Unspoken Grief

By Michael Vinton, Kristina Faulkner, Tina Chevalier

If you’ve ever felt alone in your sorrow, this podcast is for you. Welcome all to Unspoken Grief, brought to you by the nonprofit organization Impacted Survivors of Murder-Suicide. Each episo... more

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FAQs about Unspoken Grief:

How many episodes does Unspoken Grief have?

The podcast currently has 15 episodes available.

Unspoken Grief episodes:

August 04, 2026 Ep. 14 – Dr. Janine Roach: Seeing the Person, Not the Diagnosis: The Truth About Bipolar Disorder & Schizophrenia
Hosts Michael Vinton and Tina Chevalier welcome psychiatrist Dr. Janine Roach to discuss bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, psychosis, and severe mental illness in the context of grief after murder-suicide, emphasizing “seeking understanding without seeking blame” and avoiding posthumous diagnosis or stigmatizing violence. Dr. Roach explains common misconceptions, including that bipolar disorder is not moment-to-moment moodiness but cyclical episodes, and outlines bipolar I vs. bipolar II, mania/hypomania, depression, euthymia, and how symptoms can go undiagnosed for years. She describes schizophrenia and paranoid schizophrenia, delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking, negative symptoms, and how psychosis can occur in mania or depression. The conversation covers family challenges, legal limits to involuntary care, boundary-setting, support resources like NAMI Family-to-Family, and hope from reduced stigma and increased help-seeking.

988 Lifeline number: https://988lifeline.org/
At the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, we understand that life's challenges can sometimes be complex. Whether you're facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, our caring counselors are here for you. You are not alone.

Didi Hirsch Mental Services: didihirsch.org

Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741 Free, 24/7 Mental Health Support

Dr. Janine Roach
Email: [email protected]
NAMI _https://www.nami.org/programs/nami-family-to-family/

Michael Vinton
Email:                [email protected]
Website:    www.michaelvinton.com
                 http://www.impactedsurvivors.org
Podcast:    Unspoken Grief
IG:            @therealmichaelvinton
FB:            Michael Vinton
Linkedin:   m/ichael-vinton-6702a373
IDMB:                Michael Vinton (III)
Headshot: Headshot 1
                 Headshot 2

Tina Chevalier
Email:                [email protected]
Website:    www.impactedsurvivors.org
Podcast:   Unspoken Grief
IG:            @impactedsurvivorsofms
FB:            Facebook
Headshot; Headshot
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
54min
July 21, 2026 Ep. 13 - #SameHere: A Conversation & Mental Health Deep Dive with Eric Kussin
In this episode of the Unspoken Grief podcast, hosts Michael Vinton and Tina Chevalier talk with Eric Kussin, founder of Same Here Global and co-host of the podcast We’re All a Little Crazy, about mental health advocacy, grief, and the harm of simplified narratives. Eric shares his background in professional sports leadership, his debilitating mental health crisis, extensive medication trials, TMS, inpatient hospitalization, and ECT, and how integrative therapy helped him reframe his experience as accumulated chronic stress and trauma. He discusses his brother’s long medical ordeals, the “Five in Five” message that everyone has mental health, concerns about nonprofit and media messaging, and why deaths of despair should be discussed with nuance to support prevention. Eric explains the Same Here hand sign origins, previews his book Diagnosis (out around September), and describes hope through ongoing healing and somatic trauma release

988 Lifeline number: https://988lifeline.org/
At the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, we understand that life's challenges can sometimes be complex. Whether you're facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, our caring counselors are here for you. You are not alone.

Didi Hirsch Mental Services: didihirsch.org

Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741 Free, 24/7 Mental Health Support

Eric Kussin
Email:       [email protected]
Website:   https://samehereglobal.org/
Instagram: @samehere_global
Facebook: @samehere_global
LinkedIn: @samehere_global
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/were-all-a-little-crazy/id1556305271
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@samehere_global

Michael Vinton
Email:                [email protected]
Website:    www.michaelvinton.com
                 http://www.impactedsurvivors.org
Podcast:    Unspoken Grief
IG:            @therealmichaelvinton
FB:            Michael Vinton
Linkedin:   m/ichael-vinton-6702a373
IDMB:                Michael Vinton (III)
Headshot: Headshot 1
                 Headshot 2

Tina Chevalier
Email:                [email protected]
Website:    www.impactedsurvivors.org
Podcast:   Unspoken Grief
IG:            @impactedsurvivorsofms
FB:            Facebook
Headshot; Headshot
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
1h 5min
July 07, 2026 Ep. 12 – Anonymous Daughter
Hosts Michael Vinton and Tina Chevalier welcome “Anonymous Daughter”, who lost her parents at 13 to a murder-suicide and originally told her story in a 2017 online essay, “I’m Finally Ready to Talk About How My Parents Died.” She describes loving memories of both parents and how the reality defies simple assumptions, then reflects on how her perspective has changed over nearly a decade, including becoming less dependent on others’ understanding and becoming a mother, which has raised questions about how to share this family history with her child in an age-appropriate way. She discusses years of secrecy, compartmentalization, and reluctance to be vulnerable, the influence of family privacy and her own personality, the value of her siblings as shared witnesses, and how she has built a fulfilling life while continuing to evolve in grief and hope

Guest's Buzzfeed Article:
BuzzFeed “Anonymous Daughter”

988 Lifeline number: https://988lifeline.org/
At the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, we understand that life's challenges can sometimes be complex. Whether you're facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, our caring counselors are here for you. You are not alone.

Didi Hirsch Mental Services: didihirsch.org

Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741 Free, 24/7 Mental Health Support

Michael Vinton
Email:                [email protected]
Website:    www.michaelvinton.com
                 http://www.impactedsurvivors.org
Podcast:    Unspoken Grief
IG:            @therealmichaelvinton
FB:            Michael Vinton
Linkedin:   m/ichael-vinton-6702a373
IDMB:                Michael Vinton (III)
Headshot: Headshot 1
                 Headshot 2

Tina Chevalier
Email:                [email protected]
Website:    www.impactedsurvivors.org
Podcast:   Unspoken Grief
IG:            @impactedsurvivorsofms
FB:            Facebook
Headshot; Headshot

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
46min
June 23, 2026 Ep. 11 – Nina Rodriguez: Yosef’s Sister
Unspoken Grief hosts Michael Vinton and Tina Chevalier welcome Nina Rodriguez, founder and executive producer of the award-winning podcast Grief and Light, to discuss grief as a lived experience deserving dignity, depth, and community. Nina shares how her brother Joseph died from fentanyl poisoning in 2019, the traumatic aftermath, and the harmful things people said that fueled her mission to create an anonymous grief account that grew into her platform. She explains the physical and emotional impacts of grief, including learning about broken heart syndrome, and explores “living in the and,” holding joy and sorrow together without timelines. The episode highlights sibling loss as disenfranchised grief, identity shifts after loss, continued bonds, boundaries in sharing stories, and practical coping like keeping a “Joseph journal,” finding supportive communities, and extending grace to others.

988 Lifeline number: https://988lifeline.org/
At the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, we understand that life's challenges can sometimes be complex. Whether you're facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, our caring counselors are here for you. You are not alone.

Didi Hirsch Mental Services: didihirsch.org

Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741 Free, 24/7 Mental Health Support

Nina Rodriguez
Email:        [email protected]
Website:    griefandlight.com
Instagram:         @griefandlight
@itsnrodriguez
Podcast:   Grief and Light
YouTube: @griefandlight

Michael Vinton
Email:                [email protected]
Website:    www.michaelvinton.com
                 http://www.impactedsurvivors.org
Podcast:    Unspoken Grief
IG:            @therealmichaelvinton
FB:            Michael Vinton
Linkedin:   m/ichael-vinton-6702a373
IDMB:                Michael Vinton (III)
Headshot: Headshot 1
                 Headshot 2

Tina Chevalier
Email:                [email protected]
Website:    www.impactedsurvivors.org
Podcast:   Unspoken Grief
IG:            @impactedsurvivorsofms
FB:            Facebook
Headshot; Headshot
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
1h 1min
June 09, 2026 Ep. 10 – Krista Schenck: Life After the Unthinkable: Love, Loss, and Bojangles
In this Unspoken Grief episode, hosts Michael Vinton and Tina Chevalier, speak with survivor Krista Schenck, who lost both parents, Mark and Bonnie, in a July 2021 murder-suicide in which her father was the perpetrator. Krista shares what it has meant to live in the aftermath, including shock, a roller coaster of grief, anger, dark humor as coping, and the challenge of returning to work and facing awkward interactions. She describes friends who rotated staying overnight, support during her eulogy, and how community support can drop off after the first weeks, prompting her to seek groups, counseling, and medication. Krista discusses identity shifts, struggling with holidays, rebuilding routines, using music and planned events to create “micro joys,” navigating estate issues and the slayer clause, and finding hope in good, caring people.

988 Lifeline number: https://988lifeline.org/
At the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, we understand that life's challenges can sometimes be complex. Whether you're facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, our caring counselors are here for you. You are not alone.

Didi Hirsch Mental Services: didihirsch.org

Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741 Free, 24/7 Mental Health Support

  Krista Schenck
Instagram:ig/nebulana1

Michael Vinton
Email:                [email protected]
Website:    www.michaelvinton.com
                 http://www.impactedsurvivors.org
Podcast:    Unspoken Grief
IG:            @therealmichaelvinton
FB:            Michael Vinton
Linkedin:   m/ichael-vinton-6702a373
IDMB:                Michael Vinton (III)
Headshot: Headshot 1
                 Headshot 2

Tina Chevalier
Email:                [email protected]
Website:    www.impactedsurvivors.org
Podcast:   Unspoken Grief
IG:            @impactedsurvivorsofms
FB:            Facebook
Headshot; Headshot
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
48min
May 26, 2026 Ep. 9 – Dr. Denise Dailey: The Weight They Carry, The Silence We Miss: Identity Collapse And Distorted Responsibility
Unspoken Grief hosts Michael Vinton and Tina Chevalier welcome Dr. Denise Dailey, a licensed clinical psychologist and founder of Our Daily Bread, LLC, to discuss insights from their APA Division 19 Society for Military Psychology symposium presentation, “Unseen Battlefields,” exploring the intersection of military-related violence and murder-suicide and the overlooked impact on families and communities. Dr. Dailey shares how her family’s multigenerational military service shaped her understanding that trauma doesn’t stay overseas, describes post-deployment stress, injury, and family-system effects, and explains overlaps among isolation, identity collapse, burdensomeness, and moral injury. The conversation examines limitations in data and public narratives about perpetrators, warning signs families can take seriously, the importance of curiosity and presence, and practical steps like asking direct questions and using 988 for guidance, while also addressing provider burnout, hope through connection, and survivor community support

988 Lifeline number: https://988lifeline.org/
At the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, we understand that life's challenges can sometimes be complex. Whether you're facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, our caring counselors are here for you. You are not alone.

Didi Hirsch Mental Services: didihirsch.org

Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741 Free, 24/7 Mental Health Support

  Dr. Denise Dailey
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.ourdaileybread.com and Dailey, Denise | Faculty
Profile | Adler University
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/drdaileyptsd
Causes: (Clinical
and Research Interest: PTSD Assessment and Treatment, Health Psychology,
Military Clinical Psychology, Chronic Pain, Insomnia, Risk Assessment and
Suicide Prevention )

Michael Vinton
Email:                [email protected]
Website:    www.michaelvinton.com
                 http://www.impactedsurvivors.org
Podcast:    Unspoken Grief
IG:            @therealmichaelvinton
FB:            Michael Vinton
Linkedin:   m/ichael-vinton-6702a373
IDMB:                Michael Vinton (III)
Headshot: Headshot 1
                 Headshot 2

Tina Chevalier
Email:                [email protected]
Website:    www.impactedsurvivors.org
Podcast:   Unspoken Grief
IG:            @impactedsurvivorsofms
FB:            Facebook
Headshot; Headshot
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
1h
May 12, 2026 Ep. 8 - ChaRon Sattler-Leblanc: The Echoes of One Day: From 1990 to Now, How One Tragedy Still Ripples Today
In this episode of Unspoken Grief, hosts Michael Vinton and Tina Chevalier welcome survivor and advocate ChaRon Sattler-LeBlanc, who lost her cousin Julie (23) and Julie’s daughter Jacqui (5) in July 1990. ChaRon describes learning the news while in college, the isolation and shame of grieving before online communities or public language for murder-suicide loss, and the complex family dynamics shaped by Korean heritage, arranged marriage, domestic violence, and separation. She shares how trauma resurfaced during a later campus incident involving a firearm and how limited counseling support was in the 1990s. ChaRon discusses long-term impacts, secondary losses, and how advocacy (including Moms Demand Action), civic work, and community connection help her heal while emphasizing boundaries, self-care, and loving people in their wholeness, including families of perpetrators

988 Lifeline number: https://988lifeline.org/
At the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, we understand that life's challenges can sometimes be complex. Whether you're facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, our caring counselors are here for you. You are not alone.

Didi Hirsch Mental Services: didihirsch.org

Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741 Free, 24/7 Mental Health Support

ChaRon Sattler-Leblanc
Email:       [email protected]
Website:Cha Ron Votes

Causes: A Longing for Yesteryear
MomsDemandAction

Eoisode Resource Section
                    Who Needs God
                   When Bad Things Happen to Good People
                    Please Call Me by My True Names

Michael Vinton
Email:               [email protected]
Website:   www.michaelvinton.com
                 http://www.impactedsurvivors.org
Podcast:   Unspoken Grief
IG:           @therealmichaelvinton
FB:           Michael Vinton
Linkedin:  m/ichael-vinton-6702a373
IDMB:               Michael Vinton (III)
Headshot: Headshot 1
                 Headshot 2

Tina Chevalier
Email:               [email protected]
Website:   www.impactedsurvivors.org
Podcast:   Unspoken Grief
IG:           @impactedsurvivorsofms
FB:           Facebook
Headshot; Headshot
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
49min
April 28, 2026 Ep. 7 - Grief in the Gray: The Stories You’re Not Hearing About Murder-Suicide
In this episode of Unspoken Grief, hosts Michael Vinton and Tina Chevalier talk about their survivor-led nonprofit community, ISMS (Impacted Survivors of Murder Suicide), which offers peer support spaces, awareness, and advocacy, especially for families of the person who caused harm. Michael and Tina share their experiences losing their loved ones five years ago, describing shock, sleeplessness, confusion, stigma, and the difficulty of grieving someone who also caused harm, while emphasizing that loved ones are “more than their final act.” They discuss ripple effects on friends, neighbors, witnesses, and first responders, the long journey after headlines fade, practical aftermath issues, and concerns about sensationalized media language and oversimplified explanations. They highlight hope found through community, expand support calls, and invite listeners to access resources at impactedsurvivors.org

988 Lifeline number: https://988lifeline.org/
At the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, we understand that life's challenges can sometimes be complex. Whether you're facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, our caring counselors are here for you. You are not alone.

Didi Hirsch Mental Services: didihirsch.org

Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741 Free, 24/7 Mental Health Support

Michael Vinton
Email:                [email protected]
Website:    www.michaelvinton.com
                 http://www.impactedsurvivors.org
Podcast:    Unspoken Grief
IG:            @therealmichaelvinton
FB:            Michael Vinton
Linkedin:   m/ichael-vinton-6702a373
IDMB:                Michael Vinton (III)
Headshot: Headshot 1
                 Headshot 2

Tina Chevalier
Email:                [email protected]
Website:    www.impactedsurvivors.org
Podcast:   Unspoken Grief
IG:            @impactedsurvivorsofms
FB:            Facebook
Headshot; Headshot
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
53min
April 14, 2026 Ep. 6 – Dr. Thomas Joiner: Inside The Mind, Outside The Narrative: Rethinking What Drives Murder-Suicide
In this episode of Unspoken Grief, hosts Michael Vinton and Tina Chevalier welcome psychologist and researcher Dr. Thomas Joiner, whose work is widely cited in survivor communities and who authored The Perversion of Virtue, a book the hosts frequently reference in presentations about murder-suicide. Joiner explains how his research led him to conclude most murder-suicides are planned and rooted in a distorted, “virtuous” rationale tied to four perverted virtues—justice, mercy, duty, and glory—illustrating examples including Columbine and the influence of Timothy McVeigh. The group discusses stigma faced by survivors, language challenges around “perpetrator,” why families may not see their loved one as suicidal, the value of psychological autopsies, and how suicide prevention strategies like means safety and effective CBT may also prevent murder-suicide.

988 Lifeline number: https://988lifeline.org/
At the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, we understand that life's challenges can sometimes be complex. Whether you're facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, our caring counselors are here for you. You are not alone.

Didi Hirsch Mental Services: didihirsch.org

Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741 Free, 24/7 Mental Health Support

Dr Thomas Joiner:
Email:                [email protected]
Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0199334552?ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_WTDG24DTBD8N6ZD1RAEB&bestFormat=true
Website: Thomas Joiner | Department of Psychology
Georgia Commission on Family Violence

Michael Vinton
Email:                [email protected]
Website:    www.michaelvinton.com
                 http://www.impactedsurvivors.org
Podcast:    Unspoken Grief
IG:            @therealmichaelvinton
FB:            Michael Vinton
Linkedin:   m/ichael-vinton-6702a373
IDMB:                Michael Vinton (III)
Headshot: Headshot 1
                 Headshot 2

Tina Chevalier
Email:                [email protected]
Website:    www.impactedsurvivors.org
Podcast:   Unspoken Grief
IG:            @impactedsurvivorsofms
FB:            Facebook
Headshot; Headshot
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
1h
July 15, 2025 Ep. 5 Unspoken Roundtable - What if?
In this heartfelt episode of the Unspoken Grief podcast, hosts Tina Chevalier, Kristina Faulkner, and Michael Venton dive deep into their personal stories as survivors of murder-suicides and wonder what life might be like if they had never had to face such tragedies. They go on to explore some of the positive and strange outcomes that have occurred since their loses as well. They also share updates from recent conferences, exciting developments in their nonprofit work, and the new grief course designed for children. Join them for a poignant discussion on turning tragedy into purposeful living, and discover how love, community, and being present in the moment have been crucial in their healing journeys. This episode is an invaluable resource for anyone affected by trauma and looking for support and understanding.

988 Lifeline number: https://988lifeline.org/
At the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, we understand that life's challenges can sometimes be complex. Whether you're facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, our caring counselors are here for you. You are not alone.

Didi Hirsch Mental Services: didihirsch.org

Crisis Text Line Text HOME to 741741 Free, 24/7 Mental Health Support

Michael Vinton
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.michaelvinton.com
http://www.impactedsurvivors.org
IG: @therealmichaelvinton
FB: Michael Vinton
Linkedin: m/ichael-vinton-6702a373
IDMB: Michael Vinton (III)

Tina Chevalier
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.impactedsurvivors.org
IG: @impactedsurvivorsofms

Kristina Faulkner
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.getinspiredtherapy.com
www.impactedsurvivors.org

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
02:03 Honoring Lost Loved Ones
04:32 Conference Highlights and Updates
10:50 Children's Grief Course Announcement
13:02 Reflecting on Personal Loss and Growth
27:40 Struggles of Stepping into New Roles
30:05 The Importance of Community for Survivors
39:48 Fears of Future Losses
47:13 Coping Mechanisms and Personal Growth
55:43 Closing Thoughts and Resources
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
57min

FAQs about Unspoken Grief:

How many episodes does Unspoken Grief have?

The podcast currently has 15 episodes available.