Leslie Collins struggled with substance use disorder for years before finding recovery. But as she began to rebuild her life, her son started down the same devastating path.

Leslie tried everything she could think of to help him fight the disease, but nothing seemed to work. In the end, she made the difficult decision to try something she hadn’t before, tough love. He died shortly after.

Now, through her grief, Leslie is working to raise awareness about fentanyl and prevent other families from experiencing the same loss. She’s now in her fifth year of hosting the Jolly 10K Fentanyl Awareness Fun Run.

In this episode, Leslie shares her powerful story, the hard lessons she’s learned about addiction, and what she wishes she had known sooner.

Learn more about the Jolly10k Fundraiser here.

Related episodes: 

• A TV Anchor Shares Her Loss to Overdose and Efforts to End Stigma
• How to Live With Grief, Not Be Defined By It
• ‘The ugliest, biggest elephant in the room:’ Confronting addiction as a disease

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Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

CADCA, or Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, represents thousands of community coalitions across the country working to prevent substance use and save lives. This year's conference theme is Powered by Purpose, and we could not think of a more fitting episode to share as we gear up to be there.

In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, Angela sits down with two young people who embody exactly that spirit. Annabelle Lovell is a high school student who served as the opening speaker at the 2025 CADCA Mid-Year national conference, bringing teen perspectives on substance use prevention to one of the most influential stages in the country. Joining her is Mollie Kruse, a member of the Emily's Hope Youth Prevention Coalition, who has taken her advocacy all the way to Washington D.C., including a meeting with the Senate majority leader.

Together, Annabelle and Mollie share what actually works when it comes to helping teens say no, and more importantly, inspiring their peers and communities to make better decisions.

This episode is a powerful reminder of why prevention work matters and what it looks like when young people lead the way. If you are heading to CADCA Mid-Year in Orlando, we hope to see you there! 

Learn more about the 2026 CADCA Mid-Year Training Institute here. 

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Podcast producers:
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But behind that success, he faced a loss he never could have imagined. His son took what he believed was a Percocet, unaware it was laced with fentanyl, and died at just 19.

Now, Nathan is focused on his most personal work yet: helping others navigate mental health challenges in his son’s honor.

What makes that mission even more meaningful is that it began with his son. Before his death, he founded an apparel company called Happy Jack, donating a portion of proceeds to support children facing mental health struggles.

In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, Nathan shares his son’s story, what he hopes other parents can learn, and how he’s carrying forward a mission rooted in love, loss and purpose.

Visit the Happy Jack website. 

Watch The Risks are Real live assembly here.

Related episodes: 

• Promising young entrepreneur dies after taking counterfeit Percocet
• The Voice You Knew — The Story You Didn’t
• When Men Don’t Cry: Confronting the Culture of Silent Grief

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Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

Over the years, Mark says recovery would come in long stretches, sometimes years before everything would unravel again. In one case, he says it was triggered by a medication prescribed by a doctor. Other times, it started with the thought that just one pill wouldn’t hurt. But, as he puts it, that’s not how his brain is wired.

Mark says one of the turning points in his recovery has been learning to sit with discomfort, whether it’s difficult emotions, hard moments or even physical pain, instead of trying to escape it.

In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, Mark opens up about the highs and lows of his journey through substance use disorder, and the tools that have helped him not only rebuild his life in recovery, but find a deeper sense of joy along the way.

Explore the Go Humans!™ website here.

Related episodes:

• From Hollywood to healing: A mom’s battle with Ambien addiction
• A Wife’s Battle With Addiction, A Husband’s Journey to Love Her Through It
• The Voice You Knew — The Story You Didn’t

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Podcast producers:
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At just 13, she entered treatment for the first time, struggling with an addiction to inhalants. That struggle deepened over the years, leading to harder drugs, including meth, and at 19, a prison sentence after assaulting a law enforcement officer while intoxicated. With a felony on her record, rebuilding her life wasn’t easy.

After years of addiction and setbacks, Danica found her way to recovery, a journey shaped by pain, but also resilience. In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, she shares her story, showing that even in the darkest moments, change is possible, and how she’s turned her past into something that now helps others.

Learn more and follow Danica's Thrive Tribe group on Facebook here.

Related episodes:

• The Dandelion in the Window
• The Voice You Knew — The Story You Didn’t
• Dr. Sophie Two Hawk on Healing Native Communities from Addiction and Trauma

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Podcast producers:
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And then, you finally win in court. But the money meant to prevent other overdoses isn’t always used the way it was intended.

Today’s guest on Grieving Out Loud, Alexis Pleus, knows that reality all too well. She lost her son, Jeff, to an overdose, and has since turned her grief into action, working to ensure other families don’t have to endure the same loss. One of her latest efforts focuses on how New York is spending billions of dollars from opioid settlements.

In this episode, Alexis shares what her research uncovered, what she wants the public to understand, and why she’s continuing to push for accountability in how those funds are used.

Read the full report from Truth Pharm: Community Solutions, State Exclusions: The Misalignment of New York’s Opioid Settlement Funds here. 

Watch Truth Pharm's Webinar: Researching and Writing on Opioid Settlement Fund Spending here. 

Learn how your state is spending opioid settlement dollars using the Opioid Settlement Tracker website here. 

Related episodes:

• The Scourge of Fentanyl & Meth on our Nation
• Shedding light on underreported overdose deaths with Truth Pharm
• Thousands of Tombstones by the U.S. Capitol to Honor Lives Lost to Substance Use

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Podcast producers:
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After his younger brother died from cancer at just six years old, Hakeem poured everything he had into athletics. On the surface, it looked like a positive path forward. But he says it was really a way to avoid his grief. Along the way, he also put intense,  and ultimately unhealthy, pressure on himself to succeed in his brother’s name.

But what happens when the thing you’ve been using to hold it all together suddenly disappears? The grief is still there, and now there’s nothing left to outrun it.

In this episode, Hakeem shares how an injury and substance use pulled him away from sports, forcing him to finally confront the pain he had been carrying for years. Now, he’s using that experience to help hundreds of others rebuild their lives through small, consistent steps and accountability.

Learn more and explore Hakeem's website here. 

Related episodes:

• How to Live With Grief, Not Be Defined By It
• When Men Don’t Cry: Confronting the Culture of Silent Grief
• Coping With Grief and Choosing Life After Tragedy

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Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

Stephanie Peirolo’s story is one of both loss and resilience. After losing her father as a teenager, she battled substance use disorder. Years later, after finding recovery, she faced another unimaginable loss, her 19-year-old son.

For months, Stephanie kept her story to herself. But over time, she found that sharing it became part of her healing. Today, she is a board-certified executive coach and writer, with a new book sharing her journey.

In this episode, Peirolo opens up about her story, the parts of grief people rarely talk about, and how, after profound heartbreak, she’s found a way to laugh and live fully again.

Learn more and purchase Stephanie's book here.

Listen to Stephanie’s story on The Moth here. 

Related episodes:

• Growing Up with Grief: Emily’s Siblings Open Up
• Broken Heart Syndrome: 4 Ways We Grieve
• Coping With Grief and Choosing Life After Tragedy

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Podcast producers:
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Just a few months after finding her 27-year-old son, Adrian, dead, Kym returned home to another unimaginable loss-her husband, also found dead on their bedroom floor.

In the span of just a few months, Kym lost both her son and her husband. The grief was overwhelming. She says there was a time when the pain felt constant, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to keep going.

But instead, Kym decided to devote herself to understanding grief and learning how to live through it. Today, she’s found meaning and purpose again, and she uses her experience to help others who are navigating loss.

In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, Kym shares her story with honesty and courage—the lessons grief has taught her, and how she’s found a way to keep moving forward.

Download Kym's Free PDF "Five Things I Wish I’d Known at Ground Zero Grief" here. 

Find Kym’s book, Then and Now: The Evolution of Grief, here. 

Related episodes:

Broken Heart Syndrome: 4 Ways We Grieve

How to Live With Grief, Not Be Defined By It

When Men Don’t Cry: Confronting the Culture of Silent Grief

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Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

That was the reality for today’s guest on Grieving Out Loud, Toni Handboy. Her childhood was shaped by trauma and loss. She experienced abuse, and her parents were often absent because of addiction. She was eventually taken from her grandparents and separated from her Lakota roots, moving between foster homes before later ending up in a juvenile detention center.

During that time, Toni says she battled depression and suicidal thoughts. In an effort to cope, she turned to substances, continuing the very cycle she grew up around, as her addiction began to impact her own children.

But Toni’s story doesn’t end there. While many struggle to break free, she has overcome that generational cycle and has now been in recovery for nearly two decades. Today, she’s not only rebuilding her life; she’s helping others who are facing the same battle.

In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, Toni shares her difficult but powerful story, what finally led her to seek help, and the message she hopes reaches those who feel trapped in addiction.

Related episodes: 

Growing up in the shadow of addiction

She Promised It Would End With Her—Then It Didn’t

Dr. Sophie Two Hawk on Healing Native Communities from Addiction and Trauma

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Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

Dr. Wayne Kepner says not only are far too many people still dying, but celebrating too early could cost more lives. He recently wrote an article titled, “America must not learn to live with 72,000 overdose deaths a year.”

In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, Dr. Kepner shares what history has taught us about past drug epidemics, and how those lessons can guide the path forward while preventing as many deaths as possible.

Related episodes:

• A Drug Historian on What America Keeps Getting Wrong About the Fentanyl Crisis
• Can We Save Lives While Cutting Funding? A Tough Conversation at the Top
• How Do We End the Fentanyl Epidemic? A Candid Conversation with a Former DEA Chief

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Podcast producers:
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Today’s guest on Grieving Out Loud, Katie Lain, says her path into addiction wasn’t sudden. It happened gradually, after spending more time around people who drank frequently, until she found herself caught in it.

Katie eventually found her way out with the help of treatment and a medication that isn’t often part of the conversation. In this episode, she shares her story, how she reached out for help and what ultimately made the difference.

Learn more about Katie's story and the Sinclair Method at Thrive Alcohol Recovery.

Related Episodes:

• After a two-decades’ long alcohol addiction, a husband and father finds recover through Emily’s Hope
• Alcohol and women: A dangerous combination
• A Wife’s Battle With Addiction, A Husband’s Journey to Love Her Through It

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Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

Mississippi was one of the first states in the nation to take on opioid manufacturers in court. Now, the state’s attorney general joins us to talk about that fight, and the evolving threats still facing communities across the country.

On this episode of Grieving Out Loud, we sit down with Attorney General Lynn Fitch to discuss how the state is working to save lives, from public awareness campaigns and legal action to expanding access to naloxone and fentanyl testing strips.

Episodes Featured:

Will Rops - He Couldn’t Save His Brother, But He’s Working to Save Yours

Cameron Nielson - Saving Lives After Overdose One Call at a Time

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Podcast producers:
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That’s the heartbreaking story of today’s guest on Grieving Out Loud. Larissa Strong’s daughter, Hailey, had been receiving care in an inpatient mental health facility after a suicide attempt. Despite that, Larissa says the facility allowed her daughter to leave, and within 48 hours, Hailey was able to purchase a gun and take her own life.

Now, Larissa is fighting for stricter gun regulations for people struggling with mental health, honoring her daughter’s memory through advocacy. In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, she shares her mission and the changes she hopes to see.

Listen to her powerful testimony here.

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to check out the following:

When Words Are All That’s Left After Suicide

Embracing hope after the loss of a daughter to suicide

Why So Many Teens are Struggling, and What We’re Missing

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Podcast producers:
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After years of doing their own work, the two not only found recovery and stronger mental health, they also teamed up to open a treatment center together in Silicon Valley, Embodied Recovery, blending their personal experiences with professional expertise and insights drawn from ancient wisdom. Hear how their practices are designed to help people regulate their nervous systems, process trauma and reconnect with their inner wisdom.

Explore Greg and Michael's nonprofit, Melos, here. 

Visit the Embodied Recovery website here. 

Learn more about the SunDo Practice here.

Related episodes: 

• He Saw a Gap in Addiction Treatment and Decided to Do Something About It
• ‘Be Glad:’ Honoring the Legacy of Dr. Gladys McGarey
• When Men Don’t Cry: Confronting the Culture of Silent Grief

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Podcast producers:
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For today’s guest on Grieving Out Loud, those losses came much earlier than they do for many. Sylvia Wolfer was just seven years old when her father died suddenly from a heart attack. At 17, she lost her younger brother in a car crash. Several years later, her older brother was killed in a separate car crash.

Since then, Sylvia has learned not only how to navigate her own grief, but how to walk alongside others in theirs. She believes grief doesn’t disappear, but it can change. It can become something you carry, rather than something that controls you.

In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, Sylvia shares practical ways to move through grief and reflects on what her own losses have taught her about resilience, perspective and the fragile, beautiful nature of life.

Explore Sylvia's website and her work here. 

Related epsiodes:

• Growing Up with Grief: Emily’s Siblings Open Up
• Coping With Grief and Choosing Life After Tragedy
• Surviving the holiday season while grieving
• When Men Don’t Cry: Confronting the Culture of Silent Grief
• Broken Heart Syndrome: 4 Ways We Grieve

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Podcast producers:
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Andrea Magder knows that feeling all too well. She lost her artistic son, Ethan, suddenly to an opioid overdose. From music to poetry to even a novel, Ethan loved expressing himself through creativity.

But Andrea is working to turn that loss into something lasting. She’s created an online gallery showcasing the work of artists from around the world who have passed away, giving their creativity a chance to live on.

In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, Andrea opens up about loving her son through his battle with addiction, finding a way to keep moving forward through overwhelming grief, and the ways she’s now helping others navigate their own journeys of loss.

Visit The Artist Lives gallery here. 

If you enjoyed this episode, check out the following: 

• Lights, camera, change: Emmy nominated producer creates documentary about addiction following son’s death
• The Voice You Knew — The Story You Didn’t
• Inside Victoria’s Voice: The Diary That’s Waking Parents Up

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Podcast producers:
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In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, historian Dr. David Herzberg looks back at earlier substance crises in the United States and discusses what went wrong, what went right, and what lessons those experiences might hold today. He explores how history can inform today’s policies, the unintended consequences of past approaches, and why understanding the bigger picture is crucial for tackling the opioid epidemic. By examining decades of drug trends and responses, Herzberg offers a perspective that goes beyond politics, helping listeners think critically about how America can respond more effectively to fentanyl and other substance crises.

Explore David's website and books here. 

Dr. Herzberg says research shows that roughly 75% of people who use even the most addictive drugs like heroin and cocaine do not develop an addiction. This means addiction risk is shaped less by the drug itself and more by a person’s circumstances, environment, and biology. That is why prevention, early intervention, and access to treatment matter so much. 

1. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) / Addiction Center (sourced from national survey data): “Approximately 25% of people who use illicit drugs develop an addiction.” — AddictionCenter.com, sourced from national substance use data

2. Peer-reviewed academic literature: Schlag, A.K. (2020). “Percentages of problem drug use and their implications for policy making: A review of the literature.” International Journal of Drug Policy. Key finding: “The majority of drug use is episodic, transient and generally non-problematic.”

If you enjoyed this episode, check out the following: 

• How Do We End the Fentanyl Epidemic? A Candid Conversation with a Former DEA Chief
• Can We Save Lives While Cutting Funding? A Tough Conversation at the Top
• He Saw a Gap in Addiction Treatment and Decided to Do Something About It

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Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

Jenkins is widely recognized for creating bold, award-winning health campaigns that break through the noise. She led the team that introduced the Red Dress as the national symbol for women and heart disease, a campaign that reshaped public awareness across the country.

In our conversation, she shares her top priorities as CEO, what concerns her most about the current addiction crisis, and how she plans to use her platform to drive meaningful change in a fight that impacts millions of Americans.

Explore Shatterproof's Treatment Atlas here. 

Related Episodes:

• Investigative Reporter Uncovers Abuse and Profit in Rehab Programs
• Life-saving scholarship: How Emily’s Hope treatment scholarship gave a woman her life back
• Shatterproof founder’s life mission after losing son

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Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

For years, Lori battled her disease in silence, doing everything she could to hide it. When she finally found the courage to say yes to help, she was met with another crushing reality. Treatment came with a price she felt she couldn’t afford.

That’s when an Emily’s Hope Treatment Scholarship stepped in.

In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, Lori opens up about her battle with addiction, and Dennis shares his experience of loving someone through it. They talk about what they wish they had known sooner, the fear and uncertainty along the way, and how everything began to change when Lori said yes to the help she so desperately needed.

If you enjoyed this episode, you may like the following: 

• ‘I lost who I was.’ Emily’s Hope Treatment Scholarship gives mom second chance
• Life-saving scholarship: How Emily’s Hope treatment scholarship gave a woman her life back
• The Voice You Knew — The Story You Didn’t

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Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.

They were...

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They were More Than Just A Number. 

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Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

Her new book, Surviving Alex: A Mother’s Story of Love, Loss, and Addiction, weaves together her personal story and professional expertise. Through it, she examines how stigma, inequity and a lack of compassion within our health care and treatment systems can lead to devastating outcomes — and how we can begin to do better.

In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, Patricia shares her journey as both a mother and a researcher, what she learned while desperately trying to help her son, and how she’s using her voice to call for systemic change and a more compassionate response to substance use disorder.

If you enjoyed this episode, check out the following:

• He Saw a Gap in Addiction Treatment and Decided to Do Something About It
• Investigative Reporter Uncovers Abuse and Profit in Rehab Programs
• ‘The ugliest, biggest elephant in the room:’ Confronting addiction as a disease
• A mother’s urgent message on mental health and addiction

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Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.

They were...

• daughters
• sons
• mothers
• fathers
• friends
• wives
• husbands
• cousins
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They were More Than Just A Number. 

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Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

That early trauma set Hilary on a dangerous path marked by substance use, abuse and homelessness at a young age. In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, she courageously shares her story, what helped her heal and find recovery, and the advice she offers to others who may be walking a similar road.

Learn more about and purchase Hilary's book here. 

If you enjoyed this episode, you may like the following:

• A mother-daughter journey from Hollywood to heroin to healing
• Growing Up with Grief: Emily’s Siblings Open Up
• A TV Anchor Shares Her Loss to Overdose and Efforts to End Stigma

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Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.

They were...

• daughters
• sons
• mothers
• fathers
• friends
• wives
• husbands
• cousins
• boyfriends
• girlfriends.

They were More Than Just A Number. 

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Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

After seeing firsthand the urgent need for compassionate and accessible substance use disorder treatment in his New Mexico community, Trent Carter decided to take action.

Trent is a nurse practitioner with a master’s degree from the University of Cincinnati and the founder of Renew Health, a recovery center built on the belief that everyone deserves hope, healing, and a real chance at recovery. Under his leadership, Renew Health has been named the best drug and alcohol rehab center in New Mexico and continues to grow by reaching more people, breaking down barriers to care, and reshaping what recovery can look like.

In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, Trent shares how Renew Health began, what truly helps when someone you love is struggling with substance use disorder, and how we can start to turn the tide on the addiction epidemic together.

Purchase Trent Carter's book, The Recovery Tool Belt, here.

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to check out the following: 

• The TikTok doctor: An addiction medicine expert’s mission to reach the younger generation
• How Do We End the Fentanyl Epidemic? A Candid Conversation with a Former DEA Chief
• Expert insights on preventing substance abuse

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Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.

They were...

• daughters
• sons
• mothers
• fathers
• friends
• wives
• husbands
• cousins
• boyfriends
• girlfriends.

They were More Than Just A Number. 

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Connect with Angela

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Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

Our guest on Grieving Out Loud, Kristen Gilliland, knows those dangers all too well. Her son experienced cannabis-induced psychosis and later died from an accidental drug overdose — a loss Kristen never imagined her own family would face.

That reality is especially striking given her background. Kristen holds a Ph.D. in organic chemistry and spent years as a professor teaching organic chemistry, neurochemistry, and the chemistry of drugs and poisons.

In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, Kristen opens up about what she wishes she had known sooner, what parents need to understand as marijuana becomes more accessible, and how she leaned on her scientific background to find purpose after losing her son.

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to check out the following: 

Mother blames cannabis-induced psychosis for son’s death

A Mother’s Warning About Laced Marijuana

Teens Share What Really Works to Prevent Drug and Alcohol Use

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Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.

They were...

• daughters
• sons
• mothers
• fathers
• friends
• wives
• husbands
• cousins
• boyfriends
• girlfriends.

They were More Than Just A Number. 

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Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

The disease can also span generations, shaping both family histories and futures. That’s the case for Jennifer Chase.

After the turmoil substances caused throughout her childhood, Chase was determined to take a different path. But a medical emergency altered the course of her life, and she developed an addiction of her own.

She eventually found recovery, but not before witnessing her son begin his own dangerous struggle with substances. In today's episode of Grieving Out Loud, Chase shares how she uses her lived experience, and the knowledge she has gained about substance use disorder, to help other families facing the same disease.

If you enjoyed this episode, check out the following:

A Childhood Shaped by Loss, a Life Reclaimed in Sobriety

‘The ugliest, biggest elephant in the room:’ Confronting addiction as a disease

‘I lost who I was.’ Emily’s Hope Treatment Scholarship gives mom second chance

Send us Fan Mail

Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.

They were...

• daughters
• sons
• mothers
• fathers
• friends
• wives
• husbands
• cousins
• boyfriends
• girlfriends.

They were More Than Just A Number. 

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Connect with Angela

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Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, we sit down with Crissy Groenewegen, director of the Parent Action Network. She works closely with parents and families impacted by marijuana, helping them share their stories in ways that reach and influence lawmakers.

We do not shy away from this complicated topic. How harmful can marijuana really be? What impact has legalization had on Americans’ mental and physical health? And how are businesses using legal loopholes to put profit over public safety?

All of this and more in today’s conversation.

If you enjoyed this episode, you may like the following: 

Mother blames cannabis-induced psychosis for son’s death

Inside Victoria’s Voice: The Diary That’s Waking Parents Up

Grief, marijuana, and addiction: A conversation about cannabis use disorder

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Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.

They were...

• daughters
• sons
• mothers
• fathers
• friends
• wives
• husbands
• cousins
• boyfriends
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They were More Than Just A Number. 

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Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

Dr. Sophie Two Hawk is one of those people.

She spent her childhood moving from place to place, living on and off reservations. And by 16, she had already graduated high school — not just early, but as valedictorian. Three years later, she’d finished her undergraduate degree. And in 1987, she became the first Native American to graduate from medical school in South Dakota.

It wasn’t simple. It wasn’t smooth. And more than once, teachers told her that Native Americans can’t become doctors.

But Sophie Two Hawk understood something early on: if you don’t see someone who looks like you in the place you want to be… sometimes that’s the sign you’re meant to be the first.

Today, you’ll hear her remarkable story, and how it intersects with a heartbreaking reality. Substance use disorder and overdoses continue to devastate Native American communities at rates far higher than the rest of the population.

In this episode, we’ll explore what’s behind these disparities, and what real healing, hope, and change can look like.

If you enjoyed this episode, you may like the following:

• Straight talk with an addiction care doc: Understanding substance use disorder
• Beating the Odds from Gang Life to Changing Lives
• How Do We End the Fentanyl Epidemic? A Candid Conversation with a Former DEA Chief

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Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.

They were...

• daughters
• sons
• mothers
• fathers
• friends
• wives
• husbands
• cousins
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• girlfriends.

They were More Than Just A Number. 

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Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

Throughout 2025, Kennecke interviewed lawmakers, law enforcement leaders, and parents who have lost loved ones to fentanyl. Their stories, taken together, offer a clearer picture of the challenges communities are facing — and the efforts underway to create change.

Listen to the full episodes featured in this special: 

• Grieving Moms Take on Snapchat and Congress After Their Sons’ Fentanyl Deaths - Amy Neville & Bridgette Norring
• Naloxone Saved Me, Now I’m Saving Others: Morgan’s Story - Morgan Mentele
• ‘I lost who I was.’ Emily’s Hope Treatment Scholarship gives mom second chance - Melissa Carter
• A Paramedic Using His Battle With Addiction to Save Others - Aaron Westfall
• Teens Share What Really Works to Prevent Drug and Alcohol Use - Mollie Kruse
• A Mother’s Warning About Laced Marijuana - Paula Santos-Young
• Choosing Love After a Hate Crime Took Her Son and Father - Mindy Corporon

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Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.

They were...

• daughters
• sons
• mothers
• fathers
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• wives
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• cousins
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• girlfriends.

They were More Than Just A Number. 

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Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

Dr. Ken Druck has spent decades helping others understand grief, but his work is deeply personal. After losing his 21 year old daughter in a tragic accident, he was forced to walk the same path as the people he now supports. His experience reshaped how he understands loss, healing, and the possibility of joy after heartbreak.

In this special rebroadcast of Grieving Out Loud, Ken offers his gentle wisdom and compassionate insight for those navigating grief this holiday season. He shares guidance on honoring loved ones who have passed while letting go of the pressure to grieve in a specific way. 

This episode is a reminder that you are not alone, and that it is okay to move through the holidays at your own pace.

Learn more about Ken Druck and purchase his book here. 

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Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.

They were...

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They were More Than Just A Number. 

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Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

Rich, a writer and life coach, focuses on helping men navigate grief, change and pain in healthier, more authentic ways. His work also explores what healthy masculinity can look like beyond the stereotypes that often shape how men are “supposed” to cope.

Rich’s interest in this work is personal. His father died when Rich was 18, an experience that pushed him to reconsider the way he lived and how he processed loss. In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, hear how Rich’s loss influenced his approach to life, masculinity and emotional honesty. He also offers insight for men struggling with grief and for the women who want to support them.

Visit Morgan's website and purchase his book here.

If you enjoyed this episode, you may like the following: 

• What This Grief Expert Wants You to Know About Healing and Hope
• Surviving the holiday season while grieving
• Words of Wisdom: Surviving Grief

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Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.

They were...

• daughters
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• wives
• husbands
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They were More Than Just A Number. 

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Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, meet Annabelle Lovell, a high school junior raising awareness about the dangers of teen drug and alcohol use—not just at her school, but across the country. She recently served as the opening speaker at CADCA’s national conference. CADCA, or Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, represents thousands of community coalitions nationwide, making Annabelle’s role a major honor and responsibility for someone her age.

Annabelle joins us along with Mollie Kruse, a member of our Emily’s Hope Youth Prevention Coalition, who’s taken the message all the way to Washington, D.C., even meeting with the Senate majority leader to talk about the importance of preventing substance use. Together, they share their advice for parents, educators, and other teens as the nation continues to face a deadly drug epidemic.

If you enjoyed this episode, you may like the following: 

• Why So Many Teens are Struggling, and What We’re Missing
• Growing Up with Grief: Emily’s Siblings Open Up
• Inside Victoria’s Voice: The Diary That’s Waking Parents Up

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Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.

They were...

• daughters
• sons
• mothers
• fathers
• friends
• wives
• husbands
• cousins
• boyfriends
• girlfriends.

They were More Than Just A Number. 

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Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

She believes those early experiences may have prepared her, at least in some small way, for the unthinkable: losing two of her children. One died in a tragic car crash, and the other was taken by a violent murder.

How does someone keep moving forward after so much pain? In this episode, Marcia talks about her journey, the lessons grief has taught her about love and resilience, and the grace she has learned to find in the hardest moments. She also shares more about her new book, Gripping Grace in the Garden of Grief.

You can learn more about her book and purchase it here: https://www.thesterlingrosesanctuary.us/gripping-grace-in-the-garden-of-grief

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Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.

They were...

• daughters
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• wives
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They were More Than Just A Number. 

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Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

Today on Grieving Out Loud, you'll hear from two of those real-life heroes. Rick Mountcastle, the inspiration behind one of the main characters in season one—portrayed by actor Peter Sarsgaard—was one of the first to take on the powerful Purdue Pharma. His real-life story is every bit as compelling as what you saw on screen.

Also joining me is Ed Bisch, whose story helped inspire characters in "Dopesick" and "Raising Lazarus." After losing his teenage son to an OxyContin overdose at the very beginning of the opioid epidemic, Ed refused to stay silent. Long before most people had even heard the name OxyContin, he was sounding the alarm—calling out Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family when few others would.

See how your state is utilizing opioid settlement money here: opioidsettlementtracker.com

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Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.

They were...

• daughters
• sons
• mothers
• fathers
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• wives
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They were More Than Just A Number. 

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Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

Now, she’s traded her badge for advocacy. Terry believes too many drug dealers are getting away with murder — and she’s calling on others to push for stronger laws and accountability in their communities.

She went on to form the Drug-Induced Homicide Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting families like hers and driving change. In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, Terry shares her daughter’s story, what she’s learned about addiction through both her career and her grief, and what it took to speak out against the very system she once served.

Learn more about Drug-Induced Homicide Foundation here: https://poisoningofamerica.org/

If you enjoyed this episode, you may like the following: 

• A grieving father’s fight to bring deadly drug dealers to justice
• Coping With Grief and Choosing Life After Tragedy
• He Wanted Justice for His Son, So He Became the Investigator

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Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.

They were...

• daughters
• sons
• mothers
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• wives
• husbands
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• girlfriends.

They were More Than Just A Number. 

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Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

At the center of her story was a treatment program founded by a former poultry executive, where participants were forced into unpaid labor inside chicken plants. But that was only the beginning. In her new book, Rehab: An American Scandal, Walter reveals a multi-billion-dollar web of mismanaged treatment centers, where profit too often comes before recovery.

On this episode of Grieving Out Loud, Shoshana shares what she discovered, what everyone should know about the addiction treatment industry, and what she hopes her reporting will change.

Click here to purchase Shoshana's book Rehab: An American Scandal 

If you enjoyed this episode, you may like the following: 

• Telling Everyone’s Story While Hiding Her Own: A Journalist’s Battle with Addiction
• Can We Save Lives While Cutting Funding? A Tough Conversation at the Top
• Saving tiny lives and healing families at a sanctuary for opioid-exposed newborns
• ‘I lost who I was.’ Emily’s Hope Treatment Scholarship gives mom second chance

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Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.

They were...

• daughters
• sons
• mothers
• fathers
• friends
• wives
• husbands
• cousins
• boyfriends
• girlfriends.

They were More Than Just A Number. 

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Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

In the aftermath of unimaginable loss, Stephanie found healing in an unexpected place: her kitchen. What began as therapy, a way to cope with grief one cookie at a time, has grown into her purpose. Baking has become her business, her mission, and a tribute to her son’s memory, helping raise awareness about the fentanyl epidemic along the way.

In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, Stephanie shares her powerful journey as she reflects on the struggle to find help for her son’s substance use disorder, the fleeting joy of his recovery, and the heartbreak that followed. Through it all, she has found a way to keep his spirit alive by spreading warmth, sweetness, and hope to others who know the ache of loss.

Click here to visit the Tommy's Cookie Co. website and purchase your cookies! 

If you enjoyed this episode, you may like the following: 

Choosing Love After a Hate Crime Took Her Son and Father

Surviving the holiday season while grieving

What a mother wishes she knew before losing her son to fentanyl

Send us Fan Mail

Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.

They were...

• daughters
• sons
• mothers
• fathers
• friends
• wives
• husbands
• cousins
• boyfriends
• girlfriends.

They were More Than Just A Number. 

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Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, you’ll hear Victoria’s story, what her family wishes they had known, and how they’re now using their grief to raise awareness and prevent other families from experiencing the same heartbreak.

Purchase the diary - Victoria's Voice, Her Words from Beyond the Grave

Visit the Victoria's Voice website

Emily's Hope website

Learn more about Angel Army

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Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.

They were...

• daughters
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They were More Than Just A Number. 

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Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

That’s because Aaron has been there himself. He not only battled his own addiction, but also survived brain cancer—twice—endured abuse, and mourned the devastating loss of the person he loved most as a child. His life has been shaped by pain most of us can hardly imagine.

Yet through it all, Aaron has found resilience, purpose, and a way to help others. On this episode of Grieving Out Loud, he shares how he turned unimaginable hardships into hope—and what he wants you to understand about addiction from his perspective as both a paramedic and a survivor.

If you enjoyed this episode, you may like the following:

• Stopping The Sigma: A look at Medications For Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) or Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
• A paramedic’s harrowing shift from lifesaver to bereaved mother in the fentanyl crisis
• A Childhood Shaped by Loss, a Life Reclaimed in Sobriety

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Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.

They were...

• daughters
• sons
• mothers
• fathers
• friends
• wives
• husbands
• cousins
• boyfriends
• girlfriends.

They were More Than Just A Number. 

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Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

Among the rows of stones, families gathered—mothers, fathers, siblings, and friends—united in both sorrow and determination. They came not only to mourn but to make sure their loved ones are never forgotten.

In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, some of those voices are shared. Angela recorded these interviews on-site at the Trail of Truth event in Washington D.C. The guests speak candidly about what it’s like to love someone battling substance use disorder—the frustration of trying to find help, the constant undercurrent of fear, and, for too many, the heartbreak of loss. These are raw, unfiltered stories. And that is exactly why they matter. Because the more openly this disease is spoken about, the less room shame and stigma have to silence the people who need help most.

Read Angela's blog about the Trail of Truth:

4,000 Tombstones on the National Mall and One Named Emily

The founder of Trail of Truth, Alexis Pleus, has been featured on the podcast twice before. Once on her own, sharing more about TruthPharm and underreported overdose deaths, and a second time to discuss the Trail of Truth alongside another grieving mother, Kimberly Douglas. You can listen to those episodes below:

Shedding light on underreported overdose deaths with Truth Pharm

Thousands of Tombstones by the U.S. Capitol to Honor Lives Lost to Substance Use

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Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.

They were...

• daughters
• sons
• mothers
• fathers
• friends
• wives
• husbands
• cousins
• boyfriends
• girlfriends.

They were More Than Just A Number. 

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Connect with Angela

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Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, he shares how he found a way forward, and how you, too, can begin to rediscover joy after loss. He also offers everyday tools for coping with grief and building resilience, no matter where you are in your healing.

 Visit Ken's website to learn more: https://www.kendruck.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, check out the following next: 

• What This Grief Expert Wants You to Know About Healing and Hope
• Surviving the holiday season while grieving
• Mindfulness and Grief with Heather Stang
• ‘It Was Like Going to My Own Funeral:’ Identical Twin Talks Life After Loss

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Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.

They were...

• daughters
• sons
• mothers
• fathers
• friends
• wives
• husbands
• cousins
• boyfriends
• girlfriends.

They were More Than Just A Number. 

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Connect with Angela

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Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, we sit down with the researchers behind a powerful new book, Mind the Children, that digs into what’s fueling America’s youth mental health crisis. The authors—journalists, researchers, and clinicians—want parents and policymakers to understand the full picture. Too often, they say, the blame gets pinned on a single factor. But the truth is, there are many forces at work. 

  Today I'm joined by Naomi Schaefer Riley, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute who studies child welfare and foster care, and Dr. Ken Winters, a senior scientist at the Oregon Research Institute in Minnesota, and consultant at the Center for Indigenous Behavioral Health at the University of Iowa.

Learn more about and purchase their book, Mind the Children, here.

If you liked this episode, check out the following next: 

• Your To-Die List: Bestselling Author on Living Fully and Resiliently
• A mother’s urgent message on mental health and addiction
• Mental health expert offers advice after his own son battles depression, anxiety & addiction
• Mother blames cannabis-induced psychosis for son’s death

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Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.

They were...

• daughters
• sons
• mothers
• fathers
• friends
• wives
• husbands
• cousins
• boyfriends
• girlfriends.

They were More Than Just A Number. 

Support the show

Connect with Angela

Follow Grieving Out Loud

Follow Emily's Hope

Read Angela’s Blog

Subscribe to Grieving Out Loud/Emily’s Hope Updates

Suggest a Guest

For more episodes and information, just go to our website, emilyshope.charity
Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

Mindy Corporon’s life was forever changed when a hate crime took the lives of both her 14-year-old son and her father. Rather than allowing her pain to turn into anger, she chose a different path, one rooted in kindness, compassion, and the belief that the world can be better.

In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, Mindy shares her advice for those living with grief and her vision for how we can all move forward in a time marked by hate and division.

Learn more about her mission at sevendays.org.

Purchase Mindy's book, Healing a Shattered Soul, here: https://www.mindycorporon.com/healing-a-shattered-soul/

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to check out the following: 

Broken Heart Syndrome: 4 Ways We Grieve

Changing lives through grief and the gift of pain

Growing Up with Grief: Emily’s Siblings Open Up

Send us Fan Mail

Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.

They were...

• daughters
• sons
• mothers
• fathers
• friends
• wives
• husbands
• cousins
• boyfriends
• girlfriends.

They were More Than Just A Number. 

Support the show

Connect with Angela

Follow Grieving Out Loud

Follow Emily's Hope

Read Angela’s Blog

Subscribe to Grieving Out Loud/Emily’s Hope Updates

Suggest a Guest

For more episodes and information, just go to our website, emilyshope.charity
Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, Sally shares her son’s story, the heartbreak that followed, and what it has been like to live with unimaginable loss. She opens up about the weight of fear, guilt, and regret—and how grief, while devastating, has also revealed the depth and power of love.

Learn more about Sally's memoir: https://www.sallymcquillen.com/reaching-for-beautiful-memoir

If you enjoyed this episode, check out Episode 214 "Growing Up with Grief: Emily’s Siblings Open Up": https://emilyshope.charity/episode/abby-adam-groth/

Send us Fan Mail

Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.

They were...

• daughters
• sons
• mothers
• fathers
• friends
• wives
• husbands
• cousins
• boyfriends
• girlfriends.

They were More Than Just A Number. 

Support the show

Connect with Angela

Follow Grieving Out Loud

Follow Emily's Hope

Read Angela’s Blog

Subscribe to Grieving Out Loud/Emily’s Hope Updates

Suggest a Guest

For more episodes and information, just go to our website, emilyshope.charity
Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, I sit down with Kimberly Douglas and Alexis Pleus, the women behind the Trail of Truth. For them, this mission is deeply personal. They’re turning their grief into action, demanding that lawmakers pay attention while hundreds of thousands of Americans die every year from alcohol and drugs. And now, even as the crisis grows, treatment and prevention programs are on the chopping block. Most importantly, you’ll hear what they believe needs to change to save lives.

You can listen to Alexis's previous episode on Grieving Out Loud here. 

Send us Fan Mail

Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.

They were...

• daughters
• sons
• mothers
• fathers
• friends
• wives
• husbands
• cousins
• boyfriends
• girlfriends.

They were More Than Just A Number. 

Support the show

Connect with Angela

Follow Grieving Out Loud

Follow Emily's Hope

Read Angela’s Blog

Subscribe to Grieving Out Loud/Emily’s Hope Updates

Suggest a Guest

For more episodes and information, just go to our website, emilyshope.charity
Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, Gary shares about his painful childhood, the lessons he’s learned about grief and resilience, and what he hopes others can carry with them from his journey.

You can visit Gary's website here. 

If this episode resonated with you, here are more conversations you’ll want to hear:

Surviving the holiday season while grieving

Broken Heart Syndrome: 4 Ways We Grieve

Your To-Die List: Bestselling Author on Living Fully and Resiliently

Growing Up with Grief: Emily’s Siblings Open Up

Words of Wisdom: Surviving Grief

Send us Fan Mail

Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.

They were...

• daughters
• sons
• mothers
• fathers
• friends
• wives
• husbands
• cousins
• boyfriends
• girlfriends.

They were More Than Just A Number. 

Support the show

Connect with Angela

Follow Grieving Out Loud

Follow Emily's Hope

Read Angela’s Blog

Subscribe to Grieving Out Loud/Emily’s Hope Updates

Suggest a Guest

For more episodes and information, just go to our website, emilyshope.charity
Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

Ellen Ingraham knows that pain. She lost her father when she was just two years old. As if that heartbreak were not enough, her older sister, her best friend, was fighting a life-threatening condition. Like so many others carrying quiet grief, Ellen turned to alcohol to cope.

In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, Ellen shares her story, how she faced her pain, found her way toward healing, and what she wants others to know if they are struggling too.

If you enjoyed this episode, check out these ones next: 

The silent crisis of alcohol and women’s liver disease

Telling Everyone’s Story While Hiding Her Own: A Journalist’s Battle with Addiction

Broken Heart Syndrome: 4 Ways We Grieve

Send us Fan Mail

Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.

They were...

• daughters
• sons
• mothers
• fathers
• friends
• wives
• husbands
• cousins
• boyfriends
• girlfriends.

They were More Than Just A Number. 

Support the show

Connect with Angela

Follow Grieving Out Loud

Follow Emily's Hope

Read Angela’s Blog

Subscribe to Grieving Out Loud/Emily’s Hope Updates

Suggest a Guest

For more episodes and information, just go to our website, emilyshope.charity
Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

First, Scott lost his oldest son to a brutal and widely publicized murder. Then, years later, his younger son died from fentanyl poisoning. Long before either tragedy, Scott was battling his own addiction, a struggle that began when he was still a kid.

On this episode of Grieving Out Loud, Scott opens up about the heartbreak no parent should ever have to endure. He talks candidly about addiction, grief, the lessons he learned too late, and how he is still putting one foot in front of the other, even after losing so much.

Send us Fan Mail

Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.

They were...

• daughters
• sons
• mothers
• fathers
• friends
• wives
• husbands
• cousins
• boyfriends
• girlfriends.

They were More Than Just A Number. 

Support the show

Connect with Angela

Follow Grieving Out Loud

Follow Emily's Hope

Read Angela’s Blog

Subscribe to Grieving Out Loud/Emily’s Hope Updates

Suggest a Guest

For more episodes and information, just go to our website, emilyshope.charity
Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz