Alter Eagle

This episode contains discussion of medical complexity, end-of-life care, and child loss. Listener discretion is advised.

When Judy Wright received the call, the request was not to save a life, but to care for one.

In this episode, Wright discusses her memoir Just Hold Her, which documents her experience fostering a medically fragile infant with complex and life-limiting conditions. The child, Jayden, was two months old and weighed four pounds at placement, with 27 medical diagnoses and no clear treatment path.

Drawing from detailed notes kept during a two-year period of care, Wright outlines the day-to-day realities of managing intensive medical needs inside a home setting. The conversation examines the intersection of foster care, healthcare systems, and the emotional demands placed on caregivers working without certainty of outcome.

Wright, along with her late husband, fostered 55 children over 12 years, many with significant medical challenges. She reflects on the structure and gaps within the foster system, the role of faith in long-term caregiving, and what it means to provide stability in cases where recovery is unlikely.

This episode contains discussion of medical complexity, end-of-life care, and child loss. Listener discretion is advised.

For more on Judy and her book go to: https://justholdher.com/

Sponsors:

https://www.betterhelp.com/altereagle

Follow & Subscribe to get episodes automatically as they drop every Wednesday. Audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Audible, and Deezer, as well as YouTube. This Podcast is produced at The Butler Eagle located in Butler, PA. Subscribe to this channel for all Butler Eagle News content and go to:

https://www.alter-eagle.com/

https://www.butlereagle.com/

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Hosted, Produced & Edited By: Laura Crago

Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of child loss, depression and deep grief. There is also conversation surrounding child loss through stillbirth. Listener discretion is advised.

What does it mean to remember a life that was gone too soon?

In this episode, we share the story behind Evan's Monumental Gifts, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to honoring children who have passed by ensuring their names are never forgotten. Funded primarily through donations and fundraising, the organization provides families with a personalized memorial stone, or support toward a custom design, offering something lasting in the midst of unimaginable loss.

Through conversation and reflection, Kiara and I explore the reality of child loss, the weight of grief that never fully fades, and the ways love continues, even after goodbye.

If you are listening because you've experienced this kind of loss, I am so deeply sorry. This episode holds space for you.

This is a story of grief… but also of remembrance, legacy, and the quiet, powerful impact of making sure every child's name lives on.

Sponsors:

https://www.betterhelp.com/altereagle

Follow & Subscribe to get episodes automatically as they drop every Wednesday. Audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Audible, and Deezer, as well as YouTube. This Podcast is produced at The Butler Eagle located in Butler, PA. Subscribe to this channel for all Butler Eagle News content and go to:

https://www.alter-eagle.com/

https://www.butlereagle.com/

#butlerpa #podcast #resources #community #Pittsburgh #hope #change #altereagle #altereaglepodcast #movement #education #butlerdowntown #downtownbutler #butlercountydowntown #downtownbutler #butlerdowntown #community #evansmonumentalgifts #childloss #motherslove #grief #therapy

Hosted, Produced & Edited By: Laura Crago

In Part Two, we step inside All About Reclaimed and it's every bit as inspiring as you'd imagine.

Surrounded by beautiful décor and creative energy, Jeff Double walks us through the process of building one of his signature arrangements, sharing the thought, detail, and vision behind each piece. From lush greenery to elegant lilies, it all comes together in a way that feels both intentional and effortless.

This episode is relaxed, fun, and full of personality as we spend time in the shop talking, laughing, and creating. And if you're listening, you may want to check out the video for this one, because this is something you truly have to see to fully experience.

Sponsors:

https://www.betterhelp.com/altereagle

Follow & Subscribe to get episodes automatically as they drop every Wednesday. Audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Audible, and Deezer, as well as YouTube. This Podcast is produced at The Butler Eagle located in Butler, PA. Subscribe to this channel for all Butler Eagle News content and go to:

https://www.alter-eagle.com/

https://www.butlereagle.com/

#butlerpa #podcast #resources #community #Pittsburgh #hope #change #altereagle #altereaglepodcast #movement #education #butlerdowntown #downtownbutler #butlercountydowntown #downtownbutler #butlerdowntown #community #allaboutreclaimed #Weddings #floral #unique

Hosted, Produced & Edited By: Laura Crago

In Part One of this two-part conversation, we sit down with Jeff Double of All About Reclaimed, a creator, storyteller, and community member whose energy is as genuine as it is inspiring.

Jeff shares how his upbringing and the lessons he learned from his parents shaped not only his craft, but the way he approaches life, family, and business. From early memories to present-day purpose, this conversation dives into the heart behind his work and the values that guide him.

More than just reclaimed materials, Jeff is creating connection, meaning, and something truly personal in everything he touches and it all starts with where he came from.

Sponsors:

https://www.betterhelp.com/altereagle

Follow & Subscribe to get episodes automatically as they drop every Wednesday. Audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Audible, and Deezer, as well as YouTube. This Podcast is produced at The Butler Eagle located in Butler, PA. Subscribe to this channel for all Butler Eagle News content and go to:

https://www.alter-eagle.com/

https://www.butlereagle.com/

#butlerpa #podcast #resources #community #Pittsburgh #hope #change #altereagle #altereaglepodcast #movement #education #butlerdowntown #downtownbutler #butlercountydowntown #downtownbutler #butlerdowntown #community #allaboutreclaimed #Weddings #floral #unique

Hosted, Produced & Edited By: Laura Crago

At just 32 years old, Ashlynn has built a career walking alongside individuals and families during some of life's most vulnerable seasons.

A Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in gerontology, the study of aging, Ashlynn has worked across hospice, home health, and programs designed to help older adults remain in their homes despite chronic illness, poverty, and mental health challenges. Her professional focus includes death and dying, grief and loss, and helping families navigate those deeply emotional transitions with dignity.

After earning her Bachelor's in Social Work from Mercyhurst University and completed a Master's of social work program from the University of Pittsburgh , and recently completed 3,000 supervised hours and passed her Licensed Clinical Social Work exam.

If you're watching the video version, behind Ashlynn is a photograph of the flowers she grew herself for her wedding a detail that feels symbolic. Whether she's supporting families through grief or tending to a garden with her dad, Ashlynn understands that care takes time, intention, and grounding.

We talk about:

• Aging and gerontology

• Hospice and end-of-life care

• Grief and loss

• Burnout and sustainability in helping professions

• Why stepping outside matters more than we think

If you work in healthcare, social work, caregiving or simply want to better understand the aging process and how to support loved ones, this conversation is for you.

Subscribe for more conversations rooted in curiosity, community, and care.

Sponsors:

https://www.betterhelp.com/altereagle

Follow & Subscribe to get episodes automatically as they drop every Monday. Audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Audible, and Deezer, as well as YouTube. This Podcast is produced at The Butler Eagle located in Butler, PA. Subscribe to this channel for all Butler Eagle News content and go to:

https://www.alter-eagle.com/

https://www.butlereagle.com/

#butlerpa #podcast #resources #community #Pittsburgh #hope #change #altereagle #altereaglepodcast #movement #education #butlerdowntown #downtownbutler #butlercountydowntown #downtownbutler #butlerdowntown #hospice #socialworker #grief #community #curiosity #care #healthcare

Hosted, Produced & Edited By: Laura Crago

What happens when travel becomes home?

In this episode of Alter Eagle, Vicky and Kristin share what it really means to live in another language, but by being immersed. From learning German alongside your children in Switzerland, to designing world-class museums across Europe, this conversation explores identity, belonging, and the humility that comes with becoming "the other."

We talk about:

• Learning a new language as an adult

• Raising globally fluent kids

• Building museums that shape cultural storytelling

• The difference between traveling and truly living abroad

• Friendship that spans decades and continents

This is about more than geography.

It's about who you become when you step outside of what's familiar.

Sponsors:

https://www.betterhelp.com/altereagle

Follow & Subscribe to get episodes automatically as they drop every Monday. Audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Audible, and Deezer, as well as YouTube. This Podcast is produced at The Butler Eagle located in Butler, PA. Subscribe to this channel for all Butler Eagle News content and go to:

https://www.alter-eagle.com/

https://www.butlereagle.com/

#butlerpa #podcast #resources #community #Pittsburgh #hope #change #altereagle #altereaglepodcast #movement #education #butlerdowntown #downtownbutler #butlercountydowntown #downtownbutler #butlerdowntown #travel #abroad #curiosity #hometown

Hosted, Produced & Edited By: Laura Crago

One year after Marc Fogel's release from a Russian prison, his family is still processing what they lived through and what it means to finally have him home.

In this episode, Anne Fogel reflects on the one-year anniversary of her brother Marc Fogel's release after spending years imprisoned in Russia following his 2021 arrest and 2022 sentencing. What began as a headline became a life-altering fight for freedom, not just for Marc, but for his entire family and the community that refused to let his name be forgotten.

We talk about what those years were really like, the power of advocacy, prayer, journalism, documentary filmmaking, and grassroots support, and the long decompression that follows survival. Because freedom isn't a finish line, it's the beginning of healing.

Marc Fogel, an American teacher, was arrested in August 2021 and sentenced to 14 years in a Russian prison. On February 11, 2025, he was released. But the story doesn't end there.

This conversation came together organically, a phone call, a decision to press record and a shared understanding that sometimes the most important conversations are the ones we don't overproduce.

If you care about freedom, resilience, hope, and the power of people coming together to bring someone home, this episode is for you.

For more on 'Did You Forget Mr. Fogel?'

Directed by Max Karpman:

https://youtu.be/3XIdiHYlcp8

Sponsors:

https://www.betterhelp.com/altereagle

Follow & Subscribe to get episodes automatically as they drop every Monday. Audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Audible, and Deezer, as well as YouTube. This Podcast is produced at The Butler Eagle located in Butler, PA. Subscribe to this channel for all Butler Eagle News content and go to:

https://www.alter-eagle.com/

https://www.butlereagle.com/

#butlerpa #podcast #resources #community #Pittsburgh #hope #change #altereagle #altereaglepodcast #movement #education #butlerdowntown #downtownbutler #butlercountydowntown #downtownbutler #butlerdowntown #MarcFogel #MalphineFogel #AnneFogel #podcast

Hosted, Produced & Edited By: Laura Crago

In part one of this two-part conversation, I sit down with Kristin and Vicky, two women I've known since high school whose lives have taken them overseas in very different ways. We talk about family, travel, living abroad, and how stepping outside the U.S. can deepen your appreciation for home. This conversation is also about female friendship, how it evolves over time, strengthens across distance, and becomes an anchor as life changes.

This episode is rooted in curiosity: what draws us outward, what challenges us, and how the world shapes us when we're willing to say yes to it.

Sponsors:

https://www.betterhelp.com/altereagle

Follow & Subscribe to get episodes automatically as they drop every Monday. Audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Audible, and Deezer, as well as YouTube. This Podcast is produced at The Butler Eagle located in Butler, PA. Subscribe to this channel for all Butler Eagle News content and go to:

https://www.alter-eagle.com/

https://www.butlereagle.com/

#butlerpa #podcast #resources #community #Pittsburgh #hope #change #altereagle #altereaglepodcast #movement #education #butlerdowntown #downtownbutler #butlercountydowntown #downtownbutler #butlerdowntown #travel #abroad #curiosity #hometown

Hosted, Produced & Edited By: Laura Crago

In this episode of Alter Eagle, we're spotlighting Butler Little Theatre's production of Love Letters by A.R. Gurney, a romantic, funny, and poignant story told entirely through decades of correspondence between two lifelong friends.

Love Letters explores love and longing, privilege and pressure, success and failure and the choices we make as we walk the path of life. With two alternating casts bringing this story to life, the production highlights the power of simple storytelling and human connection.

Melissa is portrayed by Nedra Casey and Katy Wayne, with Andrew played by Dennis Casey and Jud Stewart. The first four performances feature Nedra and Dennis, with Katy and Jud taking the stage for the final four shows. Directed by Jerry Johnson

Opening this Friday January 30th at Butler Little Theatre, Love Letters feels especially timely, a reminder that in a world that often feels heavy, love, empathy, and connection still matter.

Support local theater.

Support storytelling.

For tickets and show information, visit Butler Little Theatre.

www.butlerlittletheatre.com

Sponsors:

https://www.betterhelp.com/altereagle

Follow & Subscribe to get episodes automatically as they drop every Monday. Audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Audible, and Deezer, as well as YouTube. This Podcast is produced at The Butler Eagle located in Butler, PA. Subscribe to this channel for all Butler Eagle News content and go to:

https://www.alter-eagle.com/

https://www.butlereagle.com/

#butlerpa #podcast #resources #community #Pittsburgh #hope #change #altereagle #altereaglepodcast #movement #education #butlerdowntown #downtownbutler #butlercountydowntown #downtownbutler #butlerdowntown #community #LoveLetters #CommunityTheatre #ButlerLittleTheatre

Hosted, Produced & Edited By: Laura Crago

In this episode, I sit down with Pastor Katie McNeal of St. John Lutheran Church in Mars for a thoughtful conversation about faith, creativity, and connection.

Pastor Katie joined the St. John congregation in 2022, bringing with her a wide-ranging background, from Camp Lutherlyn and youth ministry work to earning advanced degrees at Yale Divinity School. Along the way, she's also been a kickboxing instructor, a gardener, a musician with the Pittsburgh Philharmonic, and a pastor deeply committed to meeting people where they are.

We talk about what it means to share the Good News in ways that feel engaging and accessible, and we reflect on a small but powerful symbol inside the church, the IHS engraving on the pulpit, the first three letters of Jesus' name in Greek, serving as a reminder of presence, meaning, and faith in everyday life. We also discuss the annual Live Nativity St. John Lutheran performs for the Mars, PA community joining with another church in the neighborhood, LIVE animals and all, even a donkey!

This episode is a moment of pause and reflection as we head into the holiday season and a reminder of the power of presence, community, and storytelling.

Note: The podcast will take a brief break for the holidays and return with new episodes in the new year.

Episode Resources:

https://www.facebook.com/stjohnchurchmars

Sponsors:

https://www.betterhelp.com/altereagle

Follow & Subscribe to get episodes automatically as they drop every Monday. Audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Audible, and Deezer, as well as YouTube. This Podcast is produced at The Butler Eagle located in Butler, PA. Subscribe to this channel for all Butler Eagle News content and go to:

https://www.alter-eagle.com/

https://www.butlereagle.com/

#butlerpa #podcast #resources #community #Pittsburgh #hope #change #altereagle #altereaglepodcast #movement #education #butlerdowntown #downtownbutler #butlercountydowntown #downtownbutler #butlerdowntown #community #StJohnLutheranChurch #Mars #Christmas #LiveNativity

Hosted, Produced & Edited By: Laura Crago