Untethered: Healing the Pain from a Sudden Death

In this episode, I interview Yvette Marintez-Rea, a 52-year-old executive, mother, and widow, who shares what it has been like to rebuild her life after the sudden death of her husband, Andy. Four years into her grief journey, she reflects on loss while raising teenagers, having a full career, and the new financial circumstances she had to learn to navigate. Together, we explore anticipatory grief...

Today’s conversation explores grief that is often overlooked, minimized, or misunderstood - the loss of a close friend. While friendships can be some of the most meaningful relationships in our lives, the grief that follows their loss is not always acknowledged or supported in the ways it deserves.   In this interview, I’m joined by Hannah Rumsey, who shares the story of her friend Lauren and...

In today’s episode, we explore the reality of sudden and unexpected loss, the kind of loss that fractures life into a clear   before  and   after . I’m joined by Dr. Britta Wilson-Uter, who speaks with honesty, depth, and moments of gentle humor about continuing to live after the sudden death of her husband, Jeffrey. Britta offers a powerful and relatable metaphor for traumatic grie...

September is National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month, a time when advocates, organizations, survivors, allies and communities come together to raise awareness and promote prevention. In this episode, Dr. Jennifer R. Levin speaks with Bob O’Brien, who shares the story of his son Aidan, who died by suicide just over six months ago. This conversation is being released on September 10, 2025 -...

Today I'm joined by Jana DeCristofaro, Advocacy and Education Manager at Dougy Center: The National Grief Center for Children and Families. For over 20 years, Jana has been a steady presence in the world of grief support, facilitating peer groups, developing trainings and resources, and hosting the highly respected podcast Grief Out Loud . In this episode, Jana shares how she first entered the fie...

In this episode, Dr. Jennifer Levin is joined by grief specialist Erin Gaffney, who shares the personal story of losing her twin sister in a tragic accident 25 years ago. This life-altering loss not only shaped Erin’s own healing journey but also inspired her to support others through similar experiences. Today, she works with individuals grieving the death of a sibling, with a special focus on tw...

Today's interview is with Ed Santos, a business executive whose life was forever altered by the unexpected suicide of his daughter, Sabrina. Ed has contemplated sharing his personal journey to help others who may be facing similar challenges for some time. In this interview he opens up about his understanding of mental health before Sabrina's death, the immediate grief he experienced after her dea...

Today's interview is with Sara Cobb, who begins her powerful story by sharing that she was born into traumatic grief. Sara explains that her older brother passed away less than a year before she was born, and she reflects on how this loss impacted her and her surviving sibling as they grew up.   Sara goes on to describe how grief shaped her family life, influenced her career choices, and cont...

In today’s podcast I interview Susan Auerbach who shares the struggles her son Noah encountered before his suicide in 2013. Susan discusses the impact of Noah’s death on the different relationships in her life and how she coped with traumatic grief early after his death. Susan also reflects on the 11 years since his death and describes the different milestones that have occurred in her grieving pr...

In today’s podcast I interview Prudence Fenton, who experienced the unexpected death of her partner on Christmas Eve just prior to the beginning of COVID. Like most people who experience a sudden death, Prudence’s loss was a deeply personal, intimate and painful experience. Prudence’s loss was also a very public experience because her partner, Allee Willis, was a well known songwriter and artist....

In today’s podcast I interview Leslee Koritzke, who has been my best friend for over 15 years. Leslee shares with us what happened when her husband suddenly died over 14 years ago after playing basketball. We talk about what it was like for her to raise two young children and how she coped with the unexpected legal and financial stressors after his death. She also describes how her involvement in...

In today’s podcast I talk with Dan Baker, whose wife suddenly died on the day he retired from his career in law enforcement. As with all of my podcast participants, Dan’s experiences were powerful and unique. Having an extensive background in law enforcement, Dan provides us with valuable insight about what happens during the investigative process. He also invites us into to the difficult thoughts...

In the previous podcast of Untethered, I interviewed Tami Millard, whose husband died suddenly riding his mountain bike the day before their daughter’s 16th birthday. In today’s podcast, I talk with Tami’s daughter, Anya, now 19, about to be 20, almost four years since the day her father died. Anya’s interview not only provides another perspective about what happened after her father’s death, but...

In today’s podcast I interview Tami Millard, who shares with us her grief and healing experiences after the sudden death of her husband, Kyron, and what it was like to raise her teenage daughter who was also grieving. Shortly after her husband’s death, Tami returned to the workplace briefly before the COVID lockdown which further complicated how she and her daughter grieved. During our interview,...

 In today’s podcast I interview Dr. Robert Niemeyer, Professor Emeritus of the Department of Psychology at the University of Memphis. Dr. Niemeyer is a leader in the field of Thanatology, the science or study of death, dying and bereavement. He has published 33 books, including the New Techniques of Grief Therapy: Bereavement and Beyond , and serves as the Editor of the journal of Death...

In today’s podcast I interview Dr. Donna Shuurman, the senior director of advocacy and education for the Dougy Center: The National Grief Center for Children and Families. Dr. Shuurman also served as Executive Director of the Dougy center for approximately 25 years and was instrumental in growing and shaping the organization into the amazing resource it is today. The Dougy center is a nonprofit or...

In today’s podcast, I interview Heather Renfroe, whose son Adam, died by suicide approximately 15 months ago. Heather courageously shares her son’s mental health struggles, criminal background, and her beliefs about receiving support after his death. Heather talks about the conscious decisions she made to change her grieving patterns to be a better role model for her daughter, how she ultimately f...

Today’s podcast features Meghan Riordan Jarvis who is a clinical psychotherapist  and specializes in grief and loss using a trauma informed approach. Meghan is an author, podcaster, and advocate for change for grief in the workplace. In our conversation today, Meghan shares how she discovered her calling to work with clients who have experienced trauma, grief, and loss, and some of the approa...

In today’s podcast I interview Leia and Teya Abiador, whose 18-year-old sister, Syra, died by suicide three years ago. Leia and Teya share their stories and experiences surrounding their sister’s suicide. The sisters describe the night Syra died and how they coped with their grief early on after their sister’s death. They also talk about what it was like for them to return to school and talk with...

In today’s podcast I interview Joy and Richard Abiador, whose 18-year-old daughter, Syra, died by suicide approximately three years ago. Joy and Richard share how Syra’s suicide impacted their family, differences in how they grieve, and how they have learned to live with so many unanswered questions. They also discuss their decision to be public with family and friends reg...

In today’s podcast I interview Debbie Rosenfelt, a Chaplain for Support 7, the nonprofit organization featured in my previous podcast episode with Executive Director Shannon Sessions. Debbie is also entrepreneur and has had a diverse personal and professional history that she intentionally integrates into helping others empower their life. In today’s interview, Debbie shares the story of her son’s...

In today’s podcast I interview Shannon Sessions, Executive Director of Support 7, a non-profit organization in Washington State that partners with the South Snohomish County fire, police, and other first responder agencies to serve those in crisis. Support 7 assists first responders on scene where the crisis occurs and provides the clients they serve with safety from onlookers and media, informati...

Welcome to Untethered: Healing the Pain from a Sudden Death. I am Dr. Jennifer Levin, and I specialize in traumatic death and helping individuals through the struggles, pain, trauma, and chaos of an unexpected death.    In today’s podcast I interview Cindy and Merle Meyers who reflect on their dating experiences and invite us to into their marriage after Cindy’s first husband, Dan, was k...

Hi everyone and welcome to Untethered: Healing the pain from a sudden death. I am Dr. Jennifer Levin, and I specialize in traumatic death and helping individuals through the struggles, pain, trauma, and chaos of an unexpected death.   In today’s podcast I am sharing a short presentation I delivered earlier in this year, followed by an interview with Rebecca Crichton who is Executive Dire...

Living with Cumulative Grief : An interview with Betty and Joey Dowling Hi everyone and welcome to Untethered: Healing the pain from a sudden death. I am Dr. Jennifer Levin, and I specialize in traumatic death and helping individuals through the struggles, pain, trauma, and chaos of an unexpected death.  In today’s podcast I interview mother and son, Betty and Joey Dowling, and we explor...