The P-I-G: Stories of Life, Love, Loss & Legacy

When I was just 24, my mother died—and so much of who I was disappeared with her. In the days that followed, someone handed me a book that would become my constant companion for the next 30 years: Motherless Daughters: The Legacy of Loss by Hope Edelman. It gave me language for my pain, reflection for my grief, and a mirror that helped me see myself again when I was lost in the fog of loss. This s...

What if the key to transforming your entire day—your mindset, your leadership, your grief—was simply shifting one word? Dr. Matthew Arau discovered that power on a cold September morning when he swapped “have to” for “get to.” That simple shift became the heartbeat of his “Power of G.E.T.” philosophy: Gratitude, Enthusiasm, and Treasure. In this high-energy, heart-forward conversation, Matthew sha...

Note: This episode includes a son’s personal reflections on his father’s suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. Visit 988Lifeline.org or dial 988 to speak with a trained counselor, 24/7.  What does it mean to honor the legacy of a father who gave everything he had—even when he had very little left to give? In this deeply personal Father’s Day conversation, Marcus Str...

Note: This is Part Two of a two-part series. For the full story, we encourage you to start with Episode 10: "Charting the Course: A Father’s Legacy of Loss, Love, & Living Well ." When our mom realized she wouldn’t live to see our birthdays, graduations, weddings, or the birth of our firstborn children, she created a legacy of love in the most tangible way she knew how—through a coll...

What does it mean to rebuild your life after unimaginable loss—and to keep choosing love, again and again? In this powerful first installment of a two-part series, we sit down with our father: a Navy veteran, retired physician, and quiet hero who has lived through more heartbreak than most could imagine. He opens up about losing his 17-year-old daughter Laurie in a tragic accident, adopting the tw...

What happens when someone walks into your life and helps rebuild the very foundation grief once tore apart? Nearly 30 years ago, Katie (Hines) Thomas entered our lives not to replace what had been lost—but to hold space for all of it. In this deeply personal Mother’s Day episode, we sit down with our stepmom, Katie, and reflect on the three decades of love, loss, and legacy that have shaped our bi...

How do you survive the death of your husband, then one child... and then another? How do you hold on to hope when your own children are battling the same rare genetic cancer that took their father? In this extraordinary episode of The P-I-G , sisters Kellie and Erin sit down with Diane Herman , a mother, founder, and unwavering woman of faith whose story defies understanding—and radiates grace. Di...

In this special P-I-G Afterthoughts episode, Kellie and Erin circle back to reflect on their powerful conversation with Gini Thomas—whose story of love, loss, and resilience is still echoing in their hearts. They unpack the layers of Gini’s journey: meeting the love of her life, surviving the accident that took him, navigating 24 surgeries and an eventual amputation, and ultimately becoming a fier...

When life changes in an instant, how do you rebuild from the ground up? Gini Thomas faced this question head-on after a catastrophic motorcycle accident in 2012 that claimed the life of her husband and left her with devastating injuries—ultimately leading to the amputation of her leg above the knee. Her story begins with love: meeting Joe, a musician twenty years her senior who brought peace and j...

Episode Summary: Curled up in pajamas with bowls of popcorn (affectionately called "pokey" by their late mother), sisters Kellie and Erin launch a brand-new PJs & Pokey series—an ongoing space for relaxed, heartfelt conversations about what they’re learning, how this journey is changing them, and the moments that matter most. In this first PJs & Pokey episode, they take a step ba...

Episode Summary: On January 17, 2003, Lacy Jo Miller vanished. A 20-year-old college student from Fort Collins, Colorado, Lacy was enjoying a night out with friends. But she never made it home. Ten grueling days later, her body was discovered in a remote canyon outside the city—her life stolen in an act of unthinkable violence. As investigators uncovered the truth, they learned that her killer had...

Episode Summary: Love. Loss. Legacy. These three words shape our lives in ways we often don’t fully understand—until we’re forced to. In part two of this powerful conversation with Marcus Straub and Jason Jepson, we explore the moments that changed them, the experiences that tested them, and the lessons they carry forward. Marcus is a 20+ year life and business coach who has guided thousands throu...

Episode Summary: What happens when two strong, driven, and deeply introspective men sit down to discuss life, love, loss, and legacy? You get one of the most insightful and thought-provoking conversations yet on THE P-I-G. In this episode, we introduce you to two of the most important people in our lives—Kellie’s husband, Marcus, and Erin’s boyfriend, Jason. But this isn’t just about their connect...

Episode Summary: In this deeply personal debut episode of The P-I-G , sisters Kellie Straub and Erin Thomas invite you into their family’s most sacred legacy— The Boxes . These carefully curated gifts, left by their late mother, Marsha, before her passing in 1994 arrived at pivotal life moments carrying her love, wisdom, and presence to bridge time and loss in a most extraordinary way. Joined by c...

What began as a tribute to our mother has become something much bigger. After losing her to cancer and receiving the milestone boxes she prepared before she died, we launched The P-I-G to honor her legacy. But somewhere along the way, the baton was passed. The torch was lit. And this sister project evolved into a space for unboxing the experiences that shape us all. The P-I-G stands for Purpose ,...