Can You Just Sit With Me? with Natasha Smith

In this episode, Natasha sits with Alisha Reginal . She is a faith-filled Christian, wife, and mother of two boys. After the stillbirth of their first son, Travis Jr., she and her husband founded Remembering My Child , an organization that helps bereaved parents grieve and cherish their children's memories. Come and sit with us and join the conversation and let us know what resonates with you.  Ma...

In this epiosde, Lea Turner , author of The Freedom To Feel , joins Natasha for a conversation on how to find God in the midst of grief and trauma. Leah graciously shares her experiences navigating multiple losses including her father's cancer, her mother's cancer diagnosis, a tragic house fire, and her son's struggle with addiction. This episode is chalked with so many truths about the harsh real...

In this epiosde, Lisa Appelo , author of Life Can Be Good Again, joins Natasha for a conversation on how to sit with life after loss. Lisa, no stranger to grief after the sudden death of her husband, offers a hopeful, yet realistic and gentle perspective on what life can look like when we invite God into our brokenness. She shares how faith can guide us through the pain and help us rediscover hope...

In this epiosde,  Annie Sklaver Orenstein , a qualitative researcher, oral historian, and storyteller who has spent over adecade collecting stories from people around the world joins Natasha for a much needed conversation on Sibling Loss. They discuss Annie's latest book, Always A Sibling: The Forgotten Mourner's Guide to Grief, a practical, compassionate guide to sibling loss, with research, stor...

In this epiosde, Summer Gross , an Anglican priest rooted in the Christian classics and author of The Emmanuel Promise sits with Natasha to chat about sitting with grief and The Emmanuel Promise.  Tune in and join the conversation. Let us know what resonates with you.  Main points: Spiritual Direction and the Emmanuel Promise Attachment Theory and Its Impact Bridging Attachment and Spiritual Pract...

In this epiosde, Natasha sits with Jodi Grubbs , a slow living advocate, author, and podcast host. They discuss Jodi's latest book, Live Slowly: A Gentle Invitation to Exhale , which encourages readers to integrate slow living practices into their busy lives. Jodi shares personal stories of loss and the importance of taking time to reflect, be present, and accept life’s uncontrollable moments. Tun...

In this epiosde, Natasha sits with Liv Dooley , Bible Teacher, Podcast Host of The Best Kept Secret Podcast with Liv Dooley and author of the new books Selah: A Study of 1 and 2 Samuel  and Expectant: 31 Prayers to Help You Prepare for Your Baby Girl . We chat about unanswered prayer, unmet expectation, and navigating disappointments with God. Liv brings such a fresh perspective from her lived exp...

In this epiosde, Natasha sits with Emily Lawson , a Communications Director and author of the new book Cracks In My Cup: Reflections on Motherhood and Loss . We chat about the loss of a parent, fostercare and adoption and associated grief in motherhood. This is such a needed conversation.  Listen in and join the conversation. Let us know what resonates with you.  Main points: Writing as a Path to...

In this epiosde, Natasha sits with Leanne Friesen , an ordained minister and author of the new book  Grieving Room: Making Space for All the Hard Things after Death and Loss . We chat about the concept of giving oneself and others the space to mourn, and discuss personal stories of loss and healing. I love her perspective and this conversation around sibling loss as well.  Listen in and join the c...

In this epiosde, Natasha sits with  Aubrey Sampson , an author of several books including The Louder Song, Known, and her latest best selling kids book Big Feelings Days. This is probably going to be the most joyous episode you will hear about grief. I loved it so much and so will you. So listen in and join the conversation.  Main points: Children and Grief: A World Overlooked Learning the Languag...

In this epiosde, Natasha sits with  Dr. Quantrilla Ard , a passionate behavioral scientist, a lived experiences expert, and loss and grief coach. She holds a doctoral degree in Health Psychology and is an advocate and champion for social and reproductive justice with a focus on Black maternal and infant health and mortality. This episode is so rich and hits deep. Listen in and join the conversatio...

In this epiosde, Natasha sits with  Claire Bidwell Smith , a licensed therapist and author of her 5th book Conscious Grieving: A Transformative Approach to Healing from Loss.  Claire is a well of knowledge, sharing from her lived experience and years working in hospice and private practice. Listen in and join the conversation.  Main points: Conscious grieving as a new framework for the stages of g...

In this epiosde, Natasha sits with  Whitney K. Pipkin , a journalist and author of her new book We Shall All Be Changed: How Facing Death with Loved Ones Transforms Us.  Whitney writes from a place of lived grief after facing the death of her mom to cancer. You will fnid this conversation engaging, informing, as well as comforting. Listen in and join the conversation.  Main points: Embracing Grief...

Natasha sits with Sarah Bell , Grief Educator and creator of Life, Loss and Hope .  Sarah brings a wealth of wisdom and knowledge from her years of service as a Hospice Chaplain and lived grief experience. Come and sit with us and join the conversation.  Main points: Honoring our individual paths of healing Facing the storm head-on Finding hope in the person of Jesus Christ Healing through shared...

Natasha sits with Chuck & Ashley Elliott , authors of I Used To Be___: How to Navigate Large and Small Losses in Life and Find Your Path Forward. Chuck and Ashley uniquely combines their professional backgrounds in pastoral care and licensed counseling, respectively, to guide others through grief. Their insights offer not only practical advice but also a compassionate understanding of grief's...

Natasha sits with Rachel Marie Kang, author of her latest work The Matter of Little Losses. Rachel guides us into focusing attention to life's small details and losses. She highlights the therapeutic role of personal storytelling, art in mirroring grief, and practical spiritual coping mechanisms. The conversation explores acknowledging all kinds of losses and why it all matters. Main points: The i...

Natasha kicks off Season 5 in conversation with Theo Boyd, author of Your Grief Is Not Like Mine.  Her story has been described as one where "you just can't make this  stuff up". You don't want to miss this one! Main points: We are not alone in the depth of our grief. Learn about the therapeutic effects of writing out grief. Presence is powerful for those who are grieving. Hope is possible amid gr...

In this episode, I sit with Beth Allen Slevcove, Author of Broken Hallelujahs: Learning to Grieve the Big and Small Losses of Life. Beth says, “We have this pressure to not give our grief the amount of time, attention, and space and help...that leads to moving through/metabolizing [grief]. That [the grief] will turn into something useful and helpful. More compassionate, more understanding. Give us...

In this episode, I sit with Mel Lawrenz, Author of A Chronicle of Grief: Finding Life After Traumatic Loss Mel says, “Survival means to live through…Surviving is a positive thing. It’s God-honoring to say life goes on and I’m gonna go on. If someone thinks, well you can certainly do better than surviving…Well yeah, eventually. You can thrive. There comes a day when you can have a smile on your fac...

In this episode, I sit with my new friend Rachel Lohman, Author of Miscarried Hope: Journeying with Jesus through Pregnancy and Infant Loss. Rachel says, “One thing we lose sight of so often is we know what comes after Good Friday, we know what comes after Saturday and we love to skip past that…thank goodness for the hope we find in resurrection Sunday. But when I stepped back and looked at all of...

Terra McDaniel talks about lament as an antidote to despair and hopelessness. She says, “Lament doesn’t mean getting stuck in grief…[instead] it is the freedom to express all kinds of pain related to all kinds of losses and to invite the presence of God into them.” In this episode, I sit with Terra McDaniel, Author of Hopeful Lament: Tending Our Grief Through Spiritual Practices to chat about Sitt...

“Yes, I fully believe God is good and is with us at every step, but also, that doesn’t guarantee outcomes…so yeah. That is not an easy tidbit to accept”, writes Katie Schnack. In this episode , I sit with Katie Schnack, Author of Everything Is (NOT) Fine to chat about Sitting with Hard Feelings When Everything is Not Fine. Katie Schnack is a writer who has been featured in outlets like Romper, Hel...

“I think the question I really wanted answered at the beginning was the why questions…then prayer partners, friends, and ministers helped me to see that the more important questions are the who and the how…who is God to me and who am I going to become as a result of this thing that I’m going through”, says Liuan Huska. Liuan Huska is a freelance writer and speaker focusing on topics of embodiment...

“Grief is not a strength-building exercise.” Clarissa writes. Clarissa Moll is an author, a podcaster, and the young widow of author Rob Moll. Clarissa’s writing has appeared in Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, RELEVANT, Modern Loss, Grief Digest, and more. Her husband’s first book, The Art of Dying, was released in April 2021 with Clarissa’s new afterword. Clarissa is the author of Beyon...

When we are suffering it helps to know we are not the only one. Wendy Alsup is an author who encourages women to engage theology for themselves. She is the author of several books including Practical Theology for Women , The Gospel-Centered Woman , and By His Wounds You Are Healed . She also teaches math at a local community college and is editor at theologyforwomen.org . She lives in Saint Matthe...