Fearless: Stories of strength, resilience, and rising anyway

Fearless

Fearless is a storytelling podcast featuring real people who have faced life’s hardest moments — and chose to keep going. From unexpected medical diagnoses and parenting through uncertainty, to loss, mental health, faith, and rebuilding after life changes, Fearless shares honest conversations about strength, resilience, and what it really looks like to rise anyway. If you’re walking through something hard, feeling overwhelmed, or needing hope — this podcast is for you. New episodes weekly.

  1. May 12

    Episode 13: More Than What Happened to Us

    What happens when two teenage girls who survived life-altering brain injuries sit down together for the first time? A lot of honesty. A lot of laughter. And a lot of “wait…you do that too?!” In this episode of FEARLESS, Caddie and Aislinn talk openly about recovery, therapy, friendships, school, frustration, identity, and the little things people never think about after neurological trauma. From using a nose to hit the “delete” key to joking about “skid skids” while learning to drive, this conversation is filled with real moments that are heartbreaking, hopeful, and unexpectedly funny. They may have walked different paths, but both girls prove something powerful:You don’t truly know how strong you are until you have to be.

    31 min

  2. Apr 21

    Episode 12: The Journey You Never Choose: Kyler’s Story & Building Hope Through AVM Alliance

    In this episode of FEARLESS, I sit down with Raylene Lewis—founder of AVM Alliance and mom to Kyler, a stroke survivor whose life changed in an instant. What started as a normal day turned into emergency brain surgery, a diagnosis no parent is prepared for, and a journey filled with impossible decisions, setbacks, and moments of uncertainty. Raylene shares the raw reality of navigating a brain AVM diagnosis—the fear, the constant “choose your own adventure” decisions, and the weight of knowing that every choice matters when it comes to your child’s brain. But this conversation isn’t just about crisis—it’s about what comes after. From multiple treatments and setbacks to Kyler now being considered “no evidence of disease,” this story is a powerful reminder that hope is real—even when the path is anything but clear. Out of her own experience of feeling lost and unsupported, Raylene created AVM Alliance—a community dedicated to helping families navigate pediatric stroke and brain vessel disease so no one has to walk this journey alone. We also talk about:• The emotional toll on families and siblings• The silent weight parents carry making life-altering decisions• What support actually looks like during and after a medical crisis• How simple acts—like letters or care packages—can make a real difference If you’ve ever wondered how to help… or needed a reminder that strength doesn’t always look loud—this episode is for you. 🎧 Listen now and be part of the community that reminds families: they are not alone. Episode Resources: Check out the AVM Alliance Website: https://www.avmalliance.org/Email the AVM Alliance: info@avmalliance.orgCheck out the Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/AVMAlliance

    51 min

  3. Mar 24

    Episode 11: The Day Everything Changed: Caddie’s Story

    In this deeply personal solo episode of FEARLESS, Kilene shares, for the first time, the full story of her daughter Caddie’s AVM—and the day that changed everything. What began as a normal August afternoon quickly turned into a life-threatening emergency, leading to a massive brain bleed, emergency surgery, and moments where the outcome was uncertain. Through a mother’s eyes, Kilene walks listeners through the fear, the decisions, the waiting, and the unimaginable conversations no parent is ever prepared to have. But this story isn’t just about what happened that day—it’s about what came after. From 64 days in the hospital to relearning how to walk, communicate, and navigate life after a brain injury, Caddie’s journey is one of resilience, determination, and strength beyond her years. Now, as Caddie turns 16, this episode becomes both a reflection and a celebration of how far she’s come—and the life she continues to build. Kilene also shares the realities many don’t see: the ongoing challenges, the invisible impacts of brain injury, and the emotional weight families carry long after the crisis has passed. This episode is for anyone walking through the unknown, for families navigating medical trauma, and for those who need a reminder that even in the hardest moments… there is still hope. 🎗️ March is Brain Injury Awareness Month.If you’re not familiar with AVMs, this episode is a powerful place to start.

    29 min

  4. Mar 17

    Episode 10: From PICU to College: Kaya’s Incredible AVM Recovery

    In this episode of FEARLESS, Kilene sits down with Tiffany, a mother whose daughter Kaya experienced a sudden AVM rupture at just nine years old. What began as an ordinary day quickly turned into every parent’s nightmare. With no warning signs, Kaya collapsed at home and was rushed to the hospital, eventually being airlifted to Duke for emergency brain surgery. Doctors warned Tiffany and her husband that the outcome was uncertain and that Kaya might not survive. But Kaya’s story didn’t end there. Tiffany shares what those terrifying hours and days were like in the PICU, the long road of recovery that followed, and the small milestones that meant everything along the way—from Kaya’s first words after being extubated to learning to walk again. Nine years later, Kaya is thriving and attending her dream school, Florida State University. Together, Kilene and Tiffany talk about the emotional impact of traumatic brain injury on families, the challenges siblings face, and the lessons that come from surviving something that changes your life forever. For parents walking a similar path, Tiffany offers one piece of advice: focus on the baby steps. Because sometimes the smallest victories are the ones that matter most.

    36 min

  5. Mar 3

    Episode 9: Still Fighting Brain Injury Awareness Month

    March is Brain Injury Awareness Month — and until this year, it wasn’t even on my radar. In this solo episode of FEARLESS, I share what brain injury really looks like beyond the emergency room, beyond the hospital stay, and beyond the first 72 critical hours. Because when most people hear “brain injury,” they think about the moment it happens — the car accident, the stroke, the fall, the rupture of an AVM. They think about the ambulance ride and the surgeries. But what we’ve learned is that brain injury is not just a moment. It’s what happens every single day after. I talk about Caddie’s AVM rupture, the layered and invisible nature of neurological recovery, the emotional ups and downs of healing, the frustrating fight for therapy within a broken insurance system, and the pressure of the 12–18 month recovery window. This episode is about what awareness truly means:Not just reposting a ribbon — but extending grace.Not just saying “she looks great” — but checking in months later.Not assuming the struggle disappears just because progress is visible. Brain injury changed our life — but it didn’t take it. We are still here.Still healing.Still moving forward. If you’re walking a brain injury journey — or loving someone who is — this episode is for you.

    19 min

  6. Feb 17

    Episode 8: After the Emergency: Processing Trauma, Supporting First Responders, and Healing as a Family

    In this episode of FEARLESS, Kilene sits down with Dr. Laura Franco, a certified trauma specialist and psychotherapist with clinical experience across the U.S. and Europe, to talk about what happens after a crisis—when the adrenaline is gone but the impact still lingers. Together, they explore secondary trauma in first responders, why not knowing the outcome of an emergency call can be just as heavy as a difficult outcome, and why resources for first responders to process what they witness are still too limited. Dr. Franco also speaks directly to families navigating medical trauma, sharing how a single event can reshape the entire household—parents, siblings, relationships, and identity. They discuss what “take care of yourself” actually means in real life, why healing looks different for everyone, and why movement—even small steps—matters. The conversation closes with hope, practical insight, and a reminder that trauma doesn’t have to be carried alone. Dr. Franco also shares details about a free first responder wellness retreat happening April 18 in Tampa, and how to connect with her team at Life Solutions Services. Dr. Franco's Website: https://www.lifesolutionsservices.com/ Dr. Franco's Socials: FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM Are you a first responder? Join Dr. Franco for her First Responder Wellness Retreat. FREE to all first responders and their families. Check it out HERE

    30 min

  7. Feb 3

    Episode 7: Future Caddie Will Be Proud

    In this deeply honest and unexpectedly funny episode of FEARLESS, Kilene sits down with her most requested guest—her daughter, Caddie—to share her side of the journey. Caddie opens up about life after her AVM rupture, what she remembers (and doesn’t), and what it’s really like to navigate recovery as a teenager under constant pressure to be “strong.” With humor, insight, and maturity far beyond her years, she talks about the role her friends, family, music, and future dreams play in keeping her moving forward—even on the hard days. This episode explores boundaries, identity, comparison, grief, and resilience through Caddie’s own words. She reminds us that strength isn’t about pretending everything is okay—it’s about not giving up, even when things feel unfair. Raw, real, and full of heart, this conversation is a reminder that survival doesn’t mean shrinking your dreams—and that future you is watching. 🎧 A must-listen for parents, teens, caregivers, and anyone learning how to rise anyway.

    20 min

  8. Jan 27

    Episode 6: Comparison Is the Thief of Joy

    Comparison has a quiet way of sneaking into our lives — especially during seasons of uncertainty, healing, and waiting. In this solo episode of FEARLESS, Kilene shares a deeply personal reflection on how comparison showed up during her daughter Caddie’s recovery journey and the unexpected weight it carried. What began as connection and community slowly turned into fear, self-doubt, and the pressure of measuring progress against someone else’s timeline. Through honest storytelling, this episode explores how comparison steals presence, joy, and compassion — even in moments meant to bring hope — and why awareness, grace, and grounding ourselves in our own story can help us reclaim what comparison takes away. This episode is for anyone who has ever felt behind, caught in the quiet spiral of comparison, or struggled to hold gratitude and grief at the same time. You’re not alone. Your journey is valid. And your joy still belongs to you.

    20 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Fearless is a storytelling podcast featuring real people who have faced life’s hardest moments — and chose to keep going. From unexpected medical diagnoses and parenting through uncertainty, to loss, mental health, faith, and rebuilding after life changes, Fearless shares honest conversations about strength, resilience, and what it really looks like to rise anyway. If you’re walking through something hard, feeling overwhelmed, or needing hope — this podcast is for you. New episodes weekly.

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