What does it take to grow as a podcaster in the delicate space of grief and rare disease?
In this reflective episode, Heather shares her journey from season 1 — the unexpected lessons, emotional breakthroughs, and how the powerful stories from guests have shaped her both behind the mic and beyond. Join her as she dives into the transformative impact of these raw conversations and what’s in store for season 2.
Find Heather and Jake’s Help from Heaven:
❤️ Heather’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathersstraughter/
❤️ Jake’s Help from Heaven: https://jakeshelpfromheaven.org/
❤️ Jake’s Help from Heaven IG: https://www.instagram.com/jakeshelp/
❤️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jakeshelpfromheaven
❤️ Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@APlaceofYesPodcast
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRadio
Watch on YouTube
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRadio
FIND HEATHER & JAKE’S HELP FROM HEAVEN ⬇️
❤️ Heather’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathersstraughter/
❤️ Jake’s Help from Heaven: https://jakeshelpfromheaven.org/
❤️ Jake’s Help from Heaven IG: https://www.instagram.com/jakeshelp/
❤️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jakeshelpfromheaven
❤️ Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@APlaceofYesPodcast
Connect with us on social media:
• Heather’s Instagram
• Jake’s Help from Heaven
• Jake’s Help from Heaven IG
• Facebook
• Our YouTube Channel
Keep scrolling for the episode transcript.
Checkout our other episodes
I Couldn’t Save Her: Losing My Daughter Changed Everything
After Kelsey died, I blamed myself. I replayed every decision, every appointment, every moment. I thought I was prepared to fight for her—I wasn’t prepared to lose her. Grief didn’t just touch my life, it unraveled it. And for a long time, I didn’t know how I’d ever come back from that. This is the part of motherhood no one talks about.
What No One Tells You About Parenting a Child with Rare Disease – Emergency Surgeries & Advocacy
When Jude needed emergency surgery, there wasn’t time to process—just to act. That’s the reality of parenting a medically complex child. It’s not just the big surgeries or diagnoses—it’s the constant decisions, the fear of missing something, the exhaustion of always being on alert. But somehow, through it all, there’s still joy. There’s still love. And there’s a strength I never knew I had until I became Jude’s mom.
Losing My Sister at 15 – One Year Later
When my sister died, I felt like the world kept moving—and I didn’t. I was only 15, and suddenly everything changed. No one talks about how isolating it is to lose a sibling, especially that young. People asked how my parents were doing, but no one ever really asked me. I had to figure out how to grow up with a kind of grief that didn’t have a place. This is what it’s really like to lose your sister when you’re still just a kid.
