Behind every war hero lies an untold story of pain and resilience—join Becky Ellis as she breaks decades of silence in her unforgettable memoir.

In this episode, I’m joined by the author Becky Ellis who talks about her memoir, Little Avalanches. A daughter of a highly decorated combat veteran, Becky refers to herself as a “veteran of the war fought at home.” Her work highlights the often-overlooked impact of war Trauma on veterans’ families, capturing the silent struggles and resilience required to navigate life alongside a loved one carrying deep, unspoken scars. 

Throughout this episode, Becky describes her book Little Avalanches as a deeply personal account of living with a war-scarred father who carried a lifetime of unspoken trauma. She shares her journey of breaking through his silence to reveal his harrowing experiences and how, at the end of his life, open conversations helped them both heal. Her father, who never spoke about his past, finally relayed memories with fresh intensity and pain, showing the persistent psychological scars of war. Becky also provides practical advice on having empathetic conversations with veterans, emphasizing a personal approach and understanding the complexities of their experiences. Her unique perspective and advocacy offer a voice to families touched by trauma and a bridge to understanding for those seeking to connect more deeply with the experiences of veterans.

Tune in and listen to episode 282 of Grief and Happiness to explore the hidden impact of war trauma on families and discover how compassionate conversations can open pathways to healing and understanding.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• The Legacy of war trauma on families (1:58)
• Breaking through silence and the power of healing conversations (4:11)
• Understanding war and childhood trauma: A personal and emotional account (6:26)
• Connecting with veterans: Tips for a meaningful conversations (17:18)
• Encouragement to Confront Painful Histories and Cultivate Compassion (23:39)

Connect with Becky Ellis:

• Website
• Instagram
• Get Becky Ellis’ book!

Let’s Connect:

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter
• Pinterest
• The Grief and Happiness Alliance
• Book: Emily Thiroux Threatt – Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief

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Emily Thiroux Threatt Podcast Host, Facilitator, Author

Having gone through the experience of the deaths of so many loved ones, I have learned to face life with love, optimism, and joy.

I have kept journals and written to express myself most of my life which led me to a career of teaching writing and writing books. I naturally turned to writing to help deal with my grief, then I discovered I could use writing to help friends deal with grief, too.

In contemplating how I could best help the grieving people I was working with, my Ignite moment came when realized the importance of helping people understand the importance of happiness and how they could grieve and be happy at the same time.

To share my message, I host the Grief and Happiness podcast, I wrote the book Loving and Living Your Way Though Grief, I facilitate weekly meetings of the Grief and Happiness Alliance, I founded the Grief and Happiness nonprofit foundation, I publish a weekly newsletter and blog, and my new book, The Grief and Happiness Handbook is coming out soon.