Grief Comadres | Real grief. Real women. Real healing.

In this inspiring episode, Jackie sits down with 17-year-old Mia Rodriguez — co-founder of Mommy & Me Ah Coaching and a true force of wisdom beyond her years. From navigating bullying at age eight years old, to going plant-based at 11 years old to heal chronic stomach issues, to coaching other young women through life's hardest moments, Mia shares how she has built an unshakable inner fou...

What happens when the woman who holds everyone else together finally lets herself be held?  In this episode of Grief Comadres , I sit down with Master Life Coach, speaker, and educator Sonia Rodriguez — someone who has personally supported me on my own healing journey, and who has also worked with my daughter. We talk about the hidden grief that lives inside being "the strong one," what...

In this heartfelt episode of Aphasia Reimagined , Jackie explores the complex journey of grief—something many individuals with aphasia and their loved ones experience. Through a personal story, she introduces the five stages of grief—denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance—while highlighting that grief is not linear and doesn’t follow a set path. Jackie also shares a more hopeful fra...

What does facing death teach us about truly living? In this episode, I'm getting personal. I'm pulling from my years working in a hospital — sitting with patients at their most vulnerable, watching lives change in an instant — and sharing the lessons that have never left me. I'm also talking about Eric Dane's Netflix special Famous Last Words , where he recorded a final message...

 In this episode, Jackie shares how she used the write and rip journaling tool to find clarity after letting her thoughts spiral out of control. After a difficult dinner with her family where anxious thoughts took over, she turned to this simple practice the next day—writing out everything that was bothering her, asking herself what was actually true, and then ripping up the page. The relief was i...

Hi friends,      In today's episode we will talk about how grief presents itself in the aphasia community and how to spot symptoms and take action. Remember, I am a speech-language pathologist and grief coach. Please talk to your doctor and seek counseling from an LPC for more help! Sending you my love, Jackie 

Here's the link for my upcoming free workshop:  Understanding Grief: From Stuck to Moving Forward- Free Workshop  https://jacqueline-alvarado.mykajabi.com/pl/2148728485  After a rare movie marathon with her daughters and mom, the host discovers a powerful thread connecting three seemingly different films: Soul on Fire, People We Meet on Vacation, and My Girl. All three stories reveal the same...

 Starting 2026 with honesty about grief and hope for healing. In this episode, we reflect on navigating the holidays after loss, share Anderson Cooper's powerful New Year's Eve message about grief, and explore David Kessler's idea that while grieving is necessary, staying stuck in grief is optional. Plus, a year-in-review exercise to help you find meaning, set intentions, and choose...

Jackie Alvarado, speech-language pathologist with over 15 years of experience, shares her journey working with people with aphasia and the moment she realized that recovery cannot focus on language alone. A profound loss within her professional life exposed the silent crisis of depression and grief that too often accompanies aphasia. This podcast is a place to talk openly about the emotional side...

In this episode, we're talking about something I hear all the time: "I tried therapy once, but I didn't like the therapist, so I stopped going." Sound familiar? Here's the truth, comadres—finding the right therapist or coach is just like dating. Sometimes you have to "date around" until you find the one who truly gets you. I'm sharing research-backed tips on...

 In this episode, we explore the grief that lives in the in-between—anticipatory grief when you know loss is coming, living grief when someone is here but already gone, and disenfranchised grief that society tells us doesn't count. Through the story of a patient facing a terminal diagnosis and the song, we uncover how these hidden forms of grief shape caregivers and families. If you're l...

When grief hits, your brain chemistry crashes. Learn about the four chemicals your brain is starving for—Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, and Endorphins—and get practical, daily strategies to support your survival through any kind of loss. Whether you're grieving a person, a relationship, your health, or your old life, this episode gives you a bare minimum protocol for the days when everything...

In this deeply personal episode, I share the story of losing my stepdad Martin during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a healthcare worker watching the crisis unfold, my worst fears came true when both my parents contracted the virus. Through tears, prayers, and questions for God, I learned that grief and faith don't have to be enemies—they can walk together. If you've ever felt abandoned by Go...

Welcome to the very first episode of Grief Comadres! Join Jackie, a speech-language pathologist and certified grief coach, as she shares the heartbreaking moment that changed everything and led to the creation of this community. Discover why grief isn't just about death—it shows up in divorce, job loss, broken friendships, and so many unexpected places. If you've been carrying sadness yo...