Grief—it's a heavy burden, a journey that changes us forever. Each person's path through it is uniquely painful. Today, nearly one in three Americans has felt the devastating loss of someone to a drug overdose.

In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, Cheryl Juaire shares her heart-wrenching story of losing not one but two children to the relentless grip of addiction.

She shares the profound pain and isolation that comes with losing loved ones in such a stigmatized way. Yet, amidst her sorrow, Cheryl has found a purpose: helping others by creating a grief support group for those who have lost someone to illicit drugs.

Do you have an idea for a Grieving Out Loud episode? Contact Angela at [email protected].

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Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

Think back to your childhood—maybe you remember a classmate who misbehaved. Did you know what was happening at home? In Baleigh Cerv's case, she struggled with living with a father who suffered from alcohol addiction and was abusive.

Unfortunately, her story is all too common. According to the latest data from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health, more than 46 million Americans suffer from substance use disorder. Alongside these millions are countless others who struggle with a family member or friend dealing with addiction. It's not just spouses and parents affected—children often bear the brunt of this crisis.

Hear Baleigh's unique perspective on America's addiction crisis in this episode of Grieving Out Loud.

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Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

Should drug dealers face prison time? It's a contentious issue with strong opinions on both sides. For years, law enforcement often treated drug overdose deaths as accidental or the fault of the victim. However, with a record surge in fentanyl-related fatalities in the United States, attitudes are evolving.

The alarming rise in deaths has intensified pressure on narcotics investigators nationwide, from the DEA to local police forces, to pursue justice for grieving families. Unfortunately, seeking justice for these tragedies is often slow and uncertain.

In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, meet Matt Capelouto, a grieving father who is advocating for legislative changes to ensure that those who knowingly sell deadly drugs are held accountable with prison sentences. Along with working to change laws, Matt is the founder of Stop Drug Homicide.

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Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

At just 19 years old, Jack Nathan had a bright and promising future. He founded his own apparel company, Happy Jack, and generously donated some proceeds to support children struggling with mental health issues.

However, a single decision changed everything. Jack's life was tragically cut short when he took what he thought was a Percocet, but it was a deadly dose of fentanyl.

Hear the heartbreaking story of Jack's death, and learn how his mom, Bradi Harrison Nathan, is now dedicated to helping others navigate mental health and substance use disorders in his honor.

Also, check out more Grieving Out Loud episodes and read Angela's blog on our website. There, you can also find the episode mentioned in this podcast, "Grieving Mother Copes by Drawing Caricatures of Those Lost in the Fentanyl Epidemic.

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Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

Originally released on August 4th, 2022

Deaths from alcohol-related liver disease are rising sharply among women. Today's guest, Dr. Jessica Mellinger, a liver specialist at the University of Michigan, has witnessed a 60% increase in waitlisting and transplants for patients with alcoholic hepatitis. She's on a mission to raise awareness about the true definition of moderate drinking in hopes of reversing this deadly trend. You might be surprised at how small amounts of alcohol can have significant adverse health impacts, especially for women.

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Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

Grief—it's a heart-wrenching emotion that most of us will likely have to experience. Often, we're unprepared for the overwhelming pain and sorrow, and we struggle to know how to support friends who have lost loved ones.

A Sioux Falls, South Dakota, businesswoman has started a passion project to educate others about grief following her mother's death. Natalie Eisenberg will share her insights on navigating grief, offer dos and don'ts for supporting loved ones dealing with loss, and explore how grief impacts the business world.

Grieving Out Loud has focused on the topic of grief in several other episodes, including "Broken Heart Syndrome: 4 ways we grieve" and "Surviving the holiday season while grieving."

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Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

Have you ever wondered how deeply intertwined mental health and addiction can be? According to reports published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, around half of those with serious mental health issues also struggle with substance use disorder. Experts say that certain substances can trigger mental health problems, while mental health struggles can lead to alcohol or drug abuse, creating a complex and often devastating cycle.

Stephanie Marquesano knows this cycle all too well. She lost her 19-year-old son to an accidental drug overdose after he battled both substance use disorder and anxiety. In this episode, she shares her regrets about not knowing more about co-occurring disorders. She emphasizes how better treatment and awareness of the connection between mental health and addiction could save lives.

Her organization, The Harris Project, was also involved in an award-winning PSA, which you can watch here.

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Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, Angela Kennecke talks with Elaine Mingus about her journey through severe challenges and eventual recovery. Elaine shares her story of surviving sexual abuse and battling depression, an eating disorder, and a substance use disorder. Her experiences highlight the power of resilience and the importance of finding hope even in the darkest times.

Elaine describes her upbringing in an upper-middle-class Christian family and how internal and external pressures worsened her struggles. She discusses the trauma of being sexually abused by a youth pastor and the blame she faced, which led to deep depression and bulimia. A pivotal spiritual experience helped her turn her life around and find a path to recovery, demonstrating the crucial role faith played in her healing process.

Angela and Elaine delve into Elaine's ongoing challenges and triumphs over addiction and trauma. They emphasize the importance of sharing stories of overcoming adversity to inspire others. This episode reminds us that no matter how difficult the journey, there is always hope and a way forward.

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Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

After Heather Ruzic tragically lost her son to illicit fentanyl in 2015, she made it her mission to warn others about the danger. Yet, as time passed, she witnessed more parents suffering similar tragedies while the epidemic continued to impact her family in unforeseen ways. 

Heather's first husband also died from fentanyl poisoning. She faced a battle with substance use disorder herself, and her other son is grappling with fentanyl addiction. Despite it all, she refuses to remain silent. Instead, she's bravely speaking out and advocating for change amidst the deadliest drug epidemic our nation has ever seen.

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Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

Tom Wolf embodied the quintessential image of a middle-class family man—married, with two children, living in the suburbs, and holding a steady job as a child support officer. However, his life took a drastic turn after a seemingly routine foot surgery led to a prescription for painkillers.

Listen as we delve into Tom's journey from a happy, hardworking American to homeless, living on the streets and consumed by the relentless pursuit of heroin.

We hope today's episode not only informs you about our nation's opioid epidemic and how literally anyone can struggle with substance use disorder but also gives you hope that there is help available. Maybe you, too, can be the one to make a difference in someone's life.

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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