The Silent Why: finding hope in grief and loss

#128. Did you know you can build mental muscles, as well as physical ones? And that you can start that any time - no matter how weak you might feel? Welcome to another My Why from Claire Sandys (co-host of The Silent Why podcast). My Why episodes are audio versions of my latest blog post. If you'd prefer to read it, you can find it here: https://www.thesilentwhy.com/post/how-to-build-mental-m...

#127.  Think menopause is just a physical change? What if we told you it can also bring grief, loss of identity, and a hit to your mental health? 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. Loss #62 of 101: Loss through menopause In this episode, we welcome Diane Danzebrink, a...

#126. Let's Chat... about seeing grief as an adventure. Welcome to another Let’s Chat episode, where instead of continuing our 101 Types of Loss list , I sit down with guests who have expertise and personal insight into different aspects of loss. In this episode, I (Claire) have the pleasure of talking with Bianca Neumann, the Assistant Director of Bereavement at Sue Ryder – a charity dedicat...

#125. What impact can possessions have on grief? The lack of them, the loss of them, too many of them etc. 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. Loss #61 of 101: Loss of possessions In this episode we welcome Naomi Westerman, a playwright, screenwriter, and author from So...

#124. Let's Chat... about how writing and running can help us through grief. Welcome to another Let’s Chat episode, where instead of continuing our 101 Types of Loss list , I sit down with guests who have personal insight into different aspects of loss. In this episode, I (Claire) have the pleasure of talking with fellow podcaster and writer, Justin Creps. Justin is a teacher based in Ohio an...

#123. Can hope be found in 101 different types of loss?  We're well on our way to finding out, as we reach another milestone!  We've hit loss number 60 on our mission to explore 101 different types of permanent loss, meaning we only have 41 (!) to go. Now over halfway to our goal. In this episode, we (Chris & Claire Sandys) pause briefly to discuss life in general (something new we t...

#122. Let's Chat... about how the Covid pandemic reshaped important death rituals. These 'Let’s Chat' episodes are conversations with guests who have experience/expertise in a particular area of loss.  In this episode, I (Claire Sandys) chat to Natasha Mikles who is an assistant professor at Texas State University. Natasha is a scholar of stories about death and what happens next, a...

#121. Go on, be honest, can you understand why someone who's getting remarried, or celebrating a miracle pregnancy, or beginning a new job, might be experiencing some unhappiness alongside the cheer? This is The Silent Why, a podcast on a mission to open up conversations around grief, exploring whether hope can be found in 101 different types of permanent loss. Loss #60 of 101: Loss in happy...

#120. Well, after our 'looking ahead to Christmas' episode, how did it go? Were our festive hearts filled with joy? Or were there tears?! 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. Every year, we dedicate an episode to shar...

#119. 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 a distant thunderstorm that I recorded in Belgium.  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...

#118. Struggling with the festive season? You're not alone. As a childless couple, we've been there too, especially when family is at the heart of so many celebrations. 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. Every year...

#117.  What do you do when the career you love is gone, and you're barely staying afloat? And why is helping yourself so much harder than helping others?  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 permanent loss. Loss #59 of 101: Loss of a police career and self worth In this episode, we meet Ken...

#116. Let's Chat... about what it looks like when we use social media to show and share our grief. These 'Let’s Chat' episodes are conversations with guests who have experience/expertise in a particular area of loss.  In this episode, I (Claire Sandys) chat to Rebecca Feinglos in North Carolina who is a certified grief support specialist and the founder of Grieve Leave - which offer...

#115. Have you ever considered the losses that might be encountered by going through puberty early? Have you even heard of precocious puberty? Let alone think about it in the context of grief. 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 permanent loss. Loss #58 of 101: Loss of agency over your body thro...

BONUS EPISODE TIME!  ... and this episode contains something that I've never shared on the podcast before. Welcome to 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. Many of you will know that I (Claire Sandys, host) enjoy podcasting (of course!) and writing, and drinking Earl Grey tea and eating marzipa...

#114. How does the grief of losing someone to suicide differ from other deaths? What emotions and questions does it raise? And what if it's your spouse who's died, and you're five months pregnant with his child?  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 permanent loss. Loss #57 of 101:...

#113. 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 Eternal Forest in Wales… Welcome to The Silent Why podcast, here to help you navigate loss and grief, and possibly... find hope.  These new, very short, episodes will pop up every now and then to help you take a moment to check in and see how yo...

#112. What is it like doing chaplaincy work on the frontline with the police? Or experiencing the worst humans can do to each other up close? 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 permanent loss. Loss #56 of 101: Loss in the role of a Police Chaplain Meet Jared Altic, a returning podcast guest who...

#111. So, is grief selfish? I mean it's largely about something we're sad about. It's something we've lost or miss. So, is it a selfish thing? Let's open up this can of worms, shall we?! Welcome to another My Why from Claire Sandys (co-host of The Silent Why podcast). My Why episodes are audio versions of my latest blog post. If you'd prefer to read it, you can find i...

#110. Do you find the summer hard, painful, a reminder of things you don't have? Whether you have children, don't have children, go on holiday, don't go on holiday - things do shift a bit in this month, and because of that, things are a bit different at The Silent Why HQ too. Welcome to another episode from me, Claire Sandys, host of The Silent Why podcast. This one is a bit of an u...

#109. What if your loved one doesn't have a 'good' death? How do you cope with the trauma of witnessing someone suffer at the end of their life? 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 permanent loss. Loss #55 of 101: Loss through a bad/complex death In this episode we chat to Kay Bac...

#108. 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 (like this one) and sometimes Chris joins me (like this one). Anyway, welcome to another Gravey...

#107. Let's Chat... about what day-to-day life is like working in, or visiting, a hospice. Let’s Chat episodes chat to guests who have experience/expertise in a particular area of loss. In this episode, I (Claire Sandys) chat to Maddy Bass (Director of Nursing) and Kay Backhouse (Clinical Administrator) who both work at St John's Hospice in Lancashire.  Maddy has wanted to work with peop...

#106. Ever felt the grip of serious addiction? Drink and drug addictions can destroy life, but what about the person in recovery who's celebrating being 'clean' while also having to accept the loss of the many things ruined by years of misuse? 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 l...

BONUS EPISODE TIME! 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. In last week's episode (Loss 53) we spoke to a friend of ours, Laura Burns, about alopecia and coming to terms with the loss of her hair, but she wasn't the only one sat in the podcast studio for that in-person interview. Qu...