The Creative Grief Journey

The host welcomes listeners and chats with her sister Denise about having fun, their day trip to the Ringling Art Museum in Sarasota, and an unplanned Goodwill stop that ran long and led to a hanger dispute. They share laughs as part of grief recovery, talk about watching “Sheep Detectives,” indulging in Blue Bell ice cream, and getting lost in the heat before finding the museum. They discuss a pl...

In this episode of the Creative Grief Journey, the host talks with her guest, Brynnlee, about what grief feels like for a child after her baby brother Willy died when he was one. Brynnlee shares that she felt sad and describes how painting, coloring, and making things together helped her feel happy and gave her no time to be sad. They discuss the different art materials Brynnlee uses, what she lik...

Discussing how being a multi-creative who once felt pressured to choose one passion, now sees many passions as a gift, a lesson reinforced through grief. While preparing the backyard and cleaning the pool, an unexpected memory of Bradley getting hurt on the pool gate triggers sudden tears, illustrating how grief arrives uninvited in ordinary moments. They emphasize the goal isn’t to stop grief, bu...

The speaker explores how grief affects both sleeping dreams and “living dreams,” sharing personal stories of losing her father in an automobile accident and later her son, Brad, and how these losses altered her relationship with dreaming. She recounts a vivid, comforting dream Brad’s friend shared—seeing Brad on a rainy Florida beach saying, “Tell everybody it’s beautiful here, and I’ll see you la...

How grief can pull you into survival mode, making you stop dreaming, planning, and caring for yourself, and argues that healing isn’t “moving on” but coming back to yourself without toxic positivity or denying the pain.  How grief affects the nervous system and brain—fatigue, depression, guilt about joy, memory issues, decision fatigue, increased cortisol, low dopamine—and emphasize that neglectin...

Dawn explains that grief affects the body as well as emotions, often causing deep exhaustion, heaviness, brain fog, pain, sleep and appetite changes, gut issues, immune crashes, and nervous system and hormonal disruption. Drawing on personal experiences after losing her son and later a father, she describes “grief brain,” difficulty thinking, and how society’s pressure to “keep going” conflicts wi...

In this episode, the host shares a personal shift in her grief journey, describing grief and life as ongoing works in progress and suggesting grief can be a catalyst for joy, abundance, freedom, and contentment. Drawing from Rhonda Byrne’s The Secret, she outlines three steps—ask, believe, and receive—and explains how vision boards and detailed visualization (including her goal of owning a Mercede...

The speaker, a nurse practitioner who has experienced multiple traumatic losses, discusses how grief commonly disrupts sleep through rumination, intrusive thoughts, stress and hormone changes, noting research that up to 91% of people with complicated grief have sleep problems and that untreated insomnia can worsen depression, anxiety and PTSD. They recommend cognitive behavioral therapy and share...

The speaker shares a recent experience of feeling immobilized by grief despite trying coping strategies, emphasizing that “vegging out” isn’t failure and that grief isn’t something to fix but to manage through normal ups and downs. They introduce practical five-minute “grief hacks” that can be used anytime and explain why they work: breath-work (including longer exhales and box breathing) to stimu...

The host returns after a pause and explains stepping away due to feeling overwhelmed and taking a stressful full-time, on-call job that they later resigned from.  After leaving, new aligned opportunities emerged, including joining a retreat in November in Belize and collaborating with Younique Wellness in Bellevue, Ohio on potential art classes and a day-long retreat, alongside deeper self-healing...

Welcome to the Creative Grief Journey podcast, hosted by Dawn Renee Bove. In this episode, Dawn sits down with John Kippen, an entrepreneur, magician, coach, and author who shares his powerful story of overcoming adversity. Diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2002, the surgery left him with facial paralysis and led him into a 12-year period of hiding. Rediscovering his passion for magic, John's f...

In this heartwarming and motivating episode, we sit down with Michael Fabian, owner of Fabian Digital Media, to discuss his incredible journey from addiction recovery to becoming a successful sports media professional. Michael shares his experiences from his time in rehab, his deep connection with the late Bradley Bova, and how his love for sports fueled his dreams. We dive into the key moments th...

In this episode of Creative Grief Journey, host Dawn Renee Bova and guest Dr. Linda Waters, an expert in psychology and trauma counseling, discuss the impact of societal division and trauma on mental health.  They explore how grief can be managed through creativity and mindfulness. Dr. Waters offers insights on coping with media saturation, the benefits of meditation, and the importance of healthy...

In this episode of the newly named 'Creative Grief Journey' podcast, the host explores the lifelong journey of grief and how to navigate it creatively.  Dawn delves into the three essential steps: awareness of one's emotions and triggers, making a decisive choice to manage grief, and maintaining the discipline to engage in activities that foster personal growth and healing.  Dawn sh...

In this final episode under the current podcast name, we discuss the transition to 'The Creative Grief Journey' while maintaining our focus on healing and creativity. Today's guest is Patrick Gorman, a psychic medium with a decades-long career. Patrick shares his personal story, including his battles with diabetes, cancer, and amputation, and how these challenges have influenced his...

In this heartfelt episode of 'Catch Some Soul Shine,' Dawn welcomes special guest Ava Henrickson from Denver to discuss the deeply important and sensitive topic of suicide.  Ava courageously shares the story of losing her son Adam, who was stationed in the Army in Germany, to suicide in 2020. Through emotional recounting and raw honesty, Ava emphasizes the importance of openly discussing...

Join us in this deep and insightful conversation with Tena, a PhD writer, speaker, scientist, and teacher who has transformed her life journey of incredible loss and trauma into one of clarity, connection, and joy.  Learn about her unique blend of science and spirituality to help others shift from emotional overwhelm to sovereignty, as well as her personal story of loss, traumas, and triumphs.  Pl...

In this soul-nourishing episode of 'Catch Some Soul Shine,' we dive into transforming pain into purpose. The host shares personal experiences of grief and how it reshapes one's identity. Key highlights include the concept of 'glow writing,' a heart-centered journaling practice that helps in balancing chaos and order, and ultimately rewiring the brain for healing. The episo...

In this heartfelt video, join me as I share my recent life experiences, from battling a chest cold to finding solace at a Women to Women conference.  I reflect on the importance of self-care, gratitude, and maintaining a high vibrational frequency for healing and joy.  I discuss my involvement in charity events, the therapeutic power of art, and the significance of reconnecting with family and lov...

In this episode, I delve into the concept of omnipresence and how love, peace, and joy are always accessible, even amidst life's chaos.  Through personal anecdotes and practical tips, I discuss ways to reconnect with these positive emotions, such as meditation, gratitude practices, and simple daily actions.  I also share a guided meditation to help you tap into the omnipresence of your higher...

In this episode, we delve into the power of open-mindedness in transforming grief. We explore the concept of open-mindedness as a crucial component of the Creative Grief Freedom Formula, and how it can lead to emotional healing and brain rewiring. By being open to various healing processes, such as creativity and spiritual practices from different religious traditions, one can soften the edges of...

The contrasting states of stillness and movement, specifically related to grief recovery.  We discuss the importance of recognizing and embracing both states without judgment, because each has unique benefits.  Dawn shares personal experiences to illustrate the balance between being still and engaging in movement, such as gentle exercises or creative activities like watercolor painting.  This disc...

In this episode of Catch Some Soul Shine, we delve into the often overlooked importance of hope during grief.  Dawn shares insights from live Zoom sessions and introduces a new formula to transform grief into something manageable.  Learn about the role of hope, the significance of tiny daily habits like spending time in nature and morning meditation, and the power of sacred communities.  Discover...

In this impactful episode of 'Catch Some Soul Shine,' we converse with Faye Rhodes, a young author who has faced significant life challenges such as deafness, epilepsy, and addiction.  Faye shares her journey of grief, not from losing a person but from losing herself, and how writing became her therapeutic outlet. Despite being bullied and undergoing numerous hardships, Faye turned her p...

Welcome to the fourth episode of the Awakening Radiance Divine Light Series, where we delve into the concept of living in full color.  We will discuss sacred rituals, nurturing through nature, and the importance of embodying radical authenticity, freedom, and service.  We will explore daily rituals such as journaling and creating a goddess gratitude ritual. We'll also draw inspiration from Re...