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.
- All
- season 1
- season 2
- bonus episodes
The Conversation After “I’m Fine” — How to Help Someone in Crisis
*WARNING: This podcast mentions suicide & trauma and may be triggering. Episode Summary In the final regular episode of Season Five of The Survivors, we’re talking about what happens after someone says, “I’m fine.” Because when you have a feeling they’re not fine, the most important part of the conv...
Silent Killer: A Christmas Tragedy and One Man’s Fight to Save Others
*WARNING: This podcast mentions grief, loss & trauma and may be triggering. Episode Summary In this episode, guest Wes Bruns recounts the 1992 carbon monoxide poisoning that killed 4 of his family members and left him critically ill. He shares waking from a 5-day coma, coping with survivor guilt, re...
She Got Out. Then Her Story Went Viral: Beany Trapani on Breaking Free From Abuse
*WARNING: This podcast mentions suicide, sexual abuse, domestic violence & trauma and may be triggering. Episode Summary After 10 years in an abusive relationship, Beany Trapani found the strength to get out, start over, and rebuild a life that felt like her own again. But what happened next was som...
Groomed and Gaslit: One Woman's Decade of Survival
*WARNING: This podcast mentions suicide, sexual abuse, domestic abuse & trauma and may be triggering. Episode Summary What happens when you finally escape an abusive relationship—only to find yourself facing cancer in the middle of rebuilding your life? In this episode of The Survivors, we sit down ...
Inside Inpatient: One Woman’s Journey from Crisis to Hope
*WARNING: This podcast mentions suicide & trauma and may be triggering. Episode Summary In this episode of The Survivors, Lisa & Natasha sit down with influencer and mental health advocate Jessica Shaker about her mental health journey, including her experiences with anxiety, depression, and inpatie...
From Darkness to Advocacy: A Wife’s Journey After Suicide Loss
*WARNING: This podcast mentions suicide and may be triggering. Episode Summary After losing her husband Sean to suicide, Reshma Kearney found herself navigating unimaginable grief while helping her children make sense of a loss that changed everything. In this episode of The Survivors, Reshma shares...
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...