Qualified - Lessons in Loss
Former U.S. Navy podcaster and communications professional Michelle Heaton, now shares her personal story about the loss of her teenage son and her subsequent search to find empathy, insight and counsel for the unique pain she was experiencing.
Speaking with other bereaved parents who survived the pain and emerged stronger brought her comfort. She recalls a quote from a pastor years ago, "God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called." Now ten years later, Michelle knows the truth of that statement and is anxious to share the lessons she learned from her loss with other hurting people.
In each episode, Michelle interviews incredible people who share their stories of overcoming loss; including death, divorce, illness, aging, loneliness and estrangement, to inspire you and give you hope!
Episodes
66 episodes
Pain is temporary and necessary - What I learned through the lens of loss
After the loss of two children through miscarriage and stillbirth, Bridgett’s hopes were shattered. When a divorce, the death of a family member and other losses followed, she became depressed and began to experience health issues because...
Let's Talk About Friendship Breakups
Have you experienced the painful loss of a friendship breakup? Maybe it was due to a disagreement over a position you hold firmly to. Perhaps it was related to the way you parent your children, your political views, your lifestyle choices...
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Why Does God Allow Suffering?
What happens when your deepest faith is tested by unimaginable suffering? In this episode, I talk with David Libby, who explains how he and his family contracted Lyme disease. He shares the emotional and physical toll of watching his wife...
Cancer, Infidelity and Divorce - How I survived breast cancer and betrayal
Laura endured the adversity trifecta- cancer, infidelity, and divorce. Listen in as she opens up about her bi-lateral breast cancer diagnosis, ravaging chemotherapy, congestive heart failure, a heart transplant, and coping with infidelity...
How to survive the empty nest
How are you going to feel when your child leaves for college? Have you given it any thought in advance and how prepared are you to face an empty nest?In this episode I talk with Stacy Kaye, an award-winning journalist and source o...
Coping with the loss of a pet
The loss of a dog, a cat, a horse, a bird, any pet can cause us to experience grief. The animals we share our homes and lives with are part of our families and when they are no longer there it can create a significant and painful vo...
Stillborn - Carrying a baby to term with a fatal diagnosis
When Katherine and her husband learned of their baby’s fatal fetal diagnosis, they knew they had some hard decisions to make. Since their child had no kidneys he would most likely die in utero or shortly after birth, so doctors recommende...
Grief before loss - How my dad's dementia took him from us slowly
When doctors diagnosed her father with mild cognitive disorder, a form of dementia that would likely progress to Alzheimer’s, Joycelyn was in denial. It was difficult to watch the decline of her superhero dad and she began to grieve the l...
Learning to see myself through His eyes
Born with a severe cleft palate, Sue faced ridicule and harassment on daily basis due to the way she looked. In addition to having to endure multiple surgeries and physical pain, she would also be traumatized by her parent's divorce and a...
Going no contact with a parent - my journey from loss to restoration
At the age of 13, Katherine made the choice to exclude her father from her life. By going no contact with him, she hoped to rid herself of his toxic behavior and safeguard her own mental health.Listen in to our conversation as Kath...
Finding joy after the loss of a spouse
While away from home on a business trip, Anne-Marie was informed that her husband suffered a brain aneurysm and died in their bedroom. Nothing could have prepared her for the pain and grief she was about to experience and no one seemed eq...
Autism, Cancer and Death – How to see life’s challenges in a new way
Raising twin daughters with severe intellectual disabilities and autism, working full time and becoming an advocate for people with disabilities would keep Clay busy and challenged over the years. But when his wife was diagnosed with ovar...
Transformed by the waves of grief - One widow's story of hope
When a social media post informed her about a fatal shark attack at the very time and place her husband was surfing that day, Katie instinctively knew her worst fear had been realized. Now widowed at the age of 27, her life had been shatt...
Losing my parents, processing my grief, and examining my faith
Ten years after losing her mom to cancer, Ceci was still healing but feeling stronger, restored and more grounded. Then the news came that her father was ill and ultimately died in the hospital during the pandemic. By a...
Compassion in the Curriculum: How one teacher is using her story to help at-risk students
Growing up in an alcoholic and abusive home made every day difficult for Suzy. She endured painful emotional and physical abuse and failed to receive the nurturing and parental guidance that is so critical to a child’s healthy development...
When Joy and Sorrow Collide: One Man's Perspective
Following two miscarriages, Darrell and his wife were thrilled to learn that they would finally become parents. As they arrived at the hospital prepared to experience their greatest joy, they also received devasting news that would trigg...
How my daughter's death created a legacy of life
During a family vacation in Colorado, Tara's 13-year-old daughter Taylor died suddenly when she struck a tree while skiing. Still in shock, Tara and her husband were asked a question no parents ever think they will hear: "Would you ...
Suddenly Widowed with Children
When her husband passed away suddenly, Debbie was widowed without warning at the age of 35 with 4 young boys. In our discussion, she weaves through the terror of losing Aaron, the heartbreak of explaining the tragedy to her fo...
Moving forward after the death of a child
Just before Thanksgiving in 2020, in the midst of a global pandemic, a loving wife and mother of three would discover that her 17-year-old daughter had taken her own life. In an incredibly touching conversation with author K. L .Gilchri...
Transforming Mental Health Through Text Messages: Johnny Crowder's Journey to Cope Notes
What if I told you that you could transform your mental health through the power of daily text messages? Join me for a powerful conversation with my guest, Johnny Crowder, a suicide and abuse survivor who has turned his pain into purpose by cre...
How to cope with multiple losses in life
While in the hospital giving birth to her son, Veronica received the news that her sister had just passed away. Listen in to hear the story of how this woman of faith chose to react to her circumstances and how she turned her miser...
The Emotional, Physical and Spiritual Impact of Grief
Following the death of her dear friend, Marnie was surprised at the impact her grief would have on her physical health. Later, her father's sudden death also hit her hard emotionally and physically, but it didn't take her long to realize...
Parent of an addicted child shares the lessons he learned
When Darryl first learned that his son Chase had a drug habit, he panicked. He didn't know how to respond to his son's behavioral changes, so he turned to an intervention team. Chase was admitted to a treatment facility, seemed to b...
What I learned after losing my son
On the 10 year anniversary of my son Sean's passing, I share the lessons I learned from the most devastating experience of my life.#lossofmyson #lessonsinloss #gratitude
What I learned about control and surrender after the loss of my son
At the age of 18, Beth's son Mitchell passed away from an undiagnosed illness. For the last five years of his life, she did everything in her power to help him return to health, only to realize it was out of her control. List...
