Turning Tragedy into Legacy: Grief, Purpose, and Building an "Army" of Hope with Lisa Wysocky

Join co-hosts Stacie and Neelia on Transforming and Thriving for an extraordinarily moving and inspiring conversation with Lisa Wysocky—former award-winning horse trainer, acclaimed author, and founder of the nonprofit organization Colby’s Army.

In this episode, Lisa opens up about the shattering "before and after" moment that stopped her in her tracks: the tragic loss of her only son, Colby, to an opioid overdose. Refusing to let grief have the final word, Lisa channeled her heartbreak into an extraordinary legacy of healing and service. She shares how she mobilized an "army" of volunteers to step into the boots-on-the-ground homeless outreach and therapeutic riding work Colby would have done if he were still here.

Lisa unpacks the journey from the raw shock, trauma, and stigma of loss to discovering a profound spiritual calling. She details how her lifetime with horses prepared her to use these intuitive, prey-animal instincts as a mirror for emotional healing, and offers heartfelt encouragement for anyone sitting in the dark of their own grief. This episode is a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the life-changing power of choosing active love over despair.

In this episode, we cover:

• The shattering reality of losing an only child to an opioid overdose and finding a path forward through service.
• How Colby’s Army was born—from handing out simple backpacks to creating a comprehensive homeless outreach program.
• The intuitive power of horses in reflecting human emotion, restoring dignity, and guiding trauma survivors toward healing.
• Practical wisdom on navigating deep grief, offering yourself grace, and taking life 15 minutes at a time.
• Lisa’s background as an author of the Cat Enright equestrian mystery series and behind-the-scenes updates on its upcoming screen adaptation.

Find out more about Lisa Wysocky and Colby’s Army here:

• Websites: ColbysArmy.org | LisaWysocky.com
• Facebook: Facebook.com/ColbysArmy | Cat Enright Mystery Horsewoman
• Instagram & Socials: @lisawysocky | BlueSky
• Books: Available on Amazon

Find us here:

• Transforming and Thriving Linktree

If you are navigating a major life transition or a deep season of identity redesign, real transformation requires space, clarity, and forward movement! 🌊✨ Our podcast co-host and founder, Dr. Stacie Cooper/Weaver, is now offering something new: Stride & Thrive Coaching, which takes transition/life coaching out of the office and onto local trails, blending strengths-based coaching and mindfulness principles with the natural, stress-reducing rhythm of walking. She also designs and hosts interactive Shifting Horizons Vision Board Workshops incorporating gentle movement, guided visualization, positive psychology, and structured crafting to help you visually map out your next chapter (info here: Shifting Horizons Workshops and Coaching Containers . If you’re ready to quiet the noise and actively step into your next season, let's lace up—visit strideandthrivecoaching.com to find your pace today. 👟🌿

Music by https://www.bensound.com License code: BFZ5TTZVY9ZC7ZMK. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any affiliated organizations or sponsors.