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Meet Dakota: How a Dog Heals Grief When Words Fail

Release Date: 02/02/2026

Meet Dakota: How a Dog Heals Grief When Words Fail

Live, Love, Survive,THRIVE! Podcast

“Dogs are intuitive. They listen, they hear, and they actually respond back if you just allow them to. Dakota is my best friend.” —Kimberly Hubenette Grief can shrink daily life, leaving long hours that feel heavy and quiet. In this space, companionship becomes more than comfort. It becomes a reason to keep showing up. After losing her husband, Dr. Kimberly shares how her rescue dog Dakota, became a steady presence through grief, responsibility, and healing. Their bond grew through training, trust, and the simple rhythm of caring for another life. Press play for a heartfelt...

Following MIMI with Ann Tirrell

Live, Love, Survive,THRIVE! Podcast

“You can handle things in life if you're taking care of yourself, physically and mentally." —Ann Tirrell Some days it feels like no matter how much we try, the weight of loss, stress, or just everyday demands won’t let us catch our breath. But strength isn’t built in big leaps; it’s in the small daily choices— the way we move, eat, rest, and show up for ourselves. When life knocks us off course, there’s always a way back through routine, resilience, and the right kind of support. After decades as a teacher and school administrator, and through seasons of grief and healing, Ann...

Living Through Grief: How to Keep Going After Loss with Dr. William Quan

Live, Love, Survive,THRIVE! Podcast

“Life is not a smooth, even journey. Life is a bumpy up-and-down journey. You have your highs and your lows. You have to just hold on to that bumpy road, and you just keep going.” —William Quan Life can break routines, identities, and relationships without warning. Grief changes how days are lived, decisions are made, and meaning is defined. This conversation holds space for the quiet realities that come after loss. Dr. Kimberly Hubenette sits down with her father, Dr. William Quan, to reflect on his journey through grief after losing his wife of 44 years, his path as an immigrant...

Healing Through Heartbreak: How to Grow After Goodbye with Daniel Gomez

Live, Love, Survive,THRIVE! Podcast

“You can never care and love too much, so I've allowed myself to care and love even more in this new season of my life.” —Daniel Gomez Loss reshapes identity, and nobody comes out unchanged. In this episode, we name the hard parts of grief and show a path from raw pain to purposeful living that holds space for anger, tears, and faith. Daniel Gomez shares how losing parents and siblings led to a crisis that became a calling to help others reclaim value, purpose, and joy. His story shows how grieving honestly and accepting spiritual and practical supports creates lasting resilience....

Recover and Reconnect: How Dogs Can Lead Your Next Chapter with Troy McDaniel

Live, Love, Survive,THRIVE! Podcast

“We're all different. We're all unique in our own ways. And it's the same thing with dogs.” —Troy McDaniel A heavy season can pull energy down fast, especially when loss changes the rhythm of a home. Many of us try holding everything together while the world keeps moving, and it can feel impossible to rebuild any sense of calm. This conversation opens a path toward structure, healing, and small wins that help life feel steady again. Troy McDaniel shares how losing his grandmother pushed him to step into the work she always believed he could do. His story moves from a prison...

Life After Loss: How to Rebuild Without Overwhelm

Live, Love, Survive,THRIVE! Podcast

“You don't have to be strong all of the time. You just have to be real every time you show up for yourself. Even when it's hard, you're choosing to live more and live fully.” —Dr. Kimberly Hubenette Some mornings, the heaviest thing isn’t what’s on your calendar—it’s the thought of facing the day at all. When loss or pressure piles up, even simple tasks can feel like climbing a mountain. The truth is, healing doesn’t happen by forcing yourself to be “fine.” It starts by allowing yourself to be real, messy, and still moving forward. After losing her husband in...

Does Death Suck? Yes, 100% it Does! with Rosie Matus Carillo

Live, Love, Survive,THRIVE! Podcast

“Nothing feels good about [death], and nothing can make you feel better about it. It's just something you live with every day of your life. You improve your life around it, but it's still there.” —Rosie Matus Carillo Loss hits in waves that don’t follow rules, and some days the weight shows up without warning. There’s a strange mix of heartbreak and grit that comes with carrying memories while trying to keep your own life standing. The truth lands hard, but real — you learn to live around the pain, not past it. In this episode, Rosie Matus Carrillo, Kim’s lifelong best...

Live, Love, Survive, Thrive! — The Podcast

Live, Love, Survive,THRIVE! Podcast

“Showing up for yourself is the first step toward thriving.” —Dr. Kimberly Hubenette Welcome to the very first episode of Live, Love, Survive, Thrive! This podcast is about real life— the hard parts, the healing, and the hope we find when we choose to keep moving forward. When loss turns your world upside down, it can feel like you’ll never breathe the same way again. But, healing isn’t about “moving on”— it’s about learning to carry love and loss side by side, while still saying ‘yes’ to life. That shift doesn’t erase the pain, but it...

More Episodes

“Dogs are intuitive. They listen, they hear, and they actually respond back if you just allow them to. Dakota is my best friend.” —Kimberly Hubenette

Grief can shrink daily life, leaving long hours that feel heavy and quiet. In this space, companionship becomes more than comfort. It becomes a reason to keep showing up.

After losing her husband, Dr. Kimberly shares how her rescue dog Dakota, became a steady presence through grief, responsibility, and healing. Their bond grew through training, trust, and the simple rhythm of caring for another life.

Press play for a heartfelt conversation on grief, pets, and resilience, and explore: