Hope After Grief: Recent Episodes
Sydney Ford
Listen to stories of pain to purpose with host, Sydney Ford. You will hear about those who turned their loss into their biggest motivator, and what they achieved in memory of the ones they love.
"'Fanny Rules is an engaging tale of triumph over tribulation, happiness out of heartbreak, and love over loss. Dr. Troy brings meaning to life's often tragic twists--honoring his wonderful mother by passing on her wisdom for generations of leaders to come.' --MARK PETTIT- Bestselling Author, EMMY® Award-winner, & Actor"
In this episode, Dr. Troy Hall opens up about his book, "Fanny Rules: A Mother's Leadership Lessons that Never Grow Old," and the lessons his mother passed to him during her life. Dr. Troy shares lessons from his book, being a caretaker, and how to being a companion for someone going through Alzheimer's. This episode's title is dedicated to his mother's middle name "Rose," as well a white flower being a symbol of the first person who survives Alzheimer's. The white rose is a symbol of hope.
You can find him at his website, and find his book on Amazon.
Tara Schiphof started #YesYouCan as an initiative to help people persevere through difficult times, and after what they perceive as failure. When her grandmother died, she realized how important all of the techniques and coping methods were that she had been sharing with others. After this loss, Tara turned #YesYouCan into an arts scholarship to honor the memory of grandmother who taught her all about perseverance. In this episode, Tara is sharing the overlap between perseverance and grief and her advice for people fighting through both!
You can find Tara on Instagram and you find the Stokes County #YesYouCan Scholarship on their website.
Marie Scott is the Creator and Founder of Happy and Healthy After Widowhood. She is also a best selling author of 3 published books with 2 more on the way, an international speaker, and a Certified Health Coach for the past three years. After her beloved Dave died after 30 years of marriage, along with her Mom in the same year, she began a quest to learn more about the link between nutrition, cancer and Alzheimers. But first she had to heal herself. By changing her food preferences, her health transformation was dramatic. Finding new purpose in life became the next most important task, and she went back to school to become a Health coach. This began her life transformation and the articulation of the 7 Steps to Healing After Loss, a unique guided roadmap for widows and widowers to help them Live well, Laugh more, and perhaps even find Love again.
You can find her at her website, her Instagram, and her private Facebook group. You can also shop her books: "How I Found Meaning (and Humor) in Widowhood, Firehouses, and Organic Vegetables" and "Wellness Wisdom" book one and two.
--- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Katie Beecher, MS, LPC is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Medical and Emotional Intuitive with over thirty years of experience. Katie is featured in over 200 media outlets including Goop, Kourtney Kardashian’s website Poosh and Miranda Kerr’s Kora Organics Blog and has taught a weeklong workshop at the Omega Institute. Grief and loss are common topics that come up in her readings, whether it be grief from the loss of a human or animal loved one of grief from the loss of a relationship, health, or job. She frequently interacts with those that are grieving, but also has experienced a grief journey herself. Listen to her share the importance of sitting with our emotions during grief and intuitiveness during difficult times.
Katie's website: www.katiebeecher.com
To purchase Katie's book- click here
Find Katie on Instagram and Facebook
--- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
In a span of four months, Brooke lost her father to an unexpected heart attack, her stepmother to suicide, and her beloved 10 year-old daughter, Libby, in a horrific car accident. A 20-year teacher and freelance writer, her daughter's death led Brooke to relentlessly study the fields of grief, loss, trauma, and resilience in order to survive her own experiences. A Certified Grief Educator, Brooke is the founder of LiveLikeLibby.org, a nonprofit organization that provides dance scholarships in her daughter's honor, as well as the creator of GrievingMommy.com, where she blogs about her experiences as a grieving mother and coaches others through their grief. Listen to Brooke share her story, Libby's story, and how she turned to blogging to writing to release her emotions and help others!
--- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Whitney McDuff is a consulting and public relations master, but her mission slightly shifted after the loss of her mother three years ago. On this episode, Whitney shares how her grief was expressed through creativity and a passion to make a difference, and how she continues to see her mother's impact in all of life around her. Whitney gives great insight into the grieving process and advice for those who want to know how to talk about grief. This is a must listen for those currently going through the grief process, or helping someone who is grieving.
You can find Whitney at her website (www.WhitneyMcDuff.com), and find her books by clicking on them here: "The Lollie Tree" and "Where the Lollies Go"
You can also find the nonprofit Leo's Pride at LeosPride.org
--- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
TW: miscarriage, post-partum depression, suicide
Since the loss of her first pregnancy in April 2020, and then surviving Post-Partum Depression after her daughter was born, Kyla has made it her mission to partner with and bring attention to organizations and associations who offer resources and comfort to women who have shared similar experiences. She often works with her local medical community to provide therapy options and resources to women who’ve experienced Pregnancy Loss and Post-Partum Depression, as well as appear as a Key Note Speaker and Guest Speaker at events centered around women empowerment.
In this episode, we discuss the loss of Kyla's first pregnancy, the grief associated with this loss, the birth of her daughter, and the pain associated with post-partum depression. Tune in to see how Kyla uses her story to help other women going through the same emotions.
--- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
When Jeff Black lost his son, John Landon Black, to addiction, he was amazed to see how many people wanted to continue John Landon's legacy of laughter and love. The John Landon Black Foundation was created by those very people, and it intends to honor the late John Landon Black by serving the Clarendon County area through support and resources to those who are suffering from addiction. In this episode, I talk to Jeff about John Landon's life and legacy, and the purpose and goals for the John Landon Black Foundation. We also discuss advice for those grieving, those facing addiction, and those who love someone facing addiction. Jeff intends to continue to share a message of "hope when you're feeling hopeless," in John Landon's memory.
You can find more information on the John Landon Black Foundation at www.jlblackfoundation.org.
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
When Jeff Black lost his son, John Landon Black, to addiction, he was amazed to see how many people wanted to continue John Landon's legacy of laughter and love. The John Landon Black Foundation was created by those very people, and it intends to honor the late John Landon Black by serving the Clarendon County area through support and resources to those who are suffering from addiction. In this episode, I talk to Jeff about John Landon's life and legacy, and the purpose and goals for the John Landon Black Foundation. We also discuss advice for those grieving, those facing addiction, and those who love someone facing addiction. Jeff intends to continue to share a message of "hope when you're feeling hopeless," in John Landon's memory.
You can find more information on the John Landon Black Foundation at www.jlblackfoundation.org.
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Raegan McCullough lost her father, Dan McCollough, at the young age of 16. Dan was highly involved in her community and had the ability to help and touch everyone he met. While thinking of ways to encourage the educators she reaches with her "The Healthy Teacher" program, Raegan developed Dan MCcullough Affirmations (DMA). Named after her father, DMA is not limited to educators and believes every person is inherently good and worth encouraging. DMA uses QR codes to affirm every person who scans the code! Listen to hear about Raegan's goals for DMA, how she hopes to carry her father's legacy, and her plans for encouraging everyone she meets. Find Raegan on Instagram at @raegancm and find DM Affirmations at www.dmaffirmations.com and The Healthy Teacher at www.thehealthyteacher.com
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Raegan McCullough lost her father, Dan McCollough, at the young age of 16. Dan was highly involved in her community and had the ability to help and touch everyone he met. While thinking of ways to encourage the educators she reaches with her "The Healthy Teacher" program, Raegan developed Dan MCcullough Affirmations (DMA). Named after her father, DMA is not limited to educators and believes every person is inherently good and worth encouraging. DMA uses QR codes to affirm every person who scans the code! Listen to hear about Raegan's goals for DMA, how she hopes to carry her father's legacy, and her plans for encouraging everyone she meets. Find Raegan on Instagram at @raegancm and find DM Affirmations at www.dmaffirmations.com and The Healthy Teacher at www.thehealthyteacher.com
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Dr. Kirk Randazzo is a public speaker, a scholar, a professor, a leader, a musician, and a father. In this episode, he talks about two of those roles and the way they changed after the death of his son, Sam Randazzo. We discuss grief during the pandemic shutdown, how everyone copes with grief differently, and the emotions that come with being a parent who unexpectedly loses a child. We dive into Dr. Randazzo's bond with his son through music, and whether his love for music faltered after his son's death. These days, Dr. Randazzo has started a scholarship to honor his son's memory, and it is given to a band student at Sam's high school so that they can further their education, and live out his legacy of love and music.
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Nikki Huebner is a mother, inventor, serial entrepreneur, and a freelance writer for multiple publications where she shares her knowledge of the lash and skincare world. Her charitable brand, Endure™ Beauty, is modernizing and broadening the horizons of the Lash Industry as it currently stands and continuing to hit the organic beauty market with rapid growth. The heart and soul behind the Endure™ Beauty Brand are the charitable aspects. Nikki lost a daughter in a tragic accident back in 2010. So, her true-life mission is to give back HOPE through, Chyler's Family Room Projects, an extension of the Ronald McDonald House Charities.
In this episode, hear Nikki share about life after the loss of her daughter, how she turned her loss into a mission to help others, and what she has to say about the grief process for those going through it themselves.
You can find Nikki on Instagram at @endurelash and @endurebeauty. You can also find more at endurebeauty.com
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
After a car accident when she was 19 years old, Dana was thrust into a life filled with physical pain and chronic illness. Unfortunately, she was prescribed a cocktail of pain medication to deal with this pain, which led to an eventual realization that she was struggling with addiction. Dana fought to overcome that addiction, and fights every day to overcome the physical and mental side effects of her car accident. She is an athlete and weightlifter who shares her story of fighting against physical pain, and a teacher who discusses addiction with her students so that they never face what she did. Her advocacy is her life, and she's here to share that with you today.
You can find Dana on Instagram at @therealdanabrown and TikTok @therealdanabrown
After a car accident when she was 19 years old, Dana was thrust into a life filled with physical pain and chronic illness. Unfortunately, she was prescribed a cocktail of pain medication to deal with this pain, which led to an eventual realization that she was struggling with addiction. Dana fought to overcome that addiction, and fights every day to overcome the physical and mental side effects of her car accident. She is an athlete and weightlifter who shares her story of fighting against physical pain, and a teacher who discusses addiction with her students so that they never face what she did. Her advocacy is her life, and she's here to share that with you today. You can find Dana on Instagram at @therealdanabrown and TikTok @therealdanabrown
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Krisdee Clark is a 2-year breast cancer survivor and author of the national blog- The Blonde Bombshell which shares her breast cancer story to help others navigate their journey and to see it is possible to thrive, feel and look beautiful after cancer. Krisdee was diagnosed with Invasive Lobular Carcinoma in February 2020 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, and while her husband was deployed to the middle east. Here, she shares her story of how she turned this pain into her passion for helping other women through their breast cancer.
Find Krisdee on Instagram at @krisdee2000 and @mrssouthcarolinaamerican
Read Krisdee's blog at www.theblondebombshell.net
Krisdee Clark is a 2-year breast cancer survivor and author of the national blog- The Blonde Bombshell which shares her breast cancer story to help others navigate their journey and to see it is possible to thrive, feel and look beautiful after cancer. Krisdee was diagnosed with Invasive Lobular Carcinoma in February 2020 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, and while her husband was deployed to the middle east. Here, she shares her story of how she turned this pain into her passion for helping other women through their breast cancer.
Find Krisdee on Instagram at @krisdee2000 and @mrssouthcarolinaamerican
Read Krisdee's blog at www.theblondebombshell.net
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
In December of 2013, Heather Elvis went missing. You may have heard her story on Dateline, Nancy Grace, 20/20, and more. This is not that story. This is the story of her sister, Morgan Elvis, the person who advocated for her in the courtroom and beyond, after she was taken.
These days, Morgan is still advocating on behalf of victims and their families. She is a nationally accredited victim advocate with over 28 certifications in the fields of missing persons, human trafficking, trauma education, crisis response, and more. She also spearheads a movement of inclusion for victim advocate task forces in South Carolina and designates her time as a volunteer for over 32 organizations benefitting public trauma education and missing persons advocacy.
Morgan has truly turned her pain into a purpose to advocate for those like her and her family.
You can keep up with Morgan on Instagram at @morganrhiana
Welcome to "Hope After Grief." Hear Sydney's story of why she created this podcast, where it's heading, and how you can join as we spread a message of pain into purpose.
Follow along at @hopeaftergrief and @sydneyford__ on Instagram.
Contact us at hopeaftergrief@gmail.com
Learn more about Sydney's nonprofit, Hope After Grief, Inc. at hopeaftergrief.org and find Sydney's book "Grief Came to Visit Today" on Amazon.