Send us a message!

In this episode of The Broken Pack™: Stories of Sibling Loss, Dr. Dean talks with Dr. Christina Zampitella, a licensed psychologist, thanatologist, and founder of the Center for Grief and Trauma Therapy in Delaware. Dr. Z lost her brother Damien to a drug overdose on Christmas Day when he was just 22 years old. This episode explores the lifelong impact of sibling loss, the complicated grief that comes with loving someone through addiction, and what it truly means to carry your sibling with you. In this episode you will:

• Hear Dr. Z's story of how losing Damien became the foundation of her life's work.
• Learn what surviving siblings need to know about grief integration, STUGs, maintaining a continued bond, and why there is no "getting over it"  
• Be inspired by Dr. Z's resilience through cumulative losses & her commitment to honoring those she has loved and lost.

Connect with Dr. Christina Zampitella: 

• Website: https://www.centerforgrieftherapy.com/staff/dr-christina-zampitella-ft/ 
• Podcast: Phoenix Rising with Dr. Z — available on all platforms 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UC-jU_InSFb-lXZhRkWaDDIw 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/phoenixrisingwithdrz/ 
• All links: https://linktr.ee/phoenixrising_drz

Resources:

• In the US:
  • If you believe you are witnessing an overdose, call 911 or your country’s emergency number immediately even if you are administering Narcan.
  • Call SAMHSA’s National Helpline is  1-800-662-HELP (4357) or Text your 5-digit ZIP Code to 435748 (HELP4U) or call a warmline.
  • For more immediate crisis call 911, 988, or go to the nearest emergency room.
  • Peer support warmlines by state : https://warmline.org/warmdir.html
• International
  • In the UK, related resources:

Support the show

If you would like more information or to share your own sibling loss story, please contact Dr. Angela Dean at [email protected] or go to our website, thebrokenpack.com.

Please like, subscribe, and share!

Please follow us on social media:
Facebook: @BrokenPack
Instagram: @thebrokenpack
TikTok: @the_broken_pack
YouTube: @thebrokenpack

Sign-up for Wild Grief™, our newsletter: https://thebrokenpack.substack.com/

Thank you!
Angela M. Dean, PsyD, FT

Credits:
The Broken Pack™ Podcast is produced by Not Done Here Media

"If Tomorrow Starts Without Me" © ℗ 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
Performed by Fuji Sounds (feat. Joe Mylward)
Written by Joe Mylward and Brian Dean
Licensed for use to The Broken Pack™
Now available on all streaming platforms including Apple Music & Spotify: https://tiny...

Send us a message!

After more than 18 months of silence, The Broken Pack™ podcast is back, and Dr. Angela Dean is sharing everything.

In this return episode, Dr. Angela Dean, psychologist, thanatologist, bereaved sibling, and host of The Broken Pack™, opens up about why she went quiet, what grief looked and felt like from the inside, and what is coming next for this community of surviving siblings and sibling loss survivors.

Where Dr. Dean Has Been: After nearly five years since losing her brother Tony, something shifted in fall 2024. Despite consistently showing up, recording episodes, building community, and training with Dr. Robert Neimeyer at the Portland Institute for Loss and Transition, she found herself unable to continue at that pace. She reflects on the paradox of avoiding her own grief while pursuing advanced training in grief therapy, and why she needed to step away from narrating loss in order to actually live it.

The Personal Losses Behind the Silence: An adult child moving across the globe, shifts in family dynamics, estrangement, and the growing weight of being her parents' only living child, a reality her brother Tony is no longer here to share.

What Brought Her Back: A grief retreat through the Portland Institute reconnected her with her purpose. After recording an episode with Karin McLean, Dr. Dean began noticing signs from Tony, wolves, Pittsburgh references, and childhood memories only he would have known.

Big News for Surviving Siblings: The Broken Pack is expanding to welcome ALL sibling loss survivors, including those who lost siblings in childhood or before birth. The Wild Grief newsletter moves to Substack, and a sibling loss book club is launching.

Upcoming guests: Dr. Christina Zampitella, Nina Rodriguez, Dr. Heidi Horsley, Susan Kellum, Karin McClean, Anne Pinkerton, Earl Dawn Legault, and sibling loss survivor stories from Valerie, Amy, Paige, Amanda, Jayden, Deidra, and many more.

Support the show

If you would like more information or to share your own sibling loss story, please contact Dr. Angela Dean at [email protected] or go to our website, thebrokenpack.com.

Please like, subscribe, and share!

Please follow us on social media:
Facebook: @BrokenPack
Instagram: @thebrokenpack
TikTok: @the_broken_pack
YouTube: @thebrokenpack

Sign-up for Wild Grief™, our newsletter: https://thebrokenpack.substack.com/

Thank you!
Angela M. Dean, PsyD, FT

Credits:
The Broken Pack™ Podcast is produced by Not Done Here Media

"If Tomorrow Starts Without Me" © ℗ 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
Performed by Fuji Sounds (feat. Joe Mylward)
Written by Joe Mylward and Brian Dean
Licensed for use to The Broken Pack™
Now available on all streaming platforms including Apple Music & Spotify: https://tiny...

Send us a message!

In this episode of The Broken Pack™: Stories of Sibling Loss, Dr. Dean talks with Kate Chertik, a Pittsburgh woman navigating the devastating grief of losing her brother, Larry, to a fatal scooter accident caused by a city pothole. As a surviving sibling, Kate shares her raw emotions, the impact on her family, and how she turned her grief into advocacy for scooter safety. This episode explores the complexities of sibling loss, the importance of support systems for surviving siblings, and the power of turning tragedy into action.

In this episode you will:

• Hear Kate's powerful story of losing her best friend and brother in a tragic scooter accident has led to advocacy for scooter safety and creation of a support group for sibling loss survivors.
• Be inspired by Kate's resilience and unwavering commitment to honoring her brother's memory.

Support the show

If you would like more information or to share your own sibling loss story, please contact Dr. Angela Dean at [email protected] or go to our website, thebrokenpack.com.

Please like, subscribe, and share!

Please follow us on social media:
Facebook: @BrokenPack
Instagram: @thebrokenpack
TikTok: @the_broken_pack
YouTube: @thebrokenpack

Sign-up for Wild Grief™, our newsletter: https://thebrokenpack.substack.com/

Thank you!
Angela M. Dean, PsyD, FT

Credits:
The Broken Pack™ Podcast is produced by Not Done Here Media

"If Tomorrow Starts Without Me" © ℗ 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
Performed by Fuji Sounds (feat. Joe Mylward)
Written by Joe Mylward and Brian Dean
Licensed for use to The Broken Pack™
Now available on all streaming platforms including Apple Music & Spotify: https://tiny...

Send us a message!

On this episode  of The Broken Pack™: Stories of Sibling Loss, Dr. Beth Hoffman, a surviving sibling, joins Dr. Dean to discuss the loss of her sister, Emily. Emily was tragically killed in a pedestrian accident. Dr. Hoffman shares how she navigates life as a sibling loss survivor following Emily's sudden death, including her experience in the ICU and honoring Emily's wish to be an organ donor. They discuss the complexities of sibling grief, the importance of normalizing conversations about loss, and the different ways people cope with the death of a sibling. Dr. Hoffman also discusses the challenges of navigating grief in a society that often avoids conversations about death and the importance of recognizing the different ways people experience and process loss.

About Dr. Beth Hoffman
Dr. Hoffman is a researcher at the University of Pittsburgh, specializing in the intersection of popular media and health. Her work explores how television, social media, and other platforms can be used for health promotion and education, as well as the spread of health misinformation. She also teaches courses on community health and entertainment media.

More About Emily:
Caring Bridge - https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/emilycrew
Donor Tribute on UNOS - https://unos.org/donor_tributes/emily-hoffman/

Honoring Emily:
Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh's Catio (in Emily's Honor)
Emily Johanna Hoffman Fund - supporting STEM & experiential learning programs,  and other Pittsburgh nonprofits .

To learn more about organ and tissue donation and to become a donor, please see:
In the US:
1. Donate Life America: https://donatelife.net
2. United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) - https://un

Support the show

If you would like more information or to share your own sibling loss story, please contact Dr. Angela Dean at [email protected] or go to our website, thebrokenpack.com.

Please like, subscribe, and share!

Please follow us on social media:
Facebook: @BrokenPack
Instagram: @thebrokenpack
TikTok: @the_broken_pack
YouTube: @thebrokenpack

Sign-up for Wild Grief™, our newsletter: https://thebrokenpack.substack.com/

Thank you!
Angela M. Dean, PsyD, FT

Credits:
The Broken Pack™ Podcast is produced by Not Done Here Media

"If Tomorrow Starts Without Me" © ℗ 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
Performed by Fuji Sounds (feat. Joe Mylward)
Written by Joe Mylward and Brian Dean
Licensed for use to The Broken Pack™
Now available on all streaming platforms including Apple Music & Spotify: https://tiny...

Send us a message!

In this raw and heartfelt episode of The Broken Pack™:Stories of Sibling Loss, Taylor bravely shares her experience as a surviving sibling after losing her brother Ben to Adderall addiction. Through tears and laughter, she explores the depths of sibling grief, the unexpected signs that Ben is still with her, and the ongoing journey of navigating life after loss. Taylor's story offers solace and hope to others facing the complexities of sibling grief, while shedding light on the devastating impact of addiction.

Content Warning: This episode discusses the loss of a sibling due to substance use disorder and may be upsetting for listeners who have experienced similar losses or have experienced substance use disorder first hand or in loved ones. Listener discretion is advised.

About Taylor:
Instagram:  @infertileandimpatient

Resources:
-If you believe you are witnessing an overdose, call 911 or your country’s emergency number immediately even if you are administering Narcan.
-In the US,, please call SAMHSA’s National Helpline is  1-800-662-HELP (4357) or Text your 5-digit ZIP Code to 435748 (HELP4U) or call a warmline.
-For more immediate crisis call 911, 988, or go to the nearest emergency room.
- In the UK, related resources: https://tinyurl.com/3fknb36c
-In the USA, warmlines by state : https://warmline.org/warmdir.html
-A warmline directory for trained peer supports in over 20 countries can be found at https://www.supportiv.com/tools/international-resources-crisis-and-warmlines (some may be hotlines)

Adderall Addiction: https://americanaddictioncenters.org/adderall

Support the show

If you would like more information or to share your own sibling loss story, please contact Dr. Angela Dean at [email protected] or go to our website, thebrokenpack.com.

Please like, subscribe, and share!

Please follow us on social media:
Facebook: @BrokenPack
Instagram: @thebrokenpack
TikTok: @the_broken_pack
YouTube: @thebrokenpack

Sign-up for Wild Grief™, our newsletter: https://thebrokenpack.substack.com/

Thank you!
Angela M. Dean, PsyD, FT

Credits:
The Broken Pack™ Podcast is produced by Not Done Here Media

"If Tomorrow Starts Without Me" © ℗ 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
Performed by Fuji Sounds (feat. Joe Mylward)
Written by Joe Mylward and Brian Dean
Licensed for use to The Broken Pack™
Now available on all streaming platforms including Apple Music & Spotify: https://tiny...

Send us a message!

In this episode, of The Broken Pack: Stories of Sibling Loss,  Dr. Dean speaks with Randye, a surviving sibling, who shares her deeply personal story of losing her brother Mitch to cancer over 45 years ago.  Her experience challenges the notion that grief fades with time, highlighting the enduring nature of sibling loss and its profound lifelong impact on surviving siblings.

Randye speaks to the ways loss transforms us while emphasizing the unbreakable bond that persists between siblings, even beyond death. This episode offers a unique perspective on grief, resilience, and the transformative power of love, making it essential listening for surviving siblings, young adult cancer support networks, and anyone seeking understanding about the complexities of grief - especially the disenfranchised loss of a sibling and anticipatory grief that Randye experienced with many of her losses including her brother, parents, and husband.

To learn more about Randye, her book, her writing, and other work, or to contact her, please visit her website: https://randyesundelwrites.com/.

Her Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/randye.sundel/
On instagram, Randye is found at @randyesundel

Other links mentioned in this episode:
Cancer Support Community (formerly Gilda's Club): https://www.cancersupportcommunity.org/

Support the show

If you would like more information or to share your own sibling loss story, please contact Dr. Angela Dean at [email protected] or go to our website, thebrokenpack.com.

Please like, subscribe, and share!

Please follow us on social media:
Facebook: @BrokenPack
Instagram: @thebrokenpack
TikTok: @the_broken_pack
YouTube: @thebrokenpack

Sign-up for Wild Grief™, our newsletter: https://thebrokenpack.substack.com/

Thank you!
Angela M. Dean, PsyD, FT

Credits:
The Broken Pack™ Podcast is produced by Not Done Here Media

"If Tomorrow Starts Without Me" © ℗ 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
Performed by Fuji Sounds (feat. Joe Mylward)
Written by Joe Mylward and Brian Dean
Licensed for use to The Broken Pack™
Now available on all streaming platforms including Apple Music & Spotify: https://tiny...

Send us a message!

This episode of The Broken Pack™: Stories of Sibling Loss explores the enduring impact of sibling loss with guest Dawn Rodgers. Together, Dawn and Dr. Dean delve into Dawn's experience decades after losing her brother, offering support and strategies for navigating this complex and persistent grief.

Dawn Rodgers is a surviving sibling who found solace in photography after the loss of her brother. Her book, a photo essay, "Sorrow" acts as a powerful testament to the transformative nature of art in processing grief, honoring her brother's memory while guiding her through her unique experience of loss. This conversation sheds light on the often overlooked nature of sibling loss and offers hope for those navigating their grief journey.

Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of murder and violence, including: death of a sibling, grief and trauma related to a sibling's death by murder, the impact of violence on families, and the emotional and psychological challenges of coping with a sibling's murder

Key Discussion Points:

-The overlooked nature of sibling loss and its isolating effect on surviving siblings
-The importance of finding outlets for grief, such as artistic expression
-Creating a support system through therapy, support groups, or connections with those who understand
-The enduring nature and persistence of sibling grief: Dawn's story highlights that the pain of losing a sibling can persist even decades later
-Honoring a sibling's legacy and finding meaning after loss regardless of the time since the loss helped Dawn reconnect with her brother and her own grief

About our guest:

Purchase Dawn's photographic essay "Sorrow" and learn more about her and her work on her website: https://www.dawnrodgers.co.uk/

Support the show

If you would like more information or to share your own sibling loss story, please contact Dr. Angela Dean at [email protected] or go to our website, thebrokenpack.com.

Please like, subscribe, and share!

Please follow us on social media:
Facebook: @BrokenPack
Instagram: @thebrokenpack
TikTok: @the_broken_pack
YouTube: @thebrokenpack

Sign-up for Wild Grief™, our newsletter: https://thebrokenpack.substack.com/

Thank you!
Angela M. Dean, PsyD, FT

Credits:
The Broken Pack™ Podcast is produced by Not Done Here Media

"If Tomorrow Starts Without Me" © ℗ 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
Performed by Fuji Sounds (feat. Joe Mylward)
Written by Joe Mylward and Brian Dean
Licensed for use to The Broken Pack™
Now available on all streaming platforms including Apple Music & Spotify: https://tiny...

Send us a message!

Life Interrupted: Finding Purpose Through Grief

In a deeply moving episode of "The Broken Pack™", Dentist Dr. Parul Dua Makkar shares her sibling loss story of losing her younger brother, Dentist Dr. Manu Dua, to oral cancer. With Dr. Dean, she explores her special sibling special bond, the harrowing experience of Manu's illness, and how this profound loss has transformed her life.

Dr. Makkar describes how the writing of her brother's previously unfinished book, Life Interrupted: A Young Dentist's Journey with Cancer, Legacy, and the Lessons Left Behind, became a powerful act of processing her grief and connecting to Manu.  Her dedication to finishing his story led her down the path of advocacy, raising awareness about not only sibling loss but also the importance of early detection and treatment of oral cancer.

About Dr. Makkar & Links Mentioned in the Show:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/duagoodjob
Linked in: Dr. Parul Dua Makkar
Website (including information on the Dua Good Job Symposium): https://www.duagoodjob.com/
Book: Life Interrupted: Dr. Dua’s Survival Guide

An additional Oral Cancer Awareness / resource:
The Oral Cancer foundation: https://oralcancerfoundation.org/

Young Adult Cancer Resource:  https://yasurvivors.org/about/

Support the show

If you would like more information or to share your own sibling loss story, please contact Dr. Angela Dean at [email protected] or go to our website, thebrokenpack.com.

Please like, subscribe, and share!

Please follow us on social media:
Facebook: @BrokenPack
Instagram: @thebrokenpack
TikTok: @the_broken_pack
YouTube: @thebrokenpack

Sign-up for Wild Grief™, our newsletter: https://thebrokenpack.substack.com/

Thank you!
Angela M. Dean, PsyD, FT

Credits:
The Broken Pack™ Podcast is produced by Not Done Here Media

"If Tomorrow Starts Without Me" © ℗ 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
Performed by Fuji Sounds (feat. Joe Mylward)
Written by Joe Mylward and Brian Dean
Licensed for use to The Broken Pack™
Now available on all streaming platforms including Apple Music & Spotify: https://tiny...

Send us a message!

In this episode of The Broken Pack™: Stories of Sibling Loss , journalist and author Steven Petrow joins Dr. Dean to discuss various aspects of sibling loss, grief, and medical aid in dying. He shares his personal experiences with losing his sister, Julie, to a six-year ovarian cancer experience, navigating his responses to her choice, and their perspectives on end-of-life choices. The conversation highlights the importance of privacy, listening, and respecting the wishes of cancer patients and etiquette in both grief and cancer. Steven Petrow also shares Julie’s voice and hopes for  expanding access to medical aid in dying for terminally ill individuals. This episode also sheds light on the unique dynamics of sibling relationships and their influence on individuals' identity and well-being.

Content warning: This episode discusses Medical Aid in Dying.

Links Mention and  Other Related Links:
Clearity Foundation - https://www.clearityfoundation.org - An organization that Julie, Steven, and their family found support from. Clearity supports people with ovarian cancer and their families.

Empathy Cards (some may be snarky, others are not, sibling loss ones support The Broken Pack™)- https://tinyurl.com/34ab2js8

FAQ on MAiD- https://www.compassionandchoices.org/resource/frequently-asked-questions/

Steven’s articles on Julie & on MAiD
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/28/opinion/medical-aid-death-choice.html

NPR Article on Steven learning to understand Julie's choice- https://tinyurl.com/a7x3p58h

Steven's website: https://stevenpetrow.com

Steven's article on cancer etiquette -
https://www.mariashriversundaypaper.com/steven-petrow-cancer-etiq

Support the show

If you would like more information or to share your own sibling loss story, please contact Dr. Angela Dean at [email protected] or go to our website, thebrokenpack.com.

Please like, subscribe, and share!

Please follow us on social media:
Facebook: @BrokenPack
Instagram: @thebrokenpack
TikTok: @the_broken_pack
YouTube: @thebrokenpack

Sign-up for Wild Grief™, our newsletter: https://thebrokenpack.substack.com/

Thank you!
Angela M. Dean, PsyD, FT

Credits:
The Broken Pack™ Podcast is produced by Not Done Here Media

"If Tomorrow Starts Without Me" © ℗ 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
Performed by Fuji Sounds (feat. Joe Mylward)
Written by Joe Mylward and Brian Dean
Licensed for use to The Broken Pack™
Now available on all streaming platforms including Apple Music & Spotify: https://tiny...

Send us a message!

Grieving the Unexpected: A Sister's Loss and Big Changes after Surviving Sibling Loss Unexpectedly

In this episode, Dr. Angela Dean speaks with Heather Mercer about the sudden loss of her sister, Melissa, to a heart attack shortly after giving birth. Heather shares her journey of navigating profound grief, complex custody battles, and the ripple effects of unexpected loss. They explore how Melissa's passing left a void, affecting  family dynamics and resulting in additional secondary and ambiguous loss. Heather's story highlights the unique challenges of sibling loss and the importance of finding support and ways to honor her sister's memory amidst life's ongoing changes.

Related Links:

Camp Ho Mita Koda, diabetes camp located in Newbury Ohio- https://camphomitakoda.org/

Support the show

If you would like more information or to share your own sibling loss story, please contact Dr. Angela Dean at [email protected] or go to our website, thebrokenpack.com.

Please like, subscribe, and share!

Please follow us on social media:
Facebook: @BrokenPack
Instagram: @thebrokenpack
TikTok: @the_broken_pack
YouTube: @thebrokenpack

Sign-up for Wild Grief™, our newsletter: https://thebrokenpack.substack.com/

Thank you!
Angela M. Dean, PsyD, FT

Credits:
The Broken Pack™ Podcast is produced by Not Done Here Media

"If Tomorrow Starts Without Me" © ℗ 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
Performed by Fuji Sounds (feat. Joe Mylward)
Written by Joe Mylward and Brian Dean
Licensed for use to The Broken Pack™
Now available on all streaming platforms including Apple Music & Spotify: https://tiny...