Patricia Oliver, mother of Joaquin “Guac” Oliver, joins David Ferrugio on the DEAD Talks Podcast to share her journey of grief, resilience, and advocacy after the Parkland school shooting. Patricia opens up about losing her son in the tragedy, transforming unimaginable pain into purpose, and building a legacy of change in his honor.

Through Change the Ref, the foundation inspired by Joaquin’s spirit, Patricia has turned grief into activism—using art, storytelling, and powerful campaigns to raise awareness about gun violence and support families facing the same heartbreak.

In this conversation, Patricia reflects on:

• The day her world changed in Parkland
• Messages and signs she’s received from Joaquin
• How grief reshaped her life and identity
• The spiritual healing that keeps her moving forward
• Turning loss into activism through Change the Ref

This episode is a powerful reminder of how love, loss, and resilience can fuel lasting change.

Links to Patricia Oliver's work:

⁠Change The Ref⁠⁠

Lush Sonflower Bath Bomb Fund Raising⁠

Support the show for $5:

Join the ⁠⁠⁠DEAD Talk Patreon⁠⁠⁠ to support our mission and get episodes early and ad free!

MERCH:

"Dead Dad Club" & "Dead Mom Club": ⁠⁠⁠Shop Here⁠⁠⁠

DISCOUNTS:

⁠⁠10% off Neurogum⁠⁠⁠ made with sustainably-sourced natural caffeine, L-theanine, as well as vitamins B6 and B12, which have been scientifically shown to boost attention and enhance focus. 

ABOUT:

DEAD Talks with David Ferrugio engages death a little bit differently. Each new guest shares their experience with grieving or perspective on death in a way that shatters the “don’t talk about death” taboo. Grief doesn't end; it evolves. Having lost his father on September 11th when he was 12, he learned the importance of discussion and sharing other people's stories. DEAD Talks Podcast hopes to make it a little easier to talk about grief, loss, death, mourning, trauma, or whatever it may be. You may cry, but you also may laugh. ⁠

Follow DEAD Talks Podcast on ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠ + ⁠⁠⁠more⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠www.deadtalks.net⁠⁠⁠⁠