Dying Out Loud Podcast

Masterclass in Authenticity: How to Attract the Best Support System (with Fritz & Holly Heffinger)

Host Kris Saim welcomes his old friends, Fritz and Holly Heffinger, owners of Out Cold Marketing, for a conversation spanning two decades. Their friendship began just after Kris came out, making them "some of the first people that didn't know me from before" when he was pretending to be someone he wasn't.
Kris shares that their immediate welcome, laid-back energy, and willingness to share their friends gave him a massive boost of confidence and created a community where he finally felt "at home".
Fritz and Holly, who recently sold their successful business, share their life philosophy: lead with kindness and authenticity. They offer a masterclass in relationship building, urging listeners: Don't wallow in sadness—take control of your life and take steps to change what you don't like. This episode is a powerful reminder that true friendship endures, and all it takes is a simple text message to rekindle a meaningful bond.

Catalyst to Courage: The Survivor Who Changed My Story (with Danielle Ripley-Burgess)

Host Kris Saim welcomes Danielle Ripley-Burgess, VP of Disease Awareness at Fight Colorectal Cancer (Fight CRC) and a three-time colon cancer survivor. Their friendship began in Kris's ICU room, the day after he awoke from a three-day coma during his first diagnosis.
Danielle showed up with her heart wide open , sharing her story and truth to offer hope and permission to imagine a future. She explains how finding community (like The Colon Club) gave her purpose after being told at 17 she was "too young" and "rare".
This conversation is a profound tribute to the power of presence. Kris shares that Danielle was the catalyst who taught him that storytelling is necessary to live a fully authentic life , eventually leading him to start this podcast. They stress that the greatest gift you can give someone who is hurting is simply your presence , whether in silence or with an acknowledgement that their pain is recognized.

Blueprint for Self-Love: Loyalty, Authenticity, and Friendships That Anchors You (Kelly Oettinger)

This episode honors a friendship born out of the highly unconventional world of professional bass fishing and the road trips of the early 2000s. Kris Saim welcomes his great friend Kelly Oettinger to discuss the lasting loyalty and acceptance that anchored Kris through major life moments, including his coming out.
Kris and Kelly reflect on a time in their lives when they were both searching for where they "slotted in the world", and how their mutual transparency and willingness to be vulnerable forged an immediate, genuine connection. Kelly describes Kris as incredibly kind, powerful, and a champion for people, expressing that she felt seen and understood by him early on.
This conversation is a powerful exploration of healthy adult relationships, reminding listeners that true friendship doesn't require constant contact but rather enduring value: "It doesn't change the value of them to you... that's the lifelong friendships you can't beat 'em". Kris shares how Kelly’s unconditional acceptance gave him a blueprint for self-love and what he should expect from every person in his life. The conversation closes with a thoughtful reflection on living authentically, using the awareness of our finite time

Ignore the Hard Stop: Building Trust & Connection at Work (with Ben James)

The Value of Consistency: Finding Mentorship and Trust with Ben James
This episode highlights the profound value of meaningful relationships that start at work and evolve into something more. Kris Saim welcomes Ben James, a colleague and Chief Innovation Officer, whose consistent presence, laughter, and coaching conversations have become a grounding rhythm in Kris's life.
Ben models the kind of intentional leadership that believes in making time for human connection in a fast-paced professional world. He reveals that his strategy is to create "parking lot time" with colleagues—the space outside the formal meeting—which instantly builds the trust needed for genuine collaboration. Kris shares how Ben’s example of patience and resilience through pressure and complexity has actually made him a braver person. Their weekly chats exemplify how creating a safe space for dialogue leads to breakthroughs that are not only fulfilling but also lucrative.
Ben offers practical advice for cultivating deep relationships: "Sometimes you gotta ignore the hard stop. Just go ahead and like, let the next thing go to spend time with the people that you're with." This episode is a powerful reminder that the people who show up for you quietly and consistently are the ones who change you, and that making space for that connection is the hugest source of joy.

Chosen Family: Three Decades of Friendship, Loss, and Love (with Amy Kruse)

Host Kris Saim welcomes his "adopted sister," Amy Kruse, to celebrate a 30-plus year friendship that began on a retail sales floor and evolved into a sacred "chosen family" bond.
Kris and Amy reflect on their history as each other’s anchors through love, loss (including the deaths of their fathers), and professional pivots. Amy recounts being one of the first people Kris came out to, and how her mother became a "surrogate mother" to Kris.
They tackle the urgent question: How do you avoid obsessing over time lost when you find your life partner "so late in life"? Kris shares his philosophy: focus on the "firsts," make the most of every day, and be prepared for the future. He reveals his emotional breakthrough, realizing he is no longer scared, having survived childhood bullying, so he can handle his health. This is a tribute to the "history keepers" who know us fully and love us anyway.

The Greatest Reward: Talking Legacy with My Children (with Kennedy & Jakob)

This is the episode closest to host Kris Saim's heart. Kris sits down with his "greatest teachers and proudest legacy", his children Kennedy and Jakob, for a raw conversation about family, forgiveness, and life lessons.
They reflect on the challenges they survived together; divorce, Kris’s journey of coming out, and subsequent reinvention. Kris shares the letter he wrote, delivering a long-held confession: "I know I wasn't always the father that you both deserved... I was young, I was afraid, and I was selfish at times".
The family discusses core memories (from dancing to Shakira to the chaos of the "corn" scream ) and the wisdom the children gained, becoming "exceptional parents" who love fiercely and openly. They answer the central question: If Kris could do one thing earlier, what would it have been? He answers, "I would've come out earlier".
This conversation is for every parent who needs to know their kids are okay and for every child waiting to hear the words that matter most. Legacy isn't built from things or titles, it's built from love and presence.

Thriving, Not Just Alive: The Power of Your Words (with Julia Laszlo)

Host Kris Saim welcomes his colleague and friend, Julia Laszlo, founder of Ananda Experience and a human-centered leadership coach. Julia shares her journey from climbing the corporate ladder to burnout, prompting her to question the very definition of success she pursued.
Kris and Julia’s friendship, which began with Kris’s immediate vulnerability about his cancer diagnosis , is living proof that you can combine humanity and getting results at work. They dive into why nurturing friendships at work is "priceless" and how Julia’s support helped Kris avoid spiraling during his hardest moments.
Julia reminds us: "words have power". She attributes Kris's journey toward being "cancer free" to the positive, affirming words that come out of his mouth. This episode is a powerful message for leaders and anyone who feels a disconnect between their paper success and their inner life: don't be afraid to be yourself, because that is your strongest skill.

My Longest Relationship: Three Decades of Friendship & Evolution (with Jaime O'Brien)

Host Kris Saim celebrates a friendship that has endured and evolved for nearly three decades with his "great pal," Jaime O'Brien.
Their story is a powerful exploration of loyalty and meaningful reconnection. Kris and Jaime discuss how their paths continually wove back together: from Kris being Jaime’s empowering boss to Kris becoming Jaime's realtor , and now, as peers leading a professional Mastermind group.
They reflect on wild memories—from covering the "NASCAR for bass fishermen" FLW tour to chaotic late-night taxi rides and an unexpected trip to the ER.
The core lesson is clear: Time doesn't have to dilute friendship; it can make it stronger. Jaime urges listeners: "Don't put off reconnecting with somebody... it's never too late to just reconnect". This episode is proof that the best relationships keep showing up, no matter how uncomfortable the roads become.

The Biggest Regret: Don't Wait to Reconnect (with Jesse Perez)

Host Kris Saim sits down with his friend and colleague, Jesse Perez, for a conversation that cuts straight to the mission of Dying Out Loud. Jesse shares the story of losing his dear friend, Kendra Kates, to throat cancer , and discusses the pain of his "biggest regret" : the years their friendship drifted apart before her diagnosis brought them back together.
Jesse, a DEI professional, was one of the first people Kris felt truly safe with after returning to work with a stage four cancer diagnosis. Jesse recounts how Kris taught him to have honest conversations about illness, prompting them to "comfortably talk about cancer without tiptoeing around it".
This episode is a powerful invitation to action: "Pick up the phone, text them, call them". Don't allow yourself to be in a position where you question, “Should I have done this?”. Jesse cherishes Kendra's final message to him—a meme telling him he was doing amazing . Learn how to create those cherished moments today.
 

Grief as a Catalyst: The Friendship Forged in Truth (with Jen Ripa)

Host Kris Saim sits down with his "great pal and fellow coach," Jen Ripa, for a conversation about the soul-deep friendship they forged later in life through a shared understanding of grief.
Jen, a mother of four, shares the profound grief of losing her son, Oliver, to bone cancer and her husband to addiction. This journey led her to found Thrivologie , a company dedicated to helping people use their difficult experiences as a catalyst for becoming "an even more incredible person" and building their life from the ground up.
Kris and Jen discuss how their coaching sessions became safe spaces for sharing raw vulnerability and shedding tears. Jen recounts the power of Kris's support, which made her feel like she was "never too much".
This episode is a beautiful invitation: "We always get to choose who we let walk through it with us". Learn how to tap into your "inner fire", find unconditional support, and embrace your own worth.