The Silent Mother Project with Sam Richardson

Sam Richardson
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Welcome to The Silent Mother Project with Sam Richardson, a storytelling podcast about breaking the silence around trauma, loss, and the stories we’re taught to keep to ourselves. Sam became a mom at 18, lost her first daughter to congenital heart disease, survived trauma she never asked for, and built a life rooted in healing, advocacy, and speaking out, loudly. What started as one mother’s voice has grown into something bigger. This is her diary in podcast form - honest, messy, funny, painful, and real. A space where we talk about grief that doesn’t fit in a caption, identity after trauma, the weight of holding everything together, the chaos of life online, and what it means to keep going when life keeps rewriting the story. Rooted in motherhood, but not limited by it, this podcast creates space for anyone who has ever felt voiceless, invisible, or like they’re drowning while holding everyone else up. You’re not alone in what you’ve been carrying.

  1. Oct 11

    Candace's Story: The Green Epstein Files

    Send Sam Fan Mail In this episode of The Silent Mother Project, Sam Richardson sits down with Candace Baldwin, a survivor who refused to stay silent about decades of sexual abuse at Green Local Schools in Uniontown, Ohio.  After years of advocacy, Candace's primary abuser, former middle school teacher Gary Daniel Huff, was recently arrested following a grand jury indictment. But Dan Huff isn't the only name on what Candace calls "The Green Epstein List." Candace reveals allegations of a toxic "boys club" culture at Green Local Schools dating back to the 1970s, naming multiple teachers as abusers or complicit watchers. She details how school administration and the Summit County Sheriff's Office allegedly covered up abuse, silenced survivors, and treated her like a criminal; issuing a trespassing ban, following her at a football game with six to seven sheriffs, and allowing her to be assaulted by the athletic director. This is a story about institutional betrayal, survivor courage, and the fight for justice when those in power protect predators instead of children. Candace's legal battle continues, with the next pretrial hearing scheduled for mid-November. Her message is clear: silence protects abusers, and she's done being quiet. Content Warning: This episode contains detailed discussions of sexual abuse, institutional trauma, victim retaliation, and systemic cover-ups. Listener discretion is advised. Support the show thesilentmotherproject.com

    Candace's Story: The Green Epstein Files

  2. Sep 9

    Melissa's Story

    Send Sam Fan Mail In this deeply moving episode of The Silent Mother Project, Sam sits down with Melissa, a mother whose journey through grief and healing began when her daughter, Audrey, was born at just 24 weeks and lived for two days. Melissa shares her experience in the NICU, the emotional aftermath of infant loss, and how she began finding meaning within the silence that followed. Together, Sam and Melissa explore what it means to mother a child who is no longer earthside, the complexities of parenting after loss, and the power of sharing our stories as a path toward healing. Melissa also opens up about writing and self-publishing her children’s book, Hello, Little Love, a heartfelt tribute to Audrey and the love that continues beyond loss. Her story is a tender reminder that grief and motherhood are not separate experiences. They often exist side by side. Whether you have experienced loss yourself or want to better support someone who has, Melissa’s vulnerability and strength will stay with you long after the episode ends. Support the show thesilentmotherproject.com

    Melissa's Story

  3. Sep 9

    Jessica's Story

    Send Sam Fan Mail Motherhood can feel especially heavy when you are carrying the constant responsibility of a child’s chronic illnesses. In this episode of The Silent Mother Project, Sam sits down with Jessica, a mother navigating the complex realities of raising a daughter with Type 1 diabetes, alopecia, Crohn’s disease, and growth hormone deficiency. Jessica speaks honestly about the emotional and financial toll of managing multiple medical conditions, the effect it has had on her entire family, and the relentless advocacy required to ensure her daughter receives the care she needs. She also shares the fear, exhaustion, resilience, and often-unspoken struggles that come with being a medical mom in the trenches. Jessica’s story offers an honest look at the invisible labor behind medical motherhood and the strength it takes to keep showing up, even when the weight feels impossible to carry. Support the show thesilentmotherproject.com

  4. Sep 9

    Melinda's Story

    Send Sam Fan Mail In this deeply moving episode of The Silent Mother Project, Sam sits down with Melinda, a fellow mother of loss whose daughter, Victoria, passed away at just 23 days old due to complications from hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Melinda shares how she navigated the unimaginable grief of losing her baby, worked to break generational cycles for her older daughters, and allowed her loss to reshape her understanding of life, motherhood, and healing. Together, Sam and Melinda also have an honest conversation about addiction, mortality, and finding purpose within pain. Melinda’s story is a powerful reminder that healing does not mean letting go or leaving our children behind. It means learning to carry their love forward in new ways.  Support the show thesilentmotherproject.com

    Melinda's Story

  5. Sep 9

    Tiffany's Story

    Send Sam Fan Mail In this heartfelt episode of The Silent Mother Project, Sam Richardson sits down with Tiffany, a mother whose journey to motherhood was shaped by years of infertility and the devastating loss of her baby during the second trimester. Tiffany speaks candidly about the emotional roller coaster of fertility treatments, pregnancy loss, grief, and finding the strength to keep moving forward. Now the proud mother of two healthy daughters, she reflects on how she found healing and rediscovered joy without forgetting the baby she lost. Tiffany’s story is one of loss, resilience, hope, and the complicated emotions that can exist side by side throughout motherhood. For anyone navigating infertility or grieving a pregnancy loss, this conversation is a powerful reminder that you are not alone, and that light can still be found, even after the darkest seasons. Support the show thesilentmotherproject.com

    Tiffany's Story

  6. Sep 9

    Sam's Story

    Send Sam Fan Mail This is the story that started it all. In the first original episode of The Silent Mother Project, founder Sam Richardson shares her own story of motherhood, loss, trauma, survival, and the long journey toward reclaiming her voice. From losing her first daughter, Kaydance, to navigating grief, mental health, and the complicated realities of raising a family while carrying trauma, Sam speaks openly about the experiences that shaped both the woman she became and the community she would eventually build. As The Silent Mother Project enters an exciting new chapter, we’re returning to the five women and five stories that created its foundation. Support the show thesilentmotherproject.com

    Sam's Story

  7. Aug 28

    Lauren's Story

    Send Sam Fan Mail Lauren’s story is one of survival, resilience, and building a life entirely her own.  After becoming homeless as a teenager when her parents couldn’t accept that she was gay, she went on to survive domestic violence, become a single mom, and work her ass off to create a future for herself and her child. Today, Lauren has her MSW, is a therapist, and has worked in child protective services, bringing both lived experience and professional expertise to the work she does. After more than three hours of conversation, I’m so excited to finally share her story and officially introduce Lauren De Matteis as the President of The Silent Mother Project.  Support the show thesilentmotherproject.com

    Lauren's Story

  8. Jul 19

    Who Would I Be Without My Trauma

    Send Sam Fan Mail Who would I be if trauma had never touched my life? It's a question I've been sitting with lately, and one that led to a much bigger realization. So many of the topics I've been asked to talk about—grief, motherhood, child loss, CPTSD, healing, identity—aren't separate stories at all. They're all connected. In this episode, I'm opening up about what trauma has taken from me, what it's taught me, and the complicated process of figuring out who I am beyond survival mode. I share how losing Kaydance shaped my life, how CPTSD still shows up in everyday moments, and why healing isn't about pretending the past never happened, it's about learning to live alongside it without letting it define every piece of who you are. If you've ever wondered who you were before the pain, or who you're becoming after it, I hope this conversation reminds you that your trauma may be part of your story, but it doesn't have to be the whole story. Thank you for letting me share mine. Support the show thesilentmotherproject.com

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About

Welcome to The Silent Mother Project with Sam Richardson, a storytelling podcast about breaking the silence around trauma, loss, and the stories we’re taught to keep to ourselves. Sam became a mom at 18, lost her first daughter to congenital heart disease, survived trauma she never asked for, and built a life rooted in healing, advocacy, and speaking out, loudly. What started as one mother’s voice has grown into something bigger. This is her diary in podcast form - honest, messy, funny, painful, and real. A space where we talk about grief that doesn’t fit in a caption, identity after trauma, the weight of holding everything together, the chaos of life online, and what it means to keep going when life keeps rewriting the story. Rooted in motherhood, but not limited by it, this podcast creates space for anyone who has ever felt voiceless, invisible, or like they’re drowning while holding everyone else up. You’re not alone in what you’ve been carrying.

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