In this episode, Heather sits down with Dr. Sarah Banks to explore the lived reality of holding gratitude & grief at the same time—how life can feel full and heartbreaking in the very same breath. Through stories of leadership in crisis, collective loss, and Sarah’s personal experience of losing her father to suicide, they name many of the tangles we don’t usually talk much about: relief alongside guilt, love alongside sorrow, and the pressure to “be okay” when something inside still aches. Together, they offer a simple invitation: let what’s true be true, reach for connection, and remember you don’t have to carry the hard things alone.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions shared in this episode belong solely to the host and the guest and do not necessarily reflect those of their employer or affiliated organizations.

Host: Heather Gates, MPH, Owner & Strategy Partner, Human-Centered Strategy, LLC 
Guest: Dr. Sarah Banks, PhD, RN, CPHN, Public Health Director, Haywood County Health and Human Services Agency

Resources 
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
If listeners are outside the U.S. Find A Helpline (global directory)
“The Wild Edge of Sorrow” by Francis Weller

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