Losing a Child, Saving Others: One Mother’s Story
Over 50 & Flourishing with Dominique Sachse
Dear Media
4.6 • 813 Ratings
🗓️ 4 August 2025
⏱️ 39 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In today’s episode, Dominique sits down with journalist and grief educator Angela Kennecke, who lost her 21-year-old daughter, Emily, to fentanyl poisoning just days before she and her family were set to hold an intervention.
Angela shares the raw, emotional story of Emily’s life, her struggle with substance use, and the painful reality facing today’s youth and their families. What began as a personal tragedy has since become Angela’s mission. Through her nonprofit, Emily’s Hope, she’s helping parents, kids, and communities understand the deadly risks of fentanyl and the power of prevention through education and open conversation.
Whether you're a parent, grandparent, or simply someone who wants to be part of the solution, this episode is a must-listen.
In this episode, Dominique and Angela discuss:
- Emily’s story: who she was, what she loved, and how her struggle began
- What parents must understand about today’s drug landscape
- Why early, honest conversations with kids matter more than ever
- The pain and complexity of grief, and how Angela found healing through writing
- Why addiction is misunderstood, and how we can reduce shame and blame
- What to do if you think your child is struggling, and where to start getting help
- How culture, social media, and stress are contributing to today’s crisis
For more on Angela:
- Listen to her podcast Grieving Out Loud here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grieving-out-loud-a-mother-coping-with-loss-in/id1459587875
- Learn more about her nonprofit, Emily’s Hope: https://emilyshope.charity/
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Keep in Touch:
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- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dominiquesachsetv
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | The following podcast is a Dear Media production. |
| 0:14.4 | Today's conversation is one of incredible courage, resilience, and purpose, born from pain. |
| 0:20.3 | My guest is Angela Kenneeneke, an award-winning |
| 0:22.7 | journalist and the founder of Emily's Hope, a nonprofit committed to breaking the stigma around |
| 0:27.8 | substance use disorder and saving lives through education, awareness, and recovery support. |
| 0:33.6 | You see, Angela's life changed forever when her 21-year-old daughter, Emily, died of fentanyal poisoning just days before the family planned to get her into treatment. |
| 0:42.5 | Rather than retreat in silence, Angela chose to speak out and act. |
| 0:46.7 | Her advocacy has sparked a movement that's making a real difference in how we view, talk about, and respond to addiction. |
| 0:53.8 | We're going to talk about transforming personal loss into meaningful change, |
| 0:58.6 | the realities of the fentanyl crisis, and how her work is empowering youth and families alike. |
| 1:04.7 | This is a very powerful story of grief and grace, and it's one you don't want to miss. |
| 1:14.5 | Hi. of grief and grace, and it's one you don't want to miss. Hi, Angela. Welcome to the podcast today. You know, I just read a very touching intro about |
| 1:21.1 | you to bring you on, and I am sure that everybody listening to the podcast is deeply moved and touched and saddened by what you |
| 1:31.7 | experienced. And I don't know, you know, can you help me in this situation? I mean, I know people |
| 1:37.6 | say, you know, I'm so sorry for your loss or my deepest sympathies, but I mean, is there anything |
| 1:43.5 | that can really be said or has there |
| 1:45.8 | ever been something that was said to you in that moment that really resonated or touched you? |
| 1:50.8 | I feel like sometimes there are just no words, right, to explain this kind of loss. |
| 1:56.6 | Right. I don't think there are words that are adequate enough, right? I always say, I'm |
| 2:03.3 | wordsmith. You know, I write for a living or I've written for a living for like 35 years, |
| 2:07.7 | and I couldn't even put my emotions into words. And I think for people, especially if you've |
| 2:13.3 | never experienced such a horrific loss of a child, right? You don't know what to say to somebody. |
... |
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