The Lost Love Stories with Kate and her son Daniel: Addiction, Prison and Unbreakable Love

Send us Fan Mail In this deeply moving and eye-opening episode of The Lost Love Stories, Pam sits down with longtime friend Kate Boccia to share the heartbreaking and complicated story of her son, Daniel Boccia. What began as a seemingly “normal” suburban upbringing slowly evolved into a devastating journey through addiction, incarceration, systemic failure, and unimaginable grief. Kate candidly shares how Daniel’s opioid addiction began during the height of America’s prescription pill crisis, eventually leading to heroin addiction, incarceration, trauma, and ultimately his death from fentanyl in 2021. But this episode is about far more than addiction. It’s about motherhood. Shame. Survival. The hidden grief families carry when someone they love enters the prison system. It’s about what happens when punishment replaces healing — and what true rehabilitation could look like if we chose humanity over stigma. Kate also shares how her pain transformed into purpose through the creation of the National Incarceration Association, where she now advocates for incarcerated individuals and their families while fighting for meaningful criminal justice reform. This conversation is raw, emotional, and incredibly important. In this episode, we discuss: How addiction quietly entered Daniel’s life The opioid crisis and its impact on families Parenting through addiction and legal trouble The trauma of incarceration for both inmates and families PTSD and post-incarceration syndrome Why rehabilitation inside prisons matters The stigma families face when a loved one is incarcerated Turning grief into advocacy and action Finding purpose after unimaginable loss If you’ve ever loved someone struggling with addiction, incarceration, or mental health challenges — or if you’ve ever wondered what families behind these stories endure — this episode will stay with you. 🎧 Listen with an open heart. Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/IZ4fqVwjuVg To learn more about Kate and The NIA visit: https://joinnia.com/ Email [email protected] with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.