Beyond Addiction: The Light He Left Behind — A Million Other Things

Beyond Addiction: The Light He Left Behind — A Million Other Things

In Part Two of this deeply moving series, we step into the light and remember Paul for who he truly was — not defined by addiction, but by the love, compassion, and humanity he carried. This episode explores the reality of trauma and addiction, the impact of PTSD and unresolved pain, and the journey toward healing after loss. Through a mother’s story of grief, faith, and resilience, we reflect on how love continues, how meaning can be rebuilt, and how a life is never defined by its hardest chapter. Laura shares the truth about addiction recovery, grief and loss, and healing after suicide, while offering hope to families walking through trauma, mental health struggles, and emotional pain. This conversation speaks to the power of compassion, trauma-informed healing, and finding purpose after loss. Because behind every struggle, there are a million other things that make a person who they are. If you are navigating grief, trauma, addiction, or the healing journey, this episode offers light, understanding, and hope. Paul’s life and legacy continue through a foundation and scholarship established in his name, helping future students and honoring the light he brought into the world.Contact: ⁠foundation@coloradomesa.edu⁠ Tara DelaneyHost & Creator | Between Here & HeavenCo-Founder & Transformation Coach | Blue Wings Within If you are struggling with grief, loss, or purpose book a free discovery call: bluewingswithin.com #GriefSupport #FaithAndHealing #HopeAfterTrauma #LegacyOfLove #BetweenHereAndHeaven #BlueWingsWithin

Into the Darkness: When Trauma Lives On (Part One)

Columbine, PTSD, Trauma & Addiction Recovery In this powerful episode of Between Here & Heaven, Tara Delaney sits down with Laura Atkinson to explore the long-term effects of trauma following the Columbine High School shooting. While the nation remembers April 20, 1999 as a day of tragedy, many survivors have carried invisible wounds for decades. Laura shares the story of her son, Paul (“Pauly”), who survived Columbine but later struggled with unprocessed trauma, PTSD, addiction, and the complex realities of coping after mass violence. This episode explores: * The lasting psychological impact of school shootings * PTSD in trauma survivors * Addiction as a trauma response * Early intervention and trauma-informed care * The gap in long-term mental health support * Parenting through trauma and substance use * Suicide awareness and prevention We discuss how trauma can live quietly beneath the surface — and why naming it is essential for healing. This conversation is not about blame. It is about awareness, advocacy, and understanding how trauma affects individuals, families, and entire communities. ⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussion of school violence, PTSD, addiction, and suicide. In Part Two, we explore healing, legacy, and why addiction did not define Paul — love did. Paul’s life and legacy continue through a foundation and scholarship established in his name, helping future students and honoring the light he brought into the world. Contact: foundation@coloradomesa.edu Tara Delaney Host & Creator | Between Here & Heaven Co-Founder & Transformation Coach | Blue Wings Within If you are struggling with grief, loss, or purpose book a free discovery call: bluewingswithin.com #Healingafterlossforwoman #Trauma #NervousSystemHealing #Lifepurposecoaching #EmotionalHealingforWomen

Episode 10: The Steps to Take After Loss-A Conversation with Mom

In this deeply personal episode of Between Here & Heaven, host Tara Delaney—transformation coach and creator of Blue Wings Within—sits down with her mother for an honest, behind-the-scenes conversation about what really happens after a loved one dies. Together, they walk through the days, weeks, and months following the sudden loss of Tara’s son, Sloan—not just the emotional devastation, but the logistical reality of grief that so few people talk about. From police calls and mortuary decisions to packing up an apartment, handling financial responsibilities, retrieving personal belongings, and planning memorial services, this episode gently exposes the overwhelming list of tasks that descend on families at the exact moment their hearts are breaking. Tara’s mom shares how she stepped into the role of steady guide—handling decisions, paperwork, and practical matters when grief made it nearly impossible for Tara to think or breathe. Their conversation sheds light on the physical toll of grief, the importance of community support, and why no one should ever have to navigate loss alone. This episode also offers real, lived guidance, including: * The first steps to take after a sudden or unexpected death * What mortuaries help with—and why choosing one early matters * Financial, legal, and logistical tasks families don’t expect * The role of community, family, and asking for help * How grief impacts the body, not just the heart As a transformation coach, Tara’s work is centered on helping people survive the unthinkable and rebuild their lives with support, compassion, and meaning. This episode reflects that mission—offering clarity, comfort, and a sense of steadiness during one of life’s most overwhelming moments. If you are grieving, supporting someone who is grieving, or want to be better prepared for the realities of loss, this conversation is here to walk beside you. To learn more about Tara’s coaching work and grief support resources, visit www.bluewingswithin.com [http://www.bluewingswithin.com]. Because grief is not just emotional—it is logistical. And with guidance, support, and love, it becomes survivable. 💙 #BetweenHereAndHeaven #LifeAfterLoss #NavigatingGrief #GriefJourney #SoulWork #GriefEducation

Episode 9: From Heartbreak to Humor

In this powerful and tender episode of Between Here & Heaven, I sit down with Stewie and Preston—two of my son Sloan’s best friends from high school, lovingly known as “the three stooges.” As a transformation coach, my work is rooted in helping people navigate loss, rediscover meaning, and transform grief into purpose—and this conversation reflects that mission in one of the most honest ways possible. This episode offers a rare and deeply human look into how young men experience grief, how layered loss shapes them, and how love and laughter continue even after unimaginable heartbreak. The first part of this episode goes deep. Preston opens up about losing Sloan, along with both of his grandparents—two of the people he was closest to—all within the past two years. He shares what that kind of compounded loss does to a young man, how it changes his perspective on life, and how he’s learned to keep moving forward while carrying profound grief and love side by side. Stewie shares his own journey through loss—the death of Sloan, another close friend, his dog, and his grandparents. Together, we explore how men cope when grief stacks up, what they don’t always say out loud, and the quiet ways they carry pain, loyalty, and devotion to the people they’ve loved. Both Stewie and Preston reflect on: * What losing Sloan meant to them * What they would say to him now * Any regrets they carry—or peace they’ve found * And the lessons Sloan taught them that will stay with them for life Then… the conversation shifts. From heartbreak to humor. We laugh as we remember the boys the way they were—playing football, boxing in the front yard, sitting around bonfires at my house, talking about girls, taking trips, and creating memories filled with brotherhood and joy. Stories that remind us that laughter doesn’t disappear after loss—it becomes sacred. I share how I saw them back then… and how I see them now. How grief has shaped them into grounded, compassionate men. And how deeply grateful I am to still have them in my life—woven into Sloan’s story, and mine, forever. This episode is about grief, brotherhood, masculinity, memory, and the healing power of laughter. It’s about honoring the pain without losing the joy. And about how love never leaves—it simply changes form. If this conversation resonates with you and you’re navigating your own season of loss, healing, or transformation, you’re invited to learn more about my coaching work at www.bluewingswithin.com [http://www.bluewingswithin.com]. Because healing isn’t about forgetting—it’s about learning how to live, love, and laugh again. 💙 #grief #loss #compoundedgrief #heartbreaktohumor #brotherhood #transformation

Episode 8 Nourishing The Soul

In this deeply moving episode of Between Here & Heaven, host Tara Delaney—transformation coach, health and grief guide, and creator of Blue Wings Within—sits down with Registered Dietitian, educator, and mentor Brenda O’Day for an intimate conversation on grief, nourishment, and the eternal nature of love. Both women come from lives devoted to healing through nutrition—learning how to feed the body—yet it was through profound personal loss that they discovered a deeper truth: the soul has its own hunger. Brenda shares her journey of losing both parents within months of each other, and the unexpected moments of connection that followed—subtle, sacred reminders that love does not end when life does. Together, Tara and Brenda explore how grief reshapes the way we show up for others, how loss deepens compassion in caregiving and teaching, and how nourishment extends far beyond food into connection, presence, and spirit. This episode gently weaves together themes of: * Grief and the hunger for connection * Signs from loved ones in the afterlife * End-of-life experiences and spiritual awareness * How loss transforms our purpose and service * Why love may be the greatest form of nourishment we will ever receive As a transformation coach, Tara’s work is rooted in helping others turn grief into purpose, reconnect with their inner wisdom, and create lives guided by meaning, health, and love. If this conversation resonates with you and you’re feeling called to explore your own healing journey, you’re invited to learn more at www.bluewingswithin.com [http://www.bluewingswithin.com]. If you are navigating loss, longing for reassurance that love continues, or seeking a more soul-centered understanding of healing, this conversation will meet you exactly where you are. Because healing isn’t just about feeding the body—it’s about remembering that love never leaves. 💙