Normalizing Sibling Loss: Surviving siblings share their sibling loss story with surviving sibling, psychologist Dr. Angela Dean

When I unexpectedly lost my brother just before the pandemic, it shook my world. As a psychologist working with patients with much grief and loss, and having experienced much death- and non-death loss throughout my life, I thought I had a strong understanding of grief, grief support, and available resources. But on a personal level, I quickly realized how limited the resources were for those coping with sibling loss. Few people in my life understood. I felt alone. It felt like a unique kind of pain, often overlooked or misunderstood, leaving me with a sense of isolation on top of my grief.

This experience propelled me to create The Broken Pack™, an organization dedicated to supporting adult survivors of sibling loss. We recognize that sibling loss is a disenfranchised grief – others might not fully grasp the depth of its impact. The Broken Pack™ provides resources like our podcast, a newsletter, and an online community where surviving siblings can find validation and support.

Our podcast, The Broken Pack™: Stories of Adult Sibling Loss delves into the nuances of sibling loss. We discuss the disruption to our sense of identity, shifting family dynamics, and the challenge of finding our place without our sibling beside us. We explore coping mechanisms, honor the power of shared memories, and provide resources for grieving throughout the lifespan.

Together, we're breaking the silence around sibling loss, offering validation, and sharing practical strategies for navigating this complex grief. We also emphasize the importance of continuing bonds – the idea that our connection with our sibling doesn't end with death, but evolves in meaningful ways.

Our listeners are primarily adults who have lost a sibling, but also those supporting or interested in learning how to support grieving siblings. Listeners find understanding, reassurance that their complex grief responses are normal, that there is no one way to grieve, validation, and tools to learn to live life following sibling loss.
 

My podcast journey began unexpectedly. After losing my brother, I was immersed in my own grief but also acutely aware of the lack of understanding around sibling loss. As a psychologist and thanatologist, I wanted to learn more, so I began conducting interviews with other surviving siblings. I envisioned these as qualitative research to help me build The Broken Pack™ organization and to develop other resources.

While I do listen to podcasts, my primary motivation wasn't about the format itself. I wanted to collect in-depth stories and insights. However, I quickly realized something powerful was happening during the interviews. People felt heard, validated, and less alone simply by sharing their experiences. There was a profound need for connection and community within this unique type of grief and loss.

That's when the podcast shifted from pure research to something more. I decided to share the interviews, minimally edited, to allow others to benefit from the shared stories. The podcast process began in July of 2022, and it took me about 6 months to recruit, to prepare, and to record the first batch of interviews, and release the first episode which happened in early January 2023.

The overwhelming response to the podcast and our growing Instagram community confirmed what I'd observed: sibling loss survivors crave a space to tell their stories and find a sense of belonging. The Broken Pack™ podcast continues to be a platform for those voices, fostering understanding and healing.
 

The Broken Pack podcast is truly a passion project. I release episodes in seasons, with weekly episodes during those active seasons. Each episode takes significant time investment: scheduling interviews, recording, editing for clarity, and creating the show notes. 27 Elephants Media handles the production and primary editing, with me making final touches – a process that can take upwards of 13-14 hours per episode. I also create a dedicated website page for each episode, providing additional resources and information for listeners. To see an example, there are links to all of the episode pages from this page: https://thebrokenpack.com/podcast/

Balancing this with my day job as a psychologist running my own group private practice requires careful time management and lots of late nights and weekends! I'm committed to this project and prioritize it, even when it means sacrificing some personal time.

The podcast is mostly self-funded. We also accept support from listeners and our partnership with sales from our sibling loss collection at Not Done Here™. We've also earned minimal ad revenue and are actively exploring sponsors, grants, and awards to offset ongoing expenses and allow me to dedicate even more resources to this important work.
 

Podcasting has been an incredibly rewarding journey. My primary motivation for The Broken Pack™ including the podcast is to give a voice to surviving siblings, normalize sibling loss grief, and provide a sense of community – the things I craved after my own loss. The podcast has allowed me to give back, turning my own pain into a source of support for others.

While monetization isn't the focus, we're open to sponsorships that align with our mission. Our initial sponsorship was through Buzzsprout after reaching their listener threshold. We're also exploring other opportunities that would offset expenses and allow further growth.

The podcast and my work through The Broken Pack™ has benefited my career tremendously. It's positioned me as an expert on sibling loss, opening up speaking engagements and professional collaborations. More importantly, it's created genuine connections with guests, listeners, and even within my own family. Through these conversations, I've learned so much about grief and resilience, deepening my understanding as a psychologist and thanatologist.
 

Technical Process: My podcasting process prioritizes quality but remains practical, given my busy schedule. I send invitations to guests who book a time on Calendly. Then I use Riverside.FM to conduct all remote interviews, ensuring the best possible audio. From there, my incredibly talented producer and editor at 27 Elephants Media works his editing magic. He uses a host of tools to polish the sound and craft a compelling finished product before submitting it to me in Descript where I make the final edits. The finished file is then submitted to Buzzsprout and released across all podcast platforms so you can listen ASAP!

Guest Sourcing & Preparation: Finding guests is a mix of tapping into The Broken Pack™ 's community, following referrals from previous guests and friends, sorting through those who complete forms on our website (https://thebrokenpack.com/share-your-story/) and proactively reaching out to people whose work resonates with our focus on sibling loss. Before each interview, I thoroughly review information my guests provide and prepare questions designed to create a safe and welcoming space for them to share their experiences of loss but also of life, love, and living with their siblings through their narratives.
 

Currently, my primary marketing channels are Instagram, our website, and our Wild Grief™ newsletter. Guests often promote their episodes within their own networks, further expanding our reach. I'm actively exploring additional strategies like Google Ads and Facebook Ads and am always open to new suggestions.

Here's a breakdown of our listeners' top five apps and devices:
Apps:
Apple Podcasts (36%)
Spotify (22%)
Web Browser (8%)
Unknown (7%)
Unknown Apple Apps (5%)
Devices:
Apple iPhone (68%)
Unknown Device (10%)
Android Phone (10%)
Windows Computer (5%)
Apple Computer (3%)
 

Podcasting is incredibly fulfilling but demands both time and passion. Just like anything else in life, it helps for what you are doing to align with your values and something for which you are passionate about. You will be spending a lot of time with it. That passion will outweigh any early technical hurdles, long hours, and the time you had to redo an entire two episodes because of technical issues. (Yes, that was rough!). Build a support network of podcasters and people who are technically savvy. Know that it takes time to find your audience, so prioritize consistent, quality content over getting numbers of downloads or likes. Don't be afraid to experiment based on feedback. Remember, having a talented producer and editor is a huge asset. Check out the plethora of other podcasts on podcasting but also ones on topics that interest you. Ask yourself what you like and what you don't. Most importantly, believe in your voice and what you have to say – that's what will make your podcast truly shine!
 

I'd love for you to connect with The Broken Pack™ and learn more about how we support and educate those impacted by sibling loss! Here's how to find us and get to know me better:

* The Broken Pack™: Stories of Adult Sibling Loss podcast: Join me, Dr. Angela Dean – surviving sibling, psychologist, and thanatologist – as we explore the profound impact of sibling loss. Listen for moving stories, insights from experts, and resources to support your own grief journey. You'll find us on your favorite podcast platforms or directly on our website: https://thebrokenpack.com/podcast/

* Our Website: Visit https://thebrokenpack.com/ to explore our resources, learn about sibling loss grief, find upcoming events, and discover ways to get involved with The Broken Pack™ organization.

* More About Me:

* My Story: Learn about my personal journey with sibling loss in this podcast episode: https://thebrokenpack.com/season-1-episode-11/

* Professional Background: Explore my work as a psychologist and thanatologist at https://deanpwa.com/ and https://thebrokenpack.com/about-dr-dean/

* Social Media: Connect and find community on our active social channels:
* Instagram: @thebrokenpack
* Facebook: @brokenpack
* TikTok: @the_broken_pack
* YouTube: @thebrokenpack
* Newsletter: Subscribe to Wild Grief™ for exclusive content and insights into sibling loss grief: https://thebrokenpack.com/newsletter
Want to Share Your Story?

If you are an adult sibling loss survivor and would like to be featured on the podcast or in other resources, please complete the form at https://thebrokenpack.com/share-your-story/

Support Our Work

* Spread the Word: Your shares and recommendations on social media mean the world. Help us reach more grieving siblings!
* Donate: Even a small donation makes a difference. Your support allows us to continue providing resources and creating a compassionate community for survivors. https://tinyurl.com/4w874ak7
Thank you. Together, we can normalize sibling loss and support grievers.