Unspoken Grief

Michael Vinton, Kristina Faulkner, Tina Chevalier

If you’ve ever felt alone in your sorrow, this podcast is for you. Welcome all to Unspoken Grief, brought to you by the nonprofit organization Impacted Survivors of Murder-Suicide.  Each episode, you will hear the real, raw stories of those who’ve lost loved ones to murder-suicides — stories that have been kept in the shadows for far too long. These are the voices of survivors: People who have the strength to speak their truth. Hosts Michael Vinton, Tina Chevalier, and Kristina Faulkner will explore the stories of silent sorrow, hidden pain, and the unspoken emotions that shape lives. As loss survivors themselves, they have searched for ways to navigate this complex, layered grief pattern that many other loss survivors face. In doing so, Impacted Survivors was created out of the need to cope in the aftermath and to help others. A safe place of understanding where they not only support loss survivors but together they also raise awareness of this underserved and overlooked community. Impacted Survivors provides many resources, including a 6-week grief course, a peer support group, comfort calls, a blog written by survivors as well as guest bloggers, and now the podcast. We hope to help every and any person to NOT feel so alone and isolated in their grief journey. As survivors, we can feel left behind, but we should never be made to feel responsible.   Join us, as together, we will find strength in our silent struggles.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. Jul 21

    Ep. 13 - #SameHere: A Conversation & Mental Health Deep Dive with Eric Kussin

    In this episode of the Unspoken Grief podcast, hosts Michael Vinton and Tina Chevalier talk with Eric Kussin, founder of Same Here Global and co-host of the podcast We’re All a Little Crazy, about mental health advocacy, grief, and the harm of simplified narratives. Eric shares his background in professional sports leadership, his debilitating mental health crisis, extensive medication trials, TMS, inpatient hospitalization, and ECT, and how integrative therapy helped him reframe his experience as accumulated chronic stress and trauma. He discusses his brother’s long medical ordeals, the “Five in Five” message that everyone has mental health, concerns about nonprofit and media messaging, and why deaths of despair should be discussed with nuance to support prevention. Eric explains the Same Here hand sign origins, previews his book Diagnosis (out around September), and describes hope through ongoing healing and somatic trauma release 988 Lifeline number: https://988lifeline.org/  At the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, we understand that life's challenges can sometimes be complex. Whether you're facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, our caring counselors are here for you. You are not alone.   Didi Hirsch Mental Services: didihirsch.org   Crisis Text Line Text HOME to 741741 Free, 24/7 Mental Health Support    Eric Kussin  Email:       eric@samehereglobal.org Website:   https://samehereglobal.org/ Instagram: @samehere_global Facebook: @samehere_global LinkedIn:  @samehere_global Podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/were-all-a-little-crazy/id1556305271 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@samehere_global   Michael Vinton Email:                info@impactedsurvivors.com  Website:    www.michaelvinton.com                   http://www.impactedsurvivors.org Podcast:    Unspoken Grief  IG:            @therealmichaelvinton FB:            Michael Vinton Linkedin:   m/ichael-vinton-6702a373 IDMB:                Michael Vinton (III) Headshot: Headshot 1                  Headshot 2   Tina Chevalier Email:                Tina@impactedsurvivors.com  Website:    www.impactedsurvivors.org  Podcast:   Unspoken Grief IG:            @impactedsurvivorsofms FB:            Facebook Headshot; Headshot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  2. Jul 7

    Ep. 12 – Anonymous Daughter

    Hosts Michael Vinton and Tina Chevalier welcome “Anonymous Daughter”, who lost her parents at 13 to a murder-suicide and originally told her story in a 2017 online essay, “I’m Finally Ready to Talk About How My Parents Died.” She describes loving memories of both parents and how the reality defies simple assumptions, then reflects on how her perspective has changed over nearly a decade, including becoming less dependent on others’ understanding and becoming a mother, which has raised questions about how to share this family history with her child in an age-appropriate way. She discusses years of secrecy, compartmentalization, and reluctance to be vulnerable, the influence of family privacy and her own personality, the value of her siblings as shared witnesses, and how she has built a fulfilling life while continuing to evolve in grief and hope Guest's Buzzfeed Article: BuzzFeed “Anonymous Daughter” 988 Lifeline number: https://988lifeline.org/  At the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, we understand that life's challenges can sometimes be complex. Whether you're facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, our caring counselors are here for you. You are not alone.   Didi Hirsch Mental Services: didihirsch.org   Crisis Text Line Text HOME to 741741 Free, 24/7 Mental Health Support    Michael Vinton Email:                info@impactedsurvivors.com  Website:    www.michaelvinton.com                   http://www.impactedsurvivors.org Podcast:    Unspoken Grief  IG:            @therealmichaelvinton FB:            Michael Vinton Linkedin:   m/ichael-vinton-6702a373 IDMB:                Michael Vinton (III) Headshot: Headshot 1                  Headshot 2   Tina Chevalier Email:                Tina@impactedsurvivors.com  Website:    www.impactedsurvivors.org  Podcast:   Unspoken Grief IG:            @impactedsurvivorsofms FB:            Facebook Headshot; Headshot     Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  3. Jun 23

    Ep. 11 – Nina Rodriguez: Yosef’s Sister

    Unspoken Grief hosts Michael Vinton and Tina Chevalier welcome Nina Rodriguez, founder and executive producer of the award-winning podcast Grief and Light, to discuss grief as a lived experience deserving dignity, depth, and community. Nina shares how her brother Joseph died from fentanyl poisoning in 2019, the traumatic aftermath, and the harmful things people said that fueled her mission to create an anonymous grief account that grew into her platform. She explains the physical and emotional impacts of grief, including learning about broken heart syndrome, and explores “living in the and,” holding joy and sorrow together without timelines. The episode highlights sibling loss as disenfranchised grief, identity shifts after loss, continued bonds, boundaries in sharing stories, and practical coping like keeping a “Joseph journal,” finding supportive communities, and extending grace to others. 988 Lifeline number: https://988lifeline.org/  At the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, we understand that life's challenges can sometimes be complex. Whether you're facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, our caring counselors are here for you. You are not alone.   Didi Hirsch Mental Services: didihirsch.org   Crisis Text Line Text HOME to 741741 Free, 24/7 Mental Health Support    Nina Rodriguez        Email:        nina@griefandlight.com Website:    griefandlight.com Instagram:         @griefandlight @itsnrodriguez Podcast:   Grief and Light YouTube:  @griefandlight   Michael Vinton Email:                info@impactedsurvivors.com  Website:    www.michaelvinton.com                   http://www.impactedsurvivors.org Podcast:    Unspoken Grief  IG:            @therealmichaelvinton FB:            Michael Vinton Linkedin:   m/ichael-vinton-6702a373 IDMB:                Michael Vinton (III) Headshot: Headshot 1                  Headshot 2   Tina Chevalier Email:                Tina@impactedsurvivors.com  Website:    www.impactedsurvivors.org  Podcast:   Unspoken Grief IG:            @impactedsurvivorsofms FB:            Facebook Headshot; Headshot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  4. Jun 9

    Ep. 10 – Krista Schenck: Life After the Unthinkable: Love, Loss, and Bojangles

    In this Unspoken Grief episode, hosts Michael Vinton and Tina Chevalier, speak with survivor Krista Schenck, who lost both parents, Mark and Bonnie, in a July 2021 murder-suicide in which her father was the perpetrator. Krista shares what it has meant to live in the aftermath, including shock, a roller coaster of grief, anger, dark humor as coping, and the challenge of returning to work and facing awkward interactions. She describes friends who rotated staying overnight, support during her eulogy, and how community support can drop off after the first weeks, prompting her to seek groups, counseling, and medication. Krista discusses identity shifts, struggling with holidays, rebuilding routines, using music and planned events to create “micro joys,” navigating estate issues and the slayer clause, and finding hope in good, caring people. 988 Lifeline number: https://988lifeline.org/  At the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, we understand that life's challenges can sometimes be complex. Whether you're facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, our caring counselors are here for you. You are not alone.   Didi Hirsch Mental Services: didihirsch.org   Crisis Text Line Text HOME to 741741 Free, 24/7 Mental Health Support      Krista Schenck                     Instagram:ig/nebulana1   Michael Vinton Email:                info@impactedsurvivors.com  Website:    www.michaelvinton.com                   http://www.impactedsurvivors.org Podcast:    Unspoken Grief  IG:            @therealmichaelvinton FB:            Michael Vinton Linkedin:   m/ichael-vinton-6702a373 IDMB:                Michael Vinton (III) Headshot: Headshot 1                  Headshot 2   Tina Chevalier Email:                Tina@impactedsurvivors.com  Website:    www.impactedsurvivors.org  Podcast:   Unspoken Grief IG:            @impactedsurvivorsofms FB:            Facebook Headshot; Headshot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  5. May 26

    Ep. 9 – Dr. Denise Dailey: The Weight They Carry, The Silence We Miss: Identity Collapse And Distorted Responsibility

    Unspoken Grief hosts Michael Vinton and Tina Chevalier welcome Dr. Denise Dailey, a licensed clinical psychologist and founder of Our Daily Bread, LLC, to discuss insights from their APA Division 19 Society for Military Psychology symposium presentation, “Unseen Battlefields,” exploring the intersection of military-related violence and murder-suicide and the overlooked impact on families and communities. Dr. Dailey shares how her family’s multigenerational military service shaped her understanding that trauma doesn’t stay overseas, describes post-deployment stress, injury, and family-system effects, and explains overlaps among isolation, identity collapse, burdensomeness, and moral injury. The conversation examines limitations in data and public narratives about perpetrators, warning signs families can take seriously, the importance of curiosity and presence, and practical steps like asking direct questions and using 988 for guidance, while also addressing provider burnout, hope through connection, and survivor community support 988 Lifeline number: https://988lifeline.org/  At the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, we understand that life's challenges can sometimes be complex. Whether you're facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, our caring counselors are here for you. You are not alone.   Didi Hirsch Mental Services: didihirsch.org   Crisis Text Line Text HOME to 741741 Free, 24/7 Mental Health Support      Dr. Denise Dailey                         Email: ourdaileybread@outlook.com Website: www.ourdaileybread.com and  Dailey, Denise | Faculty Profile | Adler University Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/drdaileyptsd Causes: (Clinical and Research Interest: PTSD Assessment and Treatment, Health Psychology, Military Clinical Psychology, Chronic Pain, Insomnia, Risk Assessment and Suicide Prevention )   Michael Vinton Email:                info@impactedsurvivors.com  Website:    www.michaelvinton.com                   http://www.impactedsurvivors.org Podcast:    Unspoken Grief  IG:            @therealmichaelvinton FB:            Michael Vinton Linkedin:   m/ichael-vinton-6702a373 IDMB:                Michael Vinton (III) Headshot: Headshot 1                  Headshot 2   Tina Chevalier Email:                Tina@impactedsurvivors.com  Website:    www.impactedsurvivors.org  Podcast:   Unspoken Grief IG:            @impactedsurvivorsofms FB:            Facebook Headshot; Headshot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  6. May 12

    Ep. 8 - ChaRon Sattler-Leblanc: The Echoes of One Day: From 1990 to Now, How One Tragedy Still Ripples Today

    In this episode of Unspoken Grief, hosts Michael Vinton and Tina Chevalier welcome survivor and advocate ChaRon Sattler-LeBlanc, who lost her cousin Julie (23) and Julie’s daughter Jacqui (5) in July 1990. ChaRon describes learning the news while in college, the isolation and shame of grieving before online communities or public language for murder-suicide loss, and the complex family dynamics shaped by Korean heritage, arranged marriage, domestic violence, and separation. She shares how trauma resurfaced during a later campus incident involving a firearm and how limited counseling support was in the 1990s. ChaRon discusses long-term impacts, secondary losses, and how advocacy (including Moms Demand Action), civic work, and community connection help her heal while emphasizing boundaries, self-care, and loving people in their wholeness, including families of perpetrators 988 Lifeline number: https://988lifeline.org/  At the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, we understand that life's challenges can sometimes be complex. Whether you're facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, our caring counselors are here for you. You are not alone.   Didi Hirsch Mental Services: didihirsch.org   Crisis Text Line Text HOME to 741741 Free, 24/7 Mental Health Support    ChaRon Sattler-Leblanc Email:       charon.rochester.ny@gmail.com Website:Cha Ron Votes Causes: A Longing for Yesteryear MomsDemandAction   Eoisode Resource Section                     Who Needs God                     When Bad Things Happen to Good People                      Please Call Me by My True Names   Michael Vinton Email:               info@impactedsurvivors.com  Website:   www.michaelvinton.com                   http://www.impactedsurvivors.org Podcast:   Unspoken Grief  IG:           @therealmichaelvinton FB:           Michael Vinton Linkedin:  m/ichael-vinton-6702a373 IDMB:               Michael Vinton (III) Headshot: Headshot 1                  Headshot 2   Tina Chevalier Email:               Tina@impactedsurvivors.com  Website:   www.impactedsurvivors.org  Podcast:   Unspoken Grief IG:           @impactedsurvivorsofms FB:           Facebook Headshot; Headshot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  7. Apr 28

    Ep. 7 - Grief in the Gray: The Stories You’re Not Hearing About Murder-Suicide

    In this episode of Unspoken Grief, hosts Michael Vinton and Tina Chevalier talk about their survivor-led nonprofit community, ISMS (Impacted Survivors of Murder Suicide), which offers peer support spaces, awareness, and advocacy, especially for families of the person who caused harm. Michael and Tina share their experiences losing their loved ones five years ago, describing shock, sleeplessness, confusion, stigma, and the difficulty of grieving someone who also caused harm, while emphasizing that loved ones are “more than their final act.” They discuss ripple effects on friends, neighbors, witnesses, and first responders, the long journey after headlines fade, practical aftermath issues, and concerns about sensationalized media language and oversimplified explanations. They highlight hope found through community, expand support calls, and invite listeners to access resources at impactedsurvivors.org 988 Lifeline number: https://988lifeline.org/  At the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, we understand that life's challenges can sometimes be complex. Whether you're facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, our caring counselors are here for you. You are not alone.   Didi Hirsch Mental Services: didihirsch.org   Crisis Text Line Text HOME to 741741 Free, 24/7 Mental Health Support    Michael Vinton Email:                info@impactedsurvivors.com  Website:    www.michaelvinton.com                   http://www.impactedsurvivors.org Podcast:    Unspoken Grief  IG:            @therealmichaelvinton FB:            Michael Vinton Linkedin:   m/ichael-vinton-6702a373 IDMB:                Michael Vinton (III) Headshot: Headshot 1                  Headshot 2   Tina Chevalier Email:                Tina@impactedsurvivors.com  Website:    www.impactedsurvivors.org  Podcast:   Unspoken Grief IG:            @impactedsurvivorsofms FB:            Facebook Headshot; Headshot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  8. Apr 14

    Ep. 6 – Dr. Thomas Joiner: Inside The Mind, Outside The Narrative: Rethinking What Drives Murder-Suicide

    In this episode of Unspoken Grief, hosts Michael Vinton and Tina Chevalier welcome psychologist and researcher Dr. Thomas Joiner, whose work is widely cited in survivor communities and who authored The Perversion of Virtue, a book the hosts frequently reference in presentations about murder-suicide. Joiner explains how his research led him to conclude most murder-suicides are planned and rooted in a distorted, “virtuous” rationale tied to four perverted virtues—justice, mercy, duty, and glory—illustrating examples including Columbine and the influence of Timothy McVeigh. The group discusses stigma faced by survivors, language challenges around “perpetrator,” why families may not see their loved one as suicidal, the value of psychological autopsies, and how suicide prevention strategies like means safety and effective CBT may also prevent murder-suicide. 988 Lifeline number: https://988lifeline.org/  At the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, we understand that life's challenges can sometimes be complex. Whether you're facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, our caring counselors are here for you. You are not alone.   Didi Hirsch Mental Services: didihirsch.org   Crisis Text Line Text HOME to 741741 Free, 24/7 Mental Health Support    Dr Thomas Joiner: Email:                joiner@psy.fsu.edu Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0199334552?ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_WTDG24DTBD8N6ZD1RAEB&bestFormat=true Website: Thomas Joiner | Department of Psychology Georgia Commission on Family Violence   Michael Vinton Email:                info@impactedsurvivors.com  Website:    www.michaelvinton.com                   http://www.impactedsurvivors.org Podcast:    Unspoken Grief  IG:            @therealmichaelvinton FB:            Michael Vinton Linkedin:   m/ichael-vinton-6702a373 IDMB:                Michael Vinton (III) Headshot: Headshot 1                  Headshot 2   Tina Chevalier Email:                Tina@impactedsurvivors.com  Website:    www.impactedsurvivors.org  Podcast:   Unspoken Grief IG:            @impactedsurvivorsofms FB:            Facebook Headshot; Headshot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4.6
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

If you’ve ever felt alone in your sorrow, this podcast is for you. Welcome all to Unspoken Grief, brought to you by the nonprofit organization Impacted Survivors of Murder-Suicide.  Each episode, you will hear the real, raw stories of those who’ve lost loved ones to murder-suicides — stories that have been kept in the shadows for far too long. These are the voices of survivors: People who have the strength to speak their truth. Hosts Michael Vinton, Tina Chevalier, and Kristina Faulkner will explore the stories of silent sorrow, hidden pain, and the unspoken emotions that shape lives. As loss survivors themselves, they have searched for ways to navigate this complex, layered grief pattern that many other loss survivors face. In doing so, Impacted Survivors was created out of the need to cope in the aftermath and to help others. A safe place of understanding where they not only support loss survivors but together they also raise awareness of this underserved and overlooked community. Impacted Survivors provides many resources, including a 6-week grief course, a peer support group, comfort calls, a blog written by survivors as well as guest bloggers, and now the podcast. We hope to help every and any person to NOT feel so alone and isolated in their grief journey. As survivors, we can feel left behind, but we should never be made to feel responsible.   Join us, as together, we will find strength in our silent struggles.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.