Giving Grief Grace, a Grief Podcast for the Sandwich Generation

What happens when you know something is wrong—but no one is listening? In this episode, Lisa sits down with Amy Johnston , a 34-year-old mom of three and stage 3 pancreatic cancer survivor, to share the story that changed her life. After months of unexplained symptoms, dismissed concerns, and “normal” test results, Amy refused to settle for reassurance that didn’t sit right. That decision ultimate...

What does grief look like when it begins with leaving home? In this episode, artist and musician Jacqueline van Bierk shares her extraordinary life story of escaping communist East Germany as a teenager just weeks before the Berlin Wall fell, leaving her parents behind with no way to know if they’d ever reunite. Jacqueline opens up about growing up in a controlled, black-and-white world, her darin...

After weeks of anticipation, celebration, and emotional effort, the holidays end and for those who are grieving, the quiet that follows can feel overwhelming. In this solo episode of Giving Grief Grace , Lisa reflects on the often-unspoken weight of the days between Christmas and the New Year. Lisa shares personal stories of navigating grief during the holidays, growing up with a birthday just day...

As we arrive at the final week of the Grieving Through the Holidays Advent journey, we turn toward a powerful truth: gratitude can coexist with grief. In this episode, Lisa reflects on how grief is not something to “move past,” but rather to live alongside. Grief is love with no place to go. When we allow gratitude and grief to sit side by side, we begin to see how deeply we have loved and how exp...

In Week 3 of the Grieving Through the Holidays Advent series, Lisa invites the community to shift from remembrance and fully embracing emotions into a sense of renewal. After honoring our loved ones in Week 1 and holding space for our emotions in Week 2, this Week 3 episode focuses on honoring legacy while intentionally creating new memories. Lisa shares about a new tradition that she's begun...

In Week 2 of our Grieving Through the Holidays Advent Series, we move from honoring memories to fully feeling what is bubbling up inside. Our focus is about feeling the feelings and holding space for where you are right now. In a season full of busyness, expectations, and emotional triggers, grief tends to be ever present. When we give our grief room to breathe, we also make space for healing, rel...

The holidays are tough. Add grief to the mix and life can get a bit complicated. We get it - we're there too, sitting alongside you on this grief journey.  Welcome to Giving Grief Grace's " Grieving Through the Holidays " Advent series. This is Week 1 where we focus on the theme of honoring and remembering our loved ones by carrying memories forward with grace and intention.  L...

This week, we explore what it means to navigate grief while juggling work, caregiving, motherhood, and identity shifts. Sarah Kagan of Keriah Grief Coaching shares the story of losing her mother to pancreatic cancer, how returning to work without acknowledgment magnified her pain, and the moment she realized her life no longer aligned with who she was becoming. Together, we talk about the “double...

The holidays can feel overwhelming when you’re grieving. In this episode, we are joined by Walker Posey, a fourth-generation funeral director at Posey Funeral Directors and National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) spokesperson known for blending tradition with meaningful, modern ways to honor life and support families. Together, we explore grief through the holidays with practical ideas, gent...

In this solo episode, Lisa shares her experience of training for and running the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon with Project Purple. At ten months postpartum, she took to the streets of NYC on a perfect marathon day, raising awareness and funds for pancreatic cancer research . From the hours of training to the electric energy of the cheering crowds and thoughtful race-day details like lactation s...

Former teacher and principal, and current K–12 literacy director, Katie Megrian has spent over two decades working in schools. She founded The Reading Symphony, a mission-driven platform that helps families and educators understand how reading develops and how it can transform lives. Behind her work lies a deeply personal story of love and loss. In this episode, Katie shares how losing her brother...

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Camelia Clarke — owner of Paradise Memorial Funeral and Cremation Services , National Funeral Director Association (NFDA) spokesperson, and grief etiquette advocate — as she shares how compassion can guide us through even the most delicate moments of loss. With nearly thirty years in the funeral profession, Dr. Clarke has helped countless families navigate dea...

When stage 4 ovarian cancer came back for the third time, Melanie Ezell made a radical decision—to stop fighting and start living. A surfer, yogi, nutritionist, and coach in Oahu, Hawaii, Melanie has turned her diagnosis into a daily practice of presence, gratitude, and freedom. She shares how surrender eased her anxiety, how acceptance steadied her body, and how peace arrived only after she let g...

This week we sit down with Trish Riggle , a fifth-generation intuitive and spiritual medium who has been connecting with spirits for over twenty years. Trish opens up about what it means to carry that lineage—how she first recognized her intuitive gift at the age of four, and how she now uses her abilities to bring comfort, healing, and validation to those seeking peace after loss through her comp...

Born Jewish in the former Soviet Union, Diana Esther grew up in a world where faith was forbidden and smiles were rare—she didn’t see a real smile until her late teens. Fleeing as a refugee with her parents and only three suitcases, she sought freedom but later faced another life-altering challenge: a rare lymphatic cancer diagnosis as a young mother. Diana traveled around Europe in search of the...

Dawn Christensen’s life has been defined by resilience and reinvention. Born without breath, surviving a near-death experience (NDE) after a car accident, living with chronic illness, and still finding her way back to the light—Dawn embodies what it means to reinvent the self amidst tremendous challenge.  A certified somatic healer, expressive arts counselor, and founder of The Grace Program —a no...

This week we sit down with Rachel Fitzpatrick , a yoga teacher, creator, and host of The FitZen Project Podcast . Rachel shares her life-changing experience of taking her grandmother’s hand and walking her home during a shamanic journey. She offers listeners an intimate look at how this spiritual practice can open space for love, presence, and release at life’s threshold. Together, we talk about h...

Navigating senior living decisions can feel overwhelming—whether you’re noticing red flags with loved ones' health, living situation, or wellbeing, avoiding challenging family conversations, or feeling guilt around choosing the best affordable caregiving option. In this episode, we sit down with senior living consultant, author, and advocate Shari Ross , creator of the Senior Living Made S.I....

This week we sit down with Diane Namm—author of 65 books to discuss the release of her new book: What Happens After? Together we explore love, loss, and how healing from grief takes as long as it takes.  Diane shares her extraordinary writing journey and the inspiration behind this heartfelt story that honors grief as a process without a timeline. Together, we discuss the many ways we can move for...

This week we sit down with Dino Verrelli, Founder and CEO of Project Purple , a leading nonprofit dedicated to fighting pancreatic cancer. Inspired by his father’s pancreatic cancer journey, Dino turned grief into purpose by creating a community that funds groundbreaking research, provides direct patient support, and builds hope for families navigating one of the toughest cancer diagnoses. Togethe...

Caregiving can feel like too much to carry — the constant demands, the emotional weight, and the exhaustion that lingers even when you’re doing your best. In this solo episode, host Lisa Hartung shares five practical caregiving tips to help reduce stress, ease overwhelm, and find moments of peace amidst a challenging time. From taking just one minute for yourself, to cherishing small moments, lett...

When Suzanne Andora Barron’s son Christopher was first diagnosed with leukemia at age three, she could never have imagined the rollercoaster that lay ahead. Over the next six years, Christopher faced leukemia three times, passing away at age 9.  Through it all, Suzanne made a powerful choice: to be fully present with Christopher and his younger brother Ryan. Traditional rules went out the window,...

Sheri Biritz and her husband were overjoyed to be expecting a baby boy. Over the holidays, they celebrated with family, imagining the joy of meeting their son, Calvin. But during a routine prenatal visit, Sheri was rushed to the hospital with preeclampsia. Doctors explained they would need to induce labor, but Calvin was too small to survive. Sheri learned she had Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS),...

When Dan McNamee was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at 40, he didn't know how much time he had left. Five years later, he’s in remission—grateful, scarred, and transformed. In this powerful episode, Dan shares his journey through chemotherapy, clinical trials, and the emotional terrain of facing mortality at such a young age while raising two young sons. With a family of doctors at his side...

When Jessica Kueck was just 11 years old, her 3-year-old brother Aaron drowned—an unspeakable tragedy that cracked her world open and quietly redefined her family. Jessica shares what it was like to be the “forgotten mourner,” the older sibling who held space for everyone else while her own grief went largely unseen.  Now a devoted mother, spiritual seeker, and aspiring memoirist, Jessica reflects...