Heather Loses Garrett To Accidental Overdose
The Surviving Siblings®
On Episode 5 of Season 9 of The Surviving Siblings Podcast®, host Maya Roffler is joined by Dr. Heather Taylor, a surviving sibling, therapist, and grief advocate, who shares the story of losing her brother, Garrett, to an accidental overdose, and how that loss completely reshaped her life, her career, and her mission in the grief space. Heather takes us back to her childhood growing up in a small town in Washington State, where she and her younger brother Garrett were raised surrounded by nature, imagination, and a deep sibling bond. They were each other’s constant—playing outside,...
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Erica Loses TJ To A Car Accident
The Surviving Siblings®
On Episode 4 of Season 9 of The Surviving Siblings Podcast®, host Maya Roffler is joined by Erica Bohn, a surviving sibling who shares the story of losing her brother, TJ, in a car accident over 30 years ago, and how that loss shaped her life, her healing, and ultimately her path into helping others. Erica takes us back to her childhood growing up in a close-knit Midwestern family. Both she and her brother TJ were adopted as babies, raised in what she describes as a loving, “perfect” family, until one summer night in 1995 changed everything. TJ, just weeks away from starting his senior...
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Gyani Loses Pete To Cancer
The Surviving Siblings®
On Episode 3 of Season 9 of The Surviving Siblings Podcast®, host Maya Roffler is joined by Gyani, a surviving sibling and grief professional, who shares the story of losing his brother, Pete, to cancer, and how earlier loss in his life shaped the path he walks today. Gyani takes us back to his first encounter with grief at 13, when his father died of cancer. Raised in what he describes as a “Leave It to Beaver” style family. Mom, dad, and five boys—he reflects on how grief rippled through their family system like a bomb, in a time when there were few tools or conversations available to...
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Earla Loses Leigh-Ann To Pancreatic Cancer
The Surviving Siblings®
On Season 9, Episode 2 of The Surviving Siblings Podcast®, host Maya Roffler is joined by Earla Dawn, who shares the story of losing her sister, Leigh-Ann, to pancreatic cancer. Earla takes us back to their childhood on the prairies, four siblings, endless fun, and the kind of relationship that started with “fighting like cats and dogs”… and grew into a deep, lifelong bond. Leigh-Ann was the polished one, the “always put together” sister, a devoted mom, a dog lover, and a woman who reinvented her life, starting over after divorce, and eventually moving across the world to Spain in...
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Stephen Loses Stacy To A Car Accident
The Surviving Siblings®
On episode 1 of Season 9 of The Surviving Siblings Podcast® host, Maya Roffler is joined by Stephen Stott who opens up about the tragic loss of his sister, Stacy, to a car accident 24 years ago. Stephen was just 16 when his life changed forever. After being "voluntold" to accompany his sister to a cheerleading camp six hours away, he shared a moment of deep personal truth with her the first person he ever came out to as queer. Just days later, on the drive home, they both fell asleep behind the wheel. Stacy didn’t survive. Stephen did. What follows is a deeply moving story of grief,...
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Chelsey McHale Interviews Maya Roffler On Sibling Loss
The Surviving Siblings®
On episode 10 of season 8 of The Surviving Siblings® Podcast, guest host Chelsey McHale takes over the mic to interview podcast founder and host Maya Roffler in a deeply personal and reflective conversation. With 2026 marking 10 years since the loss of her brother Andreas, Maya opens up about what this milestone means to her, how her grief has evolved, and the legacy her brother continues to leave behind through this powerful community. From the early days of navigating violent loss to founding the podcast, the summit, and a thriving support network, Maya shares what she’s learned from...
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Katherine Loses Colin To Cancer
The Surviving Siblings®
On episode 9 of Season 8 of The Surviving Siblings Podcast®, host, Maya Roffler sits down with Katherine Mandzak, a writer and advocate, as she opens up about losing her beloved younger brother Colin to a rare and aggressive form of bile duct cancer. From growing up as inseparable homeschool siblings to navigating a shocking cancer diagnosis, Katherine shares the raw reality of becoming the only surviving sibling and how her identity, grief, and life path were forever changed. She walks us through the six-month rollercoaster from diagnosis to hospice, the sacred final moments, and the...
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Dan Loses Patti To Appendicitis
The Surviving Siblings®
On episode 8 of Season 8 of The Surviving Siblings Podcast®, host, Maya Roffler speaks with Dan Dunsmore, a devoted brother, father, and educator who shares the heartbreaking story of losing his sister Patti at just 13 years old to a sudden and misdiagnosed case of appendicitis. Dan takes us back to 1968 in South Knoxville, Tennessee, and walks us through the idyllic beginnings of his childhood, followed by a series of devastating family losses, each one reshaping the course of his life. Dan opens up about the traumatic last words he spoke to Patti, the moment he found himself alone in a...
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Dawn Loses Justin To Suicide
The Surviving Siblings®
On episode 7 of Season 8 of The Surviving Siblings Podcast®, host, Maya Roffler sits down with Dawn, a surviving sibling who opens up about the unexpected loss of her brother Justin, just weeks before his wedding day. Dawn shares the full arc of their sibling bond, from pranks and family laughter, to the hidden pain Justin carried, to the shock of losing him to suicide in 2013. Through her storytelling, Dawn brings light to the complexities of grief, sibling guilt, the impact of hidden addiction and gambling, and the long road toward healing. This conversation is a tribute to Justin, a...
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Tommy Loses John To Addiction & Tim To Cancer
The Surviving Siblings®
On episode 6 of Season 8 of The Surviving Siblings Podcast®, host, Maya Roffler sits down with Tommy, a surviving sibling who lost two brothers—John to addiction and Tim to cancer. Tommy shares a powerful testimony of family, trauma, guilt, grief, and recovery offering a rare and vulnerable glimpse into what it means to survive sibling loss from two very different but equally devastating causes. Raised in Queens, New York, Tommy opens up about growing up in a family marked by love, loyalty, and generational addiction. He candidly recounts the progression of his brother John's substance use...
info_outlineIn this raw and profoundly moving episode of The Surviving Siblings Podcast, host Maya Roffler sits down with Jen, a bereaved sibling who lost her brother Teddy to suicide in 2017. Jen and Teddy shared an incredibly close bond, growing up as part of a large Sicilian family just outside of Boston. But their story begins even earlier—Teddy was a micro-preemie twin who survived against all odds, unknowingly carrying deep grief for his twin, Joseph, who died shortly after birth.
Jen opens up about the fierce sibling connection they shared, their upbringing in a culture that didn’t talk about emotions, and the invisible scars Teddy carried after a childhood marked by severe bullying, trauma, and being misunderstood. Despite his vibrant, goofy, and deeply caring personality, Teddy struggled silently with mental health throughout his life.
This episode explores the reality of surviving sibling suicide, the hidden pain many carry, and the complex journey of grief, guilt, and healing. Jen shares how she only began to process her loss years later during the pandemic and how therapy has helped her reframe her survivor’s guilt and begin to find peace. She also reflects on the final moments, the call that changed everything, and the weight of not getting to say goodbye.
If you’ve ever felt the heartbreak of suicide loss, struggled with survivor’s guilt, or longed for healing in a family that doesn’t talk about grief—Jen’s story will show you that you are not alone, and your voice matters.
In This Episode:
(00:01:09) – Growing Up Sicilian
Jen describes her “free-range childhood” and the powerful, chaotic closeness of growing up in a big Sicilian family, where cousins felt like siblings.
(00:02:31) – Teddy’s Early Arrival & Twin Loss
Teddy was born four months premature in 1975. His twin, Joseph, passed away shortly after birth—a fact Jen discovered years later on her own.
(00:06:00) – Protector & Big Sister
From defending Teddy against bullies to enduring the silence of their home life, Jen shares what it meant to be the older sister in a family that didn’t talk about pain.
(00:12:00) – School, Stereotypes & Sibling Comparisons
Jen reflects on how academic pressure, comparison, and cultural expectations shaped both her and Teddy in very different ways.
(00:15:22) – Therapy & Rewriting the Narrative
A family photo once filled with shame becomes a moment of healing thanks to therapy—Jen discusses the power of reframing grief and guilt.
(00:19:00) – Discovering Teddy’s Twinhood
Jen recalls the moment she discovered Teddy was a surviving twin and the emotional weight of finding a note he once wrote to God, asking if his brother was safe in heaven.
(00:22:00) – 2017: The Year Everything Changed
After losing his beloved grandmother and a close friend, Teddy's grief deepened. Jen shares how she never saw the signs of his declining mental health.
(00:26:00) – A Life of Trauma and Suppression
From childhood bullying to a near-institutionalization as a teen, Jen uncovers the deep traumas Teddy endured—and how their family culture of silence kept him from healing.
(00:30:00) – Teddy’s First Suicide Attempt
In 2003, Teddy survived a suicide attempt on Boston’s Tobin Bridge. Jen recounts the hospital call that changed everything—and how the stigma around mental health silenced the conversation for years.
(00:32:00) – Saying Goodbye Was Not Easy
Jen discusses the complicated decisions her family made after Teddy’s death, the tension surrounding his service, and the 400 people who came to say goodbye.
(00:35:00) – The Call That Changed Everything
Jen shares the moment she learned of Teddy’s death—and how her family’s avoidance of grief left her in prolonged shock for nearly three years.
(00:42:00) – Grief Bubble & Delayed Healing
Without the space to grieve immediately, Jen’s own grief journey was stunted. She talks about what it means to be “strong for the family” and the emotional cost of silence.
(00:44:00) – The Pandemic Awakening
It wasn’t until the COVID-19 pandemic that Jen was forced to sit with her thoughts—and finally begin to unpack her trauma and start to heal.
This episode is sponsored by The Surviving Siblings.
If you or someone you love is struggling with mental health or suicidal thoughts, help is available. Please reach out to a mental health professional or call your local crisis line. You are never alone.
Connect with Jen:
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jen.hoye
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jen.and.pen/
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Website: https://www.jenniferhoye.com/miles
Connect with Maya:
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Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/survivingsiblingspodcast/
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Maya's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayaroffler/
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Website: thesurvivingsiblings.com
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Facebook Group: The Surviving Siblings Podcast
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YouTube: The Surviving Siblings Podcast
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheSurvivingSiblingsPodcast