Change Happened Then what?

Heather Holt

Change Happened, Then What? is a narrative podcast hosted by Heather Holt, focused on what happens after life-altering change. Each episode explores real human stories of grief, resilience, healing, identity shifts, and reinvention. Rather than traditional interviews, these conversations unfold as guided storytelling — thoughtful, emotionally grounded, and centered on lived experience. Host Heather Holt approaches every episode with care, allowing guests to share openly without pressure or performance. The result is a story-driven podcast that values depth over noise and reflection over quick answers. This show is for listeners navigating: Life after loss or trauma Suicide survival and grief Mental health and emotional recovery Life after diagnosis Identity shifts and second beginnings Parenting, partnership, and personal reinvention Change Happened, Then What? does not avoid hard topics — but every story is approached with steadiness, compassion, and humanity. If you’ve ever found yourself quietly asking “What now?” after something changed your life, this podcast was made for you. New episodes feature real conversations, lived experiences, and the reminder that even after everything shifts, your story is not over.

  1. When Life Throws a Curveball: The Distance between Ego and Love

    EPISODE 1

    When Life Throws a Curveball: The Distance between Ego and Love

    He was the kid who learned to earn attention with strikeouts and satellites of confidence—until the game that defined him began to take everything it had given. In this episode, Michael Bugary tells a raw, unflinching story of wanting to belong so badly he built a life around being someone else: the baseball player, the prospect, the one everyone watched. From a scholarship to UC Berkeley to the lights of the Red Sox organization, his rise looks like the dream. But under the helmet, the pressure, injuries, and a secret dependence on substances hollowed out what he loved most. This is not a tidy cautionary tale. It’s a messy, human journey through addiction, a devastating brain tumor, and the slow collapse of a carefully performed identity. Michael admits the things he tried to fix himself—human growth hormone, painkillers, the endless chase of performance—and how they pushed him toward the edge. He walks us through interventions, failed recoveries, and the numbness that made him incapable of seeing how his choices hurt the people who loved him. Then something small and unexpected shifts the axis of his life: a therapy dog named Lingo. Brought into a house full of hurt, Lingo becomes the quiet instrument of change—teaching Michael what unconditional love feels like, nudging him into humility, and drawing him back into service. Together they enter children’s hospitals, where laughter replaces pride and compassion replaces ego. Through those visits, Michael discovers the truth behind the old phrase that the longest distance is between the head and the heart. He learns to cross it. By turns heartbreaking and hopeful, this episode explores what it means to lose your identity—and to rebuild one without the applause. Michael’s story asks the listeners to consider: what would you be without your performance? How do you find meaning when the game is over? Told with candid honesty by Heather Holt and her guest, this episode is for anyone who has chased something until it hurt, who has been surprised by rescue in its smallest form, and who believes that healing can arrive in the wag of a tail. Michael Bugary   If you'd like to support the show, just click the link Be a part of the change happened community To join our mailing list and learn more our guests visit Changehappenedpodcast.com Ready to get your discount on Pure Energy Apothecary products Click the link below 20% off PURE ENERGY NOW Looking for your customized Dear Sweet One lullaby find them here Shop Now Dear Sweet One Follow along on Instagram @Change Happened for behind-the-scenes moments and updates. Got a story to share or just want to say hello? I’d love to hear from you! Drop me a line at Changepodcast@yahoo.com and maybe your "Change Happened" moment will be next.

    33 min
  2. Season two Sneak Peek

    EPISODE 1 BONUS

    Season two Sneak Peek

    New season begins this fall. Hit follow and catch up on Season 1 now. I didn’t start this podcast because I had the answers. I started it because I had questions. After brain surgery, after loss, after life unraveled—I found myself wondering: When change hits hard and fast… then what? That question became the heart of this show. Season 1 shared powerful stories from 13 people who changed my life. Now, in Season 2, the circle gets wider. You’ll hear real, unfiltered stories of heartbreak, healing, and reinvention from people like: Michael Bugary, brain cancer survivor and former pro athlete Morgan Scafe, who rebuilt her life with radical self-love Rob Baugh, who finds humor and hope after traumatic brain injury These stories aren’t polished. They’re human. And they might just help you breathe a little easier in your own season of change. 🎙 Follow now so you don't miss what comes next. 💛 Because when change comes—and it always does—what follows might just change you. If you'd like to support the show, just click the link Be a part of the change happened community To join our mailing list and learn more our guests visit Changehappenedpodcast.com Ready to get your discount on Pure Energy Apothecary products Click the link below 20% off PURE ENERGY NOW Looking for your customized Dear Sweet One lullaby find them here Shop Now Dear Sweet One Follow along on Instagram @Change Happened for behind-the-scenes moments and updates. Got a story to share or just want to say hello? I’d love to hear from you! Drop me a line at Changepodcast@yahoo.com and maybe your "Change Happened" moment will be next.

    5 min
  3. What stayed with me - Embers & Echoes Mini Series- Part 2

    EPISODE 1 BONUS

    What stayed with me - Embers & Echoes Mini Series- Part 2

    In this episode of Change Happened, Then What?, host Heather Holt reflects on Season 1 and the powerful blueprints left behind by her guests. From grief to resilience, love to creativity, these stories remind us that change is never just an ending — it’s the beginning of something new. Hear how: Jeannie’s story of grief became a sacred connection with her daughter Ila. Deb’s journey in What Her Canvas Couldn’t Say revealed how love can be rebuilt after tragedy. Ericc’s Shift Happens showed how art can save your life. Taraleigh’s When the Music Changed turned ADHD into a superpower behind the DJ booth. Heather also shares what’s ahead in Season 2 — new voices, deeper truths, and fresh perspectives from around the world. ✨ If you’ve ever wondered how to find hope, healing, or even laughter after life changes everything, this episode is for you. If you'd like to support the show, just click the link Be a part of the change happened community To join our mailing list and learn more our guests visit Changehappenedpodcast.com Ready to get your discount on Pure Energy Apothecary products Click the link below 20% off PURE ENERGY NOW Looking for your customized Dear Sweet One lullaby find them here Shop Now Dear Sweet One Follow along on Instagram @Change Happened for behind-the-scenes moments and updates. Got a story to share or just want to say hello? I’d love to hear from you! Drop me a line at Changepodcast@yahoo.com and maybe your "Change Happened" moment will be next.

    7 min
  4. When Sunday Morning Shattered: From Chaos to Clarity — The Healing Power of Journaling

    EPISODE 2

    When Sunday Morning Shattered: From Chaos to Clarity — The Healing Power of Journaling

    On an ordinary Sunday morning, everything inside Shawnti finally gave way. What looked like a life held together became a mirror of small, unspoken truths — pregnancy at fourteen, nights of numbness, a thrill-seeking need to feel alive, and a hollow performance of strength that masked a growing storm. In this powerful episode of Change Happened, Then What?, host Heather Holt guides us through Shawnti’s raw and relentless journey: from a childhood where feelings were forbidden and chaos felt normal, to the day her mind and body finally said, “Enough.” What followed was a month-long unraveling — a clinical diagnosis, a hesitant first visit to a psychiatrist, and the painful trial and error of finding someone who could truly hold her story. Through faith, therapy, and the healing power of journaling, Shawnti began transforming pain into purpose — proving that asking for help isn’t weakness, it’s courage. From a stack of dollar-store notebooks labeled with old wounds, she built a life of meaning, becoming a Master Certified Mental Health Coach and best-selling author of Quiet As Kept. This episode is a conversation about courage — about choosing therapy over shame, truth over silence, and healing over survival. It’s a reminder that you are not weak for needing help; you are human, and you are not alone.  Stay until the end for this week’s Change Challenge and your chance to win a cozy Change Happened, Then What? tee or hat. Follow Shawnti on Facebook Follow Shawnti on Instagram Follow Shawnti on YouTube Follow Shawnti on TikTok Quiet As Kept Podcast Shawnti Journals   If you'd like to support the show, just click the link Be a part of the change happened community To join our mailing list and learn more our guests visit Changehappenedpodcast.com Ready to get your discount on Pure Energy Apothecary products Click the link below 20% off PURE ENERGY NOW Looking for your customized Dear Sweet One lullaby find them here Shop Now Dear Sweet One Follow along on Instagram @Change Happened for behind-the-scenes moments and updates. Got a story to share or just want to say hello? I’d love to hear from you! Drop me a line at Changepodcast@yahoo.com and maybe your "Change Happened" moment will be next.

    23 min
  5. The Spark That Started It All | Embers & Echoes Mini-Series Part 1

    EPISODE 2 BONUS

    The Spark That Started It All | Embers & Echoes Mini-Series Part 1

    What sparks a podcast into life? For me, it wasn’t a polished plan — it was change. After loss, divorce, brain surgery, and learning to smile again, I wanted to listen, to hold space, and to tell stories that were felt, not just told. In this first episode of Embers & Echoes — a three-part mini-series to close out Season 1 of Change Happened, Then What? — I rewind to the very beginning: how this podcast was born, the 13 friends who trusted me with their stories, and the unexpected ways Season 1 unfolded. You’ll hear about Jeannie’s grief and spiritual resilience, Tim & Candy’s humor through chaos, Natalie’s courage to heal her brain, Jen’s unfiltered honesty, Julie’s story of adoption and chosen family — and so much more. These weren’t just interviews. They were blueprints of human truth. Along the way, I share what I’ve learned about storytelling, silence, connection, and community. And how, with your messages and support, this podcast became more than just mine — it became ours. Season 2 launches October 14th with new stories, new friendships, and new beginnings. But first, let’s return to the spark that started it all. If you'd like to support the show, just click the link Be a part of the change happened community To join our mailing list and learn more our guests visit Changehappenedpodcast.com Ready to get your discount on Pure Energy Apothecary products Click the link below 20% off PURE ENERGY NOW Looking for your customized Dear Sweet One lullaby find them here Shop Now Dear Sweet One Follow along on Instagram @Change Happened for behind-the-scenes moments and updates. Got a story to share or just want to say hello? I’d love to hear from you! Drop me a line at Changepodcast@yahoo.com and maybe your "Change Happened" moment will be next.

    8 min

Trailers

5
out of 5
20 Ratings

About

Change Happened, Then What? is a narrative podcast hosted by Heather Holt, focused on what happens after life-altering change. Each episode explores real human stories of grief, resilience, healing, identity shifts, and reinvention. Rather than traditional interviews, these conversations unfold as guided storytelling — thoughtful, emotionally grounded, and centered on lived experience. Host Heather Holt approaches every episode with care, allowing guests to share openly without pressure or performance. The result is a story-driven podcast that values depth over noise and reflection over quick answers. This show is for listeners navigating: Life after loss or trauma Suicide survival and grief Mental health and emotional recovery Life after diagnosis Identity shifts and second beginnings Parenting, partnership, and personal reinvention Change Happened, Then What? does not avoid hard topics — but every story is approached with steadiness, compassion, and humanity. If you’ve ever found yourself quietly asking “What now?” after something changed your life, this podcast was made for you. New episodes feature real conversations, lived experiences, and the reminder that even after everything shifts, your story is not over.