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, 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 aftermath of that unimaginable loss, Alli has become a passionate advocate for suicide prevention and mental health awareness, using her growing social media platform to break the silence around suicide, challenge stigma, and help others feel less alone.
In this deeply raw and honest conversation, Alli shares how grief has transformed her life, how she navigates the ongoing challenges of raising her three younger sons while carrying the weight of profound loss, and why open, authentic conversations about mental health can save lives.
Together, we discuss the impact of social media in creating connection and awareness, the unique challenges facing boys and men when it comes to mental health, and the subtle warning signs that families and loved ones should never ignore. Alli also speaks candidly about guilt, shame, judgment, and the misconceptions that often surround suicide loss—and why compassion, understanding, and education are so critical.
Most importantly, Alli reminds us that grief and love can coexist. That honoring someone’s life doesn’t mean moving on from them. And that even in the darkest moments, there can be purpose, connection, and hope.
So whether you’re grieving a loss, supporting someone who is, or simply looking to better understand the realities of suicide and mental health, this conversation offers an important reminder: you’re not alone and help is always out there.
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
- How grief can transform us and reshape our purpose
- The role of social media in mental health advocacy
- Men’s mental health and the pressures boys often face
- Recognizing warning signs of suicidal ideation
- Why honest conversations about mental health matter
- Parenting through profound grief
- Navigating guilt, shame, and societal misconceptions after suicide loss
- Keeping memories alive while moving forward
- Finding strength through family, community, and advocacy
Chapters
00:00 – Introduction and Background on Loss
03:05 – Transformation Through Grief
05:42 – The Power of Social Media Advocacy
08:37 – Navigating Negative Feedback
11:44 – Men’s Mental Health Awareness
14:38 – Recognizing Warning Signs in Boys
17:34 – The Importance of Open Conversations
20:39 – Breaking the Stigma Around Suicide
22:39 – Navigating Grief and Parenting
25:00 – Keeping Memories Alive
27:53 – Understanding Guilt and Shame
33:27 – The Power of Advocacy
38:07 – Finding Strength in Family
40:27 – Misunderstandings of Grief
Mental Health Resources
- If you or someone you know is struggling, please call 988 for help.
- The Survivors Podcast Website – https://thesurvivors.net/
- National Domestic Violence Hotline – Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7223)
- Surviving: Finding Hope After Suicide Loss (Familius Books)
- The HelpHUB™ – Mental health resources, tools, and support networks – https://www.thehelphub.co/
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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