Every year, young adults across the country age out of the foster care system — turning 18 with no family, no safety net, and often nothing but a trash bag of clothes. Many become homeless almost immediately. In this episode of Unfiltered Life with Liz, Liz sits down with Jackson Drumgoole, founder of Bridge Builder Communities to talk about what that crisis actually looks like on the ground — and what he is doing about it in Augusta, Georgia and the CSRA.

Author and speaker Tara Heaton joins Unfiltered Life with Liz to share the true story behind her book, Life Minutes: Igniting Joy from the Fire of Heartache. After her daughter's sudden illness led to a coma, epilepsy, and lifelong seizures, Tara learned how to choose joy in the middle of trauma. Tara and host Liz Bragg dive into vulnerability, grief, "pleasure stacking," and what it truly means to live your life minutes on purpose. If you're navigating heartache, caregiving, or burnout, this conversation will shift how you see joy.

Domestic violence isn't just physical — it's psychological, generational, and often invisible until it's too late. On this episode of Unfiltered Life with Liz, host Liz Bragg sits down with Safe Homes Executive Director Aimee Hall and veteran law enforcement advocate Jamey to break down the cycle of abuse, red flags to watch for while dating, why victims stay (or return) up to seven times, and how the justice system can fail survivors. You'll learn what Safe Homes offers — shelter, legal advocacy, counseling — and how to get help. Crisis Hotline: 706-736-2499.

In this episode of Unfiltered Life with Liz, we sit down with Kate from Child Enrichment, the Augusta-based nonprofit serving children and families across nine counties in the CSRA. Most people in the community don't know Child Enrichment exists — or assume it's a daycare. The reality is far bigger.

Kate walks us through the organization's three core programs: CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) for kids in foster care, the Child Advocacy Center and its child-friendly forensic interview process, and free trauma therapy for children and families. We also dig into the growing fight against child sex trafficking (CSEC) in Richmond County, the funding cuts threatening these free services, and the urgent local shortage of foster homes and CASA volunteers.

In this episode of Unfiltered Life with Liz, host Liz sits down with Naomi "Nomi" Stanton — proud military spouse of 30 years, nonprofit leader, and one of the hardest-working advocates for Augusta's most vulnerable.

Nomi pulls back the curtain on what homelessness and poverty actually look like in the CSRA, and why so many of our neighbors are just one emergency away from losing everything. From birth certificates and vital documents to free eye exams, prescription assistance, and choice food pantries, she explains how "standing in the gap" helps people get back on their feet — without judgment.

In Episode 2 of Unfiltered Life with Liz, Liz sits down with her best friend Heather for a raw, funny, no-filter conversation about what real life actually looks like for women in their 40s and 50s. From a friendship that started with Liz being convinced Heather couldn't stand her, to the late nights and missed moments that come with building a career, these two hold nothing back.

Welcome to the very first episode of Unfiltered Life with Liz — a podcast built on real, honest conversations about life, trauma, and what it actually takes to keep going.

In this raw and deeply personal introduction, Liz shares the story behind who she is and why she started this show. She opens up about growing up in a violent home, surviving childhood abuse, spending time in foster care with her younger sister, and the moment she and her sister made the brave decision to fight for a different life. She talks honestly about her lowest points — including struggling with suicidal thoughts at just 11 years old — and the people who kept her going.

Unfiltered Life with Liz is a podcast hosted by Liz Bragg, built around real talk, real growth, and the honest journey of figuring life out. Through open conversations and personal stories, Liz creates a space for connection, reflection, and the topics people often think about but don’t always say out loud.

From life lessons and relationships to growth, challenges, and everything in between, this podcast is about showing up authentically, embracing the imperfect moments, and finding meaning in the process.