#78 - Finding Hope After Suicide Loss: A Conversation on Grief, Resilience, and Honoring Loved Ones - Conversation with My Friends Series - Starla Stanley
Release Date: 09/22/2025
Dare Greatly Podcast
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Welcome to a new three-part series on Spiritual Power — inspired by the remarkable life and teachings of President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In this first episode, I’m sharing lessons that have changed the way I see repentance — not as something heavy or guilt-driven, but as a source of joy and strength. President Nelson once taught about “the joy of daily repentance” in his 2022 talk The Power of Spiritual Momentum — and in a world full of fear, uncertainty, and division, that simple phrase holds extraordinary power. Together,...
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September is Suicide Prevention Month, and today’s conversation is tender, raw, and full of hope. I’m sitting down with my dear friend who lost her brother to suicide over 30 years ago. Together we talk about the weight of that loss, how grief has shaped her life, and the ways she has found resilience and meaning over the years. In this episode we explore: What it’s like to navigate the first days and years after losing a loved one to suicide. How to honor and keep alive the memory of someone we love while still moving forward with life. The role of compassion, rituals, and...
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In this tender and illuminating episode, we’re exploring what it means to live from your center and shine your light — even when it feels small. Drawing from the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:14, "You are the light of the world," we’ll look at three kinds of light we’re invited to be in the world: lower lights, luminaries, and lighthouses. Each serves a sacred purpose — including yours. You’ll hear the moving backstory behind the beloved hymn “Brightly Beams Our Father’s Mercy” and learn why the “lower lights” matter more than we realize — especially for women...
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Welcome, friend. This episode might be the theme of why I do everything I do, helping you find balance in loving without grasping too tightly. If you’ve ever felt the ache of letting go as your child grows up, or the tension between holding on and trusting God—this one’s for you. Today, I’m sharing a tender meditation on motherhood, rooted in the ancient wisdom of Zen and framed by my own experience raising teenagers—and now watching my 22-year-old prepare to move into his first home he just bought. We’ll explore: What Zen actually is, and where it intersects with...
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Welcome back to Be Still – A Summer of Meditation. In this episode, we explore what it means to partner with God—not just in our stillness, but in our everyday doing. Too often we think of spirituality and meditation as passive surrender, but today, we’re shifting that idea. Drawing from the powerful words of President Ezra Taft Benson, we consider ten specific promises God makes to those who turn their lives over to Him—promises like deeper joy, expanded vision, quickened minds, and poured-out peace. You’ll hear short stories from the scriptures—about Nephi, Esther, Mary, Moses,...
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What if your imagination was one of the most powerful spiritual tools you’ve been given? What if you could learn to use it—not to escape reality—but to see what’s most true, most good, and most possible in your life, through the eyes of God? In this episode, we explore why your imagination isn't childish or frivolous—it's sacred. It's how you co-create with God. And when you combine it with stillness and mindfulness, it becomes a superpower for clarity, healing, and divine direction. Whether you're facing a crossroads, navigating uncertainty, or just yearning to hear the...
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What if there’s a way to meet frustration, loneliness, or even a difficult person—with something softer and something stronger at the same time? In today’s episode, we explore the transformative practice of Loving-Kindness, also known as Metta—a simple but radical form of meditation that teaches us how to see others, and ourselves, through the eyes of compassion. You’ll hear a story about a yoga class in Seattle, a rattlesnake on a trail run, and what happens when you decide to look people in the eye—even when they look away. Drawing on the timeless wisdom of Sharon...
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Have you ever felt like you're running on fumes… Pouring love into everyone else while secretly feeling like you're the one falling apart inside? If your mind races. If your to-do list is never done. If your heart is full of love but your nervous system is fried, …then this episode is for you. In today’s conversation, we’re going straight to the source of power most people ignore: Coming home to your breath. And not just any breathing — I’m talking about the kind of intentional, Spirit-connected breath that recenters you in moments when you want to lose it. Like...
info_outlineSeptember is Suicide Prevention Month, and today’s conversation is tender, raw, and full of hope. I’m sitting down with my dear friend who lost her brother to suicide over 30 years ago. Together we talk about the weight of that loss, how grief has shaped her life, and the ways she has found resilience and meaning over the years.
In this episode we explore:
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What it’s like to navigate the first days and years after losing a loved one to suicide.
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How to honor and keep alive the memory of someone we love while still moving forward with life.
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The role of compassion, rituals, and connection in carrying grief with grace.
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What helps and what hurts when supporting someone who is grieving.
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Where hope can be found, even in the aftermath of devastating loss.
Whether you have personally lost someone to suicide, are supporting a loved one through grief, or want to better understand how to show up for others, this conversation offers honesty and encouragement. My guest’s story reminds us that though grief changes us, it can also teach us resilience, deepen our compassion, and help us live with more love.
If you or someone you know is struggling, please know that help is available:
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In the U.S., call or text 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline anytime, day or night.
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If you’re outside the U.S., please look up your local crisis line number or go to the nearest emergency department.
- Local: Stay MENtally Strong Foundation founded by Gina Oliverson in loving memory of Sean.
Your life matters. You are not alone.
Where you can connect more with Danielle: