In this PJs & Pokey episode, Kellie and Erin cozy up in their pajamas with “pokey” (their mom’s name for popcorn) to reflect on recent powerful conversations and the summer adventures that recharged their hearts.

Kellie’s 28-day road trip included 11 days completely off-grid in the wilderness—just a tent by a river, morning coffee, and conversations that matter. Erin’s Montana travels brought the awe of Glacier National Park and reconnections with places from her boyfriend Jason’s childhood.

Along the way, they revisit lessons from recent guests: Katie’s intentional journey as a bonus mom, Pop’s decades of unconditional love, Marcus’s vulnerable story of grief and resilience, and Dr. Matthew Arau’s simple but powerful reminder to turn your “have tos” into “G.E.T. tos.”

This is more than a recap—it’s a heartfelt reminder that rest, reflection, and nature’s wisdom can heal in ways words cannot.

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When I was just 24, my mother died—and so much of who I was disappeared with her.

In the days that followed, someone handed me a book that would become my constant companion for the next 30 years: Motherless Daughters: The Legacy of Loss by Hope Edelman. It gave me language for my pain, reflection for my grief, and a mirror that helped me see myself again when I was lost in the fog of loss.

This solo episode is my story—of what it means to still be a daughter, even after your mother is gone. It’s about the memory boxes she left behind, the music that still brings her close, the deep and unexpected relationship I’ve built with Katie (my dad’s wife), and how grief doesn’t end… it evolves.

If you’ve lost your mom—or someone who mothered you—this episode is a soft place to land. A reminder that you’re not alone. That your memories are sacred. That your mother’s love lives on in how you show up every day.

Whether you’re grieving, healing, parenting, or remembering—or helping someone you care for do the same—this is for you.

🎧 “Once you’re a daughter, you are always a daughter.”

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What if the key to transforming your entire day—your mindset, your leadership, your grief—was simply shifting one word?

Dr. Matthew Arau discovered that power on a cold September morning when he swapped “have to” for “get to.” That simple shift became the heartbeat of his “Power of G.E.T.” philosophy: Gratitude, Enthusiasm, and Treasure.

In this high-energy, heart-forward conversation, Matthew shares the powerful tools he’s developed as a music educator, conductor, leadership coach, and founder of Upbeat! Global. Through personal stories of loss, the science behind music’s effect on the brain, and real-life strategies for shifting from stress to strength, Matthew helps us see how our “upbeat”—that anticipatory moment before something begins—can shape how we show up, no matter what we’re facing.

From conducting students after 9/11 to leading global workshops during the pandemic, Matthew shows us how music becomes a language for what can’t be said… and how purpose and positivity can transform even the hardest moments into something meaningful.

Whether you’re facing a loss, seeking inspiration, or simply want to show up with more intention and joy, this episode will lift your spirit—and help you choose your own upbeat in life.

🎵 “It just takes a little bit of light to transform darkness… and you can be that light.” — Dr. Matthew Arau [Please visit https://www.upbeatglobal.com/ to learn more about Dr. Matthew Arau’s work, books, resources, events, and the Upbeat! Global movement.]

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Hearing the stories of others helps us create a more meaningful connection to our own—because legacy isn’t just what we leave behind, it’s how we live right now.

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Note: This episode includes a son’s personal reflections on his father’s suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. Visit 988Lifeline.org or dial 988 to speak with a trained counselor, 24/7. 

What does it mean to honor the legacy of a father who gave everything he had—even when he had very little left to give?

In this deeply personal Father’s Day conversation, Marcus Straub shares the life and lessons of his father Edward—a complex, resilient man who transformed a childhood of hardship into a legacy of strength, service, and sacrificial love. From growing up in Brooklyn as "the bastard child" to a life dedicated to social work, Edward’s journey shaped the son who now walks in his footsteps.

This is a story of grit and grace. Of a father who sold his most prized possession so his son could have his first car. Of a final goodbye that came by choice, after decades of living with the chronic pain of Crohn’s disease. And of a son who carries his father’s wisdom into every area of his life—as a dad, second dad, Papa, coach, and man.

Through powerful reflections, Marcus offers a heartfelt message about the generational legacy we all inherit—and the one we have the power to create. This episode is for anyone navigating fatherhood, grief, or the invisible thread that connects us to those who made us who we are.

Want more? Hear Marcus in Episode #2 and Episode #3, “Partners, Fathers & Leaders.” 

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Hearing the stories of others helps us create a more meaningful connection to our own—because legacy isn’t just what we leave behind, it’s how we live right now.

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Note: This is Part Two of a two-part series. For the full story, we encourage you to start with Episode 10: "Charting the Course: A Father’s Legacy of Loss, Love, & Living Well."

When our mom realized she wouldn’t live to see our birthdays, graduations, weddings, or the birth of our firstborn children, she created a legacy of love in the most tangible way she knew how—through a collection of hand-wrapped boxes, each containing a handwritten note and a deeply personal gift for life’s milestone moments still to come.

In this second part of our Father’s Day series, we sit down again with our dad—the man who became the Keeper of the Boxes. With quiet devotion and heartfelt resolve, he protected and delivered each one of those gifts over a decade, fulfilling a sacred promise made before our mother’s death in 1994.

These weren’t just boxes. They were time capsules of love, symbols of presence in absence, and a living expression of legacy that continues to shape our lives. In this emotional and unforgettable conversation, our dad shares what it meant to be the steward of such an extraordinary mission—and how the final delivery became a moment of profound closure, completion, and connection.

If you’ve ever wondered how to carry someone’s love forward… this is that story.

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Hearing the stories of others helps us create a more meaningful connection to our own—because legacy isn’t just what we leave behind, it’s how we live right now.

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🔗 Want to connect?
If you have a powerful personal story or meaningful expertise to share, we’d love to hear from you. Learn more about The P-I-G, apply to be a guest, or explore sponsorship opportunities at:
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What does it mean to rebuild your life after unimaginable loss—and to keep choosing love, again and again?

In this powerful first installment of a two-part series, we sit down with our father: a Navy veteran, retired physician, and quiet hero who has lived through more heartbreak than most could imagine. He opens up about losing his 17-year-old daughter Laurie in a tragic accident, adopting the two of us (at ages 11 and 18), supporting our mom Marsha through multiple cancer journeys and the conclusion of her legacy project (The Boxes), and the courageous decision to open his heart again to love and blended family.

From growing up in post-war America to practicing medicine in the remote Australian outback, his story is one of service, surrender, and staying present—even when everything changes. Through it all, he offers a profound example of what it looks like to live with purpose, intention, and grace.

This is a story about fatherhood. About grief. About legacy. And the quiet strength it takes to keep showing up with an open heart.

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Hearing the stories of others helps us create a more meaningful connection to our own—because legacy isn’t just what we leave behind, it’s how we live right now.

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What happens when someone walks into your life and helps rebuild the very foundation grief once tore apart?

Nearly 30 years ago, Katie (Hines) Thomas entered our lives not to replace what had been lost—but to hold space for all of it. In this deeply personal Mother’s Day episode, we sit down with our stepmom, Katie, and reflect on the three decades of love, loss, and legacy that have shaped our big, beautiful “family bush.”

From the sudden loss of her in-laws and the death of her first child to the heartbreak of divorce, navigating a radical mastectomy, and raising four children on her own, Katie’s story is one of extraordinary resilience. When she met our dad shortly after our mom's passing, neither of them were looking for love—but what they found was something transformative. Together, they blended their adult families with intentional love, grace, and a shared commitment to showing up for each other, no matter what.

This episode explores:

• The unexpected love story that brought Katie and our dad together
• The complexities and gifts of blending families as adults
• Katie’s remarkable career in education and counseling
• Her personal losses and the legacy she’s building through it all
• What it means to be mothered in different seasons of life
• How aging with love, humor, and purpose is its own form of legacy

Whether you're navigating your own blended family, grieving the loss of a parent, or reflecting on the relationships that shaped you—this story is a reminder that family is about more than blood. It’s about who stays, who loves, and who grows with us.

Recorded just before Mother's Day, this conversation honors not only one extraordinary woman—but the resilience and tenderness that shape the families we choose and create.

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Hearing the stories of others helps us create a more meaningful connection to our own—because legacy isn’t just what we leave behind, it’s how we live right now.

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How do you survive the death of your husband, then one child... and then another? How do you hold on to hope when your own children are battling the same rare genetic cancer that took their father?

In this extraordinary episode of The P-I-G, sisters Kellie and Erin sit down with Diane Herman, a mother, founder, and unwavering woman of faith whose story defies understanding—and radiates grace.

Diane walks us through her unimaginable journey:
 💔 The loss of her husband Travis after a 13-year battle with cancer.
 💔 The loss of her daughters Hope and Isabelle, both diagnosed with the same rare genetic disease.
 💙 Marrying Justin (Travis's brother) and the simultaneous cancer diagnoses of her son Slate and daughter Isabelle—just one week apart.
 🌍 And the life-changing decision to move to Guatemala and found House of Hope, a children’s home that has now served over 170 children.

Through every heartbreak, Diane found purpose. Today, she pours her love into the children of Guatemala, leads two non-profits (House of Hope + the Loom Project), and continues to live out the very legacy her children inspired. Her words are rooted in faith, resilience, and an unwavering belief that legacy is built not in what we leave behind—but in how we live through life’s hardest moments.

Released just before Mother’s Day, this episode honors not only the strength of one extraordinary mother—but the unbreakable bond between love, loss, and legacy. Whether you're navigating your own grief, supporting a loved one, or simply seeking light in the darkness, Diane’s story is one you’ll never forget.

Show Resources & Links: 

• Learn about & support House of Hope & The Lüm Project
• Purchase & read Mothers Like Me: Stories of Faith, Hope, and Love in Loss

Support the show

Hearing the stories of others helps us create a more meaningful connection to our own—because legacy isn’t just what we leave behind, it’s how we live right now.

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In this special P-I-G Afterthoughts episode, Kellie and Erin circle back to reflect on their powerful conversation with Gini Thomas—whose story of love, loss, and resilience is still echoing in their hearts.

They unpack the layers of Gini’s journey: meeting the love of her life, surviving the accident that took him, navigating 24 surgeries and an eventual amputation, and ultimately becoming a fierce advocate for herself and others.

Along the way, The Sisters explore their own experiences with trauma, motherhood, faith, and the power of showing up for one another. From "Eeyore days" to gratitude lists, this honest and heartfelt conversation is a reminder that we all have the capacity to rise—and to carry legacy forward, even in our hardest seasons.

April is Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month—and this reflection continues the conversation with deep respect and gratitude for Gini and all who walk this path.

Resources & Links: 

• Connect with Gini Thomas at https://linktr.ee/ginithomas
• Celebrate April's Limb Loss & Limb Difference Awareness Month
• Learn more about & support The Limb Preservation Foundation

Support the show

Hearing the stories of others helps us create a more meaningful connection to our own—because legacy isn’t just what we leave behind, it’s how we live right now.

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Please subscribe on your favorite platform, leave a 5-star review, and share this episode with someone who may need to hear it.

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When life changes in an instant, how do you rebuild from the ground up?

Gini Thomas faced this question head-on after a catastrophic motorcycle accident in 2012 that claimed the life of her husband and left her with devastating injuries—ultimately leading to the amputation of her leg above the knee.

Her story begins with love: meeting Joe, a musician twenty years her senior who brought peace and joy into her life before their world was shattered just seventeen months into their marriage. With remarkable candor and grace, Gini walks us through that fateful August day, the immediate aftermath, and the grueling three-year journey through limb salvage surgeries before making the decision to amputate.

What follows is a masterclass in resilience. Gini has endured 24 surgeries, navigated the heartbreak of losing her husband, cared for her mother through dementia, and learned to become her own medical advocate—all while continuing to show up with quiet strength. Through it all, her mother taught her a mindset that sustains her still: "You've told me everything that's bad today, now tell me something good."

Today, Gini serves as a patient ambassador for Integrum and Ottobock—companies that manufacture the prosthetic technologies that helped her reclaim her life. She has found new love, discovered joy in helping others on their limb loss journey, and reminds us all that while grief may change us forever, it doesn’t have to define us.

This conversation explores: 

• Becoming your own medical advocate
• The non-linear nature of grief and resilience
• How love, purpose, and perspective evolve after loss
• Raising awareness during Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month

Whether you’re navigating your own life-altering experience or supporting someone who is, Gini’s story offers a roadmap for living with both grace and grit.

Show Resources & Links: 

• Connect with Gini Thomas at https://linktr.ee/ginithomas
• Celebrate April's Limb Loss & Limb Difference Awareness Month
• Learn more about & support The Limb Preservation Foundation

Support the show

Hearing the stories of others helps us create a more meaningful connection to our own—because legacy isn’t just what we leave behind, it’s how we live right now.

💬 Love what you’re hearing?
Please subscribe on your favorite platform, leave a 5-star review, and share this episode with someone who may need to hear it.

🔗 Want to connect?
If you have a powerful personal story or meaningful expertise to share, we’d love to hear from you. Learn more about The P-I-G, apply to be a guest, or explore sponsorship opportunities at:
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Each episode is created with deep care and intention. If The P-I-G has touched your heart, please consider supporting us so we can keep sharing these powerful conversations: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2449606/support