))
Hidden Truths, Uncovered Roots: The Story of The Not-So Only Child
Manage episode 519080288 series 3648910
What if one discovery rewrote everything you thought you knew about your life?
When Rich Boerner flew across the country to clean out his late mother’s apartment after her passing, he expected grief — not a total rewrite of his family history. Inside her nightstand, he found a letter that revealed a secret she had kept his entire life: the truth about his father, his identity, and the family he never knew he had.
In this honest and heartfelt conversation, Rich — longtime radio producer, podcaster, storyteller, and author of The Not-So Only Child — shares what it was like to uncover the unimaginable, and how the experience transformed his understanding of love, legacy, and truth.
We talk about:
• How hidden family stories shape identity and belonging
• Grieving the loss of a parent while uncovering new truths
• The emotional impact of silence and secrecy in families
• What it means to “rewrite” your story with compassion
• The power of humor, humility, and healing through honesty
Rich’s story reminds us that truth doesn’t erase love — it deepens it. And sometimes, the family we lose isn’t the only one we find.
🎧 Listen and share at thePIGpodcast.com or on your favorite platform.
📖 Purchase the book and connect with Rich.
Support the show
Hearing the stories of others helps us create a more meaningful connection to our own—because legacy isn’t just what we leave behind, it’s how we live right now.
💬 Subscribe & Leave a Review
Please subscribe on your favorite platform, leave a 5-star review, and share this episode with someone who may need to hear it!
🔗 Connect & Follow Along
If you have a personal story or expertise to share, we’d love to hear from you. To learn more about The P-I-G, complete the guest form, and connect on social:
🌐 www.thepigpodcast.com
📬 thepigpodcast.com/contact
📱 Facebook, Instagram & LinkedIn
💖 Support Our Mission
Each episode of The P-I-G is created with deep care and intention. If The P-I-G has touched your heart, please consider supporting us or becoming a sponsor: https://www.thepigpodcast.com/sponsorship
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2449606/support
Chapters
1. Hidden Truths, Uncovered Roots: The Story of The Not-So Only Child (00:00:00)
2. Opening: Drafts Before Truth (00:00:06)
3. Introducing Rich And The Book (00:01:12)
4. The Nightstand Discovery (00:02:26)
5. Narratives We Build From Childhood (00:04:54)
6. Grief’s Hole And Early Years (00:09:47)
7. Single Mom, Sparse Means, Big Love (00:15:12)
8. The Script About “Dad” (00:19:55)
9. Becoming A Parent With No Blueprint (00:24:20)
10. Audiobook As Healing And Legacy (00:28:52)
11. Encouragement, Faith, And Flexibility (00:34:00)
12. Opening Doors And Facing Shadows (00:40:05)
13. Curiosity Over Fear (00:46:16)
14. Baseball As Bond And Identity (00:52:05)
15. Diabetes And The Lost Little League (00:58:54)
16. Coaching, Patience, And Redemption (01:05:52)
17. Small-Town Life Beside A Big City (01:14:12)
18. Radio Breaks, Setbacks, Reinvention (01:20:10)
19. Florida To LA: Tumult And Caregiving (01:29:18)
20. Losing Mom And Finding Letters (01:36:41)
21. Choosing When Not To Reach Out (01:44:01)
23 episodes
Share
