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

She's one of TikTok's favorite addiction medicine docs. Dr. Elizabeth Zona is board certified in both Anesthesia and Addiction Medicine. In addition to seeing patients at her clinic, she also tries to reach the younger generation, which is largely suffering from our nation's drug epidemic, through TikTok.  

Dr. Zona's personal connection to substance use disorder through her mother's struggle with alcohol addiction also brings a unique and compassionate perspective to her work. In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, Dr. Zona shares her expertise and advice on navigating the challenges of substance use disorder, whether you're personally affected or supporting a loved one.

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Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

Jenna James thought she had time to save her 21-year-old son, Brandon "Bam," when he admitted to taking what he believed to be Percocet. She moved him back into her house and had open and honest conversations with him, but time was not on her side. Tragically, shortly after moving in, Bam took a pill laced with fentanyl and overdosed, leaving Jenna devastated by her loss. 

Like a growing number of others who have lost loved ones to fentanyl, Jenna James decided to use social media to raise awareness about the dangers of this drug. She turned to TikTok to share her story and educate others on how to prevent similar tragedies. In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, we'll hear Jenna's story, her struggles, and her fight to save lives one post at a time.

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Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, we hear Brian Wall's story - a story of a promising college athlete with big dreams of making it to the Olympics and becoming an orthopedic surgeon. However, after experimenting with drugs, his dreams came crashing down as he found himself battling substance use disorder. 

Despite the challenges he faced, Brian's recovery journey has brought him to a place where he can now help others struggling with addiction. 

Join us as we listen to his inspiring story of resilience, hope, and dedication to helping those who are fighting similar battles.

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Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, your host, Angela Kennecke, sits down with South Dakota Hall of Famer Evelyn Leite, who has overcome incredible adversity in her life. 

Growing up with a father who struggled with alcohol addiction, Leite experienced firsthand the destructive power of substance use disorders. Unfortunately, her struggles didn't end there - she went on to marry a man who battled addiction and was abusive, and she eventually turned to alcohol herself as a way to cope. However, Leite found the strength to seek help for her addiction and turned her life around.

Today, Leite is an accomplished author with 17 books, some of which draw on her personal experiences and help others dealing with substance use disorders. Her dedication to serving others has earned her a place in the South Dakota Hall of Fame. 

In this episode, we'll hear her inspiring story of resilience, courage, and hope as she shares the lessons she's learned along the way.

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Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

In this week's episode of Grieving Out Loud, Angela Kennecke speaks with another family she met at the DEA Family Summit, a conference for midwest parents who've lost a child to fentanyl, that she attended in November of 2022. 

Bridgette and Tom Norring, a Hastings, Minnesota family, is one of the dozens of families suing the parent company of Snapchat after their children died from drug overdoses. Norring's son, Devin, was an athlete, honor student, and musician who made a deadly mistake. He bought what he thought was a Percocet from a drug dealer through Snapchat, which ended up being 100 percent fentanyl and it killed him. 

Now the family wants to raise awareness and encourage Snapchat to make changes to prevent future drug deaths.

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Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

In this emotional episode of Grieving Out Loud, we sit down with Shannon Sayers, a mother who tragically lost her daughter and stepson to the deadly drug fentanyl. With both of their deaths occurring less than a month apart, Sayers' world was turned upside down, and she was forced to confront the devastating impact of the opioid epidemic. Her stepson, who had given her daughter what they believed to be Oxycontin, but was actually a lethal dose of fentanyl, took his own life using the same batch of drugs because of the guilt and shame he felt for his role in her death. 

Now, Sayers is bravely sharing her family's story with her sister Angel Pletkas to raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl and the devastating toll it takes on families and communities. Tune in to hear their story of grief, resilience, and advocacy in the face of tragedy.

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Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

Every five minutes, an American dies from a drug overdose. It's a startling statistic that Ann Breeding and Natalie Kritenbrink know about all too well. We caught up with the two Des Moines area mothers who lost sons to overdoses at the DEA Family Summit for parents who've lost children to fentanyl in November of 2022. 

Hear how these two mothers have bonded over their grief and about their mission to prevent other moms from going through similar situations in this episode of Grieving Out Loud.

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Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

Join host Angela Kennecke on this week's episode of Grieving Out Loud as she sits down with Gary Mendell, founder, and CEO of the non-profit Shatterproof.

Gary Mendell appeared to have it all. He founded one of the fastest-growing hotel investment firms in the United States that became a multi-billion dollar company. However, Gary was secretly struggling because one of his children was dealing with a substance use disorder. Tragically, Brian died by suicide, leaving behind a note outlining the shame he felt about his addiction.

In this powerful episode, Gary shares his story of loss and his vow to his son to eradicate the stigma surrounding substance use disorders. 

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Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

In this milestone episode, your host of Grieving out Loud, Angela Kennecke, reflects on the last four years of the Emily's Hope podcast. Angela started the podcast after losing her daughter Emily to fentanyl poisoning. Through her interviews with parents and experts in addiction and grief, Angela has created a community where families dealing with loss and addiction can find support and hope.

Angela takes us back to the beginning, revisiting her first episode and sharing some of the most poignant moments from the past 99 episodes. We hear these highlights from guests who have shared their stories of addiction and grief and experts who have given insights into coping with loss and understanding addiction.

As the most listened-to podcast on the topic of fentanyl poisoning, addiction, and grief, Grieving out Loud has made a difference in the lives of many. Thank you to our loyal listeners for your support!

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Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

You may check out TikTok to get a laugh, learn a new recipe, or catch up on the latest makeup trend. However, a bereaved grandma and mom uses the platform to raise awareness about a much more serious topic.

Teresa Carreon has experienced the tragedy of losing her daughter and unborn grandson to a drug overdose. She is now using TikTok to raise awareness about the realities of substance use disorder and to prevent future overdose tragedies.

On this episode of Grieving Out Loud with Angela Kennecke, hear Teresa's story and what she is doing to navigate life and help others heal through her journey.

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Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz