It's a Tough Subject

Links & Resources Half a Sorrow Foundation: www.halfasorrow.org Book a Talk with Dennis Gillan: https://halfasorrow.org/book-a-talk/ Make a Donation: https://halfasorrow.org/support-our-work/ Camo Hat Club: https://halfasorrow.org/the-camo-hat-club-half-a-sorrow/ Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HASF2020

Loss Team South Carolina: https://sclossteams.com

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/9EqeTzcKYls

In this episode, we delve into a candid conversation about grief, the challenges of mental health, and the importance of self-care. Dennis Gillan and Jess open up about their experiences and the realities of discussing tough subjects like suicide prevention.

The Weight of Tough Conversations

Dennis and Jess remind us that discussing mental health and grief can be daunting. "It's a tough subject," Dennis notes, echoing the sentiments of many who grapple with these topics. Jess adds, "When I tell the title of our podcast, everybody's like, 'Hmm, that's very fitting.'" Their shared experiences highlight how these discussions are not just necessary but often unavoidable.

Personal Journeys and Self-Care

Both hosts reflect on their recent challenges with mental health and self-care. Jess shares how she recognized she was in a funk and decided to prioritize her fitness, stating, "I got on my Peloton, I lifted weights, and I felt so much better." Dennis emphasizes the importance of exercise for mental health, saying, "There is a pharmacy within our bodies that we have to release. And you release it through exercise."

Dealing with Loss

As October approaches, both Dennis and Jess reflect on their personal losses. They share that anniversaries can be tough, with Jess noting, "I don't get sad anymore in October. I actually love October now." This transformation showcases how healing is possible, even amidst pain.

The Reality of Life's Stressors

Dennis shares his recent experiences speaking about suicide prevention at the United States Space Force. He humorously recounts the challenge of delivering multiple presentations in one day, stating, "To tell my story once is brutal. And then they say, 'Rewind, we're going to do it again.'" His commitment to spreading awareness through these talks is evident, and it resonates with Jess as they both navigate their entrepreneurial journeys while managing personal grief.

Final Thoughts

As they conclude their discussion, Dennis and Jess remind us that life is a mix of challenges and celebrations. "You talk about your two darkest days and then you go and party with old friends," Dennis reflects. Their candid dialogue encourages listeners to embrace their experiences, seek help when needed, and prioritize their mental health.

For a deeper dive into their conversation, listen to the full episode. It's a reminder that while the subjects may be tough, the connection and understanding we share can be a source of strength.

Links & Resources Half a Sorrow Foundation: www.halfasorrow.org Book a Talk with Dennis Gillan: https://halfasorrow.org/book-a-talk/ Make a Donation: https://halfasorrow.org/support-our-work/ Camo Hat Club: https://halfasorrow.org/the-camo-hat-club-half-a-sorrow/ Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HASF2020

Loss Team South Carolina: https://sclossteams.com

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/6bWvqG-dwis

Healing On | Grief, Love, Loss and Learning to Carry Someone Forward

There is a phrase people often use after loss: "moving on."

But what if you have no desire to move on from someone you loved? What if healing is not about leaving that person behind, but learning how to carry their memory forward while continuing to live?

In this deeply personal episode of It's a Tough Subject, producer Tim Cicciarelli steps out from behind the scenes and joins host Dennis Gillan to talk about the grief he continues to experience following the death of his wife, Amy, from breast cancer in May 2025.

Fourteen months into that journey, Tim reflects on the subtle shift he has begun to recognize. The sadness is still there. The longing remains. Certain songs, photographs, anniversaries, places, and memories can still stop him in his tracks. But alongside the tears, something else has begun appearing: smiles, gratitude, and an increasing ability to remember what happened without being consumed only by the fact that it ended.

That is what Tim calls "healing on."

The conversation explores the rituals Tim has created to keep Amy present in his life, from playing George Strait's "Run" during his show at My Country 99.3 WCON every Monday at 4:58 p.m., the time Amy died, to revisiting photos and videos each night, planting memorial trees with portions of her ashes, returning to meaningful places in Colorado, reconnecting with her children, and allowing music to become part of his grieving process.

Dennis and Tim also discuss why grief is never linear, why there is no hierarchy of loss, the importance of simply being present with someone who is hurting, and how gratitude and grief can exist side by side.

In this episode:

• Why "moving on" can feel wrong after losing someone you love
• What it means to heal on
• Tim and Amy's remarkable love story
• How music has helped Tim process grief
• Remembering Amy through photos, videos, trees, ashes, and meaningful places
• The unexpected comfort of signs, memories, and "God winks"
• Walking hand in hand with grief and gratitude
• Why grief does not shrink, but life can grow around it
• Dennis' perspective after decades of living with suicide loss
• The power of presence when someone is grieving
• Why there is no "grief Olympics"
• Learning to walk with loss instead of trying to get over it

If this conversation speaks to you, please follow It's a Tough Subject, share the episode with someone experiencing loss, and help us continue creating conversations around grief, mental health, suicide prevention, and healing.

Learn more about the Half a Sorrow Foundation at: https://halfasorrow.org/

Links & Resources Half a Sorrow Foundation: www.halfasorrow.org Book a Talk with Dennis Gillan: https://halfasorrow.org/book-a-talk/ Make a Donation: https://halfasorrow.org/support-our-work/ Camo Hat Club: https://halfasorrow.org/the-camo-hat-club-half-a-sorrow/ Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HASF2020

Loss Team South Carolina: https://sclossteams.com

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/IJ2mIZG1gSo

Grief doesn't follow a calendar, but somehow our hearts often do.

In this deeply personal episode of It's a Tough Subject, Dennis Gillan and Jessica Seal discuss how the anniversaries of losing loved ones to suicide can quietly resurface emotions decades later. Dennis reflects on the loss of his brother and his own sobriety anniversary, while Jessica shares memories surrounding her father's birthday and the lingering effects of traumatic loss.

The conversation also explores one of today's most important mental health topics: men and depression. Why do so many men struggle in silence? How can friends and family offer meaningful support? And why is simple human connection often one of the most powerful tools for healing?

Dennis also shares an update on the new LOSS Team (Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors) initiative in South Carolina, describing the emotional experience of making the team's first visits to families following suicide losses and why these early connections can change lives.

Throughout the episode, Dennis and Jessica discuss practical ways to help someone experiencing depression, the value of peer support groups like the Camo Hat Club, and the importance of extending grace to ourselves and others during difficult seasons.

• Why grief anniversaries often affect us before we even realize it
• Remembering loved ones lost to suicide
• Dennis shares the first experiences with South Carolina's LOSS Team
• Why men often struggle to ask for help
• The growing need for peer support groups
• The story behind the Camo Hat Club
• Practical ways to support someone living with depression
• Why healing rarely happens all at once
• Managing expectations during difficult seasons
• The importance of compassion, connection, and community

If this conversation resonates with you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who may need to hear that they are not alone.

Links & Resources Half a Sorrow Foundation: www.halfasorrow.org Book a Talk with Dennis Gillan: https://halfasorrow.org/book-a-talk/ Make a Donation: https://halfasorrow.org/support-our-work/ Camo Hat Club: https://halfasorrow.org/the-camo-hat-club-half-a-sorrow/ Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HASF2020

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/erWeGaCSFZQ

Hosts Dennis Gillan and Jessica Seal reunite after a short break to reflect on the work they've been doing to help families affected by suicide, including the launch of South Carolina's new LOSS Team (Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors) program. Designed to support families in the difficult days immediately following a suicide, the program provides compassionate outreach, resources, and hope during one of life's darkest moments.

The conversation also explores how grief can unexpectedly resurface decades later, why healing is rarely a straight line, and how purpose can grow from unimaginable loss. Dennis and Jessica share personal stories, discuss the importance of therapy, community, and volunteerism, and look ahead to what listeners can expect throughout Season 5.

• The launch of South Carolina's new LOSS Team program • Why postvention is a critical part of suicide prevention • How grief can be triggered years, even decades, after a loss • The importance of therapy, community, and human connection • Finding purpose after tragedy • What to expect during Season 5 of It's a Tough Subject

If this episode resonates with you, please follow, subscribe, and share it with someone who may need hope today.

Links & Resources Half a Sorrow Foundation: www.halfasorrow.org Book a Talk with Dennis Gillan: https://halfasorrow.org/book-a-talk/ Make a Donation: https://halfasorrow.org/support-our-work/ Camo Hat Club: https://halfasorrow.org/the-camo-hat-club-half-a-sorrow/ Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HASF2020

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7wm28ymMqLo

Mental Health Month hits close to home in this deeply personal episode of It's a Tough Subject. Dennis Gillan and Jessica Seel pull back the curtain on burnout, anxiety, grief, entrepreneurship stress, sleep struggles, self-care, therapy, medication, and the emotional weight so many people quietly carry every day.

Jessica opens up about starting her own business, the pressure of constantly "going," and making the decision to seek additional mental health support. Dennis shares reflections on suicide loss, survivor's guilt, healing, and the lifelong process of learning how to move forward while honoring the past.

Together, they explore honest conversations around mental health awareness, emotional exhaustion, work-life balance, trauma recovery, suicide loss support, and why asking for help is never weakness. If you've ever felt overwhelmed, emotionally drained, stuck in your thoughts at 3:30 a.m., or unsure how to slow down and care for yourself, this episode is a reminder that you are not alone.

• Mental Health Month reflections
• Entrepreneurship and burnout
• Sleep deprivation and anxiety
• Starting medication for mental health
• Therapy, self-awareness, and healing
• Suicide loss and survivor grief
• Work-life balance struggles
• Why self-care matters
• Finding purpose after trauma
• Living in the present instead of the past

Links & Resources Half a Sorrow Foundation: www.halfasorrow.org Book a Talk with Dennis Gillan: https://halfasorrow.org/book-a-talk/ Make a Donation: https://halfasorrow.org/support-our-work/ Camo Hat Club: https://halfasorrow.org/the-camo-hat-club-half-a-sorrow/ Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HASF2020

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/K8ErFBwELUU

In this powerful episode of It's a Tough Subject, Dennis Gillan and Jessica Seel take on a critical and often misunderstood topic: Why suicide must be recognized as a public health issue.

Jessica shares insights from her new role in public health leadership, challenging the outdated idea that mental health exists separately from public health. Together, she and Dennis explore how suicide impacts not just individuals, but families, schools, workplaces, and entire communities.

From deeply personal stories of loss to eye-opening statistics, this conversation reveals the true ripple effect of suicide—and why awareness, advocacy, and honest dialogue are more important than ever.

They also dive into:

• The connection between mental health, substance use, and broader public health challenges
• Why language matters and why we need to say the word "suicide"
• The importance of prevention, intervention, and postvention
• How individuals can use their voice to create change in their communities

This episode is a call to action: to speak up, get involved, and help build a world where fewer people struggle in silence.

Because behind every number… is a story that matters.

Links & Resources Half a Sorrow Foundation: www.halfasorrow.org Book a Talk with Dennis Gillan: https://halfasorrow.org/book-a-talk/ Make a Donation: https://halfasorrow.org/support-our-work/ Camo Hat Club: https://halfasorrow.org/the-camo-hat-club-half-a-sorrow/ Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HASF2020

In this special episode of It's a Tough Subject, Dennis Gillan flips the script and becomes the guest—interviewed by a Gen Z college student exploring the realities of mental health today. Together, they unpack generational differences, the impact of social media, the power of connection, and why talking about mental health may be the most important shift happening right now.

From college pressures to real-life struggles, this conversation is honest, hopeful, and deeply human—reminding us that no one has to go through it alone.

Links & Resources Half a Sorrow Foundation: www.halfasorrow.org Book a Talk with Dennis Gillan: https://halfasorrow.org/book-a-talk/ Make a Donation: https://halfasorrow.org/support-our-work/ Camo Hat Club: https://halfasorrow.org/the-camo-hat-club-half-a-sorrow/ Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HASF2020

Our Guest: Kim Burnett Bartlett The Black Box Project Website: https://bbxproject.org/

Episode Notes:

Postvention is prevention. In this powerful episode of It's a Tough Subject, Dennis Gillan and Jessica Seel welcome Kim Burnett Bartlett of the Black Box Project for a deeply important conversation about suicide loss, digital footprints, and how families can help prevent future tragedies.

Kim shares her personal story of losing her younger brother, John, to suicide in 2010 and how that life-changing loss led her into the world of suicide postvention and prevention. She explains how the Black Box Project works with families who have lost someone to suicide by borrowing digital devices, securely extracting non-public behavioral data, and helping researchers identify patterns that may reveal opportunities for earlier intervention.

This episode explores the difference between the external persona and the internal persona, the role of peer support after suicide loss, and why so many survivors seek meaning by helping others. It is an eye-opening conversation about grief, technology, data science, and hope.

If you've ever wondered whether loss can become action, or how postvention can become prevention, this is an episode you do not want to miss.

• Kim Burnett Bartlett's personal story of suicide loss

• Why suicide grief is often so complicated

• How the Black Box Project works

• What digital devices may reveal about crisis and help-seeking

• Why families choose to participate

• The importance of peer support and post-traumatic growth

• How postvention can help prevent future suicide deaths

Links & Resources Half a Sorrow Foundation: www.halfasorrow.org Book a Talk with Dennis Gillan: https://halfasorrow.org/book-a-talk/ Make a Donation: https://halfasorrow.org/support-our-work/ Camo Hat Club: https://halfasorrow.org/the-camo-hat-club-half-a-sorrow/ Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HASF2020 Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/WIqMYwHt4eA

Episode Notes:

In this episode, Dennis and Jessica unpack a very "2026" reality: people taking vacations just to sleep, and even using PTO to rest because life feels relentless.

They explore what chronic stress and information overload do to our minds and bodies, why doomscrolling can quietly hijack mental health, and how small habits like choosing uplifting content, taking "field trips," and creating healthy boundaries can bring us back to ourselves.

This conversation also circles back to why the work matters: suicide prevention and hope. Sometimes the impact isn't in the crowd, it's in the one person who hears something and reaches for help.

• "Sleep vacations" and PTO used for rest: what it may signal

• Burnout vs. healthy recovery and why guilt shows up around rest

• Golden handcuffs: staying in a job that drains you

• Why mental labor can be just as exhausting as physical labor

• Social media algorithms, doomscrolling, and protecting your mind

• Lent as a "reset": reducing phone use and sharing positive stories daily

• The power of "the one": one listener, one life, one turning point

• Simple practices: smile science, faith moments, and micro-breaks that help

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all." – Helen Keller

Links & Resources Half a Sorrow Foundation: www.halfasorrow.org Book a Talk with Dennis Gillan: https://halfasorrow.org/book-a-talk/ Make a Donation: https://halfasorrow.org/support-our-work/ Camo Hat Club: https://halfasorrow.org/the-camo-hat-club-half-a-sorrow/ Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HASF2020 Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/WIqMYwHt4eA

Episode Notes:

In this conversation, the Dennis and Jessica discuss the impact of weather forecasts on anxiety, the importance of coping mechanisms, and the long-term effects of grief. They explore personal growth through leadership roles and the connection between public health and mental health. The discussion emphasizes the value of community support and the healing power of humor, while also addressing the complexities of navigating grief and finding purpose in pain.

Key Takeaways:

• Weather forecasts can create unnecessary anxiety.
• The 24-hour news cycle can exacerbate feelings of fear.
• Coping mechanisms like music can help manage anxiety.
• Healing from grief can lead to feelings of guilt.
• Leadership roles can change one's perspective on life.
• Public health is closely tied to mental health issues.
• Community support is vital for those dealing with loss.
• Personal growth often comes from overcoming trauma.
• It's important to share stories of resilience.
• Humor can be a powerful tool in healing.