In this raw and deeply moving episode of The Phoenix Table, Trygve Olsen opens up about his painful decision to become estranged from his parents after years of alcoholism, denial, and one traumatic event that changed everything.

He shares the story of setting boundaries to protect his son, the heartbreaking realities of gaslighting and family pressure, and the quiet strength it takes to walk away when reconciliation feels impossible. Together, we explore how estrangement reshapes identity, how generational patterns of pain carry forward, and what it means to choose healing—even when it hurts.

But this isn’t just a story of separation. Together, we explore the two sides of estrangement: what it means for the person stepping away and what it means for the people around them.

How do you support a friend or colleague when they’re navigating a rift in their closest relationships? How do you sit with the discomfort, the grief, and the not-knowing without pulling away?

This episode is both a window into one man’s lived experience and a guide for anyone who wants to show up better for the people they love.

Trigger warning: This story depicts themes of alcoholism and estrangement, and includes a retelling of a dog attack on a child which may feel heavy for some listeners. Please take care as you listen and take a step back if you need to. Thank you to our guest for courageously sharing this story.

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This week’s episode of The Phoenix Table is one of my rawest yet. Just two weeks ago, my husband’s depression reached a breaking point, and for the first time I had to face the reality that I couldn’t “fix it.”

What followed was one of the scariest and most transformative experiences of my life — navigating the helplessness of loving someone through a mental health crisis while realizing my own limits. I talk about what it felt like to be powerless, why asking for help is the bravest thing we can do, and how allowing others to show up changed everything for us.

This is not a story wrapped in a bow. It’s an open letter to anyone carrying the weight of someone else’s struggle, or battling silently themselves. You are not alone. And it’s okay to not be okay.

If you or someone you love is in crisis, please know that you can dial 988 for immediate support.

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The Phoenix Table is where raw stories rise from the fire. If today’s episode moved you, consider subscribing and leaving a review — it helps others find this space.

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In this episode of The Phoenix Table, Sam Anderson sits down with Meg Duffy, a Principal Professor at HubSpot Academy, who shares her powerful journey from running the Tokyo Marathon to facing an unexpected cancer diagnosis just two weeks later.

Meg opens up about the shock of hearing the word “cancer,” the guilt and denial that followed, and what it was like to navigate treatment while still showing up in life and at work. She talks about the invisible toll of thyroid cancer, how she found ways to let her community support her, and the hidden gifts that emerged through the process.

This is a story about endurance, resilience, and learning how to keep going — even when life knocks you flat. Whether your own burnout feels like a dramatic collapse or a quiet unraveling, Meg’s honesty will remind you that you are not alone in the messy middle.

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The Phoenix Table is where raw stories rise from the fire. If today’s episode moved you, consider subscribing and leaving a review — it helps others find this space.

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What happens when success on paper doesn’t feel like success in life? In this episode of The Phoenix Table, Sam sits down with Dr. Kristen Kale — entrepreneur, author of Notivation, and unapologetic truth-teller — to unpack her journey from chasing hustle culture to designing a life she actually loves.

Dr. K shares raw stories of early struggles with learning disabilities, building and selling multiple companies, and the breaking point that forced her to stop living for others and start living for herself. From fainting in her closet to reclaiming her health, from being overlooked in male-dominated boardrooms to standing tall in hot pink, Dr. K reveals the unfiltered lessons that helped her shift from exhaustion to empowerment.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a leader, or someone stuck in “shoulds” and “can’ts,” this conversation will challenge you to redefine success on your own terms — and remind you that rising isn’t about doing it all, but about doing what matters most.

🎙️ Subscribe for New episodes every Wednesday.

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The Phoenix Table is where raw stories rise from the fire. If today’s episode moved you, consider subscribing and leaving a review — it helps others find this space.

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🎙️ Subscribe for New episodes every Wednesday.

🔥 Stay Connected:

The Phoenix Table is where raw stories rise from the fire. If today’s episode moved you, consider subscribing and leaving a review — it helps others find this space.

• Subscribe to the newsletter for reflections and behind-the-scenes content.
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• Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanderson41/

In this episode of The Phoenix Table, we dive deep into the quiet pressures we place on ourselves—the "shoulds" that stack up and quietly define our identity. Sam unpacks how the collapse of her first business revealed just how much of her self-worth was built on productivity, achievement, and outdated expectations.

Through personal stories and mindset shifts, she explores what happens when we stop living by the rules we didn’t choose—and start asking what we truly want. From motherhood to leadership to self-worth, this episode is an invitation to trade guilt for growth and rewrite your story from a place of clarity and power.

🎙️ Subscribe for New episodes every Wednesday.

🔥 Stay Connected:

The Phoenix Table is where raw stories rise from the fire. If today’s episode moved you, consider subscribing and leaving a review — it helps others find this space.

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In this deeply personal episode, Sam takes you back to the moment everything she built came crashing down — the collapse of her first business, the grief that followed, and the unexpected clarity it gave her.

This isn't just a story about loss — it's about identity, shame, resilience, and the quiet rebuilding that happens when no one’s watching. She opens up about what it felt like to shut down a company, lay off a team she loved, and question her worth when the titles and success disappeared.

But what she found in the ashes was something she never expected: space to redefine who she is— not as a CEO, a wife, or a mother — but as herself.

If you've ever had your life detour off the path you planned… this episode is for you.

🔸 Why shame can silence our greatest lessons
🔸 What it means to lose your identity — and slowly reclaim it
🔸 How failure made room for a life that fits better

This is a story about the messy middle — and the beauty that can rise from it.

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🔥 Stay Connected:

The Phoenix Table is where raw stories rise from the fire. If today’s episode moved you, consider subscribing and leaving a review — it helps others find this space.

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In this debut episode, host Sam Anderson opens the door to The Phoenix Table — a show born from fire, resilience, and the messy middle of life.

Sam shares what led her to create this space for raw stories and real conversations: From motherhood and mental health to identity, grief, and the quiet, unseen work of rebuilding. She reflects on what it means to rise not after the fire, but in the middle of it.

If you've ever found yourself holding everything together while quietly falling apart… this is your invitation to pull up a chair.

This isn’t about surface-level success stories. It’s about what happens in the in-between and how we rise anyway.

You’ll hear about:
• Why now was the right time to tell these stories
• The themes this podcast will explore
• What you can expect in the weeks to come

Subscribe for new episodes every Wednesday.

🎙️ Subscribe for New episodes every Wednesday.

🔥 Stay Connected:

The Phoenix Table is where raw stories rise from the fire. If today’s episode moved you, consider subscribing and leaving a review — it helps others find this space.

• Subscribe to the newsletter for reflections and behind-the-scenes content.
• Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thephoenixtable/
• Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanderson41/

In this short teaser, host Sam Anderson introduces the heart behind the show: a space for raw stories from the fire—for those rising through the messy middle.

If you’ve ever faced a season of unraveling, of grief, of starting over—this podcast is for you. Sam shares a glimpse into her journey and what to expect in future episodes: honest reflections, powerful guest conversations, and the kind of soul-deep storytelling that reminds you you're not alone.

🎧 Subscribe now and pull up a chair. The fire doesn’t get the final word.

🎙️ Subscribe for New episodes every Wednesday.

🔥 Stay Connected:

The Phoenix Table is where raw stories rise from the fire. If today’s episode moved you, consider subscribing and leaving a review — it helps others find this space.

• Subscribe to the newsletter for reflections and behind-the-scenes content.
• Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thephoenixtable/
• Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanderson41/