The P-I-G: Stories of Life, Love, Loss & Legacy

Kellie Straub & Erin Thomas
  • 5.0 (19)
  • RELATIONSHIPS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to The P-I-G, a podcast where we explore life, love, loss, and legacy through real conversations and meaningful stories—with Purpose, Intention, and Gratitude. Hosted by sisters, Kellie Straub and Erin Thomas, The P-I-G was born from the bond they shared with their late mother, Marsha—a woman whose life and love continue to inspire every story told. What began as a deeply personal project has since evolved into a growing legacy movement, including The Boxes, a developing film and television series inspired by the physical gifts their mother left behind—each one unwrapped at a defining life moment after her passing. At its heart, The P-I-G is about what matters most: connection. It’s a warm, welcoming space for open and honest conversations about the things we all carry—and the stories that shape who we are. While “loss” is often defined by death, our episodes explore a much broader truth: We grieve relationships, mobility, identity, careers, finances, health, pets, confidence, memory, belongings, faith—even entire versions of ourselves. Through personal reflections, powerful guest interviews, and expert insights, each episode invites you to consider what it means to live fully, love deeply, grieve honestly, and leave a legacy that matters. Whether you’re navigating a loss, rediscovering your voice, or simply craving deeper connection—you belong here. 💬 Favorite topics include: Grief and healing (in all its forms)Sibling stories and family dynamicsLove, marriage, caregiving, and motherhoodSpirituality, resilience, and personal growthLegacy storytelling and honoring those we’ve lost🎧 New episodes post every other week. Follow and share to help us spread the message that hearing the stories of others helps us create a more meaningful connection to our own and legacy isn’t just what we leave behind—it’s how we live right now. Hogs & Kisses, everyone. 💗🐷💗

  1. When Everything Is On The Line: Dr. Becky on Marriage, Crisis, and Courage

    APR 29

    When Everything Is On The Line: Dr. Becky on Marriage, Crisis, and Courage

    What is a crisis—really? In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, we sit down with marriage crisis coach Dr. Becky Whetstone to explore what happens when life overwhelms our ability to cope—and how we begin to find our way forward. Dr. Becky shares both her professional expertise and her own lived experience, including the devastating loss of her Marine son to friendly fire, and the lifelong grief that followed. Together, we unpack the ways crisis can show up quietly, the cost of avoiding the truth, and why naming what’s real is often the first step toward healing. In this episode, we explore:  growing up in the segregated South and the experiences that shaped her voice  the loss of her son and what it means to live forward through grief  how crisis is defined—and why it doesn’t always look the way we expect  why avoiding the truth often deepens the pain  what it means to take the next right step when everything feels uncertain This conversation is a reminder that crisis doesn’t mean the end of the story—it may be the moment that invites us to tell the truth, seek support, and begin again. 🎧 Listen now and share with someone who might need it. Support the show Hearing the stories of others helps us connect more deeply to our own—because legacy is built in how we live, every single day. 💬 Subscribe, Review & Share Follow the show, leave a 5-star review, and share this episode with someone who may need it.  🔗 Connect with Us Have a story or expertise to share? We’d love to hear from you. 🌐 www.thepigpodcast.com 📬 thepigpodcast.com/contact 📱 Facebook, Instagram & LinkedIn 💖 Support the Show If The P-I-G has meant something to you, consider supporting or sponsoring the podcast: thepigpodcast.com/sponsorship |  buzzsprout.com/2449606/support

    1h 43m
  2. Perspective Changes Everything: Gini Thomas—Still Standing, One Year Later

    APR 15

    Perspective Changes Everything: Gini Thomas—Still Standing, One Year Later

    Some stories don’t end when the moment passes. They evolve. One year after first sharing her powerful story, Gini Thomas returns to The P-I-G for a deeply honest conversation about what life looks like after survival becomes reality. This is not a retelling of the accident that took her husband Joe and eventually led to the loss of her leg—it’s a look at everything that comes after.  Gini opens up about:  The physical and emotional realities of continued healing  Recurring surgeries, setbacks, and the patience required to rebuild  The role of perspective in navigating both pain and progress  Why no two grief journeys—or amputee journeys—are ever the same  The importance of advocating for yourself in both life and medical care As part of Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month, this conversation also expands into advocacy—highlighting accessibility, insurance limitations, and the growing movement to ensure that people with limb loss have the tools they need to fully participate in life. Gini also shares her upcoming work with the Limb Kind Foundation, including a life-changing mission trip to Ethiopia—continuing her commitment to turning pain into purpose. This episode is a reminder that resilience isn’t a moment—it’s a process. And sometimes, the most meaningful part of the story… is what happens after. If you haven’t yet heard Gini’s full journey, we encourage you to go back and listen to Episode #6: Still Here, Still Standing. Support the show Hearing the stories of others helps us connect more deeply to our own—because legacy is built in how we live, every single day. 💬 Subscribe, Review & Share Follow the show, leave a 5-star review, and share this episode with someone who may need it.  🔗 Connect with Us Have a story or expertise to share? We’d love to hear from you. 🌐 www.thepigpodcast.com 📬 thepigpodcast.com/contact 📱 Facebook, Instagram & LinkedIn 💖 Support the Show If The P-I-G has meant something to you, consider supporting or sponsoring the podcast: thepigpodcast.com/sponsorship |  buzzsprout.com/2449606/support

    1h 9m
  3. It Almost Took Everything: Chad Womack on Kratom, Shame, and Recovery

    APR 1

    It Almost Took Everything: Chad Womack on Kratom, Shame, and Recovery

    Some addictions don’t look dangerous—until they are. In this powerful and deeply honest conversation, we sit down with Chad Womack as he shares how a legal, widely available “wellness tonic” quietly turned into a daily kratom addiction that nearly cost him everything. What began as something accessible—something that felt manageable—slowly became a cycle of dependence, secrecy, and shame that impacted his identity, his relationships, and his life at home. Chad opens up about:  How kratom and kava products can mask early signs of addiction  The subtle progression from use to dependence  The emotional toll of secrecy, shame, and disconnection  The breaking point that led to detox and treatment  What recovery looks like when you choose honesty over hiding This conversation is not just about addiction—it’s about awareness. It’s about recognizing what we don’t always see in ourselves… and having the courage to face it before it’s too late. If this episode resonates, we encourage you to share it with someone who may need to hear it. 🔗 Resources & Support If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use or dependency, support is available: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) — free, confidential, 24/7 National Institute on Drug Abuse: nida.nih.gov American Addiction Centers: americanaddictioncenters.org To learn more about substances discussed in this episode:  Kratom and its effects: nida.nih.gov/research-topics/kratom  Kava and safety considerations: fda.gov You are not alone—and support is available. Support the show Hearing the stories of others helps us connect more deeply to our own—because legacy is built in how we live, every single day. 💬 Subscribe, Review & Share Follow the show, leave a 5-star review, and share this episode with someone who may need it.  🔗 Connect with Us Have a story or expertise to share? We’d love to hear from you. 🌐 www.thepigpodcast.com 📬 thepigpodcast.com/contact 📱 Facebook, Instagram & LinkedIn 💖 Support the Show If The P-I-G has meant something to you, consider supporting or sponsoring the podcast: thepigpodcast.com/sponsorship |  buzzsprout.com/2449606/support

    1h 20m
  4. Our Relationship Reset Check-in: Six Months Later with Marcus Straub

    MAR 18

    Our Relationship Reset Check-in: Six Months Later with Marcus Straub

    Six months ago, we made a decision that would completely change the trajectory of our relationship—not just as sisters, but as women, mothers, and partners. We stopped guessing. We stopped assuming. And we started doing the work. In this first Relationship Reset Check-in, we sit down with our coach, Marcus Straub, to reflect on what’s actually changed since beginning this journey through DISC, Driving Forces, and integrity-based communication. This isn’t theory—it’s real life. We talk about: What we’ve learned about ourselves—and each other—faster than we ever expectedHow awareness replaces assumption and transforms communicationWhat it looks like to apply these tools in real time (not just read about them)The ripple effect into our families, parenting, marriages, and friendshipsHow this work changed the quality of time we shared during the holidaysWhy most people struggle in relationships—and what actually helpsMarcus also shares his perspective after working with us weekly for six months, along with why assessment-based coaching creates such powerful and lasting change. If you’ve ever thought, “Why don’t they understand me?” or “Why does this keep happening?”—this conversation will give you language, clarity, and a path forward. Because relationships don’t change by chance. They change by choice—and by tools that actually work. *NOTE: To follow along with our Relationship Comparison Report, visit thePIGpodcast.com/episodes/episode-31. Support the show Hearing the stories of others helps us connect more deeply to our own—because legacy is built in how we live, every single day. 💬 Subscribe, Review & Share Follow the show, leave a 5-star review, and share this episode with someone who may need it.  🔗 Connect with Us Have a story or expertise to share? We’d love to hear from you. 🌐 www.thepigpodcast.com 📬 thepigpodcast.com/contact 📱 Facebook, Instagram & LinkedIn 💖 Support the Show If The P-I-G has meant something to you, consider supporting or sponsoring the podcast: thepigpodcast.com/sponsorship |  buzzsprout.com/2449606/support

    1h 35m
  5. The Story Behind the Story: One Year Later with Chris Howard

    MAR 4

    The Story Behind the Story: One Year Later with Chris Howard

    One year ago, we pressed record on The P-I-G Podcast without fully understanding what this journey would ask of us—creatively, relationally, and personally. In this powerful anniversary episode, we sit down with Chris Howard—producer of The Boxes Project, trusted collaborator, and now chosen family—to reflect on what this past year has truly been. What started as a documentary exploration of our mother’s legacy became something far deeper: a transformation of our relationship as sisters, a reckoning with old wounds, and a commitment to holding space for stories beyond our own. Chris shares his perspective on watching our reconnection unfold—especially after initially believing we were already “close & deeply connected.” We talk about creative breakthroughs, hard truths, unexpected healing, and the weight of real-life loss. Over the past year, Chris navigated the passing of both his father-in-law and his mother within months of each other—all while continuing to show up for this work and for us. Together, we explore: What changed most in Year OneThe current state of The Boxes ProjectHow storytelling reshaped our relationshipThe impact of chosen familyWhat it means to create while grievingWhy we believe our best episodes are still aheadThis isn’t just a look back. It’s a declaration of what’s possible when Purpose, Intention, and Gratitude guide the work—even when life gets heavy. Thank you for being part of this first year. Year Two begins now. Support the show Hearing the stories of others helps us connect more deeply to our own—because legacy is built in how we live, every single day. 💬 Subscribe, Review & Share Follow the show, leave a 5-star review, and share this episode with someone who may need it.  🔗 Connect with Us Have a story or expertise to share? We’d love to hear from you. 🌐 www.thepigpodcast.com 📬 thepigpodcast.com/contact 📱 Facebook, Instagram & LinkedIn 💖 Support the Show If The P-I-G has meant something to you, consider supporting or sponsoring the podcast: thepigpodcast.com/sponsorship |  buzzsprout.com/2449606/support

    1h 19m
  6. From Shedding to Strength: Cindy Hartzell on Trust, Trauma & the Fire Horse

    FEB 18

    From Shedding to Strength: Cindy Hartzell on Trust, Trauma & the Fire Horse

    Some conversations feel destined. In this powerful and deeply aligned episode of The P-I-G Podcast, we sit down with Cindy Hartzell—founder of Heart Soul Confidence-Based Horsemanship®, wild horse advocate, bestselling author, and co-host of The Holistic Horsemanship and Husbandry Podcast—to explore what happens when trauma forces us to rebuild trust from the ground up. Cindy shares her personal story of a life-changing accident with her beloved Palomino, RC—an experience that shattered her confidence and reshaped her understanding of leadership, fear, and healing. What followed was not just recovery, but a calling: to help women rebuild trust in themselves through partnership with horses. Together, we explore the deep synchronicities that brought our paths together, the sacred work of rescuing and protecting wild horses, and what it means to shed old identities—like the skin of the Snake—and step boldly into the Year of the Fire Horse with strength, passion, and clarity. This conversation is about more than horsemanship. It’s about trust. It’s about trauma. It’s about leadership that begins within. And it’s about choosing movement that comes from alignment—not urgency. 🎙️ In this episode, we discuss: Cindy’s accident and the healing journey that followedRebuilding trust after trauma—physically and emotionallyThe human-horse connection as a mirror for leadership and self-awarenessWild horse rescue and the importance of preserving freedomShedding the skin of old identitiesWhat the Fire Horse year invites us to embodyStepping into strength with hands firmly on the reinsWhether you love horses or have never touched one, this conversation will move you. Because at its heart, this episode is about reclaiming your confidence—and remembering the strength that was always there. Support the show Hearing the stories of others helps us connect more deeply to our own—because legacy is built in how we live, every single day. 💬 Subscribe, Review & Share Follow the show, leave a 5-star review, and share this episode with someone who may need it.  🔗 Connect with Us Have a story or expertise to share? We’d love to hear from you. 🌐 www.thepigpodcast.com 📬 thepigpodcast.com/contact 📱 Facebook, Instagram & LinkedIn 💖 Support the Show If The P-I-G has meant something to you, consider supporting or sponsoring the podcast: thepigpodcast.com/sponsorship |  buzzsprout.com/2449606/support

    1h 33m
  7. The Rise Back: Tiffaney Childers on Suicide, Silence, and Healing

    FEB 4

    The Rise Back: Tiffaney Childers on Suicide, Silence, and Healing

    Some stories are hard to hear — but they are the ones that matter most. In this powerful episode of The P-I-G Podcast, we sit down with Tiffaney Childers, a suicide loss survivor, advocate, and founder of her local chapter of The LOSS Team, to explore what happens when grief is buried in silence — and what becomes possible when truth is finally spoken. Tiffaney shares her experience of losing both of her parents to suicide, followed by the sudden death of her father-in-law and the loss of her brother to pancreatic cancer — all while raising two young children and carrying the weight of trauma quietly for nearly two decades. What followed was not only emotional pain, but physical suffering: chronic pain that became her body’s way of holding what her voice could not yet release. Together, we talk about the long-term effects of suppressed grief, the stigma surrounding suicide loss, parenting through trauma, and the moment Tiffaney realized healing could no longer wait. She also shares how her journey led her to create meaningful support for others navigating loss — and why speaking openly about suicide saves lives. 🎙️ In this episode, we discuss: Surviving suicide loss and carrying it in silenceHow unprocessed grief can manifest physicallyParenting through trauma while honoring truthChronic pain, emotional suppression, and healingThe Rise Up Method and living forward with intentionWhy breaking the silence around suicide loss mattersThis may not be an easy listen — but it is a necessary one. A reminder that silence does not have to be the end of the story, and that healing begins when we allow ourselves to be seen, supported, and heard. Learn more about Tiffaney at: www.risesavage.com Connect on social: @tiffaneychilders (IG), /tiffaney.childers (FB) & /tiffaneychilders (LI). Purchase Tiffaney's book, "The Rise Back: Reclaiming Life After Suicide Loss, Pain, and Silence" on Amazon. Support the show Hearing the stories of others helps us connect more deeply to our own—because legacy is built in how we live, every single day. 💬 Subscribe, Review & Share Follow the show, leave a 5-star review, and share this episode with someone who may need it.  🔗 Connect with Us Have a story or expertise to share? We’d love to hear from you. 🌐 www.thepigpodcast.com 📬 thepigpodcast.com/contact 📱 Facebook, Instagram & LinkedIn 💖 Support the Show If The P-I-G has meant something to you, consider supporting or sponsoring the podcast: thepigpodcast.com/sponsorship |  buzzsprout.com/2449606/support

    1h 19m
  8. From Roots to Ripples: Rearview Reflections, Hands on the Wheel

    JAN 21

    From Roots to Ripples: Rearview Reflections, Hands on the Wheel

    One year ago, we pressed record without fully understanding what this journey would ask of us — emotionally, creatively, relationally, and personally. What began as a heart-led project to honor our mom became something far bigger: a space for truth, reflection, reconnection, and growth — both for us and for our listeners. In this special "PJs & Pokey" sister chat, we slow down to reflect on Year One of The P-I-G Podcast — the conversations that moved us, the work we didn’t know we were signing up for, the losses we carried quietly while still showing up, and the unexpected relationships that reshaped our lives along the way. We talk openly about: How this podcast transformed our relationship as sistersWhat we learned through self-awareness, communication, and courageWhy our coaching work — and the creation of The P-I-G Relationship Reset (link)— became something we had to shareThe people who became family when we didn’t even know we needed themWhat it means to honor the past while keeping our hands firmly on the wheelThis episode also marks the launch of Roots & Ripples, a new reflective resource inspired by the very work we’ve been doing here — designed to help listeners pause, look back with clarity, and move forward with intention. This isn’t a highlight reel. It’s a breath. A reflection. And an invitation to live with purpose, intention, and gratitude — even when the path surprises us. 🎧 Listen, reflect, and share with someone who’s walked this road with you.  🌱 Learn more about Roots & Ripples and other listener resources at thepigpodcast.com. Support the show Hearing the stories of others helps us connect more deeply to our own—because legacy is built in how we live, every single day. 💬 Subscribe, Review & Share Follow the show, leave a 5-star review, and share this episode with someone who may need it.  🔗 Connect with Us Have a story or expertise to share? We’d love to hear from you. 🌐 www.thepigpodcast.com 📬 thepigpodcast.com/contact 📱 Facebook, Instagram & LinkedIn 💖 Support the Show If The P-I-G has meant something to you, consider supporting or sponsoring the podcast: thepigpodcast.com/sponsorship |  buzzsprout.com/2449606/support

    1h 26m
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Trailer

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About

Welcome to The P-I-G, a podcast where we explore life, love, loss, and legacy through real conversations and meaningful stories—with Purpose, Intention, and Gratitude. Hosted by sisters, Kellie Straub and Erin Thomas, The P-I-G was born from the bond they shared with their late mother, Marsha—a woman whose life and love continue to inspire every story told. What began as a deeply personal project has since evolved into a growing legacy movement, including The Boxes, a developing film and television series inspired by the physical gifts their mother left behind—each one unwrapped at a defining life moment after her passing. At its heart, The P-I-G is about what matters most: connection. It’s a warm, welcoming space for open and honest conversations about the things we all carry—and the stories that shape who we are. While “loss” is often defined by death, our episodes explore a much broader truth: We grieve relationships, mobility, identity, careers, finances, health, pets, confidence, memory, belongings, faith—even entire versions of ourselves. Through personal reflections, powerful guest interviews, and expert insights, each episode invites you to consider what it means to live fully, love deeply, grieve honestly, and leave a legacy that matters. Whether you’re navigating a loss, rediscovering your voice, or simply craving deeper connection—you belong here. 💬 Favorite topics include: Grief and healing (in all its forms)Sibling stories and family dynamicsLove, marriage, caregiving, and motherhoodSpirituality, resilience, and personal growthLegacy storytelling and honoring those we’ve lost🎧 New episodes post every other week. Follow and share to help us spread the message that hearing the stories of others helps us create a more meaningful connection to our own and legacy isn’t just what we leave behind—it’s how we live right now. Hogs & Kisses, everyone. 💗🐷💗

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