In this episode, I discuss a topic that I usually choose to not openly talk about with people in my life... sibling guilt. This topic was a lot harder to talk about while recording this episode in the moment, more than I had anticipated. I touch on how I felt guilty when my sister was diagnosed with Leukemia, when I felt the emotional and mental affects of being one of her caregivers, when she passed and I was not wanting to move forward, and guilt around the complicated feelings that I had to sort through on my own without her here.

As a follow up to last week's episode, I continue my conversation with my friend, Kelly. Throughout this episode, we discuss Kelly's relationship with my sister, Marissa. Kelly and Marissa were best friends from the time that they were 8 years old, they were roommates their freshman year in college, and as their lives evolved into adulthood, they remained very close. We also talk about how losing Marissa has affected Kelly's life.

In this episode, I talk with my friend, Kelly (Kirlin) Sickel, about her experiences with loss and grief. There are two parts for her episode. Throughout part one, we talk about how Kelly lost her Dad at a very young age and also losing her aunt, her Mom's twin sister, only a few years ago.

In this episode, I dive into some of the things that I have experienced over the past several years in the aftermath of losing my sister. These are things that I wish I knew ahead of time but that I got zero warning about, nor did I ever think that I would experience while coping with grief and navigating my "new normal".

In this episode, I talk with my cousin, Carly McAneny, about her experience of losing her Dad and how she has coped with her grief over the past 8 years. We also talk about how she has supported me through my own grief, how we have leaned on each other through this process, and our different perspectives around loss.

Trigger Warning: suicide is discussed in this episode.

Ahead of my sister, Marissa's, upcoming birthday, I talk about how we celebrated our birthdays together over the years since they are 8 days apart. I also talk about how I celebrate and honor her birthday now after losing her and the struggles I have faced, and still deal with, around this time of year.

In this episode, I have my second guest on, my Dad - John aka Mac! We discuss the immense amount of loss that he has endured throughout his life, starting at 19 years old. He details losing his Dad, Mom, two siblings, and his daughter, Marissa, and how he has navigated these losses and the grief throughout his life.

Trigger Warning: suicide is discussed in this episode.

In this solo episode, I walk through my experience with anxiety and depression from a young age through adulthood. I also discuss how adding in grief has made it hard to decipher between the three and where I am at currently with my mental health.

In this episode, I have my first guest on, my mom - Jacki! She talks about being a caregiver for her Dad and losing both of her parents. We also discuss her experience of being one of Marissa's caregivers while working full-time and her feelings and thoughts around losing Marissa and navigating the loss of a child.

In this episode, I talk about the initial feelings after losing Marissa and the ways that my life changed in the aftermath.