The Grief Lounge

Today is International Widows’ Day, and in this deeply personal episode of The Grief Lounge, I am sharing the real truth about widowhood, grief and life after losing your husband. What is it really like to become a widow? What does grief feel like after losing your life partner? How do you keep going when your whole world has changed? In this episode I share my lived experience of losing my husban...

In this episode of The Grief Lounge, I’m joined by author Sacha Hughes for a conversation about mother loss, grief, healing and the ways bereavement can shape our lives long after someone dies. Sacha lost her mum to cancer when she was just 24 years old and in this conversation she speaks so openly about what happened afterwards. The grief, the self-sabotage, the drinking, the partying, searching...

In this episode of The Grief Lounge, I am joined by Sara Rian, a grief poet, self published author, licensed therapist, mother, wife and griever. Sara began writing grief poetry after the death of her mum in 2018. Her mum died by suicide, and in this conversation Sara shares so openly about that loss, the trauma around it, and the deep love and connection she had with her mum. I first came across...

This week’s episode of The Grief Lounge is a deeply personal one. Today would have been Chris’s 55th birthday, and this is my third birthday without him. I felt called to record this episode to share what it really feels like to navigate grief on birthdays and special days. The build-up, the decisions, and the reality of trying to honour someone you love while also holding your own needs and the n...

In this episode of The Grief Lounge, I’m joined by Jack Waddington. Jack is an author, having written his first book after the loss of his brother Sam. I'm on a journey to see you Sam . . Jack is also an artist, who illustrated the cover for the book, and a secondary school teacher. In this episode Jack and I have a deeply honest conversation about sibling grief, loss and the lifelong bond bet...

In this episode I talk about the loss of a life partner and something I came across recently called the widowhood effect. When I read about it, it didn’t just make sense in my head, I felt it. It helped me understand why this kind of loss can feel so overwhelming and so all consuming. The widowhood effect is a term used in research that shows how losing a partner can impact not just how we feel, b...

This week I’m talking about the moon… and I know this is a grief podcast, so stay with me. After watching the Artemis mission, something really landed for me about grief, love and the ways we stay connected to the people we’ve lost. I’ve always been drawn to the moon. It became a place I turned to when Chris was ill and even more so after he died. I’ve sat under it, talked to it, cried under it an...

In this episode, I’m reflecting on something that’s been sitting with me since my conversation with Katie Rizzo, in my last episode… the way grief doesn’t just belong to the closest relationships. We often think grief is reserved for partners, parents or children, but the truth is it reaches so much further than that. It ripples out into friendships, past connections, and even people we may never...

In this episode, Katie Rizzo shares the story of losing her son Nicholas to addiction. What unfolds between us is a conversation about grief, love and loss that feels deeply familiar, even through very different experiences. In this episode of The Grief Lounge I sit down with Katie for a really honest and heartfelt conversation about grief, addiction and loss. Katie shares the story of her son Nic...

In this episode of The Grief Lounge, I’m talking about a type of grief that so many of us experience, but rarely have the words for… disenfranchised grief. Have you ever felt like you were grieving something deeply, but couldn’t really talk about it? Like it mattered so much to you, but didn’t seem to matter to anyone else? Maybe you’ve felt unseen, dismissed, or even questioned yourself and wonde...

In this episode of The Grief Lounge , I share my personal experience of grief, loss and love as I reflect on the difference between the first year and the second year of my grief journey. I talk honestly about the early days of grief, the numbness, brain fog, emotional overwhelm and physical impact that loss can have on the body and nervous system. I also explore how my grief didn’t begin the day...

In this episode I sit down with Mary Tomlinson, the founder of Mary Ellen Jewellery, and we have one of those conversations that just flows. The kind where grief is not dressed up or fixed. It is simply shared. Mary began creating bespoke cremation and ceremonial jewellery after losing her dad. What started as her own way of staying connected to him slowly became a business rooted in love, memory...

Today marks two years since I launched The Grief Lounge. In this opening episode of Season 3 I take a moment to pause, reflect and honour what these last two years have held. Two years of living without Chris. Two years of learning how to be a widow. Two years of showing up behind this microphone and speaking honestly about grief, loss, death and everything in between. I share what those early day...

Grief changes everything — how we feel, how we think, and how we live in our bodies. In this special conversation hosted by The EFT Centre , Sadie explores how Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) can help us navigate grief in all its forms — from the loss of a loved one to the quieter griefs of change and uncertainty. Through this heartfelt discussion, she shares how grief lives in the body, how ta...

In this episode, Sadie shares something deeply personal. On the second anniversary of her husband’s death, she returned to the beach in Norfolk, a place filled with memories and where she always feels connected to him. She spent time with her morning rituals – journaling, pulling cards, and sitting with her grief. The words she pulled that day were gather, wonder, and love . They felt powerful as...

In this deeply personal episode Sadie shares how her returning to Holkham Hall, a place full of family memories, to lead three sessions at the Gone Wild Festival this year. The event comes just days before the second anniversary of her husband Chris’s death making it a powerful and emotional time. Sadie talks honestly about showing up and holding space for others while still living with her own gr...

In this deeply moving episode of The Grief Lounge , Sadie shares her honest experience of navigating the difficult emotions around her son’s 18th birthday, a milestone made heavier by loss and the absence of his father. As a solo parent, she talks about the unique challenges of marking significant moments while carrying the weight of grief alone. Sadie reflects on how birthdays and other milestone...

In this episode of The Grief Lounge , Sadie sits down with artist Natalia Millman to explore how grief can be expressed and reimagined through creativity. Natalia shares the story behind her powerful project, Letters to Forever — an upcoming exhibition in St Albans that brings together 215 personal letters written by people about their grief . Through her creative process, Natalia transforms these...

In this heartfelt episode of The Grief Lounge , host Sadie opens up about the emotional struggles of solo parenting after the loss of a partner , especially during life’s big milestones. As her son graduates without his father by his side, Sadie shares the grief, envy, and quiet heartbreak that surface in moments that should feel joyful. She explores the unique weight of navigating grief while rai...

In this week’s episode of The Grief Lounge, I’m speaking from a very real and honest place about grief, cancer and the fear of it all happening again. As I support a loved one through a new cancer diagnosis whilst still living with my own loss, I found myself facing a wave of anticipatory grief, fear and health anxiety all at once. It brought me right back into the depth of what grief can feel lik...

In this episode of The Grief Lounge , Sadie explores the powerful, enduring nature of love, especially in the midst of grief and loss. She reminds us that love doesn't disappear with death; it transforms and remains a vital part of our journey. Sadie touches on the delicate balance between grief and love—how it’s possible to hold both in our hearts, even when it feels heavy. Through personal s...

Grief isn’t just something you “get over”—it transforms you. In this episode of The Grief Lounge , host Sadie opens up about the profound impact of loss and how grief changes every part of who we are. She shares the emotional and physical toll grief takes, the loneliness it can bring, and the unspoken truth that society often pressures us to “move on” too quickly. But what if there was another way...

"You have cancer." Four words no one ever wants to hear—four words that changed my husbands life and my life forever. Five years ago today, I sat beside my husband and heard the diagnosis that altered everything. In that moment, time stood still. It was the beginning of a journey I never could have prepared for—one of love, loss, resilience, and ultimately, learning to live again. In this episode...

Grief doesn’t just happen once it lingers, resurfaces, and sometimes knocks us sideways when we least expect it. In this episode, I’m sharing a deeply personal moment: how a recent challenge has triggered old grief, fear, and uncertainty, and how I’m navigating it without letting it consume me. This episode is for anyone who feels overwhelmed by grief, anticipatory loss, or the weight of life’s ha...

Join Sadie in this heartfelt episode as she recounts her transformative experience at The Wild Woman Retreat led by Kirsty Gallagher, where 43 women gathered for deep connection, healing, and personal growth. Sadie shares her powerful moment of releasing grief and being held in a circle of sisterhood—a moment that reinforced her dedication to supporting others through grief. Explore the profound l...