Judging Meghan

Grief, Healing, and the Hole That Remains: A Mother's Journey Through Loss and Life After Suicide with Author Betsy Thibaut Stephenson


Listen Later

Trigger warning: This episode discusses suicide, depression, and grief—please listen with care.


In this deeply emotional episode, I'm sharing the space with a remarkable guest: Betsy Thibaut Stephens. Betsy is a mother, writer, and survivor of unthinkable loss. Her son, Charlie, was a bright, compassionate, easygoing 21-year-old who quietly battled depression—a struggle that ended in tragedy. In her beautifully written book, Blackbird: A Mother’s Reflections on Grief, Loss, and Life After Suicide, Betsy invites us into her journey of remembrance, heartbreak, and ultimately, healing.


Together, we talk about the raw truth of losing someone who masked their pain behind a smile, the relentless “what ifs,” and the impossible decision to keep living in the aftermath. She shares the quiet bravery of mothering through sorrow—flying across the country to hold Charlie while he cried, learning to speak his name out loud after his passing, and finding purpose through the pain.


This episode is for anyone navigating grief, loving someone through their darkness, or trying to understand the invisible weight so many carry. Betsy’s vulnerability is a lifeline. Her story reminds us that depression doesn’t always look like hopelessness—and that healing isn’t about forgetting, but about remembering with intention.


We cry. We reflect. We say their names. And in doing so, we offer a powerful reminder: you are not alone. Your grief matters. Your love still has a voice. And even on the hardest days, there is still a path forward.


Blackbird is available everywhere books are sold starting April 8th. Please share this episode with someone who needs to know they are seen and never alone.


Find out more about Betsy’s story on her site: https://www.blackbirdbetsy.com/



Use code JUDGING at checkout for 15% off your entire order at www.vionicshoes.com when you log into your account. 1 time use only.


Ready to help your kids grow money skills that will last a lifetime? Just head to acornsearly.com/judging or download the Acorns Early app to get started. Sign up now and your first month is on us!







This podcast is a place for trauma survivors as well as their friends and family. This is a safe environment to be vulnerable but it's also a place for celebration and moving forward. Let's all start to embrace who we are becoming by #mentalhealth #selfcare #self #judgingothers #judgingmeghan #suicideawareness #suicideprevention #survivor #resilience #traumahealing #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthmatters #podcasts #MentalHealthAwareness #GriefJourney #SuicidePrevention #YouAreNotAlone #LossAndHealing #MotherhoodAndGrief #CharliesStory #SpeakTheirName #HopeAfterLoss #BlackbirdMemoir #EndTheStigma #HealingThroughStorytelling #CompassionInGrief #BetsyThibautStephenson


Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Judging MeghanBy Cloud10

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

146 ratings


More shows like Judging Meghan

View all
The One You Feed by Eric Zimmer

The One You Feed

2,518 Listeners

Grief Out Loud by The Dougy Center

Grief Out Loud

309 Listeners

10% Happier with Dan Harris by 10% Happier

10% Happier with Dan Harris

12,625 Listeners

Everyday Wellness: Midlife Hormones, Health, and Science for Women 35+ by Everyday Wellness™

Everyday Wellness: Midlife Hormones, Health, and Science for Women 35+

1,207 Listeners

Beyond Cheaters: Detective Gomez Files by Daniel Gomez

Beyond Cheaters: Detective Gomez Files

41 Listeners

On Purpose with Jay Shetty by iHeartPodcasts

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

26,891 Listeners

No Visible Bruises by Caroline Strawson

No Visible Bruises

520 Listeners

Good Mourning by Sally Douglas and Imogen Carn

Good Mourning

13 Listeners

Huberman Lab by Scicomm Media

Huberman Lab

28,567 Listeners

You Are Not Crazy by Jessica Knight

You Are Not Crazy

43 Listeners

Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse by Kerry McAvoy, Ph.D.

Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse

262 Listeners

Jillian on Love by Jillian Turecki | QCODE

Jillian on Love

1,352 Listeners

The Mel Robbins Podcast by Mel Robbins

The Mel Robbins Podcast

19,518 Listeners

Made for Health by Aaron Hartman, MD

Made for Health

8 Listeners

The Tamsen Show by Tamsen Fadal / Authentic Wave

The Tamsen Show

266 Listeners