What's Your Grief Podcast

We've been on hiatus, but we're popping into your feed with an important update for mental health professionals. This September, we're hosting a two-day virtual Intensive in Grief-Informed Practice: Essential Theory and Interventions for Working With Grief (September 18–19, 2025). Offering 12 total CEs across two focused sessions, you'll gain both the theoretical foundations and practical tools fo...

In this episode, we discuss how grief disrupts not just emotions but also basic needs like safety, security, and stability. We explore how adjusting to practical changes—such as financial strain, job insecurity, and shifting family roles—can deeply impact emotional processing and coping and the importance of acknowledging these challenges and seeking support that considers both emotional and pract...

In this episode, we explore the often-overlooked grief of losing places and spaces—whether it's a childhood home, a family gathering place, or a space tied to memories of a loved one. We discuss how spaces hold deep emotional significance, especially when tied to memories of those we've lost, and how losing them—whether due to life transitions, financial hardship, or circumstances beyond our contr...

In this episode of we explore the many factors that impact the ways people cope with grief, from introversion and extroversion to optimism, pessimism, and the differences between instrumental grievers and intuitive grievers. As mental health professionals, we break down how these styles shape our grief experiences—not just for ourselves but within our families and communities. Understanding these...

In this episode, we talk about the common fear when things feel especially hard that you've regressed or gone backward in your grief. We explore why grief isn't linear but instead moves in cycles, with moments where it feels closer to the surface. By understanding this natural ebb and flow, we can reframe what it means to revisit grief and approach it with self-compassion. Sign up for the Finding...

This episode is just what it sounds like - we're talking about what is in and out for us in 2025. Join us for Finding Your Way: A 12-Week Course to Restore & Rebuild After Loss , which starts January 26, 2025. Gift yourself or a grieving friend  our Here For You care package to kick off tending to your grief in a new year! Visit  whatsyourgrief.com  for hundreds of free articles we've written abou...

We planned for this episode to only be for Hub members and not on our public feed, but with the holidays upon us and hearing from many people about how alone they are feeling in their holiday blues, we decided to release it for everyone. Because the one thing we know for sure is that you're not alone if the holidays are feeling tough. In the second half of this episode we chat about rethinking rel...

Typically we steer clear of breaking down grief by type of relationship, but today we're making an exception. In this episode we talk about the experience of grieving the death of an adult child. This is a topic that has been requested on many occasions, both because it is pervasive and also often overlooked. If you've experienced this personally or love someone who has, we hope this episode offer...

What's your earliest memory of grief in you family of origin? In this episode we talk about the way that grief passes down through generations, through the culture grief that is created in our families. We consider the ways that the grief of our parents and caregivers has an impact on us, just as the grief of their parents and caregivers had an impact on them. We talk a little bit about our own fa...

In this episode, we dive into the results of our recent survey, where over 500 of you shared your thoughts on finding and participating in grief groups. From the challenges of connecting with the right group to the value of group support, we explore what makes grief groups work—and where they sometimes fall short. Visit  whatsyourgrief.com  for hundreds of free articles we've written about all thi...

In this episode we talk about a common social media quip - "there is no right way to grieve". For those of us who look back on some of our grief coping as not the healthiest, that statement can feel both true and untrue. We share our thoughts and talk about Charles Corr's 2023 Omega article, "Is it True That "There are no Right or Wrong Ways to Grieve"?" Visit  whatsyourgrief.com  for hundreds of...

In this episode, we explore the research surrounding grief and ritual, challenging the idea that rituals are always what you might imagine. For those who shy away from traditional ceremonies, we discuss how rituals can be deeply personal, flexible, and self-created to reflect the individual needs of the griever. We talk about how rituals can provide comfort and meaning in unexpected ways, tailored...

In this episode, we provide a quick introduction to attachment theory and explore how attachment styles can influence the way we grieve. From how we receive support to how we maintain continued bonds, our attachment style can have a greater impact than we might realize Visit  whatsyourgrief.com  for hundreds of free articles we've written about all things grief and loss. If you like the podcast, w...

In this episode we answer a question from a listener who has always been a journaler, but doesn't feel interested or able to journal about grief. We also talk about the risks of comparison in grief and coping.  Visit  whatsyourgrief.com  for hundreds of free articles we've written about all things grief and loss. If you like the podcast, we think you'll love WYG Grief Support Hub. It's our online...

Today we're revisiting ambiguous grief (aka grieving someone who is still alive). This can happen for so many reasons, ranging from addictions and dementia to divorce, incarceration, the foster system, and countless others. We're talking about what ambiguous grief is, why it is particularly challenging, and a few ideas for coping.  Visit  whatsyourgrief.com  for hundreds of free articles we've wri...

There are a lot of resources out there about childhood bereavement, but many leave off at the end of childhood. In this episode, we tackle some of the ways childhood losses leave imprints well into adulthood.  Visit whatsyourgrief.com for hundreds of free articles we've written about all things grief and loss. If you like the podcast, we think you'll love WYG Grief Support Hub. It's our online mem...

In this episode we responde to a listener question about managing the shame that often comes with continuing to feel sadness as the months and years pass. Plus, some chat on childhood bereavement, grief and video games, and creativity at funerals.  If you like the podcast, you'll love WYG Grief Support Hub (it's our griever member community - think of it as our Patreon, but a zillion times better)...

We've been on a summer break, but we'll be back soon with our regular schedule. In the meantime, we're here to discuss one of our favorite topics—grief in television and films. Specifically, we explore the multiverse, which has appearing frequently in recent media and often intersects with grief.  From Wandavision to Dark Matter, we'll delve into why some of these portrayals can offer an unexpecte...

Grief can prompt many people to stop using substances when that use gets unmanageable. Though it is often an important and healthy decision, giving up alcohol or another substance brings its own set of new struggles and losses. Eleanor shares her personal experience with managing grief in and from sobriety.  Eleanor's article: Grief and Sobriety: Discovering Loss Amid Positive Change Other article...

In this episode we dive into a topic that is estimated to impact as many as 1 in 4 families in the US: the grief of estrangement. Join us as we unpack the rollercoaster of emotions that come with feeling disconnected from loved ones, whether it's family or friends. Estrangements happen for countless reasons, but they can be especially prevalent after bereavement losses. We'll delve into the comple...

Back in 2014 - approaching 10 years ago - we recorded an episode on overdose grief (you can listen to it here if you missed it). We have lost people to addiction so this was (and is) a topic near and dear. But there are some significant ways the landscape of addiction and substance related death has changed in the last decade. Some of those changes impact when, why, and how people are grieving fol...

Losing a pet (and grieving pet) is a profound and often overlooked form of disenfranchised grief. In this episode, we delve into the complexities of why pet loss holds such significance. Beyond the surface, there are layers of emotion and impact that don't always get talked about. We'll share our own experiences saying farewell to furry companions, and also insights from countless individuals we'v...

Self-compassion can be tough to come by in grief. We compare ourselves to who we were, who we want to be, to others grieving, to how we think grief "should be", and on and on. In this episode, we talk about the challenges of practicing self-compassion, what self-compassion is (and isn't) and some tools for navigating grief with self compassion.  We have a free webinar on self-compassion on May 20t...

In this episode, we dive deep into the practical challenges of handling grief triggers. Join us as we share both our professional advice and personal stories on navigating grief's everyday trigger —from anniversaries and special places to unexpected everyday moments. We'll discuss strategies for managing emotions at work, during social gatherings, and through significant life events. If you like t...

There are many complicated and unexpected grief experiences. One that comes up time and again is why sometimes we expect to cry and . . . don't. It's more common than you'd think and in this episode we're chatting about why.  If you like the podcast, you'll love WYG Grief Support Hub (it's our griever member community - think of it as our Patreon, but a zillion times better). Support the podcast a...