What happens when a family secret rewrites everything you thought you knew? In this heartfelt and powerful conversation, author and mental health advocate Lisa Sugarman joins Persistence U with Lizbeth to share her story of losing her father—twice.

Told as a child that her father died of a heart attack, Lisa didn’t discover the truth about his suicide until 35 years later. That revelation not only reshaped her personal narrative but became the catalyst for a career shift toward suicide prevention and mental wellness. Lisa shares how grief changed her, the importance of breaking the silence around suicide, and how she’s now helping others through her work with The Trevor Project, NAMI, Samaritans, and her own platform, The Help Hub.

You Will Learn:

• How delayed grief and truth-telling can reframe our stories
• The impact of high-functioning individuals who suffer in silence
• Practical tools and resources for suicide prevention and survivor support

Resources Mentioned:

• National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Dial or text 988
• Lisa Sugarman’s resource platform: The Help Hub
• The Trevor Project: thetrevorproject.org
• Samaritans SafePlace Support Groups
• NAMI’s Storytelling Program

Lizbeth’s links

Want to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on Lizbeth's latest podcast episodes, books, and appearances at https://lameredith.com

How do you keep going after unimaginable loss? In this heartfelt episode of Persistence U, grief educator, podcaster, and writer Lisa Ellison Cooper shares how the devastating death of her younger brother launched her into a journey of deep grief, self-exploration, and ultimately, healing.

Lisa discusses how writing became a lifeline—first as a way to process pain, and then as a tool to connect with others. Today, she uses her experience to support fellow writers navigating difficult personal narratives, offering workshops and coaching rooted in empathy and resilience.

Whether you're grieving, supporting someone who is, or learning to write through your pain, this conversation offers both comfort and clarity.

You Will Learn:

• Why grief often disrupts the writing process—and how to work with it, not against it
• How community and mentorship play critical roles in healing and creative growth
• Practical tips for writing your personal story with emotional safety and power

More About Lisa Ellison Cooper:

Connect with Lisa at lisaellison.com.

Lisa is a grief educator, essayist, and speaker whose work has appeared in Hippocampus, Kenyon Review, and The New York Times. She teaches writing classes on grief, healing, and resilience and believes storytelling can bridge the deepest divides.

Join Lisa's upcoming class, Free Your Writing Voice, Fuel Your Motivation, which will begin on September 18, 2025: https://lisacooperellison.com/free-your-writing-voice-find-your-motivation/

Lizbeth’s links

Want to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on Lizbeth's latest podcast episodes, books, and appearances at https://lameredith.com

After retiring from a 27-year teaching career and realizing her pension wasn’t enough, Queen Michelle took a leap of faith. She moved to Mexico, began an inward journey of healing through meditation and creativity, and eventually traced her roots to Guinea-Bissau, West Africa, through a DNA test with African Ancestry.

What began as a personal mission to avoid economic hardship became a transformative spiritual journey. In this conversation, Queen Michelle shares how she connected with her ancestral tribe, the Fulani, and was embraced in her ancestral village on her 60th birthday. The experience led her to found the Fula History and Genealogy Society of America.

Now back in the U.S. temporarily, she’s created a conscious curriculum for Generation Alpha, raised awareness of generational trauma, and is preparing to return to Mexico. Queen Michelle proves that healing and purpose don’t have a deadline — and legacy isn’t something you leave, it’s something you live.

You Will Learn:

• How solo travel became a gateway to Queen Michelle’s emotional and ancestral healing
• The importance of reconnecting with cultural identity and reclaiming intergenerational legacy
• What Generation Alpha needs and why Queen Michelle is on a mission to prepare them with emotional and social tools

Find Queen on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/fulaamerican/

Thank you to PodMatch for another great connection!

Lizbeth’s links

Want to comment on the show? Connect at Lizbeth's author/podcast Facebook page

Wanting great guests for your podcast, or to be a great guest on someone else's show? Join PodMatch here!

Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters can be ordered where books are sold, and is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime.

Lizbeth's second book, Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is available to order wherever books are sold!

Tilka Faces the Odds, One Man at a Time, new release novel https://books2read.com/u/4j760X

Sign up to stay in the know on Lizbeth's latest podcast episodes, books, and appearances at https://lameredith.com