Parental Alcoholism and Family Estrangement: Trygve Olsen’s Story of Healing and Hope

In this raw and deeply moving episode of The Phoenix Table, Trygve Olsen opens up about his painful decision to become estranged from his parents after years of alcoholism, denial, and one traumatic event that changed everything.

He shares the story of setting boundaries to protect his son, the heartbreaking realities of gaslighting and family pressure, and the quiet strength it takes to walk away when reconciliation feels impossible. Together, we explore how estrangement reshapes identity, how generational patterns of pain carry forward, and what it means to choose healing—even when it hurts.

But this isn’t just a story of separation. Together, we explore the two sides of estrangement: what it means for the person stepping away and what it means for the people around them.

How do you support a friend or colleague when they’re navigating a rift in their closest relationships? How do you sit with the discomfort, the grief, and the not-knowing without pulling away?

This episode is both a window into one man’s lived experience and a guide for anyone who wants to show up better for the people they love.

Trigger warning: This story depicts themes of alcoholism and estrangement, and includes a retelling of a dog attack on a child which may feel heavy for some listeners. Please take care as you listen and take a step back if you need to. Thank you to our guest for courageously sharing this story.