I'm Dena. A wife, nurse, and mom to three incredible boys: Landon, Emerson, and Flynn, who will forever be eleven.

In August 2026, we lost Flynn after his battle with DIPG, an aggressive brainstem tumor. Our world changed forever. But somewhere in the heartbreak, I discovered something unexpected: even in the trashiest moments of life, there can still be flowers.

In this first episode, I'm sharing why I started this podcast, the meaning behind its name, and what Flynn taught me about finding joy even when life is unbelievably hard.

This isn't a podcast about fixing grief, pretending everything is okay, or finding a perfect ending.

It's about learning to live through the mess, finding people willing to sit beside you in it, and remembering that life doesn't have to be perfect to be worth living.

In this episode:

• Meet Dena and hear about Flynn
• Understanding DIPG and our family's journey
• Why I named this podcast This Club Is Trash
• Finding flowers in life's hardest moments
• Learning to live alongside grief
• Choosing joy without pretending the pain is gone

Whether you're grieving, supporting someone through something difficult, or just trying to make sense of life's unexpected challenges, there's a place for you here.

Nobody has to be here, but I'm glad we're in this dumpster fire together.

Subscribe for more honest conversations about grief, healing, hope, motherhood, and the beautiful mess of being human.

#thisclubistrash #griefjourney #findingjoy #dipg #griefsupport

00:00 Welcome to This Club Is Trash
00:09 Meet Dina and Her Family
00:18 Flynn's Story and DIPG Diagnosis
00:30 Why Start a Podcast After Losing a Child?
01:15 The Meaning Behind This Club Is Trash
02:10 Finding Flowers in the Trash
03:05 Choosing Joy Through the Hardest Moments
04:10 Life Keeps Moving After Loss
04:55 Healing Through the Trash
05:30 What Flynn Taught Me About Living
05:50 You're Welcome Here