Rod & Chris: Unqualified and Unsupervised

Episode 11: Kelli Hill – Wait... We Accidentally Invited an Expert

This week, something unusual happened.

For the first time, Rod & Chris: Unqualified and Unsupervised welcomes someone who's actually... qualified. And supervised.

Kelli Hill, a child clinical psychologist, joins us for a thoughtful, practical, and surprisingly hopeful conversation about helping children navigate death, loss, and grief. We talk about how kids understand loss at different ages, how to answer the questions adults often struggle with, and why honest conversations—rather than perfect ones—can make all the difference.

Whether you're a parent, grandparent, teacher, caregiver, or simply someone who wants to better support a grieving child, Kelli offers practical guidance that's easy to understand and grounded in real-world experience.

Don't worry... Rod and Chris still manage to ask a few questions only the unqualified would think of.

In this episode you'll hear:

• How children understand grief at different ages
• Practical ways to talk with kids about death and loss
• Common mistakes well-meaning adults make
• Creating safe, honest conversations during difficult times
• Expert advice... with just enough Rod & Chris mixed in

Welcome to the club nobody asked to join.

If this episode helps you, please follow the podcast, leave a rating and review, and share it with someone who could benefit from this conversation.

Music Credits

Music: "Sergio's Magic Dustbin" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Episode 10: Mark Kuhn – A Tennis Court, A Legacy, and the Power of Moving Forward

What does a Wimbledon-style grass tennis court built in the middle of an Iowa farm have to do with grief?

More than you might imagine.

In Episode 10 of Rod & Chris: Unqualified and Unsupervised, we're joined by North Iowa farmer and former State Representative Mark Kuhn. Mark shares the remarkable story behind the world-famous grass tennis court he built on his family farm—and how, after the loss of his son to suicide, that same court became a living memorial to his son's life, legacy, and love of the game.

It's an honest conversation about unimaginable loss, healing, purpose, and choosing to keep moving forward even when life changes forever. Mark's story is heartbreaking, inspiring, and a powerful reminder that love can leave a legacy that reaches far beyond our own lives.

In this episode you'll hear:

• The incredible story behind Iowa's world-famous grass tennis court
• Mark's journey through the loss of his son
• Turning heartbreak into a lasting legacy
• Finding purpose and hope after tragedy
• What it means to keep moving forward while honoring the people we love

Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of suicide, grief, and loss.

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide or needs immediate support, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the United States.

Welcome to the club nobody asked to join.

If this episode resonates with you, please follow the podcast, leave a rating and review, and share it with someone who could use a little hope—and maybe a laugh.

Music Credits

Music: "Sergio's Magic Dustbin" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Episode 9: Caroline Scammell-Robertie – When You Have to Learn to Live Again

Some stories stop you in your tracks. Caroline Scammell-Robertie's is one of them.

In this heartfelt episode of Rod & Chris: Unqualified and Unsupervised, Caroline shares her journey through unimaginable loss—the death of her child, the loss of her husband, and the difficult path of learning how to keep living when life has changed forever.

Together, we talk about heartbreak, resilience, rebuilding, and the quiet courage it takes to face each new day while carrying grief with you. Caroline's honesty is both moving and inspiring, reminding us that healing isn't about leaving our loved ones behind—it's about finding a way to carry them forward as we continue living.

It's a conversation filled with raw emotion, genuine hope, and the reminder that even after life's darkest moments, meaning and purpose can still be found.

In this episode you'll hear:

• Caroline's journey through profound loss
• Learning to rebuild a life after tragedy
• Finding purpose while carrying grief
• Why healing doesn't mean forgetting
• Hope, resilience, and the courage to keep moving forward

Welcome to the club nobody asked to join.

If this episode speaks to you, please follow the podcast, leave a rating and review, and share it with someone who could use a little hope—and maybe a laugh.

Music Credits

Music: "Sergio's Magic Dustbin" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Episode 8: Christina Maulsby – Grieving the Life You Thought You'd Have

Sometimes grief isn't about losing someone you've loved. Sometimes it's grieving the future you thought was waiting for you.

In this deeply personal episode of Rod & Chris: Unqualified and Unsupervised, Christina Maulsby shares the story of raising her two sons—one living with lifelong neurological disabilities caused by shaken baby syndrome and the other navigating life on the autism spectrum.

Together, we have an honest, unfiltered conversation about caregiving, resilience, the emotional weight of parenting children with special needs, and the very real "loss of future" that comes when life doesn't unfold the way you imagined. It's a conversation about adapting, finding purpose, and discovering hope in places you never expected.

It's emotional. It's inspiring. And, because this is our show, there are still a few moments of laughter along the way.

In this episode you'll hear:

• Christina's remarkable journey as a mother and caregiver
• The grief of letting go of the future you envisioned
• Raising children with complex needs
• Finding resilience in the face of life's unexpected challenges
• Why hope isn't about pretending everything is okay—it's about choosing to keep moving forward

Welcome to the club nobody asked to join.

If this episode resonates with you, please follow the podcast, leave a rating and review, and share it with someone who could use a little hope—and maybe a laugh.

Music Credits

Music: "Sergio's Magic Dustbin" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Episode 7: Mindy Coe – From the Band Room to the Badge

Band director. Navy weapons instructor. State trooper. Police captain.

Most people would be happy with just one of those careers. Mindy Coe decided to collect them.

In Episode 7 of Rod & Chris: Unqualified and Unsupervised, Mindy joins us to share stories from a life spent serving others—often on the worst days of their lives. We talk about what it's like to be a first responder, how those experiences shape your perspective, and what resilience really looks like when you've witnessed heartbreak up close.

Along the way, there are plenty of laughs, a few surprises, and an honest conversation about the emotional weight that first responders carry long after the call is over.

Whether you've worked in public service, experienced loss, or simply appreciate hearing incredible life stories, this episode is one you won't want to miss.

In this episode you'll hear:

• Mindy's incredible journey through four very different careers
• What first responders learn from showing up on people's worst days
• The emotional toll of serving others
• Resilience, perspective, and finding purpose through difficult moments
• A few laughs proving that humor can survive even the hardest jobs

Welcome to the club nobody asked to join.

If you enjoy the episode, please follow the podcast, leave a rating and review, and share it with someone who could use a little hope—and maybe a laugh.

Music Credits

Music: "Sergio's Magic Dustbin" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Episode 6: No Guest. No Script. Just Us.

No guest this week. Just Rod and Chris... which means there's a pretty good chance we'll solve absolutely nothing.

Sometimes there isn't an expert to call, a five-step plan to follow, or an easy answer waiting around the corner. Sometimes life throws you something you never saw coming, and all you can do is figure out the next step.

In this episode of Rod & Chris: Unqualified and Unsupervised, we have an honest conversation about navigating the unexpected, living with loss, finding humor when you least expect it, and why moving forward doesn't always mean having it all figured out.

No interviews. No scripts. Just two friends sharing the kind of conversation we wish we'd heard when we first joined the club nobody asked to join.

In this episode you'll hear:

• What to do when life doesn't go according to plan
• Why it's okay not to have all the answers
• Finding hope one small step at a time
• The role humor plays in healing
• Two guys trying to make sense of life's unexpected turns

If this episode resonates with you, please follow the podcast, leave a rating and review, and share it with someone who could use a little hope—and maybe a laugh.

Music Credits

Music: "Sergio's Magic Dustbin" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Episode 5: Fr. Josh – Even Priests Grieve

People often expect priests to have all the answers. Fr. Josh is the first to tell you that's not how grief works.

In Episode 5 of Rod & Chris: Unqualified and Unsupervised, Fr. Josh joins us for an honest conversation about grief from both sides of the aisle—his own personal losses and what it's like to stand at the altar leading funeral services for people he knew, loved, and cared about.

We talk about the weight of walking with grieving families, the challenge of carrying your own grief while supporting others, and why no one—not even a priest—is immune to heartbreak. It's thoughtful, genuine, occasionally funny, and a reminder that healing isn't about having all the answers.

Because sometimes the best conversations happen when we admit we don't.

In this episode you'll hear:

• Fr. Josh's personal experiences with grief
• What it's like to lead funeral services for people you love
• Supporting others while carrying your own loss
• Faith, hope, and finding strength when life feels heavy
• Why it's okay to admit you don't have all the answers

Welcome to the club nobody asked to join.

If this episode speaks to you, please follow the podcast, leave a rating and review, and share it with someone who could use a little hope—and maybe a laugh.

Music Credits

Music: "Sergio's Magic Dustbin" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Episode 4: Ed Halbach – The Guy We Can Blame for All of This

This one's a little different... and a little special.

Ed Halbach is the reason Rod & Chris: Unqualified and Unsupervised exists. So naturally, we figured it was only fair to bring him on the show—and maybe blame him for what we've started.

We talk about life, loss, friendship, sarcasm, and the kind of conversations that only happen when nobody's pretending to have all the answers. Ed brings his trademark wit, plenty of honesty, and just enough mischief to keep us laughing along the way. Because sometimes laughter isn't a distraction from the hard stuff—it's how we survive it.

This episode is part origin story, part therapy session (without the therapists), and completely unscripted.

In this episode you'll hear:

• The story behind how the podcast came to be
• Honest conversations about life after loss
• Why sarcasm can be a legitimate coping strategy
• Friendship, laughter, and finding hope in unexpected places
• Three guys proving that experience beats expertise every time

Welcome to the club nobody asked to join.

If you enjoy the episode, please follow the podcast, leave a rating and review, and share it with someone who could use a little hope—and maybe a laugh.

Music Credits

Music: "Sergio's Magic Dustbin" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Episode 3: Mary Lynn – When Life Changes in an Instant

None of us signed up for the club nobody asked to join, but somehow we keep finding some pretty incredible people once we're here.

In Episode 3 of Rod & Chris: Unqualified and Unsupervised, we sit down with Mary Lynn, who lost her husband suddenly at a young age. A retired writing instructor, nature lover, and lifelong learner, Mary Lynn shares her deeply personal journey through grief, resilience, and discovering that moving forward doesn't mean leaving your loved one behind.

It's a conversation filled with honesty, quiet wisdom, a few laughs, and the reminder that healing doesn't follow a schedule—and that's okay.

Whether you're grieving the loss of a spouse, supporting someone who is, or simply trying to make sense of life's unexpected turns, we hope Mary Lynn's story encourages you to keep moving forward, one step at a time.

In this episode you'll hear:

• Mary Lynn's story of sudden loss
• Learning to navigate life after becoming a widow
• Finding comfort in nature and everyday moments
• Why there is no "right way" to grieve
• Hope, resilience, and moving forward with love

If this episode resonates with you, please follow the podcast, leave a rating and review, and share it with someone who could use a little hope—and maybe a laugh.

Music Credits

Music: "Sergio's Magic Dustbin" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Episode 2: Pastor Willie Rosin – The Pastor Who Knew Us Before We Needed a Pastor

Most people don't expect their pastor to become a regular character in their life story. We didn't either.

In Episode 2 of Rod & Chris: Unqualified and Unsupervised, we're joined by our longtime friend, Pastor Willie Rosin. Willie knew Chris and his wife, Janice, long before cancer entered the picture, and he was there through some of life's biggest moments—including officiating Janice's funeral.

Don't worry... this isn't a sermon.

It's an honest conversation between friends about grief, faith, friendship, healing, and why even funerals can have moments that leave you laughing years later. We share some behind-the-scenes stories, a few laughs at our own expense, and remind each other that hope and humor can exist in the very same conversation.

If you've ever wondered whether it's okay to laugh after loss, this episode is for you.

In this episode you'll hear:

• Why Willie has been such an important friend through the years
• Stories from Janice's funeral that still make us smile
• Honest conversations about grief and faith
• Why laughter isn't disrespectful—it's often part of healing
• How good friends show up when life gets messy

If you enjoy the episode, please follow the podcast, leave a rating and review, and share it with someone who could use a little hope—and maybe a laugh.

Music Credits

Music: "Sergio's Magic Dustbin" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/