Just for Today Podcast

Cassie and Nick Rogers each buried a spouse — and then found each other. In this episode of Just for Today, Adriana and co-host Kevin sit down with both of them for an honest conversation about grief, faith, blending a family of six kids, and the judgment that comes with finding love again after loss. Cassie's husband Cody — her high school sweetheart and the father of her four children — went fro...

What if a single therapy session could resolve a trauma you've carried for years? In this episode, Adriana sits down with Dina and Julie — two licensed EMDR therapists with over 40 years of combined experience and the team behind EMDR Transformations Counseling in Gilbert, Arizona — to demystify one of the most talked-about and misunderstood trauma treatments out there. They break down what EMDR (...

Tana Amen had every reason not to make it. Raised by a teenage runaway mom in poverty, with addiction, murder, and abuse all around her. Molested as a child. Assaulted at 15. An eating disorder. Then cancer at 23 that came back four times. Her childhood trauma score (ACE score) was an 8 out of 10. At 23, she prayed she would die. In this episode, Tana tells Adriana how she went from that hopeless...

Annie (@annieafter_) met Zach doing summer sales in California and married fast, the way you do when you just know. He was 26 and healthy — until sudden symptoms led to a rare, aggressive cancer diagnosis. The doctor said it was "95% curable." Two days later, Annie was a widow. In this episode, Annie shares the timeline most people never hear: the hospital, the moment she watched his heart rate fa...

In this raw and unforgettable episode of the Just For Today Podcast, host Adriana Sansam sits down with Kelle Bott for one of the most emotional conversations of the season — a story of grief, alcohol addiction, recovery, and a mother's love that defies words. Kelle was just 18 when she lost her father, Jared, after he was hospitalized with pneumonia and put on a ventilator. She shares the harrowi...

In this deeply emotional episode of the Just for Today Podcast, Adriana sits down with Maddie Davidson, a young widow, mother of two little boys, and woman of faith, who lost her husband Austin in the most unimaginable way. Austin was a wildland firefighter, a duck-hunting jokester, and the love of Maddie's life for almost ten years. Then, just five and a half weeks after their second son was born...

In this episode, Adriana sits down with Marilyn, a nurse she met during her time at a ketamine clinic. Marilyn shares her deeply raw and ongoing journey of healing from profound childhood trauma, which included domestic violence and sexual abuse. She opens up about the struggles of her early life, fleeing across the country to escape her abusive father, and later falling into a highly controlling...

In this deeply emotional episode of the Just For Today podcast , Adriana sits down with Daniel Goulding from Echoes Church for an unfiltered conversation about trauma, addiction, and redemption. Daniel bravely opens up about the childhood abuse that derailed his life at just 9 or 10 years old. He explains how carrying that heavy secret pushed him into a dark spiral of manipulation , living a compl...

In this episode of the Just For Today podcast, Adriana sits down with Dr. Storage, a child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist, to explore the deep connections between grief, trauma, and addiction. Adriana shares her personal journey of navigating the loss of her husband Eric and raising three young, grieving children. Dr. Storage explains that mental health is physical brain health, breaking down...

Welcome back to the Just For Today podcast, where we tackle the uncomfortable topics with zero filters. In this episode, Adriana is joined again by Morgan, who lost her husband 14 months ago, to answer your most asked questions about navigating life as a young widow. From the sheer exhaustion of solo parenting to the fear of what others think when you start moving forward, no topic is off-limits....

In this deeply emotional episode of Just for Today, Lindsey shares the story of losing her 17-year-old son Alex to a fentanyl overdose. She opens up about who he was beyond addiction, how his struggles began, the devastating progression that changed their family forever, and what it means to live with unimaginable grief. This conversation is raw, honest, and heartbreaking, touching on addiction, l...

In this candid and emotional episode of the Just for Today podcast, Adriana sits down with her friend Tori, whom she connected with at Camp Widow. Tori opens up about the tragic loss of her husband, Tyler, to an accidental fentanyl overdose in 2021. Diving into the uncomfortable truths of grief and survival, this episode explores: The Weight of Addiction: Tori discusses the heavy burden and antici...

In this raw, no-filter conversation, Adriana sits down with Alexa as she shares what it was like to love someone whose alcohol and drug use escalated into violence, fear, and long-lasting trauma. Alexa opens up about the moments that changed everything, the shame that can keep you stuck, and why “just leave” is never that simple. Alexa also talks about her PTSD diagnosis, navigating triggers, ther...

James Alvarez shares the heartbreaking story of losing his pregnant wife to a drunk driver during a walk, yet their daughter miraculously survived after an emergency C-section. He opens up about single fatherhood, battling grief and postpartum challenges, and finding love again while expecting a son. Through raw vulnerability, James turns pain into purpose, emphasizing resilience, prayer, and livi...

Welcome back to the Just for Today podcast. After a four-month break from the studio, I’m checking in to share a much-needed life update. This episode is a raw look at the challenges of the recent holiday season my third without Eric and the unexpected ways grief continues to show up as the kids get older. From Jackson starting sports and reaching the milestones Eric always dreamed of, to Riley be...

In this moving episode, Adriana is joined by Shay Martin, who shares the story of her late husband, Tanner. Shay opens up about their love story, his five-year battle with colon cancer, and their decision to have a child despite his terminal diagnosis. She speaks on the challenges of being a caregiver while pregnant, the bittersweet six weeks they had as a family, and navigating the profound grief...

In this powerful episode, Lyndsey Hackford shares her candid story of surviving domestic abuse, her struggles growing up in a strict religious family, and her inspiring journey toward freedom and healing. With raw honesty, Lyndsey and Adriana Sansam dive into cycles of emotional and physical abuse, the challenges of leaving, and redefining self-worth beyond trauma. This conversation offers hope an...

In this deeply moving and raw episode of the Just for Today podcast, host Adriana Sansam sits down with Elaine, a mother who shares the heartbreaking story of losing her 27-year-old son, Joe, to an accidental fentanyl overdose.​ Elaine paints a vivid picture of Joe, a charismatic and loving young man with a "bursting personality" and a "vibrant smile," who was adored by his family and friends. She...

In a raw and unflinching conversation, Morgan sits down with Adriana to share her story of becoming a widow at 29. She recounts her "damn near perfect" marriage to Thomas, the terrifying 72-hour spiral from a simple flu diagnosis to an ICU goodbye, and the moment she had to find the words to explain the unimaginable to her young daughters. This episode is a powerful look at sudden loss, solo paren...

In this raw and unflinching episode, Ally opens her heart about the devastating reality of loving addicts: first as a spouse to an alcoholic for 13 years, and then as a mother watching her teenage son spiral into marijuana addiction. Ally's story begins at 13 when she met her future husband, believing she could control his drinking through sheer willpower and denial. What started as young adult pa...

Grief has a hierarchy that nobody talks about, and siblings are often left at the bottom. In this deeply emotional conversation, Adriana sits down with her friend Carina, who lost her 23-year-old brother Nick to heat exhaustion during an Arizona hike in June 2021. From childhood Taco Bell runs and Guitar Hero battles to the devastating phone call that changed everything, Carina opens up about the...

Anne Marie’s journey reveals the raw reality of battling addiction, depression, and trauma while finding the strength to rebuild her life. From growing up in a family affected by substance abuse to confronting her darkest moments and navigating toxic environments, she shares candid insights on resilience and hope. With 12 years of sobriety under her belt, Anne Marie’s story is a testament to coura...

In this powerfully honest episode, Adriana's friend Teresa shares her story for the first time, walking us through the slow erosion of her 20-year marriage. What began as a partnership was shattered by a life-altering cancer diagnosis that, while beaten, unleashed a devastating spiral of addiction, depression, and psychological torment. Teresa recounts the lonely years spent trying to "fix" the ma...

In this episode of the Just for Today podcast, Adriana sits down with Amanda to hear her incredible story of addiction, survival, and recovery. What started as secretly abusing pills while working in a pharmacy spiraled into a full-blown heroin addiction that consumed her and her two sisters. At rock bottom, living in chaos under her parents' roof, Amanda wrote a desperate letter to the Dr. Phil s...

Grief, addiction, and motherhood collide in one of Adriana’s most vulnerable conversations yet. Answering listeners’ toughest questions, she traces Eric’s relapse from heroin to fentanyl, the everyday tells she missed at first—long “gas station” runs, restless energy, and a different cadence in his voice—and the moment a hidden wrapper shattered her denial. She recounts how she chose clear, concre...