Grieving Out Loud: A Mother Coping with Loss in the Opioid Epidemic

Angela Kennecke
  • 4.7 (129)
  • Mental Health
  • Weekly

After losing her 21-year-old daughter, Emily, to fentanyl poisoning, veteran journalist Angela Kennecke made it her life’s mission to break the silence surrounding substance use disorder and the overdose crisis. Grieving Out Loud is a heartfelt and unflinching podcast where Angela shares stories of devastating loss, hard-earned hope, and the journey toward healing. Through powerful interviews with other grieving families, experts, advocates, and people in recovery, this podcast sheds light on the human side of the epidemic — and how we can all be part of the solution. Whether you're coping with grief, supporting a loved one, or working to end the stigma, you’ll find connection, comfort, and inspiration here.

  1. 2d ago

    'I Have Found Peace and Forgiveness’ A Mother Reflects on Eight Years After Her Son’s Overdose Death

    On the eighth anniversary of her son’s death, Janet Ropp says she has found peace and forgiveness, both for herself and others. On Oct. 13, 2018, Janet came home to find four police cars in her driveway. Her 19-year-old son, James, had died of an accidental Xanax overdose, changing her life in an instant. Since losing James, Janet has written a book, Dear James, and become a grief recovery specialist. She speaks openly about the stigma surrounding overdose loss, the ways she still feels connected to her son and what it means to keep living while carrying the weight of grief. In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, Janet reflects on what she has learned over the past eight years, how she has found peace and forgiveness, and what advice she has for others navigating the loss of someone they love. Learn more about Janet and purchase her book here.  Related episodes: Coping with a Xanax overdose deathCoping With Grief and Choosing Life After TragedyGentle Wisdom for Grieving Hearts This Holiday SeasonSend us Fan Mail Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.They were... daughterssonsmothersfathersfriendswiveshusbandscousinsboyfriendsgirlfriends.They were More Than Just A Number.  Support the show Connect with Angela Follow Grieving Out Loud Follow Emily's Hope Read Angela’s Blog Subscribe to Grieving Out Loud/Emily’s Hope Updates Suggest a Guest For more episodes and information, just go to our website, emilyshope.charity Wishing you faith, hope and courage! Podcast producers: Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

  2. Oct 28

    How to Find Joy After Losing Someone You Love

    Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, please call or text 988. After walking alongside her son through his battle with addiction and then losing him to suicide at 24, Ann Marie Farino knows the depths of grief and heartbreak. But she also knows that even after devastating loss, it is possible to find joy, purpose and a reason to keep moving forward. Farino is a mother, speaker and writer whose new book, Chronic Chaos: A Son’s Addiction, a Mother’s Love, and Her Quest to Find Joy, chronicles her son’s journey through addiction and mental illness, from wilderness therapy programs and boarding schools to the day the FBI attempted to recruit her teenage son as an informant. In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, Farino shares her deeply personal story, what she has learned through her journey and what she wants others to know about finding hope and living a full life after loss. Learn more about Ann and purchase her book on her website here.  Related Episodes: Author Peggy Green on surviving your child’s suicideWhen Words Are All That’s Left After SuicideBroken Heart Syndrome: 4 Ways We GrieveSend us Fan Mail Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.They were... daughterssonsmothersfathersfriendswiveshusbandscousinsboyfriendsgirlfriends.They were More Than Just A Number.  Support the show Connect with Angela Follow Grieving Out Loud Follow Emily's Hope Read Angela’s Blog Subscribe to Grieving Out Loud/Emily’s Hope Updates Suggest a Guest For more episodes and information, just go to our website, emilyshope.charity Wishing you faith, hope and courage! Podcast producers: Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

  3. Oct 21

    What to Do When Your Adult Child Is Struggling

    Parenting doesn’t end when your child turns 18, but the challenges can look very different. Kim Muench, a certified parenting coach and founder of Real Life Parent Guide, helps parents navigate the often-overlooked stage of emerging adulthood. After raising five children, Kim has spent years helping families facing mental health struggles, substance use and strained communication. In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, Kim shares her personal experience navigating her son’s addiction and offers advice for parents trying to support an emerging adult without crossing the line into enabling. Explore Kim's website for more resources here.  Related Episodes: Mental health expert offers advice after his own son battles depression, anxiety & addictionExpert insights on preventing substance abuseCan We Save Lives While Cutting Funding? A Tough Conversation at the TopSend us Fan Mail Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.They were... daughterssonsmothersfathersfriendswiveshusbandscousinsboyfriendsgirlfriends.They were More Than Just A Number.  Support the show Connect with Angela Follow Grieving Out Loud Follow Emily's Hope Read Angela’s Blog Subscribe to Grieving Out Loud/Emily’s Hope Updates Suggest a Guest For more episodes and information, just go to our website, emilyshope.charity Wishing you faith, hope and courage! Podcast producers: Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

  4. Oct 14

    Dr. Laura Berman Helped Millions Heal. Then Fentanyl Took Her Son.

    She’s one of the world’s most recognized sex and relationship therapists. From The Oprah Winfrey Show to The Dr. Oz Show, Dr. Laura Berman has spent more than three decades helping people navigate relationships and life’s challenges. But nothing could have prepared her for the loss of her 16-year-old son, a relationship she says continues even though he is no longer here in this physical world. He died from fentanyl poisoning in 2021.  In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, Dr. Berman shares her story, how she has grown through her grief and how she is now using that experience to help others who have lost someone they love. Explore Dr. Berman’s books and podcasts here. Learn more about the Dying to Be Me book by Anita Moorjani here. Related Episodes: Father sounds alarm bells over drug dealing on social media after son poisonedSurviving the holiday season while grievingCoping With Grief and Choosing Life After TragedySend us Fan Mail Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.They were... daughterssonsmothersfathersfriendswiveshusbandscousinsboyfriendsgirlfriends.They were More Than Just A Number.  Support the show Connect with Angela Follow Grieving Out Loud Follow Emily's Hope Read Angela’s Blog Subscribe to Grieving Out Loud/Emily’s Hope Updates Suggest a Guest For more episodes and information, just go to our website, emilyshope.charity Wishing you faith, hope and courage! Podcast producers: Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

  5. Oct 7

    Abandoned at Birth by a Mother Who Used Drugs, He Defied the Odds

    Overcoming one challenge after another has been part of Shaheed Morris’ life story. Abandoned at birth by his mother, who used substances during pregnancy, Shaheed was born with severe health challenges, and doctors weren’t sure he would survive. His grandmother stepped in, taking him to physical therapy and making sure he received the care he needed, despite financial struggles. Today, Shaheed is a college graduate who has worked as a TV newscaster and earned his funeral director’s license. He now works in affordable housing, helping people facing housing challenges.  In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, we hear a different perspective on the substance use disorder crisis through the story of a grandchild raised by his grandmother. We hear about the resilience it takes to overcome adversity and how mentors along the way can make all the difference. Related episodes: A grandmother raising her granddaughter due to the drug epidemicThe other side of loss: Grandparents, grief, and the opioid crisisHow to Live With Grief, Not Be Defined By ItSend us Fan Mail Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.They were... daughterssonsmothersfathersfriendswiveshusbandscousinsboyfriendsgirlfriends.They were More Than Just A Number.  Support the show Connect with Angela Follow Grieving Out Loud Follow Emily's Hope Read Angela’s Blog Subscribe to Grieving Out Loud/Emily’s Hope Updates Suggest a Guest For more episodes and information, just go to our website, emilyshope.charity Wishing you faith, hope and courage! Podcast producers: Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

  6. Sep 30

    Breaking Free From Addiction, Depression & the Belief She Wasn’t Enough

    For much of her life, Simone Bowyer struggled to believe she was enough. Growing up with an abusive father who battled alcohol addiction, Simone says childhood trauma sent her down a dangerous path that included an eating disorder, addiction and depression. After years of therapy and hard work, Simone found recovery and a new sense of purpose. Today, she’s an author, speaker and founder of Light Within Collective, where she focuses on trauma, recovery and emotional well-being. In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, Simone shares her story of addiction and mental health, how she found healing and what she wants others who are struggling to know. Learn more about Simone and purchase her book here. Related episodes: ‘It Was Like Going to My Own Funeral:’ Identical Twin Talks Life After LossOne woman’s path to overcome abuse and addictionThe Voice You Knew — The Story You Didn’tSend us Fan Mail Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.They were... daughterssonsmothersfathersfriendswiveshusbandscousinsboyfriendsgirlfriends.They were More Than Just A Number.  Support the show Connect with Angela Follow Grieving Out Loud Follow Emily's Hope Read Angela’s Blog Subscribe to Grieving Out Loud/Emily’s Hope Updates Suggest a Guest For more episodes and information, just go to our website, emilyshope.charity Wishing you faith, hope and courage! Podcast producers: Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

  7. Sep 23

    He Was Homeless and Battling Addiction. Then a Stranger Opened Her Door.

    Millions of people have watched Bryan Blackmon’s TikTok videos featuring his nearly 90-year-old landlord, Elaine. But Elaine has done far more for Bryan than help him become a social media sensation. Before those videos ever went viral, Bryan was homeless and battling addiction. Elaine was a stranger who took a chance on him, offering him a place to live and helping him find sobriety after decades of addiction. That simple act of trust changed the course of Bryan’s life and became the foundation for what he would go on to build. Today, Bryan is the founder of Crab Crew Life, a high-accountability platform designed to help people move out of survival mode and create real, lasting change.  In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, Bryan shares how the unexpected kindness of a stranger inspired him to help others change their lives, too. Watch and follow Bryan on TikTok here. Learn more about Crab Crew here. Related episodes: The Voice You Knew — The Story You Didn’tA middle-class family man’s journey into homelessness and heroinBrandon Novak’s Story: from fame to homelessness to helping others find recoverySend us Fan Mail Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.They were... daughterssonsmothersfathersfriendswiveshusbandscousinsboyfriendsgirlfriends.They were More Than Just A Number.  Support the show Connect with Angela Follow Grieving Out Loud Follow Emily's Hope Read Angela’s Blog Subscribe to Grieving Out Loud/Emily’s Hope Updates Suggest a Guest For more episodes and information, just go to our website, emilyshope.charity Wishing you faith, hope and courage! Podcast producers: Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

  8. Sep 16

    Everyone Saw His Success. Few Knew He Was Battling Addiction.

    Jason Granberg spent 25 years chasing a high, first with alcohol and later cocaine, believing the next dollar, success or possession would finally make him happy. Behind the success of building his own business, he was quietly battling depression and anxiety.  A few years ago, Jason made a decision that terrified him; he called a helpline and asked to be sent somewhere far away, leading him to 42 days of detox and treatment in New Jersey. He returned home and has remained in recovery ever since. Along the way, he learned that no amount of money can fill an empty place inside you. Today, Jason is up at 4 a.m., at the gym by 5 and facing life head-on instead of running from it.  In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, the owner of Granberg Landscaping and Concrete shares his story of addiction, recovery and learning to find and love himself. Related episodes: When Men Don’t Cry: Confronting the Culture of Silent Grief Chris Farley’s Brother on the Comedy That Hid the Pain ‘I lost who I was.’ Emily’s Hope Treatment Scholarship gives mom second chance Send us Fan Mail Behind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.They were... daughterssonsmothersfathersfriendswiveshusbandscousinsboyfriendsgirlfriends.They were More Than Just A Number.  Support the show Connect with Angela Follow Grieving Out Loud Follow Emily's Hope Read Angela’s Blog Subscribe to Grieving Out Loud/Emily’s Hope Updates Suggest a Guest For more episodes and information, just go to our website, emilyshope.charity Wishing you faith, hope and courage! Podcast producers: Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

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4.7
out of 5
129 Ratings

About

After losing her 21-year-old daughter, Emily, to fentanyl poisoning, veteran journalist Angela Kennecke made it her life’s mission to break the silence surrounding substance use disorder and the overdose crisis. Grieving Out Loud is a heartfelt and unflinching podcast where Angela shares stories of devastating loss, hard-earned hope, and the journey toward healing. Through powerful interviews with other grieving families, experts, advocates, and people in recovery, this podcast sheds light on the human side of the epidemic — and how we can all be part of the solution. Whether you're coping with grief, supporting a loved one, or working to end the stigma, you’ll find connection, comfort, and inspiration here.

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