Hope After Child & Sibling Loss: An Empty Chair Endeavor Podcast

Miscarriage can shatter your world in minutes, and sometimes it happens in a place you never expected. I sit down with Samantha Watson, a military wife and mom, as she tells the story of her 2015 pregnancy loss while stationed far from family and still building community. She shares the moment joy turned to grief, the trauma surrounding the miscarriage, and the faith in Jesus Christ that held her up when she had no strength left.

We also talk about the part people rarely prepare you for: how others respond. Some want to help but freeze because they do not know what to say, while others unintentionally minimize early pregnancy loss. Samantha and I unpack why miscarriage grief is real, what “grief brain” feels like, and why “text me if you need anything” can be impossible for a grieving parent. You will hear practical ways to support someone after child loss, including simple acts like meals, childcare, and steady presence.

Samantha explains the worship and Scripture habits that helped her survive those early days, including listening to the Bible when reading felt overwhelming. She also shares how she talked with her children about the loss using John 10:10, and how God later redeemed her pain into purpose. That purpose includes her new podcast, Simple Devotions for Children, created to help Christian moms and families build faith at home with easy, engaging devotionals.

If this conversation helps you, share it with a friend who needs hope, and leave a rating or review so more grieving parents and supporters can find it.

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*** If  you find this podcast helpful and encouraging, please leave us a review by clicking one the links below:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hope-after-child-sibling-loss-the-empty-chair-endeavor/ 

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You can contact us by email at: [email protected]
If you would like to share your story on an upcoming episode, please send us an email so that we can talk with you about it.
Thank you for listening!

A teen can look like he is just “being a teenager” while he is privately fighting for his life. We talk with Todd and Melissa Shaffer about the loss of their 18-year-old son, Tristan, to suicide after a long, confusing road that included isolation, anger, depression, and warning signs nobody around them could clearly name. Their story is honest about what it feels like to miss what you did not know how to see, and what happens to a family when clinical depression and suicide risk finally break into the open. We also dig into the complicated realities behind mental health diagnoses, including how OCD can fixate on a person, how bipolar symptoms can be overlooked, and why emergency rooms and short evaluations often fail families in crisis. From antidepressant warnings to the stigma that still lingers in our culture, we discuss the tension many Christian families feel between “spiritual bandaid”  advice and the need for counseling, specialists, and wise medical care. If you care about teen mental health, suicide prevention, or supporting bereaved parents, this conversation offers language and perspective you can carry into real life. Most of all, we talk about the grief journey after suicide loss and what actually helps: finding other parents who understand, living one day at a time, and learning to pray again when words disappear. Todd and Melissa share how Scripture, journaling, and the often-neglected practice of lament became lifelines, and how they now serve others through ministries like Christian Suicide Loss and Surviving Child Loss while building Sparrow Falls Ministry. Tune in for more conversations like this, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review with one thing you want the church to understand about mental health and grief.

https://sparrowfalls.org/podcast/

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*** If  you find this podcast helpful and encouraging, please leave us a review by clicking one the links below:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hope-after-child-sibling-loss-the-empty-chair-endeavor/ 

https://www.podchaser.com/HopeAfterChildSiblingLossTheEmptyChairEndeavor

You can contact us by email at: [email protected]
If you would like to share your story on an upcoming episode, please send us an email so that we can talk with you about it.
Thank you for listening!

What is it like to grieve the suicide of a son? Anne Starke shares the story of losing her 16-year-old son, David, and the grief, questions, guilt and depression that followed.

We talk about suicide-loss grief, the questions parents carry after a child’s suicide, the impact of depression, the isolation that grieving families can experience, and the difficult journey of finding hope again.

For parents grieving a suicide loss—or for someone trying to understand and support them—this is an honest conversation about grief, faith, compassion and hope. If you’re walking through child loss, suicide bereavement, or supporting someone who is, this conversation offers real language, real hope, and permission to be honest. Share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more grieving families can find these stories when they feel most alone.

Send us Fan Mail

*** If  you find this podcast helpful and encouraging, please leave us a review by clicking one the links below:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hope-after-child-sibling-loss-the-empty-chair-endeavor/ 

https://www.podchaser.com/HopeAfterChildSiblingLossTheEmptyChairEndeavor

You can contact us by email at: [email protected]
If you would like to share your story on an upcoming episode, please send us an email so that we can talk with you about it.
Thank you for listening!

The phone call changes everything. One minute you’re living a normal week, and the next you’re racing toward tests, scans, and words like “concerning” and “brain tumor.” I’m joined by Billy and Julie Melton to remember their daughter Juliana, a newlywed with a contagious laugh, a love for people, and a faith that stayed steady through a long, painful 16-month cancer fight that ended on Valentine’s Day 2018.

We talk about what happens after adult child loss, when the world keeps moving but your time feels stuck. Billy and Julie describe the raw first year, the heavier second year when reality sets in, and the very real experience of grief triggers at church, at work, and in everyday places. We also dig into what actually helps grieving parents: community that shows up with practical care, the freedom to set boundaries without guilt, and the courage to let someone else hold you up when your faith and energy run thin.

They share how hospice support, counseling, grief groups, and time with other bereaved parents helped them heal, and why surviving siblings need attention too. We also explore the hunger many Christians feel to understand heaven more clearly when someone you love is there. Finally, Billy and Julie explain how God redeemed their suffering into Restoring Hope, a Greensboro-area ministry offering biblical hope and a safe space for bereaved parents facing adult child loss.

If this conversation helps you, share it with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review so more grieving families can find it. What’s one practical act of support that mattered most to you or someone you love?

Send us Fan Mail

*** If  you find this podcast helpful and encouraging, please leave us a review by clicking one the links below:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hope-after-child-sibling-loss-the-empty-chair-endeavor/ 

https://www.podchaser.com/HopeAfterChildSiblingLossTheEmptyChairEndeavor

You can contact us by email at: [email protected]
If you would like to share your story on an upcoming episode, please send us an email so that we can talk with you about it.
Thank you for listening!

A father checks “Find My iPhone” and realizes the unthinkable might be true. From that moment, Doug Schneider’s world changes forever. Doug joins me, Greg Buffkin, to tell the story of his daughter Micaela, a recent college graduate who landed her dream job at Warner Brothers, loved adventure, and wanted to be a light for Jesus in the entertainment industry. What follows is an honest conversation about child loss, sudden tragedy, and what grief looks like when it moves from the pulpit into your own living room. 

We talk about the early days after the fatal car accident that took Micaela and her friend Olivia Johnson, including shock, denial, the physical toll of sorrow, and the haunting feeling that life keeps going while you cannot. Doug also shares why “healing” can feel like betrayal, why grief can be a sign of deep love, and how Christian hope is not pretending things are fine. We spend time on biblical lament, the kind of prayer that tells God the truth while still reaching for Him. 

You’ll also hear practical wisdom for supporting grieving parents, especially what to say instead of the loaded question “How are you doing?” Doug names the value of community, including the ongoing friendship with Olivia’s family, and he recommends resources that helped him and his wife: Heaven by Randy Alcorn, It’s Not Supposed To Be This Way by Lysa TerKeurst, Dark Clouds Deep Mercy, and the From Pain To Purpose podcast. If you’re navigating grief, walking with bereaved parents, or searching for Christian grief support and comfort in Jesus, this conversation offers language, faith, and steady next steps. 

If this helped you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more hurting people can find it. What part of Doug’s story do you want to talk about next?

Send us Fan Mail

*** If  you find this podcast helpful and encouraging, please leave us a review by clicking one the links below:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hope-after-child-sibling-loss-the-empty-chair-endeavor/ 

https://www.podchaser.com/HopeAfterChildSiblingLossTheEmptyChairEndeavor

You can contact us by email at: [email protected]
If you would like to share your story on an upcoming episode, please send us an email so that we can talk with you about it.
Thank you for listening!

Jodi Snowdon is an author, podcaster, and speaker who serves women through her podcast, Depth, and her blog, Heartbreak to Strength. In August 2022, she released her first book, Depth: Growing Through Heartbreak to Strength. Having walked through multiple heartbreaks (divorce, miscarriage, & cancer), Jodi now inspires women to grow deeper in their faith and to find hope, joy, and purpose through their unexpected storms. She lights up the most when she shares her testimony using her cracked clay pot, a visual reminder that God shines brightest through our broken places. She is raising two sons (one in college and one adulting) in Southern California where she teaches science to elementary students in the STEM Lab. Jodi would love to connect with you on her website, jodisnowdon.com or on Instagram @jodi.snowdon

Send us Fan Mail

*** If  you find this podcast helpful and encouraging, please leave us a review by clicking one the links below:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hope-after-child-sibling-loss-the-empty-chair-endeavor/ 

https://www.podchaser.com/HopeAfterChildSiblingLossTheEmptyChairEndeavor

You can contact us by email at: [email protected]
If you would like to share your story on an upcoming episode, please send us an email so that we can talk with you about it.
Thank you for listening!

In this transparent and hope-filled conversation, Carol Brown shares her journey of grief after the tragic loss of her precious 29 year old daughter Jackie, who was a dedicated teacher and a bright light in the lives of many. Carol reflects on the impact of grief on her life, the importance of community support, and the lessons she learned about faith and God through her experience. She emphasizes the need for open conversations about grief and the significance of keeping loved ones' legacies alive. Carol also discusses her involvement in grief support ministries, highlighting the importance of connection and understanding among bereaved parents. Today Carol is involved in the Our Hearts are Home Ministry letting GOD use her suffering and pain to help encourage and offer hope to other grieving parents.

Send us Fan Mail

*** If  you find this podcast helpful and encouraging, please leave us a review by clicking one the links below:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hope-after-child-sibling-loss-the-empty-chair-endeavor/ 

https://www.podchaser.com/HopeAfterChildSiblingLossTheEmptyChairEndeavor

You can contact us by email at: [email protected]
If you would like to share your story on an upcoming episode, please send us an email so that we can talk with you about it.
Thank you for listening!

On this episode, Karen McCord shares her profound experience with grief, following the loss of her daughter Carley, a well known ESPN sports reporter, in a tragic plane crash while traveling to cover the Atlanta Peach Bowl in December 2019. Karen reflects on both the personal and public aspects of her journey through grief, the impact of her daughter's life, and the haunting thoughts she sometimes experienced about outliving Carley. The discussion emphasizes the importance of sharing personal stories to connect with others who are navigating their own grief journeys. Karen also shares how GOD revealed His love, grace, and comfort in very personal ways along her grief journey. Finally, you’ll hear about Karen’s recently published book, “Only Rainbows: The Carley McCord Story”, capturing their family’s grief journey and a very tender tribute to their beloved Carley.

Send us Fan Mail

*** If  you find this podcast helpful and encouraging, please leave us a review by clicking one the links below:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hope-after-child-sibling-loss-the-empty-chair-endeavor/ 

https://www.podchaser.com/HopeAfterChildSiblingLossTheEmptyChairEndeavor

You can contact us by email at: [email protected]
If you would like to share your story on an upcoming episode, please send us an email so that we can talk with you about it.
Thank you for listening!

In this heartfelt episode, Greg Buffkin welcomes Ron Deal from FamilyLife to discuss the profound journey of grief following the loss of his precious son Conner. Ron shares his personal story of losing Connor to a sudden, tragic medical complication, emphasizing the importance of not wasting pain and using it to help others. The conversation delves into the duality of grief, represented by the metaphor of two rails: one of pain and sorrow, and the other of hope and trust in God. Ron explains how navigating between these two rails is essential for healing, and how sharing their story has been a significant part of their journey towards recovery. Throughout the discussion, Ron highlights the importance of community and support for grieving parents, sharing insights on how to create a safe space for grief, and the necessity of being selective about who enters one’s grief garden. He also touches on the value of lament in the grieving process, encouraging listeners to express their pain authentically while holding onto hope. The episode concludes with Ron talking about he and his wife’s involvement with the While We’re Waiting ministry, which provides support for parents who have lost children, and the importance of finding trusted voices in the journey of grief.

Send us Fan Mail

*** If  you find this podcast helpful and encouraging, please leave us a review by clicking one the links below:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hope-after-child-sibling-loss-the-empty-chair-endeavor/ 

https://www.podchaser.com/HopeAfterChildSiblingLossTheEmptyChairEndeavor

You can contact us by email at: [email protected]
If you would like to share your story on an upcoming episode, please send us an email so that we can talk with you about it.
Thank you for listening!

In this hope filled conversation, author and speaker Angie Ford-Green shares her journey of grief after the loss of her son, Kevin in a surfing tragedy. She reflects on the profound impact of his life and death on her identity, her marriage, and her family. Angie emphasizes the importance of community, faith, and the need to embrace grief while also finding hope and purpose in life after loss. Through her personal experiences and insights, she offers encouragement to other grieving parents, reminding them that they are not alone and that healing is possible through the power and grace of Jesus Christ. We invite you to listen!

Most Recent Books:

• A Mother Like Me (A Story of Faith, Hope, and Love in Loss)
• Mothers Like Me ( Stories of Faith, Hope, and Love in Loss)

Send us Fan Mail

*** If  you find this podcast helpful and encouraging, please leave us a review by clicking one the links below:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hope-after-child-sibling-loss-the-empty-chair-endeavor/ 

https://www.podchaser.com/HopeAfterChildSiblingLossTheEmptyChairEndeavor

You can contact us by email at: [email protected]
If you would like to share your story on an upcoming episode, please send us an email so that we can talk with you about it.
Thank you for listening!