Good Grief: Life After Loss

Sam would have turned 27 on June 12th. Instead of spending the day grieving her brother, Skylar spent it buried in work, preparing for a company-wide presentation, answering messages, and racing through a packed schedule. Before she knew it, the day was over, and she never had the chance to truly grieve. In this episode, Skylar opens up about the guilt of feeling disconnected from grief, the press...

Grief doesn't just affect your heart—it affects your brain, your body, your routines, and your mental health. In this episode, Skylar talks about something we don't discuss nearly enough: the mental health of grievers. From "grief brain" and brain fog to the dark thoughts that can sometimes creep in after loss, we'll explore how grief impacts us far beyond sadness. Whether your loss was recent or...

One year ago, Skylar hit publish on the very first episode of Good Grief: Life After Loss — and today, one year and 41 episodes later, she's reflecting on everything this podcast has taught her. From the loneliness she felt as a 14-year-old grieving her brother Sam, to the weeks she was too exhausted to talk about grief and questioned whether she was even qualified to be here, to the unexpected gi...

Mother’s Day can be beautiful, but for a lot of people, it’s also incredibly complicated. In this episode, Skylar talks about the uncomfortable reality of grief on days that the world expects you to celebrate. From losing a mother or child, to infertility, strained relationships, or simply feeling the absence of someone who should still be here, this episode explores the many ways grief can quietl...

When grief meets school, the impact goes far beyond sadness. This week, Skylar shares what returning to 9th grade after losing her brother Sam really looked like; feeling too far behind to recover, dropping classes, hiding in the library, losing motivation, and struggling to care about grades when her world had completely changed. She also reflects on how grief affected her confidence, future oppo...

In this week’s episode, Skylar opens up about the complicated reality of grieving in a world that often feels uncomfortable with loss. Inspired by a quote from comedian Michael Cruz Kayne, she explores what it feels like to want to share stories, memories, and laughter about her brother Sam, only to feel like she has to manage other people’s reactions. From awkward conversations with new friends t...

In this deeply personal episode, Skylar sits down with her dad, Ron Jackenthal, for an honest conversation about grief, purpose, and what it means to rebuild a life after unimaginable loss. After the sudden death of his son Sam, Ron’s world was completely reshaped. Once focused on a successful career in sales, he made the life-altering decision to step away and dedicate himself fully to creating t...

In this episode, Skylar explores the powerful shift that can happen when we move out of our heads and into our hearts. After losing her brother, Sam, Skylar began to notice something unexpected — other people experiencing loss started coming to her for guidance, comfort, and connection. What started as conversations with fellow grievers eventually grew into the work she does today through the Live...

Young grief isn’t as rare as it sometimes seems — but it’s still something most people your age haven’t lived through. By age 18, only about 1 in 14 children will experience the death of a parent or sibling. In this episode, Skylar explores the statistics around early loss and what they reveal about why being a young griever can feel so isolating. She discusses how losing someone in your teens or...

In this episode of Good Grief, Skylar sits down with Maureen Hancock—one of New England’s most well-known spirit mediums and lovingly known as the “Comedian Medium.” Together, they talk about grief, the afterlife, and the many ways our loved ones continue to show up after they’re gone. Maureen shares her own near-death experience, how she became an evidential medium, what the moment of passing is...

Grief doesn’t always look like tears and silence — sometimes it looks like dark humor. In this episode, Skylar explores why joking after loss feels healing for some people and deeply uncomfortable for others. Through personal reflection and psychology, she breaks down dark humor as a coping mechanism, why some grievers lean into laughter, and why others avoid it altogether. Whether you cope with l...

In this episode of Good Grief: Life After Loss, Skylar explores what it means to live with personal grief in a moment of collective national pain. As political unrest, violence, and injustice continue to shape life in America, many people are feeling overwhelmed, distracted, numb, or emotionally exhausted. This episode discusses collective grief, desensitization, numbness as a survival response, a...

In this special Christmas episode, Skylar reflects on holding both grief and joy during the holidays. She shares a heartwarming moment when she and her mom discovered a mysterious origami rabbit under the dining room table, a small, unexpected sign from Sam. This episode is for anyone missing someone, celebrating someone, or navigating the mix of emotions the holidays can bring. It’s a gentle remi...

In this episode, Skylar reflects on how the holidays change after a loved one is gone. She shares personal memories of Christmas with her brother Sam, from playful childhood moments to the magic of traditions that can’t be recreated. Skylar explores the challenges of navigating family celebrations as an only child, the awkwardness and pressures that come with gift-giving, and the bittersweet proce...

This week, we’re talking about why social media hits so much harder during the holiday season. From the matching pajamas and “best Christmas ever!” captions… to the TikTok gift guides for moms, brothers, and partners you may no longer have… scrolling can feel like walking through a minefield when you’re grieving. In this episode, Skylar breaks down: Why holiday comparison hurts more than ordinary...

Not sure what to get someone who’s grieving this holiday season? This episode walks through meaningful and gentle gift ideas for anyone missing someone — whether their loss was recent or decades ago. Skylar shares thoughtful categories, what to avoid, and simple ways to give a gift that truly supports a grieving heart. Links to buy the gifts mentioned in this episode  Memory Gifts Custom watercolo...

In this episode, Skylar talks about what Thanksgiving feels like when someone you love is missing. The pressure to be “grateful,” the empty-chair moments, and the weird mix of emotions that hit on a holiday like this. She also shares a few simple things that can help you get through the day and ways to quietly honor your person. It’s a soft, supportive episode for anyone who needs a little company...

In last week’s episode, we talked all about signs from the other side — and this week, Skylar finally had the chance to experience one up close. She went to see Maureen Hancock, a well-known medium, hoping (and honestly begging) to hear from her brother Sam. What happened that night surprised her, overwhelmed her, and cracked something open in her grief that she didn’t expect. In this episode, Sky...

Everyone talks about signs, but no one talks about how personal, confusing, comforting, and sometimes painful they can be. This week, Skylar shares the signs she’s gotten from her brother Sam, dives into the science behind why they hit so hard, and opens up about what it feels like when they don’t come at all. Plus, she’s gearing up to see a medium—and spiraling (in the best way). Comment below if...

In this quick episode, Skylar gets honest about what it’s like to love her podcast, and still feel exhausted by the constant weight of grief. She talks about the pressure of always being the “grieving one,” the emotional fatigue that comes with sharing her story, and the guilt of sometimes wanting a break from it all. It’s a candid, unfiltered reflection on how healing can coexist with burnout, an...

Skylar opens up about how losing someone suddenly changed the way she sees safety and love. In this episode, she talks about the quiet fear grief leaves behind — the way she catastrophizes everything, from panicking when someone doesn’t text back to imagining what she’d do if the people she loves most suddenly died. She shares how this fear shows up in her daily life and what she’s noticed in othe...

Ten years after losing her brother Sam, Skylar can finally see how her grief showed up in ways she never recognized at the time. From shopping sprees and impulsive haircuts to quitting everything she once loved, this episode dives into all the weird, messy, and very human ways she coped after loss — the kind that didn’t feel like grief back then, but absolutely were. If your coping has ever looked...

Emma lost her dad to suicide at just 13. In this episode, she shares her personal grief journey and how she was able to help young grievers heal through her work at Experience Camps. We also talk about the power of community and why there’s no right or wrong way to grieve, as long as you’re not hurting yourself or others. Connect & Resources: Learn more about Experience Camps Contact Emma: Ins...

In this episode, Skylar recaps an emotional week back home — from walking the blue carpet at the Live Like Sam Gala, the foundation’s most successful event ever, to honoring her brother Sam’s 10-year anniversary with her yearly balloon release. A week filled with celebration, signs, and love that keeps his legacy alive.  Please leave a rating, share a comment, and subscribe! Follow Good Grief: Lif...

In this episode, host Skylar Jackenthal speaks directly to her 14-year-old self, the girl who had just lost her brother, Sam. Ten years later, Skylar shares the lessons she wishes she could have whispered to that younger version of herself: reminders about grief, guilt, milestones, and the ways love continues forward. This episode is both a reflection on the past decade and a message of hope for a...