In this episode of The Hanley Effect, hosts Dr. John Dyben and Dr. Rachel Docekal sit down with Angela Kennecke, award-winning investigative journalist, founder of Emily’s Hope, and host of the Grieving Out Loud podcast.
Angela shares the heartbreaking story of losing her 21-year-old daughter, Emily, to accidental fentanyl poisoning. What began as Angela’s reporting on the overdose crisis became deeply personal, and in the wake of unimaginable loss, she transformed grief into action, creating the non-profit Emily’s Hope.
This conversation explores the realities of substance use disorder, the dangers of the illicit drug supply, and why fentanyl awareness, naloxone access, and evidence-based prevention education are more important than ever. Angela also discusses how Emily’s Hope is expanding access to treatment scholarships, distributing naloxone across South Dakota, supporting overdose survivors, and building a K–12 substance use prevention curriculum designed to protect the next generation.
This episode is a moving conversation about addiction, loss, resilience, stigma, recovery, hope, and a reminder that no family should have to suffer in silence.
In This Episode, We Cover
- Angela Kennecke’s journey from journalist to advocate
- Emily’s story and the devastating impact of fentanyl poisoning
- How stigma keeps families silent about addiction and overdose loss
- Why naloxone/Narcan saves lives and belongs in every community
- The importance of early, age-appropriate, evidence-based prevention
- How peer support, youth empowerment, and family advocacy can change outcomes
- What resilience looks like after profound loss
Learn more about Emily’s Hope: Learn more about Emily’s Hope at emilyshope.charity.
Learn more about Hanley Foundation at hanleyfoundation.org or call 844-502-4673.
