The Surviving Siblings®

Maya is joined by Dr. Parul Dua Makkar—dentist, grief coach, speaker, and author—who shares the heartbreaking journey of losing her only sibling, Manu, to oral cancer at just 34 years old.  Parul opens up about the moment she knew something wasn't right, the delays in diagnosis, what it was like navigating end-of-life care during the height of COVID-19, and how her grief transformed into a powerfu...

In this deeply emotional episode of The Surviving Siblings Podcast, host Maya Roffler welcomes Kayla, a bereaved sibling who lost her baby sister, Ashley, in a tragic and unexpected medical event in 2006. At just eleven years old, Kayla's world changed forever when her one-and-a-half-year-old sister suddenly stopped breathing—an event that would later be revealed as a preventable tragedy. Kayla op...

In this heartfelt episode of the Surviving Siblings Podcast, host Maya Roffler welcomes Elliet, a bereaved sibling who lost their younger brother, Dylan, in a tragic four-wheeling accident in 2003. At just eight years old, Elliet's world was turned upside down when their best friend and only sibling was suddenly gone. Elliet shares their deeply personal journey of navigating grief as a child, how...

In this deeply emotional episode of the Surviving Siblings Podcast, host Maya Roffler welcomes Jessica Kueck, a bereaved sibling who courageously shares the heartbreaking story of losing her younger brother, Aaron, at just three years old in a tragic drowning accident. Jessica was only 11 when her world was turned upside down, and she reflects on how this loss shaped her childhood, mental health,...

In this deeply moving episode of the Surviving Siblings Podcast, host Maya Roffler welcomes Michelle Tobin, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, therapist, and author, who shares her emotional journey of losing her brother Patrick in a devastating plane crash. Michelle reflects on the lasting impact of this loss, how it shaped her career in mental health, and the unexpected ways grief has woven itse...

Claire Thompson's journey is one of resilience, loss, and healing after the devastating loss of her brother Rob. From their tight-knit sibling bond growing up in Scotland to the tragedy that would redefine Claire's life, this episode explores the profound grief and transformation that comes with sibling loss. Rob, a charismatic and creative soul with a love for video editing, music, and fine whisk...

In this emotional episode of the Surviving Siblings podcast, host Maya Roffler welcomes Heather, who shares the devastating story of losing her brother Casey to gun violence. Heather takes listeners on a journey through their close sibling bond, the tragic circumstances of Casey's death, and the lifelong impact of his loss. She opens up about navigating grief, seeking answers, and finding healing...

In this heartfelt episode, host Maya Roffler speaks with Diana Hunter, who opens up about the loss of her brother Tyler. Diana shares her story of growing up with her three younger brothers, the unique sibling bond she shared with Tyler, and the challenges he faced with asthma and addiction. Diana reflects on her family's complicated dynamics, her role as a "second mom" to her younger siblings, an...

In this heartfelt and deeply moving episode of The Surviving Siblings Podcast, host Maya Roffler sits down with Janine DeTore, the youngest of seven siblings, to share an intimate look into her life, her incredible bond with her sister Angela, and the profound grief she endured after losing Angela to cancer. In this episode: [00:00:57] Family Dynamics – Janine discusses her role as the youngest of...

In this deeply personal and emotional episode, Sidney Savoie shares the story of his sister Dottie, who tragically passed away from a drug overdose in August 2020. Sidney opens up about their childhood, growing up as siblings with contrasting personalities, and the powerful bond they shared despite their differences. Dottie was adopted into Sidney's family before he was born, and Sidney reflects o...

From being born into a family with Kristi already navigating the challenges of Rett syndrome, Kourtney's story is one of dedication, loss, and profound love. Kristi was born in 1965 with a rare neurological disorder that affects primarily girls, which led her to lose many of her early developmental skills between 6 and 18 months old. The disorder wasn't formally diagnosed in the United States unti...

From childhood memories of Mike singing and dancing to his career as an award-winning blues musician, Ginger's story is one of love, loss, and the challenges of navigating life after such a tragedy. She delves into the complexities of coping with Mike's epilepsy, which played a significant role in his passing, and how their family dynamic shaped her grief process. His unexpected passing in 2019, d...

In this heartfelt episode, Jackson shares the profound journey of losing his younger sister, Lauren, when he was just 10 years old. Jackson reflects on the unique bond they had, with Lauren's vibrant and fearless personality, and how her sudden death in a tragic bus accident forever changed his family. Jackson opens up about the complex emotions of being the oldest, becoming an only child, and lat...

In this episode of the Surviving Siblings podcast, host Maya Roffler welcomes sisters Corrie and Brittany Fentress, who bravely share the heart-wrenching story of losing their two sisters, Ashley and Emily, to addiction and suicide. Corrie and Brittany discuss their close-knit family dynamics, the deep bonds they shared as siblings, and the devastating impact of losing not one, but two sisters. Th...

In this episode of the Surviving Siblings podcast, host Maya Roffler welcomes Anne Pinkerton, who shares the profound story of her brother David, who tragically passed away after a fall while hiking in Colorado. Anne delves into their unique sibling bond, her grief journey, and the process of writing her book to honor David's adventurous spirit. Tune in to hear about the emotional complexities of...

As we draw the curtain on the fifth season of Surviving Siblings, I'm overwhelmed with a mix of emotions, reminiscent of the day I faced my own sibling loss. Sharing this journey with you has magnified the courage it takes to traverse the winding road of grief, and it's clear we've all been walking it together. This finale episode is a heartfelt recap of the season's most impactful stories, from K...

How do families navigate the loss and addiction? Join us as Julia, a woman whose life has been intimately shaped by such an ordeal, shares her story with honesty and vulnerability. We traverse through her childhood marred by divorce and alcoholism. The narrative takes a particularly tender turn when reflecting on her younger sister, Rianna, whose vibrant personality and later struggles with substa...

Moments of tragedy often bring silent solidarity alongside the pain, and this episode is a testament to that duality. Chelsea recounts the day that altered her reality forever, the instinctive need to protect her family, and the unexpected kindness that can emerge from strangers in our darkest hours. As we traverse through her story, the resounding theme of diverse grief responses within a family...

This episode features a poignant conversation with Samantha, exploring her emotional journey through anticipatory grief and healing after losing her brother Chris to cancer. Samantha delves into the complexities of her relationship with Chris, revealing he was her half-brother shortly before his passing, and the impact of his death on her family dynamics and personal grief journey. She shares the...

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. Today's episode features a heartrending discussion with Taylor Taylor, who opens up about the cherished bond with her brother Blake, their shared childhood, and how ment...

Join us as we welcome Angie to our heartfelt conversation, where she unveils the complex tapestry of her family's experiences with loss, resilience, and the enduring love between siblings. Tragedy strikes in an instant- Angie opens up about the terrifying moment her brother Seth's laughter was replaced by the grip of a grand mal seizure, unveiling an underlying brain tumor. The path of a medical c...

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. When Linda's world was shattered not once, but twice, by the loss of her brothers Micheal and Jeff, she embarked on a quest for healing that not only mended her own spir...

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. Join us as we welcome Sarah to share the poignant story of her relationship with her late sister, Jenni, whose life was tragically cut short. Sarah opens up about their...

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...

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 t...