2025: It’s a year of big changes, big feelings, and maybe even a little bit of big grief. Feeling a little lost in the chaos? You’re not alone. On this episode, we explore what it means to show up meaningfully in “unprecedented” times, the concept of the “pendulum redux,” the power of our individual callings, and why connection and joy are non-negotiable. Join me for an honest and reflective episode about meeting life as it is, and actionable tools to help you cultivate connection, compassion, and hope in the face of ... READ MORE

Have you ever felt like you're grieving "wrong"? Is there a "right" way to grieve?

In this episode of the Grief and Light podcast, host Nina Rodriguez talks with licensed therapist and grief coach, Shea Wingate aka. "The Grief Girlie," about the many faces of grief.  Shea shares her own experience of profound loss and compounded grief, offering insights and wisdom gained from navigating the deaths of her parents and sister in a two-year span, and her calling to work ... READ MORE

This episode explores the concept of liminality in grief, emphasizing the importance of giving oneself permission to feel and operate from a place of becoming. She discusses the challenges of navigating identity shifts after loss, the tools of heart-centered curiosity, boundaries, and self-compassion, and the significance of community and creative expression in the healing process. The conversation highlights the beauty of vulnerability and the ongoing journey of personal ... READ MORE

How can we ensure that the legacies of our loved ones are not forgotten?

In this episode, I speak with Matt Jacobson, a young entrepreneur whose father passed away unexpectedly, leaving a void in his life. He decided to create Lifebooks, a platform that allows families to collaborate on creating beautiful, high-quality legacy books that tell the stories of their loved ones.

Matt's story is one of resilience and hope. He is an inspiration to anyone who has lost a loved one. His work is helping to ensure that the legacies of those we love will never be forgotten... READ MORE

How do we find the strength to keep going when the life we built with someone we love is suddenly gone? In this poignant episode, host Nina Rodriguez speaks with Tina Fornwald, an empowerment coach, podcast host, and retired Chief Warrant Officer, about her journey through grief after a miscarriage, surviving breast cancer, and losing Mark, her beloved husband of 32 years. Through her story, Tina illuminates the complexities of grief, the importance of community support, and the unique challenges faced by widows and widowers... READ MORE

How can we center aliveness in a world full of loss? In this heartfelt conversation, host Nina Rodriguez and grief activist, TEDx speaker, podcast host, and author, Lisa Keefauver, MSW dive into the complexities of grief, offering insights on grief literacy and the personal experiences that shape how we process loss. They explore the emotional impact of grief, highlighting the gap between learning about grief and living through it. The discussion unpacks the nuances of emotions, feelings, and moods, shedding light on how understanding these distinctions can support healing. Lisa shares powerful tools from narrative therapy, emphasizing the importance of reframing... READ MORE

What if grief holds its own wisdom, guiding us towards healing and understanding?

Paula Sager, writer and teacher of embodied contemplative practices, delves into the wisdom found in grief and the power of presence in times of loss. Paula reflects on her father's illness, passing, and the ongoing connection that unfolded afterward. They discuss how mindfulness, movement, and authentic movement practices can support grief by fostering inner listening and honoring the body’s response to loss. This conversation explores themes of love, letting go, and the mystical moments that can emerge during grief.  Paula shares insights from her book, The Watch, and invites listeners to embrace unanswered questions... READ MORE

How does grief intersect with race and identity when growing up in a multi-ethnic family?

Nico shares the deeply personal story behind his memoir 📖 “Brothers: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Race,” which honors the life and legacy of his late brother, Peter. 

Raised in a multi-ethnic family, Nico reflects on Peter’s experiences as a Black man in America, the traumatic events that shaped their lives, and how writing became a path toward healing and understanding. This conversation explores the evolving nature of grief, the power of storytelling, and how we continue our relationships with those who have passed... READ MORE

We often use the words grief and grieving interchangeably—but did you know they’re not quite the same?

In this thoughtful solo episode of Grief and Light, host Nina Rodriguez invites listeners into a powerful reframe: grief is the natural response to loss, but grieving is how we live with and in relation to our grief. With tenderness and clarity, Nina explores how understanding the distinction between these two terms can transform our experience with loss—softening unrealistic expectations, reducing pressure to "move on," and opening up a path toward self-compassion and emotional expansion... READ MORE

In this deeply moving episode Nina is joined by Liz Quinn — grief advocate, and host of the Healing Hearts Podcast. Liz opens up about her personal journey through layered loss, including the death of her daughter Alivia, and both of her parents. With tenderness and clarity, she shares what it means to grieve as a mother, how guilt and love can coexist, and how the relationship with a child in spirit continues to evolve... READ MORE

Pet loss is real grief — and it deserves real support.

In this heartfelt episode of Grief and Light, host Nina Rodriguez is joined by pet loss grief specialist, Grant Hazell, for an intimate conversation about the grief of losing a beloved animal companion. Together, they explore the deep bonds between humans and pets — often referred to as “soul pets” — and why losing them can be just as devastating as the loss of a human loved one... READ MORE

In this moving episode of Grief and Light, host Nina Rodriguez sits down with Bryan and Danielle Docobo to explore their journey through profound loss, love, and advocacy following the death of their son Ethan, who passed away from the rare genetic disorder Coats Plus Syndrome. As parents navigating complex grief while raising their surviving son Liam, who lives with the same diagnosis, Bryan and Danielle speak candidly about the emotional, spiritual, and logistical realities of their path, as they work against time to save him... READ MORE

What does it mean to parent a child whose life is both a miracle and a medical emergency? 

In this tender and unflinching conversation, Broadway actor and author Jody Gelb shares the story of her daughter Lueza—her first child, born with disabilities resulting from a catastrophic birth injury—whose life was defined by both relentless caregiving and radiant joy.Through the lens of her micro-memoir, SHE MAY BE LYING DOWN BUT SHE MAY BE VERY HAPPY, Jody speaks to the reality of raising a medically fragile child with cerebral palsy, where hope and anticipatory grief coexisted, and ... READ MORE

In this solo, audio-only episode, host Nina Rodriguez explores the unspoken grief many of us are carrying right now—the grief of uncertainty. 

From political turmoil and climate anxiety, to the dizzying pace of technological change, we’re living in times that feel increasingly unsteady.

This isn’t just stress; it’s a kind of ambient grief. It's the ache of losing the future we thought we were heading toward... READ MORE

Grief doesn’t pause when you arrive at work, so why do so many workplaces expect us to carry on as if nothing happened?

In this powerful episode of Grief and Light, host Nina Rodriguez is joined by Dr. Mekel Harris and Janet Gwilliam-Wright, co-founders of Bloomwell Partners, a consulting firm transforming how organizations handle grief and loss in the workplace... READ MORE

What if preparing for death could actually help you live more fully?

In this powerful episode, Nina Rodriguez speaks with Marni Blank, certified end-of-life doula and founder of Begin With The End, about why planning for death is one of the most compassionate acts we can offer, both to ourselves and those we love.

This conversation weaves together the legal logistics of wills, advance directives, and digital... READ MORE

In this heartfelt and powerful episode of the Grief and Light podcast, host Nina Rodriguez speaks with grief educator, somatic practitioner, and mother Maryam De Groef about the unimaginable: the sudden loss of her 9-year-old daughter, Zeynah, to an anaphylactic reaction caused by a severe food allergy in 2023.

Maryam shares the deeply personal journey of navigating profound grief, witnessing her surviving child process sibling loss, and the life-affirming decision her family made opting for organ donation... READ MORE

Drawing from his debut book Sacred Lessons: Teaching My Father How to Love, Mike explores how grief, silence, and inherited definitions of manhood shaped his early life—and how choosing vulnerability, mentorship, and collective healing became transformative. This intimate conversation unpacks the emotional cost of disconnection, the ancestral wisdom that guides us, and why healing the masculine lineage is essential for future generations. From the power of Ubuntu to the ongoing presence of loved ones beyond the veil, Mike reminds us that true healing is ... READ MORE

Whether you’re a griever, creative, or lover of independent film (and puppies!), this conversation is a moving exploration of how film can help us navigate trauma, honor legacy, and find our way back to light. In this powerful episode of the Grief and Light podcast, acclaimed filmmaker and educator Michael Flores shares the deeply personal journey behind his award-winning feature film, Dogs on the Sendero. The film follows Sol, a grieving teacher who embarks on a transformative road trip with his dog, Rosie, after the devastating loss of his wife. Through their journey, the story explores grief, cultural identity, healing, and ... READ MORE

How can we better support grieving kids and teens? 

In this episode of the Grief and Light podcast, Nina Rodriguez sits down with Michelle Cove, award-winning media maker, communications manager of Experience Camps and Grief Sucks,  in charge of making content across multiple platforms to build a more grief-smart culture. Together, they explore how teens navigate loss, the misconceptions surrounding teen grief, and the importance of creating safe spaces where young people can both process pain and simply be kids. Michelle shares powerful insights from her work at Experience Camps, where children connect, play, and heal, emphasizing that grieving teens often seek companionship over solitude. They also discuss the dual process model ... READ MORE