The Mourning Coffee Podcast

On this week’s episode of The Mourning Coffee Podcast, I sat down with Richard Lynch Jr. for a raw and honest conversation about grief, trauma, addiction, men’s mental health, incarceration, and rebuilding a life after rock bottom. Richard shares his personal story of losing his father to suicide, struggling with addiction, serving prison time, and ultimately finding purpose helping others through...

This Sunday on The Mourning Coffee Podcast, I’m sitting down with Dawn Michele Jackson, Advanced Grief Recovery Method Specialist, registered nurse of 30+ years, speaker, and author -- and this conversation goes beyond what we usually think of as “grief.” We’re talking about the kinds of grief that don’t always get acknowledged… like divorce, trauma, addiction in families, empty nesting, and even...

In this episode of The Mourning Coffee Podcast , I’m joined by Brooke Shearer, creator of Trauma Uncensored, for a raw and honest conversation about child loss, trauma, and what healing actually looks like. Brooke shares the story of losing her son Logan to a distracted driver, the long road to justice, and how she’s learning to live, heal, and even thrive after unimaginable loss. We also talk abo...

In this episode of The Mourning Coffee Podcast, I’m talking with bestselling author and teen mental health advocate A.S. King, but this conversation is also deeply personal. Amy’s daughter, Gracie, was my student. Gracie died by suicide in 2018, and I'm excited to talk with Amy about what it’s like to live in that reality while continuing to advocate for the very teens she writes for and fights fo...

In this episode of The Mourning Coffee Podcast, I’m talking with Ashley Olivia Nelson, grief and identity specialist and author of The Identity Reset -- and wow, this conversation hit. We’re getting into something that not enough people talk about in grief: not just losing someone you love, but losing the version of yourself you used to be. Ashley is a multiple-loss survivor and twice widowed, and...

This week on The Mourning Coffee Podcast, I’m joined by Blair Kaplan Venables. Blair is a grief and resilience expert, motivational speaker, and the founder of The Global Resilience Project. After experiencing multiple losses in a short period of time, including a miscarriage and the deaths of both of her parents, Blair developed what she calls the Navigating Grief Framework to help people learn h...

On this episode of The Mourning Coffee Podcast, I’m joined by Jason Tuttle, a bereaved father and caregiver whose life was shaped by years of intensive parenting, medical advocacy, and loss. Jason spent more than a decade as a stay-at-home dad caring for two children with complex medical needs, navigating hospital stays, therapies, and the invisible labor that comes with full-time caregiving. Afte...

On this episode of the Mourning Coffee Podcast, I’m joined by Liz Quinn—writer, grief advocate, and host of the Healing Hearts Podcast—for an honest conversation about pregnancy loss, infant loss, and grief that doesn’t “move on.” Liz shares the story of her daughter Alivia, the complicated reality of pregnancy after loss, and what it means to parent living children while still mothering the child...

This week on The Mourning Coffee Podcast, I sit down with Jaclyn Michelle Smith, author of the unforgettable grief memoir I’m Sorry I Cremated You. Jaclyn and I will be talk about life, loss, anxiety, complicated family relationships, and why humor -- especially improv comedy -- can be a lifeline in grief. We’ll explore how laughing doesn’t mean you’re avoiding the pain, but sometimes creates just...

In this episode of The Mourning Coffee Podcast, I sat down with author Kristina Amelong to talk about grief, loss, and the mystery surrounding the death of her brother Jay, who predicted his own passing years before it happened. Kristina shared how losing her brother at thirteen shaped her grief journey, led her through addiction and healing, and ultimately inspired her memoir What My Brother Knew...

In this episode of The Mourning Coffee Podcast, I’m joined by Larry Carlat, author of A Space in the Heart, a powerful guide for grieving parents. Larry speaks candidly about the loss of a child to suicide, why there’s no such thing as “closure,” and how grief isn’t something you overcome, but something you learn to live with. About Larry: https://www.griefforguys.com/about Larry's book: https://a...

In this episode of The Mourning Coffee Podcast, I’m joined by Becky Aste, a somatic relationship coach who shares how unresolved loss and trauma live in the body and impact connection, trust, and intimacy. We talk about grief, nervous system survival, trauma bonding, and what real healing can look like inside long-term relationships. If grief has ever made your relationship feel harder, heavier, o...

In this powerful episode of The Mourning Coffee Podcast, I sit down with Dawn Simmons and Katie DeRouen of Simmons3, a nonprofit born from unimaginable tragedy. On December 17, 2021, Dawn’s three youngest children — Lindy, Christopher, and Kamryn — were killed in a horrific crash caused by a drunk driver. Dawn survived with critical injuries, and Katie, her oldest daughter, was left to navigate th...

In this episode of The Mourning Coffee Podcast, I sit down with Chelsea Ohlemiller—grief author, speaker, and the beautifully honest voice behind the blog Happiness, Hope & Harsh Realities. Chelsea lost her mom in 2017 and has since made it her mission to write the words so many grieving hearts need to hear—especially those navigating the deep, often overlooked ache of mother loss. We talk abo...

In this heartfelt episode of The Mourning Coffee Podcast, I sit down with Kelly Cervantes—award-winning writer, speaker, and author of the Inchstones blog and the books Normal Broken and upcoming book The Luckiest. Kelly opens up about the loss of her medically complex daughter, Adelaide, the emotional complexities of child loss, and the shifting identities of grief—from caregiver to advocate to w...

Grief changes everything—including our relationships. In this episode of The Mourning Coffee Podcast, I sit down with grief coach, author, and podcaster Shelby Forsythia to discuss how grief impacts friendships and family dynamics, how it can reveal our deepest values, and why leaning into loss can help us grow. We also talk about Shelby’s podcast journey, from Grief Seeds to her upcoming show, Gr...

Grief is messy. It’s weird. And let’s be real—it’s something our culture still struggles to talk about. But today on The Mourning Coffee Podcast, I sat down with Meghan Riordan Jarvis, LCSW—therapist, author, TEDx speaker, and all-around grief expert—to unpack why we’re so bad at dealing with loss and how we can do better. We talked about: 💔 The connection between grief & PTSD (yep, it’s a th...

After the sudden loss of her first husband in 2013, Donna Kendrick navigated the complexities of widowhood while raising three young children. That experience inspired her to pursue a career in financial planning, dedicated to supporting families through major life transitions. Donna is now a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner, founder of Sephton Financial, and author of the #1 Amazon Best...

In this special episode, Brooke and David sit down on the three-year anniversary of their daughter Libby's death to discuss how they're coping. To purchase my book, Grief Sucks (But Your Life Doesn't Have To), visit: https://a.co/d/bOWYcDh 📝 FREE resources if you're struggling with grief: https://www.brookecarlock.org/resources 💬 HelpTexts offers a full year of personalized grief support direct...

n this episode of The Mourning Coffee Podcast, I sit down with Colin Campbell, author of Finding the Words: Working Through Profound Loss with Hope and Purpose, to discuss the raw reality of child loss and the complex journey of grief. Colin opens up about losing his two teenage children, Ruby and Hart, and shares how he’s found ways to honor their memory while navigating pain. We dive into the im...

I'm thrilled to welcome Lisa Keefauver to the Mourning Coffee Podcast. Lisa is a grief activist, author, and the host of the acclaimed podcast Grief is a Sneaky Bitch. Lisa has spent nearly two decades helping people navigate life's challenges, informed not just by her professional expertise, but also her deeply personal experiences, including the loss of her husband and her breast cancer diagnosi...

Annie lost her brother Ben to a suicide bomber in Afghanistan. Her new book ALWAYS A SIBLING supports mourners through the unique experience of sibling loss. You can find out more about Annie here: https://www.annieorenstein.com/ To purchase my book, Grief Sucks (But Your Life Doesn't Have To), visit: https://a.co/d/bOWYcDh 📝 FREE resources if you're struggling with grief: https://www.brookecarlo...

Clarissa Moll is an award-winning writer and podcaster who helps bereaved people find flourishing after loss. Her new book, Hurt, Help, Hope, helps teens navigate their grief. Find her at https://clarissamoll.com. To purchase my book, Grief Sucks (But Your Life Doesn't Have To), visit: https://a.co/d/bOWYcDh 📝 FREE resources if you're struggling with grief: https://www.brookecarlock.org/resources...

Jessica Fein is an author of Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes , as well as an advocate, speaker, and podcast host. Jessica is a working mother and a relentless warrior in the memory of her dynamic daughter, whom she lost to a rare disease in 2022. You can find more about Jessica here: https://www.jessicafeinstories.com/about To purchase my book, Grief Sucks (But Your Lif...

Rebecca Feinglos, founder of Grieve Leave. She lost both parents and went through a divorce by age 31. She took a bold step by taking a year-long sabbatical to focus on her grief, which has now grown into a community of 30,000. Rebecca is passionate about promoting grief-healthy support in the workplace. Find Rebecca at: https://grieveleave.com To purchase my book, Grief Sucks (But Your Life Doesn...