Angela Kennecke is a journalist who lost her 21-year-old daughter Emily to fentanyl poisoning on May 16, 2018. Angela is "grieving out loud" to try to put an end to this epidemic by stopping the stigma and promoting the treatment of substance use disorder as the disease it is. Anyone coping with loss and looking for inspiration can benefit from listening to this podcast.
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Emily Benita and Anna Burtt introduce The Mother Of All Losses, a podcast exploring the often unfathomable death of a mother.
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My thoughts and experiences on dealing with the loss of my amazing mother. Encouraging healthy grieving. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tamikoC/support
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I'm Jessie, and I'm a writer, speaker, and Certified Fitness Coach! I successfully lost 50 pounds, and now I help working moms simplify their fitness and nutrition to lose weight, improve health, gain confidence, and feel energetic! As a working mom of 3 littles I know how crazy life is, but I want to show YOU how to step into the woman you were always meant to be. It's time to drop the excuses, get out of your own way, and be Fit Like a Mother!
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Send us a text After losing her son Alec to fentanyl poisoning on his 26th birthday, Dita Bhargava has transformed her grief into action, becoming a powerful voice in the fight against fentanyl. She’s engaged in important conversations with political leaders across America, including Vice President Kamala Harris. On Overdose Awareness Day, Harris h…
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Send us a text In this special episode of Grieving Out Loud, we revisit a cherished conversation with Dr. Gladys McGarey, a trailblazer in holistic medicine who passed away on September 28th at the age of 103. Her wisdom transcended the medical field, emphasizing that love is the most powerful healing force. Dr. Gladys built her life around the fiv…
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Send us a text Imagine losing not only your mother, but also your twin sister to substance use disorder. On this episode of Grieving Out Loud, Cristina Cavallo and her father, Chris, share their deeply personal and heartbreaking story in hopes of raising awareness about a disease that touches millions yet is often left in the shadows. According to …
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Send us a text As a grieving mother who fought to get help for my daughter’s substance use disorder—and ultimately lost her to fentanyl—I’m often asked what advice I have, or what I wish I had done differently. Today on Grieving Out Loud, I sit down with another grieving mother at the DEA Family Summit on Fentanyl. Kate Sloan, like so many others, …
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Send us a text In this special episode of Grieving Out Loud, released for International Podcast Day, we deeply look at grief and its multifaceted nature. In our nearly 200 episodes, we’ve shared deeply personal stories from individuals navigating their own paths through loss, offering listeners a chance to find solace and understanding in shared ex…
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Send us a text As the United States faces its deadliest drug epidemic in history, lives are being lost in unimaginable ways. Over the past two decades, more than 5,000 children and teens have died from fentanyl—among them, toddlers and even infants. Janan Haugen knows these devastating numbers all too well. She’s lost not only her son to drugs, but…
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Send us a text Hans Arwine choked back tears as he recalled the moment he had to tell his wife that their son was gone. ”That was the hardest thing I’ve ever done–tell his mother that he was no longer with us,” he said. The heartbreaking scene is tragically familiar across America—parents receiving the devastating news that their children have died…
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Send us a text An Iowa couple was invited to the State of the Union address for a reason they could have never imagined just a few years ago. Deric and Kathy Kidd were unaware of how lethal the illicit drug supply had become until the day they found their teenage son dead in his bedroom. He had taken half a pill, thinking it was Percocet, but it tu…
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Send us a text Opioid deaths started skyrocketing when the powerful prescription painkiller OxyContin hit the market. Purdue Pharma, the company behind the drug, has been found guilty of numerous charges. It is now featured in a new Netflix original, "Painkiller," highlighting the company’s pushy sales tactics. For some viewers, like today’s guest,…
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Send us a text Your life dreams may include starting a business, building a dream home, or nurturing a healthy marriage. But for many, like Sandra Radford, the deepest dream is raising children—a dream she fought to achieve through IVF. Despite the heartbreak of losing two of her triplets during pregnancy, Sandra’s joy was boundless when she welcom…
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Send us a text He’s one of the most notorious pill mill doctors: Dr. Paul Volkman. Sentenced to four consecutive life sentences for unlawfully prescribing pain medications that led to multiple deaths, his story is a shocking descent from a respected pediatrician and emergency room physician to a key figure in flooding southern Ohio with prescriptio…
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Send us a text She’s known for her Sideline Shimmy. ESPN sports broadcaster Lauren Sisler is a sideline reporter for college football and gymnastics. But behind the camera, Lauren hid a family secret for a decade. Both of her parents struggled with opioid use disorder after being prescribed painkillers by doctors—a disease that ultimately took her …
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Send us a text Not only is the United States battling its deadliest drug epidemic in history, but an increasing number of Americans are also struggling with substance use disorder. According to survey data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, nearly 49 million people in the US aged 12 and older – more than one in six – have a subs…
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Send us a text Grief—it's a heavy burden, a journey that changes us forever. Each person's path through it is uniquely painful. Today, nearly one in three Americans has felt the devastating loss of someone to a drug overdose. In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, Cheryl Juaire shares her heart-wrenching story of losing not one but two children to t…
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Send us a text Think back to your childhood—maybe you remember a classmate who misbehaved. Did you know what was happening at home? In Baleigh Cerv's case, she struggled with living with a father who suffered from alcohol addiction and was abusive. Unfortunately, her story is all too common. According to the latest data from the National Survey of …
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Send us a text Should drug dealers face prison time? It's a contentious issue with strong opinions on both sides. For years, law enforcement often treated drug overdose deaths as accidental or the fault of the victim. However, with a record surge in fentanyl-related fatalities in the United States, attitudes are evolving. The alarming rise in death…
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Send us a text At just 19 years old, Jack Nathan had a bright and promising future. He founded his own apparel company, Happy Jack, and generously donated some proceeds to support children struggling with mental health issues. However, a single decision changed everything. Jack's life was tragically cut short when he took what he thought was a Perc…
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Send us a text Originally released on August 4th, 2022 Deaths from alcohol-related liver disease are rising sharply among women. Today's guest, Dr. Jessica Mellinger, a liver specialist at the University of Michigan, has witnessed a 60% increase in waitlisting and transplants for patients with alcoholic hepatitis. She's on a mission to raise awaren…
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Send us a text Grief—it's a heart-wrenching emotion that most of us will likely have to experience. Often, we're unprepared for the overwhelming pain and sorrow, and we struggle to know how to support friends who have lost loved ones. A Sioux Falls, South Dakota, businesswoman has started a passion project to educate others about grief following he…
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Send us a text Have you ever wondered how deeply intertwined mental health and addiction can be? According to reports published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, around half of those with serious mental health issues also struggle with substance use disorder. Experts say that certain substances can trigger mental health problems, …
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Send us a text In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, Angela Kennecke talks with Elaine Mingus about her journey through severe challenges and eventual recovery. Elaine shares her story of surviving sexual abuse and battling depression, an eating disorder, and a substance use disorder. Her experiences highlight the power of resilience and the import…
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Send us a text After Heather Ruzic tragically lost her son to illicit fentanyl in 2015, she made it her mission to warn others about the danger. Yet, as time passed, she witnessed more parents suffering similar tragedies while the epidemic continued to impact her family in unforeseen ways. Heather's first husband also died from fentanyl poisoning. …
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Send us a text Tom Wolf embodied the quintessential image of a middle-class family man—married, with two children, living in the suburbs, and holding a steady job as a child support officer. However, his life took a drastic turn after a seemingly routine foot surgery led to a prescription for painkillers. Listen as we delve into Tom's journey from …
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Send us a text "Slow Dancing with the Devil"--that's the title of Susan Bartz Herrick's book that's now being turned into a screenplay. It's a story that the grieving mother never wanted to write--a heartbreaking memoir of her son's relentless 20-year battle with substance use disorder, a fight he unfortunately lost due to fentanyl poisoning. But S…
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Send us a text The statistics are deeply troubling. Between 2007 and 2021, youth suicide rates surged by more than 60%. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that teens living in the most impoverished areas were 37% more likely to die by suicide. However, this distressing trend isn't confined to those facing socioeconomic…
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Send us a text Fentanyl—dubbed by some as America's haunting "F" word—continues to carve a path of destruction across the nation. With the U.S. facing its deadliest drug epidemic in history, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says fentanyl is one of the main culprits. But today, on National Fentanyl Awareness Day, we're not just dwellin…
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Send us a text As the inspiration behind characters in the award-winning books "Dopesick" and "Raising Lazarus," Ed Bisch shares his journey of turning personal tragedy into a force for powerful change. Following the heart-wrenching loss of his high school son to an OxyContin overdose early in the opioid epidemic, Bisch took on the daunting task of…
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Send us a text Eight years have passed since the world lost Prince, an unparalleled musical force and one of America's most revered artists. During his life, the creative genius sold over 100 million records, ranking him among the best-selling musical artists ever. However, despite his worldwide fame, the circumstances surrounding his sudden death …
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Send us a text From a young age, Sarah Spier seemed destined for success. At 18 years old, she landed a job as a film specialist for the Academy Award-winning movie No Country for Old Men. But her Hollywood dreams quickly turned into a nightmare of heroin addiction. Sarah fell in love with a drug dealer, thinking it was a modern-day Romeo and Julie…
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A candid conversation with the real doctor who inspired Michael Keaton's 'Dopesick' character
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Send us a text World-renowned actor Michael Keaton has won several awards, including his first Emmy, for his performance in the Hulu series "Dopesick." The "Batman" actor portrays a hard-working doctor in a small mining town who gets addicted to the pain pills he starts prescribing. Today on Grieving Out Loud, we have an exciting interview with the…
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Send us a text Ever feel like you've hit a certain age, and your chance to impact the world has passed you by? In today's Grieving Out Loud episode, we'll introduce you to Neil Jackson, who proves that age is just a number. In his early 60s, Neil faced the devastating news of a rare cancer diagnosis and the slim odds of survival after a risky surge…
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Send us a text From FOX News to CNN and ABC, Amy Neville has found herself under the national news spotlight, but it's for a cause she wishes never existed. Amy faced the heart-wrenching loss of her 14-year-old son, who, on the brink of his first year in high school, ingested what he thought was oxycodone, a purchase made through Snapchat. Now, Amy…
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Send us a text As a seasoned paramedic, Shani Reisnour has seen the painful impact of our nation’s drug crisis up close. But she never expected it to hit her family. Unfortunately, fentanyl doesn’t discriminate. In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, Shani opens up about her daughter’s struggle with substance use disorder, shares the lessons she’s l…
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Send us a text With a record number of Americans using marijuana, cannabis use disorder is also on the rise. Recent research published in The Journal of the American Medical Association finds that more than one-fifth of people who use cannabis struggle with dependency or problematic use. In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, Chris Raeford courageou…
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Send us a text As one of the most popular podcasters in the world, Meghan Judge has seen a lot of success throughout her career. She’s also married to a Hollywood actor, but now she speaks out about the trauma she survived starting at a young age. Because of all of her grief, abuse, and abandonment issues, doctors diagnosed Meghan with Complex PTSD…
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Send us a text With fentanyl being the number one killer of Americans under 50, it’s more important than ever to have easy access to naloxone, which can reverse opioid overdoses. In fact, naloxone has saved the lives of tens of thousands of people. Today, on a heartfelt episode of Grieving Out Loud, we are privileged to have Justin Phillips join us…
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Send us a text In an era where streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu bring the grim realities of America’s opioid crisis to the forefront through compelling narratives and star-studded casts, the painful truth hits home for countless families. Among them is Sandra Martinez, whose daughter Qarinna’s journey began with a seemingly benign prescrip…
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Send us a text Over the last ten years, Lauri Badura has been on a determined quest to confront the escalating crisis of fentanyl-related deaths. Despite her unwavering dedication, the shadow of this epidemic continues to grow. Lauri's path to advocacy was marked by personal tragedy in 2014 when she lost her son, Archie, to an overdose. This loss b…
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Send us a text Originally released on July 18th, 2022 Today's episode is an unexpected revisit dedicated to the memory of one of our past guests. Maryrose Fealey was a TikTok star who gained fame after she shared her relationship with her brother, Ian, who suffers from substance use disorder. Her journey was also shown in an eye-opening documentary…
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Send us a text Buying drugs online is "nearly as convenient as using one's phone to order a pizza or call an Uber," a report by Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser found. Sadly, an increasing number of grieving parents are painfully discovering the truth behind this statement. Chris Didier's 17-year-old son Zach was an Eagle Scout, talented socce…
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Send us a text Wine Wednesday, Mom Juice, Liquid Courage--our culture has all sorts of cute catchphrases encouraging people to drink. In fact, excessive drinking seems to be normalized, but unfortunately, it's also one of the leading preventable causes of death in the U.S., with more than 380 Americans dying every day. In this heartfelt episode of …
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Send us a text How do you navigate life's unexpected challenges? Do you crumble under the weight, foster resentment, or embrace each trial as an opportunity for personal growth? In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, we welcome Lynn Gillette, who, at first glance, seemed to have life all figured out. With her children's recent high school graduation…
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Send us a text Imagine a trip brimming with celebration and laughter—Carol Wolfe's son, Josh, embarked from Nebraska to Nashville, eager to witness the heartfelt "I dos" of two dear friends. Little did anyone know that this journey, meant for joy, would take an unexpected turn. Post-wedding festivities, Josh and a friend, decided to extend their Na…
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Mental health expert offers advice after his own son battles depression, anxiety & addiction
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Send us a text As an experienced mental health nurse practitioner, John Lally has extensive knowledge of mental health and substance use disorder issues. Yet, when his son confronted the challenges of anxiety, depression, and addiction, John discovered the profound difficulty of navigating such struggles. In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, John …
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Send us a text Our journey on Grieving Out Loud has been extraordinary over the past year. We've been graced by the voices of countless individuals who, with unwavering bravery, shared the intimate and challenging chapters of their lives entwined with substance use disorder. In these narratives, we've not only heard the heart-wrenching stories of p…
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Send us a text Originally Released on November 30th, 2022 Season's greetings from Grieving Out Loud! For this holiday special, we're revisiting an episode that holds valuable insights for many. Our guest today, Dr. Mark Vande Braak, played a significant role in host Angela Kennecke's grief journey following the loss of her 21-year-old daughter, Emi…
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Send us a text Grieving Out Loud host Angela Kennecke received a special invitation to the White House this year, where she met with some of America's top government officials working to end the historic drug crisis. The visit included discussions with prominent figures such as our nation's drug czar, the CDC director, and the Second Gentleman, Dou…
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Send us a text In this episode of "Grieving Out Loud," host Angela Kennecke engages in a poignant discussion with Lisa Gennosa, a physician assistant and author of Incurable Hope: A Memoir and Survival Guide for Coping with a Loved One's Addiction. Despite Lisa's medical background and being married to a doctor, she found herself unprepared for her…
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Send us a text A record 112,024 Americans have died in the past year from drugs alone; that's around 307 people every day. Today's Grieving Out Loud guest, Natasha Combs, feared she would become a part of that statistic. Natasha struggled with substance use disorder after a surgery where she was prescribed painkillers, coupled with the fact that sh…
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With the end of 2023 in sight, Anna and Emily sit together on Anna's sofa in Brighton to reflect on the past year. It's been a big one for both of them, a trend that will continue in 2024, so there's also an update for listeners about TMOAL Season 5. Most excitingly, this episode features a very special guest indeed. Hope you enjoy listening - lots…
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