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Unspoken Grief

Unspoken Grief

By: Michael Vinton Kristina Faulkner Tina Chevalier
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About this listen

 If you’ve ever felt alone in your sorrow, this podcast is for you. Welcome all to Unspoken Grief, brought to you by the nonprofit organization Impacted Survivors of Murder-Suicide. Each episode, you will hear the real, raw stories of those who’ve lost loved ones to murder-suicides — stories that have been kept in the shadows for far too long. These are the voices of survivors: People who have the strength to speak their truth.

Hosts Michael Vinton, Tina Chevalier, and Kristina Faulkner will explore the stories of silent sorrow, hidden pain, and the unspoken emotions that shape lives. As loss survivors themselves, they have searched for ways to navigate this complex, layered grief pattern that many other loss survivors face.

In doing so, Impacted Survivors was created out of the need to cope in the aftermath and to help others. A safe place of understanding where they not only support loss survivors but together they also raise awareness of this underserved and overlooked community. Impacted Survivors provides many resources, including a 6-week grief course, a peer support group, comfort calls, a blog written by survivors as well as guest bloggers, and now the podcast. We hope to help every and any person to NOT feel so alone and isolated in their grief journey. As survivors, we can feel left behind, but we should never be made to feel responsible.

Join us, as together, we will find strength in our silent struggles.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Copyright Impacted Survivors Economics Hygiene & Healthy Living Management Management & Leadership Personal Development Personal Success Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
Episodes
  • Ep. 7 - Grief in the Gray: The Stories You’re Not Hearing About Murder-Suicide

    Ep. 7 - Grief in the Gray: The Stories You’re Not Hearing About Murder-Suicide
    Apr 28 2026
    In this episode of Unspoken Grief, hosts Michael Vinton and Tina Chevalier talk about their survivor-led nonprofit community, ISMS (Impacted Survivors of Murder Suicide), which offers peer support spaces, awareness, and advocacy, especially for families of the person who caused harm. Michael and Tina share their experiences losing their loved ones five years ago, describing shock, sleeplessness, confusion, stigma, and the difficulty of grieving someone who also caused harm, while emphasizing that loved ones are “more than their final act.” They discuss ripple effects on friends, neighbors, witnesses, and first responders, the long journey after headlines fade, practical aftermath issues, and concerns about sensationalized media language and oversimplified explanations. They highlight hope found through community, expand support calls, and invite listeners to access resources at impactedsurvivors.org988 Lifeline number: https://988lifeline.org/ At the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, we understand that life's challenges can sometimes be complex. Whether you're facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, our caring counselors are here for you. You are not alone. Didi Hirsch Mental Services: didihirsch.org Crisis Text LineText HOME to 741741 Free, 24/7 Mental Health Support Michael VintonEmail: info@impactedsurvivors.com Website: www.michaelvinton.com http://www.impactedsurvivors.orgPodcast: Unspoken Grief IG: @therealmichaelvintonFB: Michael VintonLinkedin: m/ichael-vinton-6702a373IDMB: Michael Vinton (III)Headshot: Headshot 1 Headshot 2 Tina ChevalierEmail: Tina@impactedsurvivors.com Website: www.impactedsurvivors.org Podcast: Unspoken GriefIG: @impactedsurvivorsofmsFB: FacebookHeadshot; Headshot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    53 mins
  • Ep. 6 – Dr. Thomas Joiner: Inside The Mind, Outside The Narrative: Rethinking What Drives Murder-Suicide

    Ep. 6 – Dr. Thomas Joiner: Inside The Mind, Outside The Narrative: Rethinking What Drives Murder-Suicide
    Apr 14 2026
    In this episode of Unspoken Grief, hosts Michael Vinton and Tina Chevalier welcome psychologist and researcher Dr. Thomas Joiner, whose work is widely cited in survivor communities and who authored The Perversion of Virtue, a book the hosts frequently reference in presentations about murder-suicide. Joiner explains how his research led him to conclude most murder-suicides are planned and rooted in a distorted, “virtuous” rationale tied to four perverted virtues—justice, mercy, duty, and glory—illustrating examples including Columbine and the influence of Timothy McVeigh. The group discusses stigma faced by survivors, language challenges around “perpetrator,” why families may not see their loved one as suicidal, the value of psychological autopsies, and how suicide prevention strategies like means safety and effective CBT may also prevent murder-suicide.988 Lifeline number: https://988lifeline.org/ At the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, we understand that life's challenges can sometimes be complex. Whether you're facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, our caring counselors are here for you. You are not alone. Didi Hirsch Mental Services: didihirsch.org Crisis Text LineText HOME to 741741 Free, 24/7 Mental Health Support Dr Thomas Joiner:Email: joiner@psy.fsu.eduBook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0199334552?ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_WTDG24DTBD8N6ZD1RAEB&bestFormat=trueWebsite: Thomas Joiner | Department of PsychologyGeorgia Commission on Family Violence Michael VintonEmail: info@impactedsurvivors.com Website: www.michaelvinton.com http://www.impactedsurvivors.orgPodcast: Unspoken Grief IG: @therealmichaelvintonFB: Michael VintonLinkedin: m/ichael-vinton-6702a373IDMB: Michael Vinton (III)Headshot: Headshot 1 Headshot 2 Tina ChevalierEmail: Tina@impactedsurvivors.com Website: www.impactedsurvivors.org Podcast: Unspoken GriefIG: @impactedsurvivorsofmsFB: FacebookHeadshot; Headshot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    1 hr
  • Ep. 5 Unspoken Roundtable - What if?

    Ep. 5 Unspoken Roundtable - What if?
    Jul 15 2025
    In this heartfelt episode of the Unspoken Grief podcast, hosts Tina Chevalier, Kristina Faulkner, and Michael Venton dive deep into their personal stories as survivors of murder-suicides and wonder what life might be like if they had never had to face such tragedies. They go on to explore some of the positive and strange outcomes that have occurred since their loses as well. They also share updates from recent conferences, exciting developments in their nonprofit work, and the new grief course designed for children. Join them for a poignant discussion on turning tragedy into purposeful living, and discover how love, community, and being present in the moment have been crucial in their healing journeys. This episode is an invaluable resource for anyone affected by trauma and looking for support and understanding.

    988 Lifeline number: https://988lifeline.org/
    At the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, we understand that life's challenges can sometimes be complex. Whether you're facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, our caring counselors are here for you. You are not alone.

    Didi Hirsch Mental Services: didihirsch.org

    Crisis Text Line Text HOME to 741741 Free, 24/7 Mental Health Support

    Michael Vinton
    Email: info@impactedsurvivors.com
    Website: www.michaelvinton.com
    http://www.impactedsurvivors.org
    IG: @therealmichaelvinton
    FB: Michael Vinton
    Linkedin: m/ichael-vinton-6702a373
    IDMB: Michael Vinton (III)

    Tina Chevalier
    Email: Tina@impactedsurvivors.com
    Website: www.impactedsurvivors.org
    IG: @impactedsurvivorsofms

    Kristina Faulkner
    Email: kbellatino@gmail.com
    Website: www.getinspiredtherapy.com
    www.impactedsurvivors.org

    CHAPTERS:
    00:00 Introduction and Welcome
    02:03 Honoring Lost Loved Ones
    04:32 Conference Highlights and Updates
    10:50 Children's Grief Course Announcement
    13:02 Reflecting on Personal Loss and Growth
    27:40 Struggles of Stepping into New Roles
    30:05 The Importance of Community for Survivors
    39:48 Fears of Future Losses
    47:13 Coping Mechanisms and Personal Growth
    55:43 Closing Thoughts and Resources

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    57 mins
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