The Survivors Podcast
The Survivors Podcast
Podcast Description
The Survivors Podcast was born out of a serendipitous connection between Gretchen and Lisa—two individuals with powerful, lived experiences in mental health and suicide survival. Gretchen, co-host of the award-winning Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads met Lisa through PodMatch while searching for podcast guests. What was meant to be a short pre-call turned into a two-hour conversation that revealed a shared mission: to change the narrative around suicide, mental illness, and grief.Together, they created The Survivors to bring honest, unfiltered conversations about mental health into the mainstream. This podcast offers a unique dual perspective—one of surviving the loss of loved ones to suicide and the other of surviving one’s mental health challenges.By tackling topics often considered taboo, The Survivors provides a safe, empathetic space where the complexities of mental health, grief, and loss are explored with authenticity and hope. Join Gretchen and Lisa as they break down barriers, challenge stigma, and empower listeners to survive life, death, and everything.Subscribe now and be part of the conversation.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
This podcast covers various critical topics within the realm of mental health, including suicide survival, grief, and stigma. Episodes often focus on personal narratives, such as Lisa’s impactful story of losing three loved ones to suicide and the discussion around how trauma affects individuals, as well as the importance of open dialogues to promote healing and reduce stigma.
Survival isn’t just about staying alive—it’s about finding the strength to rebuild, reclaim, and rise.
That’s the foundation of The Survivors Podcast, where three-time suicide loss survivor, author, crisis counselor, and mental health advocate Lisa Sugarman joins Natasha J. Layton—a multiple suicide attempt and loss survivor, advocate, sexual abuse survivor, and former member of the FLDS polygamy cult—to change the way we talk about suicide, survival, and mental health.
Through raw, unfiltered conversations, Lisa and Natasha explore the realities of surviving trauma, grief, abuse, mental illness, and everything in between—with honesty, hope, and humanity. Their unique perspectives—one shaped by profound loss, the other by unimaginable adversity—create a space where the hardest stories are told with compassion, courage, and vulnerability.
By opening up the conversations we’ve been taught to bury, The Survivors invites listeners into a safe, stigma-free community to reflect, connect, and heal. Together, Lisa and Natasha push past stigma, challenge everything we think we know about survival, and reveal that life after darkness can be filled with meaning, connection, and hope.
Subscribe now and join the conversation about surviving life, death, trauma, and everything in between.
*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 emphasizes the need for support, setting boundaries in conversations, and recognizing early warning signs of stress. They encourage small, manageable steps towards self-care and personal growth, highlighting the significance of being honest about one’s feelings and experiences.
Episode Sponsored by The HelpHUB™
Struggling with your mental health? Feeling lost, overwhelmed, or just alone? Well, you’re not. Welcome to The HelpHUB™—your online destination for mental health resources, treatment options, content, and tools to help meet you exactly where you are in the moment. Visit TheHelpHUB.co to get started.
Takeaways
- Sharing vulnerabilities can lead to real support.
- Stress often manifests in our bodies before our minds acknowledge it.
- Humor can be a powerful coping mechanism.
- It’s okay to admit when you’re not okay.
- Setting boundaries in conversations is essential.
- Listening to our bodies can help us manage stress better.
- Small daily changes can lead to significant improvements.
- Curiosity about our mental health is a great starting point.
- It’s important to balance sharing and listening in conversations.
- You are not alone in your struggles.
Chapters
00:00 Breaking Mental Health Taboos
02:58 The Impact of Stress and Isolation
05:48 The Importance of Vulnerability and Support
09:03 Coping Mechanisms and Humor
11:57 Listening to Our Bodies
14:51 Finding What Works for You
17:49 The Pressure to Appear Strong
20:48 The Balance of Sharing and Listening
23:38 Setting Boundaries in Conversations
26:39 Recognizing Early Warning Signs
29:19 Small Steps Towards Change
32:29 Curiosity and Learning
35:39 Homework for Self-Regulation
Mental Health Resources
- If you or someone you know is struggling, please call 988 for help.
- The Survivors Podcast Website – https://thesurvivors.net/
- The HelpHUB™ – Mental health resources, tools, and support networks – https://www.thehelphub.co/
- National Domestic Violence Hotline – Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7223)
Follow & Connect With Us
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_survivors_podcast
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-survivors-podcast
🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSurvivorsPodcastChannel
🎵📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thesurvivorspodcast
See you next week! In the meantime, keep surviving.
Disclaimer
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