As I Live and Grieve®

Send us some LOVE! Summary Do you dream of your loved one in your grief? Are you troubled by those dreams, or do they comfort you? Join us today as Dr. Joshua Black, Ph. D., describes his own investigation of bereavement dreams. There is very little academic research on this topic, so we are certain you will find this discussion enlightening. Episode Notes: Dr. Joshua Black is a grief researcher,...

Send us some LOVE! Summary Dedicated to Shayna Elizabeth   Our guest today is Brian Smith. Brian knows grief as his  daughter, Shayna, passed away unexpectedly in her sleep at the age of 15-1/2. This led him on a spiritual quest which has made him an amazing resource on the subject of death. Today he helps us understand how to recognize signs left by our departed loved ones and adds that synchroni...

Send us some LOVE! Summary   Our guest today is Gary Roe, who shares with us 3 Key Ways to Process Grief.    Episode Notes:   Gary Roe uses TWA to designate the 3 Key Ways to Process Grief, and adds his personal experience to help others feel supported and a bit more in control. These tasks will help verbalize memories, feelings and regrets and allow you to continue through your grief journey inst...

Send us some LOVE! Summary: In our grief we often think of how difficult it was to make decisions about funeral arrangements and other details. In today's episodes we introduce you to a unique concept of preparing your details ahead of time to save your loved ones that burden and stress that will face them after your last breath. Episode Notes: Our guest is Amy Pickard, who her cosmic calling...

Send us some LOVE! Summary: Renowned author and bereavement celebrity joins us today to discuss what happens when bereavement and theological beliefs collide. Episode Notes: Rev. Dr. Terri Daniel is certified in Death, Dying and Bereavement and is also a  Certified Clinical Trauma Specialist, whose life's work is focused on teaching people how to perceive death, grief and loss in a new way. I...

Send us some LOVE! Summary: Some people leave a note to be read after their death and these notes are treasured. Melissa Pennel's mother died unexpectedly and there was no note. As questions came to mind, Melissa compiled them into a book which she published, Questions You'll Wish You Asked: A Time Capsule Journal for Mothers and Daughters . She joins us today to tell us more about this...

Send us some LOVE! Summary: When you lose your life partner to death, the devastation seems endless. If they were ill for a period of time, you may have been their caregiver, their advocate, their entire world - sacrificing yourself bit by bit without realizing it. Such was Marie's experience, which became her reason to become a Grief Coach. Listen to her story and how she helps others whose...

Send us some LOVE! Summary: Jason Dyke started his grief journey traumatically when his 11-year old son died from suicide. He saw the differences in the impact of grief on his wife and other two sons, but when his "bus family" stepped in to help, their support made a tremendous difference for Jason. Carson's Village is a legacy to Jason's son and serves those families devastate...

Send us some LOVE! Summary: Dealing with the death of a loved one is tough, but having to explain that death to a child is sometimes traumatic for both the adult and the child. Join us today as Kendall Lanning introduces her book, The Fox and the Feather, a children's book for the grieving heart . Episode Notes: Fox and Cardinal are best friends. One day the Cardinal explains that he, “is sic...

Send us some LOVE! Anxiety is the focus of our discussion today with guest Claire Bidwell Smith , author of Anxiety: The Missing Stage of Grief . We can understand anxiety easily in that initial phase of grief with the myriad of activities, tasks and the bustle of visitors, cards and calls. However, anxiety can remain and can also have a more troublesome impact further along in your grief. Claire...

Send us some LOVE! Summary: Our guest is Amanda Ferrat, founder of Value Yourself Counseling, returns to offer insight into the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) Tapping. This technique is frequently recommended by therapists to help grievers find stabilization and focus, especially during the intense emotions of initial grief.   Episode Notes:   Today Amanda guides us through a sample of the EFT...

Send us some LOVE! Summary: Our pets, regardless of species, often become very near and dear to us with their unconditional love and soulful eyes. The death of that pet can be devastating to the owner, yet not fully understood by other's who have never experienced a similar loss. Wendy helps us understand disenfranchised grief and also speaks about how children respond to the loss of a pet, w...

Send us some LOVE! Summary: Today we chat with Stevie Fedele, a Certified Life Coach, who helps us understand how partnering with a Life Coach might prove beneficial if you struggle with your grief, even walking us through a brief exercise she frequently uses with her clients.   Episode Notes: There are times in our grief that we feel stuck, not moving forward, and even not caring whether we do or...

Send us some LOVE! Summary: Author Beth Castrodale shares how her grief actually interrupted progress on her novel and what she did to move past this. She offers suggestions for how you might benefit from putting thoughts and feelings in words and writing them down, even if you think you can't write. Episode Notes: Writing can often be cathartic and is frequently suggested by therapists, as w...

Send us some LOVE! Summary: We are delighted today to learn about Rocky, a goldendoodle who serves at Bartolomeo & Perotto Funeral Home in Rochester, NY. Rocky charmed his owner, Mike Perotto, into speaking with us and we invite you to listen in. Episode Notes: Dogs have an incredible way of breaking through those invisible barriers that hold people back when it comes to comforting those in pa...

Send us some LOVE! Summary: Join us as Dr. Jackie Black returns, this time to help us understand how guilt impacts our grieving process. Guilt and shame are not the same - did you know that? Episode Notes: We discuss in detail how guilt and shame differ and how to change your mindset to be able to dissolve that guilt you feel. As we shed light on these terms, we ourselves heal along with you. Dr....

Send us some LOVE! Bestselling author Hope Edelman discusses her latest book, The AfterGrief, Finding Your Way Along the Long Arc of Loss (pub. Oct. 2020) so we might better understand how grief impacts our lives even years beyond the death of a loved one. Episode Notes: We are becoming more accepting now that grief could feasibly last for the rest of our lives. Hope Edelman offers insight how our...

Send us some LOVE! Summary: Marjorie Smith, LCSW, visits with us today to tell us about Hospice and how this program supports both the terminally ill patient and the family.  Episode Notes: After a brief history of Hospice, we learn the various components of this end of life care program and can better understand how it can impact grief by preparing family and supporting them after the death of th...

Send us some LOVE! Summary: Today’s chat is with The Feelings Guy™, Archie Messersmith-Bunting, who helps us understand that everyone grieves and that grief is the reaction to a loss, whether related to the death of a loved one or to the death of our dreams.  Episode Notes: COVID has impacted everyone. We have lost our routines and most of our social enjoyment, though we have adapted as necessary...

Send us some LOVE! Summary   Our guest today is Melissa Pierce, author of Filled With Gold: A Widow’s Story (written with Christine Fadden).     Episode Notes:   Melissa chats about the importance of self-care and advocates being your own best friend while grieving. She believes the brokenness of grieving relates to kintsugi, an ancient practice of repairing cracked vessels with a gold adhesive, t...

Send us some LOVE! Summary: Join us today as we discuss how various beliefs can impact the grief process, especially as plans are being made for funeral or other memorial events. Episode Notes: Belief in God, higher power or non-belief is an individual choice and really makes little difference in our personal grief journeys. However, when people come together immediately after a death to plan a fu...

Send us some LOVE! Summary   Today’s episode is Dedicated to Madelyn Elizabeth Webster, daughter of our guest, Crystal Webster. Maddie was in her mama’s arms when she died the very day after her birth.  Episode Notes:   Grief just sucks. Crystal shares in her straightforward, candid manner the gamut of emotions experienced with the loss of a newborn, as well the reality faced in living ‘childless...

Send us some LOVE! Summary   Our guest today is Michele Allman, LMSW.  Episode Notes:   COVID has turned our lives upside down. For those who have lost loved ones, whether from the virus or another source, the restrictions imposed during this pandemic have complicated the grief journey for many. Michele Allman, LMSW, in Rochester, NY, speaks to how the presence of COVID and restrictions have impac...

Send us some LOVE! Summary : Our guest today is Dr. Jackie Black who has supported grieving partners and family members as well as those with a terminal diagnosis. Today’s topic will help many better understand what help might be needed after the death of a loved one. Episode Notes: After suffering a loss, Dr. Jackie feels everyone should be encouraged to find a Bereavement Group in which to parti...

Send us some LOVE! Summary   Our guest today is Gary Roe, who shares with us 8 Tips to Handle Holiday Grief.    Episode Notes:   Gary Roe itemizes his 8 Tips to Handle Holiday Grief and adds his personal experience to help others contemplate their own situations and feel supported and a bit more in control of this frantic period, now even more stressful with the pandemic.   Gary Roe is the multipl...