A week before their wedding, Kate Truitt's fiancee died unexpectedly. In deep grief and trauma she saw no way forward and, even as an informed investigator of the way trauma affects us, she could only live the reality. It was a very long time before she could see the potential for growth and flourishing. In telling her story she invites us along on her path of discovery; her road back to herself. We also share her evolution into the person we see now; someone who supports others going through the same thing she did.

Bio: Dr. Kate Truitt Kate is an esteemed clinical psychologist and neuroscientist who is internationally acclaimed for her trauma, stress, and resilience expertise. As the founder of the Truitt Institute, she integrates cutting-edge neuroscience into mental health training and seminars. She also leads Dr. Kate Truitt & Associates and serves as CEO of both the Amy Research Foundation and the Trauma Counseling Center of Los Angeles. Her voice in the mental health arena extends to her role as a sought-after speaker and expert in media, including features on BBC and Today. Dr. Truitt has delivered keynotes and training at prestigious platforms like the United Nations and the United States Department of Defense. As the author of "Healing in Your Hands" and "Keep Breathing," she is dedicated to advancing the treatment of trauma and stress disorders, making significant strides in destigmatizing mental health and fostering resilience worldwide.

On a day like any other, Jonathan Santlofer was suddenly dropped into the chaos of intense grief when his wife of 40 years suddenly died. His losses before this did not prepare him for his upended life. It did not prepare him for the insensitive and alienating things people said to him when he was too vulnerable to respond. It did not prepare him for the internal conflict of whether and how much to share about his intense mourning. He also had the sense that his inability to share his feelings and ask for help were deeply affected by the expectations he felt because he is a man. How did gender affect people's expectations of what would happen next? How much of that was a conflict within his own heart? He found an anchor in writing down what he was experiencing. In his notebooks he was able to say it all, and to hear himself. And ultimately, the lifeline he found in writing became a beautiful book, A Widower's Notebook.

Jonathan Santlofer is the author of the memoir, THE WIDOWER’S NOTEBOOK, released this month by Penguin books. AS well as being an author, Jonathan is also an artist. He has published 5 novels, including the best selling “The Death Art,” and the award-winning “Anatomy of Fear,” and numerous short stories. He has been both editor and contributor for 6 notable anthologies, among them the New York Times bestseller, “Inherit the Dead,” and recently, Touchstone/Simon & Schuster “IT OCCURS TO ME THAT I AM AMERICA,” a collection of original stories and art. He has taught art and writing at Columbia University, Pratt Institute, and the Center For Fiction, where he created Crime Fiction Academy. His artwork is in major public and private collections in the US and abroad. Jonathan has been the recipient of numerous grants and awards, among them two National Endowment for the Arts grants, Visiting Artist at the American Academy in Rome, and he serves on the board of Yaddo, one of the oldest arts organizations in the US.

Adoption is a loss that often lives in the shadows, both in the world and inside of adoptees. Losing everything you've ever known before there are even words to name it, when you are an absorbent, unformed human being can take a lifetime to understand. But it is only by recognizing the loss that adoptees can claim their birthright; a life of beauty and meaning. Michelle Madrid knows this territory from both directions. She is an adoptee and an adoptive mother. She dedicates herself to helping other adoptees claim all the parts of themselves, including the ones they were before they lost their first family. Join us as we talk about all sides of the an adoption and how we can all support adopted people to claim every part of themselves.