Guide Through Grief

In the tenth episode of season two of Guide Through Grief, host Tom Van Ness closes out season two with a special solo episode. Episode ten, released on April 10th, 2026, marks the three-year anniversary of Lesley Van Ness's, Tom's late wife, passing. Tom shares some commentary and reflections about his grief journey and thanks the viewers for their support along the way. Through these two seasons...

In the ninth episode of season two of Guide Through Grief, host Tom Van Ness is joined by guest Keith T. Hardeman, who taught various classes that Tom attended in college. Keith's wife, Shelly, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017 and fought a 14-month-long battle, which prompted Keith to publish two books sharing his experience of being a primary caregiver for his wife. Through Kemo therapy s...

In the eighth episode of season two of Guide Through Grief, host Tom Van Ness is joined by guest Frankie Murphy Giesing, who shares his personal grief journey. Frankie's father, Frank Murphy, passed away in 1986 from Liver Melanoma he had contracted during his military service in Vietnam. Frankie was 10 years old at the time of his father's passing and has a unique and enlightening perspective on...

In the seventh episode of season two of Guide Through Grief, join host Tom Van Ness and guest Ryan Murphy as they discuss the various financial impacts of losing your spouse or someone in your household. Adjusting to life after loss is difficult in its own right, but add to it the substantial shift in financial responsibility of the household, and you are in a scary and daunting situation. Paying...

In the sixth episode of season two of Guide Through Grief, join host Tom Van Ness and guest Katy Krieg Obrien, as she shares her story of loss as well as new beginnings. Katy is a teacher, mother of two, and a recent newlywed as of 2025. However, in September of 2021, tragedy struck when Katy and her late husband, Casey, both fell ill with Covid-19. Katy was able to recover, whereas Casey's sickne...

In the fifth episode of season two of Guide Through Grief, host Tom Van Ness is joined by guest Brynne Behringer, a mother, an author, and a widow of three years. Brynne brings an incredible point of view to the Guide Through Grief podcast, filled with experience, wisdom, and compassion. She shares how the loss of her husband, Mike, impacted her and her 3 children's lives, and how, as a mother, sh...

In the fourth episode of season two of Guide Through Grief, host Tom Van Ness is joined by guest Harold (Hal) B. Oakley, who specializes in Trust & Wealth Preservation, to discuss the difficult topic of the inevitable, how to prepare for a loss in the family. The conversation is a tough one to start, but it is absolutely crucial to the strength and preparedness of one's family. When navigating...

In the third episode of season two of Guide Through Grief, Tom Van Ness and guest Tracy Schlepphorst discuss how important it is to support children through their grief. At the age of 6, Tracy lost her father to cancer. This tragedy affected her greatly, and in her later years, made her keenly aware of the importance of helping children process their grief, not internalize it. Throughout her life,...

In the second episode of Season 2 of "Guide Through Grief," Tom Van Ness and Season 1 guest Dr Ryan Stivers return to discuss where Tom's grief journey stands today. Grief traps or "grief ambushes" are a constant reality for those grieving loved ones. It can be something as ordinary as a closet full of their clothes, or even their car, but the grief can come on strong and fast. Learning how to ide...

In the first episode of season two of Guide Through Grief, Tom Van Ness and season one Co-Host Bob Woolsey talk about Bob's personal grief journey and his experience as a gratitude coach. As a teenager, Bob experienced a tragedy when his father committed suicide in 1989. Bob will share how life changed in an instant and his personal response as a child experiencing such profound grief. Through the...

Welcome back to "Guide Through Grief". In this season, we will be joined by a host of guests, all letting us in on their own walk through grief. In the second season of the podcast, we are making room for our community to open up as they discuss their personal stories. Through hearing how others have processed their grief, we hope to reinforce the message that you are not alone, no matter how lone...

In the tenth episode of Guide Through Grief, Tom and his guests, Mike and Shane, continue to discuss their challenges, experiences, and milestones in each of their own unique grief journeys. These discussions give insight into each guests experience with loss, and what it means for each of their families, especially their children. Changing dynamics, distractions and faith are all discussed in the...

In the ninth episode of Guide Through Grief, Tom and his guests, Mike and Shane, discuss their challenges, experiences, and milestones in each of their own unique grief journeys. Although no two grief journeys are the same, the value of sharing perspectives holds fast. This episode is not about comparing each others personal experiences but observing and respecting all aspects of another persons l...

In the eighth episode of Guide Through Grief, Tom Van Ness and Dr. Ryan Stivers discuss the importance of asking for help in difficult times of grieving. In Tom's personal grief journey there where many moments of struggle and heartbreak. These moments materialized in many ways, some expected and some unexpected. By having conversations and vulnerability with Ryan, as well as others close to him,...

In the seventh episode of Guide Through Grief, Tom Van Ness and Bob Woolsey discuss the loneliness that comes with grief. What was once a partnership between Tom and Lesley became a solo endeavor, creating challenges and heartache. Making weighty decisions on his own, such as where to live, how to raise their sons, and what to do next, now fell solely on Tom. Coping with this loneliness is an ever...

In the sixth episode of Guide Through Grief, Tom Van Ness and Bob Woolsey discuss Tom's personal experience in navigating distractions. The need for healthy distractions, as well as the dangers of even the most innocent distractions becoming addictive, will all be tackled in this episode. From taking care of his sons, work, cleaning, and even travel, distractions are inevitable, and even necessary...

In the fifth episode of Guide Through Grief, Tom Van Ness and Bob Woolsey discuss Tom's grief and the importance of embracing it. Grief is an emotion that the entire human race will feel at some point in their lives. With this in mind, reconciling and even having gratitude for the experience of grief is one of the hardest and most important challenges we all will face. When we are lucky enough to...

In the fourth episode of Guide Through Grief, Tom Van Ness and Dr. Ryan Stivers talk about the importance of therapy, not only concerning Tom's mental health journey, but also in general. For Tom, grief created a world where he felt guilty and ashamed of how he was grieving. Through meeting with Ryan, Tom discovered a safe space to share his struggles, thoughts, and goals moving forward. Therapy p...

In the third episode of Guide Through Grief,  Tom Van Ness and Father Patrick Smith talk through some of the spiritual challenges Tom has faced while processing Lesley's passing. Throughout Tom and Lesley's marriage, Father Patrick has played a large part in their story. He officiated their wedding, baptized their sons, and walked with Tom through the organizing of Lesley's funeral. Even since Les...

In the second episode of Guide Through Grief, Tom Van Ness and Bob Woolsey talk through the weeks following Lesley's passing. Tom reflects on the difficult challenges that awaited him as he traveled back home to Illinois. Telling his seven and eight-year-old sons that their mother had passed, organizing the funeral, and writing his wife's obituary were only some of the daunting tasks that Tom had...

Welcome to Guide Through Grief, a podcast that explores the many ways grief can impact our lives. In the first episode of Guide Through Grief, host Tom Van Ness and co-host Bob Woolsey introduce listeners to Tom’s personal story of profound loss following the sudden death of his wife, Lesley, in April 2023. Tom recounts the shocking 12-day journey that began during a family vacation and ended with...

Welcome to Guide Through Grief, a podcast that explores the many ways grief can impact our lives. In the first episode of Guide Through Grief, host Tom Van Ness and co-host Bob Woolsey introduce listeners to Tom’s personal story of profound loss following the sudden death of his wife, Lesley, in April 2023. Tom recounts the shocking 12-day journey that began during a family vacation and ended with...