Shows
Hope After Child & Sibling Loss/the empty chair endeavorGrieving Between The Two Rails With Ron Deal, Connor’s DadIn this heartfelt episode, Greg Buffkin welcomes Ron Deal from FamilyLife to discuss the profound journey of grief following the loss of his precious son Conner. Ron shares his personal story of losing Connor to a sudden, tragic medical complication, emphasizing the importance of not wasting pain and using it to help others. The conversation delves into the duality of grief, represented by the metaphor of two rails: one of pain and sorrow, and the other of hope and trust in God. Ron explains how navigating between these two rails is essential for healing, and how sharing their...
2026-02-031h 06
Hope After Child & Sibling Loss/the empty chair endeavorSharing Our Grief, with Sam HodgesIn this episode, Greg Buffkin speaks with Sam Hodges, president of Church Initiative, about GriefShare, the number one grief support program in the world, and its significance in providing support for those experiencing grief, as well as the importance of community in the healing process. They discuss Sam's journey to Church Initiative, the signs of healing in grief, and some of the resources available for grieving individuals, including a new book titled 'Is My Grief Normal?'. We hope you will find this conversation encouraging, as well as informative about a proven resource for helping those who are...
2025-12-2338 min
While We're Waiting® - Hope After Child Loss262 | The Empty Chair Endeavor (Part Two) with Greg and Cathy BuffkinWelcome back to the second half of my conversation with Greg and Cathy Buffkin.In today's episode, the Buffkins speak directly to the grieving parent—especially the one who has lost a child to suicide and is wondering how to take the next breath, let alone the next step. With transparency and tenderness, they offer hard-won wisdom from their own journey, sharing what sustained them through the darkest days and how God’s presence, along with the support of others, helped carry them forward.They share honestly about the emotional weight of guilt, the unique stru...
2025-07-0246 min
While We're Waiting® - Hope After Child Loss261 | The Empty Chair Endeavor (Part One) with Greg and Cathy BuffkinGreg and Cathy Buffkin join me on the podcast today to share the story of their son Ryan—a funny and tenderhearted young man who brought joy and laughter to everyone around him. As we get to know Ryan through their memories, we also learn about the hidden struggles he carried and the heartbreaking loss they experienced when he died by suicide in the fall of 2015.With honesty and grace, Greg and Cathy open up about the complicated grief that comes with suicide loss, including the misconceptions that often surround it. They speak directly to the false be...
2025-06-2534 min
Grieving Parents Sharing Hope294: Child Loss by Suicide Part 2 (with Greg and Cathy Buffkin)Today is the continuation of a conversation Laura had with Greg and Cathy Bufkin. In last week’s discussion and this week, the talk goes beyond the topic of suicide, so no matter how your child left this earth, you will be encouraged by what is shared. Greg and Cathy Buffkin lost their son, Ryan, to […]
2025-04-2935 minGuest Interviews294: Child Loss by Suicide Part 2 (with Greg and Cathy Buffkin)Today is the continuation of a conversation Laura had with Greg and Cathy Bufkin. In last week’s discussion and this week, the talk goes beyond the topic of suicide, so no matter how your child left this earth, you will be encouraged by what is shared. Greg and Cathy Buffkin lost their son, Ryan, to […]
2025-04-2935 minAll Episodes294: Child Loss by Suicide Part 2 (with Greg and Cathy Buffkin)Today is the continuation of a conversation Laura had with Greg and Cathy Bufkin. In last week’s discussion and this week, the talk goes beyond the topic of suicide, so no matter how your child left this earth, you will be encouraged by what is shared.
Greg and Cathy Buffkin lost their son, Ryan, to suicide in 2015. On their journey that began out of unspeakable trauma and brokenness, God has brought them through to a place of restoration, hope and joy with a passion to help other grieving families on their journeys. They are co-founders of Th...
2025-04-2935 min
Grieving Parents Sharing Hope293: Child Loss by Suicide (with Greg and Cathy Buffkin)Today Laura is diving into the topic of suicide with guests Greg and Cathy Buffkin. However, their conversation goes beyond that, giving help and hope to anyone who has lost a child. Greg and Cathy Buffkin lost their son, Ryan, to suicide in 2015. On their journey that began out of unspeakable trauma and brokenness, […]
2025-04-2248 minGuest Interviews293: Child Loss by Suicide (with Greg and Cathy Buffkin)Today Laura is diving into the topic of suicide with guests Greg and Cathy Buffkin. However, their conversation goes beyond that, giving help and hope to anyone who has lost a child. Greg and Cathy Buffkin lost their son, Ryan, to suicide in 2015. On their journey that began out of unspeakable trauma and brokenness, […]
2025-04-2248 minAll Episodes293: Child Loss by Suicide (with Greg and Cathy Buffkin)Today Laura is diving into the topic of suicide with guests Greg and Cathy Buffkin. However, their conversation goes beyond that, giving help and hope to anyone who has lost a child.
Greg and Cathy Buffkin lost their son, Ryan, to suicide in 2015. On their journey that began out of unspeakable trauma and brokenness, God has brought them through to a place of restoration, hope and joy with a passion to help other grieving families on their journeys. They are co-founders of The Empty Chair Endeavor, which is designed to support and equip survivors of child loss...
2025-04-2248 minGrieving Parents Sharing Hope281: A Glimpse of Hope After Child Loss (with Greg Buffkin)Hearing how other parents have gotten through the suffocating darkness of child loss can bring a spark of hope, especially when you know they have had some of the same confusing thoughts and struggles. Today’s episode is an unusual and special one, as Dave and Laura are being interviewed by Greg Buffkin to give bereaved […]
2024-12-3154 minGuest Interviews281: A Glimpse of Hope After Child Loss (with Greg Buffkin)Hearing how other parents have gotten through the suffocating darkness of child loss can bring a spark of hope, especially when you know they have had some of the same confusing thoughts and struggles. Today’s episode is an unusual and special one, as Dave and Laura are being interviewed by Greg Buffkin to give bereaved […]
2024-12-3154 minAll Episodes281: A Glimpse of Hope After Child Loss (with Greg Buffkin)Hearing how other parents have gotten through the suffocating darkness of child loss can bring a spark of hope, especially when you know they have had some of the same confusing thoughts and struggles.
Today’s episode is an unusual and special one, as Dave and Laura are being interviewed by Greg Buffkin to give bereaved parents hope, for his podcast Hope After Child Loss.
Links Mentioned in this episode:
Greg Buffkin’s website: www.emptychairendeavor.com
Click the following links to hear the podcast episode:
Tips for B...
2024-12-3154 min
Hope After Child & Sibling Loss/the empty chair endeavorNavigating the Holiday Season with Greg BuffkinShare any comments here *** Please take a minute to leave a review on Apple Podcasts if you enjoy this podcast by clicking the link below. By doing so you help increase our visibility and discoverability for others, and we value your feedback! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hope-after-child-sibling-loss-the-empty-chair-endeavor/id1654053256You can contact us by email at: hope@emptychairendeavor.com through our parent organization website: https://www.emptychairendeavor.com/Our Facebook link:https://www.facebook.com/groups/theemptychairendeavorIf you would like to share your story...
2024-11-1909 min
Hope After Child & Sibling Loss/the empty chair endeavorOur Story Part 2 with Guest Host Danielle ZapchenckA continuation of Greg and Cathy Buffkin's story of losing our beautiful 26 year old son Ryan to suicide in October 2015. Ours is a journey from the brokenness of unspeakable loss and pain to experiencing GOD's goodness as He began making something beautiful from all those broken pieces and restoring meaning, purpose and hope to our lives. Share any comments here *** Please take a minute to leave a review on Apple Podcasts if you enjoy this podcast by clicking the link below. By doing so you help increase our visibility and discoverability f...
2024-08-2042 min
The Grief Mentor | Life After Child Loss, Hope and Healing For Grieving Moms, Bereavement, Christian Grief SupportLiving Without Your Child-Father's Day GriefJoin Greg Buffkin and I, as he shares what its like grieving the death of his son. Listen in as he shares what makes a dad's grief unique and his advice for helping newly bereaved dads manage difficult days like Father's Day. Listen to Gregs Podcast "Hope After Child Loss Podcast" with Greg Buffkin Find out more about The Empty Chair Endeavor Here:The Empty Chair Endeavor The next Grief Mentor Support Group is July 18th, questions need to be submitted by July 16th. This is a safe place for...
2024-06-1342 min
Hope After Child & Sibling Loss/the empty chair endeavorI'm so sorry, but he took his own life last night .......That one moment in time on October 25, 2015 seemed to make time stand still for Cathy and Greg Buffkin (podcast host). The phone call that every parent fears, would forever change their lives, as they learned that their beautiful 26 year old married son, Ryan, had taken his own life. Listen, as Greg shares some of their journey from blindsiding trauma and pain through a seven year period of healing and restoration by GOD. Learn how GOD brought wholeness and joy back into their lives and is using their loss to offer hope to others experiencing such traumatic loss in...
2023-01-3115 min
The Nothing Is Wasted PodcastEpisode 230 - God’s Sovereignty in Our Darkest Moments with Greg and Cathy BuffkinIt can be so hard to see, let alone accept the hand of God in the middle of our deepest pain. How can you learn to trust God's sovereignty in your darkest moments? For Greg and Cathy Buffkin, that was no small feat. After losing their adult son Ryan to suicide, it was difficult to accept their loss and find the strength to move forward after so much pain. Living every parent's greatest fear, the Buffkins found themselves wrestling with difficult emotions and yet, managed to find the Lord in the most heart wrenching loss they had ever endured. From...
2022-07-211h 51