Baylie’s story is one of a night with friends gone wrong and how a series of choices lead to her death. From the police, to the hospital, to the investigation, to fighting to pull her off life support because she didn’t want that was a rollercoaster. It was so much more traumatizing than it had to be. But it inspired Shawnee to start a foundation, advocate for college safety, having a will, and writing a book to make sure others know: this can happen to anyone.

Key Takeaways:

[1:48] Baylie going off to college as a pre-med student in neuroscience

[5:24] Going out with her sorority girls to have fun and switching to drinking water

[6:48] Baylie wanted to leave early, got stood up, and things went wrong

[12:23] She got hit by a car while we were thousands of miles away

[16:07] Her injuries, the coma, and the struggle to get the police to look into the crime

[23:49] Universities don’t have to be transparent and report deaths like this

[27:03] Transferred to another hospital - and the first hospital missed something major

[31:47] Fighting with the hospital to pull the plug and being left with severe depression

[39:17] Creating the foundation and book about college safety and healthcare proxies

[43:42] Partnering with a will company and an app to keep people safe in rideshares

[47:11] I wrote the book to make a point: this can happen to anyone

Resources:

• Baylie’s Wish Foundation

• Baylie’s Book

• Trust and Will

• 3rd i

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Skyler’s story is full of ups and downs from having a rocky childhood to getting pregnant while addicted to then finding sobriety with a husband that supports her. Through her journey she has posted on social media sharing her story, most recently of the last words she said to her mom and the things that will stick with her for a lifetime.

Key Takeaways:

[1:48] My parents were addicts, being abused, and starting to use drugs

[8:28] Getting pregnant, trying not to relapse, and losing my child

[15:22] My child’s father dying and finding out in the worst way

[25:53] Getting pregnant again and becoming sober

[34:14] Not feeling judged by my husband and learning to communicate

[40:11] Child services keeps getting called and being big on social media

[50:57] My mom dying, saying the things I needed to say, and forgiving her

[59:24] Don’t judge people because you don’t know what they’re going through

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As I got into an argument with Gracie, it made me dive deeper into a topic that’s not talked about enough: sibling grief. People often focus more on the parent’s and not the child that has just lost the person they spent their formative years with. This can cause Gracie and I to have very different views and ways of grieving, but it has also opened my eyes on how to be more understanding.

Key Takeaways:

[2:30] Sibling vs parental grief

[5:07] Gracie lost her person in this world that she did everything with

[11:23] Our argument over the MollyB Gala and Gracie feeling like I care more for Molly

[17:41] Gracie’s grief is different than mine and changed her identity

[23:23] I’m trying to promote an event, but Gracie didn’t see it that way

[26:27] People don’t think as much about sibling grief

[29:31] Gracie feeling abandoned by us

[33:36] People take as long as they need to grieve

[36:12] How I can honor Gracie and what she needs

[41:21] I just want Molly back

Resources:

• Heal Grief

• Little Rituals

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This week, I sat down with my sister Eleanor who had a very different upbringing than me considering our father was 82 when she was born. She talks about the judgements people have, having to work hard to forge connections in the family, and how she looks past ageism to come from a place of understanding.

Key Takeaways:

[2:58] My dad was 82 when I was born, but my childhood was normal

[10:46] Misconceptions people had about my dad being older

[18:15] Meeting people where they’re at and having patience

[26:24] Family dynamics, finding out we’re sisters, and an age gap

[34:23] The generational gap and not having family close in age

[44:49] My upbringing doesn’t weigh me down and filling a void

[49:09] Questioning who am I, teaching, and photography

[57:26] Feeling lonely in life and hey, life is just gonna happen

[1:04:09] Looking beyond ageism and how our experiences differed

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In this episode, I just ask for you to sit with me in grief of losing my child. My thoughts on the birth of all my children, what I love, what I miss, and why dates are so important to people who are grieving. I contemplate Jack’s personality and the parts of both Molly and Gracie I can see in him.

Key Takeaways:

[1:37] Jack’s birthday and my children’s births

[4:53] Dates are important and I can’t stop thinking of Molly

[8:00] Not wanting to go into labor so soon and Molly’s birth

[15:28] What Jack is like and how we handle holidays

[18:26] My next guests and my message in this

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Michelle and I sat down to have a conversation on her work with the nervous system, biofeedback, neurofeedback, traumatic responses, and addressing the root of a problem. She takes on work that’s not traditional in a therapist’s office, but is so needed because of the mind/body connection.

Key Takeaways:

[3:15] Michelle is a complementary therapist and looking at the nervous system

[10:34] Teaching the next generation, trusting them, and rolling with the changes

[18:41] What neurofeedback is and traumatic responses

[33:27] Learning from a situation and young people’s relationship to technology

[47:08] Not projecting my belief system, but addressing the root of the problem

[59:18] A big part of Michelle’s work is doing seminars and having the non-profit

Resources:

• Hidden Brain

• Dynamic Balance

• The Benefit of Balance

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When Amy’s best friend's parents were murdered she suddenly didn’t just have a brother, but three new siblings who needed a lot of help after the trauma. That left Amy in limbo with her family dynamics and not feeling like she had a place. It shaped her identity as she went on to become a therapist.

Key Takeaways:

[2:33] Amy’s friends parent was murdered and suddenly they were all living with her

[7:48] College was a huge adjustment, I thought I knew what I wanted, but hated it

[11:44] Moving to Wisconsin, the cold sucking out Amy’s soul, and doing home therapy

[16:25] How Amy’s background helps her - help others

[17:51] Why Amy’s wedding got pushed back (spoiler alert: hi, it’s me)

[24:34] Making another major life change by moving to Florida from Wisconsin

[26:49] Pregnancy gone wrong and how she advanced in her job

[33:33] People just want to feel validated

[37:25] The stigma of having bipolar disorder

[45:33] What can trigger bipolar disorder is interesting

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I got to talk with Emily, a former runner of mine who was a highliner, dealt with Lyme Disease, chatted about how the cycle of trauma can continue, and the life that she’s living now. A nomadic one with more freedom to run her own business and take of her own life.

Key Takeaways:

[2:33] How Emily got into highlining

[12:09] Dealing with Lyme disease

[20:37] Splitting up from her husband

[25:11] Generational trauma

[35:23] Getting an RV, living a nomadic lifestyle, and a jewelry business

Resources:

• Emily’s Jewelry

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