Rod & Chris: Unqualified and Unsupervised

Chris Ward
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Life doesn't come with a manual... and we're definitely not qualified to write one. Welcome to the club nobody asked to join. Rod & Chris: Unqualified and Unsupervised is where real people have honest conversations about grief, caregiving, resilience, and finding a way to keep moving forward after life knocks you flat. We welcome inspiring guests, share plenty of laughs (sometimes at ourselves), and aren't afraid to tackle the hard stuff. No experts. No perfect answers. Just honest conversations, questionable humor, and proof that even after the worst days, it's still okay to laugh.

  1. 5d ago

    Episode 31: Just Rod & Chris – Lessons Learned Along the Way

    Episode 31: Just Rod & Chris – Lessons Learned Along the Way What if some of the hardest parts of grief are the things nobody warned you about? You can grieve someone who's still alive. You can laugh one minute and fall apart the next. You can think you're doing just fine, only to discover you're not. And guess what? That's OK. This week, there are no guests. Just Rod and Chris, sharing some of the things we've experienced, the lessons we've learned, and a few things we wish someone had told us sooner. Grief doesn't come with instructions, and sometimes you don't even recognize what you're going through until you look back. In this episode, you'll hear: Grieving Before the Loss: Understanding anticipatory grief and the emotions that come with knowing what's ahead. It's OK Not to Be OK: Why admitting you're struggling isn't weakness, and why you don't have to pretend everything is fine. The Things Nobody Tells You: Unexpected feelings, realizations, and surprises that grief throws your way. There's No Right Way to Grieve: Letting go of expectations, timelines, and what other people think you should be feeling. Moving Forward, Not Moving On: Learning to carry grief with you while still finding reasons to live, laugh, and enjoy life. We're not offering a magic solution or a five-step plan to feel better. We're sharing real experiences, a little perspective, and probably a few laughs along the way. Why listen? Because somewhere in this conversation, you might hear something you've felt but never been able to put into words. And sometimes, simply knowing someone else gets it can make all the difference. We're still figuring this stuff out, too. No experts. No perfect answers. Just two guys who've been there, talking about what it means to keep moving forward. 🎙️ Rod & Chris: Unqualified and Unsupervised 🌐 Visit us at rodandchris.com Music Attribution: "Sergio's Magic Dustbin" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

  2. Oct 26

    Episode 30: Mary Ingham – Behind Closed Doors, Part 2

    Episode 30: Mary Ingham – Behind Closed Doors, Part 2 In Part 2 of our conversation with Mary Ingham of Crisis Intervention Service, we continue exploring the difficult realities of domestic violence, the challenges survivors face, and the importance of having somewhere safe to turn. As we recognize October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Mary helps us understand why leaving an abusive relationship is rarely as simple as saying, "Just leave." Fear, financial dependence, emotional manipulation, and concerns for personal safety can make escaping an abusive situation incredibly complicated. In this episode, you'll hear: Why leaving an abusive relationship can be so difficult. The importance of compassion, understanding, and support for survivors. How Crisis Intervention Service helps individuals and families find safety and rebuild their lives. Why awareness, education, and community involvement matter. How each of us can help make a difference. 50 Miles. One Mission. $5,000 to Make a Difference. To support the incredible work of Crisis Intervention Service, Chris is taking on a 50-mile cycling challenge at Cuyuna, Minnesota. Our goal is to raise $5,000 — that's $100 for every mile ridden! Every dollar makes a difference, and together we can help people find safety, support, and a path forward. Learn more and donate at rodandchris.com. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available through the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE (7233) or at thehotline.org. At Rod & Chris: Unqualified and Unsupervised, we're not experts. We're two guys having honest conversations about grief, loss, life, and everything that comes with it. No experts. Just experience. Welcome to the club nobody asked to join. Music Attribution:"Sergio's Magic Dustbin" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

  3. Oct 19

    Episode 28: Angela Myers – Love, Loss, and Life with ALS

    Episode 28: Angela Myers – Love, Loss, and Life with ALS What happens when the person you planned to grow old with is diagnosed with a disease that changes everything—and you're raising two young daughters while trying to hold your family together? Angela Myers joins Rod & Chris to share her journey of caring for her husband as he battled Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, a progressive neurological disease that affects the nerve cells responsible for voluntary muscle movement. Angela talks about the challenges of becoming a caregiver while still being a wife and mother, navigating the uncertainty of a devastating diagnosis, and trying to maintain some sense of normalcy for her two young daughters as their father's disease progressed. It's a conversation about love, marriage, parenting, caregiving, and the kind of grief that begins long before someone is gone. The physical and emotional demands of caring for someone with ALS are enormous, but so is the challenge of helping children understand what's happening to someone they love. And when her husband died, Angela faced another chapter—learning how to move forward while raising two daughters who were grieving their father. Because sometimes being strong doesn't mean having it all together. Sometimes it just means getting everyone through another day. In this episode, you'll hear: Angela and her husband's journey through an ALS diagnosis Understanding Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and how it changes everyday life Becoming a caregiver while still being a wife and mother Raising two young daughters while their father battled a terminal illness The emotional and physical challenges of caring for a spouse with ALS Experiencing anticipatory grief while caring for someone you love Helping children navigate the illness and eventual loss of a parent Finding a way forward as a widow and single parent Sometimes grief begins with a diagnosis. Sometimes the hardest part is trying to protect the people you love from a reality you can't change. And sometimes moving forward means learning how to carry both the love and the loss. Music Attribution“Sergio's Magic Dustbin” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensecreativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Rod & Chris: Unqualified and UnsupervisedNo experts. Just experience. And conversations worth having.

  4. Oct 18

    Episode 29: Mary Ingham – Breaking the Silence: Domestic Abuse Awareness, Part 1

    Episode 29: Mary Ingham – Breaking the Silence: Domestic Abuse Awareness, Part 1 What does it take to leave an abusive relationship? And why is it never as simple as telling someone to “just leave”? October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and Rod & Chris are marking the occasion with a special two-part conversation featuring Mary Ingham from Crisis Intervention Service. In Part 1, Mary joins us to talk about the realities of domestic abuse, the challenges survivors face, and the important work Crisis Intervention Service does to help individuals and families find safety, support, and a way forward. Domestic abuse isn't always physical. It can involve emotional manipulation, financial control, intimidation, isolation, and fear. And for someone living in an abusive situation, leaving isn't always as simple—or as safe—as the rest of us might think. It's a conversation about awareness, compassion, breaking the silence, and understanding that nobody deserves to live in fear. And this time, we're doing more than talking about it. As part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Chris is taking on a 50-mile cycling challenge to raise $5,000 for Crisis Intervention Service. The goal? $100 for every mile. Fifty miles. One mission. Helping people find a way out of dangerous situations and toward a safer future. Whether you contribute $5, $50, or sponsor an entire mile, every donation helps support the mission. Visit rodandchris.com and click the Fundraiser tab to learn more and donate. In this episode, you'll hear: Meet Mary Ingham and learn about the work of Crisis Intervention Service Why October's Domestic Violence Awareness Month matters The different forms domestic abuse can take beyond physical violence Why leaving an abusive relationship can be incredibly complicated The barriers survivors face when seeking safety and support How Crisis Intervention Service helps individuals and families in crisis What friends, family, and communities can do to support survivors Sometimes the hardest part isn't asking for help. It's believing there's a way out. And sometimes making a difference starts with something as simple as showing up, speaking out, or chipping in. This is Part 1 of a special two-part conversation. Be sure to join us for Part 2 as we continue our discussion with Mary Ingham. Content WarningThis episode includes discussion of domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, and trauma. Please listen with care. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, confidential help is available through the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), by texting START to 88788, or online at thehotline.org. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. Music Attribution“Sergio's Magic Dustbin” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensecreativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Rod & Chris: Unqualified and UnsupervisedNo experts. Just experience. And conversations worth having.

  5. Oct 12

    Episode 27: Angel Thompson – Grieving Together

    Episode 27: Angel Thompson – Grieving Together Grief doesn’t just affect the person who experienced the loss. It can change a marriage, a relationship, and the way two people move through life together. In Episode 27 of Rod & Chris: Unqualified and Unsupervised, Angel Thompson joins us to talk about what it’s like to support a spouse who is grieving the loss of family members. Angel shares the challenges of watching someone you love hurt when you can’t fix it, knowing when to step in and when to simply be there, and learning how to support your partner while navigating the changes grief can bring to a relationship. We also have an important conversation about suicide, the impact it leaves on those who love someone, and why we need to be willing to talk about it. Because sometimes loving someone through grief isn’t about finding the right words or making things better. It’s about staying beside them while they find their way forward. In this episode, you’ll hear: What it’s like to support a grieving spouseHow grief can affect a relationshipThe challenge of wanting to help when you can’t “fix” the lossGrief following suicide and its impact on familiesWhy simply being present can matterHow couples can keep moving forward togetherContent Note: This episode includes discussion of suicide and suicide loss. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Help is available 24/7. No experts. Just experience. And sometimes, being there is enough. Rod & Chris: Unqualified and UnsupervisedUnfiltered conversations from the club we didn’t want to join. Music: “Sergio’s Magic Dustbin” by Kevin MacLeodLicensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

  6. Oct 5

    Episode 26: Scott Tepner – The Day He Died

    Episode 26: Scott Tepner – The Day He Died Scott Tepner had a heart attack. Then he died. While lying on a table in the emergency room, Scott’s heart stopped. The medical team brought him back—and he lived to tell the story. In Episode 26 of Rod & Chris: Unqualified and Unsupervised, Scott joins us to talk about what happened that day, what he remembers, and how coming that close to the end changed the way he looks at the life he still gets to live. Because sometimes it takes losing everything—even for a few moments—to completely change what matters. In this episode, you'll hear: What happened the day Scott suffered his heart attackWhat he remembers about dying in the ERWhat it was like waking up after being brought backHow the experience changed his prioritiesWhy he approaches life differently todayNo experts. Just experience. And this week, one hell of a second chance. Music: “Sergio’s Magic Dustbin” by Kevin MacLeod (Incompetech), licensed under Creative Commons.

  7. Sep 28

    Episode 25: Peggy Dunn – The Long Goodbye

    Episode 25: Peggy Dunn – The Long Goodbye What happens when the person you’ve loved for more than 50 years is still here—but life together begins to change? Peggy Dunn joins Rod & Chris to share what happened when her husband of more than five decades was diagnosed with dementia, beginning a journey often described as the long goodbye. Peggy talks honestly about watching someone you’ve built a lifetime with begin to change, stepping into the role of caregiver, and experiencing a kind of grief that doesn’t wait for death. It can begin with a diagnosis, a forgotten memory, a change in personality, or the realization that the life you planned together may no longer look the way you imagined. It’s a conversation about dementia, caregiving, marriage, love, and anticipatory grief—grieving the losses that happen along the way while still loving and caring for the person who is right in front of you. And after more than 50 years together, there are a lot of memories, a lot of love, and a lot to hold onto. In this episode, you’ll hear: Peggy and her husband’s life togetherThe dementia diagnosis that changed their livesWhat “the long goodbye” really means for a spouseBecoming a caregiver after decades as partnersThe grief that can begin long before someone is goneFinding a way forward when life doesn’t look the way you expectedSometimes grief begins with goodbye. Sometimes it begins long before. Music Attribution“Sergio’s Magic Dustbin” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensecreativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

  8. Sep 21

    Episode 24: Toni Plante – A Mother’s Story, Part 2

    Episode 24: Toni Plante – A Mother’s Story, Part 2 Some conversations need more time. In Part 1 of our conversation with Toni Plante, she shared the heartbreaking story of losing her 15-year-old daughter to suicide after her struggle with depression. In Part 2, we continue Toni’s story. Toni talks about what came next—learning to live with an unimaginable loss, finding a way forward, and eventually turning her grief into a mission to help others. She shares why she now speaks openly about suicide and mental health, the importance of awareness and research, and what she hopes parents, families, and communities can learn from her daughter’s story. This isn’t a conversation about “getting over” grief. It’s about learning how to carry it, finding purpose alongside it, and having conversations that are sometimes incredibly difficult—but desperately important. Toni trusted us with a story no mother ever wants to tell. We’re incredibly grateful she chose to tell it with us. In Part 2, you’ll hear: What life looked like for Toni after losing her daughterHow she began finding her way forwardWhy she decided to speak publicly about suicideHer work promoting awareness and supporting researchWhat she wants other parents and families to knowWhy talking openly about mental health and suicide mattersContent Warning: This episode includes discussion of depression, suicide, and the death of a child. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Help is available 24/7. Music Attribution“Sergio’s Magic Dustbin” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensecreativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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Life doesn't come with a manual... and we're definitely not qualified to write one. Welcome to the club nobody asked to join. Rod & Chris: Unqualified and Unsupervised is where real people have honest conversations about grief, caregiving, resilience, and finding a way to keep moving forward after life knocks you flat. We welcome inspiring guests, share plenty of laughs (sometimes at ourselves), and aren't afraid to tackle the hard stuff. No experts. No perfect answers. Just honest conversations, questionable humor, and proof that even after the worst days, it's still okay to laugh.

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