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HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons hosts the most downloaded sports podcast of all time, with a rotating crew of celebrities, athletes, and media staples, as well as mainstays like Cousin Sal, Joe House, and a slew of other friends and family members who always happen to be suspiciously available.
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Gentle note: we talk honestly about grief and child loss—please listen with care and kindness for yourself.
What does healing look like when the unthinkable happens? In this episode, I’m sitting with Melissa Hull—author, speaker, coach, fierce advocate, and Drew’s mom. After losing her son in a tragic drowning, Melissa has worked to choose a different ending for herself: love in motion, faith as a daily practice, grief as a path that can still lead to purpose.
In this conversation, we get real about:
- why presence over platitude matters when you don’t know what to say
- practical water safety Melissa teaches in classrooms (and why it saves lives)
- the letter that became her lighthouse—and how choice + agency help us heal
- self-forgiveness as parents, especially around the holidays
- tangible ways to support grieving friends (and how to ask for what you need)
If you’re in a tender season, consider this a steady hand to hold.
Resources & Links for Connecting with Melissa
Guest: melissahull.com
Book: Dear Drew: Creating a Life Bigger Than Grief
Earlier memoir: Lessons from Neverland
Thank you for listening to Hope Comes to Visit. If this conversation helps, follow the show, share it with someone who needs hope today, and leave a review - it helps others find their way to these conversations.
New episodes drop every Monday, so you can begin your week with a little light and a lot of hope.
For more stories, reflections, and ways to connect, visit www.DanielleElliottSmith.com or follow along on Instagram @daniellesmithtv and @HopeComestoVisit
Chapters
1. Opening Thoughts On Choice In Grief (00:00:00)
2. Welcome And Trigger Warning (00:00:26)
3. Introducing Melissa Hall (00:00:51)
4. Drew’s Spirit And Early Years (00:02:35)
5. The Morning Of The Accident (00:03:51)
6. Search, Canal, And Heartbreaking News (00:06:55)
7. Deciding To Share The Story (00:09:11)
8. Water Safety And Canal Awareness (00:11:21)
9. Service As A Path Through Grief (00:14:04)
10. A Letter That Pointed To Choice (00:16:39)
11. Forgiveness, Self-Trust, And The Dance Of Grief (00:19:16)
12. From Stage To Framework: Dear Drew (00:22:35)
13. Practices For A Life Bigger Than Grief (00:25:00)
14. Holidays: Traditions, Triggers, And Grace (00:27:41)
15. Presence Over Platitudes (00:31:20)
16. Communicating Needs And Boundaries (00:34:12)
17. Defining Hope And Daily Practice (00:37:04)
18. One Step To Begin Again (00:40:02)
19. Where To Find Melissa And Closing (00:42:03)
41 episodes
