In this episode
Grow Through Grief: Creating Success After Tragedy
What happens when your world shatters — and there's no roadmap forward? In this deeply moving episode of the Success Series, we sit down with Erik Thureson, a creative force whose life changed forever after the heartbreaking loss of his 18-year-old son, Jacob, to an opioid overdose.
Through raw vulnerability and powerful storytelling, Erik shares how grief can become a catalyst for growth — not by forgetting the pain, but by honoring it. You'll discover how to confront mental health and substance abuse stigma, find purpose through unimaginable loss, and chart a new course when the life you knew no longer exists.
This is not just a conversation. It's a lifeline for anyone searching for light in the darkest moments.
What you'll take away
- How to grow through grief without losing yourself
- Why grief isn’t the end — it can become the beginning of purpose
- Creating success after devastation: Erik’s roadmap to healing
- Breaking silence around mental health and substance abuse
- The role of creativity, presence, and service in post-trauma transformation
About Our Guest – Erik Thureson
With 30+ years of experience at Disney, Oscars, NFL, Fox Sports, and more, Erik’s career spans high-impact programming, production, and client solutions worth over $65M. But beyond the resume, Erik’s true impact lies in his heart for people — on and off screen.
After losing his son, Jacob, to an opioid overdose in 2019, Erik became a fierce advocate for mental health awareness and stigma-free conversations around substance abuse. Backed by degrees and education from CSU Fullerton, UC Santa Barbara, UCLA, Emory, and Berklee, Erik brings brilliance and empathy into every space he enters.
