Turning Grief into Purpose: Dr. Liz Willers and the Goldfinch Foundation
New Waters Recovery - Finding New Waters Podcast
Feb 12, 2025

In this deeply moving episode of "Finding New Waters", we sit down with Dr. Elisabeth "Liz" Willers, a physician and the founder of the Goldfinch Foundation, created in honor of her late son, Owen. After losing Owen to an unintentional overdose, Dr. Willers channeled her grief into advocacy, working to change the culture around mental health and addiction among young people. She shares Owen’s story, the stigma surrounding mental health struggles, and how her foundation empowers teenagers to openly discuss their challenges. Through vulnerability, education, and the arts, the Goldfinch Foundation is helping to shift how we approach youth mental wellness and substance use awareness.