The Lost Love Stories

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of The Lost Love Stories, I sit down with Anne Keeton—a certified Grief Recovery Specialist and someone who has deeply impacted my own journey—to talk about her best friend, Ted.Their relationship was deeply connected, honest, and full of laughter—what Anne describes as one of the “cleanest” friendships she’s ever had.When Ted was diagnosed with cancer, Anne stepped into a unique caregiving role, walking alongside him through a year-and-a-half journey that would ultimately end in loss.But this conversation goes far beyond that loss.Anne shares powerful insight into what grief actually is—and how it shows up in ways most of us don’t recognize. From unmet expectations to everyday life transitions, grief is often much broader than we think.We talk about:Why time alone doesn’t heal griefHow unresolved grief builds over timeAnd the idea that staying in pain is not the same as honoring someone we loveThis episode is thoughtful, honest, and incredibly helpful—whether you’ve lost someone or are carrying something you haven’t quite been able to name.Because grief isn’t just something we experience once…it’s something we learn how to move through.To learn more about Anne and grief recovery, visit her website:https://annekeeton.com/Watch the video on Youtube:https://youtu.be/fmccMg8V3FsEmail [email protected] with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of The Lost Love Stories,  I sit down with Elle Davis—speaker, author, and founder of The Ellevate Group—to talk about her husband, Paul, and a love that started unexpectedly but quickly became something undeniable.From a 12-hour first date to a deeply connected marriage, their story was full of faith, laughter, and meaning. But in an instant, everything changed.At just 36 years old, with a two-year-old daughter at home, Elle lost her husband suddenly—turning an ordinary day into one that would change her life forever. What follows is a powerful conversation about navigating unimaginable loss and the choice to move forward.Elle shares how she began to rebuild, what resilience really looks like, and how she now helps others find their way through life’s hardest moments.This episode is a reminder that while grief may shape us… it doesn’t have to define us.Connect with Elle:Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/elledavisspeaksInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/elledavisspeaks/LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ldavismsw/Website:www.ellevategroup.usWatch this episode on Youtube:https://youtu.be/YbtVNNVZSBoEmail [email protected] with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.

Send us Fan MailSome relationships are built over decades—through shared struggles, deep understanding, and the kind of connection that only comes from walking a similar path.In this episode of The Lost Love Stories, I sit down with my dear friend Margarete Cassalina. We met over 20 years ago through the cystic fibrosis community, both raising children with the same diagnosis. And like so many relationships formed in hard places, ours became something lasting and deeply meaningful.Today, we talk about her daughter, Jena.Margarete doesn’t say Jena “died.” She says Jena moved up. And as you listen, you begin to understand why.Jena was vibrant, strong-willed, and wise far beyond her 13 years. What she left behind isn’t just memories—it’s a presence that Margarete still feels every day.This conversation isn’t just about loss—it’s about what comes after.You’ll hear the moment everything shifted for Margarete and how, from that point on, Jena became someone who is, not someone who was.We talk about signs, connection, and what Margarete calls “love from above”—from pennies that appear at just the right moment to the quiet ways our people remind us they’re still with us.But more than anything, this episode is about how we choose to live.Jena once said:“I’m not going to ruin today because I’m worried about tomorrow.”And that wisdom becomes the heartbeat of this conversation.If you’ve ever wondered how to keep going… how to honor the ones you love… or how to find meaning inside grief—this episode is for you.Because love never ends.It just changes form.To learn more about Margarete and all that she does, please visit:https://margaretecassalina.com/https://margaretecassalinaauthor.com/https://africanmissionhealthcare.org/https://www.amazon.com/stores/Margarete-Cassalina/author/B0128JFWTE?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1774553578&sr=8-1&shoppingPortalEnabled=truehttps://fundraise.cff.org/CentralNYXtremehike2026/CassalinaWatch the podcast video:https://youtu.be/0N09JWZNomsEmail [email protected] with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.

Send us Fan MailThis episode is a little different—but it felt too important not to share.Before The Lost Love Stories, I recorded this conversation with my sister Kylee. And the more I listened back… the more I realized how much it still belongs here.Because while this isn’t a story about losing a person—it is a story about losing and finding yourself. Kylee shares her lifelong relationship with food—how it started young, how it evolved, and how it became both a comfort and a struggle she carried for years. From early habits to significant weight gain, to losing over 200 pounds, to gaining some of it back… this is not a straight line story. It’s real.It’s honest.And it’s something so many people will see themselves in.What stood out most to me wasn’t just the physical journey—it was the mental one.The constant decisions.The exhaustion of always having to choose.And the realization that there is no “finish line” when it comes to healing your relationship with yourself. We also talk about something that doesn’t get said enough:How differently the world treats you based on how you look—and how that shapes your experience in ways most people don’t even realize. But underneath all of it is a deeper message:This isn’t about perfection.It’s about awareness.It’s about self-worth.And it’s about learning how to live in your own life—without constantly fighting yourself.If you’ve ever struggled with food, your body, or the voice in your head that tells you you’re not enough… this conversation is for you. #food #addiction #weightloss #gastricsleevejourney #bodyimage  #diet  #selfimprovement  #mentalhealth  #health  #bariatricsurgery  #healthjourney  journey #bodyacceptance #emotionaleating #selfworth #gastricsleeveWatch this episode on Youtube:https://youtu.be/SOrqT7a-aDcEmail [email protected] with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.

Send us Fan MailSome love stories don’t end the way we expect them to.In this episode of The Lost Love Stories, I sit down with Monika to talk about her husband, Gabe—and the life they built together.From the way they met (after months of her literally dodging his calls) to building a business side by side, raising children, and creating a life that was full, layered, and deeply connected… their story is one of partnership in every sense of the word. But this conversation takes a turn none of us are ever prepared for.On the morning of their anniversary, everything changed.What follows is a story of sudden loss—but also of clarity, strength, and the moments that shape how we move forward.Monika shares what it was like to:Make impossible decisions in real timeTell her young children that their father was goneNavigate grief while still needing to lead her familyAnd carry out her husband’s final wish—to not let this define their livesThere’s one moment in particular that stays with me.Just weeks before he passed, Gabe said to her:“If I die tomorrow… can you take care of all of this?”At the time, it felt like a passing comment.Now, it feels like something more.This episode isn’t just about loss.It’s about what strength actually looks like.It’s about motherhood, leadership, and the quiet decisions we make every day to keep going—even when everything in us wants to stop.And it’s about rewriting what it means to be a widow.Because as Monika so powerfully shares…strength isn’t found in falling apart.Sometimes, it’s found in choosing to keep living.Resources & Links:Connect with Monika:LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/monikameacham/Monika's Authentic Leadership Engine:  https://www.linkedin.com/posts/monikameacham_most-leadership-conversations-focus-on-outcomes-activity-7414297251826515968-rDo_?utm_source=social_share_send&utm_medium=member_desktop_web&rcm=ACoAADgN0TIB0JHXxHXkfOvlrFAnDilpPNd25YcWatch this episode on Youtube:https://youtu.be/k7IxLcgFkls#podcast #resilience #widow #widowhood #grief #loss #interview #leadership #leadershipdevelopment Email [email protected] with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.

Send us Fan MailSome love stories begin long before we’re even born.In this episode of The Lost Love Stories, I sit down with Kalea to talk about her mom, Amy—a woman whose life, love story, and impact shaped everything around her.From a middle school romance that turned into a lifelong partnership, to building a family rooted in closeness, connection, and showing up for each other… Amy created a life that felt like something out of a movie. But this story, like so many, takes a turn.What began as a stage two breast cancer diagnosis quickly became something much more complicated. And over the next two years, Kalea’s life shifted in ways she never could have prepared for—balancing college, caregiving, and the quiet pressure to hold everything together. This conversation isn’t just about losing a mom.It’s about what happens after.Kalea shares what it’s like to:Step into roles you were never ready forTry to hold traditions together when everything has changedNavigate grief in your 20s while the world keeps moving around youAnd slowly learn that healing doesn’t mean “going back”—it means moving forward differentlyOne of the most powerful parts of this conversation is what Kalea is learning now—two years into her grief.That sometimes the hardest part isn’t the moment of loss…It’s learning how to live without the person who shaped you.And when asked what her mom would say to her today, her answer is simple:“Just keep going.” This episode is about love, identity, and the kind of loss that changes you forever.But it’s also about growth.About perspective.And about finding your way forward—even when you don’t feel ready.For more information about the scholarships in Amy's honor, visit the following links: The Amy Takayama-Perez Memorial Fund for George Mason - Supporting the Washington Youth Summit on the Environment (WYSE) and Washington Journalism and Media Conference (WJMC)https://www.cfnova.org/donate/amy-takayama-perez-memorial-fund?fbclid=IwAR1IXAf4Tm9DUYCOXbGUpZb_IT82baFTMlwWU3BMcbZuv_STLkmalfi8l3E The Amy Takayama-Perez Memorial Student Book Award https://www.gmu.edu/news/2024-03/alumni-association-launches-book-scholarship-honor-esteemed-colleague-and-alumna Keywordsgrief, cancer, family dynamics, legacy, personal growth, coping mechanisms, mother-daughter relationship, loss, storytelling, emotional healing, breast cancerWatch the video:  https://youtu.be/zuj1hfmi4EQEmail [email protected] with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.

Send us Fan MailSome stories are hard to hear.And some feel almost impossible to understand.In this episode of The Lost Love Stories, I sit down with Rae Ann to talk about her son, Max—a young man who was kind, inclusive, and the kind of person who made everyone around him feel seen. The kind of kid who noticed the quiet one in the room… and made sure they didn’t feel alone.But this story takes a turn that Rae Ann describes in one word: senseless.Max lost his life during a fraternity hazing incident just weeks into his freshman year of college. What happened that night is difficult to hear—and even harder to make sense of. But this conversation isn’t just about what happened.It’s about what Rae Ann chose to do next.In the midst of unimaginable grief, she found something her son had written years earlier:“God does bad to ultimately create good.” And from that moment, everything shifted.Rae Ann has since dedicated her life to making sure Max’s story changes others—traveling the country, speaking to students, advocating for stronger laws, and reminding young people of one simple, life-saving truth:Call 911. Step in. Take care of each other.This episode is heartbreaking.It’s eye-opening.And it’s deeply important.Because Max’s story isn’t just about loss.It’s about the lives that can still be saved.For more information on the Max Gruver Foundation and hazing resources:Contact Rae Ann:  [email protected]://www.maxgruverfoundation.com/https://hazingpreventionnetwork.org/state-hazing-laws/https://hazingpreventionnetwork.org/programs-available-through-hazing-prevention-network/https://www.hazinginfo.org/KeywordsMax Gruver, hazing, college life, Greek life, advocacy, loss, resilience, tragedy, awareness, support, anti hazing, advocacy, grief, community support, legislation, mental health, college safety, personal growth, familyEmail [email protected] with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.

Send us Fan MailSome love stories are decades in the making.In this episode of The Lost Love Stories, I sit down with Leah to talk about her husband, Brian—a man who was larger than life in the quietest, most meaningful ways.From their college days at Princeton to building a family, raising three daughters, and creating a life rooted in connection, humor, and deep partnership… their story is one of a love that grew over time and touched everyone around them. Brian was the kind of person who belonged everywhere—equally at home in a courtroom, on a bike ride, or in the middle of whatever fun was unfolding around him.And then, in a single moment… everything changed.While on vacation with their family, Brian drowned in an accident that no one could have predicted—and that still doesn’t fully make sense. What follows is a story not just of loss—but of survival.Leah shares:What it feels like to experience sudden, traumatic griefThe impossible decisions that follow in the first hours and daysHow community quite literally carried her family throughAnd the reality of navigating finances, parenting, and life after everything shifts overnightWe also talk about something that doesn’t get discussed enough:trauma.From EMDR therapy to the way the brain tries to “locate” someone who is suddenly gone, Leah offers insight that is both fascinating and deeply validating for anyone navigating grief.And then… there’s the part that stays with you.The connection.The dreams.The signs.The feeling that love doesn’t just disappear—it changes form.This episode is heartbreaking.It’s honest.And it’s full of moments that will make you feel less alone.Because even in the most sudden and senseless loss…there is still love.And there is still a way forward.#lovestory, #family, #grief, #trauma, #support, #community, #loss, #memories, #relationships, #healing, #afterlife, #dreams, #joy, #personalgrowth, #drowning #love, #connection, #EMDR #friendshipWatch on Youtube:https://youtu.be/95QbWctNWyIEmail [email protected] with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.

Send us Fan MailThis episode is different.It’s not just a love story.It’s a mother and daughter telling the same story… from two very different places.In this episode of The Lost Love Stories, I sit down with my daughter, Sabrina—Beanie—to talk about her dad.Their relationship was special in a way that only a father and daughter can understand. From volleyball to weekly breakfasts, he was her person. And then… he got sick.What follows is something I don’t think we talk about enough:What grief looks like for teenagers.Sabrina shares—honestly and without filters:What it felt like to watch her dad declineThe regret she carries from pulling away when things got hardThe panic, confusion, and trauma of losing himAnd what happened afterBecause her story didn’t go in a straight line.It spiraled.There were moments of anger.Disconnection.Self-destruction.And as her mom… I watched it happen in real time.This episode is about that tension:Loving someone and not knowing how to help themBeing lost and not knowing how to find your way backAnd what it actually takes to come through the other sideSabrina talks about the people who kept her here.The relationships that shaped her—for better and worse.And the moment she started to realize she had to find happiness within herself.Now, four years later, she’s in a completely different place.Not “healed.”But grounded.Self-aware.And genuinely happy again.This episode is messy.It’s honest.And it’s one I’ll never forget recording.Because sometimes the most important stories…are the hardest ones to tell.#grief #loss, #healing, #relationships, #love, #family, #cancer, #mentalhealth  #personalgrowth  #growth, #therapy #griefjourney #podcast #dad #daddydaughterWatch on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/ChNhFpY0QkgEmail [email protected] with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.

Send us Fan MailSome stories don’t come with warning signs.In this episode of The Lost Love Stories, I sit down with Liesl to talk about her son, Finn—a vibrant, kind, funny 10-year-old who left for a snow day playdate… and never came home. What followed was a loss no parent could ever prepare for.A sudden AVM.No symptoms.No warning.Just a moment that changed everything.But this conversation isn’t only about that moment.It’s about what came after.Liesl shares what it looked like to:Walk through unimaginable shock and traumaBe held by a community that showed up in ways she’ll never forgetNavigate grief while still raising her older sonAnd slowly learn how to live with something that never really leavesThere are moments in this conversation that stay with you.The way her community lined the neighborhood with lights when she came home. The honesty about what those early days actually felt like.And the quiet realization that grief doesn’t go away—it just changes shape.But what stands out most… is Finn.The boy who loved to read.Who made people laugh.Who stood up for others.And whose impact is still being felt years later—in the people who remember him, honor him, and carry him forward.Because at the heart of this episode is a truth I don’t think we say enough:We don’t just grieve the people we lose.We carry them.In stories.In memories.In the way we continue to live.#grief #loss #childloss #marriagegrief #journeybacktojoy #joyafterloss #lovestory #lovestories #survivinggriefWatch the podcast episode on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/1a8AFXcW928Email [email protected] with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.

Send us Fan MailSome people shape who we are in ways we don’t fully understand… until they’re gone.In this episode of The Lost Love Stories, I sit down with Sam to talk about his dad, Scott—a man defined by curiosity, humility, and a deep desire to understand the world around him. He was the kind of person who would spend hours researching something just because it sparked his interest… and then turn around and share it with the people he loved.A lifelong learner.A quiet teacher.And a dad who led by example in ways that stuck.Sam was just 18—away at college—when everything changed.A sudden accident.A phone full of missed calls.And a moment that split his life into before and after.What follows is a conversation about what it looks like to grieve while the world keeps moving.To go back to college.To try to fit in.To survive something you haven’t even begun to process.Sam shares:The numbness that comes with sudden lossHow distraction can delay healingThe friendships that showed up—and the ones that didn’tAnd the long road of learning how to feel againBut what makes this episode so powerful… is what comes next.Because years later, Sam began to recognize something:His dad didn’t just leave memories behind.He left pieces of himself.In the way Sam shows up for others.In the way he asks questions.In the way he lives.And in a promise he made at just 18 years old:To never stop learning, growing, and becoming the man his dad believed he could be. This episode is about grief.But it’s also about identity.Legacy.And the quiet ways the people we love continue to shape who we become.Watch the YouTube episode:  https://youtu.be/JDuExG5k2yM#grief #loss #friendship #parentloss #journeybacktojoy #joyafterloss #lovestory #lovestoriesEmail [email protected] with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.

Send us Fan MailSome love stories don’t follow any rules.In this episode of The Lost Love Stories, I sit down with Drew to talk about her husband, Ramón—and a relationship that started in one of the most unexpected ways.A Facebook message.Two weeks of deep conversation.And a first meeting that began with a kiss… before they even said a word. From that moment on, they were a team.Playful.Magical.Deeply connected.But like so many of these stories, everything changed—quickly and without warning.What started as a routine physical turned into a leukemia diagnosis on Ramón’s 40th birthday. What followed was a whirlwind:Aggressive treatmentA bone marrow transplantAnd then… complications no one saw comingAnd layered on top of it all:COVID.Hospital restrictions.Isolation.Decisions no one should have to make alone.Drew shares what it was like to:Advocate fiercely in moments of uncertaintyLive in the in-between of hope and realityAnd ultimately face a loss that was as complex as it was heartbreakingBut what makes this episode unforgettable… is what comes after.Drew talks about something we don’t hear enough about:Post-traumatic growth.The idea that grief doesn’t just break you—it can expand you.She shares how loss changed the way she sees the world:The clarityThe urgencyThe freedom to fully liveAnd the realization that staying stuck in grief… isn’t the way we honor the people we love.Because as she so beautifully puts it:Grief can be part of your story—but it doesn’t have to be the main character.This episode is honest.It’s unexpectedly funny.And it’s full of perspective that will stay with you long after it ends.Follow Drew on IG:  @drewdledWatch the video interview on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/NrjbL65oI94#grief #podcast #loss #firstkiss #uniquelovestory #cancer #cysticfibrosis #widow #storytelling #resilience #personalgrowth #growththroughgriefEmail [email protected] with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.

Send us Fan MailSome love stories are built in the everyday moments.In this episode of The Lost Love Stories, I sit down with my dear friend Lauri to talk about her husband, Pat—a man who could make anyone laugh, light up a room, and make people feel instantly at ease. Their story started in the most ordinary way—working together, passing by vending machines, and slowly becoming something more.But what they built together was anything but ordinary.A 31-year marriage.A full life.A deep partnership rooted in humor, connection, and doing everything side by side. And then… everything changed.After surviving cancer years earlier, Pat became suddenly ill after Thanksgiving. Within days, he was in the ICU—and within weeks, Lauri and her family were facing the unimaginable. This conversation is about that loss.But more than that… it’s about what remains.Lauri shares:What it looks like to walk through sudden loss with strength and graceThe gift of final moments and meaningful goodbyesAnd how her family continues to carry Pat forward every single dayBecause Pat didn’t just leave memories.He left traditions.The “G-Pop” dance.The quick humor.The stories that still get told around the table.And even now… signs that he’s still nearby—showing up in ways that feel too meaningful to ignore.This episode is about grief.But it’s also about:FamilyLaughterAnd the quiet, powerful ways love continuesBecause when someone is loved this deeply…they don’t just disappear.They live on—in stories, in traditions, and in the people who carry them forward.Youtube video:  https://youtu.be/Lv7w1PXrmPU#love #loss  #grief  #healing  #memories  #relationships  #support #joy #widowhood #resilience #growththroughgriefEmail [email protected] with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.

Send us Fan MailSome losses don’t come with warning.And some change you before you even understand what’s happening.In this episode of The Lost Love Stories, I sit down with my son Jake to talk about his best friend, Blake—a friendship that started in the most teenage way possible… over snacks, laughter, and a lot of energy. Blake was the kind of person you couldn’t ignore.Endless energy.A huge personality.And the kind of presence that pulled people together.What started as a simple friendship at boarding school quickly became something deeper—a brotherhood built through shared experiences, late nights, and life lived side by side. And then… everything changed.Just months after graduating, Blake died suddenly after a snowboarding accident—something no one saw coming. What follows is a conversation about shock, anger, and the kind of grief that feels impossible to make sense of—especially at such a young age.Jake shares:What it felt like to get that phone callThe confusion and anger that followedAnd how a group of young men came together to grieve someone they loved deeplyBut what makes this episode so powerful… is what comes after.Because this isn’t just a story about loss.It’s about what that loss does to you.Jake talks about:Learning how to process grief in a healthy wayThe importance of not carrying it aloneAnd how loss has shaped the way he shows up in the worldThere’s one line that stayed with me:“The pain you feel is the love you had left for them.” And maybe that’s what this episode is really about.Not just losing someone…But learning how to carry them forward.Youtube video:  https://youtu.be/21_SlOD6AaoEmail [email protected] with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.

Send us Fan MailIn this first episode of The Lost Love Stories, I’m sharing the heart behind this podcast—and the reason I finally decided to stop waiting for the “perfect time” and just begin.Because here’s the truth:There is no perfect time.And there is no perfect story.This podcast was born out of my own experience after losing my husband to glioblastoma—and something I didn’t expect.People stopped talking about him. Not because they didn’t care.But because they didn’t know how.And when they did talk about him… it felt incomplete.Too polished.Too perfect.Like the real, messy, human version of him had been replaced with something easier to say out loud.But that’s not how we remember the people we love.We remember:The goodThe complicatedThe funnyThe frustratingThe real.And that’s what this podcast is here to create:A space where people can tell the whole story.A space where grief and joy can exist at the same time.And a space where we can talk about the people we’ve lost—without making it awkward, uncomfortable, or off-limits.Because losing someone doesn’t mean we stop loving them.And it doesn’t mean we stop living.This is about both.Tune in, and let’s start this journey together.Youtube video episode link:  https://youtu.be/QkziODEVGOoEmail [email protected] with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.