I Wrote About My Mother’s Suicide and Found My Own Voice Instead

I Wrote About My Mother’s Suicide and Found My Own Voice Instead

From Grief and Rebirth: Finding the Joy in Life by Irene Weinberg

May 13, 2026 · 43 min · Episode 363

About this episode

Samantha Rose discusses her journey of confronting her mother's suicide and reclaiming her voice through writing.

What happens when a professional ghostwriter, who has spent twenty years giving voice to others, is forced to confront her own story following her mother’s suicide? In this deeply moving episode, Emmy Award-winning producer and bestselling author Samantha Rose joins the show to discuss her award-winning memoir, Giving Up the Ghost . Samantha shares the tender, complicated journey of navigating her mother’s unexpected death by suicide—a tragedy that shattered her world and challenged her relationship with the truth. From the "constellation of questions" left in the wake of loss to the liberating power of saying the "scary thing" out loud, Sam explores how she moved from betrayal and anger into a space of compassion and rebirth. The conversation also delves into the fascinating world of automatic writing and dream visitation, revealing how Sam reclaimed her own voice after decades in the shadows. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL HEAR ABOUT THINGS LIKE: The shocking contrast between Samantha’s mother’s vibrant public persona and the hidden mental health struggles that led to her death. Why “saying the scary thing out loud” is a mechanical necessity for breaking generational secrets and…

People in this episode

Host: Irene Weinberg

Guest: Samantha Rose

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Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Giving Up the Ghost

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