Life Often Whispers Before It Shouts

Life Often Whispers Before It Shouts

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2517457/fan_mail/new] For the past several weeks, I've been exhausted. Not normal tired. Not "I need a nap" tired. The kind of tired that makes you question yourself, your motivation, your energy, and whether something deeper might be going on. This week, I wanted to share a personal story about finally listening to my body after weeks of brain fog, joint pain, fatigue, and feeling unlike myself—and the unexpected diagnosis that followed. But this episode isn't JUST about the diagnosis. It's about the ways we dismiss ourselves. The ways we explain away exhaustion, grief, burnout, loneliness, resentment, or that quiet feeling that something isn't quite right. It's about learning to listen before life starts shouting. Together, we'll explore what happens when we stop asking, "What's wrong with me?" and start asking, "What's trying to get my attention?" If you've been feeling disconnected, overwhelmed, exhausted, or simply unlike yourself lately, this conversation is for you. Because sometimes hope doesn't arrive as a solution, but rather, as an invitation....An invitation to slow down, pay attention, and come home to yourself. CHAPTER MARKERS 00:00 Introduction: Life Often Whispers Before It Shouts  01:10 Feeling Exhausted and Unlike Myself  02:30 Ignoring the Signs  03:40 A Trip to Minneapolis and an Unexpected Rash  04:30 The Shingles Diagnosis  05:15 What My Body Was Trying to Tell Me  06:00 Why We Dismiss Ourselves  07:00 What Are You Trying Not to Hear?  08:00 The Questions We Already Know the Answers To  09:00 Lessons from Hope Comes to Visit Guests  10:00 Living Intentionally Instead of Perfectly  11:00 What's Trying to Get Your Attention?  12:00 Hope as an Invitation I’m so grateful you spent this time with us today. If Hope Comes to Visit has become a bright spot in your week, I’d love for you to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen so you never miss an episode. And if this conversation resonated with you, sharing it with a friend, leaving a review, or simply telling someone about the show helps more than you know. Until next time, take good care of yourself. And remember—your story matters. New episodes drop every Monday, so you can begin your week with a little light and a lot of hope. For more stories, reflections, and ways to connect, visit www.DanielleElliottSmith.com [http://www.danielleelliottsmith.com/] or follow along on Instagram @daniellesmithtv [https://www.instagram.com/daniellesmithtv] and @HopeComestoVisit [https://www.instagram.com/hopecomestovisit]

A Mother's Fight for Justice, Legacy, and Love: Sabrina & Glenn Foster Jr.'s Story

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2517457/fan_mail/new] Some conversations leave a mark on your heart. This week's episode of Hope Comes to Visit is one of them. My guest is Sabrina Foster—a mother, advocate, community leader, and founder of the Foster Family Foundation. In 2021, Sabrina's son, Glenn Foster Jr., died while in police custody in Alabama. Since that day, she has devoted herself to seeking accountability, honoring her son's legacy, and supporting others through advocacy and community work. What moved me most about this conversation wasn't simply the tragedy of what happened. It was listening to a mother tell the story of her son. Before Glenn was a headline, he was a little boy she adored. He was a student, an athlete, an entrepreneur, a father, and someone who believed deeply in helping others succeed. Throughout our conversation, Sabrina shares stories of raising Glenn, watching him achieve his dreams, building businesses, becoming a father, and creating a life filled with purpose. We also talk about grief, resilience, faith, activism, healing, and the reality of continuing to live after unimaginable loss. Sabrina's love for her son is evident in every word she speaks. And perhaps that's what stayed with me most. This isn't simply a conversation about loss. It's a conversation about love. Connect with Sabrina through The Foster Family Foundation. [https://thefosterfamilyfoundation.org/] Listen now wherever you get your podcasts and don't forget Apple now has video! CHAPTER MARKERS 00:00 Introduction  02:39 How Danielle and Sabrina Connected  04:43 Tell Us About Glenn Jr.  07:54 Raising a Son of Excellence  12:17 Football, College and the NFL Dream  13:18 Watching Your Child Live Their Dream  15:25 Life After Football  18:54 Building Businesses and Creating Legacy  22:05 The Trip Through Alabama  22:53 The Arrest  24:19 When Things Stopped Making Sense  26:08 A Mother's Instinct  28:18 The Phone Call No Parent Should Receive  31:02 What Officials Said Happened  32:23 The Independent Autopsy  35:23 The Pursuit of Justice  36:31 Grief, Survival and Finding Purpose  39:33 The Foster Family Foundation  42:17 What Legacy Means to Sabrina  43:42 How Sabrina Defines Hope  45:01 How to Support the Foundation  46:19 Accountability and Systemic Change  47:42 Final Reflections I’m so grateful you spent this time with us today. If Hope Comes to Visit has become a bright spot in your week, I’d love for you to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen so you never miss an episode. And if this conversation resonated with you, sharing it with a friend, leaving a review, or simply telling someone about the show helps more than you know. Until next time, take good care of yourself. And remember—your story matters. New episodes drop every Monday, so you can begin your week with a little light and a lot of hope. For more stories, reflections, and ways to connect, visit www.DanielleElliottSmith.com [http://www.danielleelliottsmith.com/] or follow along on Instagram @daniellesmithtv [https://www.instagram.com/daniellesmithtv] and @HopeComestoVisit [https://www.instagram.com/hopecomestovisit]

Grieving Unmasked: Love, Loss, and Finding Beauty in the Heartache with Brittany Wiederin

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2517457/fan_mail/new] What does it look like to grieve openly, honestly, and without hiding the hardest parts? This week on Hope Comes to Visit, I’m joined by Brittany Wiederin—a wife, mother, advocate, and founder of the Handle Hard Better Foundation. After losing her husband, Cory, to a rare and aggressive form of kidney cancer, Brittany finds herself navigating the unimaginable: raising two young boys, carrying profound grief, and learning how to move forward while still honoring the love that changed her life. What struck me most about this conversation is Brittany’s willingness to live—and grieve—unmasked. Together, we talk about love, loss, parenting through heartbreak, caregiving, resilience, faith, and the reality that grief isn’t something we move on from. It’s something we learn to carry. We also talk about the intentional choices Brittany and Cory made after his diagnosis, including playing catch with their boys every single day, creating legacy videos, and finding ways to build beautiful memories in the midst of a devastating reality. This conversation is heartbreaking and hopeful all at once. One of Brittany’s most powerful reminders: “For as hard as it is, it’s worth it. Being vulnerable takes courage. But if we aren’t vulnerable, someone may never feel seen.” If you have experienced loss—or love someone who has—I hope this conversation reminds you that you are not alone. 💙 If you get a chance - take the time to watch the video version of this episode and stay through the end. Brittany graciously shared personal family footage of Cory, their boys, and the beautiful life they built together. We share some throughout the episode, but there are extra special moments as our conversation closes. It is a moving tribute to a husband, father, coach, and man who continues to impact the lives of those who love him. Connect with Brittany on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/wiederinb/] and keep an eye out for the Handle Hard Better Foundation. If this episode resonates with you, please share it with someone who may need it. You never know when a story of hope might arrive at exactly the right moment. CHAPTER MARKERS 00:00 Introduction  01:35 Meet Brittany Wiederin  03:42 Who Was Cory?  05:35 How Brittany and Cory Met  06:45 Cory as a Coach and Father  08:43 The Cancer Diagnosis  11:19 Playing Catch Every Day  13:09 Creating Intentional Memories  14:51 Facing an Uncertain Future  17:04 Living With Grief  18:47 Parenting Through Loss  23:06 Caring for Yourself While Grieving  25:10 Grieving Unmasked  29:42 How the Boys Are Doing  31:22 Preserving Cory’s Legacy  36:04 What Cory Wanted His Boys to Remember  37:49 The Gift of Legacy Videos  40:07 The Handle Hard Better Foundation  43:33 How Brittany Defines Hope  46:20 Connecting with Brittany  47:27 A Message for Caregivers and Widows  49:06 Final Reflections I’m so grateful you spent this time with us today. If Hope Comes to Visit has become a bright spot in your week, I’d love for you to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen so you never miss an episode. And if this conversation resonated with you, sharing it with a friend, leaving a review, or simply telling someone about the show helps more than you know. Until next time, take good care of yourself. And remember—your story matters. New episodes drop every Monday, so you can begin your week with a little light and a lot of hope. For more stories, reflections, and ways to connect, visit www.DanielleElliottSmith.com [http://www.danielleelliottsmith.com/] or follow along on Instagram @daniellesmithtv [https://www.instagram.com/daniellesmithtv] and @HopeComestoVisit [https://www.instagram.com/hopecomestovisit]

When Life Gives You Permission to Change - A Conversation with Dr. Durga Larkin

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2517457/fan_mail/new] For decades, Dr. Durga Larkin's identity was deeply connected to her work as a cataract surgeon. Then one unexpected fall changed everything. After fracturing her dominant arm and facing the possibility that she might never return to surgery, Dr. Durga found herself confronting a question many of us eventually face: Who are we when the role we've built our life around begins to change? In this thoughtful and deeply human conversation, we talk about aging, identity, purpose, perfectionism, burnout, rest, and what it means to create a vision for the future—even when life doesn't unfold according to plan. Dr. Durga shares the inspiration behind her book, Timeless Vision, [https://amzn.to/4fkaiZ8] the lessons she learned from patients who continued to live vibrant, meaningful lives well into their 80s, 90s, and beyond, and how her own unexpected injury became an invitation to reimagine what came next. We also explore: • Why so many women struggle with aging and identity • The labels we carry throughout our lives • How purpose impacts our health and well-being • Why rest is often harder than we realize • The connection between meaning, longevity, and fulfillment • Learning to release perfectionism • Creating a vision for your next chapter One of my favorite moments came when Dr. Durga shared that her injury ultimately gave her permission to do what she had been feeling deep inside all along. If you've ever found yourself standing at a crossroads, navigating change, or wondering what comes next, I think you'll find a lot of wisdom in this conversation. Connect with Dr. Durga on her website - durgalarkinmd.com [https://durgalarkinmd.com/] And find her book - Timeless Vision [https://amzn.to/4x3rwAg] If Hope Comes to Visit has become a bright spot in your week, I'd be so grateful if you'd subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who might need it. Your story matters. And so does theirs. Chapter Markers 00:00 Introduction  01:32 Meet Dr. Durga Larkin  01:54 Why She Wrote Timeless Vision 05:46 Why We Fear Aging 09:43 The Power of Having a Vision for Your Life 12:10 Blind Spots, Labels & Identity 14:29 The Injury That Changed Everything 18:04 When Life Makes You Walk the Talk 19:17 Purpose, Meaning & Longevity 20:46 Why Rest Matters More Than We Think 24:44 Learning to Sit Still 26:15 Reinvention After a Career Change 29:18 Craving Peace 30:00 Perfectionism & High Achievement 31:25 Advice for Anyone Facing Change 33:54 Meditation, Reflection & Self-Awareness 36:21 Dr. Durga's Timeless Vision 38:12 How Dr. Durga Defines Hope 39:17 Where to Find Dr. Durga & Her Book 40:16 Final Thoughts I’m so grateful you spent this time with us today. If Hope Comes to Visit has become a bright spot in your week, I’d love for you to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen so you never miss an episode. And if this conversation resonated with you, sharing it with a friend, leaving a review, or simply telling someone about the show helps more than you know. Until next time, take good care of yourself. And remember—your story matters. New episodes drop every Monday, so you can begin your week with a little light and a lot of hope. For more stories, reflections, and ways to connect, visit www.DanielleElliottSmith.com [http://www.danielleelliottsmith.com/] or follow along on Instagram @daniellesmithtv [https://www.instagram.com/daniellesmithtv] and @HopeComestoVisit [https://www.instagram.com/hopecomestovisit]

When Grief Creates Purpose | Michelle Valiukenas on Pregnancy Loss, NICU Life & Hope

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2517457/fan_mail/new] This week on Hope Comes to Visit, I’m joined by Michelle Valiukenas — founder of the The Colette Louise Tisdahl Foundation and mother to Sweet Pea, Colette, and Elliott. Michelle’s story begins with what she believed would be a typical pregnancy. Instead, at just 21 weeks pregnant, she was diagnosed with severe preeclampsia and hospitalized immediately. Three weeks later, her daughter Colette was born at 24 weeks and 5 days and spent nine days in the NICU before Michelle and her husband lost her. What Michelle created in the aftermath of that loss is extraordinary. On Colette’s due date, Michelle launched a nonprofit dedicated to helping families facing high-risk pregnancies, NICU stays, and pregnancy and infant loss — particularly the financial realities that exist outside the walls of the hospital. Since then, the organization has provided more than $2 million in direct assistance to thousands of families nationwide. But this conversation is about more than grief. It’s about what happens when women finally begin sharing the stories they were taught to whisper about. It’s about how common pregnancy complications and loss truly are — and how isolating silence can become. It’s about motherhood, advocacy, survival, healthcare, and the powerful reminder that telling the truth about our experiences helps other people feel less alone. Michelle’s honesty, compassion, and strength moved me deeply, and I’m so grateful she trusted me with this conversation. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts. The Colette Louise Tisdahl Foundation [https://colettelouise.com/] YOUTUBE CHAPTER MARKERS 00:00 Introduction  02:08 Michelle’s nonprofit background  03:20 A normal pregnancy until everything changed  06:26 Severe preeclampsia diagnosis at 21 weeks  08:50 The financial realities families face  13:31 Delivering Colette at 24 weeks  15:18 Hearing Colette cry for the first time  16:08 Losing Colette after 9 days in the NICU  17:25 Turning grief into purpose  21:23 “Director of Hugs” and family healing  25:47 Why sharing our stories matters  27:12 How the foundation helps families  32:30 Financial crisis and medical trauma  35:59 Pregnancy loss statistics and isolation  37:37 Reproductive healthcare and Roe v. Wade  46:41 How Michelle defines hope  47:52 Where to find the foundation  48:45 The power of storytelling I couldn’t agree more. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. I’m so grateful you spent this time with us today. If Hope Comes to Visit has become a bright spot in your week, I’d love for you to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen so you never miss an episode. And if this conversation resonated with you, sharing it with a friend, leaving a review, or simply telling someone about the show helps more than you know. Until next time, take good care of yourself. And remember—your story matters. New episodes drop every Monday, so you can begin your week with a little light and a lot of hope. For more stories, reflections, and ways to connect, visit www.DanielleElliottSmith.com [http://www.danielleelliottsmith.com/] or follow along on Instagram @daniellesmithtv [https://www.instagram.com/daniellesmithtv] and @HopeComestoVisit [https://www.instagram.com/hopecomestovisit]