Podcasts Appearances

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In this deeply moving episode of Life With Grief we welcome Danny Lesslie, who shares the intimate and transformative story of losing his wife, Raffi, to vulvar cancer and navigating life, fatherhood, and grief in the aftermath.

Danny opens up about the raw realities of anticipatory grief, caregiving through cancer, and what it meant to walk alongside Raffi during her battle. He reflects on the strength found in vulnerability, the evolving grief journey he shares with his daughters, and why open conversations around male grief are so deeply needed.

We also explore Danny’s book, Thank You, Cancer, a powerful collection of personal writings from both Danny and Raffi that offers a rare dual perspective on love, loss, resilience, and hope in the face of terminal illness. Their words illuminate not only the darkness of cancer and grief, but also the unexpected moments of connection, meaning, and light that can emerge even in life’s most painful chapters.

Through grief and grace, Danny brings us into the deeply intimate spaces of their marriage, their faith, and the signs he’s received throughout their journey that led them both into a deep and intimate relationship with God.

In this conversation, we explore what it means to be fully present at the edge of life, to let God into the rawest moments, and to continue walking forward—anchored in divine trust even when the path breaks your heart.

Danny’s story reminds us that death is not the end. That love—when rooted in spirit—echoes through eternity. And that faith can turn even the deepest and undesired griefs into something holy.

Today I’m welcoming back Danny Lesslie, author of Thank You, Cancer, for a heart-wide-open conversation about love, grief, faith, and the unmistakable ways God shows up in our ordinary lives and our hardest seasons.  We get real about how Danny compiled his late wife Raffi’s raw writings alongside his own “in-the-moment” entries — plus the “Jesus moments” that thread through the book with scripture. We talk marriage and intimacy during illness, parenting through uncertainty, money miracles, daily bread trust, and why a living relationship with God changes everything.  

After losing his wife to cancer, Danny Lesslie found himself in a season of unlayering—grief, job loss, financial hardship, and the weight of fatherhood all hitting at once. But instead of shutting down, Danny chose to move with meaning. In this episode, we talk about what happens when everything you cling to for stability is stripped away, how faith shaped his healing, and what it means to rebuild from the inside out. Danny’s story is one of heartbreak, honesty, and the quiet strength that comes from walking through the fire—and still choosing purpose.

Danny Lesslie shares a lot on his social media and many podcasts that he's been on, about the grief he has been experiencing since the loss of his wife Raffi last December.

He shares beautiful messages about the things he is so glad that he did before she passed, some of the things he wishes he did better and ways that he has found help him cope and move forward.

If you are experiencing, loss, his page might be a beautiful space for you to connect with.

Meet Danny Lesslie, a widower who turned his grief into a powerful message of hope and resilience. After losing his wife, Raffi, to cancer in December 2024, Danny compiled their journey into a remarkable book titled Thank You, Cancer.

In this episode, Danny shares intimate details about their life together, the challenges they faced during Raffi's five-year battle with vulva cancer, and the profound way God showed up for them along the way. Discover how Raffi's adventurous spirit and unwavering faith shaped their experiences, and how they found moments of joy amidst the pain.

Danny Lesslie is a widower, devoted father of two daughters, and an entrepreneur whose life and work are deeply rooted in storytelling, resilience, and faith. As a coach, speaker, and writer, Danny brings authenticity and hope to audiences navigating life’s most difficult transitions.

He and his late wife, Raffaella Dobles, co-authored Thank You, Cancer, a powerful memoir that chronicles their shared journey through Raffaella’s five-year battle with Stage 4 cancer. Woven from Raffaella’s journal entries during her illness and Danny’s reflections after her passing, the book is both a tribute to a remarkable woman and a testament to the enduring strength of love.

Danny Lesslie is a widower and a father of two daughters. He is an entrepreneur, a storyteller, a coach, and speaker. He and his family reside in Texas.  "Thank You, Cancer" is a powerful memoir about love, loss, resilience, and faith. Co-authored by Danny Lesslie and his late wife, Raffaella Dobles, it tells the story of their journey through Raffaella's 5-year battle with Stage 4 cancer, and the life they built together in the face of it. More than a story about illness, "Thank You, Cancer" invites the reader to choose Love through the hardest moments.

In this heartfelt episode of Widowed 2 Soon, Michelle Bader Ebersole sits down with widower Danny Lesslie, whose story of love, loss, and rebuilding will stay with you long after the episode ends. Danny opens up about his beautiful relationship with his late wife, Raffaella, their life as partners and parents, and the difficult road they walked together through her cancer journey. He shares honestly about caregiving, anticipatory grief, and what it was like to suddenly navigate life as a single dad to two daughters.

Danny’s vulnerability offers comfort to anyone carrying the weight of widowhood. He talks about the emotional whiplash of relief and heartbreak after a long season of caregiving, the loneliness of parenting without your person, and the complicated mix of family dynamics and everyday logistics that hit after loss. His story reminds listeners that they’re not alone—there is community, faith, and healing to be found, even in the hardest chapters.

He also shares how writing became a lifeline, eventually leading to Thank You, Cancer, a book he co-authored with Raffaella using her own words alongside his. Their joint memoir has become a source of hope for others walking a similar path, showing how storytelling can bring meaning, connection, and light into grief.

This episode is a message from the edge of everything from Danny Lesslie, a girl dad of 2 whose wife died just 6 months ago. This episode is a must-listen for anyone who will go through a profound challenge in life -- so, it's for all of us.

What do you do when the life you built—the love, the plans, the future—gets ripped away without warning? When the person you were supposed to grow old with is taken, and you're left not only grieving but parenting through the pain? In this episode, Danny Lesslie opens up about walking through the darkest season of his life: losing his wife Raffe after a five-year battle with cancer. He doesn’t hold back. Danny shares the raw truth about grief, fatherhood, and how the storm inside him became fuel for healing. If you've ever wrestled with loss, purpose, or the weight of simply showing up—this conversation will meet you right where you are.

But Danny isn’t here to tell a “poor me” story—he’s here to serve. Named an Apogee honor man, Danny is a man of deep courage, faith, and conviction. He’s turned pain into purpose, writing a book with God's presence through it all. What makes him uniquely powerful is his willingness to be seen—messy, broken, real—and still lead others forward. This isn’t just a story of heartbreak. It’s a story of hope, of what’s possible when we choose to feel everything and use it to love deeper, lead better, and live fuller.

In this episode, Danny remembers and honours his beloved wife, Raffi. Together, they faced cancer with love and hope, holding on despite impossible odds. He shares how he and his children continue to carry her memory — finding strength, love, and meaning even through loss. 🤍

A tender tribute to Raffi’s life, a story of resilience, and a reminder that love endures beyond the hardest battles. 💫