The Inheritance of Hope Podcast invites you into deeply personal conversations with those navigating the unthinkable: young families facing the loss of a parent to terminal illness. Each episode explores what it means to leave a legacy - not just in death, but in how we choose to live.
Whether you're living with a diagnosis, supporting someone who is, or simply searching for meaning and hope in hard places, this podcast shows that joy is possible, even in terminal illness!
Find joy in terminal illness at https://InheritanceOfHope.org/
Give joy in terminal illness at https://www2.inheritanceofhope.org/Give
Most of us will attend a funeral in our lifetime. And yet, so many of us shy away from talking about how we'd want to be celebrated when that day comes. But those conversations are what help a funeral tell the true story of someone you love.
Erica Hill owns Sparrow, a funeral home built around one idea: honoring someone's life should feel as personal as celebrating it.
Here's What You'll Learn in This Episode:
- The real reason so many funerals don't feel like the person who died: it's rarely anyone's fault
- What it actually looks like to personalize a funeral: a room turned into an art gallery, a favorite tracksuit, a son in a matching suit as his buried father
- A simple, low-pressure way to bring up funeral wishes with your family, without it feeling heavy
- The real cost of avoiding this conversation, and how it changes what your family has to carry later
If you've never talked with your family about what you'd want, or you're not sure how to bring it up, this conversation is for you.
00:00 — A Family's Final Trip: Honoring a Mother's Wish
01:04 — Meet Erica Hill, Owner of Sparrow Funeral Home
02:00 — Inside Sparrow: A Light-Filled, Gallery-Like Funeral Home in Brooklyn
03:25 — Casket, Urn, or Something Else? Funeral Planning Basics
06:18 — What to Wear to Your Own Funeral
08:25 — How to Start Talking About Death With Your Family
10:22 — Free Resources for End-of-Life Planning
12:40 — Why You Should Plan Your Funeral Now
For more information about Sparrow, click here (https://sparrowny.com/)
Learn about the Death Deck in a recent episode: How Do I Start a Conversation About End of Life Care? (with Lisa Pahl) (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-do-i-start-a-conversation-about-end-of-life-care/id1820213811?i=1000763974067)
Learn more about Give Willow's Funeral Registry in this episode (https://inheritanceofhope.org/podcast-resources-we-trust-funeral-registry-support-through-givewillow/)
29 Sept 2026
What does my teenager need from me right now?
Your teenager isn't handling this well, and you don't know what to do about it. You're not alone, and neither are they.
Ellie Visitew was twelve when her dad was diagnosed with stage 3B testicular cancer. Her family was served by Inheritance of Hope in 2019 following his diagnosis. In this episode, she looks back on the years that followed: the anger, the slammed doors, the distance she couldn't explain even to herself. Now years out from it, she shares what actually helped and what she wishes her parents had done differently.
Here's What You'll Learn in This Episode:
- Why teens act out when a parent is sick, and why it's not really about you
- How to offer support without forcing it, and why "here if you need it" works better than an intervention
- A simple gut check for whether your teen needs an outlet, not another conversation
- Why what your child says in anger isn't what they mean
- How to trust that your relationship with your child will be okay, even when it feels furthest from it right now
If you have a teenager who feels like a stranger right now, this conversation is for you.
Chapters
00:00 — Meet Ellie: Her Dad's Cancer Diagnosis at Age 12
01:00 — How I Acted Out When My Dad Got Sick
06:13 — Why Trauma Changes Family Dynamics
10:04 — What Parents Should Know: Advice for Supporting a Struggling Teen
16:01 — Giving Your Teen a Healthy Outlet
20:05 — Trusting Your Child Will Be Okay
If you are interested in the book that was shared in the episode, "What Happened to You" by Oprah Winfrey, click here (https://www2.inheritanceofhope.org/WhatHappenedToYou).
22 Sept 2026
How do I help my kids feel safe when their world is changing?
Kids notice more than we think. Long before they have the words for it, they can sense when something in their world has shifted. So how can we, as parents and caregivers, help our kids feel safe and secure during this time?
Today's guest is Erin VanDorsten, a Child Life Specialist experienced in helping families navigate change. She shares practical tips and helps us understand how kids process what's happening around them.
Here's What You'll Learn in This Episode:
- Why an absence of play can be a sign your child is struggling
- What actually scares kids most, and how it differs from adult fears
- Signs to watch for: regression, sleep changes, disruptions in eating
- Why emotional safety is an ongoing process, not a one-time talk
- Simple ways to help kids feel grounded: routines, small choices, and community support
If you're watching a child navigate a season of change and wondering how to help them feel safe again, this conversation offers real, practical steps forward.
Find more helpful resources on our Other Helpful Organizations page (https://inheritanceofhope.org/other-helpful-organizations/).
Timestamps
00:00 — Signs Your Child Might Be Struggling With Grief
01:52 — What Scares Kids Most During a Parent's Illness
04:12 — Do Kids Know Something's Wrong Even When We Don't Tell Them?
05:24 — Regression, Sleep Changes, and Other Signs of Stress in Kids
06:39 — What Emotional Safety Looks Like for Kids
08:44 — How to Help Kids Feel Grounded During Uncertainty
10:34 — How Friends and Family Can Support a Grieving Child
13:23 — The One Thing Kids Need Most During Hard Seasons
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
15 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
12 ratings
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