What does it take to keep living—and loving—after the unimaginable?

This is a conversation about loss—but even more, it’s about love, resilience, and the courage to keep saying yes to life.

In this powerful episode, I sit down with Betsy Thibaut Stephenson—a seasoned crisis communications expert, mother of three, and author of the memoir,  Blackbird: A Mother's Reflections on Grief, Loss, and Life After. In 2022, Betsy’s world was shattered by a six-week wave of devastating loss, including the death of her 21-year-old son, Charlie, to suicide. What followed wasn’t a quest to “move on,” but a conscious decision to live honestly, feel everything, and find meaning in the aftermath.

We talk about the lie’s depression tells, the complexity of navigating family grief, and the deeply personal stories we craft in order to survive. Betsy shares what it means to relearn how to feel, to hold space for discomfort, and to open up to healing—one small “yes” at a time.

We also explore how spiritual growth, self-compassion, and even anxiety can become part of the long, often nonlinear path to peace.

Disclaimer: This episode contains sensitive discussion around suicide, grief, and mental health. Please listen with care. If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. In the U.S., call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

LINKS

Betsy Stephenson website: https://www.blackbirdbetsy.com/

Betsy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackbirdbetsy21/

Blackbird: A Mother's Reflections on Grief, Loss, and Life After Suicide book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4fdG4Vt

SPONSORS:

THERASAGE: Go to ⁠https://www.therasage.com⁠ and use code KELLY to receive 25% off any Therasage product.

Key Moments You'll Love:

💔 [0:00] Understanding Depression's Hidden Strength

📖 [3:45] Charlie's Story: The Shocking Timeline of Loss

⚠️ [11:00] The Dangerous Myths About Depression's "Calm"

🗣️ [14:30] Permission to Grieve: Standing Up to "Don't Cry"

🧠 [15:30] Crafting Your Healing Story: The Brutal Honesty Method

💭 [16:45] Living with the "What Ifs" That Never End

🏠 [27:00] Different Grief Styles: How Families Heal Differently

🌱 [29:25] The Gentle Push: When Self-Care Becomes Self-Sabotage

💪 [40:45] Depression's True Power: Overriding Survival Instinct

🗨️ [45:50] Building the Vulnerability Muscle from Childhood

🌿 [1:02:50] Daily Tools: Snipping the Tendrils of Fear

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