{"podcast":{"title":"RESILIENT A.F. with Blair and Alana","slug":"resilient-a-f-with-blair-and-alana-7122229","podcast_index_feed_id":7122229,"rss_url":"https://feeds.captivate.fm/resilient-af-with-blair-and-alana/","website_url":"https://resilient-af-with-blair-and-alana.captivate.fm","image_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/b00b4b6b-81ca-4320-8066-d82014988312/T18fD7gNQkw7yaNaLfG_GMn-.png","author":"Blair Kaplan Venables","episode_count":90,"summary":"Welcome to RESILIENT A.F. with Blair and Alana—a podcast that celebrates the incredible strength of the human spirit and the ability to bounce forward. This is the show where we dive headfirst into the raw, real, and unfiltered stories of people who have faced life’s toughest challenges—and come out the other side stronger. In every episode, we explore the complex journey of resilience: the heartbreaks, the breakthroughs, and the triumphs. Whether it’s navigating personal loss, overcoming mental health battles, or finding hope amidst chaos, RESILIENT A.F. is a safe space to connect with others who have been there. Blair and Alana bring a unique mix of candid storytelling, heartfelt empathy, and expert insights, shining a light on the untold stories of grit and growth. With inspiring guest interviews and conversations with mental health professionals, each episode is designed to empower you to bounce forward, no matter what life throws your way. Why listen? 1. Relatable Stories: Hear real people share their journeys of resilience in their own words. 2. Expert Advice: Gain tools, tips, and insights from mental health experts to support your own healing and growth. 3. Empowerment: Le…","last_synced_at":"2026-07-28T22:21:26.512356+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/resilient-a-f-with-blair-and-alana-7122229"},"episode":{"title":"Losing Both Parents Young, Breathwork, and Finding Purpose After Grief with Leslie Hacker | 070","slug":"losing-both-parents-young-breathwork-and-finding-purpose-after-grief-with-leslie-hacker-070","published_at":"2026-03-10T11:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/resilient-a-f-with-blair-and-alana-7122229/losing-both-parents-young-breathwork-and-finding-purpose-after-grief-with-leslie-hacker-070","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/resilient-a-f-with-blair-and-alana-7122229","url":"https://blairkaplan.ca/losing-both-parents-young-breathwork-and-finding-purpose-after-grief-with-leslie-hacker","audio_url":"https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/f9dfe451-23b4-41db-907f-00facd276bde.mp3","summary":"What happens when you lose both parents to cancer in your 20s while trying to build a business, stay functional, and survive emotionally? In this deeply moving episode of RESILIENT A.F. , Blair Kaplan Venables sits down with Leslie Hacker to talk about early loss, end-of-life caregiving, alternative healing, and what it really means to take care of yourself when everything around you is falling apart. Leslie shares her story of losing both of her parents to cancer, beginning at age 25, while simultaneously growing her marketing and communications business. She opens up about the emotional toll of caregiving, the impossible choices that come with terminal illness, and how grief reshaped her identity, priorities, and sense of purpose. This conversation explores grief without platitudes, healing without judgment, and resilience without pretending things are fine. Leslie reflects on losing her father after a six-month battle with cancer, followed by her mother’s diagnosis of glioblastoma. While her mother was initially given a short prognosis, surgery extended her life by five years. Leslie describes the emotional complexity of living in constant anticipatory grief and how it affected her relationships, work, and sense of self. While caring for two terminally ill parents, Leslie was also building her business. She speaks candidly about the pressure to “keep going,” the guilt that comes with choosing work or rest, and the reality that grief doesn’t pause just because you’re self-employed. This part of the conversation resonates deeply with anyone who has tried to function professionally while navigating personal devastation. After her mother’s death in 2020, Leslie made a powerful decision to use her PR skills to advocate for cancer research. She organized a fundraiser to r…","meta_description":"What happens when you lose both parents to cancer in your 20s while trying to build a business, stay functional, and survive emotionally? In this deeply m…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1840,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/resilient-a-f-with-blair-and-alana-7122229/episodes/losing-both-parents-young-breathwork-and-finding-purpose-after-grief-with-leslie-hacker-070/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/resilient-a-f-with-blair-and-alana-7122229/losing-both-parents-young-breathwork-and-finding-purpose-after-grief-with-leslie-hacker-070.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}