Ep. 114: Surviving the Evergreen Shooting: One story, many warnings - a conversation with a mom and son

On April 20, 1999, Columbine shattered America’s sense of safety in schools. Since then, more than 400 school shootings have followed — each new number added to a grim tally, each headline fading too quickly.

But behind every statistic is a story, a family, a wound that never fully heals.

In this episode, we sit down with survivors of the Evergreen High School shooting — mother and son, Vivian and Keegan Cox. Together, we turn statistics back into tragedy: to remember, to listen, and to learn.

Our conversation goes beyond the headlines. We talk about the quiet aftermath and the details that linger long after the cameras leave. We wrestle with warnings that went unheeded, celebrate the helpers who stepped in, and acknowledge the slow, complicated work of healing.

Most of all, we ask: What can we do? How do we ensure these stories are not just tragedies of the past, but calls to action for the future?

Thank you, Vivian and Keegan, for sharing your story — for speaking up and out, and for choosing courage, even when it sounds a lot like silence.

*A gentle warning: This episode contains a difficult but important conversation about school shootings, loss, and healing. Please listen with care.

Show Sponsors: Schurtz and Ties is a proud partner with⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TeachBetter.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: "The Teach Better Podcast Network is dedicated to supporting the entire school ecosystem through in-depth conversations around topics you care about. Covering a variety of areas in education, each podcast aims to support educators in the field toward creating and maintaining a progressive, student-focused classroom."

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