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

Kellie Straub & Erin Thomas
  • 5.0 (20)
  • 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. The Power of Belief (Part 2 of 2): Angel Mollel & Tony Matteroli on Purpose, Legacy & Paying It Forward

    Jul 1

    The Power of Belief (Part 2 of 2): Angel Mollel & Tony Matteroli on Purpose, Legacy & Paying It Forward

    One act of belief changed Angel Mollel's life. In Part Two of this extraordinary conversation, we discover what happened next—and how that same belief continues to ripple across families, villages, and generations. After arriving in the United States as a fifth-grade student from a small Maasai village in Northern Tanzania, Angel could have focused solely on building her own future. Instead, she chose something bigger. Together with her adopted father, Tony Matteroli, she founded 1 Love, a nonprofit dedicated to creating educational opportunities and improving daily life in the community that first shaped her. What began as a high school service project has grown into a mission that continues to transform lives through education, clean water, electricity, safer homes, transportation, and opportunities that create lasting change. Together, we explore:  How 1 Love grew from an idea into a thriving nonprofit  The life-changing impact of clean water, electricity, and education  Why empowering women transforms entire communities  Angel's journey from CU Boulder to FOX31 Denver  Being named Colorado's 2021 Remarkable Woman  Returning home to Tanzania after four years away  Tony's reflections on fatherhood, adoption, and legacy  What family truly means when it's built through love rather than biology At its heart, this conversation isn't about recognition. It's about responsibility. It's about choosing to take the opportunities we've been given and creating them for someone else. Because the greatest legacy isn't what we accomplish ourselves. It's what we make possible for others. Learn more about Angel's work and 1 Love: https://www.1loveorg.org Explore episode resources and photographs:  thePIGpodcast.com/episodes/tony-matteroli-angel-mollel-part-2 We would love to hear from you—please send us some "Fan Mail"! Support the show From Our Heart to Yours... Hearing the stories of others helps us connect more deeply to our own—because legacy is built in how we live, every single day. Support the Show If The P-I-G has meant something to you, consider supporting or sponsoring the podcast. Learn more at thepigpodcast.com/sponsorship. Connect with Us 📬 The P-I-G Website: https://www.thepigpodcast.com/contact 📱 Facebook: /podcast.thePIG 📱 Instagram: /thepigpodcast 📱 LinkedIn: /thepigpodcast

    1h 23m
  2. The Power of Belief (Part 1 of 2): Tony Matteroli, Angel Mollel & an Unlikely Family

    Jun 24

    The Power of Belief (Part 1 of 2): Tony Matteroli, Angel Mollel & an Unlikely Family

    What happens when one person chooses to believe in someone they've only just met? Sometimes... everything changes. In Part One of this special two-part conversation, we sit down with Tony Matteroli and Angel Mollel to share an extraordinary story that begins in a small Maasai village in Northern Tanzania and stretches across continents, cultures, and generations. After being laid off from a job he thought would last forever, Tony traveled to Tanzania expecting to volunteer for six months. Instead, he met a young girl whose determination to learn—and whose quiet resilience—would forever change the course of both of their lives. Angel grew up in a Maasai village with sixteen siblings, two mothers, and one father. While education for girls was far from guaranteed, her father's belief in her potential planted the first seed of a journey that would eventually bring her halfway around the world. Together, we explore: How an unexpected layoff became the beginning of a life-changing journeyGrowing up Maasai in rural TanzaniaWhy Angel's father insisted his daughters receive an educationThe unexpected friendship that became familyNavigating cultural differences with humility and trustHealth challenges, difficult decisions, and protecting a child's futureThe extraordinary effort required to bring Angel to the United StatesAngel's first experiences in America—and the determination that carried her forwardBut beneath every milestone lies a much deeper story.  A story about fathers... about courage... about opportunity. About choosing to believe in another human being long before they can fully see what's possible for themselves. And this is only the beginning… Join us next week for Part Two as Angel shares how one opportunity became a mission, one act of belief became a movement, and one remarkable journey continues to change lives in both Colorado and Tanzania. Because sometimes changing the world doesn't begin with changing everyone. It begins with believing in one person.  Learn more about Angel's work and 1 Love: www.1loveorg.org Explore episode resources and photographs: thePIGpodcast.com/episodes/tony-matteroli-angel-mollel-part-1 We would love to hear from you—please send us some "Fan Mail"! Support the show From Our Heart to Yours... Hearing the stories of others helps us connect more deeply to our own—because legacy is built in how we live, every single day. Support the Show If The P-I-G has meant something to you, consider supporting or sponsoring the podcast. Learn more at thepigpodcast.com/sponsorship. Connect with Us 📬 The P-I-G Website: https://www.thepigpodcast.com/contact 📱 Facebook: /podcast.thePIG 📱 Instagram: /thepigpodcast 📱 LinkedIn: /thepigpodcast

    1h 15m
  3. Who Am I Really? Susan Mazonson on Self-Discovery & the Courage to Become Yourself

    Jun 10

    Who Am I Really? Susan Mazonson on Self-Discovery & the Courage to Become Yourself

    What if the person you're still becoming is more important than the person you thought you were supposed to be? In this deeply personal and reflective conversation, Susan Mazonson joins The P-I-G to share the lifelong journey that led her to ask a simple but transformational question: Who am I really? For decades, Susan built a successful life as a corporate leader, entrepreneur, innovator, and problem solver. Fiercely independent and determined to prove herself in environments where strength was often defined by traditionally masculine traits, she learned early to rely on herself and keep moving forward. But beneath the accomplishments was a deeper story. A story shaped by the sudden loss of her father at age fifteen, the shifting family dynamics that followed, the expectations she placed on herself, and the lifelong process of understanding who she was beyond achievement, titles, and external validation. Together, we explore: How losing her father during adolescence shaped her identity, independence, and worldviewThe hidden cost of always feeling the need to prove yourselfWhy she spent years downplaying the feminine qualities that would later become some of her greatest strengthsBuilding a successful career and discovering that achievement alone wasn't enoughCaring for her aging mother and witnessing extraordinary growth, courage, and transformation late in lifeThe power of curiosity, self-awareness, and lifelong learningLetting go of expectations that no longer fitUnderstanding ourselves more deeply so we can better understand othersWhy becoming isn't something we finish—it’s something we continueThroughout the conversation, Susan shares stories of family, loss, resilience, reinvention, and the unexpected lessons that emerge when we remain open to growth—even when life unfolds differently than we imagined. This episode is a reminder that transformation doesn't have an expiration date. And that some of life's most important discoveries may still be waiting for us. Learn more and explore additional resources: thePIGpodcast.com/episodes/susan-mazonson We would love to hear from you—please send us some "Fan Mail"! Support the show From Our Heart to Yours... Hearing the stories of others helps us connect more deeply to our own—because legacy is built in how we live, every single day. Support the Show If The P-I-G has meant something to you, consider supporting or sponsoring the podcast. Learn more at thepigpodcast.com/sponsorship. Connect with Us 📬 The P-I-G Website: https://www.thepigpodcast.com/contact 📱 Facebook: /podcast.thePIG 📱 Instagram: /thepigpodcast 📱 LinkedIn: /thepigpodcast

    1h 27m
  4. If You Can Write It, You Can Read It: Russell Van Brocklen on Dyslexia, Confidence & Human Potential

    May 27

    If You Can Write It, You Can Read It: Russell Van Brocklen on Dyslexia, Confidence & Human Potential

    A single sentence in childhood can become a life sentence. Russell Van Brocklen was once told he would never read at grade level. Years of labels, accommodations, exclusion, and frustration quietly shaped the way he saw himself—and the way others saw him too. Today, Russell is a New York State Senate-funded dyslexia researcher, founder of DyslexiaClasses.com, and the creator of a practical learning framework built around one transformational idea: “If You Can Write It, You Can Read It.” But this conversation goes far beyond dyslexia. Together, we explore: How school systems can quietly erode identity and confidenceWhy struggling learners often carry shame—not lack of intelligenceThe neuroscience behind typing, articulation, repetition, and structured writingWhy motivation and “specialty interests” matter so deeply during interventionThe emotional impact of constantly feeling behindHow small, repeatable wins rebuild trust over timeWhy strong writing and critical thinking skills matter even more in the AI eraRussell also challenges the belief that neurodiverse learners are somehow less capable—arguing instead that many simply need a different pathway to succeed. This episode is for parents, educators, students, neurodiverse adults, and honestly… anyone who has ever questioned their own intelligence after years of struggle. Because sometimes the problem was never potential. It was method.  Learn more about Russell’s work, programs, and forthcoming book, If You Can Write It, You Can Read It, at DyslexiaClasses.comExplore resources & support materials at The P-I-G Podcast Library.We would love to hear from you—please send us some "Fan Mail"! Support the show From Our Heart to Yours... Hearing the stories of others helps us connect more deeply to our own—because legacy is built in how we live, every single day. Support the Show If The P-I-G has meant something to you, consider supporting or sponsoring the podcast. Learn more at thepigpodcast.com/sponsorship. Connect with Us 📬 The P-I-G Website: https://www.thepigpodcast.com/contact 📱 Facebook: /podcast.thePIG 📱 Instagram: /thepigpodcast 📱 LinkedIn: /thepigpodcast

    1h 39m
  5. Be Willing to Be Willing: Lisa Espinoza on Grief, Joy & Losing Chandler

    May 13

    Be Willing to Be Willing: Lisa Espinoza on Grief, Joy & Losing Chandler

    Some losses happen in a moment. Others continue unfolding for years. In this deeply moving conversation, Lisa Espinoza shares the layered story of grief that has shaped her life—from losing her mother at just 18 years old to the devastating loss of her youngest son, Chandler, in 2019 after he was struck by a car while riding his bike to work.  For 18 grueling days, Lisa and her family lived between hope and heartbreak as Chandler remained on life support. And in the middle of that unimaginable pain, they were faced with another devastating reality: complications and failures in his final care that ultimately prevented his wish of becoming an organ donor from being fulfilled.  But this conversation is about more than loss. It’s about what happens after. Together, we explore:  The long-term impact of layered grief and trauma  What it means to continue living after unimaginable loss  How purpose, perspective, and faith evolve through suffering  The physical reality of grief and heartbreak  The complicated relationship between sorrow and joy  Why healing doesn’t mean “moving on” Lisa also shares the story behind one of the most powerful ideas in the episode: “What would honor Chandler?”  And ultimately, what it means to simply: “Be willing to be willing… to be open to the possibility of joy.”  This conversation is tender, honest, heartbreaking, and deeply hopeful all at once. If you’ve ever loved deeply… grieved deeply… or wondered whether joy is still possible after loss—this episode is for you. We would love to hear from you—please send us some "Fan Mail"! Support the show From Our Heart to Yours... Hearing the stories of others helps us connect more deeply to our own—because legacy is built in how we live, every single day. Support the Show If The P-I-G has meant something to you, consider supporting or sponsoring the podcast. Learn more at thepigpodcast.com/sponsorship. Connect with Us 📬 The P-I-G Website: https://www.thepigpodcast.com/contact 📱 Facebook: /podcast.thePIG 📱 Instagram: /thepigpodcast 📱 LinkedIn: /thepigpodcast

    1h 36m
  6. 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. We would love to hear from you—please send us some "Fan Mail"! Support the show From Our Heart to Yours... Hearing the stories of others helps us connect more deeply to our own—because legacy is built in how we live, every single day. Support the Show If The P-I-G has meant something to you, consider supporting or sponsoring the podcast. Learn more at thepigpodcast.com/sponsorship. Connect with Us 📬 The P-I-G Website: https://www.thepigpodcast.com/contact 📱 Facebook: /podcast.thePIG 📱 Instagram: /thepigpodcast 📱 LinkedIn: /thepigpodcast

    1h 43m
  7. 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. We would love to hear from you—please send us some "Fan Mail"! Support the show From Our Heart to Yours... Hearing the stories of others helps us connect more deeply to our own—because legacy is built in how we live, every single day. Support the Show If The P-I-G has meant something to you, consider supporting or sponsoring the podcast. Learn more at thepigpodcast.com/sponsorship. Connect with Us 📬 The P-I-G Website: https://www.thepigpodcast.com/contact 📱 Facebook: /podcast.thePIG 📱 Instagram: /thepigpodcast 📱 LinkedIn: /thepigpodcast

    1h 9m
  8. 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. We would love to hear from you—please send us some "Fan Mail"! Support the show From Our Heart to Yours... Hearing the stories of others helps us connect more deeply to our own—because legacy is built in how we live, every single day. Support the Show If The P-I-G has meant something to you, consider supporting or sponsoring the podcast. Learn more at thepigpodcast.com/sponsorship. Connect with Us 📬 The P-I-G Website: https://www.thepigpodcast.com/contact 📱 Facebook: /podcast.thePIG 📱 Instagram: /thepigpodcast 📱 LinkedIn: /thepigpodcast

    1h 20m
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Trailer

5
out of 5
20 Ratings

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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