The P-I-G: Episode 35
Be Willing to be Willing:
Lisa Espinoza on Grief, Joy & Losing Chandler
Some grief changes you instantly. Other grief keeps unfolding over time—quietly reshaping the way you move through the world, the way you love, and the way you carry the people you’ve lost.
In this deeply emotional conversation, Lisa Espinoza joins The P-I-G to share the layered story of loss that has shaped her life.
Lisa reflects on losing her mother at just 18 years old, becoming a young wife and mother while navigating profound grief, and ultimately facing the unimaginable loss of her youngest son, Chandler, in 2019 after he was struck by a car while riding his beloved BMX bike to work.
For 18 difficult days, her family lived between hope and heartbreak as Chandler remained on life support. And in the middle of that pain, they experienced additional trauma during his final care—ultimately losing the opportunity to fulfill Chandler’s wish of becoming an organ donor.
But what makes Lisa’s story so powerful isn’t just the heartbreak she’s endured. It’s the way she speaks about healing. About purpose. About continuing to live honestly in the middle of grief instead of trying to outrun it.
🎙️Throughout the episode, Lisa shares:
The emotional and physical realities of deep grief
How trauma changes the body and nervous system
Why joy and sorrow can exist at the same time
The importance of allowing yourself to feel everything fully
What it means to honor the people we love after they’re gone
One of the most moving moments in the conversation centers around a simple question: “What would honor Chandler?”
And from that question comes one of the most powerful invitations we’ve ever heard on the podcast: “Be willing to be willing… to be open to the possibility of joy.”
This episode is heartbreaking, hopeful, and profoundly human. And for anyone navigating grief, loss, trauma, or the long road of healing—it’s a reminder that joy may not disappear forever. Sometimes, it simply waits for us to become willing again.
Visit Lisa’s Website: https://www.lisaespinoza.com/ | Connect on Instagram: @lisawriteswell
Order the Book (“First, Brush Your Teeth”): https://www.lisaespinoza.com/first-brush-your-teeth
Resources
Grief & Child Loss Support
The Compassionate Friends
Support for families grieving the loss of a child, sibling, or grandchildWhat's Your Grief
Articles, resources, and community support for navigating grief and lossModern Loss
Honest conversations and support around grief, trauma, and healing
Organ Donation Awareness
Donate Life America
Information about organ, eye, and tissue donation, donor registration, and advocacyUNOS — United Network for Organ Sharing
Educational resources about transplantation and organ donation systems in the United States
Traumatic Brain Injury Resources
Brain Injury Association of America
Education, advocacy, and support resources for individuals and families impacted by traumatic brain injury
💗 From Our Hearts to Yours…
The P-I-G is a heartfelt, purpose-driven podcast exploring life, love, loss, and legacy through real conversations and meaningful stories. Together, we unpack the moments that shape us—the stories we carry, the messiness of being human, and what it means to leave something meaningful behind.
Each episode invites us to honor what matters most, remember that grief isn’t linear, navigate life’s hardest moments with PURPOSE, INTENTION, and GRATITUDE, and to be reminded that legacy isn’t just what we leave… it’s how we live—right now.
“Hearing the stories of others helps us create a more meaningful connection to our own.”
Because legacy is built in how we live, every single day.
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The P-I-G Podcast is 100% self-funded and ad-free. Each episode is a true labor of love and we couldn’t do this work without the support of our listening audience. If you have feedback, a story to tell, or expertise to share, we’d love to hear from you.
