Qualified - Lessons in Loss

Michelle Heaton
  • 5.0 (33)
  • Education

Former U.S. Navy podcaster and communications professional Michelle Heaton, now shares her personal story about the loss of her teenage son and her subsequent search to find empathy, insight and counsel for the unique pain she was experiencing. Speaking with other bereaved parents who survived the pain and emerged stronger brought her comfort. She recalls a quote from a pastor years ago, "God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called." Now ten years later, Michelle knows the truth of that statement and is anxious to share the lessons she learned from her loss with other hurting people. In each episode, Michelle interviews incredible people who share their stories of overcoming loss; including death, divorce, illness, aging, loneliness and estrangement, to inspire you and give you hope!

  1. Sep 26

    The Pain God Entrusted Me With

    Send us Fan Mail A speeding car. A crosswalk. A mother watching helplessly as everything changes in seconds. Nancy Iskander joins me to share the story of Mark and Jacob, the two sons she lost on September 29, 2020, and what it has taken to keep breathing, parenting, and believing after the kind of loss most people cannot imagine. Nancy also opens our hearts to who her boys were: Mark the bright, funny social butterfly with big dreams, and Jacob the tough, athletic “biblical boy” who loved the Word. We talk through the real texture of early grief and trauma, including denial that lingers, the isolating silence after tragedy, and that brutal question every bereaved parent eventually asks: now what? Nancy explains how she copes while carrying ongoing sorrow, why she narrowed her circle to emotionally safe people, and how prayer became a lifeline, especially through a court case that drew national attention. She also shares a powerful perspective as a pharmacist and grieving mom who refused to numb the pain, not wanting to “mask” love or risk forgetting her children. From there, we explore what it means to turn grief into purpose. Nancy and her family built the Mark and Jacob Iskander Foundation, supporting underserved kids, scholarships, orphan care, and foster youth, and helped establish Good Shepherd, Mark and Jacob, a foster care organization serving Southern California. If you’ve ever wondered how someone can still trust God after something horrific, Nancy offers an honest, steady Christian witness and a practical kind of hope that meets you where you are. If this conversation helps you, subscribe, share it with someone who needs hope, and leave a review so more grieving parents can find it. http://markandjacobfoundation.org/

    The Pain God Entrusted Me With

  2. 08/23/2024

    Pain is temporary and necessary - What I learned through the lens of loss

    Send us Fan Mail After the loss of two children through miscarriage and stillbirth, Bridgett’s hopes were shattered.  When a divorce, the death of a family member and other losses followed, she became depressed and began to experience health issues because of her deep grief. Join me as I talk with Bridgett Dunbar, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and author of the book, Grief, Loss and the Goodness of God, A Path to Healing after the Death of a Child.  In our conversation Bridgett shares not only her most vulnerable emotions about her grief and loss, but also the profound insights she gained into the purpose of pain.   She explains her belief that pain is not only temporary in this life, but necessary to make you the person you were destined to be. Download Bridgett's FREE book here: https://bridgettdunbar.com/grief Order on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CYXG6NF6?ref_=pe_93986420_774957520

    Pain is temporary and necessary - What I learned through the lens of loss

  3. 08/09/2024

    Let's Talk About Friendship Breakups

    Send us Fan Mail Have you experienced the painful loss of a friendship breakup? Maybe it was due to a disagreement over a position you hold firmly to.  Perhaps it was related to the way you parent your children, your political views, your lifestyle choices, or your religious beliefs.  Whatever the cause, friendship breakups are hard. Join me as I chat with the author of “When Best Friends Aren’t Forever,” Kristen Reed-Belveal.  In her book, she takes a hard look at friendships through the lens of faith. In our discussion we explore what to do when we get a vibe that something’s wrong, how to communicate effectively in order to keep the friendship healthy, the emotional turmoil that follows a friendship loss and the crucial steps toward healing, and how to surround yourself with a supportive, mature community that can keep your focus on growth rather than gossip.   Kristen emphasizes the importance of self-reflection, helping you understand your own role in the friendship's end and how to improve for the future. We also touch on the prospect of reconciliation, giving you the tools to decide if reaching out to a former friend is the right move. Kristen shares her personal experiences and offers biblical wisdom on approaching conflicts with humility and forgiveness, making this an episode you won't want to miss. Kristen's website: http://www.kristenreedauthor.com

    Let's Talk About Friendship Breakups

  4. 07/26/2024

    Why Does God Allow Suffering?

    Send us Fan Mail What happens when your deepest faith is tested by unimaginable suffering? In this episode, I talk with David Libby, who explains how he and his family contracted Lyme disease.  He shares the emotional and physical toll of watching his wife and daughters endure excruciating pain, while he himself became their primary caregiver despite his own illness.  A self-taught student of theology, well-versed Christian apologist and published author, David has much to offer on the topics of theology, atheism, and adversity with insights from historical figures like Ernst Haeckel and Charles Darwin.  We explore the dysteleological argument, its counterpoints to the teleological argument for God's existence, and the biblical perspective on imperfections in the world.  This episode encourages you to hold onto faith and find comfort in God's presence, even amidst life's most challenging trials. David's book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Different-World-Gods-Sovereignty-Suffering/dp/B0C9S8SK5M

    Why Does God Allow Suffering?

  5. 06/07/2024

    Cancer, Infidelity and Divorce - How I survived breast cancer and betrayal

    Send us Fan Mail Laura endured the adversity trifecta- cancer, infidelity, and divorce.  Listen in as she opens up about her bi-lateral breast cancer diagnosis, ravaging chemotherapy, congestive heart failure, a heart transplant, and coping with infidelity and divorce after 27 years of marriage.   Through it all, she not only regained her strength and recovered physically but she emerged stronger and more determined to help others. https://www.icope2hope.com/

    Cancer, Infidelity and Divorce - How I survived breast cancer and betrayal

  6. 05/24/2024

    How to survive the empty nest

    Send us Fan Mail How are you going to feel when your child leaves for college?  Have you given it any thought in advance and how prepared are you to face an empty nest? In this episode I talk with Stacy Kaye, an award-winning journalist and source of encouragement for those facing the silence of an empty nest.  Listen in and be inspired  as we explore the depth of parental love, the pain that comes with letting go, and the new opportunities that await in this transitional phase of life. https://www.stacykayebooks.com/

    How to survive the empty nest

  7. 04/12/2024

    Coping with the loss of a pet

    Send us Fan Mail The loss of a dog, a cat, a horse, a bird, any pet can cause us to experience grief.  The animals we share our homes and lives with are part of our families and  when they are no longer there it can create a significant and painful void. Listen in as I interview Rachel Shirley,   a compelling author and certified coach committed to guiding individuals through life's profound moments, including the impactful experience of pet loss. https://www.rachel-shirley.com/

    Coping with the loss of a pet

  8. 03/23/2024

    Stillborn - Carrying a baby to term with a fatal diagnosis

    Send us Fan Mail When Katherine and her husband learned of their baby’s fatal fetal diagnosis, they knew they had some hard decisions to make.  Since their child had no kidneys he would most likely die in utero or shortly after birth, so doctors recommended termination of the pregnancy. Listen in as Katherine shares her story about carrying a baby she knew she could not keep and making a choice to stay true to her convictions.    Katherine's blog: https://medium.com/@whenwatersrise/four-years-and-gods-goodness-eb7c68c003ea

    Stillborn - Carrying a baby to term with a fatal diagnosis
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5
out of 5
33 Ratings

About

Former U.S. Navy podcaster and communications professional Michelle Heaton, now shares her personal story about the loss of her teenage son and her subsequent search to find empathy, insight and counsel for the unique pain she was experiencing. Speaking with other bereaved parents who survived the pain and emerged stronger brought her comfort. She recalls a quote from a pastor years ago, "God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called." Now ten years later, Michelle knows the truth of that statement and is anxious to share the lessons she learned from her loss with other hurting people. In each episode, Michelle interviews incredible people who share their stories of overcoming loss; including death, divorce, illness, aging, loneliness and estrangement, to inspire you and give you hope!

Information

  • Creator
    Michelle Heaton
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    67
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Qualified - Lessons in Loss
  • Show Website
    Qualified - Lessons in Loss

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