Maya Roffler

Host of The Surviving Siblings Podcast

Maya is the host of The Surviving Siblings Podcast as well as The Surviving Siblings Summit. She started the podcast four years ago and has interviewed over 90 siblings on her podcast. She created her support group, journal, podcast, and summit to help bereaved siblings just like her.

Lenny Hunt

Speaker

Lenny Hunt is a Grief Coach, Verified Content Creator (over a quarter million followers across all social media), author, and TEDx speaker from Boise, Idaho. As a Grief Coach, Lenny offers a unique blend of empathy, healing, humor, and a practical understanding of grief through simple object lessons, art projects, and even science experiments. His experience in helping individuals navigate the complexities of loss equips him to connect with audiences on a deeply emotional level. He provides comfort and actionable tools to help others process their grief and envision a future filled with hope. His compassionate approach can inspire, uplift, and empower those on their healing journey, making a lasting impact on their lives.

Dr. Dawn DiRaimondo

Author of Surviving Sibling Loss: The Invisible Thread That Connects Us Through Life

Dr. Dawn DiRaimondo is a clinical psychologist in Sacramento, California where she lives with her husband and two children. With over twenty five years of experience, Dr Dawn sees adolescents, young adults and adults in her private practice. Her specialities include grief and loss, ADHD, depression and anxiety disorders. In 2004, Dr. Dawn lost her 22 year old younger brother, Michael while he was serving as an Army flight medic in Iraq. This not only unraveled her family but changed the course of her career. Over time, helping her clients navigate their own experiences with loss became a deeply meaningful and significant part of her practice. Due to the limited resources available for sibling loss, Dr. Dawn wrote her first book, "Surviving Sibling Loss: The Invisible Thread That Connects Us Through Life and Death" in 2020. She shares her own story as well as excerpts from the fourteen other surviving siblings she interviewed for the book. Her book is available on Amazon, Audible, Kindle and more. Dr. Dawn has been on both seasons two and four of The Surviving Siblings podcast, and was one of the keynotes speakers in last year's Surviving Siblings Summit. Dr. Dawn wants to be a part of changing the narrative and experience around grief in our society, and believes significant loss is something we learn to live with, instead of something we feel pressured and encouraged to leave behind us.

Audree Thurman

Started SibsForever.org

MSCS in 1980, 43+ years a techie, founder of sibsforever.org (I’m repurposed, but not retired), cloud & information security expert, lifelong fitness enthusiast

Stephen Stott

Showing you how to express grief without talking about it

Sibling grief is something that feels as though it doesn't exist. You're labeled "the forgotten mourner," people ask how your parents are doing but not you, and your grief has nowhere to go but inward. That stops here. As someone who survived the car accident my sister died in, I am a surviving sibling but I do not claim the forgotten mourner label. Let's change the narrative together!

Gyani Richards

Grief Therapist

Gyani Richards, MA, is a grief counselor who helps people navigate and heal in their journey through grief and loss. His personal experience into this field began quite early when his father died when he was 13. Shortly thereafter, he began exploring meditation and the great wisdom traditions of the world, practices which have defined the last 40 years of his life. He has an M.A. in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology, a second-degree black belt in Aikido, and is a Certified Grief Educator. Social handles: www.instagram.com/gyanirichards www.gyanirichards.substack.com

Jen Hoye

Speaker

Jen Hoye is a writer and mental health advocate, and the author of “Thick Thighs, Tattoos & Breaking Taboos: How I Lost My Brother and Found Myself Again Through Running and Advocacy” and "Breaking Taboos in the Dark: 26.2 Miles of Real-Life Grief Prompts." She is the founder of #HealingMiles, a global project honoring lives lost to suicide through running and storytelling. Jen has completed remembrances for hundreds of men, women, and children and has proudly represented suicide prevention and mental health charities in major races, including the Boston and Chicago Marathons. In 2025, in recognition of her leadership and impact, Jen received the Illumination Award from Girls Inc. for her commitment to empowering women and girls through advocacy, storytelling, and community engagement. A frequent speaker on suicide prevention, grief, and mental health, Jen brings a blend of honesty, humor, and heart to every conversation. She lives in Taunton, Massachusetts with her family, rescue animals, and a flock of hens named Mary-Grace.

Michelle Tobin

Speaker

I'm an almost retired LCSW and a writer. I'm also just shy of my 40th wedding anniversary and mother to 3 adult children.

Michael Tobin

Honoring my brother’s life while learning to carry and release the anger his loss left behind.

Michael Tobin grew up in The Bronx, NYC, as the fifth of six children. After losing his brother James to homicide in 1992, Michael has spent over 30 years navigating the complexities of grief and family dynamics following sibling loss. He recently shared his story on Season 8 of The Surviving Siblings Podcast and continues to advocate for greater awareness and healing in sibling grief.

Judy Lipson

Celebration of Sisters

Judy Lipson is the author of Celebration of Celebration of Sisters: It Is Never Too Late To Grieve, winner of the Literary Titan’s 2021 Silver Award. The sole survivor of three sisters, Judy founded Celebration of Sisters, an annual ice-skating fundraiser to commemorate the lives and memories of her beloved sisters Margie and Jane to benefit Massachusetts General Hospital Eating Disorders Clinical and Research Program. Judy shared her experience of losing two sisters, the life forever changed as the keynote speaker for The Bereaved Parents National USA 2023 Conference, presented at The Compassionate Friends National Conference, The Open to Hope Cable television, and as a ForGrief speaker. Judy passion for figure skating rewarded by being the recipient of the 2020 Get Up Award by U.S. Figure Skating Association for her resilience on and off the ice. For a complete list of podcast interviews, published articles, events and photos, please visit www.judylipson.org

Earla Dawn Legault

I am interesting in adult sibling grief and using creativity to connect in peer support groups.

Earla Dawn Legault is an artist and writer advocating for creativity, peer support and specific resources for adult siblings who are grieving. She lives on the West Coast of Canada and is co-host online of a monthly Canadian Siblings Sharing Circle. After her sister Leigh-Ann died from pancreatic cancer in 2013, Earla retired early from public library service and began her path connecting her love of visual storytelling to grief literacy. Earla trained as a hospice and vigil volunteer with Chilliwack Hospice Society and The Compassionate Friends (TCF) Canada, as a peer support facilitator, and as a Traumatic Loss facilitator through BC Bereavement. Through local hospice, The Compassionate Friends (TCF) online peer support, and workshops, Earla shares creative ways to express grief. She’s facilitated a Drawing Together session with the Graphic Medicine Global Collective and developed ‘Connecting through Creativity’ workshop specifically for siblings, the first of its kind in Canada. For her advocacy for sibling programming, Earla received the Karen Snapp Outstanding Sibling Award from The Compassionate Friends, during TCF’s National Conference in 2024. Earla has been a guest cartoonist, blogger and host of Walk with a Sibling with Griefmatters.ca. This Canadian organization works towards a national understanding of grief literacy through creative, community-based activities. Through Sibling Grief Buds on Instagram and her and Monica’s book Living with Sibling Grief: Imagining a Way Forward, Earla continues to promote visual storytelling to support ourselves and each other.

Laing Rikkers

Speaker and Author

Laing Rikkers is the award-winning author of Morning Leaves: Cultivating a Life of Beauty, Meaning, and Joy, a reflective work exploring grief, resilience, and renewal through art, nature, and personal insight drawn from the loss of her younger sister. Drawing on a career that spans human resources, private equity, entrepreneurship, Rikkers brings a deeply human perspective to change and growth. Through writing, grief workshops, and keynote speaking, Laing Rikkers helps individuals and communities transform loss into self-awareness, creativity, and renewed joy.

Teri Gosselin

Speaker and Bereaved Sibling

Teri Gosselin is the founder of Soul Glow + Alchemy and a grief-informed speaker focused on identity, nervous system awareness, and spiritual integration after loss. After losing her brother just weeks before her wedding, Teri experienced firsthand how sibling loss can quietly reshape identity especially for those who step into the role of “the strong one.” Blending lived experience with emotional regulation tools and compassionate reflection, she helps individuals move forward without self-abandonment. Teri is deeply passionate about supporting grieving siblings and creating space for the often unseen layers of high-functioning grief, offering language, validation, and a path toward moving differently to LIVE after loss.

Amanda Ferguson

Speaker and Non-Profit Founder

Amanda Ferguson is the founder of Bottles For Bill, a nonprofit created in honor of her brother after his death from heat stroke. Through advocacy, fundraising, and community outreach, Amanda transforms personal loss into purposeful action by providing bottled water and life-saving resources to communities facing extreme heat. Her work centers on compassion, prevention, and remembrance — ensuring her brother’s legacy continues through acts of care that protect others. Amanda speaks openly about grief, sibling loss, and finding meaning after tragedy, encouraging others to carry their loved ones forward through impact and service.

Kourtney Barnum

Speaker and Rhett Syndrome Advocate

Kourtney lost her older sister to Rett syndrome November 27th 2016. Kristi had lived with Rett syndrome for 51 years which was not the norm for this syndrome. Kourtney was 10 years younger than Kristi and grew up not knowing any different than a life with Rett. This also meant she lived with the fear of her sister dying because Rett is a rare disorder so much was not known about it and doctors were telling their parents Kristi would not live past the age of 20. Kristi lived until she was 51 but the anticipatory grief and the fear of losing her sister were ever present. Kourtney now works with others with Rett syndrome teaching them how to communicate as well as read and write.

Heather Taylor

Speaker and Therapist

Dr. Heather Taylor, PsyD, is a licensed psychologist, speaker, and host of the Grief is the New Normal podcast. She has provided grief therapy since 2012 and specializes in identity-focused, modern grief education. Heather’s professional work is deeply informed by her own experience of losing her brother. She is passionate about normalizing sibling grief, reducing isolation, and helping individuals learn how to carry their loss with compassion rather than self-judgment. Her approach blends lived experience with contemporary grief science, offering language, validation, and practical tools for the long arc of loss.

Heather Robbirds

Speaker

In 1993, Heather Robbirds’ life changed forever when her brother, Casey, was taken by homicide. As a surviving sibling, she learned at an early age what it means to live with unanswered questions, layered grief, and a love that never fades. For over 30 years, Heather has carried her brother’s memory into every chapter of her life — as a wife, mother of two sons, healthcare professional, and advocate for resilience. Her journey has not been linear or simple. It has included anger, sorrow, fear, strength, and ultimately, a commitment to honoring Casey by living intentionally and courageously. At the Surviving Sibling Summit, Heather speaks openly about the unique grief of losing a sibling to violence, how it shapes identity and trust, and how surviving siblings can reclaim hope without leaving their loved one behind.

Christine Rizzo

Executive Director of Shevlin Family Foundation

Christine Shevlin Rizzo is the Executive Director of Shevlin, a community-funded, non-profit dedicated to lifting individuals, families, and communities affected by Substance Use Disorder (SUD)/Addiction outside of Philadelphia. As a Certified Family Recovery Specialist (CFRS), Christine brings both professional expertise and deep personal experience to her role. Having witnessed her parents' support of three of her siblings afflicted with addiction, she understands the challenges families face and is committed to providing the resources, education, and support they need. Christine has served on the Board of Directors since the Foundation's inception in 2015. In 2018, she stepped into the Executive Director role after careers in education, consulting and non-profit administration. Christine has been instrumental in developing recovery-focused programs, fostering community partnerships, and ensuring individuals and families have access to essential resources. Her leadership is rooted in empathy, lived experience, and a passion for encouraging others in their recovery journey. Christine considers her greatest title “mom” to her three adult children and “mom-mom” to her two granddaughters. She lives in Delco, a suburb outside Philadelphia.