Grief City

Finding griefy friends can be tough. A lot of times, we think people who’ve experienced the same kind of loss as us will automatically be the best kind of support — and while that’s true for some, it’s not always the case. In this Griefy Tip episode, I talk about my experience in early grief — trying to connect with people who understood father loss — and what I’ve learned along the way about what...

Anxiety about all sorts of things seems to be a common experience for many of us who are grieving. Anxiety before loss was hard enough, but after loss, it can feel so much more intense. I want you to know that this is completely normal—and if you’re going through it, I’m so sorry. It can be truly overwhelming. In this  Griefy Tip  episode, I share a bit about my own experience with anxiety after l...

Pet loss is an incredibly common—and deeply painful—kind of grief. Last Thanksgiving, we said goodbye to our sweet dog, Poe, a blue-nosed pit bull we rescued five years ago from a kill shelter in South LA. Poe brought so much joy, peace, and comfort into our lives, especially after the loss of my dad. Even when you know your pet won’t live forever, nothing truly prepares you for the heartbreak whe...

The seven stages of grief are widely accepted—but grief isn’t that simple. While each stage reflects a valid emotion many grievers experience, the idea that you move through them in order and then you’re “done” grieving just isn’t accurate. Grief doesn't follow a timeline, and it definitely doesn’t fit neatly into boxes. In this Griefy Tip episode, we’re talking about how the stages can help u...

I know how hard it can be to feel joy after losing someone you love. But even the smallest moments of joy are essential for healing. It doesn’t have to change your whole day—sometimes, it’s enough to notice joy in the little things, the simple things. They matter more than we realize. That's what this Griefy Tip is all about. Today, I hope you find a bit of that joy—something small that makes...

Ever feel like skipping your birthday because, after loss, it just doesn’t feel worth celebrating? Yeah... I’ve been there too. When my dad passed away in 2021, my birthday came less than a month later—and it was one of the hardest days I’ve ever faced. Since then, birthdays have carried a bittersweet weight. Today, as I turn 33, I want to share a few thoughts from the heart. This episode is for a...

I wish this wasn’t part of grief—but it is. The stress of loss can overwhelm both your brain and body. Forgetfulness, poor decision-making, and that heavy “foggy” feeling? They’re all common experiences after loss. In this  Griefy Tip  episode, I’m talking about  Grief Brain —what it is, how it shows up, and a few ways you can find some relief along the way.

I know — it sounds ridiculously simple, and definitely not profound. But taking walks has been one of the most powerful tools for my emotional well-being after loss. You’ve probably heard it before, and there’s a reason for that: it works. In this short episode, I’m sharing why something as ordinary as going outside and moving your body can make an extraordinary difference — especially on the heav...

At 13, Melvin Adams lost his father. But the grief he felt wasn’t just about losing a parent — it was about losing the  possibility  of the father he never really had. His dad hadn’t shown up the way a father should, and that kind of loss comes with its own layers of pain. And yet, through that loss, something unexpected happened: other men stepped in. Coaches, mentors, even my own dad — they beca...

Nothing truly prepares you for the shift that happens after losing a parent. It’s not just about missing them—it’s about navigating the sudden changes in family roles and dynamics that follow. It’s heavy, it’s complicated, and it’s real. This griefy tip is here to remind you that you’re not alone in feeling all of it—the confusion, the frustration, and the emotional weight of these shifts.

Okay, this one might feel like tough love—but hear me out. Before anything else, take the time you need to truly feel the weight of your grief. No one is rushing you. When you're ready to begin the healing process, know that it will ask something of you: to show up, day by day. Not perfectly—just honestly. That's what today's Griefy Tip is all about—healing, and how it requires your pa...

When my father, someone who had always encouraged me in my faith, passed away, I found myself questioning everything. I didn’t want to hold onto God anymore. In this episode, I share the struggles and doubts I faced in the aftermath of my loss—how, at times, it felt like God was distant or that I was being punished (something I know many of us can relate to). But through it all, I realized God was...

Few things shake our faith more deeply than walking through trauma.  After my own loss, I spent months wrestling with God, asking “why,” and struggling to hold on to my faith. I’ve long wanted to have this important conversation about faith after loss with someone who truly understands what it means to navigate deep grief while still holding on to God. That’s why I knew Natasha Smith was the perfe...

People tend to say some  wild  things after a loss. Honestly, I could probably fill an entire episode with the bizarre, awkward, or downright hurtful comments I’ve heard. Something about tragedy seems to draw out the most unfiltered responses—maybe it’s the discomfort, the high emotions, or just not knowing what to say. This is one Griefy Tip I  really  wish I had followed more closely: how to dea...

Loss has a way of touching every part of your life. It seeps into everyday moments, making even the ordinary feel different. Grief reveals parts of us we didn’t know were there—it changes us. Sometimes in ways we welcome, sometimes in ways we don’t. In this episode, I wanted to share some personal stories about how I’ve felt the ripple effect of loss in my own life. None of us would ever choose th...

In the weeks after my loss, I kept wondering if I'd ever catch a break from the constant ache of missing them. Grief shifts as our hearts begin to heal — some days lighter, some days heavier — but the missing never really ends. We carry them with us, always.

"You're So Strong" – A Phrase We Love to HateThe phrase "you're so strong" has become a bit of a punching bag in grief spaces — and maybe unfairly so. Many grievers indeed bristle at hearing it. I’ve been on both sides: I’ve said it before I experienced loss, and I’ve heard it after. The discomfort around this phrase is real and valid. But what if we took a step back? W...

We are so hard on ourselves, especially as we navigate the depths of something as difficult as loss. Some days, you may have tons of energy — and especially early on, there will be many days when you don’t, and you feel unmotivated. That’s okay. Give yourself grace.

This one might be touchy for some, but there is so much truth behind it. Just because you may feel weak does not mean you are a weak person. The resilience it takes to navigate loss is immense, and while you may not feel proud of that strength today, one day it will encourage you.

Friendship After LossLosing someone you love can be one of the loneliest experiences in life. It often reveals who your true friends are—some show up and support you, others pull away, and many want to help but simply don’t know how. Navigating friendship in the aftermath of grief is complex. There’s no guidebook, no perfect way to show up or be supported. Sometimes, you just need people who get i...

When the memories start to feel like they’re fading… ugh, it’s such a heartbreaking feeling. Honestly, I think it’s one of the biggest fears we face in grief — the fear of forgetting. That’s what Griefy Tip #2 is all about. In this episode, I’ll share a simple, practical way to help keep those memories alive — something you can actually  do  when that fear starts to creep in or you start forgettin...

When I lost my dad, I was overwhelmed — even reading felt like too much. I quickly realized that grief doesn’t follow a rulebook. I needed to feel it in my own way and give myself permission to heal without pressure. There’s so much helpful information out there for grievers, but it can feel like  a lot . That’s why I created  Griefy Tips  — short, 2–3 minute episodes offering simple, thoughtful a...

Losing someone you love—especially when their death could have been prevented—can leave you drowning in anger, bitterness, and unanswered questions. In this powerful episode, my friend Aprill Nelson joins me to share the deeply personal story of losing her father during the COVID-19 pandemic. Aprill opens up about the painful realities of medical negligence, her honest wrestle with God, and the ro...

Guilt & Grief  — two emotions that should never go hand-in-hand, yet they almost always do. And when they collide, the result can be devastating. From the very first day of my grief journey, guilt took hold of me. It all traced back to one moment—one decision—while my dad was in the hospital. That moment haunted me for nearly a year. I believed that by punishing myself with guilt, I was someho...

We’re kicking off Season 2 of  Grief City  by talking about something deeply personal to me—dreams. In this episode, I share the role dreams have played throughout my life, including two specific dreams I had about my dad before he passed away. While the miracle I thought we’d see didn’t happen, those dreams brought deep comfort and felt like a kind of strategy from Heaven. I also open up about wh...