Hearing Out Life Drama Blog


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Hear Deb talk with podcast hosts about listening, relationships, caregiving, identity, and the emotional side of being human.
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How to Support Someone After Surgery: Listening, Compassion, and Practical Help Jul 13, 2025

Few moments make people feel as unsure as standing beside someone who is recovering after surgery.

You want to help. You care deeply. But suddenly you’re wondering what to say, what to do, or whether you might accidentally make things harder instead...

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Regulate. Relate. Reason. Jul 06, 2025

Emotional dysregulation. It’s a big phrase with a very real impact—especially in parenting, relationships, and even leadership.

When someone is dysregulated, it means their brain has flipped into a stress response. They’re not thinking clearly, not ...

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Breaking the Stigma: Talking About Mental Health in Small Communities Jun 29, 2025

I grew up in a small town in Iowa.

One of those places where everyone knew each other. Doors were left unlocked, and your business was never truly just your own. There were a lot of good things about it—community, connection, traditions that ran dee...

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Do I Need Therapy? How to Recognize the Signs and What to Do Next Jun 22, 2025

When life starts feeling overwhelming, many of us find ourselves at a crossroads, questioning if we need extra help.

Many of us think about therapy for other people first—our children, our partners, or our friends. It can be much harder to imagine t...

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Why Speaking Up Feels So Hard Jun 15, 2025

When it became clear my dad was dying of pancreatic cancer. I flew home to be with him.

At one point, he looked me in the eye and said, “I’m sorry.”

I wasn’t ready for that.

There was so much in those two words. A lifetime, really. And I didn’t ha...

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The Bus to Heaven: When a Sibling Misses the Sister He Never Met Jun 08, 2025

Guest Blog Post by Michelle Valiukenas--Audio by Michelle

Parenting after loss doesn’t end with grief—it continues in the questions children ask and the moments that catch you off guard.

“Mommy, I’m going to heaven soon, I’m going to die soon.”

These ...

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