In this deeply compassionate episode of Hot Topics with Riggin, we acknowledge October’s lesser-known observance—Infant & Child Loss Awareness Month. Riggin sits down with longtime friend Megan, a mother of six and “mommy of many,” to share the stories of her son Curtis, born still at 26 weeks, and her daughter Abby, who passed from brain cancer at five. With striking honesty and faith, Megan talks about grief that doesn’t end, the moments that still break you (like a toy aisle on a birthday), finding “purpose in the pain,” and how families can honor their children while choosing hope. This conversation offers comfort, language, and solidarity for parents and loved ones navigating unimaginable loss.

Host Riggin sits down with longtime friend and former SEMO athletics leader Cindy Gannon for a candid conversation that refuses the easy labels. Cindy—openly gay and openly conservative—talks about why she rejects identity boxes, how higher-ed culture shaped and then sharpened her viewpoints, and what it looks like to choose friends, joy, and personal conviction over online pile-ons. They tackle hot-button topics including women’s sports and trans participation, faith and personal responsibility, abortion and adoption, social media toxicity, and finding dignity in disagreement. It’s an honest, at times uncomfortable, always respectful dialogue about loving people, protecting women’s spaces, and building community without surrendering your values. If you’re tired of “pick a side” politics and want to hear two friends model real talk with real grace, this one’s for you.

In the premiere episode of Hot Topics with Riggin, Faune sits down with Billy Hoskins—Owner and Program Director of Phantom Athletics and a dedicated cheerleading coach. Together they explore the world of cheerleading and one of its hottest conversations today: the rise of male cheerleaders in the NFL. Tune in for a candid, insightful, and eye-opening conversation that sets the tone for the entire series.