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What happens when a mother can’t raise her children? Not out of neglect, but because systems, partners, and survival leave her no real choice?

This episode challenges the assumptions we place on “non-custodial mothers.” Rebekah Spicuglia explains how immigration rules, economic pressure, and unequal power led to her relinquishing custody of her son, Oscar, and how she channels her grief after his murder into research on gun violence and family separation.

And from Cameroon, Marie Abanga shares why escaping abuse meant leaving her three young sons behind.

For a full transcript of this episode, click here.

Suggested episodes:
Life after Parkland: A victim's dad turns to art and activism
The weight of family secrets: Finding freedom in the truth
The reality of 'Forever Parenting' when your child needs lifetime care

GUESTS: 
Rebekah Spicuglia: bereaved mother, writer, advocate, and PhD student in Health Policy & Management at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She focuses on gun violence and family separation, drawing on her own lived experience to inform her work
Marie Abanga: Cameroonian author and mental health advocate whose 2011 decision to give up custody of her children guides her mission to support others facing loss, stigma, and recovery

What happens when a mother can&rsquo;t raise her children? Not out of neglect, but because systems, partners, and survival leave her no real choice?
This episode challenges the assumptions we place on &ldquo;non-custodial mothers.&rdquo; Rebekah Spicuglia explains how immigration rules, economic pressure, and unequal power led to her relinquishing custody of her son, Oscar, and how she channels her grief after his murder into research on gun violence and family separation.
And from Cameroon, Marie Abanga shares why escaping abuse meant leaving her three young sons behind.
For a full transcript of this episode, <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/audacious-with-chion-wolf-transcript-for-what-two-mothers-who-relinquished-custody-want-you-to-understand" data-cms-id="0000019b-3770-d9af-a7bb-ff77ab870000" data-cms-href="https://www.ctpublic.org/audacious-with-chion-wolf-transcript-for-what-two-mothers-who-relinquished-custody-want-you-to-understand">click here.</a>
Suggested episodes:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/audacious-with-chion-wolf/2022-10-20/life-after-parkland-a-victims-dad-turns-to-art-and-activism">Life after Parkland: A victim's dad turns to art and activism</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/audacious-with-chion-wolf/2024-12-20/the-weight-of-family-secrets-finding-freedom-in-the-truth">The weight of family secrets: Finding freedom in the truth</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/audacious-with-chion-wolf/2023-05-12/the-reality-of-forever-parenting-when-your-child-needs-lifetime-care">The reality of 'Forever Parenting' when your child needs lifetime care</a></li>
</ul>
GUESTS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Rebekah Spicuglia: bereaved mother, writer, advocate, and PhD student in Health Policy &amp; Management at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She focuses on gun violence and family separation, drawing on her own lived experience to inform her work</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.marieabanga.com/">Marie Abanga</a>: Cameroonian author and mental health advocate whose 2011 decision to give up custody of her children guides her mission to support others facing loss, stigma, and recovery</li>
</ul>

Audacious with Chion Wolf spotlights the stories of people whose experiences, professions, or conditions defy convention or are often misunderstood. Guided by deep curiosity and genuine compassion, the team behind Audacious creates space for the kinds of stories that rarely get told - and the kinds of questions we're often afraid to ask. From those speaking publicly for the very first time to voices already known around the world, every guest is met with care, and every story is honored as both deeply personal and profoundly human.

For more: ctpublic.org/audacious

Audacious with Chion Wolf spotlights the stories of people whose experiences, professions, or conditions defy convention or are often misunderstood. Guided by deep curiosity and genuine compassion, the team behind Audacious creates space for the kinds of stories that rarely get told - and the kinds of questions we're often afraid to ask. From those speaking publicly for the very first time to voices already known around the world, every guest is met with care, and every story is honored as both deeply personal and profoundly human.
For more: <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/audacious-with-chion-wolf">ctpublic.org/audacious</a>

Audacious with Chion Wolf spotlights the stories of people whose experiences, professions, or conditions defy convention or are often misunderstood. 

Audacious with Chion Wolf

Audacious with Chion Wolf spotlights the stories of people whose experiences, professions, or conditions defy convention or are often misunderstood.

Guided by deep curiosity and genuine compassion, the team behind Audacious creates space for the kinds of stories that rarely get told - and the kinds of questions we’re often afraid to ask. From those speaking publicly for the very first time to voices already known around the world, every guest is met with care, and every story is honored as both deeply personal and profoundly human.

Listen at ctpublic.org/audacious

Support is provided by a generous contribution from Suzanne Hopgood, in Memory of Frank Lord.

Audacious with Chion Wolf spotlights the stories of people whose experiences, professions, or conditions defy convention or are often misunderstood.
Guided by deep curiosity and genuine compassion, the team behind Audacious creates space for the kinds of stories that rarely get told - and the kinds of questions we&rsquo;re often afraid to ask. From those speaking publicly for the very first time to voices already known around the world, every guest is met with care, and every story is honored as both deeply personal and profoundly human.
Listen at <a href="http://ctpublic.org/audacious">ctpublic.org/audacious</a>
Support is provided by a generous contribution from Suzanne Hopgood, in Memory of Frank Lord.

What two mothers who relinquished custody want you to understand 

How brave can a nine-year-old be?

We follow Lola Fraisse from Kidderminster, England, as she leaves home for six months to live with a host family in Lüneburg, Germany. She learns a new language, new rules, and new ways to see herself. Along the way, Lola grows her confidence, builds friendships, and even picks up a slight German accent!

We also hear from Lola’s mom, Jennie, who did a childhood exchange herself and knows exactly what this kind of leap can set in motion for a life. And we meet Sylvie, Lola’s host mom, on welcoming a child into your family, and then saying goodbye. 

After Lola returns to England, the story flips: her exchange sister Hanna comes to stay, and the girls describe what it’s like to become sisters on purpose.

 

Suggested episodes:
Francesca Abroad: Following an American high school student’s year in Sarajevo 
Salaar Stateside! Following a Pakistani high school student’s year in the US 

 

GUESTS: 
Lola Fraisse: a girl from Worcestershire, England, who embarked on a student exchange in Germany for six months when she was nine years old through the ALLEF program
Jennie Fraisse: Lola’s mother, who was an exchange student herself at a young age. Her family hosted Lola’s exchange partner, Hanna
Hanna Michaelis: a girl from Northern Germany and Lola’s exchange partner. Hanna’s family hosted Lola for six months, and Hanna spent six months in England with Lola’s family 
Sylvie Michaelis: Hanna’s mother and Lola’s host mom

How brave can a nine-year-old be?
We follow Lola Fraisse from Kidderminster, England, as she leaves home for six months to live with a host family in L&uuml;neburg, Germany. She learns a new language, new rules, and new ways to see herself. Along the way, Lola grows her confidence, builds friendships, and even picks up a slight German accent!
We also hear from Lola&rsquo;s mom, Jennie, who did a childhood exchange herself and knows exactly what this kind of leap can set in motion for a life. And we meet Sylvie, Lola&rsquo;s host mom, on welcoming a child into your family, and then saying goodbye.&nbsp;
After Lola returns to England, the story flips: her exchange sister Hanna comes to stay, and the girls describe what it&rsquo;s like to become sisters on purpose.
&nbsp;
Suggested episodes:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/audacious-with-chion-wolf/2022-08-25/francesca-abroad-following-an-american-high-school-students-year-in-sarajevo">Francesca Abroad: Following an American high school student&rsquo;s year in Sarajevo&nbsp;</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/audacious-with-chion-wolf/2024-12-06/salaar-stateside-following-a-pakistani-high-school-students-year-in-the-us">Salaar Stateside! Following a Pakistani high school student&rsquo;s year in the US&nbsp;</a></li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
GUESTS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Lola Fraisse: a girl from Worcestershire, England, who embarked on a student exchange in Germany for six months when she was nine years old through the <a href="https://allef.org.uk/">ALLEF program</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Jennie Fraisse: Lola&rsquo;s mother, who was an exchange student herself at a young age. Her family hosted Lola&rsquo;s exchange partner, Hanna</li>
<li aria-level="1">Hanna Michaelis: a girl from Northern Germany and Lola&rsquo;s exchange partner. Hanna&rsquo;s family hosted Lola for six months, and Hanna spent six months in England with Lola&rsquo;s family&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Sylvie Michaelis: Hanna&rsquo;s mother and Lola&rsquo;s host mom</li>
</ul>

Lola leaves home: Following a nine-year-old exchange student’s adventure

After cancer, one woman swam farther than anyone ever had in a lake. Another ran 104 marathons in 104 days on a carbon-fiber running blade.

Marathon swimmer Sarah Thomas returned to the water following aggressive breast cancer and went on to complete multiple record-setting open-water swims. 

And Jacky Hunt-Broersma lost her leg to bone cancer, then redefined endurance one marathon at a time.

Their stories are about ambition, adaptation, and the audacity to ask the body for more.

 

Suggested episodes:
From wingsuit BASE jumping to record-breaking South Pole expeditions with Ellen Brennan Frat and Liv Arnesen
What a runner’s high feels like when you’re 105 years old
What it’s like to be allergic to water
Below the surface: The stories behind underwater world records 

 

GUESTS: 
Sarah Thomas: marathon swimmer who holds multiple world records for the longest current-neutral swims ever completed, including a 104.6-mile swim in Lake Champlain. After aggressive breast cancer treatment, she returned to the water and became the first person to complete four consecutive crossings of the English Channel
Jacky Hunt-Broersma: an ultrarunner and amputee who lost her left leg to bone cancer at age 26. In 2022, she ran 104 marathons in 104 consecutive days on a carbon-fiber running blade, setting a Guinness World Record and raising nearly $200,000 to help other amputees access running prosthetics. Her memoir, Duct Tape and Determination: A True Story of Turning Devastation into Grit, is coming out in August 2026 

After cancer, one woman swam farther than anyone ever had in a lake. Another ran 104 marathons in 104 days on a carbon-fiber running blade.
Marathon swimmer Sarah Thomas returned to the water following aggressive breast cancer and went on to complete multiple record-setting open-water swims.&nbsp;
And Jacky Hunt-Broersma lost her leg to bone cancer, then redefined endurance one marathon at a time.
Their stories are about ambition, adaptation, and the audacity to ask the body for more.
&nbsp;
Suggested episodes:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/audacious-with-chion-wolf/2025-02-14/from-wingsuit-base-jumping-to-record-breaking-south-pole-expeditions-with-ellen-brennan-frat-and-liv-arnesen">From wingsuit BASE jumping to record-breaking South Pole expeditions with Ellen Brennan Frat and Liv Arnesen</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/audacious-with-chion-wolf/2021-09-16/audacious-elders">What a runner&rsquo;s high feels like when you&rsquo;re 105 years old</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/audacious-with-chion-wolf/2021-11-05/extreme-allergies-and-rare-conditions-can-teach-us-a-lot-about-human-tolerance">What it&rsquo;s like to be allergic to water</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/audacious-with-chion-wolf/2023-07-31/below-the-surface-the-stories-behind-underwater-world-records">Below the surface: The stories behind underwater world records&nbsp;</a></li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
GUESTS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://sarahthomasswims.com/">Sarah Thomas</a>: marathon swimmer who holds multiple world records for the longest current-neutral swims ever completed, including a 104.6-mile swim in Lake Champlain. After aggressive breast cancer treatment, she returned to the water and became the first person to complete four consecutive crossings of the English Channel</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.ncrunnerjacky.com/">Jacky Hunt-Broersma</a>: an ultrarunner and amputee who lost her left leg to bone cancer at age 26. In 2022, she ran 104 marathons in 104 consecutive days on a carbon-fiber running blade, setting a Guinness World Record and raising nearly $200,000 to help other amputees access running prosthetics. Her memoir, <a href="https://us.amazon.com/Duct-Tape-Determination-Turning-Devastation/dp/146425558X">Duct Tape and Determination: A True Story of Turning Devastation into Grit</a>, is coming out in August 2026&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

A marathon swimmer and ultrarunner: surviving cancer, breaking records 

Meet two men who survived suicide attempts, and built lives around helping others imagine a future beyond despair. 

Kevin Hines, one of the few to survive a jump from the Golden Gate Bridge, reflects on the instant regret, the long recovery, and the tools he uses when “brain pain” returns - recorded just days before the 25th anniversary of his attempt. 

Then, Connecticut therapist Steve MacHattie shares what it means to live with chronic suicidal urges, after his first attempt at six years old, and how reaching for connection can change the outcome. 

Resources:
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline  
Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741
Connecticut Suicide Advisory Board
In an emergency, please call or text 911

 

Suggested episodes:
911, What's Your Emergency? Tales From Dispatch
Finding purpose in life after accidentally killing someone
What it's like surviving a plane crash
Equine therapy

 

GUESTS: 
Kevin Hines: suicide attempt survivor, author, film producer, and mental health advocate. At 19, he survived a jump from the Golden Gate Bridge. Over the past 25 years, he has dedicated himself to suicide prevention, sharing his story to reduce stigma and help people through moments of crisis. Kevin is the author of Cracked, Not Broken, The Art of Being Broken, and The Art of Wellness, hosts the HINESIGHTS podcast, and was a leading voice in the effort to install safety nets on the Golden Gate Bridge. His latest documentary, Death Bridge, is set to be released in 2027
Steve MacHattie: a suicide attempt survivor, clinical social worker (LCSW), and founder of the Charter Oak Family Center in Manchester, Connecticut. He first attempted suicide at six years old, and today he supports clients ages 5 to 105 and serves as co-chair of the Connecticut Suicide Advisory Board’s Lived Experience Committee. He also writes poetry used in clinical trainings to help care providers see the humanity and strength in the people they serve

Meet two men who survived suicide attempts, and built lives around helping others imagine a future beyond despair.&nbsp;
Kevin Hines, one of the few to survive a jump from the Golden Gate Bridge, reflects on the instant regret, the long recovery, and the tools he uses when &ldquo;brain pain&rdquo; returns - recorded just days before the 25th anniversary of his attempt.&nbsp;
Then, Connecticut therapist Steve MacHattie shares what it means to live with chronic suicidal urges, after his first attempt at six years old, and how reaching for connection can change the outcome.&nbsp;
Resources:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://988lifeline.org/">988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline </a>&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.crisistextline.org/">Crisis Text Line</a>: text HOME to 741741</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.preventsuicidect.org/">Connecticut Suicide Advisory Board</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">In an emergency, please call or text 911</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Suggested episodes:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/mental-health/2021-05-21/911-whats-your-emergency-tales-from-dispatch">911, What's Your Emergency? Tales From Dispatch</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/audacious-with-chion-wolf/2021-12-09/finding-purpose-in-life-after-accidentally-killing-someone">Finding purpose in life after accidentally killing someone</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/audacious-with-chion-wolf/2022-04-21/what-its-like-surviving-a-plane-crash">What it's like surviving a plane crash</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Equine therapy</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
GUESTS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://kevinhinesstory.com/">Kevin Hines</a>: suicide attempt survivor, author, film producer, and mental health advocate. At 19, he survived a jump from the Golden Gate Bridge. Over the past 25 years, he has dedicated himself to suicide prevention, sharing his story to reduce stigma and help people through moments of crisis. Kevin is the author of Cracked, Not Broken, The Art of Being Broken, and The Art of Wellness, hosts the <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1ToYhTjeTKabh9Os8vIiEp">HINESIGHTS podcast</a>, and was a leading voice in the effort to install safety nets on the Golden Gate Bridge. His latest documentary, Death Bridge, is set to be released in 2027</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.charteroakfamilycenter.com/about-5">Steve MacHattie</a>: a suicide attempt survivor, clinical social worker (LCSW), and founder of the Charter Oak Family Center in Manchester, Connecticut. He first attempted suicide at six years old, and today he supports clients ages 5 to 105 and serves as co-chair of the <a href="https://www.preventsuicidect.org/">Connecticut Suicide Advisory Board</a>&rsquo;s Lived Experience Committee. He also writes poetry used in clinical trainings to help care providers see the humanity and strength in the people they serve</li>
</ul>

What two mothers who relinquished custody want you to understand

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