Grief, Gratitude & The Gray in Between

Caren Paskel is a best-selling author, speaker, and the founder of the Self-Evolution Education (S.E.E.) Foundation . With decades of experience in spiritual education and yoga principles, Caren guides individuals on a journey of transformation, helping them reach their fullest potential. As the former owner of EnSoul Yoga, Caren navigated the challenges of managing multiple studios while caring f...

Welcome to a very special episode of Grief, Gratitude, and the Gray In Between . Today, we celebrate a milestone—our 200th episode! Over the past five years, I’ve had the privilege of sitting down with nearly 200 incredible individuals, each sharing their unique experiences and perspectives on grief. Grief is complex. It’s not just about loss—it’s about transitions, expectations, healing, and ever...

Brittni Cosgrove is a Transformational Life & Business Coach. She helps ambitious souls become their most magnetic, authentic, and confident self so they can create a bigger impact doing what they love. Whether you’re scaling your business, starting a nonprofit, or deepening your relationships, Brittni will help you overcome subconscious set points and master your mindset so you can stop self-...

Jaya Saxena is a devoted mother of two spirited girls, a champion of inclusion, and an aspiring death doula. Her journey through grief began in 2002 with the profound loss of her mother, a pivotal moment that shaped her understanding of life after loss. In recent years, particularly during the Covid pandemic, Jaya’s view on grief has deepened. She recognizes that loss transcends the death of loved...

Reshma Kearney is a trauma-informed mindfulness and healing guide dedicated to empowering individuals navigating grief and mental health challenges. After losing her husband to suicide in 2022, Reshma became a solo parent to three young children and turned to mindfulness as a grounding tool to help her family move forward with resilience. Drawing from her personal journey, she now guides others th...

Jeanette Koncikowski has dedicated her career to helping survivors of trauma heal and thrive while teaching others how to support them best. With a background in psychology, education, and community development, and working now as a consultant and grief coach, Koncikowski has empowered countless people to tell their stories. She is the founder of Widowed Parent Project, an online resource for wido...

Moira Khan is an International Certified Grief Educator & Cosch, originally from New Zealand, now living in Spain.  Her story is one of tragedy to resilience and purpose, after the death of her mother, brother and father in a space of 5 years.  All whilst becoming a new mother, moving to a non-English speaking country and battling physical ailments with the condition, Ehlers-Danlos S...

Shana Belyeu, founder of Speak on Suicide ( www.speakonsuicide.com ), began her grief journey after the tragic loss of her 15-year-old son, Adam, to suicide.  Shana is driven by a promise to Adam that his story wouldn’t end with his death.  She has dedicated herself to sharing his life, the impact of his loss, and her own path toward healing.  Through her advocacy, she fosters open...

ANNIE SKLAVER ORENSTEIN is a qualitative researcher, oral historian, and storyteller who has spent over a decade collecting stories from people around the world. Her work has been featured on NBC Nightly News, Comedy Central, Huffington Post, Politico, TIME, and Mother.ly. In 2020, driven by a desire to share these stories beyond the walls of corporate America, Annie founded Dispatch from Daybreak...

Jessica Fein hosts the"I Don't Know How You Do It" podcast, featuring conversations with people whose lives seem unimaginable and who often hearthat very thing. Her writing, which explores grief, resilience, and the unbreakablebonds of family, has appeared in The New York Times, Psychology Today,Newsweek, The Boston Globe, HuffPost, Scary Mommy,and other leading publications. Her work encompasses...

Sarah St. John is a somatic practitioner, grief advocate, and host of the MotherGrief podcast, where she explores the many losses—both tangible and intangible—that exist within matrescence. She bridges nervous system regulation, embodied grief integration, and holistic healing to support those navigating deep loss. She is the author of 21 Days of Healing , co-author of Resilience Redefined , and t...

Anne Marie Farage Smith is a lifelong animal lover and an advocate for all animals. She holds a Master of Science degree in mental health counseling from St. John Fisher University and a Master of Science degree in education from Nazareth University, and is a Pet Loss Grief Counseling Trained Professional. As a licensed mental health counselor and educator in private practice, she has offered clin...

Kimberly Byers is the CEO of ByHers Peace of Mind, LLC. A company empowering clients to find PEACE in their over-burden lives! Ms. Kim is an Author, Transformational Speaker/Coach, and Mentor, who influences clients to find better ways to regain clarity and commitment to self-care! This 28-year Army Retired senior Non-Commissioned Officer has been interviewed by local radio stations on how she bal...

Naomi Riley is a brain injury survivor turned influential motivational speaker, who has catalyzed change in mental health and education reform. She is the founder of Text Pledge , a nonprofit in Greater Grand Rapids, MI, that seeks to change the world one pledge at a time. Their 10 pledges focus on ending some of the worst social issues affecting the communities, from distracted driving to gun vio...

Marelda Rodrigues is a thought leader in Grief Wellness, and believes deeply that suffering in grief is optional.  She developed her version of Grief Massage, from idea to reality, after a life changing conversation with a client. Her whole person wellness approach includes massage therapy, nutrition, movement, mindset, connection and sleep. She specializes in helping women in their 50s feel...

Lori Ann Wood lives with her husband in an empty nest in beautiful northwest Arkansas. After discovering a serious heart condition almost too late, Lori Ann writes and speaks to encourage deep faith questions along the detours of life. Her work has been published in several anthologies and dozens of print and online venues, including Bella Grace Magazine and The New York Times. Lori Ann’s award-wi...

Catalina Osorio Arteaga Kocturk, nació en Medellín, Colombia. A sus 20 años emigró a Estados Unidos donde recibió una formación en psicología en Queens College, NY. Luego de graduarse, se trasladó a Estambul, Turquía donde se casó y donde reside con su familia. Hace 15 años que se dedica a la educación preescolar enseñando no sólo inglés, sino también gestión de emociones, autorregulación, y técni...

Dr. Natasha P. Trujillo has a firm grasp on the complexities of grief and loss, both in her academic studies and personal experiences. In her forthcoming book, And She Was Never the Same Again , she challenges the idea of a "right" way to grieve, advocating against the pathologization and over-medication of grief. Drawing from her experiences, Dr. Trujillo emphasizes that grief is a deeply persona...

In this episode, we sit down with Adam Zuckerman to discuss the importance of estate planning and how to simplify end-of-life tasks. Adam shares his personal journey through grief, including the sudden loss of his father, and offers valuable insights on managing the emotional and logistical challenges that come with it. Learn how to organize your affairs to provide peace of mind for yourself and y...

Coty Soto López es una apasionada tanatóloga de 56 años, felizmente casada durante 34 años. Junto a su esposo, ha formado una hermosa familia compuesta por tres hijos varones y tres nietos, con otro en camino y uno más en el cielo. Su devoción a la familia es uno de sus principales motores en la vida. Hace mas de diez años, Coty encontró su vocación en la tanatología, motivada por su fe católica y...

Marissa Quintero was born in London to a Colombian father and an Indian mother. She was raised in Colombia and moved to the United States 10 years ago with the intention of giving her sons a better life. Marissa is a domestic violence survivor, a mental health warrior, and an empowered woman. She discovered running about four years ago during a mental health crisis. She has since run two marathons...

Dr. George Ackerman (Sharon’s son) is from Brooklyn, N.Y. Now residing in Florida, he works in the fields of law, police, and education. George lost his mother, Sharon Riff Ackerman on 1/1/2020 due to Parkinson’s Disease. George wanted to honor his mother and continue to help in the Parkinson’s awareness cause and did not know how to bring change. We started TogetherForSharon® as a family for the...

Jana DeCristofaro, LCSW, is the Community Response Program Coordinator at Dougy Center. Since 2002, Jana has coordinated peer support groups for children, teens, young adults, and adults. She also provides consultation and training for grieving families, students, community members, and professionals locally and nationally. Jana is the host and producer of Grief Out Loud , Dougy Center’s podcast,...

Grant Garry is an award winning filmmaker, actor, and singer. He is the director of the documentary Meet Me Where I Am - now streaming on Amazon Prime Video and TUBI. Grant recently starred as the “Beast” in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast at The San Luis Obispo Opera and as “Professor Callahan” in Legally Blonde: The Musical at the El Portal Theater in North Hollywood. Grant Graduated Cum Laude wit...

Camilo Russi es autor del libro "El duelo duele... y eso está bien". Camilo es un referente con respecto a la educación sobre la muerte y el duelo, fundador del Death Education Group, y acompañante de duelo. Fundó eventos educativos como el Congreso Internacional de Educación sobre la Muerte, y como la Escuela de la Muerte, que han apoyado a más de 45,000 personas alrededor del mundo. Camilo se en...