Loss of A Child

Where Grief Lives Loudest

There’s a before and after. There’s who I was when Molly was alive, and who I am now. This category holds the moments when that loss breaks through the surface.  The rawness, the disbelief, the ache that never really ends. It’s where I let myself feel it, name it, write about it, because pretending it didn’t happen doesn’t bring her back.
motherland book

Motherland: A Memoir

by Barb Higgins ・ Proceeds go to The Molly B Foundation

10 Years Without Molly (E192)

As we are upon 10 years without Molly, this anniversary hits especially hard. It makes me relive all the days surrounding it, what I was like, what happened, and the connections that I’ve found. In this episode, I go into what has changed over a...

Baylie’s Coma and What Went Wrong with Shawnee (E191)

Baylie’s story is one of a night with friends gone wrong and how a series of choices lead to her death. From the police, to the hospital, to the investigation, to fighting to pull her off life support because she didn’t want that was a...

The Forgotten Ones: Sibling Grief (E189)

As I got into an argument with Gracie, it made me dive deeper into a topic that’s not talked about enough: sibling grief. People often focus more on the parent’s and not the child that has just lost the person they spent their formative years...

Our Dad Was 82 When I Was Born With Eleanor (E188)

This week, I sat down with my sister Eleanor who had a very different upbringing than me considering our father was 82 when she was born. She talks about the judgements people have, having to work hard to forge connections in the family, and how she...

Finding Balance with Michelle (E186)

Michelle and I sat down to have a conversation on her work with the nervous system, biofeedback, neurofeedback, traumatic responses, and addressing the root of a problem. She takes on work that’s not traditional in a therapist’s office, but is so...

I Miss Molly (E187)

In this episode, I just ask for you to sit with me in grief of losing my child. My thoughts on the birth of all my children, what I love, what I miss, and why dates are so important to people who are grieving. I contemplate Jack’s personality and...

Finding a New Life with Emily (E184)

I got to talk with Emily, a former runner of mine who was a highliner, dealt with Lyme Disease, chatted about how the cycle of trauma can continue, and the life that she’s living now. A nomadic one with more freedom to run her own business and take...

The Season of Guests (E183)

In this episode, I talk about my season of guests, how the podcast has changed, and debating what will happen in the future with the podcast. I have some amazing guests lined up who are all in some way connected to me.  Key Takeaways:  ...

Dead Molly Money (E182)

Filing a lawsuit came with its trials and tribulations, but it also came with a check: dead Molly money. It has taken me so much time to process Molly’s death and put together a foundation. I have finally decided it’s time to really make the...

Episode 171: Lies About Fitness

The fitness and health industry thrives on lies upon lies. From saying that you’ll lose 30 pounds in 30 days to saying that weightlifting is dangerous as a woman. So many of these ideas shaped the younger me and I want women to know the truth about...

Episode 167: Lies I Tell Myself

I’m having a not great week and it got me into the lies I constantly tell myself to feel better. The lies around grief, around my life changing, around my business working, around Kenny, and how I have a functioning life. In this episode, I also...

Episode 163: Lying Versus Secret Keeping

Is it true or is it just your perspective? People are told lives throughout their childhood and often go on to tell the same lies to their children. It’s a vicious cycle, but everyone sees truth in a different manner based on their life...

Episode 162: Lies We Were Told As Children

This is a new season all about lies: lies we were told, lies we tell, the morality of it all, and how perception can make a large difference between a lie and the truth. In this episode, I dive into the often silly lies that people were told as...

Episode 160: Having a Spiritual Awakening

In step twelve, it’s time to pass on my teachings to others to help them in recovery. It is about living AA as a lifestyle, going through the steps again and again, while sharing wisdom and expecting nothing in return. In this episode, I dive into...

Episode 159: Praying is Not About Fixing Things

Step eleven of AA is not about praying for anything to be fixed, it’s about praying for self knowledge and the qualities we need to execute that knowledge. It’s about perhaps changing the way we pray, how we view God’s will, and just taking the...

Episode 156: List of People I’ve Hurt

Step eight of AA is all about making a list of people I’ve hurt and finding ways to make amends with them. The difficulty is that making amends with people looks different for every person I hurt. This is a process that can take months or years and...

Episode 157: Making Amends

Step nine is all about the act of making amends and a list to go alongside it. It’s made me consider what truth really means, how context plays a part, and how communication can be ruptured if not done correctly.    Key Takeaways: ...

Episode 155: Being Open and Putting Ego Aside

Step seven has taught me a lot about putting my ego aside, living in gratitude, and focusing on the good in life instead of all the bad. It has shown me that even if you don’t drink alcohol anymore, you still have to change your mindset, otherwise...

Episode 154: Living in Gratitude, Not Obligation

As I take a breather in between steps I realize that I don’t have to worry so much when things don’t go to plan. That I can view my life in gratitude and not an obligation that drags me down. In this episode, I go through everything I’ve learned...

Episode 152: Step Five Feels like Confession

This week I face my past actions, the friends that have stood by me, and the differences in religion. I look at retributive vs restorative justice and which one can help people that are struggling, as well as how my religion doesn’t support...