In this episode of Interrupting My Own Thoughts, Jess shares an unexpected encounter on a park bench with Connor—a grieving, neurodivergent stranger whose hugs, stories, and “honk” sound effects turned into a masterclass on empathy.

Together, Jess and Haley unpack what it means to be a “soft place” in a hard world, the power of boundaries wrapped in kindness, and how sobriety opens the door to moments that might otherwise be missed.

And just when you think the story is done, an epilogue unfolds at a BC Lions football game—with songs, synchronicities, and a reminder that grief, connection, and magic don’t always show up where you expect them.

It’s tender, it’s raw, it’s funny in the way only Jess can make it—and it’s proof that sometimes the smallest moments become the biggest miracles.