This Side of the Grass

Another season has gone by, and it’s been another amazing opportunity to see how the episode topics and guests have woven organically into the theme of “positive reframing” over the last several months. Just like in Seasons 1 and 2, with the themes of “finding meaning” and “connections” respectively, it took looking back to see all the ways that this new theme continued to rise to the surface.&nbs...

Today is a heartfelt and deep dive into complicated loss. Unresolved issues, being estranged, suddenness, guilt and anger are all examples of complications that could muddy the waters of grief when someone dies. On today’s episode, we hear a unique perspective from former ICU nurse, Joy DiVincenzo, who worked in the Intensive Care Unit during the Covid-19 pandemic. The fast pace of losing patients...

‘Tis the season…. For graduations! Whether you are a graduate, have one in your family, or are just in a transition stage of life, today’s show is for you. As I was reflecting on all the graduations this time of year, I was thinking of new beginnings. And whenever something begins, something has come to an end. This season of life had me considering our ultimate endings, and how acknowledging our...

I am honored to have palliative care physician, Dr. Joel Carter, with me today. In addition to educating me on what this specialty is and how it differs from hospice, Dr. Carter delves into some incredibly powerful insights into just how powerful stories can be at the end of someone’s life, and shares several moving stories of his own.  Joel Carter is an accomplished Palliative Care specialis...

Wendy Benning Swanson is my guest today! She is a spiritual guide, healer, and teacher in the mysteries of life. “Her purpose is to support people in finding their inner light which will allow them to align with their most powerful self.” ( wendybenningswanson.com )  She found her purpose through a winding journey after significant loss in her life – not only her parents, but her first husban...

I’m so honored to have Brian Muller back with me today! If you have not heard our first conversation from about a year ago, please listen here first: Putting Pain Into Purpose: A Conversation with Brian Muller - This Side of the Grass . His story is incredibly powerful and moving – and since our last episode together, he has finished writing a book that he started 15 years ago. In his professional...

Today’s amazing guest is Dr. Jane Oh. After practicing internal medicine for 30 years, Dr. Oh was looking for a new challenge, while also watching her patients age. Transitioning to hospice care seemed a natural next step to help provide comfort and support for her patients. This conversation provides clarity in a field that many perceive and assume to be just a death sentence. There is so much mo...

Today’s episode features musical sisters Kjersten Dysthe and Kara Millerhagen, from the Minnesota musical group, Sister. Through their beautiful words, songs and stories, they have shared their gifts with one another and their audiences going back to childhood. Starting as a trio, with their sister Alisa, they evolved from young women into mothers who bonded in this shared human experience that in...

My family and I have finally discovered the fascinating world of Survivor . Yes, the reality show that’s been on for literally 25 years. As we started watching – bouncing from old seasons to new and back again – the theme of “control” kept bubbling to the surface. Both in Survivor and in life, very little is within our control from day to day. Go down the Survivor rabbit hole with me today, as I d...

Today was a day. It was one of those crummy days, in spite of the sunshine, that I wanted to just stay in bed. I was definitely on the Struggle Bus. Listen as I share with you how I hopped off that bus, in hopes that it will help you.  It feels way too big to think of your life’s purpose when there are day-to-day struggles that keep you from even wanting to get up in the morning. Life is hard...

On today’s episode, I take an intentional look at New Year’s goals, several months into the year. I use the following recommendations* on how to get through “National Quitter’s Day” and correlate them to loss, and the new you that you become after you have significant loss. Set realistic goals – smaller goals are more likely to be achieved and start the momentum. In loss, this is being okay with s...

It’s finally Season 3, with a fresh season and a fresh perspective on the topic of death and dying. Because It’s been several months since new episodes were released, I talk through the hiatus over the holiday season and what’s to come over the next few months. On today’s episode, I discuss re-framing “Why me?” into “Why NOT me?” This mental shift and awareness can be a game-changer.  The fir...

This week’s episode falls near several important milestone dates related to the loss of my mom: Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, and the anniversary of her passing on June 4. As milestones and anniversaries loom year after year, it sometimes feels like no time at all has passed – even years or decades after we have lost a loved one! After participating in a live group Zoom with David Kessler ahead of M...

This episode was recorded just a few days after a deadly shooting near my house that made national news. Two officers and a firefighter were killed when responding to a domestic disturbance call a little over a block away. This incident was unsettling on so many levels, and I was confused as to why it so strongly affected not only me, but my family, neighbors and other friends in our city. These f...

Happy Holidays! If you are listening in real time, this bonus episode is being released as we celebrate Thanksgiving in the United States. For many people, today marks the start of the holiday season, and is a painful reminder of those who are no longer with us. My guest today is Tara Paul, who is no stranger to loss. We met through our sons, but I felt drawn to her as I read her honest and vulner...

It is the third Thursday in November, which is National Children’s Grief Awareness Day . On today’s bonus episode, Nicole Barnes joins me from the Park Nicollet Foundation’s ‘Growing Through Grief’ program: www.parknicollet.com/growingthroughgrief Nicole shares the history of how this program began, and the heart-breaking prevalence of how many children are affected by the loss of a parent or sibl...

Wow – we’ve reached the end of another season! I’m so proud of this show, and love hearing from you about how these topics and episodes are helping to drive discussions, make decisions, and think about end of life to more purposefully live each and every day! You may recall that Season 1 had the threads of “Finding Meaning” (be sure to check out David Kessler’s book if you haven’t yet!  Findi...

Today’s important episode is about the option to be an organ and tissue donor at the end of life. Micah Webb joins me today. She is the Donation Liaison from LifeSource, one of 56 Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs) in the country, serving the second largest geographic region. https://www.life-source.org/ I learned of LifeSource following the death of my brother, Dan. Micah educates me further...

It’s been a while, but today’s episode is just me, talking to you. Synchronicity hit hard again, as the universe aligned to allow me a week to record in the studio without a guest. If you feel like the action steps have been overwhelming in all of our This Side of the Grass episodes, today’s episode is for you. As I recap the checklist that we’ve had throughout all 25 episodes so far (wow!), I bre...

It was my absolute honor to spend time with Kelly Grosklags on today’s episode. Kelly shares her thoughts, experiences and learnings from nearly 30 years in and around the fields of grief and end-of-life care.  Our conversation makes its way to the importance of signs from those who have died, the magnitude of speaking the names of our loved ones who are gone, and how their relationships to u...

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and today’s episode – both recorded and released in September of 2024 – is about suicide. My friends Melissa MacPhail and Lis Klein bravely join me to share their experiences losing loved ones to suicide: Melissa’s dad, Jerry; and Lis’s brother, Steve. Through our conversation, we touch on forgiveness, healing, the stigma of dying by suicide, and mem...

Wow. If today’s episode with guest Dan Neitz doesn’t help you to see endings differently, I don’t know what will! Endings are not just deaths, but a near-death experience is what brought Dan to clarity and purpose in his life and in his work.  On today’s episode, we hear Dan’s story of dying from sepsis, and being brought back to life. His perspective and intentionality of making his life mat...

Attorney Steve Messick is back! As promised on his first high-level show about all things legal when it comes to dying, Steve and I take a deeper dive on legacy planning through Trusts. One of the big take-aways: you don’t have to have millions of dollars for a Trust to be a valuable planning tool! If you haven’t yet listened to Steve’s first show, released May 30, 2024, here it is: This Side of t...

On today’s episode, I am joined by 4th generation owner of White Funeral Homes, Mike White. Mike’s family has been serving the Twin Cities community in Minnesota for more than 125 years, and currently own and operate 5 funeral homes in the South Metro area of Minneapolis and St. Paul.  Mike has an amazing vantage point of life, loss and what it is like working daily with families who have exp...

I called an audible today! No notes or outline, but today’s show is a rich and entertaining conversation with Sam Devine. Sam is the “Devine” part of DevineFox Productions, the company that produces “This Side of the Grass”. He also has his own podcast called “Legacy Matters”, and today’s episode is a blend of his show and mine, as we just talk.  Our conversation still centers around end-of-l...