The Brooke Hemingway Show
When Pain Becomes Purpose
Some conversations challenge the way you think about the world, and this is one of them. In today's episode, I sit down with my friend Kim Witczak, an advocate whose life was forever changed after the unexpected death of her husband, Woody, in 2003. What began as unimaginable grief eventually became a decades-long mission to help families ask better questions, advocate for greater transparency, and rethink how we approach mental health, medication, and informed consent. Kim shares the heartbreaking story of losing Woody just weeks after he was prescribed an antidepressant for insomnia. As she searched for answers, she uncovered information that ultimately led her to become one of the nation's leading patient safety advocates. Her work helped bring greater awareness to the risks associated with antidepressants and contributed to the addition of stronger warning labels on these medications. But this conversation isn't simply about medication. It's about something much deeper. We talk about what it means to trust your own intuition, to question what doesn't feel right, and to recognize that our bodies and our spirits often know more than we give them credit for. We discuss the importance of informed consent, why asking questions is not the same as rejecting modern medicine, and how easily we can outsource our own authority without realizing it. One of the themes that resonated with me most was Kim's willingness to share not only the external battle she fought, but the internal one as well. For years, advocacy became a place to pour her grief. Eventually she realized she also had to slow down, allow herself to feel, and learn how to live fully again. That part of her story is something I think so many high-achieving women will relate to. Whether you're navigating grief, struggling with anxiety, supporting someone you love, or simply wanting to become a more informed advocate for your own health, I believe this conversation will leave you thinking differently. More than anything, I hope it reminds you that your voice matters, your intuition matters, and asking questions is one of the most powerful things you can do. In this episode we discuss: Kim's story of losing her husband, Woody, and how tragedy redirected her life's purpose How pain can become purpose when we're willing to use our experiences to help others The importance of informed consent and asking better questions about our healthcare Why intuition deserves a seat at the table when making important decisions Processing grief instead of numbing it The danger of outsourcing our personal authority Learning to trust ourselves again Finding hope, healing, and purpose after profound loss Why growth often begins on the other side of discomfort How sharing our stories helps other people feel less alone You can connect with Kim and follow her work here: • Website: https://www.woodymatters.com • Instagram: @kim_witczak • Substack: (UN)Acceptable Collateral Damage — https://acceptablecollateraldamage.substack.com • X/Twitter: @woodymatters As always, if this conversation resonated with you, I'd be so grateful if you would share this episode with a friend, leave a review, and let us know what impacted you most. Those messages truly matter, and they help these conversations reach the people who need them most.
