GRIEF AND LIGHT

In this deeply resonant episode, Annie Sklaver Orenstein, the insightful author of ' Always a Sibling: The Forgotten Mourners Guide to Grief , ' dives into the often-overlooked experience of sibling grief—a complex journey that’s rarely given the attention it deserves. Annie bravely shares her personal story of losing her brother Ben, a heart-wrenching loss that ignited her passion to cr...

Dr. Joshua Black , leading grief and bereavement researcher, speaker, and host of the Grief Dreams Podcast , shares his journey into the field of grief dreams (e.g., dreams of the deceased), and the profound insights they offer into the grieving process and continuing connections beyond death. *** Click here to watch on YouTube *** Dr. Black also explores the statistics and research findings on gr...

In this conversation, Oscar 'O.G.' Guerrero shares his story as a father navigating the devastating and sudden loss of his two-year-old son, Ollie, and how he has found a way to channel his grief into helping other men heal from trauma and loss. *** Watch this episode on YouTube *** Oscar delves into the immediate challenges and trauma faced after the loss, the process of forgiveness, dr...

"The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea.” This quote by Isak Dinesen inspired today’s guest, Margot Fowkes , to create Salt Water , a virtual community where grievers can share their stories and honor their loved ones. Margo is the founder and president of OnTarget Consulting and author of the award-winning book, LEADING THROUGH LOSS: HOW TO NAVIGATE GRIEF AT WORK , hel...

How can we unlock joy after loss?  This episode explores the possibility of experiencing joy after loss and provides guidance on incorporating self-compassion and joy into the grieving process. It emphasizes the importance of honoring each moment, leaning into curiosity, and rewarding the questions that arise. Nina shares tips for cultivating joy, such as setting reminders for gratitude and using...

Megan Gluth-Bohan 's path to success has been anything but a straight line, shaped by her challenging upbringing and personal struggles. Growing up in rural Iowa below the poverty line, Megan faced dysfunction, trauma, and difficult circumstances. She struggled with alcohol and drug use, which led to her getting kicked out of college. However, she eventually turned her life around, went back...

Camille Sapara Barton , author of ' Tending Grief, Embodied Rituals for Holding Our Sorrow and Growing Cultures of Caring Community ,' discusses the importance of tending to grief and creating communal spaces for grief. They emphasize the need to process grief through the body, and draw inspiration from the grief rituals of the Dagara people, who see grief as a generative force that supp...

In this conversation, Blair Kaplan Venables , a grief and resilience expert, shares her personal journey of resilience and how she turned her pain into purpose after experiencing multiple losses, including the loss of both parents and a pregnancy. She discusses the concept of resilience and defines it as 'bouncing forward' from a challenging experience. Blair also introduces the Navigati...

The first five years of grief: Year One: Shock and Fog Year Two: Year of Permanence Year Three: The Year of Inflammation and New Normals Year Four: The Pivot Year Year Five: The Year of Rebirth In this episode, Nina Rodriguez reflects on the first five years of her grief journey after the loss of her brother. She shares the different stages and experiences she went through, and discusses the impor...

Janet Gwilliam-Wright , a grief awareness advocate and educator, shares her personal experience of losing her mother and how it shaped her life. She launched the Mother Love Project as a platform for motherless daughters to share their stories, and co-founded Bloomwell Partners , a global training and consulting firm working to build more compassionate and grief-informed workspaces. In this conver...

Lauren "Lolo" Paz , founder of A Soulful Sorrow , discusses the profound journey of grief and finding healing, meaning, and spiritual reconnection after pregnancy loss. *** Click here to watch on YouTube *** She highlights the lack of resources and support for women navigating this complex terrain, and emphasizes the importance of a holistic approach to healing, addressing the physical,...

“Not everything happens for a reason, but sacred gifts MAY be found in everything that happens – even (and especially) in the most painful things.”  – Not Another Self-Help Book That’s a quote from the newly published Amazon best-seller titled, "Not Another Self-Help Book: Finding Gifts in the Midst of Life's Sh*t," by guest, Lindsey Kane Leaverton,   who bravely shares her personal...

What role does movement play in grief? Emily P. Bingham is a certified grief educator, grief coach, widow, and founder of moveTHRU , which she created after the loss of her husband, Ian, in 2019 to Uveal Melanoma. moveTHRU was born as a way to create new meaning out of her tragedy by helping others heal. Her book -- LOVE AND GRIEF: Find Healing, Meaning & Purpose in Life After Loss -- teaches...

In this episode, we deep dive into the reality of experiencing life's duality in its fullness as guest, Kera Sanchez, experienced both the birth of her daughter and the unexpected loss of her mother only a few days apart. She shares how her grief left her with no choice but to turn "lemons into lemonade" as she learned to navigate loss and joy through the power of dark humor and com...

Trigger Warning: Discussion of sensitive topics. Listener discretion is advised. What role does creative expression play in navigating the complexities of grief? Eileen Kielty , founder of Kaia Evolutions ,  a culmination of her life’s work and a love letter to her sister, Katie, who died by suicide in June of 2019. She has degrees in both dance and psychology, as well as extensive training in som...

“Grieving room is endangered in a culture that thinks it is more helpful to rush past grief than to lean into it.” Leanne Friesen is the brilliant soul behind the groundbreaking book, " Grieving Room: Making Space for All the Hard Things After Death and Loss. " As the curator of the popular Instagram platform, @grieving.room , she has cultivated a nurturing space for those navigating the...

"Grief is not this OR that; it's this AND that." - Nina Rodriguez Grief thrusts us into the messy middle, which in time may become the magical middle. But what the heck is it anyway?! The irony of this universal experience is that it's so unique to each experiencer, the answer of what is it depends on who you ask. That said, there are some words, descriptions and frameworks tha...

There are losses that rearrange our understanding of life and how we show up in the world. The death of a young person, a baby, a spouse or a sibling can be particularly devastating, due to the traumatic and out-of-order elements surrounding the loss. Surviving  one loss can feel unbearable. But all four? Today’s guest shares her story of immense loss — a journey marked by the departure of her one...

Clinically Trained, Mystically Guided. Casey Stevens embodies the philosophy encapsulated in this motto. She is a Spiritual Psychotherapist and Consciousness Coach, and founder of Shrink Bigger . Casey shares her deeply personal journey of transformation, from navigating the loss of her husband and ensuing grief to embracing her true calling as an embodied healer. Through candid reflections and pr...

How does grief impact our mental health, and what strategies can we employ to nurture our well-being through times of loss and transition? Join us as we explore the intersection of grief and mental health with the amazing Dr. Mekel Harris , Memphis-based licensed psychologist helping other perfectly imperfect folks navigate life's challenges in order to grow in lifestyle, love, leadership, an...

"Everybody else rushed me past the agony, but grief is the one and only voice that told me, 'take as long as you need'." J.S. Park – As Long As You Need Life-altering loss and grief can alter our perception of time, an effect experienced by many grievers that I like to call "grief time".  Grief time is non-linear, both a blink and an eternity. Grief also demands your...

How can a mother move forward after the life-altering death of her son? Is it even possible? Our guest is on a mission to bring hope to those who navigate the challenging journey of grief, the trauma of loving someone suffering from substance use disorder, and the reality of life after losing a child. Kathy Wagner is a grief-focused writer and author, and a mother of three grown children who under...

In this deeply introspective episode, Catherine Baars opens up about her personal experiences with grief, especially in the context of navigating a complex relationship with her father, whom she lost a mere six months as of this recording.  For as long as she can remember, Cat's relationship with her father was strained due to his substance use disorder, which eventually led to their estrange...

Carlos Duran , shares his inspiring story, from the turbulent streets of Wheehawk, New Jersey, to the mountains of Costa Rica. His story is a testament to the power of transformation through nature and plant-based medicine, and the resilience of the human spirit. Growing up, Carlos faced the challenges of a violent and abusive household that left him feeling separate, disconnected, and profoundly...

What is your grief bias?  (Hint: You have one. We all do.) Our beliefs about grief, or grief biases, define how we show up for ourselves and each other. They become particularly evident when we experience a loss or life-altering circumstances. Inspired by the profound insights gained from Megan Devine's Grief Care Professional Certificate Program, this episode peels back the layers of treatin...