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Fentanyl poisoning is now the number one cause of death for people ages 18 to 45. Licensed Clinical Social Worker Phyllis Babrove knows that all too well. She lost her daughter to the epidemic; now, she has a warning for other parents.Babrove believes the drug situation in the U.S. is destroying American families. That's why she wrote the book "Words From A Mother In Mourning: How To Protect Your Child From Drugs."In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, host Angela Kennecke sits down with Babrove to hear her advice. Support the show For more episodes and to read Angela's blog, just go to our website, Emilyshope.charityWishing you faith, hope and courage! Podcast producers: Casey Wonnenberg & Anna Fey

In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, host Angela Kennecke sits down with Honesty Liller, a recovering addict and "Hope Dealer" for those battling substance use disorders. Honesty shares her story of addiction, including her near-fatal overdose at 17 and giving birth to her daughter while on heroin. Now in long-term recovery, Honesty talks about the importance of addressing the growing need for help for those struggling with addiction. Honesty has also written a book about her experiences. Support the show For more episodes and to read Angela's blog, just go to our website, Emilyshope.charityWishing you faith, hope and courage! Podcast producers: Casey Wonnenberg & Anna Fey

As the U.S. struggles with a deadly drug epidemic, Nathan Smiddy has made it his mission to prevent deaths and mourning. He believes that by distributing Narcan, he has saved around 450 lives in the past year.  The issue hits home for “Narcan Nate” because he started not only using but selling drugs in high school. In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, hear how Nate overcame his substance use disorder after a couple of close encounters with death. Nate has created a Go Fund Me page to help with his efforts at https://www.gofundme.com/f/narcan-nate-fund. Support the show For more episodes and to read Angela's blog, just go to our website, Emilyshope.charityWishing you faith, hope and courage! Podcast producers: Casey Wonnenberg & Anna Fey

Maria Kliavokoff is a former hospice worker who now helps people learn how to grieve healthily. As a grief coach, Maria is trying to revolutionize our thoughts about grief and mourning. Her website, Healthy Mourning, provides grief resources and online grief support to ensure healthy grief and healthy mourning. They are there to support you and help you through your grief journey, teach you how to cope with your grief by reframing it, and they are dedicated to supporting you as you convert your grief to mourning and heal from your grief journey so that you may be free to live your best life. In 2019 she published her first book, Healthy Mourning, Happy Loving, 52 Ways to Convert Your Grief to Mourning with Ease and Grace. Her next two books, Healthy Mourning in a Grief Pandemic and Healthy Mourning for Womb Twin Survivors, are currently in the works. In this episode, Angela and Maria discuss grief, and Maria gives practical advice for anyone coping with loss.  Support the show For more episodes and to read Angela's blog, just go to our website, Emilyshope.charityWishing you faith, hope and courage! Podcast producers: Casey Wonnenberg & Anna Fey

Originally released on April 14th, 2019 Your host of Grieving Out Loud, Angela Kennecke, first met Melissa Flynn just a few months after Emily died. Melissa contacted Angela to see how she could help with her newly formed charity, Emily's Hope. Melissa had lost her 25-year-old stepson, Nicholas, to fentanyl poisoning just ten days after Emily died. Angela and Melissa met, and they have been doing advocacy work together ever since. In this episode, Melissa talks about losing Nicholas to a fentanyl overdose, her frustration in attempting to get him help, and what she has learned during this challenging journey. Melissa is sharing her family's story in hopes that others in a similar situation will benefit. Support the show For more episodes and to read Angela's blog, just go to our website, Emilyshope.charityWishing you faith, hope and courage! Podcast producers: Casey Wonnenberg & Anna Fey

Originally released on August 16, 2020Brandon Novak was a world-famous champion skateboarder. However, he was also in his first treatment center for addiction to heroin at age 17. Brandon went on to co-star in TV and movies in the MTV Jackass and Viva La BAM series. To his numerous fans, he seemed to have it all. He was getting paid to skate and hang out with his friends, but Brandon Novak's life was crumbling into several pieces off-screen. At age 35, after several years of being an addict, the once-rising celebrity burned out and ultimately hit rock bottom. He was now homeless, begging for money on the streets of Baltimore and living under a bridge. Brandon went to his thirteenth rehab for help with nothing left to lose. More than four years later, Brandon Novak is sober, living in Philadelphia, and has turned his life around.  Brandon and Angela Kennecke met at the 2019 DEA 360 Los Angeles Opioid Awareness Youth Summit, where they spoke to 5,000 high school students, telling their individual stories. Along with speaking out about his addiction and recovery journey, Brandon has become a recovery advocate for Banyan Treatment Centers. He works with them to show others that recovery is possible and it is never too late. He has also become a Certified Intervention Professional to help people struggling to get their addicted loved ones into treatment.Support the show For more episodes and to read Angela's blog, just go to our website, Emilyshope.charityWishing you faith, hope and courage! Podcast producers: Casey Wonnenberg & Anna Fey

Maura Jamie thought she had experienced the worst loss of her life when her 25-year-old husband died in 2001 from a heroin overdose. Ironically, on the 20th anniversary of her husband's death, Maura lost their 22-year-old son Carter to fentanyl poisoning.Maura also battled her own substance use disorder for nearly two decades. In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, your host, Angela Kennecke, talked with Maura about how the drug epidemic has shattered her life in unimaginable ways. Maura creates digital memorial frames for people who've lost loved ones in the drug epidemic. You can find out more here.Support the show For more episodes and to read Angela's blog, just go to our website, Emilyshope.charityWishing you faith, hope and courage! Podcast producers: Casey Wonnenberg & Anna Fey

Art Kleinschmidt was the Deputy Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy or Deputy Drug Czar under President Trump. He also served on the Domestic Policy Council in the White House as Senior Advisor for mental health & addiction, as well as the same role for SAMHSA. Art is in long-term recovery from substance use disorder and became a licensed clinician who has extensive experience with treatment. He is also the founder of the Recovery for America Now Foundation, which provides treatment scholarships to treatment centers across the country. Art discusses his unconventional path to D.C. and how to solve the overdose crisis in this episode of Grieving Out Loud. Support the show For more episodes and to read Angela's blog, just go to our website, Emilyshope.charityWishing you faith, hope and courage! Podcast producers: Casey Wonnenberg & Anna Fey

Your host of Grieving Out Loud, Angela Kennecke, first met Dr. Mark Vande Braak shortly after the death of her 21-year-old daughter, Emily. Dr. Vande Braak sat down with Angela’s entire family to help them “reframe” their loss. Dr. Mark Vande Braak is a board-certified music therapist and Thanatologist (grief educator). He previously spoke with Angela on Episode 10 of Grieving Out Loud, Broken Heart Syndrome: 4 Ways We Grieve. Now, Mark is back on the podcast for this episode to take about coping with loss over the holiday season when grief can come into sharp focus, as we intensely miss the ones who are no longer with us to celebrate all of our family traditions.Support the show For more episodes and to read Angela's blog, just go to our website, Emilyshope.charityWishing you faith, hope and courage! Podcast producers: Casey Wonnenberg & Anna Fey

Originally released July 15th, 2019Celia Farmer, unfortunately, knows the pain of losing a child to suicide. Her 14-year-old daughter, Mali, completed suicide in 2017. Celia was among the first parents who've experienced loss to reach out to Angela after Emily died from fentanyl poisoning. Both Celia and Angela have experienced the stigmatized death of a child, where parents can find themselves being harshly judged by society. In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, Angela and Celia share how they have coped with their losses and what has helped and hurt them most. Both have found healing in focusing on helping others. Support the show For more episodes and to read Angela's blog, just go to our website, Emilyshope.charityWishing you faith, hope and courage! Podcast producers: Casey Wonnenberg & Anna Fey

Brenda Schivito says her son Nick’s drug usage began when he was just a kid and would ride his bike to the gas station and buy Spice, a synthetic marijuana. The adverse side effects of Spice include psychosis, hallucinations, delirium, and paranoia. When Nick was older, he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and his battle with substance use disorder kicked into high gear. Nick died of fentanyl poisoning at the age of 22.  In response to their family’s tragedy, Brenda started Angels Against Addiction, a non-profit organization that is raising awareness and helping people getting out of inpatient treatment for substance use disorder transition into recovery communities.  Brenda also hosts a cable program called, You Are Not Alone.Support the show For more episodes and to read Angela's blog, just go to our website, Emilyshope.charityWishing you faith, hope and courage! Podcast producers: Casey Wonnenberg & Anna Fey

Former drug dealer Scott Silverman now helps families in crisis navigate the road to recovery. The California man is also the author of The Opioid Epidemic: What You Don't Know Will Destroy Your Family and Your Life. Your host, Angela Kennecke, has a frank conversation with Scott about the public health crisis involving fentanyl.  Scott is a crisis coach and family navigator and runs a recovery center in San Diego. In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, he has advice for families dealing with someone with active addiction. Support the show For more episodes and to read Angela's blog, just go to our website, Emilyshope.charityWishing you faith, hope and courage! Podcast producers: Casey Wonnenberg & Anna Fey

In our last episode, we introduced you to the central character of the Netflix docuseries, The Pharmacist, Dan Schneider. Dan told us he had no idea his son was using crack before he was murdered in New Orleans in the late 90’s. While police didn’t show much interest in his son’s case, Dan took it upon himself to use every investigative tool at the time to find his son’s killer. But the story doesn’t end there. In his role as a pharmacist, Dan was among the first to spot the opioid epidemic in this country and actually do something about it, shutting down pill mill doctors and pushing for a prescription monitoring program in his state. Dan has never stopped pushing for change to save lives, lost unnecessarily to drugs. Now he’s turning his attention to the availability of medically assisted treatment, or MAT for short. He has started a coalition and your host Angela Kennecke is now a part of it.  Dan talks about this partnership with Dr. Arun Gupta. You can listen to our podcast with Dr. Gupta here. Support the show For more episodes and to read Angela's blog, just go to our website, Emilyshope.charityWishing you faith, hope and courage! Podcast producers: Casey Wonnenberg & Anna Fey

Netflix docuseries, The Pharmacist, shows how Dan Schneider solved his son's murder in the case of a drug deal gone wrong. Schneider was an early identifier of the opioid crisis in this country and pushed for reform. He joins your host, Angela Kennecke, for two episodes of Grieving Out Loud to give us all the twists and turns in the case and how the unbelievable unfolded.  In this first episode, Schneider shares what happened to his son, how he pushed police to take the case seriously, and even befriended his son's killer. Schneider talks about forgiveness. He says he is driven by a greater purpose to save the lives of other people's children when he recognized the plight of opioids on young people and the medical system's role in it. You can learn more about all of Schneider's efforts on his website: Tunnel of Hope. Support the show For more episodes and to read Angela's blog, just go to our website, Emilyshope.charityWishing you faith, hope and courage! Podcast producers: Casey Wonnenberg & Anna Fey

Shortly after her husband, Doug, was elected governor of North Dakota in 2016, Kathryn Burgum decided to share her personal story. Burgum is in recovery for substance use disorder after battling alcohol addiction for 20 years. Her platform as First Lady of North Dakota is to end the shame and stigma surrounding the disease of addiction.  Kathryn’s Recovery Reinvented event is coming up on November 3rd, and you can participate. She shares what keeps her in recovery and what she's doing to change attitudes and get people help in her state in this episode of Grieving Out Loud. Register for Recovery Reinvented on Nov 3rd here.  Support the show For more episodes and to read Angela's blog, just go to our website, Emilyshope.charityWishing you faith, hope and courage! Podcast producers: Casey Wonnenberg & Anna Fey

Don’t let the title of this episode fool you. Angela is NOT signing off on this podcast, In fact, you’ll be hearing more from Angela on this platform. But she has signed off on her last broadcast after a 35-year television career to focus on the mission of Emily’s Hope.  Angela talks about what went into her decision precipitated by the death of her oldest daughter at age 21 and how she is now determined to save as many lives as possible. The two books mentioned as inspiration in this podcast: From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life.  by Albert C. BrooksThe Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life,  by David Brooks Support the show For more episodes and to read Angela's blog, just go to our website, Emilyshope.charityWishing you faith, hope and courage! Podcast producers: Casey Wonnenberg & Anna Fey

27-year-old Mariah Earp, a mother to three children, died of fentanyl poisoning in 2020 after taking what she thought was Xanax. Now her mother, Rachel Carlisle has become an outspoken advocate to break the stigma and tell Mariah’s story on TikTok, where her videos have received more than 200,000 likes. Rachel says he wants other parents to know it’s okay to talk about the loss of a child to fentanyl and to know they are not alone, just like we do on this podcast. Rachel also had billboards put up with her daughter's photo in her Indiana community to draw attention to fentanyl pills flooding the area. Find Rachel on TikTok: @JustMeRachelCFind Emily's Hope on TikTok: @EmilysHope_ Support the show For more episodes and to read Angela's blog, just go to our website, Emilyshope.charityWishing you faith, hope and courage! Podcast producers: Casey Wonnenberg & Anna Fey

Dr. Nzinga Harrison is working to change the conversation around substance use disorder and encouraging it to be treated like any other disease. In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, she shares a new approach to those who suffer from addiction which involves compassion and support.  Dr. Harrison is the Chief Medical Officer and Co-Founder of Eleanor Health, whose mission is to help people affected by addiction live full, healthy lives. She was also featured in the documentary, Tipping the Pain Scale. Find the podcast Dr. Nzinga Harrison discusses in this episode of Grieving Out Loud here - In Recovery with Dr. Nzinga Harrison. www.emilyshope.charitySupport the show For more episodes and to read Angela's blog, just go to our website, Emilyshope.charityWishing you faith, hope and courage! Podcast producers: Casey Wonnenberg & Anna Fey

Your host, Angela Kennecke, has brought you conversations she has had with different speakers and authors from the Bereaved Parents USA Conference over the last four weeks. This week, Angela wraps up the series with a conversation she had with Pat Sheveland. Angela and Pat first met in 2020, when she was a guest on Grieving Out Loud, for the first time. Since that conversation, Pat has lost her mother and now has a new book called The Confident Grief Coach. In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, Pat shares even more about the best ways to cope with loss. Listen to Pat's first episode with Angela, Strategies for Survival after the Loss of a Child, here.Support the show For more episodes and to read Angela's blog, just go to our website, Emilyshope.charityWishing you faith, hope and courage! Podcast producers: Casey Wonnenberg & Anna Fey

Your host, Angela Kennecke, is bringing you conversations she had with different speakers and authors at the Bereaved Parents USA Conference in St. Louis in July. She recorded podcasts with women who have dealt with grief and transformed it into helping others cope. The death of Brenda’s son, Kevin’s addiction to painkillers, started after a traumatic brain injury. The loss of Kevin took Brenda down a new path to study grief and help others in this unfortunate club of bereaved parents. Next week, Angela will be bringing you her final interview from the national gathering.www.emilyshope.foundationSupport the show For more episodes and to read Angela's blog, just go to our website, Emilyshope.charityWishing you faith, hope and courage! Podcast producers: Casey Wonnenberg & Anna Fey