The Silent Why: finding hope in grief and loss

#152.  How can a metaphorical chair and a blanket help us in grief? Let's find out. This is The Silent Why, a podcast on a mission to open up conversations around grief, asking if hope can be found in 101 different types of permanent loss. Welcome to my brand-new series of episodes - The Grief Toolshed . In this series, I’m visiting the garden tools shared by our Let’s Chat guests (from my me...

#151. I've always loved graveyards. I'm not sure what it is about them that draws me in, but a little while ago I decided to record my musings as I wander round them. So that's what these Graveyard Musing episodes are, just me and my phone, in a graveyard. And sometimes I go international (but not this one) and sometimes Chris joins me (like this one). Anyway, welcome to another Gra...

#151.  How can metaphorical Baby Bio and a hand fork help us in grief? Let's find out. This is The Silent Why, a podcast on a mission to open up conversations around grief, asking if hope can be found in 101 different types of permanent loss. Welcome to my brand-new series of episodes - The Grief Toolshed . In this series, I’m visiting the garden tools shared by our Let’s Chat guests (from my...

#150. Life is hectic. Sometimes we simply need to stop for a moment. And that’s what this short episode is all about.  Oh, and the lapping of the sea in Singapore that I recorded when we were there.  Welcome to The Silent Why podcast, here to help you navigate loss and grief, and possibly... find hope.  These very short, episodes will pop up every now and then to help you take a moment to check in...

#149. What is it like to choose hope in the dark? To face the grief of losing your sight? This is The Silent Why, a podcast on a mission to explore grief, asking if hope can be found in 101 different types of permanent loss. Loss #66 of 101: Loss of eyesight In this episode, we spoke to Yahya Pandor from Wiltshire, England, an advocate for the blind, para-athlete (runner), qualified counsellor, an...

#148.  How can a metaphorical telescopic tree pruner help us with grief? Let's find out. This is The Silent Why, a podcast on a mission to open up conversations around grief, asking if hope can be found in 101 different types of permanent loss. Welcome to my brand-new series of episodes - The Grief Toolshed . In this series, I’m visiting the garden tools shared by our Let’s Chat guests (from...

#147.  How can a metaphorical Swiss Army Knife help us with self-awareness? Let's find out. This is The Silent Why, a podcast on a mission to open up conversations around grief, asking if hope can be found in 101 different types of permanent loss. Welcome to my brand-new series of episodes - The Grief Toolshed . In this series, I’m visiting the garden tools shared by our Let’s Chat guests (fr...

#146. I've always loved graveyards. I'm not sure what it is about them that draws me in, but a little while ago I decided to record my musings as I wander round them. So that's what these Graveyard Musing episodes are, just me and my phone, in a graveyard. And sometimes I go international (but not this one) and sometimes Chris joins me (like this one). Anyway, welcome to another Gra...

#145.  How can a metaphorical bag of compost help us get through grief? Let's find out. This is The Silent Why, a podcast on a mission to open up conversations around grief, asking if hope can be found in 101 different types of permanent loss. Welcome to my brand-new series of episodes - The Grief Toolshed . In this series, I’m visiting the garden tools shared by our Let’s Chat guests (from m...

#144.  How can a metaphorical spade help us get through grief? Let's find out. This is The Silent Why, a podcast on a mission to open up conversations around grief, asking if hope can be found in 101 different types of permanent loss. Welcome to my brand-new series of episodes - The Grief Toolshed . In this series, I’m visiting the garden tools shared by our Let’s Chat guests (from my metapho...

#143.  How can we make sure we have the right tools when we face grief?  This is The Silent Why , a podcast on a mission to open up conversations around grief, asking if hope can be found in 101 different types of permanent loss. After a short break, I’m back with a brand-new series of episodes. It’s called The Grief Toolshed . In this series, I’ll be revisiting the garden tools shared by our Let’...

#142. Well, it's finally here. Another new year. How are you feeling as we head into 2026? This is The Silent Why, a podcast on a mission to open up conversations around grief, to see if hope can be found in 101 different types of loss, and we're Chris & Claire Sandys, your childless hosts. New Year's aren't easy for many people, so wherever you find yourself emotionally, t...

#141. Struggling with the festive season? You're not alone. It's not an easy time of year, and it’s been a season of both highs and lows for us too over the years.  This is The Silent Why, a podcast on a mission to open up conversations around grief, to see if hope can be found in 101 different types of loss, and we're Chris & Claire Sandys, your childless hosts. Each year, we s...

#140. How's our big trip 'Down Under' going? This is where you find out. Again. Welcome to The Silent Why - usually a podcast with a mission to open-up honest conversations around grief and explore whether hope can be found in 101 different types of permanent loss. But right now, things are a little different! Take a listen to the previous episode to get a better idea what this one...

#139. How's our big trip going so far? This is where you find out. Welcome to The Silent Why - usually a podcast on a mission to open up honest conversations around grief and explore whether hope can be found in 101 different types of permanent loss - but right now, things are a little different! If you've heard the previous episode, you'll have a good idea what this one is going to...

#138. We're off on an Ozzie adventure! But, first things first, as promised, the all-important anonymous form: 👉 https://forms.gle/LmFrrd4xvvnEhG5R9   👈  (it'll make sense when you've listened to the episode!) Welcome to The Silent Why , a podcast on a mission to open up conversations around grief, exploring if hope can be found in 101 different types of permanent loss. This episo...

#137. Can losing a friend be overlooked in our culture? What happens when the friend who knew you best is gone? And why are there so few resources to help with this kind of grief? This is The Silent Why, a podcast on a mission to explore grief, asking if hope can be found in 101 different types of permanent loss. Loss #65 of 101: Loss of a friend In this episode, we meet Hannah Rumsey from Chicago...

#136. (We'll... we've actually done 226 episodes in total. You'll hear me talk about the annoying decision around episode numbering in this 226th episode!) This is The Silent Why , a podcast on a mission to open up conversations around grief, asking if hope can be found in 101 different types of permanent loss. This episode is a little different. No blog, no interview, no Chris, and...

#135. How do we accept, and live with, a life we never really wanted? Welcome to another My Why Blog episode - where I share the audio version of my latest blog post. But in this case, it’s actually a re-release of the most popular blog episode I’ve ever put out (to my surprise!). If you’ve been listening a while, you’ll know I usually pause podcasting in August to focus on writing and other proje...

#134. Let's chat... about finding hope after feeling hopeless as a young widow. Welcome to another Let’s Chat episode, where instead of continuing our 101 Types of Loss list, I (Claire Sandys) sit down with guests who have expertise and personal insight into different aspects of loss. In this episode, I have the pleasure of talking with Rachel Powell from Colorado. She’s a life coach, speaker...

#133. “Grief isn’t sad – because it reminds you to make the most of today.”  Curious about how Richard has reached this conclusion after losing his wife? Hit play and find out. This is The Silent Why, a podcast on a mission to explore grief, asking if hope can be found in 101 different types of permanent loss. Loss #64 of 101: Loss of a wife In this episode, we meet Richard Smith, whose wife Heath...

#132. Life is hectic. Sometimes we simply need to stop for a moment. And that’s what this short episode is all about.  Oh, and the beautiful sounds of the Mediterranean Sea that I recorded when we were in Cyprus.  Welcome to The Silent Why podcast, here to help you navigate loss and grief, and possibly... find hope.  These very short, episodes will pop up every now and then to help you take a mome...

#131. Let's chat... about where the love goes when someone dies. Can you still be 'in love' if it's not reciprocated? Does it eventually fade? Or die? Welcome to another Let’s Chat episode, where instead of continuing our 101 Types of Loss list, I (Claire Sandys) sit down with guests who have expertise and personal insight into different aspects of loss. In this episode, I have...

#130. Not all losses are bereavements. Sometimes they follow a diagnosis and impact someone for the rest of their life, like with our guest in this episode. This is The Silent Why, a podcast on a mission to explore grief, asking if hope can be found in 101 different types of permanent loss. Loss #63 of 101: Loss through chronic illness - Lupus In this episode, we meet Olivia Abousaid - a grief coa...

#129. What are the most valuable things we've learnt - or think really matter - after 20 years of marriage? This is The Silent Why , a podcast on a mission to open up conversations around grief, exploring asking if hope can be found in 101 different types of permanent loss. On 26 May 2025, we celebrated 20 years of marriage! It's a big deal for us as we love being married and find we don...