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Grief After Dark

Grief After Dark

By D. & Micki

Commentary about grief, love, life, and resilience. Lifelong friends D Anaya and Micki Hassemer explore the depths to which grief can sink into our beings while discussing how they survive, and how they live. Join us as we share our life adventures, love, beer, wine and laughter.
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Currently playing episode

The Keep Glowing Until Next Timeosode

Grief After Dark May 02, 2023

00:00
38:11
The Keep Glowing Until Next Timeosode

The Keep Glowing Until Next Timeosode

D and Micki end the season with another fun, open, stream-of-consciousness-style conversation that goes from Star Trek, to showing up for our own excellence, to allowing harm, to the limitations in our belief systems and in own damn narratives. So much of Season 3 was about the ties that bind. Humanity is the condition. Connection is the medicine. If you can dream it, go forth and we will cheer for you. Til next time, friends!

May 02, 202338:11
Shelley Leiphart - The Glowing Mind

Shelley Leiphart - The Glowing Mind

Shelley Leiphart is a psychologist and neuropsychologist working in healthcare ethics, and boy did she bring some expertise to the GAD party this episode. She explains part of the trauma experience as a loss of innocence, sense of self, goodness, safety and justice, and how therapy can help break apart thought and emotion vs. what is actually happening. Shelley is a huge advocate of pursuing psychotherapy as an avenue to process trauma, see your grief from a different perspective, and find a new path forward. Grief is hard. Help helps.

Apr 26, 202350:15
Kristi Gerhardt - Glow in the Very Dark

Kristi Gerhardt - Glow in the Very Dark

Kristi Gerhardt joins Grief After Dark today with a beautiful and honest perspective on living with clinical depression. Not being sad when things happen. Not good ol’ fashioned teen angst. We’re talking the deep dark hopelessness that is one of the most common and also most undiagnosed struggles in the US today. And…we still manage to laugh through the conversation! C’mon, join the party and let’s all have a really good time talking about really shitty shit so we can all finally normalize mental health issues.

Apr 18, 202347:43
Perfectionist Impostor XL Bonersode

Perfectionist Impostor XL Bonersode

Here's some words for you: Perfectionist, impostor syndrome, eggshells, praise kinks, flimflam artist. D and Micki’s 20 minute bonus episode ended up being 40 minutes because there was simply too much to talk about. How much can you relate, though?

Apr 13, 202339:53
Dr. Mekel Harris - The Glowing Journey
Apr 05, 202301:04:21
Glowing Feels - The Empathisode with D and Micki

Glowing Feels - The Empathisode with D and Micki

This week enjoy some both/and with D and Micki as they discuss The Plight of the Empath. What is empathy, and what is it to be an empath? Is it learned or inherited? Is being a highly sensitive person a blessing? Or is it a curse? Sometimes the best conversations are the ones where the answers just lead to more questions. And sometimes not-rapid-fire questions should not be publicly answered.

Mar 29, 202354:24
Funk and Glow with D and Micki

Funk and Glow with D and Micki

Sincere hardship and trauma vs. self-victimization. Small hurdles and big rewards. Moments of resilience. You know – just a little life catch-up, D and Micki style. Sometimes the hard shit is where it’s at. We are your cheerleaders, friends. Thank you for being here.  

Mar 23, 202340:58
Joshua Liberman - The Glow of True Family

Joshua Liberman - The Glow of True Family

This week Joshua Liberman joins D and Micki in a conversation about family estrangement. Because you all know how we do love a good difficult and vulnerable conversation amongst good friends! This reflection is truly a reminder of what true family and love looks like, unfortunately learned by experiencing the antithesis of those things. I would do anything for love...but I won’t do that.

Mar 07, 202301:03:37
AJ Turner - Glowing With God

AJ Turner - Glowing With God

You don’t “arrive” at spirituality. Divinity is not static. Enlightenment is not “a thing.” We can’t talk about spiritual growth that doesn’t involve psychological death or spiritual death. So…where does that leave us? With spiritual COMMUNITY. Who knew? AJ did.

AJ Turner is currently finishing up a PhD in Philosophical and Theological Studies of Religion at Drew University’s Graduate Division of Religion. And he absolutely brought all the things we love about great conversation here in the GAD family. Join us. Bring a spritzer. And a photo of Chris Hemsworth.

Feb 28, 202347:09
Katya Fishman - Stories All Aglow
Feb 14, 202348:26
Knit After Dark - Lynsey Powell Glows

Knit After Dark - Lynsey Powell Glows

Lynsey Powell joins D and Micki this week to talk about her lupus diagnosis, feeling betrayed by your own body, the benefits of allowing yourself to sit in grief, and how to handle when people “at-least” you. Pain that others can’t actually see can be a tough one to carry. Good thing knitting can be so cathartic.

Feb 07, 202352:01
Glowing Memories With Estevan Vigil
Jan 31, 202351:52
Season 3 - Glow in the Dark With Tim Hassemer

Season 3 - Glow in the Dark With Tim Hassemer

D and Micki are back with Season 3, Glow in the Dark! This season will once again explore the many facets of grief with a special focus on grief that isn't death. Special guest and Podcast Editor Extraordinaire Tim Hassemer shares his own difficult experience, and the book he wrote that helped him process his pain and survive the feelings of losing himself.

This episode includes talk of suicidal ideation, so please listen with care. If you need a resource, you can contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling, texting or chatting 988, or visit  988lifeline.org


Jan 24, 202350:55
Happy New Yearosode

Happy New Yearosode

D and Micki reflect on the year past and the year that is to come, discuss what New Year is and can be, and celebrate the ability to see when to dig in and when to coast. It's never too late for a glass of champagne, and any time of year is a good time to celebrate.

Jan 05, 202330:06
Grief After Dark Special: Ask Grief Girl 2022

Grief After Dark Special: Ask Grief Girl 2022

For this special Grief After Dark Episode, Adventures of Grief Girl gathers bereaved mamas from around the world to answer questions sent in by friends and family who want to support bereaved mothers and families more fully. Join Jamie (our facilitator), Tina, Kim, Domenique and D as they dispel myths and beliefs surrounding grief, mourning and bereavement. This episode is powerful and informative, as always listen with your own discretion, take care of your mind and may you find clarity and gems to carry forward in your life as you open your arms to grievers. 

Dec 22, 202201:36:47
Turkey Bonersode

Turkey Bonersode

Deck the motherf*^*in halls and get yo kids. In this Turkeysode, D and Micki reconvene to give thanks for the simple joys of walking the talk during the Season of Expectations. And always. 

Nov 30, 202216:54
Until Next Time

Until Next Time

D and Micki wrap up Season 2 with recaps, fond memories, laughs, gratitude, real AF friendship, and just a little Aquaman. 

May 31, 202233:59
Grief and Kids With Pierce

Grief and Kids With Pierce

This week D’s 11 year old son Pierce joins us to discuss chickens, rockets, superheroes, life and death on a farm, the importance of a clean house, and the healing power of being wacky and telling Dad Jokes. Heart = Warmed.

May 24, 202233:24
Grief and Kids With Hannah

Grief and Kids With Hannah

D’s niece Hannah joins us with her 18-year-old perspective on grief, caring for yourself, mental health, and the internet: the good things we find, and some big problems with unsupervised kids perusing the unregulated web. And SO much more. This episode is truly a beautiful opportunity to experience some incredible wisdom about the world and how we move through it.
May 17, 202242:06
Grief and Kids With Naja Druva

Grief and Kids With Naja Druva

Naja is a child and family therapist with a specialty in childhood trauma, and works in decolonizing clinical constructs in the world of therapy. In this episode, Naja brings beautiful wisdom on topics like supporting kids in grief, why social media is addictive, how isolation translates as danger, the chemical origins of love, and why “we need to be invested in each other if we’re going to survive.” 

While some of this episode is about kids it's not for kids. We ended on a sentence that contains the trifecta of uncomfortable English words including the mother of all swears. Be ye warned.

May 10, 202201:01:42
Bonus Episode 7: Full Circle Validation Tranquility

Bonus Episode 7: Full Circle Validation Tranquility

Where and how do you find validation? Could it actually be healthy or even possible to seek it outside of yourself? What does living in love look like? Do you experience in-the-moment tranqility? Can you let chaos just be chaos without responding? We know. It’s all easier said than done. But...how ready are you?

May 03, 202224:55
Bonus Episode 6: Gray Area

Bonus Episode 6: Gray Area

Updates, housekeeping, technology struggles, naps, juggling life, cookies from the universe, etc. You know. Just checking in with our friends. (That’s you.)

Apr 19, 202227:07
Moving Through Grief With Mighty Leona

Moving Through Grief With Mighty Leona

Behold, a conversation full of laughter and love with our friend Kim De Los Reyes, aka Kim of the Kings. Kim walks us through how grief made her lose The Music, and the beautiful way she found it again in nature, in movement, and in coming back home to herself. We discuss how we shake it to channel destruction into prayer, the wisdom of how movement can start as simple as going for a walk, and so much more. Come dance with us. Get movin.

Apr 12, 202250:45
Moving Through Grief With Jenny Gal
Apr 05, 202251:55
Moving Through Grief With Kiva Siani
Mar 29, 202249:24
Moving Through Grief With Jamie Asdorian
Mar 22, 202255:18
Sharing Grief With Gina Harris
Mar 15, 202246:49
Sharing Grief With Joe'l Simone Anthony
Mar 08, 202237:48
Sharing Grief With Tony Lynch
Mar 01, 202201:01:32
Show Up For That Mosey

Show Up For That Mosey

Welcome to Season 2: Dark Matters! Come hang out as D and Micki ease right on in to a brand new Season of experience. We are still showing up with laughs and epiphanies and good times. We hope you do, too. 

Feb 22, 202225:10
Randosode: Expectation Season

Randosode: Expectation Season

Who's expecting too much from you this holiday season, and how much are you (over) expecting of yourself? Join us in this holiday vent session where we take some time to remind ourselves of how this time of year feels, and why, and that it's all ok. Even if it's not.

Dec 21, 202131:47
Randosode 1: Comparative Grief

Randosode 1: Comparative Grief

The Randosodes begin, and thus continues D and Micki's journey with you! In Randosode 1 we discuss thoughts on our habits to compare our pain, grief, suffering, emotional state, ability to be productive, etc. And thoughts on how we all need to cut it out. Can you randomly relate?

Jul 26, 202123:08
Docking

Docking

Episodes with music are only available on Spotify.

Coming full circle. Reintegration. What love is and isn't, and how you do or don't make time for it. Docking isn't always what you think...

May 11, 202101:17:32
Bonus Episode 5: Gratitudisode

Bonus Episode 5: Gratitudisode

Giving thanks to so many for so much. That is all.

May 07, 202120:20
Anchors

Anchors

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This week, D and Micki explore several different concepts, ideas and definitions of anchors: what they are, who they are, when and how we use them, and the importance of mindfulness in anchoring. 

May 04, 202101:00:15
Bonus Episode 4: Little Love Bombs

Bonus Episode 4: Little Love Bombs

Episodes with music are only available on Spotify.

In this bonus episode, Micki sets the stage with a heart opening meditation, and we get a solid dose of passion, intimacy, vulnerability and immense beauty as James Barros, Amanda Furdge and D each offer up a love-inspired piece of original poetry. You dropped a bomb on me, baby.

Apr 30, 202120:33
Sink or Swim

Sink or Swim

Episodes with music are only available on Spotify.

The curse of distraction, the injury of oversimplification, and the fact that sometimes it's not sinking OR swimming, but rather it's BOTH/AND. Sometimes it's just about finding buoyancy so you can stay afloat. Sometimes people drop turd bombs on your nice emotional landscape. It's hard being a person.

Apr 27, 202101:03:51
Bonus Episode 3: Adventures of Grief Girl

Bonus Episode 3: Adventures of Grief Girl

D takes some time to talk to us about her life as a prolific artist and her Adventures of Grief Girl. Singing, dancing, painting, photography...our talented friend has seemingly done all things art, and is full of fun and wisdom about the process of creation.

Apr 23, 202121:39
Sharks and Shit

Sharks and Shit

Episodes with music are only available on Spotify.

The path to healing is not at all straight forward - it often loops back around on itself enough times to make you feel like you're failing, or flailing, or falling straight into the shark's mouth. There are ways to recalibrate. Perhaps with a Keanu fan club.

Apr 20, 202101:01:23
Bonus Episode 2: Moonstar Charms

Bonus Episode 2: Moonstar Charms

A quickie about Micki's obsession with jewelry-making, gemstones, and other various passions as she shamelessly self-promotes her art and business, Moonstar Charms.

Apr 16, 202116:40
Sirens and Lures

Sirens and Lures

Episodes with music are only available on Spotify.

Lots of shiny, pretty, alluring things out there that will try and convince you they're the quick fix for your whole life. Do not trust the sirens - they are full of nonsense and fuckery.

Apr 13, 202101:02:17
Bonus Episode 1: The STFU Challenge

Bonus Episode 1: The STFU Challenge

Micki takes the STFU Challenge and her struggle is real, while D offers modern wisdom about how we get desensitized to noise. The quest for meditative peace continues.

Apr 10, 202119:14
Navigating

Navigating

Episodes with music are only available on Spotify.

How in God's name do we get through this? Here we revisit expectation, look into the biology of fear, explore how triggers work, delve further into the Survival Kits, and discuss general ways to cope that are potentially more productive than just punching people in the neck.

Apr 06, 202101:01:15
Uncharted Territory

Uncharted Territory

Episodes with music are only available on Spotify.

The truth of Uncharted Territory is…it’s SCARY! In the second episode, D. and Micki discuss the loneliness and camaraderie that can come with feeling lost. There are important things that it behooves (beHOOVes) us to remember about ourselves and about each other while sailing these Dark Waters, including packing our Survival Kit and what that means! We also listen to D’s cat yowl for a second.

Mar 30, 202101:01:56
Maiden Voyage

Maiden Voyage

Episodes with music are only available on Spotify.

Maiden Voyage is the first episode by Grief After Dark with D. Anaya and Micki Hassemer, a podcast where we discuss love, life, death and everything in-between. It touches on the embarking on a journey you don’t want to take through Dark Waters that nobody else has ever seen, traveled, or experienced quite like you have and will. You have not chosen this mission, yet you know you must do it.

In Uncharted Territory, we explore surviving as kids and what those experiences have led us into. We also talk about a lot of other stuff including books, music, friendships and bananas.

Mar 23, 202101:08:31