Episode 14: Sybil Sokoup – The Healing Power of Pets

They greet us with wagging tails, unconditional love, and somehow always seem to know exactly when we need them most.

In Episode 14 of Rod & Chris: Unqualified and Unsupervised, we're joined by Sybil Sokoup, Executive Director of the Humane Society of North Iowa, for a heartfelt conversation about the unique bond between people and their pets.

Together, we explore how pets can help us navigate grief, why losing a beloved animal can be just as heartbreaking as any other loss, and even how animals themselves experience grief. It's a thoughtful, touching conversation filled with stories, laughter, and a reminder that healing sometimes comes with four legs and a wet nose.

Whether you've loved and lost a pet, are grieving someone special, or simply understand the comfort an animal can bring, this episode is sure to resonate.

In this episode you'll hear:

• How pets help us through grief and loss
• Why grieving a pet is real and valid
• Do animals grieve? What we've learned
• The incredible human-animal bond
• Stories that will make you smile—and maybe reach over to pet your dog or cat

Welcome to the club nobody asked to join.

If this episode touched your heart, please follow the podcast, leave a rating and review, and share it with a fellow animal lover or someone who could use a little hope—and maybe a smile.

Music Credits

Music: "Sergio's Magic Dustbin" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Trailer: Welcome to Rod & Chris: Unqualified and Unsupervised

Life doesn't come with a manual... and we're definitely not qualified to write one.

Welcome to Rod & Chris: Unqualified and Unsupervised—the podcast where real people have honest conversations about grief, caregiving, resilience, and finding a way to keep moving forward after life knocks you flat.

We're not therapists. We're not life coaches. We're just two guys who've been through some hard stuff, inviting incredible guests to share their stories, their struggles, and sometimes the laughter that somehow survives even the darkest days.

If you've ever cared for someone you love, lost someone you couldn't imagine living without, or found yourself wondering, "Now what?"—you're in the right place.

This trailer gives you a taste of what's ahead. Honest conversations. Questionable humor. Inspiring guests. And proof that even after life's hardest moments, it's still okay to laugh.

New episodes premiere first on Boomer X Radio every Monday and Wednesday at 7:00 PM (Central) before becoming available wherever you listen to podcasts.

Music CreditsMusic: "Sergio's Magic Dustbin" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Episode 13: Madaline Barnes – We Did It Again... We Accidentally Booked Another Expert

It's happening more often than we'd like to admit... another guest who's actually qualified and supervised.

In Episode 13 of Rod & Chris: Unqualified and Unsupervised, therapist and neuroscientist Madaline Barnes joins us for a fascinating conversation about grief, mental health, and how our brains respond to loss. With a career path that began in statistics before leading her into therapy and grief counseling, Madaline brings a unique perspective that's both practical and deeply compassionate.

We talk about helping adolescents navigate grief, why everyone experiences loss differently, and how to recognize when grief may be developing into depression. It's an honest, approachable conversation that helps make sense of one of life's most confusing experiences.

Don't worry... Rod and Chris still manage to keep things from sounding like a college lecture.

In this episode you'll hear:

• Why grief looks different for everyone
• Helping adolescents process loss in healthy ways
• The difference between grief and depression
• What neuroscience can teach us about healing
• Practical insights for anyone supporting a grieving loved one

Welcome to the club nobody asked to join.

If this episode helps you better understand grief, please follow the podcast, leave a rating and review, and share it with someone who could benefit from the conversation.

Music Credits

Music: "Sergio's Magic Dustbin" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Why grief looks different for everyone

• Helping adolescents process loss in healthy ways
• The difference between grief and depression
• What neuroscience can teach us about healing
• Practical insights for anyone supporting a grieving loved one

Welcome to the club nobody asked to join.If this episode helps you better understand grief, please follow the podcast, leave a rating and review, and share it with someone who could benefit from the conversation.Music CreditsMusic: "Sergio's Magic Dustbin" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

New here? Start with this 30-second trailer!

Life doesn't come with a manual... and we're definitely not qualified to write one.

Get a quick taste of what Rod & Chris: Unqualified and Unsupervised is all about: honest conversations, unexpected laughs, inspiring guests, and real stories about grief, caregiving, resilience, and finding a way to keep moving forward after life knocks you flat.

If you've ever felt like you joined the club nobody wanted to join, pull up a chair. We don't have all the answers—but we'll laugh, cry, and figure it out together.

Intro music: "Sergio's Magic Dustbin" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Episode 12: Kim Weaver – Finding Comfort Beyond the Conversation

Some conversations ask more questions than they answer... and that's okay.

In Episode 12 of Rod & Chris: Unqualified and Unsupervised, we're joined by Kim Weaver for a fascinating and heartfelt discussion about grief, healing, faith, and the many ways people search for peace after losing someone they love.

Kim shares her personal journey of discovering what she believes is a unique gift, learning how to develop it, and using it in her work as an evidentiary medium to help others find comfort and connection after loss. Whether you're curious, skeptical, or somewhere in between, this episode invites an open, respectful conversation about hope, healing, and the deeply personal ways people process grief.

As always, Rod and Chris ask the questions many of us are thinking—and a few we probably shouldn't.

In this episode you'll hear:

• Kim's journey of discovering and developing her gift
• What an evidentiary medium is and how Kim approaches her work
• Different paths people take toward healing after loss
• Conversations about faith, hope, and finding peace
• Why it's okay to ask difficult questions

Welcome to the club nobody asked to join.

If this episode resonates with you, please follow the podcast, leave a rating and review, and share it with someone who could use a little hope—and maybe a laugh.

Music Credits

Music: "Sergio's Magic Dustbin" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Episode 11: Kelli Hill – Wait... We Accidentally Invited an Expert

This week, something unusual happened.

For the first time, Rod & Chris: Unqualified and Unsupervised welcomes someone who's actually... qualified. And supervised.

Kelli Hill, a child clinical psychologist, joins us for a thoughtful, practical, and surprisingly hopeful conversation about helping children navigate death, loss, and grief. We talk about how kids understand loss at different ages, how to answer the questions adults often struggle with, and why honest conversations—rather than perfect ones—can make all the difference.

Whether you're a parent, grandparent, teacher, caregiver, or simply someone who wants to better support a grieving child, Kelli offers practical guidance that's easy to understand and grounded in real-world experience.

Don't worry... Rod and Chris still manage to ask a few questions only the unqualified would think of.

In this episode you'll hear:

• How children understand grief at different ages
• Practical ways to talk with kids about death and loss
• Common mistakes well-meaning adults make
• Creating safe, honest conversations during difficult times
• Expert advice... with just enough Rod & Chris mixed in

Welcome to the club nobody asked to join.

If this episode helps you, please follow the podcast, leave a rating and review, and share it with someone who could benefit from this conversation.

Music Credits

Music: "Sergio's Magic Dustbin" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Episode 10: Mark Kuhn – A Tennis Court, A Legacy, and the Power of Moving Forward

What does a Wimbledon-style grass tennis court built in the middle of an Iowa farm have to do with grief?

More than you might imagine.

In Episode 10 of Rod & Chris: Unqualified and Unsupervised, we're joined by North Iowa farmer and former State Representative Mark Kuhn. Mark shares the remarkable story behind the world-famous grass tennis court he built on his family farm—and how, after the loss of his son to suicide, that same court became a living memorial to his son's life, legacy, and love of the game.

It's an honest conversation about unimaginable loss, healing, purpose, and choosing to keep moving forward even when life changes forever. Mark's story is heartbreaking, inspiring, and a powerful reminder that love can leave a legacy that reaches far beyond our own lives.

In this episode you'll hear:

• The incredible story behind Iowa's world-famous grass tennis court
• Mark's journey through the loss of his son
• Turning heartbreak into a lasting legacy
• Finding purpose and hope after tragedy
• What it means to keep moving forward while honoring the people we love

Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of suicide, grief, and loss.

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide or needs immediate support, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the United States.

Welcome to the club nobody asked to join.

If this episode resonates with you, please follow the podcast, leave a rating and review, and share it with someone who could use a little hope—and maybe a laugh.

Music Credits

Music: "Sergio's Magic Dustbin" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Episode 9: Caroline Scammell-Robertie – When You Have to Learn to Live Again

Some stories stop you in your tracks. Caroline Scammell-Robertie's is one of them.

In this heartfelt episode of Rod & Chris: Unqualified and Unsupervised, Caroline shares her journey through unimaginable loss—the death of her child, the loss of her husband, and the difficult path of learning how to keep living when life has changed forever.

Together, we talk about heartbreak, resilience, rebuilding, and the quiet courage it takes to face each new day while carrying grief with you. Caroline's honesty is both moving and inspiring, reminding us that healing isn't about leaving our loved ones behind—it's about finding a way to carry them forward as we continue living.

It's a conversation filled with raw emotion, genuine hope, and the reminder that even after life's darkest moments, meaning and purpose can still be found.

In this episode you'll hear:

• Caroline's journey through profound loss
• Learning to rebuild a life after tragedy
• Finding purpose while carrying grief
• Why healing doesn't mean forgetting
• Hope, resilience, and the courage to keep moving forward

Welcome to the club nobody asked to join.

If this episode speaks to you, please follow the podcast, leave a rating and review, and share it with someone who could use a little hope—and maybe a laugh.

Music Credits

Music: "Sergio's Magic Dustbin" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/