The Broken Pack: Stories of Sibling Loss

Dr. Angela Dean / The Broken Pack, LLC
  • 5.0 (15)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

On this podcast, surviving sibling, psychologist, and thanatologist, Dr. Angela Dean, helps other grieving siblings share their sibling loss stories. This podcast aims to provide an authentic space for surviving siblings to express their grief and help others navigate the complex emotions associated with this profound, often misunderstood loss.The Broken Pack: Stories of Sibling Loss delves into the profound and often overlooked topic of sibling loss, offering a platform for surviving siblings to share their personal grief stories. In each episode, listeners are immersed in the real-life experiences of those who have endured the unimaginable loss of a sibling. Through inspiring narratives, honest accounts, and stories of resilience, surviving siblings recount their journeys and share how they are learning to live with such profound grief. By connecting through shared experiences, listeners will find solace and support, discovering a community that understands the unique challenges of sibling loss. The Broken Pack: Stories of Sibling Loss is a podcast focused on giving bereaved survivors of sibling loss a platform to share their stories and be heard, something many sibling loss survivors state they never or rarely have had. This podcast is sponsored by the organization, The Broken Pack, an organization supporting and educating others on sibling loss and grief as well as connecting survivors in community.If you would like more information or to share your own sibling loss story, please contact Dr. Angela Dean at dr.dean@thebrokenpack.com or go to our website, thebrokenpack.com.Please like, subscribe, and share!Please follow us on social media:Facebook: @BrokenPackInstagram: @thebrokenpackTikTok: @the_broken_packYouTube: @thebrokenpackSign-up for Wild Grief, our newsletter: https://substack.thebrokenpack.com/Thank you!Angela M. Dean, PsyD, FT, GTMRCredits:The Broken Pack: Stories of Sibling Loss is produced by 27 Elephants Media"If Tomorrow Starts Without Me" © ℗ 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026Written by Joe Mylward and Brian DeanPerformed by Joe MylwardLicensed for use by The Broken Pack

  1. Surviving Sibling Loss: Tough Love, Sudden Goodbye

    2D AGO ·  VIDEO

    Surviving Sibling Loss: Tough Love, Sudden Goodbye

    Amanda Miller is Shawna's big sister and one of her surviving siblings. She lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, and shares about losing Shawna in a sudden car crash on January 19, 2024. Shawna was 30 years old, pregnant, and the mother of an eight-year-old son. Amanda speaks as a surviving sibling and describes their relationship as close, with both care and conflict. The same crash also killed Shawna's partner, Jett's father. In a single moment the family lost Shawna, her unborn baby, and Jett's dad.  The episode focuses on sibling loss, family roles, and the practical and emotional demands that followed the death. Amanda talks about taking on caregiving and decision-making tasks for her family, including helping with guardianship for Jett, Shawna's son. She also discusses surviving sibling loss in the context of a blended family, grief counseling, and why both kids and adults need bereavement support. In this episode you will: Hear how Amanda took on a big-sister and caretaker role for Shawna, and how that shaped their bond.Learn how the family handled guardianship and other immediate responsibilities after the crash.Gain insight into the impact of sudden death on siblings, parents, and children.Explore how grief counseling and family grief resources supported Amanda and Jett.Understand the ongoing practical tasks involved after a death, including probate and the sale of Shawna's house.Discover how Amanda and her family keep Shawna present in everyday life.Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of sudden death by car accident, pregnancy loss, and the death of multiple family members in a single event. Resources are located below. Episode Resources:  In the US: - Call SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357), text your 5-digit ZIP code to 435748 (HELP4U), or contact a peer support warmline. - For more immediate crisis, call 911 or 988, or go to the nearest emergency room. International: In the UK: Cruse Bereavement Support, a bereavement charity with  a helplineInternational crisis lines and warmlinesMentioned in this episode: Brighter Days Family Grief Center - aTwin Cities nonprofit offering family bereavement support and grief programsFamilyMeans  - Stillwater, MN nonprofit offering grief counseling and family support services, formerly the Center for GriefThe Compassionate Friends -  an international organization with chapter and online support groups, including a dedicated sibling groupCamp Erin  - a free bereavement camps for grieving children and teens ages 6 to 17, offered nationwide through the Eluna NetworkSend us Fan Mail Support the show If you would like more information or to share your own sibling loss story, please contact Dr. Angela Dean at contact@thebrokenpack.com or go to our website, thebrokenpack.com. Please like, subscribe, and share! Please follow us: Facebook:  @BrokenPack Instagram:  @thebrokenpack TikTok: @the_broken_pack YouTube: @thebrokenpack Sign-up for Wild Grief, our newsletter: https://thebrokenpack.substack.com/  Thank you! Angela M. Dean, PsyD, FT, GTMR  🐺Tony's Little Sister Credits: The Broken Pack: Stories of Sibling Loss is produced by Not Done Here Media. IF TOMORROW STARTS WITHOUT ME     Written by Joe Mylward and Brian Dean     Performed by Fuji Sounds featuring Joe Mylward     Courtesy of Not Done Here Records     Licensed for use by The Broken Pack Full song: https://fujisounds.music

    57 min
  2. Half of Myself: A Surviving Sibling's Story of Losing Andy

    APR 17

    Half of Myself: A Surviving Sibling's Story of Losing Andy

    In this episode of The Broken Pack: Stories of Sibling Loss, Dr. Dean talks with Dr. Valerie Lentine, a surviving sibling and physical therapist. Valerie's only sibling, her younger brother, Andy, died suddenly in 2022 at 22 years old. Three years in, Valerie opens up about what it has meant to walk through sudden loss, the identity shift she captures in her own words when she describes feeling like "half of myself," and what it takes to keep Andy close.  In this episode you will: Hear Valerie describe who Andy was, the ordinary morning that changed everything, and what a surviving sibling carries out of a hospital. Learn why a surviving sibling who is also an only sibling faces a specific kind of grief, and why sibling grief so often ends up at the bottom of the grief hierarchy. Be inspired by how a surviving sibling carries her brother forward, and hear her name a long-term fear many surviving siblings know but rarely say out loud.Content Warning: This episode discusses sudden traumatic loss, traumatic brain injury, and the withdrawal of life support. Connect with Valerie Lentine: Instagram: @val_lentine (https://www.instagram.com/val_lentine)  TikTok: @valerielentine22 (https://www.tiktok.com/@valerielentine22) Send us Fan Mail Support the show If you would like more information or to share your own sibling loss story, please contact Dr. Angela Dean at contact@thebrokenpack.com or go to our website, thebrokenpack.com. Please like, subscribe, and share! Please follow us: Facebook:  @BrokenPack Instagram:  @thebrokenpack TikTok: @the_broken_pack YouTube: @thebrokenpack Sign-up for Wild Grief, our newsletter: https://thebrokenpack.substack.com/  Thank you! Angela M. Dean, PsyD, FT, GTMR  🐺Tony's Little Sister Credits: The Broken Pack: Stories of Sibling Loss is produced by Not Done Here Media. IF TOMORROW STARTS WITHOUT ME     Written by Joe Mylward and Brian Dean     Performed by Fuji Sounds featuring Joe Mylward     Courtesy of Not Done Here Records     Licensed for use by The Broken Pack Full song: https://fujisounds.music

    56 min
  3. A Surviving Sibling's Story of Caregiving, Loss, and Finding Joy Again

    APR 1

    A Surviving Sibling's Story of Caregiving, Loss, and Finding Joy Again

    In this episode of The Broken Pack: Stories of Sibling Loss, Dr. Dean talks with Earla Legault, a surviving sibling, grief advocate, and co-author of Living with Sibling Grief: Imagining a Way Forward. Earla lost her younger sister, Leigh-Ann, to pancreatic cancer after serving as her caregiver for three months at home. This episode explores what sibling loss looks like when you're also the caregiver, how a surviving sibling navigates the grief no one talks about, and how Earla found her way forward through writing, drawing, and a grief buddy. Earla and Dr. Dean also discuss why sibling grief is so often unspoken, what it means to lose the person who was the glue in your family, the difference between acknowledging a death and accepting it, and how continuing bonds show up in birds, pink skies, and grief dreams. Earla shares how she and co-author Monica Murphy went from strangers on Facebook to grief buddies to published authors, and why she believes finding your nature is more useful than any coping mechanism. In this episode you will: Hear Earla's story of sibling loss, their long goodbye, and what she calls the learning times of caregiving. Learn why sibling grief goes unspoken and how family dynamics shift when the glue is gone. Be inspired by how a surviving sibling found a grief buddy, co-wrote a book, and built a community around saying their names.Connect with Earla Legault: Instagram: @sibling.grief.buds Book: Living with Sibling Grief: Imagining a Way Forward  Grief Matters: https://griefmatters.ca/blog/drawing-through-the-grief-of-an-adult-sibling Send us Fan Mail Support the show If you would like more information or to share your own sibling loss story, please contact Dr. Angela Dean at contact@thebrokenpack.com or go to our website, thebrokenpack.com. Please like, subscribe, and share! Please follow us: Facebook:  @BrokenPack Instagram:  @thebrokenpack TikTok: @the_broken_pack YouTube: @thebrokenpack Sign-up for Wild Grief, our newsletter: https://thebrokenpack.substack.com/  Thank you! Angela M. Dean, PsyD, FT, GTMR  🐺Tony's Little Sister Credits: The Broken Pack: Stories of Sibling Loss is produced by Not Done Here Media. IF TOMORROW STARTS WITHOUT ME     Written by Joe Mylward and Brian Dean     Performed by Fuji Sounds featuring Joe Mylward     Courtesy of Not Done Here Records     Licensed for use by The Broken Pack Full song: https://fujisounds.music

    59 min
  4. Brilliant Disguise: A Surviving Sibling's Memoir

    MAR 18

    Brilliant Disguise: A Surviving Sibling's Memoir

    In this episode of The Broken Pack: Stories of Sibling Loss, Dr. Dean talks with Susan Kellam, journalist, surviving sibling, and author of Brilliant Disguise. Susan lost her brother Robert to suicide and has spent decades untangling the shared childhood trauma that shaped them both in very different ways. Hear Susan's story of growing up as Little K to Robert's Big K, and how being his sister defined her before she ever defined herself. Learn how writing a rock and roll memoir unexpectedly became the vehicle for processing her brother's death, her childhood, and the warning signs no one recognized at the time. Be inspired by Susan's willingness to sit with the hard truths of sibling loss, childhood trauma, and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and her belief that understanding your story is worth the years it takes. Connect with Susan Kellam:  Website: https://www.susan-kellam.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellam400/Book: Brilliant Disguise: A MemoirContent Warning: Information presented in this episode may be upsetting to some people. It contains talk of suicide. Resources: If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, support is available. In the US: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741SAMHSA's National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or text your 5-digit ZIP code to 435748 (HELP4U)For more immediate crisis, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency roomWarmlines by state: https://warmline.org/warmdir.htmlAmerican Foundation for Suicide Prevention: https://afsp.org/International: Warmline directory for trained peer support in 20+ countries:  https://tinyurl.com/mr3ctvea (some may be hotlines)Send us Fan Mail Support the show If you would like more information or to share your own sibling loss story, please contact Dr. Angela Dean at contact@thebrokenpack.com or go to our website, thebrokenpack.com. Please like, subscribe, and share! Please follow us: Facebook:  @BrokenPack Instagram:  @thebrokenpack TikTok: @the_broken_pack YouTube: @thebrokenpack Sign-up for Wild Grief, our newsletter: https://thebrokenpack.substack.com/  Thank you! Angela M. Dean, PsyD, FT, GTMR  🐺Tony's Little Sister Credits: The Broken Pack: Stories of Sibling Loss is produced by Not Done Here Media. IF TOMORROW STARTS WITHOUT ME     Written by Joe Mylward and Brian Dean     Performed by Fuji Sounds featuring Joe Mylward     Courtesy of Not Done Here Records     Licensed for use by The Broken Pack Full song: https://fujisounds.music

    47 min
  5. Shining a Light on Sibling Loss, Addiction, and Life's Little Pleasures

    MAR 11

    Shining a Light on Sibling Loss, Addiction, and Life's Little Pleasures

    In this episode of The Broken Pack™: Stories of Sibling Loss, Dr. Dean talks with Nina Rodriguez, creator and host of the Grief and Light podcast and online grief support platform. Nina lost her only sibling, Yosef, to fentanyl poisoning in 2019. This episode explores the unique layers of sibling loss, the shame and secrecy that can surround addiction, and what it means to continue being a sister after your brother is gone.  In this episode you will hear Nina’s story of growing up as Yosef’s big sister and how his loss became the catalyst for Grief and Light. You will also hear about the complexities of sibling grief including identity after loss, the unspoken grief hierarchy, birth order dynamics, and why the five-year milestone isn’t the finish line you think it is. Be inspired by Nina’s commitment to shining a light on grief, honoring Yosef’s legacy, and embracing Life’s Little Pleasures. Connect with Nina Rodriguez: Podcast: Grief and Light  (available on all platforms)YouTube: YouTubeSubstack: Resting Grief FaceFree Download: Grief Tending ToolkitSocial Media: @griefandlightResources: In the US:If you believe you are witnessing an overdose, call 911 or your country’s emergency number immediately even if you are administering Narcan.Call SAMHSA’s National Helpline is  1-800-662-HELP (4357) or Text your 5-digit ZIP Code to 435748 (HELP4U) or call a warmline.For more immediate crisis call 911, 988, or go to the nearest emergency room.Peer support: https://warmline.org/warmdir.htmlInternationalIn the UK, related resources: https://tinyurl.com/3fknb36cPeer support warmlines: https://tinyurl.com/2pv58j4mSend us Fan Mail Support the show If you would like more information or to share your own sibling loss story, please contact Dr. Angela Dean at contact@thebrokenpack.com or go to our website, thebrokenpack.com. Please like, subscribe, and share! Please follow us: Facebook:  @BrokenPack Instagram:  @thebrokenpack TikTok: @the_broken_pack YouTube: @thebrokenpack Sign-up for Wild Grief, our newsletter: https://thebrokenpack.substack.com/  Thank you! Angela M. Dean, PsyD, FT, GTMR  🐺Tony's Little Sister Credits: The Broken Pack: Stories of Sibling Loss is produced by Not Done Here Media. IF TOMORROW STARTS WITHOUT ME     Written by Joe Mylward and Brian Dean     Performed by Fuji Sounds featuring Joe Mylward     Courtesy of Not Done Here Records     Licensed for use by The Broken Pack Full song: https://fujisounds.music

    51 min
  6. A Christmas Loss. A Surviving Sibling Who Changes Lives.

    FEB 25

    A Christmas Loss. A Surviving Sibling Who Changes Lives.

    In this episode of The Broken Pack™: Stories of Sibling Loss, Dr. Dean talks with Dr. Christina Zampitella, a licensed psychologist, thanatologist, and founder of the Center for Grief and Trauma Therapy in Delaware. Dr. Z lost her brother Damien to a drug overdose on Christmas Day when he was just 22 years old. This episode explores the lifelong impact of sibling loss, the complicated grief that comes with loving someone through addiction, and what it truly means to carry your sibling with you. In this episode you will: Hear Dr. Z's story of how losing Damien became the foundation of her life's work- including her groundbreaking work on adult surviving siblings.Learn what surviving siblings need to know about grief integration, STUGs, maintaining a continued bond, and why there is no "getting over it"  Be inspired by Dr. Z's resilience through cumulative losses & her commitment to honoring those she has loved and lost.Connect with Dr. Christina Zampitella:  Website: https://tinyurl.com/59x7e9mfPodcast: Phoenix Rising with Dr. Z — available on all platforms YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/ms5ea5fwInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/phoenixrisingwithdrz/ All links: https://linktr.ee/phoenixrising_drzResources: In the US:If you believe you are witnessing an overdose, call 911 or your country’s emergency number immediately even if you are administering Narcan.Call SAMHSA’s National Helpline is  1-800-662-HELP (4357) or Text your 5-digit ZIP Code to 435748 (HELP4U) or call a warmline.For more immediate crisis call 911, 988, or go to the nearest emergency room.Peer support: https://warmline.orgInternationalUK related resourcesPeer support warmlinesSend us Fan Mail Support the show If you would like more information or to share your own sibling loss story, please contact Dr. Angela Dean at contact@thebrokenpack.com or go to our website, thebrokenpack.com. Please like, subscribe, and share! Please follow us: Facebook:  @BrokenPack Instagram:  @thebrokenpack TikTok: @the_broken_pack YouTube: @thebrokenpack Sign-up for Wild Grief, our newsletter: https://thebrokenpack.substack.com/  Thank you! Angela M. Dean, PsyD, FT, GTMR  🐺Tony's Little Sister Credits: The Broken Pack: Stories of Sibling Loss is produced by Not Done Here Media. IF TOMORROW STARTS WITHOUT ME     Written by Joe Mylward and Brian Dean     Performed by Fuji Sounds featuring Joe Mylward     Courtesy of Not Done Here Records     Licensed for use by The Broken Pack Full song: https://fujisounds.music

    57 min

  7. FEB 22

    The Broken Pack Returns: Surviving Sibling Loss, Grief, & What's Next

    After more than 18 months of silence, The Broken Pack™ podcast is back, and Dr. Angela Dean is sharing everything. In this return episode, Dr. Angela Dean, psychologist, thanatologist, bereaved sibling, and host of The Broken Pack™, opens up about why she went quiet, what grief looked and felt like from the inside, and what is coming next for this community of surviving siblings and sibling loss survivors. Where Dr. Dean Has Been: After nearly five years since losing her brother Tony, something shifted in fall 2024. Despite consistently showing up, recording episodes, building community, and training with Dr. Robert Neimeyer at the Portland Institute for Loss and Transition, she found herself unable to continue at that pace. She reflects on the paradox of avoiding her own grief while pursuing advanced training in grief therapy, and why she needed to step away from narrating loss in order to actually live it. The Personal Losses Behind the Silence: An adult child moving across the globe, shifts in family dynamics, estrangement, and the growing weight of being her parents' only living child, a reality her brother Tony is no longer here to share. What Brought Her Back: A grief retreat through the Portland Institute reconnected her with her purpose. After recording an episode with Karin McLean, Dr. Dean began noticing signs from Tony, wolves, Pittsburgh references, and childhood memories only he would have known. Big News for Surviving Siblings: The Broken Pack is expanding to welcome ALL sibling loss survivors, including those who lost siblings in childhood or before birth. The Wild Grief newsletter moves to Substack, and a sibling loss book club is launching. Upcoming guests: Dr. Christina Zampitella, Nina Rodriguez, Dr. Heidi Horsley, Susan Kellum, Karin McClean, Anne Pinkerton, Earl Dawn Legault, and sibling loss survivor stories from Valerie, Amy, Paige, Amanda, Jayden, Deidra, and many more. Send us Fan Mail Support the show If you would like more information or to share your own sibling loss story, please contact Dr. Angela Dean at contact@thebrokenpack.com or go to our website, thebrokenpack.com. Please like, subscribe, and share! Please follow us: Facebook:  @BrokenPack Instagram:  @thebrokenpack TikTok: @the_broken_pack YouTube: @thebrokenpack Sign-up for Wild Grief, our newsletter: https://thebrokenpack.substack.com/  Thank you! Angela M. Dean, PsyD, FT, GTMR  🐺Tony's Little Sister Credits: The Broken Pack: Stories of Sibling Loss is produced by Not Done Here Media. IF TOMORROW STARTS WITHOUT ME     Written by Joe Mylward and Brian Dean     Performed by Fuji Sounds featuring Joe Mylward     Courtesy of Not Done Here Records     Licensed for use by The Broken Pack Full song: https://fujisounds.music

    14 min
  8. Sibling Grief, Potholes, & Scooter Safety: A Surviving Sibling's Advocacy

    05/31/2024

    Sibling Grief, Potholes, & Scooter Safety: A Surviving Sibling's Advocacy

    In this episode of The Broken Pack: Stories of Sibling Loss, Dr. Dean talks with Kate Chertik, a Pittsburgh woman navigating the devastating grief of losing her brother, Larry, to a fatal scooter accident caused by a city pothole. As a surviving sibling, Kate shares her raw emotions, the impact on her family, and how she turned her grief into advocacy for scooter safety. This episode explores the complexities of sibling loss, the importance of support systems for surviving siblings, and the power of turning tragedy into action. In this episode you will: Hear Kate's powerful story of losing her best friend , her brother in a tragic scooter accident has led to advocacy for scooter safety and creation of a support group for sibling loss survivors.Be inspired by Kate's resilience and unwavering commitment to honoring her brother's memory.Send us Fan Mail Support the show If you would like more information or to share your own sibling loss story, please contact Dr. Angela Dean at contact@thebrokenpack.com or go to our website, thebrokenpack.com. Please like, subscribe, and share! Please follow us: Facebook:  @BrokenPack Instagram:  @thebrokenpack TikTok: @the_broken_pack YouTube: @thebrokenpack Sign-up for Wild Grief, our newsletter: https://thebrokenpack.substack.com/  Thank you! Angela M. Dean, PsyD, FT, GTMR  🐺Tony's Little Sister Credits: The Broken Pack: Stories of Sibling Loss is produced by Not Done Here Media. IF TOMORROW STARTS WITHOUT ME     Written by Joe Mylward and Brian Dean     Performed by Fuji Sounds featuring Joe Mylward     Courtesy of Not Done Here Records     Licensed for use by The Broken Pack Full song: https://fujisounds.music

    53 min
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About

On this podcast, surviving sibling, psychologist, and thanatologist, Dr. Angela Dean, helps other grieving siblings share their sibling loss stories. This podcast aims to provide an authentic space for surviving siblings to express their grief and help others navigate the complex emotions associated with this profound, often misunderstood loss.The Broken Pack: Stories of Sibling Loss delves into the profound and often overlooked topic of sibling loss, offering a platform for surviving siblings to share their personal grief stories. In each episode, listeners are immersed in the real-life experiences of those who have endured the unimaginable loss of a sibling. Through inspiring narratives, honest accounts, and stories of resilience, surviving siblings recount their journeys and share how they are learning to live with such profound grief. By connecting through shared experiences, listeners will find solace and support, discovering a community that understands the unique challenges of sibling loss. The Broken Pack: Stories of Sibling Loss is a podcast focused on giving bereaved survivors of sibling loss a platform to share their stories and be heard, something many sibling loss survivors state they never or rarely have had. This podcast is sponsored by the organization, The Broken Pack, an organization supporting and educating others on sibling loss and grief as well as connecting survivors in community.If you would like more information or to share your own sibling loss story, please contact Dr. Angela Dean at dr.dean@thebrokenpack.com or go to our website, thebrokenpack.com.Please like, subscribe, and share!Please follow us on social media:Facebook: @BrokenPackInstagram: @thebrokenpackTikTok: @the_broken_packYouTube: @thebrokenpackSign-up for Wild Grief, our newsletter: https://substack.thebrokenpack.com/Thank you!Angela M. Dean, PsyD, FT, GTMRCredits:The Broken Pack: Stories of Sibling Loss is produced by 27 Elephants Media"If Tomorrow Starts Without Me" © ℗ 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026Written by Joe Mylward and Brian DeanPerformed by Joe MylwardLicensed for use by The Broken Pack

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Angela Dean / The Broken Pack, LLC
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    47
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Broken Pack: Stories of Sibling Loss
  • Show Website
    The Broken Pack: Stories of Sibling Loss

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