Episodes

Welcome to season 3 of the Surviving Siblings podcast. We are starting this season with a returning guest and season sponsor, Audree Kropen from SibsForever. Audree’s story is an interesting one, make sure you go back to Episode 4 and Episode 5 from Season 2 . In this week's episode, Audree returns to talk about her granddaughter, Brenna, who is also a surviving sibling. Audree shares how she has supported Brenna in her grief journey and becoming a surviving sibling, what well sibling syndrome i...

CONTENT WARNING: Please note that this episode contains depictions and stories of siblings lost by suicide, homicide and/or domestic violence. We understand that some people may find these triggering, activating and/or disturbing. Maggie Bauer lost her brother Chris by suicide, it has been 10 years and it still hurts that her brother is no longer on this earth. She knows that her grief journey is going to last a lifetime, and recognizes that the most challenging thing of all is advocating for yo...

Janice Jernigan lost her sister Julie when she was 3 years old, and this major loss ignited a cascade of secondary losses. Janice lost the opportunity of sharing milestones with her sister, receiving advice from her growing up and even beauty tricks. Janice tried to hold on to her sister Julie through many ways, and it emerged in her relationships, and eventually in her body. These are some of the reasons she decided to write her book Opening Up to Grief: A Surviving Sibling's Journey with Loss ...

Judy Lipson is the middle of three sisters. She became a surviving sibling when she lost her younger sister Jane in a car accident. Nine years later, she lost her sister Margie, who had been fighting bulimia and anorexia for over two decades. Judy decided to honor her sisters by starting a fundraiser for Mass General Hospital, where she helped raise over $80,000 in a decade. After that, she decided to put it on paper and wrote her book Celebration of Sisters: It Is Never Too Late to Grieve In th...

CONTENT WARNING: Please note that this episode contains depictions and stories of siblings lost by suicide, homicide and/or domestic violence. We understand that some people may find these triggering, activating and/or disturbing. There’s a lot to unpack in Nickky’s sibling loss journey. First she lost her big brother Glennn who committed suicide, then she lost her older sister Lisa in a car accident, and most recently her brother Alexander to a homicide. The most challenging thing for Nickky ha...

All surviving siblings have a different story. Chelsey and Clint were inseparable when they were kids, most of the time they were by themselves because their father was in and out of the picture and their mother was a single mom, working two jobs to provide for them. Chelsey was about to graduate and was looking forward to having her brother at her graduation, so when she received “the call”, she couldn’t believe her brother had passed in a mountain climbing accident. In this week's episode, Che...

CONTENT WARNING: Please note that this episode contains depictions and stories of siblings lost by suicide, homicide and/or domestic violence. We understand that some people may find these triggering, activating and/or disturbing. Angela is the oldest sibling of five children and she became a surviving sibling 20 years ago when her brother Nicky passed. Nicky’s story begins after he was in a severe car accident and developed an addiction from being on strong medications for pain. He was in and o...

Aletha was only 9 years old when her brother Brett passed. Even though they were 9 years apart, they were very close. Aletha and Brett spent a lot of time on the tracks since Brett started racing at a very young age. Racing was Brett’s passion. In 2007, Brett was coming back home from an all-night race when he fell asleep behind the wheel crashing his car. Unfortunately, he died as a result of this accident. The days after her brother passed were very overwhelming for Aletha and she became even ...

Rachel lost her little brother Aaron in a motorcycle accident in 2002. She was really close to him, as he was the only full brother and her sibling that she shared a childhood with, so receiving the call was a heartbreaking and pivotal moment in her life. The first few weeks after Aaron passed were a blur for her. Rachel felt a mix of emotions, because everyone expected her to be strong for her parents and to deal with all the funeral arrangements for her brother. Two months after Aaron’s death,...

Preston grew up in the shadow of his older brother, Colin. When Preston was in college, Colin decided to go in the military, in part to escape the lifestyle he was living, but being in the military and going on two tours had taken a toll on Colin, and he ended up passing due to a drug overdose. Preston got the dreaded call while he was at work. As soon as he made it home, he broke down. All he wanted to do was to be with his wife and kids, but his family also needed him. As part of his grief jou...

It's hard to believe that we are wrapping up Season Three, and Maya is back for her recap of the season. Maya will be discussing her personal takeaways from each guest as well as give recommendations for particular episodes depending on your own grief journey. Maya is also sharing where she is in her grief journey six and a half years after losing her brother to a homicide. She is excited to share her epiphanies over the past six months and some key takeaways from her continuing grief journey. S...

Elizabeth opens up about her family's profound struggle when her brother, Ted, was diagnosed with rare blood disorder aplastic anemia. Their innocent childhood turned into a harsh reality as Ted spent eight years in a laminar air flow room at the National Institutes of Health. Elizabeth recounts their childhood inside the hospital, his illness, and the impact his sudden death had on each family member. In this episode, Elizabeth highlights Ted’s positive attitude despite being unable to leave a ...

CONTENT WARNING: Please note that this episode contains depictions and stories of siblings lost by suicide, homicide and/or domestic violence. We understand that some people may find these triggering, activating and/or disturbing. Lori always saw herself as her brother, Brian’s protector and still fills that role after his death, preserving his story and legacy. Lori took on the responsibility of taking a first look a Brian’s stolen car, of what she thought at the time was his murder weapon. Nex...

CONTENT WARNING: Please note that this episode contains depictions and stories of siblings lost by suicide, homicide and/or domestic violence. We understand that some people may find these triggering, activating and/or disturbing. For years Christine answered multiple ‘goodbye calls’ from her brother Pete. Finding him in the midst of attempted suicides. Their family supported him through life changes, diagnosis and therapies but in the end, he was unable to fight the illness. In this episode, we...

CONTENT WARNING: Please note that this episode contains depictions and stories of siblings lost by suicide, homicide and/or domestic violence. We understand that some people may find these triggering, activating and/or disturbing. Meet Jordon Ferber, a surviving sibling who's traversed the labyrinth of loss through a mix of tender reflection, candid conversations, and a dash of humor. Jordon recounts the larger-than-life story of his younger brother Russell - an inspiring young man who managed t...

CONTENT WARNING: Please note that this episode contains depictions and stories of siblings lost by suicide, homicide and/or domestic violence. We understand that some people may find these triggering, activating and/or disturbing. How can you grapple with the devastating pain of losing a sibling to addiction and transform it into a beacon of strength? Emily's older brother Peter was a quintessential jokester with a magnetic personality that knew no bounds. But behind the mask, he waged a war aga...

CONTENT WARNING: Please note that this episode contains depictions and stories of siblings lost by suicide, homicide and/or domestic violence. We understand that some people may find these triggering, activating and/or disturbing. Leigh first took on the role of her sister’s caretaker when Beth experienced a tragic car accident at 16. Beth’s accident caused a traumatic brain injury and she never recovered to be the same. The accident affected Beth’s reasoning and she was eventually thrust back i...

Every family has its story, and our guest, Laura Weiss, is here to share hers with us. Laura's journey begins with the loss of her brother, Ben, a vibrant individual who was much more to her than just a sibling. Laura opens up about Ben’s struggle with Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, his addictions, and his life as part of the LGBTQ+ community in a small town. We explore Laura’s undulating journey of grief and trauma, her handling of challenging family dynamics, and her experience of setting hea...

Today's episode is a touching tribute to the adventurous spirit of Rocky, Susan Casey's brother who tragically passed away on Valentine's Day 2014. Susan's vivid retelling of Rocky's life and love for exploration, unexpectedly ended at a young age. In the wake of Rocky's death, Susan's life was transformed. She not only found a purpose in her loss but also the courage to live life fully — to honor her beloved brother. The episode is a profound exploration of the power of grief, the importance of...

Dr. Dawn DiRaimondo, a renowned author, Psychologist and surviving sibling, joins us once again to explore the profound journey of healing and connection during the holiday season. Dawn shares the story of her brother Michael's death in combat, their last Christmas conversation, and the subsequent transformation of her family's holiday celebrations. This episode delves into the delicate balance of honoring a lost sibling and managing personal grief. Dawn recounts the unique ways her family comme...

Our fourth season has been a profound exploration of grief, particularly focusing on the often overlooked impact it has on siblings and the rebuilding we do throughout our grief journey. Listen in as I, your host, Maya Roffler, share a recap of our heartfelt season four, as well as an update of my personal journey through grief and loss. I share my thoughts on the season and reflect on the profound stories shared by each guest. As we wrap up, I express heartfelt gratitude to you, our supportive ...

This season begins with a heartfelt tribute by my guest, Katie, to her late brother Patrick, whose dream of firefighting was both his passion and his legacy. As Katie recounts their childhood memories and Patrick's unwavering determination to join the fire service, listeners will be moved by the depth of their sibling bond and the sense of pride and inspiration that Patrick left behind. Katie shares the emotional weight of having a loved one working in a high-risk profession. The raw emotions an...

CONTENT WARNING: Please note that this episode contains depictions and stories of siblings lost by suicide, homicide and/or domestic violence. We understand that some people may find these triggering, activating and/or disturbing. Our guest Stacy shares her personal journey with her sister Katie Jo, painting a vivid picture of the nurturing role she assumed in her sister's life and the distance that time and circumstances can create. Stacy's personal reflections lead us through the transformatio...

In this episode, we welcome Laing as she recounts the cherished moments with her sister Ginna and confronts the irony that lay in her professional expertise in medical devices, contrasting sharply with Ginna's untimely death with sleep apnea. We discuss the transformative power of rituals and creative expression in the face of mourning. Our conversation takes a turn towards finding solace amidst the turmoil of the COVID-19 pandemic, Laing shares her inspiration into nature poetry with "Morning L...