EPISODES

 

On the day her grandson was born, Donna Skora received a single text message that would end all contact and bring years of quiet grief. From that rupture, Donna created Surrogate Grandparents USA, a nationwide community where elders and families build trusted, intergenerational bonds. 

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Dr. Nicole Labor takes us inside the real mechanics of addiction and recovery, from the double life of a high-achieving medical student using drugs to the slow, steady rebuild that turned a bottom into a calling.

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Christopher "Life" Willars discusses how he rose from a 144-year prison sentence to becoming a national voice for justice system reform. His story reveals how systems harden people, how mentors and faith can redirect a life, and why real public safety starts with real rehabilitation.

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A song can change a life, and sometimes it waits decades to do it. Sal Baglio, the lead vocalist and guitarist behind Boston legends The Stompers, traces his creative path shaped by family, grief, grit, and a Hollywood surprise that rewired his future.

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A man sits on a curb after three nights in the woods, ready to surrender. Then a familiar face appears and everything changes. That’s the spark that propels Rusty Nosser, “The Walking Man,” from rock bottom to a life driven by purpose, faith, and relentless motion.

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A teenager gets dragged off the couch to volunteer, and a lifelong purpose begins. That’s the heartbeat of our conversation with Tom Rossignoll, a home-care physical therapist assistant and a city councilor who leads with empathy, candor, and common sense. 

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We sit down with JJ Winston, the award-winning author, licensed social worker, attorney, and post-degree magistrate to trace how one grief-forged decision became a lifelong mission: defend the voiceless, dismantle stigma, and turn hard-earned insight into fiction that heals.

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Cenobio Rayos II, known in the music world as "The Hare Trigga," reveals his extraordinary journey of resilience that reads like a Hollywood screenplay. Cenobio's path took him through addiction, homelessness, and profound loss before a moment of terrifying clarity changed everything.

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Betsy Hammer's fall from a stepladder could have ended tragically. Yet instead of panic, she exhibited remarkable presence of mind. This composure was so striking that hospital staff initially underestimated her injury's severity until x-rays revealed her hip "hanging by a thread."

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Joseph Bonanno, a New York City firefighter and cookbook author, narrowly escaped death on September 11, 2001, when an early car service pulled him away just before the firehouse he was visiting rushed to the World Trade Center.

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Dr. Marti Loring, a pioneering voice in trauma research and author of "Emotional Abuse: The Trauma and Treatment," shatters common misconceptions about trauma, revealing it's not just for war veterans or disaster survivors—it's something we all experience to varying degrees.

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After his partner's accidental opioid overdose, Louis spiraled into grief and heavy drinking. But something unexpected emerged from this darkness – insights that would transform his understanding of consciousness, trauma, and healing.
 

 

When Brian Rizzo denied entry to an unstable man at a Portland strip club where he worked as a bouncer, he couldn't have known those seconds would forever divide his life. Moments later, that same man returned with a pistol and shot Brian in the head at point-blank range.

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Ellen O'Brien joins us to share her remarkable journey from unconscious living to profound self-awareness. She introduces us to the concept of the "internal bowl" – a metaphorical vessel that can only be filled with self-love, self-respect, self-esteem, self-care, and self-compassion.

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Acclaimed songwriter Will Stratton takes us through his journey with testicular cancer – a diagnosis that arrived precisely when professional opportunities were blossoming. Will reveals how this life-altering experience fundamentally transformed his approach to music, creativity, and purpose.

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Meghan Johnson's story captivates from the first moment she shares her wise perspective on living with cerebral palsy. Meghan doesn't speak from stages to thousands, but her lived experience demonstrates that people with disabilities can lead rich, expressive, joyful lives.
 

 

Despite recognizing the seriousness of his symptoms, Kevin Carey was almost sent home from two different hospitals. It was only due to his wife's persistent questioning about his fever that doctors finally discovered a life-threatening bacterial blood infection that had sent fragments to his brain.

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After experiencing neurological symptoms from the commonly prescribed antibiotic metronidazole, Taylor Downs was left searching for answers in a system that often overlooked or dismissed her condition. What followed was a journey of healing, self-advocacy, and reinvention.

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Anthony Brown tells us his dramatic life story that led him to many dark and often dangerous places. Author of the award-winning book, "From Park Bench to Park Avenue", Anthony describes his journey from disfunction and homelessness to recovery and triumph.
 

 

Susan Goldberg was living an active and productive life as a professional musician in New York City when, in the middle of a typical busy day playing piano, out of the blue, she suddenly lost the use of her left hand.
 

 

Gary Langis's inspirational journey took him from saving lives off the streets of Boston to lobbying for lifesaving programs in Washington D.C. It all began with an out of the blue event that could’ve destroyed his life, but instead led him to saving the lives of countless others.

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Liz Michels was diagnosed with autism at 3 years old, but it wasn’t until her early teens that her first symptoms appeared out of the blue. At 35 years old, she’s living a full life and has become an outspoken autism advocate.

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A successful real estate developer and devoted husband and father, David Wiener shares his inspiring story of finding the way forward. David and his family were enjoying a joyous day on the slopes when David hit a patch of black ice. And just like that, his life changed forever.

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The 2024 winner of the Presidential Award for extraordinary service to Stony Brook University, Judy Greiman shares her inspiring story of resilience when after years of perfect examinations, out of the blue, her test results showed stage four metastatic breast cancer.

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No doubt about it, Michael's a Miracle. When diagnosed with cancer, the doctor's prognosis was 6 months to a year. Four and a half years later and Michael is still finding a way forward. His truth is powerful and his resilience is off the chart. An unforgettable story of courage.

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Wendy Liebman is a nationally known standup comedian and has been touring and appearing on television since the 90’s. Her career was about to take off with an upcoming Netflix special when, out of the blue, she was struck by a car and her life was turned upside down.
 

 

This Season One preview features highlights from interviews with inspirational survivors of traumatic out of the blue events who have overcome unimaginable challenges, sharing stories of resilience and triumph. Together, we find the way forward.

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