Inheritance of Hope Podcast

Inheritance of Hope

The Inheritance of Hope Podcast invites you into deeply personal conversations with those navigating the unthinkable: young families facing the loss of a parent to terminal illness. Each episode explores what it means to leave a legacy - not just in death, but in how we choose to live. Whether you're living with a diagnosis, supporting someone who is, or simply searching for meaning and hope in hard places, this podcast shows that joy is possible, even in terminal illness! Find joy in terminal illness at⁠⁠⁠ https://InheritanceOfHope.org/⁠⁠ Give joy in terminal illness at ⁠https://www2.inheritanceofhope.org/Give

  1. How do I talk about my legacy with loved ones?

    May 26

    How do I talk about my legacy with loved ones?

    Legacy conversations can feel overwhelming, and they can also become some of the most meaningful moments of connection we share with the people we love. In this episode, Ellie talks with Marriage and Family Therapist Kim Virrueta, about how to have meaningful legacy conversations. Kim shares practical, compassionate guidance for navigating difficult emotions, creating safe invitations for honest dialogue, and approaching complicated relationships with grace and intentionality. Whether through conversation, letters, or other creative expressions, this episode offers encouragement for interactions that bring clarity, connection, and build a legacy of love. 00:00 Introduction to Legacy Conversations 03:25 Understanding Legacy Conversations 04:35 The Fear of Difficult Conversations 06:28 Practical Tips for Initiating Conversations 09:17 Prompts to Begin Conversations 11:54 Handling Resistance in Conversations 15:35 Self-Management During Conversations 18:14 Navigating Complicated Relationships 20:53 Intentionality in Legacy Conversations 21:15 The Importance of Emotional Awareness 23:04 Consequences of Avoiding Conversations 25:44 Closing Thoughts and Encouragement The podcast episode with Lisa Pahl, on how to start conversation about end of life, mentioned in this episode, can be found here. Kim has a free family grief guide. Here's the download: https://linktr.ee/therapywithkimv For inspiration and mental health tips follow Kim on Instagram. To book a free support session with Kim, check her availability online.

    27 min
  2. How do I use stories and images to build my legacy?

    May 12

    How do I use stories and images to build my legacy?

    In this episode, we explore legacy as something created through everyday life and not something tied only to illness or mortality. Through our conversation with photographer and storyteller, Amy Murgatroyd, we reflect on the tangible: photographs, stories, laughter, and shared moments that become lasting gifts for future generations. Here’s a tip from Amy: instead of taking photos of just our kids, make sure we’re in them too, so they’ll have memories not just of us, but with us. And beyond what we can see and hold, we explore the emotional impact of preserving memories through images and legacy videos and how being present in ordinary moments helps create meaningful keepsakes that continue to bring comfort, connection, and joy for years to come. 00:00 Introduction to Legacy Building 02:34 The Power of Photography in Legacy 05:06 Capturing Moments: The Importance of Being Present 07:58 The Emotional Impact of Legacy Videos 10:59 Storytelling and Humor in Legacy Videos 13:30 Celebrating Life Through Legacy 15:12 Tangible Ways to Leave a Legacy 17:07 The Role of Memory in Legacy For more information about Amy Murgatroyd's current legacy projects visit her site: Chiaroscuro Photos and Films - Serving families enduring a chronic/terminal illness or disability/rare disease…capturing the light above their darkness and beauty beyond their shadows. Chiaroscuro is a noun (from Italian chiaro, “light,” and scuro, “dark”), and is a technique employed by visual artists to convey light piercing the darkness.  Book a Legacy Video today with Coach Amy here: https://inheritanceofhope.org/legacy-videos/ These Inheritance of Hope Legacy resources are designed to spark reflection and guide you as you shape your legacy. https://inspirehopeathome.org/legacy-intentions https://inspirehopeathome.org/cultivating-legacy https://inspirehopeathome.org/livinghope Find practical ideas to help you with legacy projects on our blog: https://inheritanceofhope.org/21-ways-to-start-building-your-legacy-today/. https://inheritanceofhope.org/rebecca-milligan-on-the-importance-of-leaving-a-legacy/

    19 min
  3. What does it mean to build a legacy?

    May 5

    What does it mean to build a legacy?

    Legacy isn’t just about money or fame; it’s about the quiet, powerful ways we shape how we’re remembered. Discover how meaningful, everyday moments like making a favorite recipe, creating a garden, writing a heartfelt letter or having a heartfelt conversation can become the most lasting impact you leave behind. On today’s episode, licensed marriage and family therapist Kim Virrueta, introduces the idea of “legacy themes”: financial, relational, carrying-it-forward, and spiritual and gently reframes how we think about the impact we leave behind. The conversation opens a deeper, more personal way of seeing legacy, inviting you to consider not just what you pass on, but how love, meaning, and values continue to live through everyday life. 00:00 Understanding Legacy: A Complex Concept 04:08 The Active Role in Shaping Legacy 06:30 Creative Expressions of Legacy 09:04 The Impact of Mundane Moments 11:26 Building a Meaningful Legacy 14:14 Exploring Spiritual Legacy For more information about Kim's therapy practice visit: Christian Counseling and Cancer Support. Kim has a free family grief guide. Download: https://linktr.ee/therapywithkimv Supporting Your Family Through Grief After Loss handout: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1q6kOtTzxNtM1qAIOPlo1ybphg66Y5vN2/view?usp=drive_link For inspiration and mental health tips follow Kim on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/therapywithkimv/ You can begin the process of creating a Legacy Video here: https://inheritanceofhope.org/legacy-videos/ These Inheritance of Hope Legacy resources are designed to spark reflection and guide you as you shape your legacy. https://inspirehopeathome.org/legacy-intentions https://inspirehopeathome.org/cultivating-legacy https://inspirehopeathome.org/livinghope Find practical ideas to help you with legacy projects on our blog: https://inheritanceofhope.org/21-ways-to-start-building-your-legacy-today/ https://inheritanceofhope.org/rebecca-milligan-on-the-importance-of-leaving-a-legacy/

    18 min
  4. How do I remain hopeful talking to kids about a diagnosis?

    Apr 21

    How do I remain hopeful talking to kids about a diagnosis?

    Discussing tough topics like illness or loss with children is challenging. How do we remain hopeful while also being honest about difficult realities? In this episode, Kelsey Mora, a dual Certified Child Life Specialist and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, shares insights and strategies for balancing hope and honesty. She provides us with actionable tips to engage children in meaningful conversations, ensuring they feel seen, heard, and supported. Kelsy is also Chief Clinical Officer at Pickles Group. This non-profit organization provides free peer-to-peer support and resources for kids and teens impacted by their parent or guardian’s cancer. Kelsy provides more information about how to talk to kids about cancer in her blog post. For more information on Kelsey's books, including The Dot Method, a workbook tool that uses hands-on activities to make cancer less scary, less confusing, and more approachable for kids and caregivers, check out this website: https://www.themethodworkbooks.com/ As always, please visit https://InheritanceOfHope.org/ to learn more about our resources for young families facing the loss of a parent due to terminal illness. 01:00 Introducing Kelsey Mora and Her Work 03:24 Navigating Illness with Realism and Hope 05:06 Engaging Children in Conversations 09:14 Dreaming Big and Scaling Back 09:54 Building a Legacy Through Small Moments 11:31 Resources for Honest Conversations 13:49 How Honest Should Parents Be? 17:35 The Nature of Hope in Difficult Times

    20 min
  5. What is Hospice and Palliative Care and how do they differ?

    Apr 14

    What is Hospice and Palliative Care and how do they differ?

    For families facing terminal illness, terms like Hospice and Palliative Care can be confusing and misunderstood. Many people feel anxious and intimidated to talk about them. In this episode, Lisa Pahl, a licensed clinical social worker with 20 years of hospice experience, breaks down some of the common myths around Hospice and Palliative Care. With compassion and clarity, she shares helpful insights and real-world perspective to make these important aspects of end-of-life care easier to understand and navigate. When searching for reputable hospice services be sure to check out https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/ to review ratings based on family satisfaction surveys and to compare organizations. For more information of end-of-life doulas and to search the doula directory visit the Inelda website. Lisa mentions that she uses a deck of cards called The Death Deck to help initiate meaningful conversations about end-of-life plans. Visit this website for more information. To find the book Lisa mentions in this episode, "The Hospice Doctor’s Widow," visit https://jenniferaobrien.com/books As always, please visit https://InheritanceOfHope.org/ to learn more about our resources for young families facing the loss of a parent due to terminal illness. 00:00 Understanding Hospice and Palliative Care 09:08 Distinguishing Between Palliative Care and Hospice 15:10 Myths and Misconceptions About Hospice 20:24 Navigating the Journey with Support

    23 min
5
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

The Inheritance of Hope Podcast invites you into deeply personal conversations with those navigating the unthinkable: young families facing the loss of a parent to terminal illness. Each episode explores what it means to leave a legacy - not just in death, but in how we choose to live. Whether you're living with a diagnosis, supporting someone who is, or simply searching for meaning and hope in hard places, this podcast shows that joy is possible, even in terminal illness! Find joy in terminal illness at⁠⁠⁠ https://InheritanceOfHope.org/⁠⁠ Give joy in terminal illness at ⁠https://www2.inheritanceofhope.org/Give