Best Meghan Sacks Podcasts (2025)

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Ep. 161: Jennifer Pastiloff is Giving Us Proof of Life! 55:39

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13d ago55:39

55:39

Hello, fellow grievers! This week I have a special BONUS episode for you, while we work HARD to continue to bring you quality content for our new season coming this fall. My sweet friend Jennifer Pastiloff joins us just before the release of her new book, "Proof of Life" (available NOW at your favorite bookseller!). According to her own website, "J…

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Ep.160. John Onwuchekwa: How to Survive Sibling Loss Using Spirituality and Grief Fluency 1:00:15

1M ago1:00:15

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It's the season finale already- and I know how to leave a lasting impression! John Onwuchekwa, (a.k.a. "John O.") is a preacher, a writer, a husband, father, and brother. According to his own website, "Everything in John Onwuchekwa’s life hinges on the power of words, both spoken and written...in one way or another everything John does intersects w…

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Ep. 159. Jessica Zucker: How to Normalize Reproductive Health 47:21

1M ago47:21

47:21

Dr. Jessica Zucker, author of "Normalize It: Upending the Silence, Stigma, and Shame That Shape Women's Lives" is my guest this week...and man, is she someone who tells the truth. About everything. Jessica is a L.A.-based psychologist who specializes in reproductive and maternal mental health. She has written extensively about how the landscape of …

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Ep. 158. Nichole Sachs: How to Survive Chronic Pain Using Structured Journaling 50:09

2M ago50:09

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My guest this week is the incomparable Nichole Sachs. Nichole was diagnosed with a degenrative spinal condition at age 19. Doctors warned her that her entire life would affected; her comfort, growth, ability to have biological children. The news was devastating, of course. According to her own website, "It brought me to the doorstep of Dr. John Sar…

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Ep. 157. Nurse Penny: How to Survive End-of-Life Caregiving Using Palliative Care 58:33

2M ago58:33

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If you've been following me for a while, you know how much I love hospice nurses. This season I am so grateful to sit down with "Hospice Nurse Penny," AKA Penny Smith. Nurse Penny entered the world of grief with the death of her dad, who passed about five years into her career. She is a nationally certified hospice and palliative care nurse, and ha…

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Ep. 156. Myra Sack: How to Survive the Death of Your Child Using Movement and Connection 56:20

2M ago56:20

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My guest this week is the incredibly soulful and inspiring Myra Sack. Myra’s life changed when her first daughter, Havi Lev Goldstein, was diagnosed with Tay-Sachs, a terminal neurodegenerative disorder, on December 17, 2019. Havi passed away on January 20, 2021. In 2021, Myra and her husband Matt began supporting Courageous Parents Network, a Bost…

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Ep. 155. Jason Roeder: How to Survive the Death of Your Mother by Being Funny 55:02

2M ago55:02

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My guest this week is the INCREDIBLY witty writer and griever, Jason Roeder. Jason is a former senior editor and senior writer at The Onion as well as a contributor to The New Yorker and McSweeney’s Internet Tendency. His books have landed on best-of humor lists twice and have been praised by the likes of Judd Apatow and Jack Handey. This week, we …

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Ep. 154. Rachel Cargle: How to Survive Multiple Losses in the Public Eye 55:51

3M ago55:51

55:51

I'm so honored to host the remarkable Rachel Cargle this week, of all weeks. With Mother's Day approaching- you are absolutely going to want to hear what she has to say. As a young girl, Rachel felt isolated in her grief experience after losing her father. Two years ago, in one calendar year, she lost her mother, grandmother, and older sister; cata…

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Ep. 153. Jaycee Gossett: Trauma-Related Exercise 52:00

3M ago52:00

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One of my biggest tenets is that "Grief is the energy created in the body on account of loss." In this episode, I am so lucky to be sitting with the extraordinary Jaycee Gossett, one of the founding leaders of "The Class." Jaycee talks in an incredibly eloquent manner about this exercise movement, and how it is an effective companion to our grief e…

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Ep. 152. Jessica Turner: How to Survive When Your Marriage Ends Using Honest Storytelling 49:45

3M ago49:45

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This week, I am so thrilled to sit down with the lovely Jessica Turner! You may know Jessica from her incredible platform, The Mom Creative, or one of her many, many media appearances. Jessica is not just A content creator; she is one of THE content creators and a "tastemaker for busy moms looking for hacks to live life with more intention and less…

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Ep. 151. Tamsen Fadal: How to Survive Menopause Using a Cultural Change Campaign 31:20

3M ago31:20

31:20

Welcome back to Grief is My Side Hustle! In this episode, veteran journalist, writer and advocate Tamsen Fadal and host Meghan Riordan Jarvis explore how grief and menopause are intertwined. They discuss their personal experiences, cultural perspectives, and the importance of education around women's health. Tamsen shares how her own menopause jour…

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Ep. 150. The Art of Losing: Barri Leiner Grant on The Grief of Divorce 50:25

5M ago50:25

50:25

The grief that results from losing relationships is profound, but it can feel especially isolating due to the guilt and shame often tied to it. Barri Leiner Grant has experienced the grief of divorce from many perspectives -- as a child whose parents split up, as a spouse whose marriage ended, and as a grief coach who helps others navigate relation…

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Ep. 149. The Art of Losing: Kelli Holloway on Following Where Grief Leads 58:25

5M ago58:25

58:25

After Kelli Holloway's mom died, she heard a very clear message from God: Build, Go, Rest. Her trust in this guidance not only shaped the way she grieved but also changed the entire trajectory of her life. Kelli Holloway is a Raleigh, North Carolina native with a passion for community, connection, and purpose-driven work. She is the creator and hos…

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Ep. 147. Shelby Forsythia: Transforming Loss through Learning 47:30

9M ago47:30

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Shelby Forsythia (she/her) is a grief coach, author, and podcast host. In 2020, she founded Life After Loss Academy, an online course and community that has helped dozens of grievers grow and find their way after death, divorce, diagnosis, and other major life transitions. Following her mother’s death in 2013, Shelby began calling herself a “studen…

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Ep. 146. Dr. Edith Shiro : Author of the Unexpected Gift of Trauma 44:15

12M ago44:15

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Trauma specialist and psychotherapist Edith Shiro sits down with Meghan to discuss loss, traumatic growth and the role of hope in healing. Focused on healing trauma and facilitating Posttraumatic Growth, Dr. Edith Shiro holds space for patients, communities, and individuals to achieve greater potential and higher consciousness. Dr. Shiro's influenc…

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Ep. 145. Helen Marie: Psychotherapist, author and podcast host 48:48

12M ago48:48

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Uk based therapist Helen Marie is the author of Choose You: Gentle Words to Help You Heal and Grow. She sits down with Meghan to talk, grief, loss, healing and hope in this special episode. Learn more about Helen on her website: https://www.helenmariepsychotherapy.com/bookBy meghanrjarvis

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Ep. 144. When a Friend Dies by Suicide: Reporter & griever Jason Nark 1:01:48

1y ago1:01:48

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Jason Nark is a reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer and a freelance writer. He lives in New Jersey with his kids and a dog named Wanda and has written about grief and loss including about his own best friend's death by suicide. More here: https://jasonnark.com/about-me/By meghanrjarvis

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Ep. 143. Novelette Munroe: Living with Chronic Illness 40:20

1y ago40:20

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Novelette is 38 year old woman, living with a life limiting illness, called Epidermolysis Bullosa. I have the Recessive Dystrophic form of Epidermolysis Bullosa, RDEB. I live in Canada. I have a specialist in philosophy from the University of Toronto. Since 2018, I have been a trained hospice and peer bereavement Volunteer. I co-facilitate a lot of…

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Ep. 142. Jessica Fein: Author of Breath Taking 48:23

1y ago48:23

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At the age of five Jessica Fein’s daughter Dalia was diagnosed with a rare degenerative disease that would claim her life at 17. Before that moment came, and inspired by Dalia’s own irrepressible spirit, Fein and her family would discover how to live in the present when the future can’t be fixed. In this heartfelt yet clear-eyed memoir, Fein maps b…

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Ep. 141. Lisa Keefauver: Grief is a Sneaky Bitch 54:14

1y ago54:14

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Lisa Keefauver--Tedx speaker, consulatant, grief educator and host of the Grief is a Sneaky Bitch podcast has written a book of the same name. Written in the tone of your "wise best friend" this book will keep you company, teach you, and support you as you navigate loss. Be sure to follow her https://lisakeefauver.com…

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Ep. 140. Jonathan Fleece: President and CEO of Empath Health 45:37

1y ago45:37

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Jonathan Fleece is the president and CEO of Empath Health Empath Health is one of the country’s largest not-for-profit health systems delivering non-acute care and services through its skilled, medical and holistic programs to individuals with chronic, advanced and terminal illnesses and those experiencing grief. The Empath Health integrated networ…

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Ep. 139. Lindsey Kane Leaverton 49:41

1y ago49:41

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Brutally Honest. Achingly Authentic.In her author debut, Lindsey Kane Leaverton, has written the book she wished she had as she navigated countless trips through despair.She shares her heart and healing journey to help you raise your awareness, add tools to your toolkit, and find a way to laugh while you cry your way through a messy life.https://ww…

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Ep. 138. David Ferrugio: Dead Talks Podcast Host 48:15

1y ago48:15

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Host of one of the most popular podcasts on death, grief and loss, David Ferrugio comes into the work with a deep personal understanding of loss. His father (also David) died in the world Trade Center on 9/11 when David was only twelve years old. In this episode David shares some of his life philosophies, his appreciation for gallows humor and how …

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Ep. 137. J.S. Park: As Long as You Need: Permission to Grieve 48:56

1y ago48:56

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What a Day in the Life of a Hospital Chaplain who Sits with the Dying Teaches Us About GRIEF J.S. Park is a hospital chaplain, author, and online educator. For eight years he has been an interfaith chaplain at a thousand-plus-bed hospital that is designated a Level 1 Trauma Center. His role includes grief counseling, attending every death, every tr…

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Ep. 136. Rhaina Cohen: Author of The Other Significant Others: Reimaging Life with Friendship at the Center 45:37

1+ y ago45:37

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NPR’s Rhaina Cohen is the The Other Significant Others: Reimagining Life with Friendship at the Center, The Other Significant Others invites us into the lives of people who have defied convention by choosing a friend as a life partner—from friends raising a child together to best friends of 50 years who live together in their retiree years. Based o…

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Ep. 135. Anne Gudger: Author of the Fifth Chamber 47:55

1+ y ago47:55

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Anne Gudger is an autobiographical essayist who writes hard and loves harder. She’s been published in Real Simple, Cutbank, Cutthroat, The Los Angeles Review, The Normal School, The Rumpus, and the Columbia Journal, among others, and has been a Best of the Net nominee twice. She is also the co-founder of Coffee and Grief, a reading series that’s be…

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Ep. 134. Claire Bidwell Smith: Grief Expert, Therapist and Author of Conscious Grieving 46:34

1+ y ago46:34

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Recognized as one of today’s foremost experts on grief, Claire Bidwell Smith is a licensed therapist, international speaker, and the author of five books published in 22 countries. Led by her own experience in grief and fueled by her work in hospice and private practice, Claire strives to provide support for all kinds of people experiencing all kin…

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Ep. 133. Grieving Mother Nikki Mark Author of Tommy's Field. 51:48

1+ y ago51:48

51:48

In 2018, Nikki Mark’s healthy twelve-year-old-son Tommy went to sleep one night and never woke up. Nikki went into a state of shock and her body quickly started to deteriorate, but she had to be there for her remaining family. Without a religious or spiritual background, she relied on the one skill she could still access — the ability to figure it …

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Ep. 132. Jane Rosen: Author Of On Fire Island 48:28

1+ y ago48:28

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Don't miss the wonderful episide with the the incredible ane L. Rosen author of On Fire Island as she explains how her personal exprience with grief informed her charachters in the book. Jane L. Rosen is an author, screenwriter and former Huffington Post contributor. Jane often takes inspiration from real-life stories and interviews to craft her no…

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Ep. 131. Amy Morin, LCSW :Author 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do 46:35

1+ y ago46:35

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Amy's work went viral. Learn the story of how and why in this episode where Amy discusses her how her viral list, was really a reaction to compound grief and loss.In her own words:I’m a psychotherapist turned “accidental” author I started my career as a psychotherapist intending to help others build mental strength. I never imagined how much I was …

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Ep. 130. The Art of Losing: Juliet Haas on Sibling Loss 51:16

1+ y ago51:16

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What happens when someone whose job is supporting other people’s mental health is rocked by their own traumatic loss? In this episode, Juliet Haas LPC, LMHC, shares her story, including the personal and professional impacts of her loss. Juliet is an embodied trauma-informed counselor, registered dance-movement therapist, and owner of Mindful Counse…

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Ep. 129. The Art of Losing: Kathleen Wallace, creator of Grief: A Comedy 36:57

1+ y ago36:57

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Is there room for humor in the world of grief and loss? According to Kathleen Wallace, creator of Grief: A Comedy, laughter can serve as a tool for connection as we navigate the losses in our lives. Kathleen is an actress, writer, producer, and facilitator whose work spans both the entertainment and corporate worlds. Her short film GRIEF: A COMEDY …

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Ep. 128. The Art of Losing: Molly Millwood on the Unexpected Losses of Motherhood 42:51

1+ y ago42:51

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What is the cost of framing motherhood only in terms of its potential gains, without acknowledging its inevitable losses? That’s one of the questions that Molly Milllwood addresses in her brilliant book, To Have and To Hold: Motherhood, Marriage, and the Modern Dilemma. A mix of research, client stories, and Molly’s personal experience, the book te…

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Ep. 127. Introducing The Art of Losing: Laurel Braitman 35:34

1+ y ago35:34

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Laurel Braitman PhD, is a writer, teacher and secular, clinical chaplain-in-training. She is the author of the memoir What Looks Like Bravery: An epic journey through loss to love (March 13th, Simon & Schuster) and the NYT bestselling book Animal Madness: Inside Their Minds. She received her doctorate in History and Anthropology of Science from MIT…

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Ep. 126. Julianne Manske Rollefson: The Art of Losing 45:14

1+ y ago45:14

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Julianne Manske Rollefson is a therapist, grief educator, and host of the new podcast, The Art of Losing. After the deaths of her parents, she left her career in corporate coaching and leadership development to pursue a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology, with the goal of becoming a therapist specializing in grief and loss. She quickly realiz…

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Ep. 125. Benjamin May: Founder of the New Normal 36:51

1+ y ago36:51

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In 2018, along with his friend Jack, Ben founded The New Normal Charity, after the death of their dads. A simple, free to access, group space where adults could speak openly about their grief, and about the people they’d lost. Having spent over two decades working in the hair industry, Ben finds connection where he is most comfortable, and as TNN d…

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Ep. 124. Jeannine Bryant: CEO Changing Spacesm SRS 57:11

1+ y ago57:11

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Rightsizing expert Jeannine Bryant is the owner and CEO of Changing Spaces SRS, a senior move management company in Lincoln, NE. She has helped provide rightsizing and relocation services to seniors since 2010. During that time, she has been actively involved in the downsizing and moving processes of thousands of older adults. Learn more about thei…

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Ep. 123. Pamela Blair & Bradie Hansen: Authors of The Long Grief Journey 46:59

1+ y ago46:59

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Pamela D. Blair, Ph.D., (pamblairbooks.com) was a psychotherapist for thirty years. She is the co-author of I Wasn’t Ready to Say Goodbye now considered a classic in bereavement literature. She is also the author of The Next Fifty Years: A Guide for Women at Midlife and Beyond and Getting Older, Better. She has appeared on national television, been…

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Ep. 122. Kelly Cervantes: Grieving Mother and Grateful Caregiver 51:26

1+ y ago51:26

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Kelly Cervantes is an award-winning writer, speaker, and advocate best known for her blog Inchstones, where she shared the stress, love, and joy that came with parenting her medically complex daughter, Adelaide. Since Adelaide’s passing, Kelly has continued to write candidly about her arduous and, at times, contradictory grief journey. She has been…

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Ep. 121. Alexandra Wyman:Partner loss by suicide 55:23

1+ y ago55:23

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Alexandra Wyman is an advocate and public speaker for resources in the aftermath of suicide. After she lost her husband to suicide in August of 2020, Alexandra found a need to change the language around suicide, and decided to write about it. Her memoir, The Suicide Club: What To Do When Someone You Love Chooses Death is an Amazon best seller. She …

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E. 120. Author Dina Gachman: Sorry for Your Loss--How I Learned to Live With Grief and Other Grave Concerns 51:15

2y ago51:15

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Dina Gachman is an award-winning journalist, a Pulitzer Center grantee, and a frequent contributor to the New York Times, Texas Monthly, Vox, Teen Vogue and more. Her second book, So Sorry For Your Loss: How I Learned To Live With Grief, and Other Grave Concerns was published in the US and the UK this year. She's a bestselling ghostwriter, and she …

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Ep. 119. Ashley Jones: Grieving Mother & Exec Director of Love Not Lost 53:16

2y ago53:16

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Ashley Jones is the founder and executive director of Love Not Lost, a nonprofit on a mission to revolutionize the way we heal in grief. From losing her daughter to a terminal illness to growing Love Not Lost to a national level (soon to be Momento Foundation), Ashley has a lot of experience in death and grief; something she never thought would be …

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Ep. 118. Asa Merritt: Creator of Six Sermons--An Audible Original Series 52:48

2y ago52:48

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*episode discusses suicide ASA MERRITT : A former international reporter for NPR, VICE Sports, The Guardian, and ESPN’s “30 for 30” podcast, Asa brings a compassionate documentary eye to ambitious fictional projects. His one-woman play about mass movements, True Believer, had a sold-out run in New York City. To research that piece, Asa traveled to …

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Ep. 117. Amber Jeffrey:Creator and Podcast Host of the Grief Gang 1:00:39

2y ago1:00:39

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Amber Jeffrey was just 19 when her mother died suddenly of a heart attack. Confused and heartsick Amber found herself consumed with anger which further separated her from her old friendships. In this episode Amber talks about becoming the trusted voice she needed at her most painful time, why talk therapy didn't work for her, and how she created he…

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Ep. 116. Laura Cathcart Robbins: Author of Stash 56:51

2y ago56:51

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Laura Cathcart Robbins is the best-selling author of the Atria/Simon & Schuster memoir, Stash, My Life In Hiding, and host of the popular podcast, The Only One In The Room. She has been active for many years as a speaker and school trustee and is credited for creating The Buckley School’s nationally recognized committee on Diversity, Equity, Inclus…

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Ep. 115. Sarah Conover: Author of Set Adrift–My Family’s Disappearance in the Bermuda Triangle 46:07

2y ago46:07

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In January, 1958, a renowned sailing family was lost in a storm in the Bermuda Triangle. The youngest of two daughters, Sarah, suddenly an orphan, grew up never knowing her parents and grandparents. As an adult, she began to pursue the mystery of her family and their disappearance, and discovered that their stories were far different from the versi…

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Ep. 114. Katie Joy Duke: Author of Still Breathing: My Journey with Love, Loss& Reinvention 52:26

2y ago52:26

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Katie Joy Duke is an author, attorney turned life coach, mom, and stage IV breast cancer survivor. Her memoir Still Breathing: My Journey with Love, Loss, and Reinvention was a #1 Amazon best seller in Family Health and Pregnancy and Childbirth. Read her blogs, sign up for her not-so-regular newsletter, and order a personalized signed paperback of …

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Ep. 113. Amy Smith Green: life coach, hypnotherapist, grieving daughter 53:03

2y ago53:03

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Amy Green Smith is a certified and credentialed life coach and hypnotherapist, masterful speaker, and personal empowerment expert. Amy uses her roles as coach, writer, podcaster, and speaker to move individuals beyond limiting beliefs and sabotaging mindsets to a place of radical personal empowerment and self-worth. With acute focus on helping peop…

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Ep. 112. Kelly S Thompson: Taking Sibling loss and Addiction with the author of Still I Cannot Save you 1:00:21

2y ago1:00:21

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Kelly S. Thompson writer, educator, and retired veteran from the Canadian Armed Forces. She has an MFA and PhD in Creative Writing and works as a mentor at the King's MFA Nonfiction program. She has won several awards for her writing, and was longlisted for the 2021 CBC Nonfiction prize and a 2021 National Magazine Award. Her essays, fiction and po…

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Ep. 111. Julia Samuel, MBE: Psychotherapist, Author, & Grief Expert 52:12

2y ago52:12

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Julia Samuel is a leading UK psychotherapist. At St Mary’s Hospital Paddington, she established the post of psychotherapist for Paediatrics, where her role for 25 years involved seeing families who have children or babies who die, and where she trained and supported the staff. In 1994 she worked to help launch and establish Child Bereavement UK and…