Where's The Grief?

In this episode, I talk with Author Louise Ells about her book, "Lies I Told My Sister." Her novel began as a response to a a question a friend asked: "What scares you the most? And are you going to write about it?" Having already dealt with the loss of one of her sisters at a young age, Louise managed to find ways to express her feelings of grief and loss in a novel that explores the relationship between sisters, and the ways that we avoid our biggest fears.  We also talk about how writing itself can be so cathartic and a helpful way to make sense of our own emotional responses by having fictional characters deal with them. Follow Louise at https://www.louiseells.ca/  And her blog: https://louiseells.blogspot.com/   Follow her on IG: https://www.instagram.com/louiseellsauthor/  

In this episode I talk with comedian Keith Chase about the tumultuous year that saw him nearly lose his own life alongside dealing with the death of his grandmother as well as his father, all in a short span of time. Now 6 months later (This episode was recorded in Nov. 2024) Keith has started reflecting on all the issues that come out of loss, and how we think about our own mortality while still being responsible for someone elses paperwork. We also talk about how hard it can be to transition back into regular life again when all you want to do is sit on your couch. Follow Kieth on Instagram and TikTok @ChaseTheShortGuy

In this episode I talk with my good friend and fellow bereaved sibling, Earla Dawn Legault about her book, "Living With Sibliing Grief - Imagining a Way Forward." After the death of her sister Leigh-Ann, Earla struggled to find support for her grief, finding very little in for those who had lost a sibling. Even her local grief support groups in Canada seemed too general to understand what she was going through. Enter Monica Murphy, a fellow bereaved sibliing who was also struggling after the death of her sister Darcy. Together Monica and Earla wrote a book about their experiences and struggles that truly showcases the power of peer support, and all the connection that comes from putting ourselves out there. Follow more of Earla at https://linktr.ee/siblinggrief  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sibling.grief.buds/   GET THE BOOK At Amazon  Grief Matters ‘guest’ cartoon - https://griefmatters.ca/cartoons/where-are-all-books-about-adult-sibling-grief Grief Matters blog - https://griefmatters.ca/blo

In this episode I talk with author Jonathan Foster about his book  After the death of his daughter Quincy at the age of 20, Jonathan spent close to a decade processing how to grieve and continue to keep hope in his life.  Poetry allows for a dynamic and interesting way to weave a narrative, and the ways we experience grief can often be so difficult to express in a linear way. “Indigo” manages to capture a stream of consciousness quality to his story that draws the reader in both mentally as well as visually. We talk about the ways that we adapt the permanence of absence as we process not just our grief, but how to bring love back to the forefront of our lives. Follow Jonathan online at https://www.jonathanfosteronline.com Learn more about Jonathan's charity for Haiti - LoveHaiti.org (and GET THE BOOK - "indigo: the color of grief"  

In this episode I talk with comedian Benny Blue about his recent one-man show, "Live From My Mother's Funeral."  After his mother Virginia passed away in 2021, Benny found talking about his experience of grief on stage to be one of the few things that allowed him to be honest while still looking for humor in an otherwise traumatising moment.  Comedy allows us to talk about such a wide variety of things that we don't often talk about in our regular lives, and while we all deal with grief, it's one of the few things we don't always acknowledge.  Benny's show combines aspects of stand up comedy along with some theatrical pieces that blend together in a reimagined version of his mothers funeral that allows both him and the audience to process things together. We also talk about how the writing and performing of this kind of material is so different from the promotion and sharing of the show. Follow Benny and all that he does at https://www.bennyblueeyes.net/ Check out the Special - LIVE FROM MY MOTHERS FUNERAL

In this episode, I talk with Author Chris Cochran about his book, "What's Good About Today? A Purpose Driven Life." After getting a terminal cancer diagnosis at the age of 21, Chris' son Christian managed to keep his own optimism and uplifting spirit about him, inspiring those around him to be mindful and grateful for the life they have, and to earnestly exclaim all that which is good about today. We talk about just how important perspective is when dealing with such a devastating loss, and how much it helps to keep talking about our loved ones. Follow Chris at https://www.chriscochranspeaks.com Get the book, "What's Good About Today?" HERE

In this episode, I talk to author Annie Sklaver Orenstein about her new book, "Always A Sibling: The Forgotten Mourners Guide To Grief." After years of struggling with her own grief after the death of her brother Ben to a suicide bomber in Afghanistan, Annie began writing what ultimately became the book that she wished had existed when her loss was fresh.  As a skilled reasearcher, Annie surveyed and interviewed dozens of other bereaved siblings, weaving their stories together with her own, along with detailed references to so many of the resources and support that is out there. We obviously talk (and bond) over the fact that bereaved siblings are often overlooked -  hence the Forgotten Mourners moniker, and how impactful it is to finally have found a community and a vocaulary to talk about our siblings with. We also talk about the surreal expereince of having to sell and promote someting so deeply personal.  Get the book and find out more about Annie! https://www.amazon.com/Always-Sibling-Forgotten-Mourners

In this episode I talk with comedian Brian Rabadeau life before and after the death of his father, Joe. After several bouts with serious health issues, Brian's father started the pandemic fighting against the isolation and struggling with all the mandates, which ultimately led to him dying of Covid in 2022. Since then Brian has worked on finding ways to move forward and let go of his anger towards his father, and at society at large, reminding himself that optimism and hope are still possible despite what llife throws at us. Follow Brian on IG @Brabs91 If you're in the New Orleans area when this episode drops, Brian will be performing in the Hell Yes Festival, November 12th, 13th and 14th! (GET TICKETS AND MORE INFO HERE!)

In this episode, I talk with Author and Sound Healer Jeralyn Glass about her book, "Sacred Vibrations - The Transformative Power of Crystalline Sound and Music," as well as her practice of creating unique sets of crystal singing bowls. Already a musician and leader in the sound healing movement when her son Dylan died, Jeralyn focused her efforts on helping others tap into the various frequencies and vibrations of life. We also talk about how helping others heal can be a source of healing for us as well, and how the intersection of science, spiritually and the healing power of music bring us all closer together. Find out more about Jeralyn and what she does at https://crystalcadence.com/ Follow her on IG @crystalcadencela GET THE BOOK - Sacred Vibrations!

Hooray! In this very special episode, I got to talk with Chef Dan Budd, owner of Taste Budd's Cafe, and former teacher at the Culinary Institute of America. As many listeners of the podcast know, my brother Russell was about to graduate from the CIA when he passed away in 2002. Dan Budd was more than one of Russell's professors, he was a mentor to him, and an early employer to take Russell under his wing.  No stranger to grief himself already, Dan's sister Laura died two years prior to Russell, oddly enough on the exact same day, July 6th. Laura's death to a rare brain tumor changed the way that Dan thought about his ability to harness his own energy in support of creating good in the world. We talk about how family dynamics can change after the loss of a sibling, and the profound bonds we create when talking with others who have been through something similar. We also talk about the importance of gratitude, and the danger of bees!   Check out Taste Budd's in Red Hook, NY!  Taste Budd's 40 West Market Street

In this episode, I talk with Dr. Sara Glass about her new memoir, "Kissing Girls on Shabbat." Growing up in an extremely sheltered Orthodox Hassidic Jewish community, Sara decided to become a therapist and mental health professional partially because seeing how her sister Shani's mental health issues impacted her family. When Shani ultimately took her own life, Sara came out of the closet after years of struggling with her sexual identity and eventually wrote a memoir about her path towards self acceptance and an open life. We talk about the different ways that we interalize our own trauma, and how hard it can be to find ways to be honest with the people in our lives about what we are going through. We also talk about the stigma that comes with suicide and mental health issues in general, and how important it is to recognise that we never have to do it alone. As September is Suicide Awareness Month, This episode is a reminder that someone is always listening, and if you need help, reach out to a trusted frien

In this episode, I talk with Tawnya Musser about her role and experiences in the world of Home Funerals. Already in school to become a funeral director when her brother Robert died, Tawnya found conventional funeral and death rituals to be lacking when it came to the way that her family wanted to celebrate Robert’s life and give family and friends an opportunity to grieve together in a safe and familiar environment. Since then she has worked to help people find the resources and avenues to hold their own home funerals, and connect them to individual more personalized memorials. You can find out more about Tawnya and her work at https://deardepartures.com Also, https://www.homefuneralalliance.org/home-funeral-guidebook.html provides step by step ideas on how to plan a home funeral. 

In this episode, I talk with comedian Liz Glazer about her album, "A Very Particular Experience," recorded on the one year anniversary of Liz and her wife's first daughter’s Leo Pearl stillbirth.  We talk about the difficulty of even making jokes about such a heavy topic, let alone putting together an entire album. However, we also highlight how important it is to laugh, and how much hope it can bring along with the perspective that keeps us connected to people.  Follow more about liz at https://www.dearlizglazer.com

In this episode, I talk with Author Joseph Alvaro about his book, "I'm One Of The Lucky Ones: Remembering A Soulmate." After Joseph's wife Francés died in 2009, followed by a brother in law, an uncle, his daughter and his father, as well as a handful of friends. "It seemed like all I did was go to funerals for 14 months."  In the wake of such traumatic events, Joseph began finding ways to talk about his lost loved ones by focusing on the precious memories and celebrating thier lives rather than dwell on the immense sadness that ultimatly comes with grief. In addition to his book, Joseph is the creator and producer of The Lucky Ones, a community of shared stories by individuals about people they were lucky to have known who have passed away. Celebrating the lives of loved ones in a short video exposé, these life affirming stories reinforce our common humanity in wonderfully charming videos filled with love, humor, and memories. Follow Joseph at https://luckyonestv.com for all the links to the videos. Get the B

In this episode I got to talk to Author Courtney Deane about her new book, "When Happily Ever After Fails." Courtney's father died when she was just 14, and her mother when she was just 28. In order to process her grief and make sense of her feelings about her own identity as a now parentless person, Courtney wrote a romantic comedy novel about a young woman going through similar difficult challenges. We talk about how important it is to create our own narrative of our trauma, and how finding ways to honor our own journeys. We also talk about how keeping our sense of humor and allowing ourselves to be a little silly sometimes goes a long way.  Follow Courtney at http://www.courtneydeane.com/ Courtney on IG - https://www.instagram.com/authorcourtneydeane/ Courtney on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@courtneydeane   Follow ME on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wheresthegrief  

In this episode I talk with Author and fellow grief podcaster, Brooke Carlock! After a two year span in which she lost both her parents, her stepmother AND her 10 year old daugher Libby, Brooke has found a miriad of ways to process her grief, as well as help others through thier own. Her podcast, "Mourning Coffee" is an open and honest discussion about the ups and downs of grief and loss that is unfiltered and refreshing in its approach. It reminds me just how helpful it is to validate our own feelings as normal despite how unfamiliar and scary they can be. Brooke's new book, "Grief Sucks (But Your Life Doesn't Have To)" also pulls no punches as it highlights the ways we can laugh at the darkest parts of our lives. Follow Brooke online at https://brookecarlock.org/  

In this episode I talk to my good friend comedian John Moses! John's father Ken managed to live for 18 months after being given a terminal diagnosis that was much shorter. Now a year after his passing, John is starting to process his relationship with his dad, and finding ways to let his new perspective make him a better man and father. We also talk about how letting go of resentments and being present can be helpful in fostering family connections. Follow john on Instagram @ComedianJohnMoses

In this episode, I talk with Author Deborah Kasdan about her book, "Roll Back The World - a sister's memoir." After being diagnosed with schizophrenia as a young adult, Deborah's sister Rachel lived most of her life in and out of hospitals and institutions. Now 20 years since her death, Deborah felt the need to tell Rachel's story, to honer her memory and her life, and to help erase the stigma and fear we have of mental illness.  We talk about the importance of community, as well as hightlight the fact that even though we've come pretty far from what mental health resembled in the 70's and 80's, we still have far to go.  Go to http://deborahkasdan.com to find out more, and to get the book! Follow Deborah on IG @DebKasdan

In this episode I talk with comedian and fellow grief podcaster Micah Walsh! After his father Kevin died, Micah found an outlet for his feelings in starting his own podcast with comedians talking about grief and loss, "I'll Greive You With This." We talk about how helpful it can be to talk about the hard topics with other people who understand, and who are not afraid to make jokes about an otherwise stressful and devastaing proceess.  Listen to "I'll Grieve You With this!" @IllGrieveYouWithThisPodcast @Micah_Walsh  

Happy New Year! In this episode, I had an incredible conversation with my good friend and comedian Ray Gootz! Ray was one of my very early guests on the show (Episode 11),  just one month after both his mother and Aunt died. He was among the first people I knew who was doing comedy material about his losses right away, and I was in awe of how open and raw the jokes were. It's been 8 years since then and we talk about all the losses Ray has endured since then (His father, another aunt, his virginity, among others) as well as all the things he has gained. We also talk about our love of movies, comic books, and how most Disney movies are about the grief over the death of a loved one. Follow Ray Online! Ray on TikTok Ray on IG Check out Gootz's Wrestling Pod!