The Rollercoaster Podcast

Hosted by Tyler Hall

Education

Website RSS feed

Episodes

162

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

About the show

Some things break you open in a way you never fully close back up. The Rollercoaster Podcast sits in that space — the aftermath of loss, trauma, and grief — and asks what it actually takes to keep living after everything falls apart. Hosted by Tyler Hall, this show features unfiltered, deeply human conversations with people who’ve survived the unthinkable — the death of a loved one, sudden crisis, abuse, addiction, and the kind of pain that reshapes a life overnight. No polished takes, no tidy lessons. Just honest accounts of what grief actually feels like, and what it looks like to rebuild afterward. Born out of a personal crisis that upended Tyler’s own life, The Rollercoaster Podcast has grown into one of the top trauma & grief podcasts globally, with nearly 200 episodes of raw, real storytelling. If you’ve ever needed proof that people can survive what feels unsurvivable — that the climb back is possible — this is your show. New episodes weekly. 🎢

Listen to episodes

60 recent

September 8, 202650 min

I Gave Him the Best Week of His Life - Now My Cousin is Dead

A few days before 16-year-old Landon took his own life, he spent what felt like one of the best weeks of his life with his cousin, Landon Ashworth. They ate way too much sushi, played golf, shot guns, laughed, talked about life, and dreamed about the future. When the week ended, Landon told him how much he needed it. He seemed happy. He seemed okay. Then came the phone call that changed everything. I sit down with filmmaker, actor, writer, and creator Landon Ashworth for an incredibly raw conversation about suicide, autism, grief, survivor’s guilt, and the things we sometimes don't see until it's too late. In this episode: Losing his 16-year-old cousin Landon to suicide The warning signs he wishes he had recognized sooner Growing up autistic, masking, bullying, and feeling misunderstood The survivor’s guilt he still carries after Landon’s death Turning grief into his deeply personal film Go On Landon opens up about experiencing suicidal thoughts himself and why he now isn’t afraid to directly ask someone if they’re thinking about taking their own life. We also talk about the painful reality of trying to help someone find their way out of the darkness, why emotional pain can feel impossible to escape, and the importance of finding something worth holding onto. This conversation is heavy. But more than anything, it’s about choosing to keep going. Key Moments: 00:00 The week before everything changed 03:03 When Landon’s future fell apart 06:25 The week that made him feel okay again 10:02 The phone call no one expected 13:43 The guilt of missing the signs 17:02 The suicide warning signs he missed 20:23 The reality of masking autism 24:00 Why other people’s opinions mean nothing 29:39 What an autistic brain can feel like 34:29 The Hollywood advice Landon couldn’t accept 38:00 Why vulnerable people started finding him 41:37 Turning Landon’s suicide into Go On 45:01 Finding a reason to stay alive 48:02 How to get out of emotional hell Connect with Me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tyler.hall/ Connect with Landon Ashworth: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/landonashworthdirects/ #SuicidePrevention #AutismAwareness #SurvivorsGuilt

September 1, 202642 min

I Found a Lump in the Shower - Now I'm Fighting for My Life

When I called Mya Ludwig a few weeks ago, I expected a hard conversation. She had been diagnosed with breast cancer, undergone a double mastectomy, and was halfway through chemotherapy. Instead, I hung up feeling like Mya had somehow helped me. So I knew I needed to bring her back to the podcast. Mya opens up about the moment she discovered the lump, what treatment has really been like, and how losing her hair challenged the way she saw herself. But what impacted me most was her perspective. She refuses to let cancer become her identity or allow fear about tomorrow to steal the life she still gets to live today. We talk about learning to put yourself first, finding joy in incredibly difficult seasons, and how a traumatic brain injury years earlier taught Mya lessons she never imagined she'd need again. And making this conversation even more special, Mya's brother Adam joins us again, bringing the same joy and personality we loved the first time. In this episode: The moment Mya discovered something was wrong Why she refuses to live in the "what ifs" What losing her hair taught her about identity How to support someone without making them feel helpless Finding one small reason to keep going on the hardest days This conversation reminded me that we don't always get to choose what happens to us. But we do get to choose how we show up through it. Key Moments: 00:00 The Lump Maya Knew Was Cancer 03:18 The Attitude Toward Cancer That Changed My Life 07:44 Why Cancer Forced Maya to Finally Put Herself First 11:02 Why Maya Refuses to Feel Sorry for Herself 14:44 Refusing to Let Cancer Take Over Her Life 18:02 What Someone With Cancer Actually Needs From You 21:04 Losing Her Hair Changed How Maya Saw Herself 25:40 The One Thing Maya Does on Her Darkest Days 29:26 Maya’s Brother Adam Returns to the Podcast 31:20 How Adam Reacted to Maya’s Cancer Diagnosis 34:01 The Joy Adam Brings Everywhere He Goes 38:19 Adam’s Unfiltered Take on the Raiders 41:29 Adam’s Message to Anyone Going Through a Hard Time Connect with Me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tyler.hall/ Connect with Mya: IG: @minimamamya (https://www.instagram.com/minimamamya/)

August 25, 20261 hr 6 min

Most Heartbreaking Story I've Ever Heard

In this episode, I sit down with Matthew Griffin, who spent 21 years serving in the military and law enforcement. During those years, Matt saw things most of us will never see. But one call would stay with him for decades. As a young police officer, Matt responded to the accidental death of two-and-a-half-year-old Benny Jr., the son of a friend. Matt was the first officer on scene and performed CPR, but Benny didn’t survive. What followed was years of guilt, nightmares, drinking, and the belief that if he had reacted just seconds sooner, maybe he could have saved him. The trauma didn’t stay at work. Slowly, Matt began losing himself, his marriage, his identity, and eventually his desire to keep living. In this episode, we talk about: The call involving two-year-old Benny Jr. that changed Matt’s life forever The hidden reality of PTSD, trauma, and mental health among police officers and first responders How undercover police work consumed Matt’s identity and contributed to the breakdown of his marriage The moments that pushed Matt toward suicide and what ultimately kept him here Why simply checking on someone can be more powerful than we realize This conversation is about what happens when the people we expect to save everyone else are quietly falling apart themselves. And why sometimes surviving starts with giving life one more hour. One more day. Key Moments: 00:00 The Police Call That Changed Everything 03:03 Meeting Benny Jr. Days Before the Tragedy 10:24 The Guilt That Haunted Him for Years 18:02 The Hidden Mental Health Crisis in Policing 24:18 When Undercover Police Work Took Over His Life 27:31 Losing His Marriage, Home and Identity 32:14 Taking Accountability for Who He Became 36:04 His Chief Checked on Him, Then Died by Suicide 42:04 The Phone Call That Saved Matt’s Life 48:47 Why Checking In on Someone Could Save a Life 53:22 “If Today Is a Good Day to Die, So Is Tomorrow” 59:44 The Check-In Every Leader Should Be Doing 1:03:29 What Matt Would Say to Someone Considering Suicide Connect with Me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tyler.hall/ Connect with Matt: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authormatthewgriffin/

August 18, 202642 min

We Were So Proud He Lost Weight - Now My Dad is Dead

In this episode, I sit down with Olivia Burnett, who lost her dad, Kevin, to stage four colon cancer at just 24 years old. He was her Superman, the person who gave her confidence, made her feel unstoppable, and always reminded her that she was “golden.” Within months of his death, grief pulled Olivia into a darkness she never expected. She tried therapy. Medication. Exercise. Friends. Family. Everything people tell you to do when you're struggling with depression. But nothing seemed to break through. Eventually, Olivia found herself sitting on her bed with a bottle of pills in her hand, believing suicide was the only way out. Then two words entered her mind: Hold on. That tiny piece of hope was enough. In this episode, we talk about: Losing her dad to stage four colon cancer at just 24 years old The delayed grief that sent Olivia into a devastating battle with depression The night she believed suicide was her only way out and the two words that stopped her How tiny, everyday decisions helped her slowly find hope, resilience, and purpose again Turning unimaginable pain into a reason to help others hold on through their darkest moments This conversation isn't about pretending everything gets better overnight. It's about what can happen when you hold on long enough to see what comes next. Key Moments: 00:00 My Dad Was Healthy Then Everything Changed 04:06 The Signs of Stage 4 Colon Cancer We Missed 08:02 The Night I Watched My Dad Die 11:12 The Future Cancer Stole From Us 15:03 How My Dad Faced Death Without Fear 19:03 Finding Yellow Socks in the Darkness 22:09 Why “Choose Happiness” Isn't That Simple 25:16 When Grief Turned Into Severe Depression 28:03 The Night I Almost Ended My Life 31:16 Turning My Pain Into Purpose 35:46 How I Finally Climbed Out of the Darkness 39:34 The Small Decisions That Saved Me 41:06 What My Dad Would Say to Me Today Connect with Me: Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/tyler.hall/⁠ Connect with Olivia: Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/twentysomething_podcast/⁠

August 11, 20261 hr 5 min

We Were Just Setting up The Nursery - Now She's Dead

There are some stories you hear that stay with you long after the conversation ends. This is one of them. In this episode, I sit down with Nathan Wieser, a husband, father and author of We Did It, to talk about a journey through pregnancy loss, infant loss, miscarriage, PTSD, grief and a fight to become a father that lasted more than a decade. Nathan and his wife Lucy endured loss after loss. But nothing could prepare them for the day their daughter Mary died during birth, while Lucy herself was fighting to stay alive. Nathan remembers sitting alone in a hospital hallway waiting for one thing: to hear his daughter cry. The cry never came. What followed were years of grief, trauma and fear before they found the courage to try again. Then came Otto. Born at just 26 weeks and weighing only two pounds, Otto spent 121 days in the NICU fighting through emergency surgeries, sepsis and moments when his parents didn't know if he would survive. In this episode: Losing their daughter Mary during childbirth and nearly losing Lucy too The miscarriages, grief and PTSD that followed their devastating loss Finding the courage to try for another child after years of trauma Otto’s premature birth and the terrifying 121-day fight for his life in the NICU How loss changed Nathan’s perspective on fatherhood, marriage and what truly matters This is an incredibly raw conversation about losing children, surviving trauma, marriage, fatherhood and finding hope when life has given you every reason to stop believing things can get better. This conversation gave me a lot to think about as a father. I think it will do the same for you. Key Moments: 00:00 Waiting for a Cry That Never Came 06:22 The Diagnosis No Parent Is Ready For 12:38 The Moment Everything Went Horribly Wrong 18:04 Telling His Wife Their Baby Had Died 24:19 Could They Ever Try for a Baby Again? 28:17 Losing Their Twins Without a Heartbeat 31:12 The Phone Call That Saved His Life 36:45 Meeting His Two-Pound Son for the First Time 41:42 The NICU Nightmare Begins 47:25 His Heart Stopped Again 49:13 The Miracle Doctors Couldn’t Explain 52:06 They Finally Got Home... Then Lost Everything 54:15 Walking Through Hell to Find Their Miracle 58:28 The Best and Worst of the Medical System 1:00:36 Why He Gave Up Alcohol for His Son Connect with Me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tyler.hall/ Connect with Nathan Wieser: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanwieser/ We Did It by Nathan Wieser (Author): https://www.amazon.com/We-Did-perspective-enduring-miscarriages/dp/B0FLVTTHPY/

August 4, 20261 hr 13 min

My Family Keeps Dying & I Can't Explain It

In this episode, I sit down with Jaclyn Rose, a mental health advocate whose life has been shaped by unimaginable loss. Jaclyn shares the heartbreaking story of losing her uncle to suicide, her father to addiction, and years later, her older brother to the very same battle. Rather than allowing grief to harden her heart, she chose to understand it. This conversation challenged the way I think about addiction, mental health, suicide, grief, and what it truly means to love someone who is suffering. We talk about the silence that often surrounds these struggles, why shame keeps so many families trapped, and how healing begins when we stop asking, “How could you do this to us?” and start asking, “What pain were you carrying?” In this episode: Losing her uncle, father, and brother to suicide and addiction The text message from her dad hours before he unexpectedly died Why shame and silence make grief even harder to carry What addiction taught her about love, forgiveness, and compassion How she turned unimaginable loss into a mission to help others heal If you've ever lost someone to suicide or addiction, love someone battling mental illness, or are carrying grief that still feels too heavy to name, I hope this episode reminds you that you are not alone. Key Moments: 00:00 The Text Message That Changed Everything 05:12 Seeing Her Uncle After Suicide at Just 9 Years Old 09:08 Why Silence Makes Grief Even Worse 16:17 The Birthday That Changed Her Relationship with Her Dad 20:01 The Truth About Her Father's Addiction 24:03 Reuniting With Her Dad One Week Before He Died 31:00 How Grief Turned Into Anxiety, Addiction & Survival 34:19 Why Time Doesn't Heal Trauma 36:05 Can You Love Someone Who Keeps Hurting You? 43:03 What Addiction Really Feels Like 46:41 Her Brother Started Following the Same Path 50:10 Loving Someone Without Enabling Them 54:08 "I Got My Son Back"... Or So We Thought 59:20 The Second Phone Call That Broke Her Heart 1:02:00 Saying Goodbye Without Shame 1:07:48 The Biggest Gaps in Mental Health Treatment 1:10:04 Why We Need to Change the Way We Talk About Grief Connect with Me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tyler.hall/ Connect with Jaclyn Rose: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wellnesswithjac/

July 28, 20261 hr 18 min

We Thought She Was Just Struggling With Friends, But It Was Something Much Worse

As a parent, there are certain things you never think you’ll have to face. Watching your child fight for their life is one of them. In this episode, I sit down with Jheri South, a mother of seven whose story is filled with heartbreak, addiction, mental health struggles, suicide attempts, and an unbelievable determination to keep fighting. Jheri shares how her seemingly picture-perfect life unraveled when her husband’s crystal meth addiction tore their family apart. Years later, she would face every parent’s worst nightmare when her daughter Grace attempted to take her own life and collapsed into her arms having seizures. What follows is a raw conversation about suicide, autism in girls, ADHD, neurodivergence, parenting teenagers, and what our children may be carrying without us ever knowing. In this episode: Addiction tearing apart Jheri’s family The warning signs she never saw coming The night she almost lost her daughter Discovering undiagnosed autism and ADHD How parents can truly connect with struggling teens This conversation gave me a lot to think about as a father. I think it will do the same for you. Key Moments: 0:00 I Thought My Daughter Was Dying 6:36 Leaving Home at Just 15 10:02 When My Kids’ Mental Health Changed 16:01 The Loneliness Nobody Saw 23:26 The Mindset Shift That Changed Everything 29:16 The Suicide Attempt That Haunts Me 35:22 The Night My Daughter Tried to Die 40:02 “Are We in Heaven?” 47:32 Parenting vs. Connecting With Your Teen 54:22 The Hidden Damage of Seeking Approval 58:02 Are You Borrowing Your Self-Confidence? 1:04:02 Your Thoughts Aren’t Always True 1:06:57 Breaking Free From External Validation Connect with Me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tyler.hall/ Connect with Jheri: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jherisouth/

July 21, 202634 min

He Thought it Was a Stomach Ache - Now My Brother is Dead

In this episode of the Roller Coaster Podcast, I sit down with Rebecca Doyle, who shares the heartbreaking story of losing her only brother, Edward, to an unexpected complication from cancer treatment at just 28 years old. What started as stomach pain quickly became a Stage 3 cancer diagnosis, months of chemotherapy, and a phone call that changed her life forever. Rebecca opens up about watching her brother die over FaceTime, the grief she buried to stay strong for her young daughter, and how years of unresolved trauma, postpartum depression, and unimaginable loss eventually pushed her to the brink of suicide. This is an honest conversation about grief, survival, faith, and finding a reason to keep living when life feels impossible. In this episode: Losing her only brother to cancer just days after doctors said he was close to remission The FaceTime call where she watched her brother die and how that moment changed her forever How buried grief, postpartum depression, and trauma led her to two suicide attempts The moment she chose to ask for help, entered psychiatric care, and began healing Finding hope through therapy, faith, and rebuilding a life she never thought she'd want to live again If you've ever lost someone you love, struggled with suicidal thoughts, or wondered if healing is possible after tragedy, I truly believe this conversation will remind you that you're not alone. Key Moments: 00:00 The Phone Call That Changed Everything 03:39 "Edward Is Going to Die Today" 06:12 Why Her Brother Meant Everything 09:38 The Stage 3 Cancer Diagnosis 11:57 The Chemo Complication That Killed Him 16:02 When Grief Became Suicidal Thoughts 19:44 The Night She Tried to End Her Life 21:40 Her Second Suicide Attempt 24:51 How Does Someone Reach That Breaking Point? 27:55 Why She Couldn't Stop Blaming Herself 30:30 What Her Brother Would Say Today 33:28 The Truth About Therapy No One Wants to Hear Connect with Tyler : Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tyler.hall/ #SuicidePrevention #GriefRecovery #HealingAfterLoss

July 14, 20261 hr 8 min

I Was at a Sleepover When I Got the Worst Call of My Life...

Some stories leave you speechless. This is one of them. In this episode, I sit down with Kelle Bott for one of the most raw, emotional, and unforgettable conversations we've ever had on the Rollercoaster Podcast. At just 18 years old, Kelle watched her father take his final breath. In a matter of seconds, the person she believed was invincible was gone, and the grief that followed completely changed the course of her life. What started as a way to numb the pain through alcohol quickly became a devastating addiction filled with withdrawal, hallucinations, relapse, isolation, and the belief that she would never be okay again. But Kelle's story doesn't end there. She courageously shares her journey through addiction recovery, entering treatment, losing a baby through miscarriage, becoming pregnant again, and making the heartbreaking decision to place her son for adoption so he could have the life she dreamed of giving him. This conversation is about grief, alcoholism, sobriety, recovery, trauma, motherhood, open adoption, healing, and finding hope when life feels impossible. Kelle's vulnerability is extraordinary, and her story is one that will stay with you long after this episode ends. In this episode: Watching her father take his last breath in the ICU How grief turned into a life-threatening alcohol addiction Losing herself after the death of the person she loved most Why she almost chose abortion with her second pregnancy The heartbreaking decision to place her son for adoption Finding sobriety, healing, and hope after unimaginable loss If you've ever experienced loss, struggled with addiction, questioned your worth, or wondered if life could ever get better, this conversation is for you. Key Moments: 00:00 The Last Night I Ever Had With My Dad 04:27 COVID Took My Dad So Fast 09:00 The Impossible Decision to Let Him Go 14:00 The Promise My Dad Never Got to Keep 19:10 When Grief Turned Into Alcoholism 24:15 Alcohol Took Control of My Life 29:35 Detox Saved My Life 35:20 The Wake-Up Call I Couldn't Ignore 40:40 I Got Pregnant 90 Days Sober 45:30 I Almost Chose Abortion 49:20 Hiding My Pregnancy From Everyone 52:05 The First Time I Held My Son 53:30 His Father Overdosed in My Hospital Room 55:45 My Final Night With My Baby 58:10 The Hardest Goodbye of My Life 1:03:40 How I Found Hope Again 1:07:00 If You're Struggling, Hear This Connect with Kelle Bott: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellebott/ Connect with Me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tyler.hall/

July 7, 20261 hr 12 min

We Had the Perfect Family - Now My Husband & Daughter Are Dead

Some stories stay with you long after the conversation ends. This is one of them. In this episode, I sit down with Julie Garlock to hear the unimaginable story of losing her husband, Troy, and their young daughter, Elsie, in a devastating car accident that changed her life forever. What followed wasn't just overwhelming grief, it was a journey through trauma, addiction, healing, faith, survival, and finding purpose when everything seemed lost. Julie opens up with incredible honesty about the years she and Troy spent battling addiction, the unconventional healing modalities that transformed their lives, the heartbreaking phone call that shattered her world, and the miraculous survival of their daughter, Mabel. We also have a deeply vulnerable conversation about suicide, meditation, grief, plant medicine, trauma, and the powerful role gratitude has played in helping Julie continue moving forward. Whether you agree with every perspective shared or not, I believe you'll walk away challenged, encouraged, and reminded that hope can still exist in the darkest moments. If you've ever lost someone you love, struggled with addiction, questioned your faith, or wondered if healing is possible after unimaginable pain, I hope Julie's story reminds you that you're not alone. In this episode: The final FaceTime call she'll never forget The phone call that changed her life forever Losing her husband and daughter in a devastating crash The miraculous survival of her daughter against all odds The addiction battle that nearly destroyed their family Julie's own suicide attempt and the lessons that saved her life The healing practices that gave her hope again This is a conversation about heartbreak, resilience, healing, and discovering that even after unimaginable tragedy, hope is still possible. Key Moments: 00:00 The Last FaceTime Before Everything Changed 03:00 How Addiction Nearly Destroyed Their Family 06:05 The Family Trip That Changed Everything 08:14 The Goodbye She Didn't Know Was Goodbye 13:20 Four Missed Calls Changed Everything 17:39 The Second Devastating Loss 21:15 The Miracle Doctors Couldn't Explain 27:00 The Father-Daughter Bond That Lives On 30:02 The Healing Tools That Changed Everything 33:17 Does Grief Ever Really Go Away? 36:52 Her Suicide Attempt During Addiction 41:12 How Plant Medicine Changed Troy Forever 46:45 The Ceremony That Gave Her Hope Again 50:28 What Really Led to Her Suicide Attempt 55:15 The Moment Everything Changed 1:00:05 Finding Hope After Unimaginable Loss 1:03:10 The Truth About the Fatal Crash Connect with Julie Garlock: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lettertomyloves/ Connect with Me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tyler.hall/

Is this your show?

Claim this listing to keep it up to date, reach guests who want to pitch you, and manage bookings with Guestify.

Claim this listing