Madison Reign: Mrs. Alabama America 2025 Brianna Sistrunk on Stillbirth, Faith & Turning Grief Into Purpose

What does it look like to turn the most devastating loss of your life into a platform that reaches millions?In this extraordinary episode of Cry It Out Loud, we sit down with Brianna Sistrunk — Mrs. Alabama America 2025 — who has just turned in her crown after a year of using one of the most visible platforms in the state to advocate openly and honestly for women navigating pregnancy loss, stillbirth, and infant loss.In 2015, Brianna lost her daughter Madison Reign — born still at 19 weeks. She has also endured an ectopic pregnancy. Rather than grieve in silence, Brianna picked up a camera in 2016 and began sharing her story on YouTube — raw, honest, and unscripted. Ten years later, women are still finding those videos and reaching out to say the words that change everything — me too.In this episode Brianna shares:Life before Madison — and who she was before grief reshaped everythingThe stillbirth of Madison Reign at 19 weeks and the loss nobody prepares you forNavigating ectopic pregnancy and carrying multiple lossesFaith, doubt, and finding Jesus Christ in the darkest season of lifeHow a YouTube video series became a ten year lifeline for grieving mothers worldwideUsing the Mrs. Alabama America 2025 platform to advocate for stillbirth awareness and pregnancy lossWhat bereaved mothers need that the world is not giving themThe legacy of Madison Reign — and what it means to carry her forwardThis episode is for every mother who has lost a baby and wondered if anyone would ever understand. For every woman who has grieved in silence because she didn't know where to turn. And for everyone who has ever asked whether their pain could ever become something that helps someone else.The answer is yes. Brianna's life is proof.Cry It Out Loud is hosted by Chasing the Rainbows, a 501(c)(3) national nonprofit providing free daily support for infertility, miscarriage, stillbirth, infant loss, and pregnancy after loss.Every loss matters. Every mother matters. Every baby loss matters.chasingtherainbows.org

What happens when you experience a miscarriage and the world expects you to just move on?In this powerful episode of Cry It Out Loud, we sit down with Jamilah Robinson, an entrepreneur, woman of faith, and co-founder of Missing Pieces Support Group in Houston, Texas, who experienced two miscarriages in 2018 and spent months grieving in silence, not knowing where to turn or who to tell.Jamilah opens up about the emotional and mental health weight of pregnancy loss that nobody prepares you for. The grief you carry publicly, the grief you perform your way through, and the moment she stopped suffering alone and found her people.She shares how faith carried her through the darkest season of her life, how her rainbow baby Lacy Olivia became her family's living promise, and how her own pain became the roadmap for thousands of other women who needed someone to say — me too.In this episode we cover:The emotional and mental health reality of miscarriage and pregnancy lossSuffering in silence — what grief actually feels like when no one talks about itFaith, anger, and finding God in the middle of devastating lossRainbow baby journeys — the beauty and the complicated feelings that come with themHow trauma can be repurposed into purpose for othersWhy community and peer support are critical after pregnancy and infant lossWhat bereaved mothers actually need from the people around themWhether you are navigating infertility, miscarriage, stillbirth, infant loss, or pregnancy after loss or supporting someone who is this episode will meet you exactly where you are.Cry It Out Loud is hosted by Chasing the Rainbows, a 501(c)(3) national nonprofit providing free daily support for infertility, miscarriage, stillbirth, infant loss, pregnancy after loss, and maternal mental health. Our programs serve thousands of bereaved parents nationwide through peer support, community, education, and advocacy at no cost to the families we serve.Every loss matters. Every family deserves support.chasingtherainbows.org

How does a marriage survive the unimaginable after the stillbirth of a baby?In this deeply moving episode of Cry It Out Loud, Celeste and Hannes Ringoot share the story of their daughter, Ellory, who was stillborn just eight months ago. Together, they open their hearts about falling in love, dreaming of becoming parents, and the heartbreaking day everything changed.But this conversation is about more than loss.It's about how two people grieve differently while choosing to stay connected. It's about protecting a relationship through unimaginable heartbreak, learning to love each other in new ways, and discovering that grief and hope can exist side by side.Since Ellory's passing, Celeste and Hannes have transformed their grief into purpose by completing monthly running challenges and marathons around the world to raise awareness for stillbirth, pregnancy loss, and infant loss ensuring that Ellory's life continues to make an impact.In this episode, we explore:Life before stillbirth and dreaming of becoming parentsThe emotional impact of stillbirth on a marriage and relationshipHow husbands and wives often grieve differently after losing a babyCommunication, intimacy, and staying connected after baby lossTurning heartbreak into advocacy through running and awarenessHonoring a baby's legacy after stillbirthFinding hope, healing, and purpose after pregnancy and infant lossWhether you have experienced miscarriage, stillbirth, infant loss, pregnancy loss, or are supporting someone who has, this episode is a powerful reminder that grief doesn't end love—it transforms it.Hosted by Chasing the Rainbows, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing free daily support for families navigating infertility, miscarriage, pregnancy loss, stillbirth, infant loss, and pregnancy after loss.Because every baby deserves to be remembered.Because every parent deserves to be supported.Because Every Loss Matters.Find support, volunteer, donate, or learn more at chasingtherainbows.org.

What does infertility actually feel like when no one around you understands?In this episode of Cry It Out Loud, we sit down with Lenore Grasso, Chasing the Rainbows New York State Ambassador, who opens her heart about her personal journey through infertility, TTC, and the emotional weight of a road to parenthood that looked nothing like she imagined.Lenore shares the grief of infertility, how it reshaped her identity, relationships, and mental health, and how she turned her pain into purpose by becoming an advocate for others who feel invisible in their struggle.We cover:The emotional and mental health reality of infertility & TTCGrief, hope, and resilience while trying to conceiveRelationships and identity through fertility challengesFinding community and purpose after heartbreakWhy no one should navigate infertility aloneThis episode is for anyone trying to conceive, navigating infertility, or supporting someone who is.Chasing the Rainbows is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit offering free daily support for infertility, pregnancy loss, stillbirth, infant loss, and pregnancy after loss.BabyLossAwareness.org

What happens to fathers when they lose a baby?In this powerful episode of Cry It Out Loud, host and founder of Chasing the Rainbows sits down with Robby Reider, co-founder of Sad Dads Club, a global grief support community for fathers navigating miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss.After the stillbirth of his daughter Lila in 2017, Robby found himself doing what so many grieving dads do: staying silent, staying strong, and suppressing his own heartbreak to hold space for his wife. What began as a raw, honest connection with two other fathers who knew that same silence eventually became Sad Dads Club, a movement reaching thousands of bereaved fathers worldwide.In this episode, we explore:• Why fathers are so often the "forgotten grievers" after pregnancy and baby loss• A father's unique grief journey after stillbirth, miscarriage, or infant loss• How losing a baby affects marriages and relationships — and what actually helps• The intersection of masculinity, mental health, and permission to grieve• What grieving dads truly need from their partners, families, and friends• How Sad Dads Club is redefining support for bereaved fathers globally• Finding community, healing, and hope after the unimaginableWhether you are a grieving father searching for words for what you feel, a partner trying to understand your husband's grief, or a friend or family member wanting to show up better, this episode is for you.This episode is shared ahead of Father's Day as a reminder that grief doesn't skip dads.Cry It Out Loud is hosted by Chasing the Rainbows, a 501(c)(3) national nonprofit providing free daily support for those experiencing infertility, miscarriage, stillbirth, infant loss, and pregnancy after loss.Learn more: chasingtherainbows.orgConnect with Sad Dads Club: saddadsclub.org

Male infertility affects nearly 50% of infertility cases yet so many couples still believe fertility struggles are “a woman’s issue.”This Men’s Health Awareness Month and Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re breaking the silence around one of the most overlooked conversations in reproductive health: male factor infertility.In this powerful episode of Cry It Out Loud, we sit down with Dr. Russell Hayden, male infertility specialist, microsurgeon, and urologist at Shady Grove Fertility, to answer the questions so many couples are desperately Googling — but rarely talking about openly.We dive deep into the science behind low sperm count, azoospermia, sperm DNA fragmentation, testosterone, varicoceles, lifestyle factors, recurrent miscarriage, IVF, ICSI, and unexplained infertility while also unpacking the emotional toll infertility takes on men and relationships.Because behind the lab results is often a man silently carrying shame, pressure, grief, and mental health struggles no one prepared him for.In this episode, we discuss:• The most common causes of male infertility• Why sperm health matters more than many realize• DNA fragmentation, recurrent miscarriage & embryo quality• Low testosterone myths and fertility misconceptions• When men should seek fertility testing• Male infertility treatments, surgery & IVF options• Men’s mental health during infertility and TTC• The emotional burden men often carry silentlyWhether you’re trying to conceive, navigating infertility, IVF, recurrent pregnancy loss, or simply want answers, this episode is one every couple should hear.Because infertility impacts families and men deserve support too.Hosted by Chasing the Rainbows, a 501(c)(3) national nonprofit providing free daily support for infertility, pregnancy loss, infant loss, and pregnancy after loss.👉 chasingtherainbows.org

Is it really as simple as “just lose weight”… or are we missing the bigger picture in fertility?In this powerful episode of Cry It Out Loud, we’re joined by reproductive endocrinologist Nicole M. Marchetto to unpack one of the most misunderstood and oversimplified topics in infertility: weight, metabolism, and reproductive health.For so many navigating infertility, PCOS, insulin resistance, or trying to conceive, the conversation around weight can feel frustrating, stigmatizing, and incomplete. Because fertility is not just about a number on a scale it’s about hormones, metabolic function, inflammation, stress, genetics, and how the body is actually functioning beneath the surface.This episode goes beyond surface-level advice and dives into what people are actively researching and questioning right now.In this episode, we explore:• Why “just lose weight” is often incomplete and misleading• The connection between insulin resistance, hormones, and ovulation• How metabolism impacts egg quality, implantation, and pregnancy outcomes• PCOS, inflammation, and what’s really happening in the body• Why two people with the same weight can have very different fertility outcomes• The role of nutrition, stress, and environment in reproductive health• How to approach weight and fertility without shame or oversimplificationWhether you’re trying to conceive, navigating infertility, or feeling stuck in the “do everything right” cycle, this conversation offers science, clarity, and compassion.Hosted by Chasing the Rainbows, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing free daily support for infertility, pregnancy loss, and pregnancy after loss. 👉 chasingtherainbows.org

Trying to conceive or carry a pregnancy after loss brings a unique kind of fear...one that lives in both the body and the mind.For many parents, the question isn’t just “Will this pregnancy work?”It’s also: “Can I trust my body again?”In this powerful episode of Cry It Out Loud, we’re joined by Gina Conley, a midwife, doula, pre/postnatal trainer, and author of Training for Two , to explore how the body holds grief, trauma, and healing after pregnancy and infant loss.Gina works closely with women navigating pregnancy after loss, postpartum recovery, and preparing the body for birth, helping them rebuild strength, reconnect with their bodies, and feel supported through every stage.This conversation goes far beyond fitness. We dive into the intersection of pelvic health, nervous system regulation, trauma, and rebuilding trust in your body after loss.In this episode, we explore:• How pregnancy loss can impact the body physically, not just emotionally• Rebuilding trust with your body when it feels like it “failed” you• Preparing your body for pregnancy after miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss• The role of pelvic health and core function in fertility and pregnancy• How trauma and grief live in the body and how movement can support healing• Navigating fear and anxiety during pregnancy after loss• Birth preparation after loss both physically and emotionally• How to approach exercise safely when trying to conceive or during pregnancy.Whether you are trying to conceive after loss, currently pregnant after loss, or navigating postpartum after a loss, this episode offers compassionate guidance, expert insight, and hope for reconnecting with your body.Your body is not broken. Your grief is valid. And healing is possible both physically and emotionally.Chasing the Rainbows provides free daily support, resources, and community for families navigating infertility, pregnancy loss, stillbirth, and infant loss. 👉 chasingtherainbows.org

What really happens in the ultrasound room during a miscarriage or pregnancy loss?And what are ultrasound techs or sonographers are seeing, feeling, and holding that they’re often not allowed to say out loud?In this deeply emotional and eye-opening episode of Cry It Out Loud, we sit down with Natalie Avni, a social media influencer and ultrasound technologist, to talk about a perspective that is rarely shared the experience of witnessing pregnancy loss from the other side of the screen.For many families, the ultrasound room is where hope lives…but it can also be where everything changes.In this conversation, we go beyond the clinical and into the human experience of what it’s like for sonographers to walk into rooms where joy, fear, and grief collide, and how they navigate moments that stay with them long after the appointment ends.In this episode, we discuss:What ultrasound techs see during miscarriage and pregnancy lossWhy sonographers sometimes go quiet — and what that silence can meanWhat they are allowed to say vs. not allowed to say during scansThe emotional toll of witnessing loss repeatedly as a healthcare providerHow ultrasound techs are trained to respond in heartbreaking momentsWhat they wish patients knew walking into an ultrasound appointmentThe most hurtful and helpful things said during loss experiencesHow to better support families in the moment of devastating newsThis episode offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look into one of the most vulnerable spaces in reproductive care helping listeners understand both the clinical boundaries and the emotional reality of pregnancy loss.If you have experienced miscarriage, stillbirth, or pregnancy loss, or have ever wondered what happens from the provider’s perspective, this conversation brings clarity, compassion, and connection to a moment that can feel incredibly isolating.Every loss matters. Every story matters. And even in silence, you are not alone.Chasing the Rainbows provides free daily support and resources for families navigating infertility, pregnancy loss, and infant loss. 👉 chasingtherainbows.org

Why does miscarriage keep happening even when everything appears “normal”?For families navigating recurrent pregnancy loss, the most painful part is often the unanswered questions. Being told it’s “bad luck” or “unexplained” can leave parents feeling confused, frustrated, and searching for deeper answers.In this powerful and in-depth episode of Cry It Out Loud, we’re joined by reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Ryan Martin to break down the real medical causes behind recurrent miscarriage and the critical factors that are often overlooked.This is not a surface-level conversation. We go beyond basic explanations and into the complex science of pregnancy loss, helping you understand what may actually be happening in your body. In this episode, we explore:When recurrent pregnancy loss should be fully evaluated and whether waiting for multiple miscarriages delays careWhat “chromosomal abnormality” really means, including aneuploidy vs. inherited conditions like balanced translocationsThe role of sperm health and DNA fragmentation in miscarriage and embryo developmentWhy miscarriage can still happen after IVF, even with genetically tested embryos (PGT-A)Uterine factors that may be missed, including septum, scar tissue (Asherman’s), and fibroidsHow endometriosis and chronic inflammation can impact implantation and early pregnancyThe truth about immune-related causes of miscarriage, including antiphospholipid syndrome and autoimmune conditionsThe role of progesterone and luteal phase defects in early pregnancy lossHow thyroid function, insulin resistance, and hormones influence pregnancy outcomesThe emerging role of epigenetics, stress, and environmental factorsWhat “unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss” really means and the limits of current testingWhen to see a reproductive genetic counselor and what advanced testing may provide answersIf you are navigating recurrent miscarriage or pregnancy loss, infertility, IVF failure, or pregnancy loss without clear answers, this episode will give you deeper insight, clarity, and validation.Your loss is real. Your questions are valid. And you deserve more than “we don’t know why.”Chasing the Rainbows provides free daily support and resources for families impacted by infertility, miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss.👉 chasingtherainbows.org