My Mourning Routine

In this candid conversation, Laura Jaye Cramer shares: how she continues to process the grief and guilt around both her father and brother's tragic deaths by suicide; the before & after "self" revelation in the wake of loss; how your body can force you to rest; and how turning pain into Art led her to create an entire publishing company that supports others through life's many seasons. Laura is th...

Tim Schramm has dedicated his life to caring for the deceased, and their families.  87% of Americans believe that having a ceremony after a death, whether the body is present or not, is an important part to begin a healthy grief journey.  In this compassionate, unparalleled conversation, Tim speaks about: his service and heart-led experience as a Funeral Director; the sacred work and behind-the-sc...

In this episode, Julie Wright Halbert speaks about the power of Presence; how we honor our loved ones by  continuing to live ; and how we move from the deep pain of grief to joy-- the bridge between grief and happiness (spoiler alert: it's Love). Julie is a death doula, end-of-life educator and leading national voice for grief literacy. Her work is grounded in decades of public service and shaped...

70% of Americans don't have a will. In this episode, Jermaine Ee shares personal stories behind why he created HeirLight, an app that organizes infomation for you to draft a legal document that represents what you want; how clarity is love, in practical form; and that life's neither about the journey nor the destination, but the company we keep. Jermaine is a founder and storyteller interested in...

In this poetic episode, Alicia Henry shares: how grief is part of her every cell, in the most beautiful way; how choosing to live seasonally with Nature can provide deep comfort; why Winter is the lightest time of year; and tender words of encouragment for those facing grief. Alicia is a mother, meditation teacher, writer, actor, and ceremonialist. Having spent her childhood in awe of nature's bea...

"Taking the eye-rolls out of astrology", Lauren O'Connell shares: how this celestial framework helps with the emotional & spiritual side of health; how it can be used as a self-care tool to support you through grief; and the ways that it is your blueprint to your highest potential, in every apect of life. Lauren, known as The Modern Astrologer, is an astrologer based in Santa Monica, California, w...

This is a short episode to celebrate 3 years of My Mourning Routine Podcast, launched on Winter Solstice 2022, as well as honor the recent 10th Anniversary of Lauren's mother's death.  Here, she shares a letter that she wrote to her mother, Mary Ellen, on December 17, 2025 during a reflective morning of remembrance. *TIME SENSITIVE:  Lauren opened the doors today 12/21/25 to work with her 1:1 in t...

Here, author Anna Beecher tenderly shares what brought her to write both her debut novel and recently published memoir, and speaks to: the fragile miraculousness of everything; grief, as a tear in the fabric of the universe; the privilege of aging; and how accepting mortality, as a part of life, is to be more fully alive. Anna is a writer and theatre-maker from the United Kingdom. She is the autho...

In this intimate conversation, MaKshya Tolbert shares the "why" behind writing  Shade is a place; explores loss, as a structure to see grief; the (devastating) consequences of wanting shade; and being invited into yourself. MaKshya practices poetry and placemaking in Virginia, where her grandmother raised her. She was the 2025 Art in Library Spaces Artist-in-Residence at the University of Virginia...

In this episode, Anya Faruque speaks to a different level of grief that many of us experience in our lives: Romantic grief.  While living losses can hurt deeply, there is tremendous potential for them to transform us for the better, inviting us to create and maintain nurturing relationships with self, first and foresmost, as she believes that "what we go through, we grow through".  She shares what...

Matt Jacobson, born and raised in Temecula, CA, created LifeBooks to help families capture and cherish the stories of their loved ones. After taking over his family's mattress store, he was inspired by the loss of his father to ensure that his family—and others—would always have a way to preserve memories for generations. His goal with LifeBooks is to make storytelling easy, meaningful, and collab...

Adam Zuckerman is the Founder of Buried in Work, a leading eCommerce platform specializing in estate planning/organization, end-of-life tasks, and estate transitions.  With a deeply personal motivation stemming from his experience managing his father's estate, Adam is dedicated to simplifying these complex processes for individuals and families nationwide.  As an Eisenhower Fellow, attorney, and M...

There's power in acknowledging the impermanence and fleeting nature of the fruits of life-- savoring simple moments and people, while sweet and ripe.  This episode is a gentle call-to-action to appreciate and take delight in the bounty before you! [HAPPY 75th BIRTHDAY, MARY ELLEN!  You will be forever celebrated!] ------- Get Lauren's 10-Min Meditation for Grief to support you on your journey! You...

In this episode, Jessica Fein shares: the incredible ways that her experiences with grief have woven themselves into her DNA; how being "whole" means letting others see where you are broken; how her late daughter, Dalia, showed her how to live; and how, in the darkness, there's always light to be found. Jessica is the author of Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes and host o...

It can be difficult to find courage to talk about endometriosis and the effects of the disease on fertility.  In this episode, Julie shares: her personal story of how circumstances beyond her control have shown her what her life's path is meant to be and how she has embraced walking it; dealing with the loss of something she may never have; the importance of finding the right people to support you...

Talk about the little wins in life-- Lauren's been gentler on herself and you should be, too (gentle on yourself, that is)!  This is a quick episode to encourage you to loosen your grip on --and maybe re-evaluate-- life's commitments, especially if you really just need a bit of rest, snacks of course, and replenishment.  What can you do to honor yourself and what's happening in your life right now...

It's Mother's Day and that brings up a whole fat bag of feelings for many.  Regardless of the quality of connection you possess with your mother, Lauren distills this "holiday" into an opportunity to draw attention to the radiant marvel that you are!  Buckle up for a cosmic comparison! ----- Get Lauren's 10-Min Meditation for Grief to support you on your journey! You can connect with Lauren on Ins...

Death is an inevitable part of life.  How do we continue to live, after loss?  This is an open-air recording from the forest, where Lauren offers insight on how to move through the many "firsts" after a loved one dies: first birthdays, anniversarys, holidays, activities without them... Prepare for these sneaky days, fortify yourself with that which best serves you in the moment, and know that you...

What have you done for you lately?  (Cue Janet Jackson and some super thick shoulder-pads...) Ah, the idea of even a brief pause from your busy day-to-day.  What does that mean to you, and for you-- and why is it important?  This short episode is a chance for you to think about how you choose to recharge, and the many creative ways that you can make that happen. ----- Get Lauren's 10-Min Meditatio...

We made it through-- and to-- another beautiful season!  Let's celebrate!  Vernal Equinox has come again in the Northern Hemisphere and ushers us into all things spring!  In this episode, Lauren offers you a few questions and reflections to make the most of this fertile season!  ----- Get Lauren's 10-Min Meditation for Grief to support you on your journey! You can connect with Lauren on Instagram...

When's the last time you asked for help?  This short episode touches on our interconnectedness and the importance that we all play in each other's lives, as well as a time-sensitive request:  Lauren's casting a net to help build a care support team for her friend undergoing a bone marrow transplant.  If you or anyone you know is available for a unique caregiving opportunity near Johns Hopkins Hosp...

Spring is nigh, daffodils are popping, and it's time to let life flow!  Lauren shares how learning to recognize and accept all parts of your being is imperative for stepping through the threshold into the next season of your blooming. ----- Get Lauren's 10-Min Meditation for Grief to support you on your journey! You can connect with Lauren on Instagram via @lauren.samay  and  @mymourningroutinepod...

In this episode, Artist + Intuitive Medium Allison Pharmakis shares how she has come to find beauty and deeper connections in loss; how grief has shifted the ways she interacts with humans, at large; what led her to fully embrace and offer mediumship; and how S pirit is ever-present and ready to be of service, if we know how to invite it in. Pharmakis has possessed the unique gift of connecting wi...

This is a short episode to remind you to keep things in perspective.  Lauren's behind on recording this week, shares why, and how choosing a less reactive response to things that happen in life helps maintain one's peace-- because who doesn't need that?! ----- Get Lauren's 10-Min Meditation for Grief to support you on your journey! You can connect with Lauren on Instagram via @lauren.samay  and  @...

A special Valentine's Day message... with a twist!  Freshly emerging from a silent retreat, Lauren introduces a concept she resonated with that was shared by a fellow participant and ties it to a Hallmark Holiday.  It's a short episode that very well may change the entire course of your life!  No joke.  ----- Get Lauren's 10-Min Meditation for Grief to support you on your journey! You can connect...