He Lost His Brother, Then Lost Himself

He Lost His Brother, Then Lost Himself

From Grieving Out Loud: A Mother Coping with Loss in the Opioid Epidemic by Angela Kennecke

May 27, 2026 · 46 min · Season 8 · Episode 267

About this episode

Hakeem Bourne McFarlane discusses how he coped with the loss of his younger brother through sports and the challenges of grieving.

After a traumatic loss, like the death of someone we love, it can be tempting to avoid the hard work of grieving. Instead of facing that pain, people often try to numb it through drugs, alcohol or acting out. Others throw themselves into distractions, anything to avoid what’s really going on underneath. For today’s guest on Grieving Out Loud, Hakeem Bourne McFarlane, that outlet was sports. After his younger brother died from cancer at just six years old, Hakeem poured everything he had into ...

People in this episode

Host: Angela Kennecke

Guest: Hakeem Bourne McFarlane

Topics covered

  • grief
  • loss
  • opioid epidemic
  • sports
  • mental health

Keywords

  • grieving
  • loss
  • cancer
  • sports
  • mental health
  • opioid epidemic

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