace and TJ remain active in her content, especially in homeschooling and day-in-the-life vlogs.
Addison has not returned to public-facing platforms and remains with relatives, by choice. Jessica and Brittanie Benavidez continue to share milestones in their relationship, though Brittanie is not a core part of the vlog content.
A Reminder About Respecting Boundaries
Addison is nearly an adult now and has asked for her story to remain private. Jessica has since removed or archived much of the older content that included her. As followers, it’s important to continue respecting her voice and boundaries.
How They Earn a Living
Jessica supports her family through a mix of:
- YouTube ad revenue
- Affiliate links (Amazon, ShopLTL)
- Blog partnerships
- Social media promotions
Her estimated monthly income has increased significantly, ranging between \$19,000 to \$20,000 as of 2025, with her overall brand now valued at over \$5 million.
Where to Follow Them Now
- YouTube: Jessica Roderick (1.35M subscribers)
- Instagram: @_jessica_roderick (493K followers)
- TikTok: @jessica_roderick (2.5M followers)
Jessica still shares RV moments, parenting hacks, relationship updates, and personal reflections from her life in South Carolina and beyond.
FAQs
Why isn’t Addison in the videos anymore? She is currently living with relatives and no longer involved in public content. She expressed that the lifestyle impacted her mental health and chose to step away.
Are Jessica and Dub still together? No. They divorced after starting the nomadic journey. Jessica now identifies as queer and is in a relationship with Brittanie Benavidez.
Is the Family of Nomads brand still active? Yes, but it now primarily features Jessica and her two younger kids. The tone has shifted to focus more on solo parenting and queer identity alongside travel content.
Is there a controversy around the channel? Some. Viewers have debated the ethics of sharing a child’s medical and emotional journey online. Jessica has continued to post through the backlash, but Addison’s content has been removed.
My Final Thoughts
This story has shifted a lot since I first subscribed. It went from family adventure to something much deeper: a lesson in how fragile life is, and how messy healing can be.
Even though I’m not living this lifestyle myself yet, Family of Nomads taught me something honest. Freedom isn’t always pretty, but it’s worth fighting for.
