Beyond Brave

In this episode of Beyond Brave , I sit down with Krysta Shacklock, Executive Director of Empty Arms (Perinatal & Early Childhood Loss Support Services), for a conversation that holds both heartbreak and hope. Krysta shares her personal story of loss after the stillbirth of her son, Henry Finn, and how that journey led her to become a guiding force for other grieving families through Empty Arm...

Lyle is back on the mic with me, and we have a lot to catch up on. In this episode of Beyond Brave , we share stories from our recent family adventure in PV, Mexico...complete with Waylon’s hilarious bargaining skills, unexpected wildlife encounters, and a few moments that felt like little signs from Bella. We also introduce the newest member of our family! We also talk about upcoming events honor...

In this solo episode of Beyond Brave, I open up about the recent fatigue that’s been weighing on me and how discouraging it’s felt…until a shift happened after I took the time to research and understand what was really going on. I reflect on a recent post I shared on social media, reading through your comments that reminded me how powerful community can be! In the heart of the episode, I share my...

Part 2 of Episode 47 continues my Brave Mom conversation with Kennedy as we go deeper into her journey with her brave girl, Huxley. In so many ways, Huxley reminds me of my late Bella, and simply talking about the two of them together brings healing to my heart. We talk about Kennedy returning to school to become an RN while Huxley undergoes her second bone marrow transplant, and she asks me about...

In Part One of this special two-part Beyond Brave episode, I sit down with fellow medical mom Kennedy from Minnesota, whose daughter Huxley shares striking medical similarities with my Bella, a connection first brought to me by my TikTok community. We talk about how this unexpected introduction turned into an instantly deep, healing conversation between two medical moms navigating rare diagnoses,...

We didn’t mean to be gone this long. After what felt like being hit with grief again, a hard holiday season, illness, and the quiet realization of stepping into another year without Bella, we’re finally back. In this first episode of 2026, Lyle joins me for an honest check-in as we talk about recent travel and a Disney World recap, what surprised us, what helped, and what we’d do differently, alon...

In this episode, Lyle and I finally share our full Ronald McDonald House story. From our very first stay in Calgary when we walked in terrified and exhausted, to our last days in Toronto with our Bella. Ronald McDonald House wasn’t just a place to sleep; it became our family. We talk about the rooms we lived in, the meals that kept us going, the programs that lifted us up, the volunteers who saw u...

In this Brave Mom episode, I sit down with Liz, a fellow bereaved and medical mom, to honour and share the story of her beautiful son, Mathias. This conversation was healing in a way only another SCID mom could understand. Liz and I share so many parallels in our stories… from navigating a SCID diagnosis, to battling CMV, to watching our babies endure bone marrow transplants. There are moments in...

In this episode, I sit down with my friend and event-planning powerhouse Jen Draper to talk all things Bella’s Birthday Ball, how it began, why it matters, and the incredible heart behind it. We dive into Jen’s world as an author, creator, event planner, oracle-card reader, and community builder, and explore how she uses all her talents to bring meaning and magic into the spaces she creates. It’s...

Hubby Lyle is back! It’s been a minute since we've sat down together and there’s a lot to catch up on. From planning our first Disney World trip and celebrating one year of Beyond Brave , to my recent keynote and the launch of my new Brave Moms Series. Lyle and I also open up about how grief continues to evolve 16 months after losing our Bella, what it looks like to find joy alongside heartach...

At just 34, Megan survived two strokes that left her with paralysis in one arm and limited movement in her leg. Through some of her hardest moments, she found hope and strength in Bella’s brave journey. In this episode, Megan opens up about her recovery, the emotional battles she’s faced, and how she’s redefining what it means to be truly brave.

Make sure you listen right to the end, after my outro, Ashley and I keep chatting about self-care and share a heartfelt side conversation. In this powerful second episode of my Brave Mom Series on Beyond Brave , I talk with Ashley Hernandez from Kleefeld, Manitoba; a bereaved mom whose courage allows her to open up to me about her unimaginable loss. Ashley’s daughter, Aliyah, was diagnosed with an...

Maria & Her Miracle Micro Preemie, George Born at just 22 weeks, George’s story is one of pure resilience and his mom Maria shares it with beautiful honesty. What does it mean to raise a miracle? In this first episode of our Brave Mom Series , I sit down with fellow medical mama Maria Panayiotou , whose little boy George, born at just 22 weeks and 5 days , weighing only 1 pound, 4 ounces — has...

In this episode, Lyle & I are catching up on where we’re really at ... from health updates and kidney results to Kyla’s first mammogram experience. We also dive into the new trend of major coffee chains adding protein to their menus (and what that actually means for your health), plus a round of rapid-fire grief questions that get surprisingly real. I also share much about a recent fundraising...

Most people don’t realize that palliative care isn’t just about end-of-life... it’s about helping medical families live better, right now. In this episode, I sit down with Kira Goodman, Project Director for Canada’s Pediatric Palliative Care Alliance, to talk about the launch of their brand-new Resource Hub designed to support families caring for seriously ill children. From navigating life at hom...

A new health update. A bittersweet birthday. A wink from Bella in the most unexpected place. And a powerful new resource for medical families across Canada. In this solo episode of Beyond Brave , I open up about life after my stage 3 kidney failure diagnosis and what’s shifted since my last update. I share the mix of emotions that came with celebrating Waylon’s 7th birthday, how grief shows up eve...

Well, if you haven’t been following my stage 3 kidney failure diagnosis… you are now. In this episode of Beyond Brave, we open up about the latest health updates, including what my recent bloodwork revealed and the questions I’m asking as I dig into it all. We also reflect on our nearly two-week US camping trip — Oregon Coast and all — and what it taught us about family, laughter, and resilience o...

Lyle’s back on the mic! In this episode, we catch up on health updates (including our 36-hour fasts), answer your quick-fire Q&A from Instagram, and dive into what it’s like to keep Bella in our lives while moving forward. I also share about the 52 precious notes I recently lost, including journals since Bella’s passing, and why no one gets to dictate your grief. Plus, by the time you’re liste...

This week on Beyond Brave, I’m sharing a lot; signs from Bella, my health struggles that have me drained and I open up about a painful betrayal that’s tested my faith and the inner battle between calling someone out or choosing peace. I also reflect on recent heartbreaking losses in the medical mom community and share how I’m preparing for an upcoming trip. Stick around for the listener Q&A at...

Join me in a deeply heartfelt conversation with Benny and Dr. Nick Capaul, the empathetic identical twins who co‑host Let’s Talk About Death With the Capaul Twins. Benny, a funeral director following his family’s legacy, offers grounded, professional insight; while Dr. Nick, a psychologist, explores the emotional and healing dimensions of loss  . In this special joint episode, I open up about my d...

In Part 2 of this deeply personal two-part episode, we continue sharing the story we’ve held closest to our hearts: the week our daughter Bella died. If Part 1 opened the door to those final days, Part 2 walks you through them. From the hospital room to Bella’s final moments, we recount the raw reality of saying goodbye, the sacredness of our time together, and the weight of decisions no parent sh...

In this deeply personal two-part episode, we’re opening up about something we’ve never shared before: the week our daughter Bella died. As we mark one year without her, we take you back to those final days , what they looked like, what we felt, and the moments that changed us forever. In Part 1, we ease into the conversation with a touching story from Bella’s school before diving into a vulnerable...

In this heartfelt conversation, Kyla sits down with Laura Lawrence , the founder of Youth Matter Canada, speaker, author, and host of the HeartTalk Podcast . Together, they explore Laura’s powerful journey through motherhood, grief, and mental health advocacy. From the raw truths in her memoir Behind Closed Doors , to the comforting wisdom in her children’s grief books, Laura’s mission to support...

In this tender, unfiltered conversation, Lyle opens up about navigating grief as a dad, the quiet heaviness, the unexpected moments of connection, and the signs that Bella is still close. From a mysterious golden orb caught on camera to a Killdeer returning to their yard, Kyla and Lyle share stories that are equal parts heartbreaking and hope-filled. Also: bird drama, pie miracles, and some laugh-...

In this solo episode, Kyla shares deeply personal stories about her daughter Bella. Many precious moments and life lessons she’s never shared on Beyond Brave until now. A heartfelt conversation about grief, memory, and keeping love alive through story. > You can follow along with the Thomsons' daily life on Kyla's Instagram @kylact, where they continue to honour and carry forward their...