Katherine Hanniford and I didn't know each other before widowhood. Now, she's one of those friendships I consider a silver lining of losing our husbands.

In this episode, Katherine shares the story of her 29-year marriage to Ken, the devastating cardiac arrest that left him with a severe brain injury at just 54, and the six years she spent caring for him while working full-time and raising their two daughters.

We talk about the realities of caregiving, the importance of preserving dignity, the role hospice played in caring for the entire family, and how Katherine learned to navigate the complicated emotions of anticipatory grief and loss.

But this conversation is about much more than what happened to Ken.

It's about what happened to Katherine afterward.

We talk about finding your village, giving yourself grace, letting go of the "shoulda, coulda, woulda" game, and learning that there is no single right way to grieve. Katherine also shares how grief support, journaling, and community helped her process her loss.

And then there's the part I absolutely love: Katherine's next chapter.

Six years after Ken's death, she decided she didn't want to stay stuck in the life she'd known. She played the Zillow game, rediscovered her love of the ocean, moved from Georgia to Delaware, retired, and built a completely new life—one filled with tennis, pickleball, golf, book clubs, friends, beach days, and a whole lot of joy.

Her message?

Your life is yours.

You are allowed to pivot.
You are allowed to change your mind.
You are allowed to find joy again.

And perhaps most importantly, you can move forward without leaving your person behind.

Katherine also shares some beautiful advice for those supporting someone through loss: be the person. Be the one who checks in, asks about their loved one, sits with them, and gives them a safe place to talk.

This is a conversation about grief, but it's also a conversation about grace, friendship, resilience, and building a life you actually want to live.

Links to Katherine's resources:

Understanding Your Grief:  https://www.centerforloss.com/bookstore/understanding-your-grief-2/

Center for Loss:  https://www.centerforloss.com

Grief Observed:  https://epicreads.com/products/a-grief-observed?variant=54825052733731

🎧 Listen to The Lost Love Stories with Katherine Hanniford and her husband Ken wherever you get your podcasts.

Watch on Youtube:  https://youtu.be/X60TtUHyH4Q

#TheLostLoveStories #GriefJourney #LifeAfterLoss #HealingAfterLoss #Widowhood #CaregivingJourney #GriefAndHealing #LossOfASpouse #FindingJoyAfterLoss #HopeAfterLoss #LivingWithGrief #StartingOver #Resilience #GriefSupport #LifeAfterGrief

Email thelostlovestories@gmail.com with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.

After a little bit of a podcast hiatus, The Lost Love Stories is back! And I couldn't think of a better person to return with than my dear friend, Bob Hope.

And yes… that Bob Hope. 😉
Well, not that Bob Hope—but if you've known him for more than five minutes, you understand why everyone loves this Bob Hope, too.

Bob and his wife, Susan, were married for 46 years. Their story was one of deep love, friendship, adventure, family, service, and a whole lot of Georgia football.

When Susan was diagnosed with stage-four liver cancer, everything changed. But throughout her 26-month battle, Susan continued to live with an extraordinary sense of optimism, generosity, and hope.

In this deeply personal conversation, Bob shares the story of their life together, Susan's final months, the people who surrounded them with love, and the remarkable legacy she left behind.

We talk about the strange and beautiful ways our loved ones remain with us after they're gone—the dreams, the memories, the mannerisms we recognize in their children and grandchildren, and those little moments when you think, "That's Susan."

We also talk about something especially meaningful to me: how Bob helped me find my own way back to joy after losing Jon.

After Jon died, Bob became what I jokingly call my "grief guardian angel." He checked on me, understood where I was because he'd already walked the road I was just beginning, and eventually gave me the nudge that changed the trajectory of my own grief journey:

"You need Honduras, and Honduras needs you."

That trip became a turning point for me—and it all started with Bob and Susan's connection to Honduras and the work they helped build there.

In this episode, we talk about:

❤️ A 46-year love story and how Bob and Susan first met
❤️ The hilarious story of Bob trying to win Susan over—including an opera date she definitely didn't forget!
❤️ Susan's diagnosis and the 26 months that followed
❤️ Why hope mattered so much during Susan's illness
❤️ The powerful moment when hospice helped Bob give Susan permission to let go
❤️ The ways Susan's generosity continues through her children and grandchildren
❤️ How her love of Georgia football became part of her legacy
❤️ The importance of celebrating someone's life while they're still here
❤️ Bob's unexpected role in my own journey back to joy after Jon's death
❤️ The story behind the Honduras outreach and the HAVE Foundation
❤️ Why service, friendship, and community can change our lives after loss
❤️ What happens when you begin imagining the rest of your life after losing your person

One of the most beautiful themes in our conversation is that loss doesn't erase the life that came before it.

This is a conversation about grief, but it's also a conversation about hope.

About finding your way forward without leaving your person behind.

And about discovering that joy can come back in ways you never expected.

I'm so grateful to Bob for sharing Susan's story with me—and with all of you.

Welcome back to The Lost Love Stories. 🤍

Listen & Subscribe

If you've lost someone you love, I hope this episode reminds you that you don't have to "move on" from them.

You can move forward with them.

Listen to The Lost Love Stories wherever you get your podcasts—and if this episode touches you, please share it with someone who might need a little hope today.

Watch on Youtube:  https://youtu.be/zpxJwXjr1b8

#TheLostLoveStories
#GriefJourney
#LifeAfterLoss
#HealingAfterLoss
#GriefAndLoss
#Widowhood
#LossOfASpouse
#GriefSupport
#FindingJoyAfterLoss
#HopeAfterLoss
#LegacyOfLove
#LoveAfterLoss
#StoriesOfLoss
#GriefPodcast
#PodcastRecommendations

Email thelostlovestories@gmail.com with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.

Every podcast has a beginning.

As I was looking back through the archives, I realized my very first published episode deserved another listen—not because it's perfect, but because it's exactly where The Lost Love Stories began.

My very first guest was my son, Jake.

In this conversation, he shares the story of his best friend, Blake—a young man whose larger-than-life personality left an unforgettable mark on everyone who knew him. After a tragic snowboarding accident claimed Blake's life far too soon, Jake found himself navigating unimaginable grief while, just months later, preparing to lose his dad to brain cancer.

This conversation isn't just about loss.

It's about friendship.
It's about community.
It's about learning that grief isn't something you "get over"—it's something you learn to carry.

And perhaps most importantly, it's about choosing to keep living in a way that honors the people we've lost.

Whether you're hearing this episode for the first time or returning to it years later, I hope Blake's story reminds you to hold your people close, tell the stories often, and never underestimate the healing power of remembering.

In This Episode

❤️ Jake shares how he and Blake became inseparable friends at military school.

🎿 The tragic accident that changed everything.

🤍 What it was like to lose his best friend—and then his father only months later.

💬 Why community matters so much when you're grieving.

🌱 How grief can deepen empathy and help us become more compassionate people.

✨ Why the greatest way to honor those we've lost is to keep living fully.

Favorite Quote

"I think it's respectful to the past to give yourself a chance to be happy again." — Jake Baker

That one sentence captures so much of what The Lost Love Stories is about.

If This Episode Speaks to You...

Please share it with someone who may need it today.

And if you've been carrying your own loss quietly, I hope this conversation reminds you that healing doesn't mean forgetting—it means finding a way to carry love forward.

❤️ Thanks for listening, and thank you for helping keep these stories alive.

Watch this episode on Youtube:  https://youtu.be/21_SlOD6Aao

#TheLostLoveStories

#GriefJourney

#HealingAfterLoss

#LifeAfterLoss

#RememberingLovedOnes

#MentalHealthMatters

#ChooseJoy

#Storytelling

#PodcastRecommendations

#CommunityHealing

#Friendship

#GriefSupport

Email thelostlovestories@gmail.com with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.

Father's Day can be one of the most complicated days of the year for anyone who has experienced loss.

In this special episode of The Lost Love Stories, I'm joined by two very special guests—my daughter, Sabrina ("Beanie"), and my niece, Halle. Together, we share an honest conversation recorded just two days after Father's Day as we reflect on what the day looked and felt like four years after losing my husband, Jon.

What began as a beautiful day at the lake—Jon's favorite place in the world—quickly reminded us that grief doesn't follow a schedule. Sometimes it arrives unexpectedly, even in the middle of laughter, sunshine, and cherished traditions.

Beanie shares what it was like losing her dad as a teenager and how she's learned that joy and grief can exist side by side. Halle offers a unique perspective after growing up without her biological father while finding a father figure in her "Uncle Daddy," whose love and guidance shaped so much of her life.

Together, we talk about:

• Why grief looks different every year—and every holiday.
• The surprising ways emotions can appear when we least expect them.
• How to honor the people we've lost without feeling guilty for finding happiness.
• What family and friends can say (and sometimes shouldn't say) to someone missing a parent.
• Why acknowledging difficult anniversaries and holidays matters more than pretending they don't exist.
• The comfort found in traditions, memories, and simply speaking the names of those we love.

Whether you've lost your father, your spouse, a parent figure, or someone who filled that role in your life, we hope this conversation reminds you that there is no "right" way to grieve.

Some years you'll cry.
Some years you'll laugh.
Some years you'll do both within the same hour.

And all of it is okay.

If someone you love is facing Father's Day—or any difficult anniversary—don't be afraid to reach out. A simple text saying, "I'm thinking about you today," may mean more than you'll ever know.

Thank you for spending this conversation with us.

If this episode resonates with you, please consider sharing it with someone who might need the reminder that they are not alone.

Until next time... keep telling the stories, because love doesn't end when someone is gone.

Watch on Youtube:  https://youtu.be/k16vs7EX7Fc

#TheLostLoveStories #FathersDay #GriefJourney #LifeAfterLoss #RememberingDad #HealingAfterLoss #GriefPodcast #WidowedLife #LoveNeverEnds #MentalHealthMatters

Email thelostlovestories@gmail.com with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.

In this heartfelt episode of The Lost Love Stories, Pam sits down with friend, author, podcast host, Army veteran, and widow advocate Dr. Tina Fornwald for a powerful conversation about love, grief, healing, and the unexpected beauty that can emerge after devastating loss.

Dr. Tina shares the story of meeting her late husband, Mark, in the Army, their whirlwind romance, and the profound blessing of being by his side when he unexpectedly passed away. Nearly ten years later, she reflects on what it means to carry grief while also embracing joy, purpose, and a life still worth living.

Together, Pam and Tina discuss:

✨ The gift—and heartbreak—of being present when a loved one transitions

✨ Why widowhood isn't a competition and there is no "better" way to lose someone

✨ The importance of having conversations about death and preparing for the unexpected

✨ How one late-night phone call inspired Dr. Tina to create Widowhood Real Talk with Tina

✨ Building community instead of competition among widow advocates

✨ The incredible impact of the Children of Widowhood Secret Santa Program, which provided Christmas gifts to 29 children last year

✨ Why fiction can sometimes tell the deepest truths—and the inspiration behind Dr. Tina's Amazon bestselling novel, Five Widows

✨ Learning to hear God's whispers and act on the "downloads" that life sends us

✨ The healing power of widow retreats and giving yourself permission to laugh again

✨ Why thriving after loss isn't betrayal—it's honoring the life we still have

✨ The ripple effect that occurs when widows reclaim joy

Throughout the conversation, one truth shines brightly:

You can deeply love the person who died and still choose to fully love the life you have remaining.

📚 About Dr. Tina Fornwald

Dr. Tina R. Fornwald is a grief advocate, transformational speaker, author of The Five Widows Club, and founder of Widowhood Real Talk with Tina. A retired and decorated Army officer, widow, breast cancer survivor, and mother of two, she helps individuals and organizations understand where grief gets stuck and how people can reconnect with life, community, and a renewed sense of belonging.

Connect with Dr. Tina

Dr. Tina’s website https://tinafornwald.com/

Purchase The Five Widows Club https://bit.ly/TheFiveWidowsClub

Where Grief Gets Stuck: https://tinafornwald.com/where-grief-gets-stuck/ 

WRTWT Home page https://widowhood-realtalkwithtina.org/

Children of Widowhood Secret Santa https://widowhood-realtalkwithtina.org/children-of-widowhood/

Retreat web page https://widowhood-realtalkwithtina.org/real-widowhood-weekend-nextyou-experience/

Interest form for 2026 Real Widowhood Weekend: #NextYou Experience https://bit.ly/nextyou-experience-interestform 

Memorial Garden https://widowhood-realtalkwithtina.org/events/community-memorial-garden/ 

Podcast https://widowhood-realtalkwithtina.org/podcast/

Events https://widowhood-realtalkwithtina.org/events/ 

Watch on this episode on Youtube:

https://youtu.be/6-wyc4klh3Q

Email thelostlovestories@gmail.com with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.

Some people leave behind memories.

Others leave behind movements.

In this heartfelt episode of The Lost Love Stories, Pam sits down with her friend Kate O'Donnell to share the remarkable story of her father, Joe O'Donnell—a beloved leader in the cystic fibrosis community whose impact continues to be felt long after his passing.

Joe's journey into advocacy began after his son Joey was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. What started as a father's determination to help his child evolved into a lifetime of service, fundraising, storytelling, and leadership that helped transform the future of CF care for countless families.

But this conversation is about far more than fundraising.

Kate shares what it was like growing up in a family shaped by both profound loss and extraordinary purpose. She reflects on losing the brother she never had the chance to know, watching her parents turn grief into action, and eventually stepping into her father's legacy after his death from pancreatic cancer in 2024.

Together, Pam and Kate explore the realities of anticipatory grief, caregiving, hospice, family traditions, and the ways we continue relationships with those we love after they're gone.

This episode is filled with laughter, tears, wisdom, and a powerful reminder that the people we love never truly leave us—they live on in the stories we tell, the lives they touched, and the work we continue in their honor.

In This Episode We Discuss:

• Growing up in the shadow and light of a sibling lost to cystic fibrosis
• How Joe O'Donnell became one of the most influential advocates in the CF community
• The power of storytelling to inspire change
• Turning grief into purpose and action
• The realities of pancreatic cancer and anticipatory grief
• Hospice, caregiving, and end-of-life experiences
• Continuing bonds with loved ones after loss
• Why talking about death helps us live more fully
• Carrying forward a loved one's legacy

About Kate O'Donnell

Kate O'Donnell is a passionate advocate, fundraiser, and leader within the cystic fibrosis community. Following in the footsteps of her father, Joe O'Donnell, she continues to support the mission of improving and extending the lives of people with CF while helping carry forward the extraordinary legacy her family has built over decades of service and advocacy.

This episode is dedicated to the memory of Joe O'Donnell—a storyteller, fundraiser, leader, husband, father, grandfather, and friend whose impact continues to ripple through countless lives. 

Follow Kate and her work with The Joey Fund on Instagram:  

https://www.instagram.com/thejoeyfund?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Watch this episode on Youtube:

https://youtu.be/7T_lc0-Fr0U

Email thelostlovestories@gmail.com with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.

In this deeply moving and eye-opening episode of The Lost Love Stories, Pam sits down with longtime friend Kate Boccia to share the heartbreaking and complicated story of her son, Daniel Boccia.

What began as a seemingly “normal” suburban upbringing slowly evolved into a devastating journey through addiction, incarceration, systemic failure, and unimaginable grief. Kate candidly shares how Daniel’s opioid addiction began during the height of America’s prescription pill crisis, eventually leading to heroin addiction, incarceration, trauma, and ultimately his death from fentanyl in 2021.

But this episode is about far more than addiction.

It’s about motherhood. Shame. Survival. The hidden grief families carry when someone they love enters the prison system. It’s about what happens when punishment replaces healing — and what true rehabilitation could look like if we chose humanity over stigma.

Kate also shares how her pain transformed into purpose through the creation of the National Incarceration Association, where she now advocates for incarcerated individuals and their families while fighting for meaningful criminal justice reform.

This conversation is raw, emotional, and incredibly important.

In this episode, we discuss:

•  How addiction quietly entered Daniel’s life 
•  The opioid crisis and its impact on families 
•  Parenting through addiction and legal trouble 
•  The trauma of incarceration for both inmates and families 
•  PTSD and post-incarceration syndrome 
•  Why rehabilitation inside prisons matters 
•  The stigma families face when a loved one is incarcerated 
•  Turning grief into advocacy and action 
•  Finding purpose after unimaginable loss 

If you’ve ever loved someone struggling with addiction, incarceration, or mental health challenges — or if you’ve ever wondered what families behind these stories endure — this episode will stay with you.

🎧 Listen with an open heart.

Watch on Youtube:

https://youtu.be/IZ4fqVwjuVg

To learn more about Kate and The NIA visit:  

https://joinnia.com/

Email thelostlovestories@gmail.com with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.

This episode contains discussions of homicide, trauma, PTSD, self-harm, substance use, and grief. Please listen with care and prioritize your mental health if these topics are difficult for you.

In this deeply emotional and profoundly honest episode, Pam sits down with Tiffany Mourning to share the extraordinary love story she built with her husband, Justin — a relationship full of laughter, music, adventure, devotion, and fierce friendship.

From their unforgettable first meeting at a Halloween party to late-night karaoke in downtown Alpharetta, Tiffany paints a vivid picture of a marriage rooted in joy, playfulness, loyalty, and genuine partnership. She shares how Justin showed up for her in life’s hardest moments — from caring for aging parents to building a life together through grief, parenting, career changes, and cross-country moves.

The conversation then turns to the unimaginable: the night Justin was murdered while the couple walked through downtown Alpharetta after a date night. Tiffany bravely recounts the trauma of surviving the shooting, the devastating aftermath for their children and community, and the complex layers of grief, PTSD, survival mode, and healing that followed.
This episode is not only about devastating loss — it’s also about what happens after. Tiffany speaks candidly about trauma therapy, EMDR, sobriety, residential treatment, self-forgiveness, and learning how to rebuild a life after violent loss. Her vulnerability offers a powerful reminder that healing is not linear, and no one should have to navigate grief alone.

Watch the video on Youtube: 

https://youtu.be/ggbHntAr5ZI

#TheLostLoveStories
#WidowJourney
#GriefSupport
#LoveAfterLoss
#TraumaHealing
#HealingAfterLoss
#WidowLife
#PTSDRecovery
#SurvivingTrauma
#GriefPodcast
#LossAndHealing
#MentalHealthAwareness
#HomicideSurvivor
#LifeAfterLoss
#WidowSupport
#HealingJourney

Email thelostlovestories@gmail.com with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.

In this episode of The Lost Love Stories, I sit down with Anne Keeton—a certified Grief Recovery Specialist and someone who has deeply impacted my own journey—to talk about her best friend, Ted.

Their relationship was deeply connected, honest, and full of laughter—what Anne describes as one of the “cleanest” friendships she’s ever had.

When Ted was diagnosed with cancer, Anne stepped into a unique caregiving role, walking alongside him through a year-and-a-half journey that would ultimately end in loss.

But this conversation goes far beyond that loss.

Anne shares powerful insight into what grief actually is—and how it shows up in ways most of us don’t recognize. From unmet expectations to everyday life transitions, grief is often much broader than we think.

We talk about:

• Why time alone doesn’t heal grief
• How unresolved grief builds over time
• And the idea that staying in pain is not the same as honoring someone we love

This episode is thoughtful, honest, and incredibly helpful—whether you’ve lost someone or are carrying something you haven’t quite been able to name.

Because grief isn’t just something we experience once…
it’s something we learn how to move through.

To learn more about Anne and grief recovery, visit her website:

https://annekeeton.com/

Watch the video on Youtube:

https://youtu.be/fmccMg8V3Fs

Email thelostlovestories@gmail.com with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.

In this episode of The Lost Love Stories,  I sit down with Elle Davis—speaker, author, and founder of The Ellevate Group—to talk about her husband, Paul, and a love that started unexpectedly but quickly became something undeniable.

From a 12-hour first date to a deeply connected marriage, their story was full of faith, laughter, and meaning. But in an instant, everything changed.

At just 36 years old, with a two-year-old daughter at home, Elle lost her husband suddenly—turning an ordinary day into one that would change her life forever. 

What follows is a powerful conversation about navigating unimaginable loss and the choice to move forward.

Elle shares how she began to rebuild, what resilience really looks like, and how she now helps others find their way through life’s hardest moments.

This episode is a reminder that while grief may shape us… it doesn’t have to define us.

Connect with Elle:

Facebook:  
https://www.facebook.com/elledavisspeaks

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/elledavisspeaks/

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ldavismsw/

Website:
www.ellevategroup.us

Watch this episode on Youtube:

https://youtu.be/YbtVNNVZSBo

Email thelostlovestories@gmail.com with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.

Some relationships are built over decades—through shared struggles, deep understanding, and the kind of connection that only comes from walking a similar path.

In this episode of The Lost Love Stories, I sit down with my dear friend Margarete Cassalina. We met over 20 years ago through the cystic fibrosis community, both raising children with the same diagnosis. And like so many relationships formed in hard places, ours became something lasting and deeply meaningful.

Today, we talk about her daughter, Jena.

Margarete doesn’t say Jena “died.” She says Jena moved up. And as you listen, you begin to understand why.

Jena was vibrant, strong-willed, and wise far beyond her 13 years. What she left behind isn’t just memories—it’s a presence that Margarete still feels every day.

This conversation isn’t just about loss—it’s about what comes after.

You’ll hear the moment everything shifted for Margarete and how, from that point on, Jena became someone who is, not someone who was.

We talk about signs, connection, and what Margarete calls “love from above”—from pennies that appear at just the right moment to the quiet ways our people remind us they’re still with us.

But more than anything, this episode is about how we choose to live.

Jena once said:

“I’m not going to ruin today because I’m worried about tomorrow.”

And that wisdom becomes the heartbeat of this conversation.
If you’ve ever wondered how to keep going… how to honor the ones you love… or how to find meaning inside grief—this episode is for you.

Because love never ends.

It just changes form.

To learn more about Margarete and all that she does, please visit:

https://margaretecassalina.com/

https://margaretecassalinaauthor.com/

https://africanmissionhealthcare.org/

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Margarete-Cassalina/author/B0128JFWTE?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1774553578&sr=8-1&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

https://fundraise.cff.org/CentralNYXtremehike2026/Cassalina

Watch the podcast video:

https://youtu.be/0N09JWZNoms

Email thelostlovestories@gmail.com with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.

This episode is a little different—but it felt too important not to share.

Before The Lost Love Stories, I recorded this conversation with my sister Kylee. And the more I listened back… the more I realized how much it still belongs here.

Because while this isn’t a story about losing a person—it is a story about losing and finding yourself. 

Kylee shares her lifelong relationship with food—how it started young, how it evolved, and how it became both a comfort and a struggle she carried for years. From early habits to significant weight gain, to losing over 200 pounds, to gaining some of it back… this is not a straight line story. 

It’s real.
It’s honest.
And it’s something so many people will see themselves in.

What stood out most to me wasn’t just the physical journey—it was the mental one.

The constant decisions.
The exhaustion of always having to choose.
And the realization that there is no “finish line” when it comes to healing your relationship with yourself. 

We also talk about something that doesn’t get said enough:
How differently the world treats you based on how you look—and how that shapes your experience in ways most people don’t even realize. 

But underneath all of it is a deeper message:

This isn’t about perfection.
It’s about awareness.
It’s about self-worth.
And it’s about learning how to live in your own life—without constantly fighting yourself.

If you’ve ever struggled with food, your body, or the voice in your head that tells you you’re not enough… this conversation is for you.

 #food #addiction #weightloss #gastricsleevejourney #bodyimage  #diet  #selfimprovement  #mentalhealth  #health  #bariatricsurgery  #healthjourney  journey #bodyacceptance #emotionaleating #selfworth #gastricsleeve

Watch this episode on Youtube:

https://youtu.be/SOrqT7a-aDc

Email thelostlovestories@gmail.com with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.

Some love stories don’t end the way we expect them to.

In this episode of The Lost Love Stories, I sit down with Monika to talk about her husband, Gabe—and the life they built together.

From the way they met (after months of her literally dodging his calls) to building a business side by side, raising children, and creating a life that was full, layered, and deeply connected… their story is one of partnership in every sense of the word. 

But this conversation takes a turn none of us are ever prepared for.

On the morning of their anniversary, everything changed.

What follows is a story of sudden loss—but also of clarity, strength, and the moments that shape how we move forward.

Monika shares what it was like to:

• Make impossible decisions in real time
• Tell her young children that their father was gone
• Navigate grief while still needing to lead her family
• And carry out her husband’s final wish—to not let this define their lives

There’s one moment in particular that stays with me.

Just weeks before he passed, Gabe said to her:

“If I die tomorrow… can you take care of all of this?”

At the time, it felt like a passing comment.

Now, it feels like something more.

This episode isn’t just about loss.
It’s about what strength actually looks like.

It’s about motherhood, leadership, and the quiet decisions we make every day to keep going—even when everything in us wants to stop.

And it’s about rewriting what it means to be a widow.

Because as Monika so powerfully shares…
strength isn’t found in falling apart.

Sometimes, it’s found in choosing to keep living.

Resources & Links:

Connect with Monika:
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/monikameacham/

Monika's Authentic Leadership Engine:  

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/monikameacham_most-leadership-conversations-focus-on-outcomes-activity-7414297251826515968-rDo_?utm_source=social_share_send&utm_medium=member_desktop_web&rcm=ACoAADgN0TIB0JHXxHXkfOvlrFAnDilpPNd25Yc

Watch this episode on Youtube:

https://youtu.be/k7IxLcgFkls

#podcast #resilience #widow #widowhood #grief #loss #interview #leadership #leadershipdevelopment 

Email thelostlovestories@gmail.com with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.

Some love stories begin long before we’re even born.

In this episode of The Lost Love Stories, I sit down with Kalea to talk about her mom, Amy—a woman whose life, love story, and impact shaped everything around her.

From a middle school romance that turned into a lifelong partnership, to building a family rooted in closeness, connection, and showing up for each other… Amy created a life that felt like something out of a movie. 

But this story, like so many, takes a turn.

What began as a stage two breast cancer diagnosis quickly became something much more complicated. And over the next two years, Kalea’s life shifted in ways she never could have prepared for—balancing college, caregiving, and the quiet pressure to hold everything together. 

This conversation isn’t just about losing a mom.

It’s about what happens after.

Kalea shares what it’s like to:

• Step into roles you were never ready for
• Try to hold traditions together when everything has changed
• Navigate grief in your 20s while the world keeps moving around you
• And slowly learn that healing doesn’t mean “going back”—it means moving forward differently

One of the most powerful parts of this conversation is what Kalea is learning now—two years into her grief.

That sometimes the hardest part isn’t the moment of loss…
It’s learning how to live without the person who shaped you.

And when asked what her mom would say to her today, her answer is simple:

“Just keep going.” 

This episode is about love, identity, and the kind of loss that changes you forever.

But it’s also about growth.
About perspective.
And about finding your way forward—even when you don’t feel ready.

For more information about the scholarships in Amy's honor, visit the following links: 

The Amy Takayama-Perez Memorial Fund for George Mason - Supporting the Washington Youth Summit on the Environment (WYSE) and Washington Journalism and Media Conference (WJMC)

https://www.cfnova.org/donate/amy-takayama-perez-memorial-fund?fbclid=IwAR1IXAf4Tm9DUYCOXbGUpZb_IT82baFTMlwWU3BMcbZuv_STLkmalfi8l3E 

The Amy Takayama-Perez Memorial Student Book Award 

https://www.gmu.edu/news/2024-03/alumni-association-launches-book-scholarship-honor-esteemed-colleague-and-alumna 

Keywords

grief, cancer, family dynamics, legacy, personal growth, coping mechanisms, mother-daughter relationship, loss, storytelling, emotional healing, breast cancer

Watch the video:  

https://youtu.be/zuj1hfmi4EQ

Email thelostlovestories@gmail.com with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.

Some stories are hard to hear.

And some feel almost impossible to understand.

In this episode of The Lost Love Stories, I sit down with Rae Ann to talk about her son, Max—a young man who was kind, inclusive, and the kind of person who made everyone around him feel seen. 

The kind of kid who noticed the quiet one in the room… and made sure they didn’t feel alone.

But this story takes a turn that Rae Ann describes in one word: senseless.

Max lost his life during a fraternity hazing incident just weeks into his freshman year of college. What happened that night is difficult to hear—and even harder to make sense of. 

But this conversation isn’t just about what happened.

It’s about what Rae Ann chose to do next.

In the midst of unimaginable grief, she found something her son had written years earlier:

“God does bad to ultimately create good.” 

And from that moment, everything shifted.

Rae Ann has since dedicated her life to making sure Max’s story changes others—traveling the country, speaking to students, advocating for stronger laws, and reminding young people of one simple, life-saving truth:

Call 911. Step in. Take care of each other.

This episode is heartbreaking.
It’s eye-opening.
And it’s deeply important.

Because Max’s story isn’t just about loss.

It’s about the lives that can still be saved.

For more information on the Max Gruver Foundation and hazing resources:

Contact Rae Ann:  raeann@maxgruverfoundation.com

https://www.maxgruverfoundation.com/
https://hazingpreventionnetwork.org/state-hazing-laws/
https://hazingpreventionnetwork.org/programs-available-through-hazing-prevention-network/
https://www.hazinginfo.org/

Keywords

Max Gruver, hazing, college life, Greek life, advocacy, loss, resilience, tragedy, awareness, support, anti hazing, advocacy, grief, community support, legislation, mental health, college safety, personal growth, family

Email thelostlovestories@gmail.com with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.

Some love stories are decades in the making.

In this episode of The Lost Love Stories, I sit down with Leah to talk about her husband, Brian—a man who was larger than life in the quietest, most meaningful ways.

From their college days at Princeton to building a family, raising three daughters, and creating a life rooted in connection, humor, and deep partnership… their story is one of a love that grew over time and touched everyone around them. 

Brian was the kind of person who belonged everywhere—equally at home in a courtroom, on a bike ride, or in the middle of whatever fun was unfolding around him.

And then, in a single moment… everything changed.

While on vacation with their family, Brian drowned in an accident that no one could have predicted—and that still doesn’t fully make sense. 

What follows is a story not just of loss—but of survival.

Leah shares:

• What it feels like to experience sudden, traumatic grief
• The impossible decisions that follow in the first hours and days
• How community quite literally carried her family through
• And the reality of navigating finances, parenting, and life after everything shifts overnight

We also talk about something that doesn’t get discussed enough:
trauma.

From EMDR therapy to the way the brain tries to “locate” someone who is suddenly gone, Leah offers insight that is both fascinating and deeply validating for anyone navigating grief.

And then… there’s the part that stays with you.

The connection.

The dreams.
The signs.
The feeling that love doesn’t just disappear—it changes form.

This episode is heartbreaking.
It’s honest.
And it’s full of moments that will make you feel less alone.

Because even in the most sudden and senseless loss…
there is still love.
And there is still a way forward.

#lovestory, #family, #grief, #trauma, #support, #community, #loss, #memories, #relationships, #healing, #afterlife, #dreams, #joy, #personalgrowth, #drowning #love, #connection, #EMDR #friendship

Watch on Youtube:

https://youtu.be/95QbWctNWyI

Email thelostlovestories@gmail.com with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.

This episode is different.

It’s not just a love story.
It’s a mother and daughter telling the same story… from two very different places.

In this episode of The Lost Love Stories, I sit down with my daughter, Sabrina—Beanie—to talk about her dad.

Their relationship was special in a way that only a father and daughter can understand. From volleyball to weekly breakfasts, he was her person. 

And then… he got sick.

What follows is something I don’t think we talk about enough:

What grief looks like for teenagers.

Sabrina shares—honestly and without filters:

• What it felt like to watch her dad decline
• The regret she carries from pulling away when things got hard
• The panic, confusion, and trauma of losing him
• And what happened after

Because her story didn’t go in a straight line.

It spiraled.

There were moments of anger.
Disconnection.
Self-destruction.

And as her mom… I watched it happen in real time.

This episode is about that tension:

• Loving someone and not knowing how to help them
• Being lost and not knowing how to find your way back
• And what it actually takes to come through the other side

Sabrina talks about the people who kept her here.
The relationships that shaped her—for better and worse.
And the moment she started to realize she had to find happiness within herself.

Now, four years later, she’s in a completely different place.

Not “healed.”
But grounded.
Self-aware.
And genuinely happy again.

This episode is messy.
It’s honest.
And it’s one I’ll never forget recording.

Because sometimes the most important stories…
are the hardest ones to tell.

#grief #loss, #healing, #relationships, #love, #family, #cancer, #mentalhealth  #personalgrowth  #growth, #therapy #griefjourney #podcast #dad #daddydaughter

Watch on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/ChNhFpY0Qkg

Email thelostlovestories@gmail.com with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.

Some stories don’t come with warning signs.

In this episode of The Lost Love Stories, I sit down with Liesl to talk about her son, Finn—a vibrant, kind, funny 10-year-old who left for a snow day playdate… and never came home. 

What followed was a loss no parent could ever prepare for.

A sudden AVM.
No symptoms.
No warning.
Just a moment that changed everything.

But this conversation isn’t only about that moment.

It’s about what came after.

Liesl shares what it looked like to:

• Walk through unimaginable shock and trauma
• Be held by a community that showed up in ways she’ll never forget
• Navigate grief while still raising her older son
• And slowly learn how to live with something that never really leaves

There are moments in this conversation that stay with you.

The way her community lined the neighborhood with lights when she came home.
The honesty about what those early days actually felt like.
And the quiet realization that grief doesn’t go away—it just changes shape.

But what stands out most… is Finn.

The boy who loved to read.
Who made people laugh.
Who stood up for others.
And whose impact is still being felt years later—in the people who remember him, honor him, and carry him forward.

Because at the heart of this episode is a truth I don’t think we say enough:

We don’t just grieve the people we lose.
We carry them.

In stories.
In memories.
In the way we continue to live.

#grief #loss #childloss #marriagegrief #journeybacktojoy #joyafterloss #lovestory #lovestories #survivinggrief

Watch the podcast episode on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/1a8AFXcW928

Email thelostlovestories@gmail.com with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.

Some people shape who we are in ways we don’t fully understand… until they’re gone.

In this episode of The Lost Love Stories, I sit down with Sam to talk about his dad, Scott—a man defined by curiosity, humility, and a deep desire to understand the world around him. 

He was the kind of person who would spend hours researching something just because it sparked his interest… and then turn around and share it with the people he loved.

A lifelong learner.
A quiet teacher.
And a dad who led by example in ways that stuck.

Sam was just 18—away at college—when everything changed.

A sudden accident.
A phone full of missed calls.
And a moment that split his life into before and after.

What follows is a conversation about what it looks like to grieve while the world keeps moving.

To go back to college.
To try to fit in.
To survive something you haven’t even begun to process.

Sam shares:

• The numbness that comes with sudden loss
• How distraction can delay healing
• The friendships that showed up—and the ones that didn’t
• And the long road of learning how to feel again

But what makes this episode so powerful… is what comes next.

Because years later, Sam began to recognize something:

His dad didn’t just leave memories behind.
He left pieces of himself.

In the way Sam shows up for others.
In the way he asks questions.
In the way he lives.

And in a promise he made at just 18 years old:
To never stop learning, growing, and becoming the man his dad believed he could be. 

This episode is about grief.
But it’s also about identity.
Legacy.
And the quiet ways the people we love continue to shape who we become.

Watch the YouTube episode:  https://youtu.be/JDuExG5k2yM

#grief #loss #friendship #parentloss #journeybacktojoy #joyafterloss #lovestory #lovestories

Email thelostlovestories@gmail.com with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.

Some love stories don’t follow any rules.

In this episode of The Lost Love Stories, I sit down with Drew to talk about her husband, Ramón—and a relationship that started in one of the most unexpected ways.

A Facebook message.
Two weeks of deep conversation.
And a first meeting that began with a kiss… before they even said a word. 

From that moment on, they were a team.

Playful.
Magical.
Deeply connected.

But like so many of these stories, everything changed—quickly and without warning.

What started as a routine physical turned into a leukemia diagnosis on Ramón’s 40th birthday. 

What followed was a whirlwind:

• Aggressive treatment
• A bone marrow transplant
• And then… complications no one saw coming

And layered on top of it all:
COVID.

Hospital restrictions.
Isolation.
Decisions no one should have to make alone.

Drew shares what it was like to:

• Advocate fiercely in moments of uncertainty
• Live in the in-between of hope and reality
• And ultimately face a loss that was as complex as it was heartbreaking

But what makes this episode unforgettable… is what comes after.

Drew talks about something we don’t hear enough about:

Post-traumatic growth.

The idea that grief doesn’t just break you—
it can expand you.

She shares how loss changed the way she sees the world:

• The clarity
• The urgency
• The freedom to fully live

And the realization that staying stuck in grief… isn’t the way we honor the people we love.

Because as she so beautifully puts it:

Grief can be part of your story—
but it doesn’t have to be the main character.

This episode is honest.
It’s unexpectedly funny.
And it’s full of perspective that will stay with you long after it ends.

Follow Drew on IG:  @drewdled

Watch the video interview on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/NrjbL65oI94

#grief #podcast #loss #firstkiss #uniquelovestory #cancer #cysticfibrosis #widow #storytelling #resilience #personalgrowth #growththroughgrief

Email thelostlovestories@gmail.com with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.

Some love stories are built in the everyday moments.

In this episode of The Lost Love Stories, I sit down with my dear friend Lauri to talk about her husband, Pat—a man who could make anyone laugh, light up a room, and make people feel instantly at ease. 

Their story started in the most ordinary way—working together, passing by vending machines, and slowly becoming something more.

But what they built together was anything but ordinary.

A 31-year marriage.
A full life.
A deep partnership rooted in humor, connection, and doing everything side by side. 

And then… everything changed.

After surviving cancer years earlier, Pat became suddenly ill after Thanksgiving. Within days, he was in the ICU—and within weeks, Lauri and her family were facing the unimaginable. 

This conversation is about that loss.

But more than that… it’s about what remains.

Lauri shares:

• What it looks like to walk through sudden loss with strength and grace
• The gift of final moments and meaningful goodbyes
• And how her family continues to carry Pat forward every single day

Because Pat didn’t just leave memories.

He left traditions.

The “G-Pop” dance.
The quick humor.
The stories that still get told around the table.

And even now… signs that he’s still nearby—showing up in ways that feel too meaningful to ignore.

This episode is about grief.

But it’s also about:

• Family
• Laughter
• And the quiet, powerful ways love continues

Because when someone is loved this deeply…
they don’t just disappear.

They live on—in stories, in traditions, and in the people who carry them forward.

Youtube video:  https://youtu.be/Lv7w1PXrmPU

#love #loss  #grief  #healing  #memories  #relationships  #support #joy #widowhood #resilience #growththroughgrief

Email thelostlovestories@gmail.com with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.

Some losses don’t come with warning.

And some change you before you even understand what’s happening.

In this episode of The Lost Love Stories, I sit down with my son Jake to talk about his best friend, Blake—a friendship that started in the most teenage way possible… over snacks, laughter, and a lot of energy. 

Blake was the kind of person you couldn’t ignore.

Endless energy.
A huge personality.
And the kind of presence that pulled people together.

What started as a simple friendship at boarding school quickly became something deeper—a brotherhood built through shared experiences, late nights, and life lived side by side. 

And then… everything changed.

Just months after graduating, Blake died suddenly after a snowboarding accident—something no one saw coming. 

What follows is a conversation about shock, anger, and the kind of grief that feels impossible to make sense of—especially at such a young age.

Jake shares:

• What it felt like to get that phone call
• The confusion and anger that followed
• And how a group of young men came together to grieve someone they loved deeply

But what makes this episode so powerful… is what comes after.

Because this isn’t just a story about loss.

It’s about what that loss does to you.

Jake talks about:

• Learning how to process grief in a healthy way
• The importance of not carrying it alone
• And how loss has shaped the way he shows up in the world

There’s one line that stayed with me:

“The pain you feel is the love you had left for them.” 

And maybe that’s what this episode is really about.

Not just losing someone…

But learning how to carry them forward.

Youtube video:  https://youtu.be/21_SlOD6Aao

Email thelostlovestories@gmail.com with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.

In this first episode of The Lost Love Stories, I’m sharing the heart behind this podcast—and the reason I finally decided to stop waiting for the “perfect time” and just begin.

Because here’s the truth:

There is no perfect time.
And there is no perfect story.

This podcast was born out of my own experience after losing my husband to glioblastoma—and something I didn’t expect.

People stopped talking about him. 

Not because they didn’t care.
But because they didn’t know how.

And when they did talk about him… it felt incomplete.

Too polished.
Too perfect.

Like the real, messy, human version of him had been replaced with something easier to say out loud.

But that’s not how we remember the people we love.

We remember:

• The good
• The complicated
• The funny
• The frustrating

The real.

And that’s what this podcast is here to create:

A space where people can tell the whole story.
A space where grief and joy can exist at the same time.
And a space where we can talk about the people we’ve lost—without making it awkward, uncomfortable, or off-limits.

Because losing someone doesn’t mean we stop loving them.
And it doesn’t mean we stop living.

This is about both.

Tune in, and let’s start this journey together.

Youtube video episode link:  https://youtu.be/QkziODEVGOo

Email thelostlovestories@gmail.com with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.