The Survivors Podcast
Surviving Life, Death and Everything In Between
Survival isn’t just about staying alive—it’s about finding the strength to rebuild, reclaim, and rise.
That’s the foundation of The Survivors Podcast, where three-time suicide loss survivor, author, crisis counselor, and mental health advocate Lisa Sugarman joins Natasha J. Layton—a multiple suicide attempt and loss survivor, advocate, sexual abuse survivor, and former member of the FLDS polygamy cult—to change the way we talk about suicide, survival, and mental health.
Through raw, unfiltered conversations, Lisa and Natasha explore the realities of surviving trauma, grief, abuse, mental illness, and everything in between—with honesty, hope, and humanity. Their unique perspectives—one shaped by profound loss, the other by unimaginable adversity—create a space where the hardest stories are told with compassion, courage, and vulnerability.
By opening up the conversations we’ve been taught to bury, The Survivors invites listeners into a safe, stigma-free community to reflect, connect, and heal. Together, Lisa and Natasha push past stigma, challenge everything we think we know about survival, and reveal that life after darkness can be filled with meaning, connection, and hope.
Subscribe now and join the conversation about surviving life, death, and everything in between.
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- bonus episodes
- season 2
- season 1
Surviving Estrangement: Choosing Yourself Over a Toxic Family
*WARNING: This podcast mentions suicide, sexual abuse & trauma and may be triggering. Episode Summary Family estrangement is one of the most painful forms of grief because it asks us to mourn people who are still alive. In this deeply personal episode of The Survivors, Lisa and Natasha explore the c...
Hot Flashes & Hormones: Real Talk on Surviving Perimenopause & Menopause
Episode Summary This episode of The Survivors dives into surviving perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause through candid personal stories. Lisa and Natasha cover commonly missed symptoms—sleep disruption, brain fog, mood changes, joint pain, urinary changes, and surprising signs like itchy ears...
Invisible Grief: When the World Keeps Spinning After Loss
*WARNING: This podcast mentions suicide, sexual abuse & trauma and may be triggering. Episode Summary In this episode of The Survivors, we explore what it feels like to carry the invisible weight of loss while the rest of the world keeps moving around you. Whether you're grieving the death of a love...
A Reflection on Pride Month: Coming Out, Living Authentically & Finding Your People
*WARNING: This podcast mentions suicide, sexual abuse & trauma and may be triggering. Episode Summary In this conversation, Lisa and Natasha explore the themes of Pride Month, identity, and authenticity. They talk candidly about the significance of coming out, the essence of pride, and the evolution...
A Mother’s Loss Part 2 — Finding Purpose After the Unthinkable with Alli Skrbek
*WARNING: This podcast mentions suicide, the loss of a child & substance abuse and may be triggering. Episode Summary In Part 2 of our powerful conversation with suicide loss survivor and mental health advocate Alli Skrbek, we continue exploring what it means to live, parent, grieve, and heal after ...
A Mother's Story Part 1: Alli Skrbek Talks About Her Son's Suicide
*WARNING: This podcast mentions suicide, sexual abuse & trauma and may be triggering. Episode Summary In part one of our two-part conversation with mental health advocate, influencer, and mom Alli Skrbek, Alli shares her heartbreaking journey of losing her oldest son Alex to suicide, exploring his l...
When the Old You Dies: Navigating Identity After Loss
*WARNING: This podcast mentions suicide, sexual abuse & trauma and may be triggering. Episode Summary This episode of The Survivors explores how major losses and life changes — from suicide and family death to coming out and leaving a polygamous cult — reshape who we are. Hosts share personal storie...
When 'I'm Fine' is a Lie: The Burden of Polite Answers
*WARNING: This podcast mentions suicide, sexual abuse & trauma and may be triggering Episode Summary In this episode, Lisa & Natasha explore the dangers of the automatic response "I'm fine," and how trauma reshapes honesty in everyday conversations, and practical ways to ask and answer "How are you?...
Season 4 Recap: Real Stories, Raw Survival
*WARNING: This podcast mentions suicide, sexual abuse & trauma and may be triggering. Episode Summary In the Season 4 Recap, Lisa & Natasha blast through the season’s standout moments — from compound grief to breaking mental health taboos, body-centered trauma, women and suicide, and powerful guest ...
Mental Health Awareness Month: When Awareness Isn't Enough
*WARNING: This podcast mentions suicide, sexual abuse & trauma and may be triggering. Episode Summary In this heartfelt episode, Lisa and Natasha explore the realities of mental health, the stigma around seeking help, and practical ways to support those in crisis. They share personal stories, debunk...