The Survivors Podcast

Episode Summary This episode of The Survivors dives into surviving perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause through candid personal stories. Lisa and Natasha cover commonly missed symptoms—sleep disruption, brain fog, mood changes, joint pain, urinary changes, and surprising signs like itchy ears—plus conversations about hormone replacement therapy (HRT), treatment access, and self-advocacy wit...

*WARNING: This podcast mentions suicide, sexual abuse & trauma and may be triggering.   Episode Summary In this episode of The Survivors, we explore what it feels like to carry the invisible weight of loss while the rest of the world keeps moving around you. Whether you're grieving the death of a loved one, navigating a life-changing loss, or supporting someone through one of the hardest seaso...

*WARNING: This podcast mentions suicide, sexual abuse & trauma and may be triggering.   Episode Summary In this conversation, Lisa and Natasha explore the themes of Pride Month, identity, and authenticity. They talk candidly about the significance of coming out, the essence of pride, and the evolution of personal identities. This poignant episode emphasizes the importance of representation wit...

*WARNING: This podcast mentions suicide, the loss of a child & substance abuse and may be triggering.   Episode Summary In Part 2 of our powerful conversation with suicide loss survivor and mental health advocate Alli Skrbek, we continue exploring what it means to live, parent, grieve, and heal after the loss of a child. Just over a year ago, Alli's oldest son, Alex, died by suicide. In the af...

*WARNING: This podcast mentions suicide, sexual abuse & trauma and may be triggering.   Episode Summary In part one of our two-part conversation with mental health advocate, influencer, and mom Alli Skrbek , Alli shares her heartbreaking journey of losing her oldest son Alex to suicide, exploring his life, his struggles with depression and alcohol and drugs, and the tragic circumstances leadin...

*WARNING: This podcast mentions suicide, sexual abuse & trauma and may be triggering.   Episode Summary This episode of The Survivors explores how major losses and life changes — from suicide and family death to coming out and leaving a polygamous cult — reshape who we are. Hosts share personal stories about identity shifts, isolation, grief, and the hard work of finding new communities and me...

*WARNING: This podcast mentions suicide, sexual abuse & trauma and may be triggering   Episode Summary In this episode, Lisa & Natasha explore the dangers of the automatic response "I'm fine," and how trauma reshapes honesty in everyday conversations, and practical ways to ask and answer "How are you?" with authenticity and care. They discuss coping mechanisms like humor, the role of crisi...

*WARNING: This podcast mentions suicide, sexual abuse & trauma and may be triggering.   Episode Summary In the Season 4 Recap, Lisa & Natasha blast through the season’s standout moments — from compound grief to breaking mental health taboos, body-centered trauma, women and suicide, and powerful guest interviews with family members and long-time friends. We also mark personal milestones: ho...

*WARNING: This podcast mentions suicide, sexual abuse & trauma and may be triggering.   Episode Summary In this heartfelt episode, Lisa and Natasha explore the realities of mental health, the stigma around seeking help, and practical ways to support those in crisis. They share personal stories, debunk myths about crisis hotlines, and emphasize the importance of honest conversations and action...

*WARNING: This podcast mentions suicide, sexual abuse & trauma and may be triggering.   Episode Summary In this week's episode of The Survivors, Natasha & Lisa explore the complex emotions of Mother's Day — one celebrating a close relationship with her mother, the other navigating no contact after a polygamous, abusive family upbringing. They talk candidly about grief, boundaries, healing,...

*WARNING: This podcast mentions suicide, sexual abuse & trauma and may be triggering.   Episode Summary In this episode of The Survivors, we celebrate Lisa’s long-awaited book launch, Surviving: Finding Hope After Suicide Loss (Familius Books). Lisa reveals learning decades later that her father died by suicide, and describes how writing the memoir—now featuring her mother's voice and a built-...

*WARNING: This podcast mentions suicide, sexual abuse & trauma and may be triggering.   Episode Summary In this episode Lisa & Natasha talk about how grief permanently rewires who we are — how loss changes identity, priorities, and relationships. The hosts share personal stories of multiple suicide losses, how friendships shifted, and what it feels like to carry grief day to day. They offe...

*WARNING: This podcast mentions suicide, sexual abuse & trauma and may be triggering.   Episode Summary In this episode, Natasha shares her journey from severe obesity to losing over 100 pounds, examining how childhood trauma, medications, stress, and coping behaviors shaped her body and mental health. Lisa & Natasha discuss treatment options (including GLP‑1 medications), the role of ther...

*WARNING: This podcast mentions suicide, sexual abuse & trauma and may be triggering.   Episode Summary In this episode, Lisa's lifelong friend Caleb Powers recounts losing his father in the 1983 sinking of the SS Marine Electric—a tragedy he narrowly escaped—how that loss fueled teenage drinking and drug use, led to rehab, and eventually became the catalyst for decades of sobriety, healing, a...

*WARNING: This podcast mentions suicide, sexual abuse & trauma and may be triggering.   Episode Summary In this episode, Lisa speaks with her lifelong friend Caleb Powers as he tells, for the first time publicly, the story of the SS Marine Electric sinking on February 12, 1983 and his father being lost at sea. Caleb recounts the phone call that changed everything, his father Richard Powers' ro...

*WARNING: This podcast mentions suicide, sexual abuse & trauma and may be triggering.   Episode Summary In Part 2 of their deeply emotional conversation with her mother Sandy, Lisa and her mom reflect on a story their family carried quietly for decades. Together, they revisit the painful moment when Lisa’s father died by suicide and the decision Sandy made in the late 1970s to tell her young d...

*WARNING: This podcast mentions suicide, sexual abuse & trauma and may be triggering.   Episode Summary When Lisa was 10 her mother told her her father had died of a heart attack; 35 years later she discovered the truth — he died by suicide. In this episode Lisa and Natasha sit down with Lisa's 87-year-old mother, Sandy, to talk for the first time on the pod about loss, secrecy, and the silenc...

*WARNING: This podcast mentions suicide, sexual abuse & trauma and may be triggering.   Episode Summary In this conversation, Lisa and Natasha dive into the complexities of women's mental health, particularly focusing on the often-overlooked issues of suicide rates among women, the invisible emotional labor of caregiving, and the societal pressures that contribute to burnout and anxiety. They...

*WARNING: This podcast mentions suicide, sexual abuse & trauma and may be triggering.   Episode Summary In this conversation, Lisa and Natasha explore the themes of mental health, vulnerability, and the impact of stress and isolation. They discuss the importance of sharing our struggles, the role of humor as a coping mechanism, and the necessity of listening to our bodies. The conversation emp...

*WARNING: This podcast mentions suicide, sexual abuse & trauma and may be triggering.   Episode Summary In this heartfelt conversation, Lisa and Natasha delve into the complexities of mental health, exploring themes of isolation, vulnerability, and the importance of communication. Natasha shares her real-time struggle with depression and self-isolation, emphasizing the need for open dialogue a...

*WARNING: This podcast mentions suicide, sexual abuse & trauma and may be triggering.   Episode Summary In this conversation, Lisa and Natasha explore the complexities of compound grief and the layers of trauma that we all face in today's world. They discuss the importance of acknowledging personal and collective grief, the impact of external stressors, and the necessity of setting boundaries...

*WARNING: This podcast mentions suicide, sexual abuse & trauma and may be triggering.   Episode Summary In the Season 4 kick-off episode of The Survivors, Lisa and Natasha  get candid about the overwhelming emotional weight of current global events, the importance of personal boundaries, and the need for self-preservation amidst collective grief. They explore how political and social divisions...

*WARNING: This podcast mentions suicide, sexual abuse & trauma and may be triggering.   Episode Summary In this reflective episode, Lisa and Natasha recap the emotional journey of Season 3 of The Survivors. They reflect on their origin stories, the various types of trauma and survival stories shared throughout the season, and the importance of storytelling in healing. The conversation touches...

*WARNING: This podcast mentions suicide, sexual abuse & trauma and may be triggering.   Episode Summary In this conversation, Lisa and Natasha explore the complexities of family dynamics, grief, and the unexpected paths life can take. They reflect on their personal experiences of having a child move abroad, the impact of toxic family cycles, and the importance of gratitude and presence in navi...

*WARNING: This podcast mentions suicide, sexual abuse & trauma and may be triggering.   Episode Summary In this episode, Lisa and Natasha explore the complex relationship between grief and joy, particularly after experiencing trauma and loss. They talk openly about the feelings of guilt that often accompany moments of happiness following a loss, and how individuals can navigate these emotions....