How to Deal When the Shit Gets Real Podcast

Rietta Boksha

A storytelling podcast about resilience, growth and navigating life’s hardest seasons. How to Deal When the Shit Gets Real is where honest conversations unfold about the moments that change us. Each episode features real people sharing their journeys through grief, trauma, adversity and the challenges that reshape who we are. This show isn’t about perfection or pretending everything is fine. It’s about what happens when life cracks open — and how we find strength on the other side. If you’ve ever felt lost, overwhelmed, broken, or unsure how to move forward, these conversations are for you.

  1. 3D AGO

    Lindsey Love: Survival and Self | Escaping Abuse, Healing Trauma, and Living with DID

    In this episode of How to Deal When the Shit Gets Real, Lindsey Love shares her powerful story of surviving abuse, rebuilding her life, and learning to live with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). Lindsey opens up about getting married young and finding herself in an abusive relationship that forced her to make the difficult decision to leave and start over. With the help of a friend — and later the wisdom of her grandmother — Lindsey began the long journey of healing, self-discovery, and understanding her mental health. She shares how trauma from childhood can follow us into adulthood, how she discovered she was living with DID, and the unique ways she manages and navigates life with multiple identities. In this episode we discuss:• Escaping an abusive marriage• How childhood trauma shapes adulthood• Discovering and living with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)• The people who help us heal — and the ones we unexpectedly lose• Finding strength, identity, and purpose after trauma Lindsey’s story is one of survival, resilience, and the reminder that even after unimaginable circumstances, it is possible to rebuild and keep moving forward. If you’ve ever felt alone in your healing journey, this conversation is for you. Lindseys TikTok

    1h 1m

  2. FEB 27

    Ryan Rush: Curiosity and Constitution | Civil Discourse in a Divided Culture

    In this episode of How to Deal When the Sht Gets Real*, I sit down with author Ryan Rush — known on social media as Gentleman Outlaw — to talk about the Constitution, political dialogue, and what it means to approach disagreement with curiosity instead of contempt. We explore how to have conversations across ideological lines, why understanding opposing viewpoints matters, and how reading deeply shapes stronger thinking. Ryan also shares insights from The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis and why learning, critical thought, and intellectual humility are essential in today’s cultural climate. In this episode, we discuss:• The importance of the Constitution in modern political conversations• How to engage in civil discourse across party lines• Curiosity over outrage• Why reading builds discernment• Lessons from C.S. Lewis and The Screwtape Letters• The value of understanding both sides of an argument This is a conversation about thoughtful dialogue, intellectual growth, and choosing understanding over division.

    1h 6m

  3. FEB 20

    Maevine: Strength and Surrender | Living with Chronic Illness and Caring for a Parent with Dementia and ALS

    In this episode of How to Deal When the Sht Gets Real*, Maevine shares what it’s like living with chronic illness while caring for a parent diagnosed with both dementia and ALS. Together, we explore the emotional and physical toll of long-term illness, caregiver burnout, and the quiet weight of anticipatory grief. Maevine opens up about exhaustion that goes beyond sleep, the identity shifts that come with chronic health challenges, and the heartbreak of watching someone you love slowly change. We talk about navigating medical uncertainty, balancing self-care with caregiving responsibilities, and finding resilience in seasons that don’t offer easy answers. In this conversation, we discuss:• Living with chronic illness• Caring for a parent with dementia and ALS• Understanding anticipatory grief• Caregiver burnout and emotional exhaustion• Strength, surrender, and redefining resilience This isn’t a polished story or a highlight reel. It’s honest. It’s heavy. It’s real. If you’re supporting a parent through dementia, navigating ALS, managing chronic illness, or trying to hold both love and loss at the same time — this episode is for you.

    52 min

  4. JAN 9

    Lindi Edge: Connection and Loss | Healthy Communication in Relationships and Coping with Grief

    In this episode, I sit down with relationship coach Lindi Edge to talk about communication in relationships — and why expecting your partner to read your mind creates disconnect. We explore how to build emotional safety, communicate needs clearly, and strengthen relationships through honesty. Lindi also shares her personal experience navigating the loss of her mother and what she would say to someone coping with profound grief. In this episode: Healthy communication in relationships Why clear communication prevents resentment Emotional safety and vulnerability Coping with the loss of a parent Grief and showing up in hard seasons This is a conversation about love, loss, and learning to speak what you need — even when it feels uncomfortable.

    49 min

  5. 11/07/2025

    Matt Williams: Courage and Conversation | How to Have Difficult Conversations in a Divided World

    In Part II of my conversation with Matt Williams, we dive into the courage it takes to have hard conversations — especially in a divided world. Matt shares what it’s really like to run for public office, how controversial topics test relationships, and why respectful dialogue still matters. We talk about navigating political disagreement, listening when it’s uncomfortable, and rebuilding connection through honest conversation. In this episode: How to have difficult conversations Respectful dialogue across political differences Running for office and public scrutiny Finding common ground in conflict Personal growth through disagreement This conversation is about courage — not just in leadership, but in everyday connection.

    1h 2m

  6. 10/24/2025

    Matt Williams: Survival and Starting Over | Growing Up in Chaos, Trauma and Rebuilding After Adversity

    From surviving a chaotic childhood to working on a shrimp boat surrounded by addiction — while being allergic to shrimp — Matt Williams has lived through adversity that could have broken him. In Part I of our conversation, Matt shares what it’s like growing up in instability, navigating trauma, and rebuilding your life after hardship. We talk about resilience, military service, and how finding your voice can become part of healing. In this episode: Growing up in a chaotic or dysfunctional home Trauma and survival coping mechanisms Overcoming addiction environments Starting over after adversity Finding purpose through storytelling This is a story of survival — and the first step toward transformation. Important Links: Website The Life Liberty Show

    1h 11m

  7. 10/17/2025

    Greg Linkowski MD: Faith and Loss | Coping with the Death of a Child, Grief and Spiritual Doubt

    After losing his son to devastating medical complications, Dr. Greg Linkowski found himself wrestling with grief, faith, and what unconditional love truly means. In this powerful conversation, we explore coping with the loss of a child, navigating spiritual doubt after tragedy, and how grief reshapes identity. Greg shares how journaling became part of his healing process and how his work with Joni and Friends helped him rediscover empathy and peace. In this episode, we discuss: Grieving the death of a child Questioning faith after loss The healing power of journaling Finding hope after tragedy Choosing empathy over judgment This is a conversation about heartbreak, faith under pressure, and rebuilding meaning after devastating loss. Important Links: Website Joni and Friends Book

    51 min

  8. 10/10/2025

    Pops Danny: Pain and Purpose | Losing a Child, Grief and Turning Tragedy into Community Impact

    After losing his youngest son, Zach, Pops turned unimaginable grief into purpose by founding Zach’s Rays of Hope, a nonprofit serving people experiencing homelessness. In this deeply personal episode, we talk about coping with the death of a child, navigating parental grief, and how tragedy can transform into meaningful action. Pops shares how honoring his son’s memory through community outreach became part of his healing journey. We also discuss: Grief after losing a child Turning pain into purpose Supporting people experiencing homelessness Faith, compassion, and community impact How to help someone who is grieving This episode is about more than loss. It’s about dignity, legacy, and reminding people — especially in their darkest seasons — that they matter. Important Links: Website YouTube TikTok

    51 min
See All (216)

4.3
out of 5
30 Ratings

About

A storytelling podcast about resilience, growth and navigating life’s hardest seasons. How to Deal When the Shit Gets Real is where honest conversations unfold about the moments that change us. Each episode features real people sharing their journeys through grief, trauma, adversity and the challenges that reshape who we are. This show isn’t about perfection or pretending everything is fine. It’s about what happens when life cracks open — and how we find strength on the other side. If you’ve ever felt lost, overwhelmed, broken, or unsure how to move forward, these conversations are for you.

Information