EP.39 Season 3 Premiere:
The First Five Years of Grief
Host: Nina Rodriguez | IG: @griefandlight
September 11, 2024, will mark five years since Yosef’s passing. In this episode, I take a moment to reflect on how grief and life have shifted, what challenges each year presented, and discuss the importance of allowing grief to unfold in our own personal timeline.
This episode is one that I wish I would have been able to listen to in my early grief, particularly in years one and two.... READ MORE
EP.40 Grief and Resilience: Tools for 'Bouncing Forward' After loss
Guest: Blair Kaplan Venables, Founder, The Global Resilience Project | IG: @blairfromblairland
In this conversation, Blair Kaplan Venables, a grief and resilience expert, shares her personal journey of resilience and how she turned her pain into purpose after experiencing multiple losses, including the loss of both parents and a pregnancy. She discusses the concept of resilience and defines it as 'bouncing forward' from a challenging experience. Blair also introduces the Navigating Grief Framework, which consists of five tools .... READ MORE
EP.41 Tending Grief: The Healing Power of Care in Community
Guest: Camille Sapara Barton | Author, TENDING GRIEF | @camillesaparabarton
Camille Sapara Barton, author of 'Tending Grief, Embodied Rituals for Holding Our Sorrow and Growing Cultures of Caring Community,' discusses the importance of tending to grief and creating communal spaces for grief. They emphasize the need to process grief through the body, and draw inspiration from the grief rituals of the Dagara people, who see grief as a generative force that supports the well-being of the community. They also highlight the impact of incorporating joy and pleasure into social movements, and the importance of creating spaces for .... READ MORE
EP.42 Start Where You Are: Megan Gluth Bohan's Transformation from Struggles to Success
Guest: Megan Gluth-Bohan | Owner and CEO | @megangluthbohan
From rock bottom to CEO, Megan Gluth-Bohan's path to success has been anything but a straight line, shaped by her challenging upbringing and personal struggles. Growing up in rural Iowa below the poverty line, Megan faced dysfunction, trauma, and difficult circumstances. She struggled with alcohol and drug use, however, she eventually turned her life around .... READ MORE
EP.43 Is Joy Possible After Loss?
Host: Nina Rodriguez | @griefandlight
How can we unlock joy after loss?
This episode explores the possibility of experiencing joy after loss and provides guidance on incorporating self-compassion and joy into the grieving process. It emphasizes the importance of honoring each moment, leaning into curiosity, and rewarding the questions that arise. Nina shares .... READ MORE
EP.44 Margo Fowkes on losing her son, creating community and Leading Through Loss at work
Guest: Margo M. Fowkes, Author, Founder, Consultant | Salt Water | On Target Consulting | @findyourharbor
Margo shares her journey of grief after the death of her son, Jimmy. She discusses Jimmy's resilience during his illness, and the moments that shaped her perspective on motherhood and loss.

She delves into the challenges of grief in the workplace—how to support grieving colleagues ... READ MORE
EP.45 | MENDED MAN: Oscar 'OG' Guerrero on losing his son, Post-Traumatic Growth, and Brotherhood
Guest: Oscar Guerrero, Host of the Mended Man Podcast, and Post-Trauma Growth Coach | @oscarcguerrero
In this conversation, Oscar 'O.G.' Guerrero shares his story as a father navigating the devastating and sudden loss of his two-year-old son, Ollie, and how he has found a way to channel his grief into helping other men heal from trauma and loss ... READ MORE
EP.46 | The Healing Power of Grief Dreams with Dr. Joshua Black
Guest: Dr. Joshua Black, Bereavement Researcher, Speaker, Educator, Host of the Grief Dreams Podcast | @griefdreams
Dr. Joshua Black, leading grief and bereavement researcher, speaker, and host of the Grief Dreams Podcast, shares his journey into the field of grief dreams (e.g., dreams of the deceased), and the profound insights they offer into the grieving process and continuing connections beyond ... READ MORE
EP.47 | Always a Sibling: Navigating Sibling Loss with Annie Sklaver Orenstein
Guest: Annie Sklaver Orenstein, Writer, Cultural Researcher | @anniesklaverorenstein
More than 4 million American adults each year will lose a sibling, yet there wasn’t a modern resource guide available that speaks directly to this type of grief that can be overshadowed by grieving parents and spouses, and made even more difficult by the complexities of sibling dynamics — until now ... READ MORE
EP.48 | Bridging the GriefSpan after losing her brother and both parents in five years
Guest: Moira Khan, Grief Educator, GriefSpan | @griefspaneducation
Join us for a powerful conversation with Moira Khan, a Certified Grief Educator and creator of GriefSpan, an online grief support community. After losing her mother, brother, and father within just five years, Moira faced the immense challenge of being the last remaining member of her ... READ MORE
EP.49 | The Grief Cocoon: Transforming Grief through Creative Expression
Guest: Gaby Georges, Creative Grief Guide and Podcast Host | @thegriefcocoon
Multidisciplinary artist, creative grief guide, and podcast host, Gabriela Georges, talks about her journey through loss and how it has shaped her work. She shares the profound influence of her mother, Samira, who passed away shortly after a cancer diagnosis when Gaby was only 20, and how this loss inspired her to create The Grief Cocoon, a podcast and space for individuals to ... READ MORE
EP.50 | 5 Years Without You: The Ripple Effect
Host: Nina Rodriguez | @griefandlight
Nina reflects on her journey through grief as she commemorates the fifth anniversary of her brother's passing. She shares personal insights on the emotional complexities surrounding grief anniversaries, the importance of creating meaningful rituals, and the impact of her brother's life on her own. Through a poignant reading of the speech she delivered at his memorial, Nina emphasizes the interconnectedness of life and the enduring legacy of love and remembrance ... READ MORE
EP.51 | The Five Facets of Healing After Loss
Guest: Annah Elizabeth, The Five Facets of Healing™ | @annahelizabethheals
In this episode, Annah Elizabeth, founder of the Five Facets of Healing™, discusses the complexities of grief, the importance of recognizing personal loss, and the journey of healing. Annah shares her own experiences with loss, including the death of her son and the betrayal of loved ones, and how these events shaped... READ MORE
EP.52 | Finding Light After the Sudden Loss of a Partner
Guest: Charniah Wilson, 'Grief is Ghetto' | TikTok: @charniahwilson
In this episode, Charniah Wilson shares her journey of navigating grief after the sudden loss of her partner, Ken. Cha discusses how she channeled her grief into creativity through her platform 'Grief is Ghetto,' and 'Cha's Random Thoughts,' where she combines humor and healing. The conversation explores the complexities of grief, the importance of community support, and ... READ MORE
EP.53 | Grief Support 101: One-on-One, Peer-Led, and Specialist-Led Groups
Host: Nina Rodriguez | @griefandlight
Nina discusses the importance of community, the differences between one-on-one support, and peer-led and specialist-led support groups, and addresses common fears associated with sharing grief in a group setting. She addresses common fears associated with joining support groups and the benefits of professional facilitation in creating a safe and nurturing environment for sharing experiences.... READ MORE
EP.54 | Rebecca Feinglos on Loss, Grieve Leave, and Creating Grief-Informed Spaces
Guest: Rebecca Feinglos | @grieveleave @rfeinglos
Rebecca Feinglos is a certified grief support specialist and founder of Grieve Leave. After experiencing the death of both parents and navigating the end of her marriage, Rebecca took a courageous year-long 'grieve leave' to fully immerse herself in healing. Together, they delve into the non-linear nature of grief, the powerful impact of loss on identity, and the contrasting experiences of anticipatory versus sudden grief..... READ MORE
EP.55 | LIFE SHIFT: Matt Gilhooly on grieving loved ones, pet loss, and healing through storytelling
Guest: Matt Gilhooly, The Life Shift Podcast @thelifeshiftpodcast
Matt Gilhooly shares his profound journey through grief, beginning with the sudden loss of his mother at a young age. He reflects on how this pivotal moment shaped his life and the way he processes emotions. The discussion delves into the complexities of grief, the impact of childhood trauma, and the perfectionist tendencies that can arise from a desire to mask pain. Matt also contrasts his experiences with anticipatory loss, particularly with his grandmother, highlighting the importance of open communication and the profound grief associated with losing his pet, Mikey, highlighting ... READ MORE
EP.56 | Beyond Platitudes: Erin Blechman Talks Suicide Loss and Supporting Grievers
Guest: Erin Blechman | @erin.blechman
In this deeply moving episode, grief educator Erin Blechman opens up about her profound journey through loss after the death of her son, Max. Erin invites us into her experience of navigating the unique pain of suicide loss, sharing stories of Max’s life, his struggles, and the love that continues to shape her every day. She candidly explores the complexities of grief, the strength it takes to push past well-meaning but hurtful platitudes, and the necessity of compassion when facing ... READ MORE
EP.57 | Embracing what is with Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer
Guest: Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer | @rosemerry.trommer
In this heartfelt conversation, award-winning poet and author, Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer, shares her journey of navigating grief after the sudden loss of her son, Finn, in 2021, followed by the loss of her father. Through poetry and reflection, she explores the themes of grief, surrender, love, the natural world, and the transformative power of writing. The episode delves into the nuances of grief, and the ways in which creativity can serve as a sacred anchoring practice as we learn to meet what is with curiosity, and how to carry our person's "love light" after loss... READ MORE
EP.58 | mpacted Survivors: Navigating Grief and Stigma After Murder-Suicide Loss
Guests: Michael Vinton and Tina Chevalier, Co-founders of @impactedsurvivorsofms
oined by guests Michael Vinton and Tina Chevalier, two of the three co-founders of Impacted Survivors of Murder Suicide, this episode explores the complexities, layers, and stigma surrounding loss related to murder-suicide, the unique challenges faced by survivors, and the role of media in shaping public perception... READ MORE
EP.59 | Finding Pockets of Sunshine: Dr. Monica Krishnan on Grief, Mental Health and Healing
Guest: Dr. Monica Krishnan, author, grief and mental health advocate, pharmacist | @drmonicapharmd
Dr. Monica Krishnan shares her profound journey through grief, self-discovery, and healing after losing her husband to brain cancer. She discusses her experiences with high-functioning depression, the importance of support systems, and her advocacy work in mental health, and shares her new children's book, 'Finding Pockets of Sunshine,' .... READ MORE
EP.60 | 'Grief 2 Growth': Brian D. Smith on Signs, Synchronicities, and Making Meaning after Child Loss
Guest: Brian D. Smith, host of Grief2Growth Podcast, grief & life coach, author | @grief2growth
Brian D. Smith is a Certified Grief Educator, Positive Intelligence Coach, and Life Purpose Coach, dedicated to helping people rediscover their true nature and purpose. After the passing of his daughter, Shayna, at the age of 15, in 2015, Brian deepened his study of death and the afterlife, which he had been exploring for nearly two decades. Since Shayna's passing, he has made it his mission to support others dealing with loss, and to help people rediscover who ... READ MORE