Grieving Out Loud: A Mother Coping with Loss in the Opioid Epidemic

After losing her son Alec to fentanyl poisoning on his 26th birthday, Dita Bhargava has transformed her grief into action, becoming a powerful voice in the fight against fentanyl. She’s engaged in important conversations with political leaders across America, including Vice President Kamala Harris.

On Overdose Awareness Day, Harris highlighted Dita’s story in her message about the opioid crisis, writing on Facebook: “We remember Tiarra, Jonathan, Alec, and millions of others who lost their lives from an overdose.” 

Dita has also challenged lawmakers on their views of substance use disorder, including Senator Lindsey Graham during a CNN Town Hall.

On this episode of Grieving Out Loud, we sit down with Dita to talk about her life’s mission, her son’s story and what she would like every American to know about the fentanyl crisis and substance use disorder.

Watch the full conversation with Vice President Kamala Harris here:  https://app.frame.io/reviews/8a1c19ac-5713-4b60-b15e-68f28d5c3502/95c4f602-e755-491a-ad2a-e6365df25eda

Watch the full interview with Lindsey Graham here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3xfGvuGr34

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Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.

They were...

• daughters
• sons
• mothers
• fathers
• friends
• wives
• husbands
• cousins
• boyfriends
• girlfriends.

They were More Than Just A Number. 

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Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

In this special episode of Grieving Out Loud, we revisit a cherished conversation with Dr. Gladys McGarey, a trailblazer in holistic medicine who passed away on September 28th at the age of 103. Her wisdom transcended the medical field, emphasizing that love is the most powerful healing force.

Dr. Gladys built her life around the five L’s: love, life, labor, laughter, and listening—with love as the cornerstone. Her message continues to inspire us to live with purpose and joy, regardless of life’s hardships. Join us as we honor her legacy by revisiting this insightful episode, originally recorded one year ago. Listen now to remember her spirit and her words.

Link to Dr. Gladys' Celebration of Life Services: https://www.foundationforlivingmedicine.org/memorial/services/

Link to Dr. Gladys' Book, The Well Lived Life: https://gladysmcgarey.com/#

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Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.

They were...

• daughters
• sons
• mothers
• fathers
• friends
• wives
• husbands
• cousins
• boyfriends
• girlfriends.

They were More Than Just A Number. 

Support the show

Connect with Angela

Follow Grieving Out Loud

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Read Angela’s Blog

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For more episodes and information, just go to our website, emilyshope.charity
Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

Imagine losing not only your mother, but also your twin sister to substance use disorder. On this episode of Grieving Out Loud, Cristina Cavallo and her father, Chris, share their deeply personal and heartbreaking story in hopes of raising awareness about a disease that touches millions yet is often left in the shadows. According to the latest National Survey on Drug Use, nearly 49 million Americans—almost 17% of the population—are struggling with substance use disorder.

So why don’t we talk about it more? The Cavallos believe that shame and stigma play a huge role, keeping people silent and preventing them from seeking the help they so desperately need.

If you or someone you love is affected, please visit our website, emilyshope.charity, for a list of helpful resources.

Send us Fan Mail

Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.

They were...

• daughters
• sons
• mothers
• fathers
• friends
• wives
• husbands
• cousins
• boyfriends
• girlfriends.

They were More Than Just A Number. 

Support the show

Connect with Angela

Follow Grieving Out Loud

Follow Emily's Hope

Read Angela’s Blog

Subscribe to Grieving Out Loud/Emily’s Hope Updates

Suggest a Guest

For more episodes and information, just go to our website, emilyshope.charity
Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

As a grieving mother who fought to get help for my daughter’s substance use disorder—and ultimately lost her to fentanyl—I’m often asked what advice I have, or what I wish I had done differently.

Today on Grieving Out Loud, I sit down with another grieving mother at the DEA Family Summit on Fentanyl. Kate Sloan, like so many others, learned about the deadly reality of fentanyl far too late. She’s here to share her son’s story—his battle with substance use disorder—and the hard lessons she wishes she had known sooner.

If you or someone you love is struggling, please don’t wait to get help. Fentanyl is finding its way into street drugs, and even a tiny amount can be deadly. You can find helpful resources on our website—emilyshope.charity—because time really does matter.

Also, if you have an idea for a Grieving Out Loud episode, email Angela at [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.

They were...

• daughters
• sons
• mothers
• fathers
• friends
• wives
• husbands
• cousins
• boyfriends
• girlfriends.

They were More Than Just A Number. 

Support the show

Connect with Angela

Follow Grieving Out Loud

Follow Emily's Hope

Read Angela’s Blog

Subscribe to Grieving Out Loud/Emily’s Hope Updates

Suggest a Guest

For more episodes and information, just go to our website, emilyshope.charity
Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

In this special episode of Grieving Out Loud, released for International Podcast Day, we deeply look at grief and its multifaceted nature. In our nearly 200 episodes, we’ve shared deeply personal stories from individuals navigating their own paths through loss, offering listeners a chance to find solace and understanding in shared experiences. 

As we reflect on the lessons gained from past episodes, we also consider the importance of community and connection in navigating the rocky terrain of grief. Whether through personal reflection or by finding comfort in the stories of others, this episode serves as a reminder that while grief is an inevitable part of life, the potential for growth and healing is always present. Join us as we dive into these words of wisdom, offering strength and support to anyone traveling through the landscape of loss.

Listen to “Surviving the holiday season while grieving” with Dr. Mark Vande Braak - Episode 143: https://emilyshope.charity/episode/dr-mark-vande-braak/ 

Guests featured in this episode:

Deric & Kathy Kidd - Episode 181
Chris Didier - Episode 149
Murray & Kay Sumner - Episode 128
Dr. Gladys McGarey - Episode 132
Bradi Harrison Nathan - Episode 172
Carol Wolfe - Episode 146
Harold Noreiga - Episode 136
Lynn Gillette - Episode 147
Ed Ternan - Episode 133
Dr. Mark Vande Braak - Episode 88
Justin Phillips - Episode 153
Debbie Evans - Episode 135
Ed Bisch - Episode 162
Meghan Judge - Episode 154
Heather Stang - Episode 139
Natalie Eisenberg - Episode 170

“Still Shining” by J. Raymond from the Kindred Project: Vol. II
https://familycentredcarepractice.wordpress.com/2024/01/08/j-raymondstill-shiningthe-kindred-project-vol-ii/ 

Send us Fan Mail

Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.

They were...

• daughters
• sons
• mothers
• fathers
• friends
• wives
• husbands
• cousins
• boyfriends
• girlfriends.

They were More Than Just A Number. 

Support the show

Connect with Angela

Follow Grieving Out Loud

Follow Emily's Hope

Read Angela’s Blog

Subscribe to Grieving Out Loud/Emily’s Hope Updates

Suggest a Guest

For more episodes and information, just go to our website, emilyshope.charity
Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

As the United States faces its deadliest drug epidemic in history, lives are being lost in unimaginable ways. Over the past two decades, more than 5,000 children and teens have died from fentanyl—among them, toddlers and even infants.

Janan Haugen knows these devastating numbers all too well. She’s lost not only her son to drugs, but also her granddaughter to drugs.

In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, Janan opens up about her emotional journey, the lessons she’s learned through immense heartache, and how she’s finding the strength to move forward after such unimaginable losses.

Send us Fan Mail

Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.

They were...

• daughters
• sons
• mothers
• fathers
• friends
• wives
• husbands
• cousins
• boyfriends
• girlfriends.

They were More Than Just A Number. 

Support the show

Connect with Angela

Follow Grieving Out Loud

Follow Emily's Hope

Read Angela’s Blog

Subscribe to Grieving Out Loud/Emily’s Hope Updates

Suggest a Guest

For more episodes and information, just go to our website, emilyshope.charity
Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

Hans Arwine choked back tears as he recalled the moment he had to tell his wife that their son was gone. ”That was the hardest thing I’ve ever done–tell his mother that he was no longer with us,” he said.

The heartbreaking scene is tragically familiar across America—parents receiving the devastating news that their children have died from fentanyl overdoses. In the United States, nearly 300 people lose their lives to drugs every day.
Amidst this widespread grief, the dealers responsible for these tragedies often go unpunished. But Hans and Laurie Arwine are channeling their profound sorrow into a powerful fight for justice. Their journey is one of resilience and hope, as they strive to honor their son’s memory by seeking accountability and making a difference.

Join us today as we sit down with Hans and Laurie to hear their inspiring story of turning their pain into a mission for change, fighting for justice not just for their son, but for countless others affected by this crisis.

Send us Fan Mail

Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.

They were...

• daughters
• sons
• mothers
• fathers
• friends
• wives
• husbands
• cousins
• boyfriends
• girlfriends.

They were More Than Just A Number. 

Support the show

Connect with Angela

Follow Grieving Out Loud

Follow Emily's Hope

Read Angela’s Blog

Subscribe to Grieving Out Loud/Emily’s Hope Updates

Suggest a Guest

For more episodes and information, just go to our website, emilyshope.charity
Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

An Iowa couple was invited to the State of the Union address for a reason they could have never imagined just a few years ago. Deric and Kathy Kidd were unaware of how lethal the illicit drug supply had become until the day they found their teenage son dead in his bedroom. He had taken half a pill, thinking it was Percocet, but it turned out to be a deadly dose of fentanyl.
Now, the Kidds have made it their mission to raise awareness about the fentanyl epidemic and the growing mental health crisis. Join us as we share their heartbreaking story and explore how they’re turning their unimaginable loss into a powerful fight for change.

Do you have an idea for a Grieving Out Loud episode? We'd love to hear it. You can email Angela at [email protected]. 

Send us Fan Mail

Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.

They were...

• daughters
• sons
• mothers
• fathers
• friends
• wives
• husbands
• cousins
• boyfriends
• girlfriends.

They were More Than Just A Number. 

Support the show

Connect with Angela

Follow Grieving Out Loud

Follow Emily's Hope

Read Angela’s Blog

Subscribe to Grieving Out Loud/Emily’s Hope Updates

Suggest a Guest

For more episodes and information, just go to our website, emilyshope.charity
Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

Opioid deaths started skyrocketing when the powerful prescription painkiller OxyContin hit the market. Purdue Pharma, the company behind the drug, has been found guilty of numerous charges. It is now featured in a new Netflix original, "Painkiller," highlighting the company’s pushy sales tactics. For some viewers, like today’s guest, the show hits a bit too close to home.

Steven May joined Purdue as an OxyContin sales rep back in 1999. At first, he believed in what he was selling, but that changed quickly, and he became a whistleblower. Today, Steven shares his behind-the-scenes experience at Purdue during a time when the company was making huge profits as opioid addiction rates were spiraling out of control.

Send us Fan Mail

Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.

They were...

• daughters
• sons
• mothers
• fathers
• friends
• wives
• husbands
• cousins
• boyfriends
• girlfriends.

They were More Than Just A Number. 

Support the show

Connect with Angela

Follow Grieving Out Loud

Follow Emily's Hope

Read Angela’s Blog

Subscribe to Grieving Out Loud/Emily’s Hope Updates

Suggest a Guest

For more episodes and information, just go to our website, emilyshope.charity
Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

Your life dreams may include starting a business, building a dream home, or nurturing a healthy marriage. But for many, like Sandra Radford, the deepest dream is raising children—a dream she fought to achieve through IVF. Despite the heartbreak of losing two of her triplets during pregnancy, Sandra’s joy was boundless when she welcomed her daughter into the world.

But life’s harshest trials lay ahead. Sandra’s world shattered when her cherished daughter fell into the grip of substance use disorder, ultimately losing her battle to a fatal overdose. The pain was compounded as Sandra faced her own struggle with addiction, plunging her into a darkness where the will to live seemed almost impossible to find.

Yet Sandra’s story is not just one of loss and despair. It is a testament to resilience, a reminder that even when life delivers its cruelest blows, there remains a spark of hope. Sandra refuses to be defined by her grief. Instead, she strives to inspire others, showing that no matter how deep the pain, we must continue to dream, to fight, and to live.

Send us Fan Mail

Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.

They were...

• daughters
• sons
• mothers
• fathers
• friends
• wives
• husbands
• cousins
• boyfriends
• girlfriends.

They were More Than Just A Number. 

Support the show

Connect with Angela

Follow Grieving Out Loud

Follow Emily's Hope

Read Angela’s Blog

Subscribe to Grieving Out Loud/Emily’s Hope Updates

Suggest a Guest

For more episodes and information, just go to our website, emilyshope.charity
Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz