They Were Here - Lessons From Their Lives

Danielle Phillips
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Personal Journals

They Were Here: Lessons From Their Lives is a podcast and YouTube series dedicated to preserving legacies, sharing stories, and carrying memories forward. Hosted by Danielle Phillips, founder of the They Were Here Foundation, each episode explores the lives of people who have left a lasting impact on their families, friends, and communities. Through heartfelt legacy interviews, loved ones share the values, lessons, traditions, humor, and experiences that continue to shape their lives long after someone is gone. In our Grieving It Forward conversations, we explore how grief can be transformed into action, purpose, service, and meaningful ways to honor those we love. Whether remembering a parent, child, spouse, sibling, friend, mentor, or community member, these stories create a living archive of wisdom, resilience, and human connection. Because every life leaves a mark, every story matters, and every legacy deserves to live on.

Episodes

  1. 5d ago

    Domenico Vene: Love, Legacy & Dragonflies

    Domenico Vene lived a life filled with adventure, travel, connection, and love — and no one carries his story more deeply than his sister, Barbara. In this episode of They Were Here: Lessons From Their Lives, Barbara shares the story of the brother she loved so dearly: the life he created, the places his journey took him, the memories they shared, and the bond between them that death could never erase. Domenico built an extraordinary life, including making a home for himself in Spain. But to Barbara, he was always simply her brother. Through Barbara’s memories, we get to know Domenico beyond the photographs and adventures — his personality, the life he built, and the impact he left on the people who loved him. Barbara also shares the special connection she now feels to dragonflies and the ways she continues to feel Domenico’s presence in her life. This is a story about sibling love, grief, and what happens when the person we love is no longer physically here — but the relationship with them continues. Because Domenico was here. His life mattered. And his story still matters. ABOUT THEY WERE HERE They Were Here: Lessons From Their Lives preserves the stories of people who have died and explores the lessons, love, wisdom, and meaning they left behind. Every life has a story worth preserving. The They Were Here Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving legacies and helping people carry their grief forward with purpose. ❤️ Share a loved one’s story, support our mission, or learn more: theywereherelessons.org Your support helps us continue recording and preserving these stories so the people we love are remembered not simply for how they died, but for how they lived. Preserving legacies. Carrying stories forward. #TheyWereHere #LessonsFromTheirLives #Legacy #Grief #GrievingItForward #SiblingLoss #RememberingDomenico #Podcast #Bereavement #LifeAfterLoss

    Domenico Vene: Love, Legacy & Dragonflies

  2. Sep 22

    Hi Mom, It’s Me: A Mother, Two Daughters & Love Beyond Loss | Crystal Yuskaitis

    What if the relationship we have with someone we love doesn’t end when they die? In this episode of They Were Here – Lessons from Their Lives, I sit down with author and medium Nancy Yuskaitis, whose experiences with love, loss, and connection ultimately led her to write Hi Mom, It’s Me: Hope, Love and the Afterlife. Nancy is the mother of two daughters, both of whom she has had to say goodbye to—one who died as an infant, and Crystal, whose life and legacy are at the heart of much of our conversation. Nancy shares their stories and the very different ways each of her daughters shaped her life. We talk about motherhood, the grief of losing a child at different stages of life, signs and connections after loss, and Nancy’s experience of discovering her own mediumship. She shares how her daughters inspired Hi Mom, It’s Me and how their continued presence in her life has influenced the work she does today. Whether or not you share Nancy’s beliefs about the afterlife, there is something universal at the heart of her story: love doesn’t simply disappear when someone dies. We continue carrying the people we love in the stories we tell, the choices we make, and the ways their lives change ours. This is a conversation about a mother, two daughters, two very different losses—and a love that continues to find its way through. Because they were here. And their lives still matter. Learn more about Nancy Yuskaitis 📖 Hi Mom, It’s Me: Hope, Love and the Afterlife Find the book on Amazon 🌐 Nancy Yuskaitis's website ✉️ Email: hopeloveandtheafterlife@gmail.com 📝 Hope, Love and the Afterlife on Substack 📘 The Art of Soulful Inspired Living on Facebook 💙 Facebook Group: Hope Love and the Afterlife Support They Were Here They Were Here – Lessons from Their Lives is a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the stories and lessons of people who have died and helping others understand grief, legacy, and what it means to carry those stories forward. 🌐 Visit They Were Here If this episode resonates with you, please like, subscribe, comment, and share it. Every view and share helps us reach another person and preserve another legacy. If there is someone in your life whose story deserves to be remembered, we would love to hear about them. Every life has a story. Every story has a lesson. Because They Were Here. #TheyWereHere #HiMomItsMe #NancyYuskaitis #HopeLoveAndTheAfterlife #ChildLoss #Grief #GriefSupport #Afterlife #Mediumship #SignsFromLovedOnes #BereavedMother #LoveAfterLoss #LifeAfterLoss #Legacy #LegacyPreservation #RememberingLovedOnes #GrievingItForward #Podcast #GriefPodcast

    Hi Mom, It’s Me: A Mother, Two Daughters & Love Beyond Loss | Crystal Yuskaitis

  3. Sep 17

    Remembering Jake: A Life, a Legacy, and a Mother’s Love

    Some conversations begin with an introduction. Others begin with an understanding. Heather Straughter and I are members of a club neither of us ever wanted to join: we are mothers whose lives changed overnight, and who now carry the legacies of children we would give anything to still have here. Heather is the host of A Place of Yes: A Grief Podcast, where she creates space for honest conversations about grief, loss, and what it means to continue living after the unimaginable. I previously had the privilege of sitting on the other side of the microphone with Heather, sharing my own story and Angelina’s with her listeners. For this episode of They Were Here: Lessons From Their Lives, we turn the microphone toward Heather. And, most importantly, toward Jacob “Jake” Straughter. Heather shares Jake with us—not simply the circumstances of his illness and death, but the little boy he was. His personality. His life. The memories that still make her smile. The ways becoming Jake’s mother changed Heather, and the ways his life continues to shape the work she does today. Because grief is part of Jake’s story, but it is not the whole story. Jake lived. Jake was loved. Jake mattered. Jake was here. This conversation is about remembering him that way. Heather and I have now had the opportunity to share both sides of this connection. After listening to Jake’s story here on They Were Here, I hope you’ll also visit A Place of Yes to hear Heather and me talk about my own experience with loss, grief, and carrying Angelina forward. Listen to my conversation with Heather on A Place of Yes: https://open.spotify.com/episode/79aq2qVv2ARD8UGGKxBvef Listen to more from A Place of Yes: A Grief Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/5aYEz4dvQXkux0x320eVFX?si=105fab3d46714e14 To learn more about They Were Here: Lessons From Their Lives, share a story, or help us preserve another legacy, visit theywereherelessons.org.

    Remembering Jake: A Life, a Legacy, and a Mother’s Love

  4. Sep 11

    Still Riding: Remembering Squad 288 & HazMat 1 | September 11, 2001

    On September 11, 2001, the members of FDNY Squad 288 and HazMat Company 1 responded to the World Trade Center. Nineteen of them never returned to their firehouse. In this special episode of They Were Here: Lessons From Their Lives, Danielle Phillips sits down with retired FDNY firefighter and Laughter Saves Lives founder John Larocchia to remember the men behind the names—the friends, brothers, firefighters, husbands, fathers, and personalities whose lives were so much bigger than the way they died. John shares his memories of September 11, the brothers he lost from his firehouse, and his best friend, Tom Gardner. He also reflects on the grief that followed and the ways he has carried their memories forward in the years since. At the firehouse, their assignment board from September 11 still bears the names and assignments from that morning. Above it are three simple words: DO NOT ERASE. Twenty-five years later, we haven't. This episode is dedicated to the members of Squad 288 and HazMat 1 who were lost on September 11, 2001, to all those whose lives were taken that day, and to the first responders who ran toward danger to save others. They were here. They mattered. And they are still riding. To learn more about They Were Here: Lessons From Their Lives, share the legacy of someone you love, or support our nonprofit's work preserving stories for future generations, visit our website. Please like, subscribe, and share this episode so these stories—and these men—continue to be remembered. #September11 #NeverForget #FDNY #Squad288 #HazMat1 #StillRiding #911Memorial #TheyWereHere #FirstResponders #Legacy #Grief #RememberTheirNames

    Still Riding: Remembering Squad 288 & HazMat 1 | September 11, 2001

  5. Sep 8

    The Little Ducks Carrying Her Legacy: Remembering Gwen SnowWhite

    Sometimes a legacy begins with something very small. For Gwen SnowWhite, it’s a little ceramic duck. In this episode of They Were Here – Lessons from Their Lives, we remember Gwen through the eyes of her nephew and the special relationship they shared. Gwen was a beloved aunt with a love of travel whose life was ultimately touched by cancer—but her story didn’t end there. Today, her nephew gives away small ceramic ducks inspired by Gwen, leaving pieces of her story for others to discover. What began with her love of travel and evolved through her battle with cancer has become a beautiful way of carrying Gwen with him wherever he goes. Each little duck is more than a trinket. It’s a connection. A conversation. A reminder of a woman who was deeply loved—and proof that sometimes the smallest acts of remembrance can carry a legacy farther than we ever imagined. Because preserving someone's legacy doesn't have to be grand. Sometimes, it can fit in the palm of your hand. Help us preserve more stories like Gwen’s. 🌐 Learn more about They Were Here – Lessons from Their Lives: theywereherelessons.org 💙 Support our nonprofit and help us preserve another legacy: www.givebutter.com/theywereherelessons2026 If Gwen's story touched you, please like, comment, subscribe, and share this episode. And if someone you love left behind a tradition, object, phrase, recipe, or little ritual that keeps their memory alive, tell us about it in the comments. Every life has a story. Every story has a lesson. Because They Were Here. #TheyWereHere #GwenSnowWhite #Legacy #LegacyPreservation #RememberingLovedOnes #Grief #GriefSupport #Cancer #CancerJourney #Aunts #FamilyStories #LoveLivesOn #Remembrance #Storytelling #Podcast #YouTubePodcast #Nonprofit #LifeLessons

    The Little Ducks Carrying Her Legacy: Remembering Gwen SnowWhite

  6. Jul 23

    More Than an Aunt - Lessons from Kathleen Bruno

    Sometimes, the person who mothers us isn't our mother at all. In this moving episode of They Were Here – Lessons from Their Lives, Kathy Bruno honors the life and legacy of her beloved niece, Jeannine. Although Kathy was Jeannine's aunt by title, she became so much more—a surrogate mother, a guiding light, a safe harbor during life's storms, and the person Jeannine always knew she could turn to. Their story reminds us that the people who shape our lives don't always share our last name or our DNA. Mother figures can come from anywhere, and their love has the power to change us forever. Join us as Kathy reflects on Jeannine's life, the bond they shared, and the lasting lessons that continue to guide her. If you've ever been loved by an aunt, grandparent, mentor, teacher, or family friend who became family by choice, this conversation is for you. 💙 Help us preserve more legacies. 🌐 Website: https://www.theywereherelessons.org 🎙️ Listen on your favorite podcast platform: https://www.theywereherelessons.org/podcast 💝 Support our mission: https://givebutter.com/theywerehere2026 📱 Follow They Were Here: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theywerehere Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theywerehere YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheyWereHere If this episode touched your heart, please: 👍 Like the video 💬 Share the name of someone who became a mother figure in your life. 📺 Subscribe and help us preserve more stories before they're lost. Every life has a story. Every story has a lesson. Because They Were Here. #TheyWereHere #Legacy #Grief #GriefSupport #MotherFigure #ChosenFamily #Aunt #Family #LegacyPreservation #Remembering #Storytelling #LifeLessons #Podcast #MentalHealth #Healing #LoveLivesOn #Nonprofit #FamilyStories #LegacyProject #GriefEducation

    More Than an Aunt - Lessons from Kathleen Bruno

  7. Jun 21

    The Father Who Stepped Up: Lessons from Robert H. Levin

    What makes a father? Biology? A last name? Or the decision to show up, day after day, and love a child as your own? In the premiere episode of They Were Here: Lessons From Their Lives, Edward Balsam shares the story of his stepfather, Robert H. Levin—a man who stepped into a role he didn't have to fill and became the father his family needed. Through memories, laughter, and heartfelt reflection, Edward explores the lessons Robert left behind: the importance of showing up, putting family first, leading with kindness, and creating a legacy measured not by achievements, but by the lives we touch. This conversation is a powerful reminder that some of the most meaningful fathers are not the ones we're born to—they're the ones who choose us. Join us as we honor Robert's life and discover the lessons that continue to guide his family long after he's gone. ❤️ About They Were Here They Were Here: Lessons From Their Lives is a nonprofit podcast and YouTube series dedicated to preserving legacies and carrying stories forward. Each episode explores the life of someone who made an impact, ensuring their wisdom, values, and lessons continue to inspire future generations. 📌 To share your loved one's story, become a guest, support our mission, or make a donation, visit our website and follow the links below. Learn about our mission - www.theywereherelessons.org Book a legacy interview for a loved one www.canlendly.com/theywereherelessons Support and Sponsor Our Show - www.givebutter.com/theywereherelessons2026 #TheyWereHere #Legacy #Fatherhood #Stepfather #Family #Grief #Remembrance #LifeLessons #Podcast #RobertLevin #EdwardBalsam #LessonsFromTheirLives

    The Father Who Stepped Up: Lessons from Robert H. Levin

  8. Jun 4

    Trailer: Welcome to They Were Here: Lessons From Their Lives

    Welcome to They Were Here: Lessons From Their Lives. In this trailer, host Danielle Phillips shares the story behind the podcast, the inspiration that led to the creation of the They Were Here Foundation, and how legacy interviews and Grieving It Forward conversations help preserve the stories, lessons, and impact of the people we love. Subscribe now and join us as we carry these stories forward.

  • 8 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

They Were Here: Lessons From Their Lives is a podcast and YouTube series dedicated to preserving legacies, sharing stories, and carrying memories forward. Hosted by Danielle Phillips, founder of the They Were Here Foundation, each episode explores the lives of people who have left a lasting impact on their families, friends, and communities. Through heartfelt legacy interviews, loved ones share the values, lessons, traditions, humor, and experiences that continue to shape their lives long after someone is gone. In our Grieving It Forward conversations, we explore how grief can be transformed into action, purpose, service, and meaningful ways to honor those we love. Whether remembering a parent, child, spouse, sibling, friend, mentor, or community member, these stories create a living archive of wisdom, resilience, and human connection. Because every life leaves a mark, every story matters, and every legacy deserves to live on.

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