A Gift For Grief

In this episode I'm joined by Anna-Maria, a widow, a mother of three, and advocate for bereaved families. Following the death of her husband, Dermot in 2024, Anna-Maria found herself facing not only the devastating reality of grief but also a welfare system she believes is failing widowed families across the UK. We talk about Dermot's cancer diagnosis, the challenges of raising three children thro...

In this deeply moving episode, I sit down with TEDx speaker, grief advocate, and mother Nicola Marshall. Nicola's life changed forever when her 12-year-old son, Lucas, tragically fell from a balcony while the family was on holiday in Spain. The unimaginable loss of a child is something no parent expects to face, yet Nicola has found a way to transform her pain into purpose. Since Lucas's death, Ni...

  In this deeply moving episode of A Gift For Grief , we explore a form of grief that often goes unseen: the grief that comes with chronic illness, loss of identity, and the life we once imagined.   Wenke Langhof author of, From Endo War to Inner Peace - joins us to share her powerful journey through stage IV endometriosis. What began as a debilitating physical condition became a profoun...

Welcome to this special milestone episode of A Gift for Grief - Life After Loss. In this 50th episode, I step away from interviews to share something deeply personal, the inner experience that has shaped my own grief journey over the past nine years. This episode explores the ongoing dialogue between two parts of myself: the human mind, which feels the raw pain of loss, and the spiritual mind, whi...

In this episode, I’m joined by Lucy Bee, both a therapist and the founder of Rage Rooms Leamington Spa. In this episode we talk about a powerful and often overlooked side of grief - anger. Lucy brings a unique perspective on grief, emotional suppression, and why sometimes talking alone isn’t enough. In this conversation, we explore how movement, expression, and safe release can play a role in heal...

A Gentle Note: This episode contains discussion of mental health struggles, trauma, and the death of a young person. Please listen with care and seek support if you need it. In today’s episode, I’m joined by Marianne Griffiths, a mother who shares her experience of losing her adult daughter - first through years of separation and struggle, and later through her heartbreaking sudden death in 2019 f...

Moving house is one of the most stressful things we can do. When you’ve spent 28 years building a life in one place, leaving becomes even harder - especially after losing a loved one who shared that space with you. As I prepare to leave the home we’ve lived in for nearly three decades, I’ve been reflecting on how our places and possessions quietly hold the stories of our lives. In this episode, I...

In today’s episode, we explore a form of grief that is so often minimised, misunderstood, or pushed aside: the loss of a beloved pet.   I’m joined by Debbie McLeod, known as The Midlife Mystic Mentor. Debbie is a counsellor, hypnotherapist, medium, spiritual guide, and the author of Best Friends Forever: Practical Steps and Wisdom to Ease the Pain of Pet Loss. Her work gently bridges emotiona...

In today’s deeply moving episode, I’m joined in the studio by Helen Smith mum to Evelyn, her beautiful daughter who tragically died when she was just seven years old. Evelyn’s death was particularly heartbreaking, because it was something that could have been prevented. Since that unimaginable loss, Helen has been learning to live with both grief, trauma and PTSD and her loss has shaped every part...

Whether your loss was sudden or expected, the first days and weeks can feel surreal, like the world is still spinning while you’re standing completely still. Louise shares her own honest and tender experience of losing her son Matthew, offering listeners reassurance that every reaction in grief is a normal one. This episode explores: What those first hours and days after a loss can feel like The s...

In this solo episode, I explore a side of grief that is often overlooked but profoundly important: the way grief shows up in the body. We tend to think of grief as emotional or psychological - but our bodies feel it just as deeply. From exhaustion and sleep changes to physical tension, aches, heaviness, digestive issues, and that sense of being stuck, the body often speaks before the mind can make...

In this episode, I speak with Vanessa May, a London-based writer, holistic grief coach, and certified grief educator. As a bereaved mother and widow, Vanessa has endured more loss than most could imagine in one lifetime, yet she’s transformed her pain into purpose. After losing her son Harry, her husband Anthony, and her father in quick succession, Vanessa dedicated her life to helping others navi...

In this episode of A Gift For Grief, I'm diving into a question many people who are grieving may think about: "How do I know if what I’m feeling is grief, or if it’s depression?" Both can feel heavy, isolating, and overwhelming - but they’re not the same thing. I'll talk through some of the ways grief shows up differently from depression, where they sometimes overlap, and why it matters to underst...

After early retirement and the heartbreaking loss of both her parents, Sue Williams turned to creativity and spirituality as a way to heal.  What started as journaling soon transformed into poetry, eventually leading to her award-winning book, I Am Unique. Since then, Sue has gone on to create oracle cards, publish anthologies amplifying women’s voices, and inspire countless others to embrace...

In this powerful and deeply important episode, we open up a conversation that many still find difficult to have about suicide, and bereavement by suicide. I’m joined by representatives from the incredible charity SOS Silence of Suicide, whose mission is to challenge stigma, encourage open dialogue, and ensure that no one feels they have to suffer in silence. Their message is simple yet profound: S...

In this episode of A Gift For Grief, Narinder Moore reflects on the very different ways grief has touched her life. Her Father was bedridden for five years and died in 2008. Narinder explained how she experienced a mixture of sadness and relief - comforted by knowing he was no longer suffering. Years later, her grief took on a new shape. The sudden loss of her eldest brother Gurjit in 2021, follow...

In this episode of A Gift For Grief , I talk about the words we use around loss. So often, people mean well but don’t know what to say - and sometimes the phrases we’ve all heard, like “they’re in a better place” or “everything happens for a reason” , can sting more than they soothe. I share some reflections on the language of grief: what feels supportive, what can feel blunt, and how even simple,...

In this gentle and heartfelt solo episode, I reflect on the first year of grief and the many emotional “firsts” that come with loss: The first birthday, Christmas, holiday, anniversary, and even the first unexpected moment of laughter. I share personal stories, including how my husband Bill and I honour our son Matthew’s birthday, and why we’ve chosen sunshine over tradition when it comes to Chris...

Grief and loss are experiences we never ask for but they shape us in profound ways. In this deeply personal episode, I open up about my own journey through grief: the loss that shattered me, the heartbreak I never expected, and the surprising gifts that emerged from the pain, such as clarity, resilience, compassion, and a deeper connection to life and much more. This conversation is an honest invi...

In this episode I dive deep into the classic concept of the five stages of grief—denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. But are these stages really universal? And do they truly reflect your unique grief journey? Join me as I explore: The origins of the five stages and why they’ve become so popular. Common misconceptions and myths around grief stages. How grief is a deeply personal...

“How many children do you have?” It’s a question that comes up easily in conversation, often asked with good intentions and without much thought. But for those of us who have experienced the loss of a child, it can bring a wave of emotion. It touches a tender part of us, stirring grief, love, and the quiet reality of what could have been. In this episode, I explore the emotional weight this questi...

Today, I am delighted to welcome my dear friend, Catherine Williamson, as my guest. This episode reflects the quiet, often unacknowledged grief that follows the end of a relationship. Unlike death, there’s no formal goodbye—just the lingering presence of memories, lost dreams, and shared routines. It speaks to the pain of mourning someone who is still alive, the emotional confusion it brings, and...

Grief doesn't adhere to a schedule. It comes in waves, in quiet moments, and sometimes in the most unexpected ways. My guest today Vicki Holton has walked through many forms of grief, each unique in its own weight. Now, she faces a new and deeply painful chapter: the anticipatory grief of knowing her son lives with a life-limiting heart condition. In this heartfelt conversation, we explore the com...

In this heartfelt and eye-opening episode we welcome Grant Harris, a gifted medium who has dedicated his life to helping people find peace, closure, and healing through spiritual connection. As someone who bridges the gap between the physical world and the spirit world, Grant shares how mediumship can be a powerful tool in the grieving process. He is known for his compassionate, grounded approach...

Clare Spiers has dedicated her career to supporting individuals navigating the complex journey of grief, drawing from her own diverse experiences with loss. Having personally faced various forms of grief, she understands the profound impact it can have on one’s life. Through her own therapeutic journey, Clare was able to address and resolve her unresolved grief, ultimately becoming a certified Gri...