Episode 18 - Boundaries: The Part Where People Get Uncomfortable

The Grief Journals: Coming Out on the Other Side

The Grief Journals concludes with a conversation about what comes after survival. In Part Two: Coming Out on the Other Side, Denise reflects on the years following the loss of her son, Ethan, and the difficult work of learning how to live with grief instead of simply enduring it. This isn't a story about "moving on" or finding a silver lining. It's about ownership, healing, and discovering that grief—while painful and deeply personal—can also become a source of purpose. In this episode, Denise explores: • The loneliness that comes after the calls, cards, and casseroles stop coming • The emotional spiral that often follows loss • Why she came to believe that her grief belonged to her—and what that realization changed • How healing leaves scars, not erasures • The ways grief expanded her capacity for compassion, service, and connection through theater, mentoring students, and the programs that fostered strong family bonds. Along the way, Hank makes his usual appearance, offering a reminder that healing doesn't require perfection and that sometimes the best support comes from simply being present. If you've ever wondered whether life can hold meaning after profound loss, this episode is for you. Because healing doesn't mean becoming who you were before. Sometimes it means becoming someone new—shaped by love, loss, resilience, and the choice to keep moving forward. Thank you for joining us for The Grief Journals. And as always... Drink your water. Do your sanity check. And give the dog an extra treat.

The Crash Out Series - Episode 2 Midnight is a Terrible Life Coach

Somewhere between 11 PM and 1 AM, tiny problems suddenly become life-altering catastrophes. A weird text tone means your relationship is doomed. A random stomach ache becomes medically fascinating. And somehow your exhausted brain decides midnight is the perfect time to reevaluate your entire existence. In this episode of the Crash Out Series, Hank’s Mom talks about why nighttime has a way of turning stress into emotional chaos, why morning almost always feels more manageable, and how exhaustion removes proportion from our thinking. We’re talking late-night spirals, emotional raccoons, survival kits, hydration, overanalyzing text messages like federal evidence, and the important role cheese sometimes plays in emotional stability. Also, Hank remains emotionally unbothered by punctuation… unless birds are involved.

The Grief Journals - Episode 1 - The Moment Everything Breaks

Part One of a deeply personal two-part series on grief. In this episode of Hank’s Mom Has Opinions, Denise talks about the immediate aftermath of losing her son, Ethan, eight years ago — the shock, disbelief, numbness, and quiet reality of learning how to survive a life you never would have chosen. This is not a story about blame. It’s not a lecture about addiction. And it’s definitely not a guide to “getting over” loss. It’s an honest conversation about grief as it actually feels: confusing, heavy, deeply personal, and different for everyone who carries it. Through reflections on survival, emotional processing, and the unexpected comfort found in small moments — including the steady presence of Hank, the world’s most emotionally persistent German Shorthaired Pointer — Denise explores what it means to keep moving when your world has fundamentally changed. If you’re grieving, loving someone through addiction, or simply trying to understand loss a little better…this episode is for you. And as always: Drink your water. Do your sanity check. And maybe let the dog convince you to go outside.

Episode 18 - Boundaries: The Part Where People Get Uncomfortable

Boundaries sound simple…until you actually have to set one. In this episode, we take a calm, honest look at what boundaries really are—and what they’re not. Because they’re not about controlling other people, starting conflict, or pushing others away. They’re about protecting your capacity, your peace, and your ability to stay steady in your own life. We talk about: * Why boundaries feel so uncomfortable (for you and the other person) * What boundaries actually look like in real life (hint: less talking, more doing) * Why healthy relationships don’t break under boundaries—they get stronger because of them * What people’s reactions to your boundaries can teach you (data over drama) * And the most important boundary of all…the one you set with yourself And of course, Hank makes an appearance as the world’s most enthusiastic boundary tester…who, despite his best efforts, still manages to respect a consistent “off” and “crate.” If boundaries have ever felt confusing, harsh, or overwhelming—this episode brings it back to something much simpler: Clarity. Consistency. And taking care of yourself without apology.

Episode - 17 Patterns over Access

What if the version of you that people experience…isn’t random? In this episode, I unpack a thought that hit me the second I opened my eyes: “People will get the version of me they deserve.” Okay…slightly villain-coded. We clean it up. This becomes a conversation about patterns, boundaries, and what it actually means to be both discerning and kind—anchored in a powerful line from the Gospel of Matthew: “Be as shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.” We talk about: * Why patterns—not promises—should guide your decisions * How to notice when respect is lacking (without spiraling) * The balance between staying soft and not being taken advantage of * And what to do when you do snap…because you’re human Plus, Hank weighs in on snack-based trust systems and emotional recalibration. This isn’t about becoming cold. It’s about becoming clear. Patterns determine access.