The Grief Coach
By Brooke James
The Grief CoachDec 16, 2020
77. Meeting people where they are (their phones) with grief coach founder Emma Payne and subscriber Sarah Khatau
In this episode, founder of Grief Coach Emma Payne (not affiliated with the podcast) joins host Brooke James to share why she founded a company to support those in need and those who want to help them support them but aren't quite sure how. Grief Coach subscriber Sarah Khatau joins to share how leaning into her grief and having a strong support system made a difference for her.
Use code thegriefcoachpodcast at grief.coach for a discount
76. Grief Monsters: Understanding Anger and Grief with LCSW Shea Wingate
wingatecounseling.com
thegriefcoach.co
75. Navigating Compound Grief with LCSW Shea Wingate
Shea Wingate (@wingatecounseling) joins host @brookeljames to share her story of compound loss (expected and unexpected) of her dad, her sister, and her mom over a 13 month period and how she learned to navigate her grief. She shares how her experience has impacted her work as a therapist, how to face life milestones without your people, and how anger and grief interact.
74. Why a Business Man Wrote a Book on End of Life with Author William Donaldson
Host @BrookeLJames is joined by Businessman and Author @_drdonaldson where he shares his experience in preparing for his parent's end of life and what that taught him. He shares his thoughts on paperwork prep and philosophy on preparing for end of life.
73. Lessons on Grief from End-of-Life Educator Carol Schoneberg
In this episode, host @brookeljames is joined by End-of-life educator & Grief Counselor Carol Schoneberg from Hospice of Southern Maine. Carole shares lessons she's learned in almost 30 years working in grief, strategies for moving through your grieving process, and what to say to support those who are grieving.
thegriefcoach.co
72. Love, Loss, and Religion with Priest and Author Al Johnson
In this episode, host @BrookeLJames gets into a complex -- and sometimes philosophical discussion -- around loss, what we learn from it, whether we'd give it back, generational differences on dealing with grief, and the relationship between religion and loss.
71. Experiencing Loss Early with Business Coach Natalie Levy
In this episode, host @brookeljames is joined by coach @natalie_knows where she shares how the loss of her mother in adolescence shaped her experience. We discuss how losing a parent makes you take on parenting responsibilities to younger siblings, our respective rebellious phases, how loss showed up in Natalie's relationships, and how it impacted her chosen career path.
70. Grieving in the Spotlight with Survivor Winner, Speaker and Coach Adam Klein
In this episode host @brookeljames is joined by @survivoradam for a conversation on modeling vulnerability, grieving in the spotlight, turning grief into action, and that more men should cry!
69. Learning Self Love After A Cancer Diagnosis with Danielle Tropsa
In this episode, host @brookeljames is joined by Dani Tropsa (@Dani_Trops) who shares her experience in receiving a breast cancer diagnosis at 30 and what it was like to go through treatment, how her community supported her, and what going through this experience taught her about self-love.
68. Grieving Due to Distance in a Pandemic with Liv Buli, Founder of Blue House Home
In this episode, @brookeljames is joined by Liv Buli, founder of @bluehousehome who shares her experience grieving due to the distance between her and her family during the pandemic. Liv shares an experience that is common to those with family all over the world, but this is a story we don't often hear the intricacies of. All grief is grief and I'm grateful to Liv for sharing her story.
Please note that this was recorded in June 2021 prior to the sharp increase in cases due to the delta variant.
67. Dating After Loss: Finding Love Again, and Again with Author Jill Johnson-Young, LCSW; co-hosted by Trauma Therapist Meghan Riordan Jarvis
jilljohnsonyoung.com
griefismysidehustle.com
thegriefcoach.co
66. What Do Our Grief Dreams Mean? With Dr. Joshua Black
In this episode, host @brookeljames is joined by Dr. Joshua Black, academic researcher and host of the @griefdreams podcast. Dr. Black talks about how he ended up researching grief dreams, what our grief dreams mean and how attachment styles show up in how we grieve.
65. Dating After Loss: Rebuilding After Divorce with Parama Founder Juliana Wexler; co-hosted by Trauma Therapist Meghan Riordan Jarvis
In the latest episode of the Dating After Loss Crossover series co-hosted by @brookeljames and @meghan.riordan.jarvis we talk about what it's like to rebuild after divorce with @julianawex. We discuss that grief over the loss of a relationship, while not the same as loss of a loved one, does result in some overlapping feelings and that we as a society lack the language to speak about the losses differently. We talk about how to claim your grief narrative, how shame and regret can be involved in grief, and how Juliana learned how to be her own anchor.
64. The Importance of Empathy with Ron Gura, CEO and Co-Founder Empathy
In this episode host @brookeljames speaks with Ron Gura of @empathy_com on the difference between sympathy and empathy (and why empathy is way more important), how to show up for people experiencing loss, and how he's innovating in the grief and bereavement space.
63. Dating After Loss with Trauma Therapist Meghan Riordan Jarvis
In this episode, @meghan.riordan.jarvis joins host @brookeljames for the first of a series of crossover episodes on Dating After Loss. Meghan and Brooke discuss attachment styles, how our vulnerability needs change after a loss, and Brooke shares her experience in dating after losing her dad and how that's evolved over the past two years.
62. What's It Like to Have a Podcast About Grief? with Founder of The Grief Gang Amber Jeffrey
www.thegriefcoach.co
61. What Happens To Your Energy When You Die with Serial Entrepreneur, Author, Medium, and Energy Healer Julie Ryan
In this episode, host @brookeljames is joined by @askjulieryan who shares her experience as an energy healer. She talks about the process of what happens to our energy as we die, how to heal our energy while grieving, and how grief makes us face our own mortality.
60. Using Vulnerability to Move Through The Grief Process with Transformation Coach Brianna Bone
In this episode host @BrookeLJames speaks with @iambriannabone to discuss how a commitment to vulnerability and mental health helped her move through her grief journey. Brianna is an Australia-based transformation coach and human potential specialist and her experience with loss helped her arrive at this as a career. Brooke and Brianna discuss the importance of vulnerability, how to bring more vulnerability into your life, and the importance of having hope.
59. Finding Your Spirit Guides with Spiritual Guide and Medium Graciela Rasor
In this episode host, @BrookeLJames is joined by Spiritual Guide @Graciela_Rasor to discuss how our spiritual team advises us, connecting with those you've lost, and how to move grief energy through your body so you can better process it.
58. Cancer wife at 28, Widow at 31 with Author Rachel Engstrom
In this episode host, @BrookeLJames speaks with Author Rachel Engstrom @wifewidownowwhat on her experience in becoming a cancer wife at 28 and a widow at 31. Rachel shares her story and how it motivated her to write a memoir/manual for those going through a loss, how endometriosis and her husband's cancer diagnosis led her to confront fertility options and the associated grieving process there, and how she picked up the pieces and built the resilience to move forward.
Buy Rachel's book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Wife-Widow-Now-What-Navigated/dp/B08KBV5DBL/
57. Surviving Cancer In Your 30s with Founder & CEO of Alula: Liya Shuster-Bier, Rare Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Survivor
In this episode @BrookeLJames and guest, Liya Shuster-Bier discuss what it's like to go through a rare cancer diagnosis in your 30s (including missing the time that we think will be the take-off of our career and how to plan for a family pre-treatment), how Liya's medical isolation prepared her for pandemic quarantine life, and how this experience encouraged Liya to found Alula.
56. How Technology Brings Comfort to Grievers with co-founders of AFTR Joseph Schechter and Beth Reinetz
In this episode, the co-founders of AFTR join host @BrookeLJames to discuss how they leveraged technology to bring comfort and allow Beth to participate in a grieving ritual when she could not be there in person due to the pandemic, how the online grief community has been of great comfort, and how they continue to connect with their father after his passing.
www.aftr.live - 10% off the product using TGC10
55. How Grief and Anxiety Effect Our Brains with Trauma Therapist Meghan Riordan Jarvis
In this episode host @BrookeLJames is joined by trauma and grief informed therapist @Meghan.Riordan.Jarvis to talk about how grief and anxiety effect our brains. Brooke and Meghan talk about how they found resources after a loss, how do you support people you care about who are going through a loss, and what is going in in our brains after a loss.
54. Perspective on Societal Expectations of Male Grieving with Zach Weismann, Founder of Mag Impact Collective
In this episode, host @BrookeLJames is joined by @ZachWeismann, Founder of Mag Impact Collective, to discuss the difference in expectations between caregivers across genders, how to balance work and caregiving, and societal expectations on male grievers.
CW - mention of suicidal ideation
Zach's TedX talk - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tyMwL95Ugw
53. Modernizing Memorials with Miles Adams and Max Lemper-Tabatsky, Co-Founders of Oak Tree Memorials and Loyal Memorials
In this episode co-founders of @oaktreememorials and @loyalpetmemorials, Miles Adams and Max Lemper-Tabatsky, join host @brookeljames to talk about their experience in shopping for memorials after a loss and very quickly realizing the experience could be improved. Here at The Grief Coach, we think it's very important to examine the industry and showcase all the amazing people who are making this experience suck less. Miles, Max, and Brooke talk about how things can be better, what it's like to tell people you work in the end-of-life industry, and how their own experiences informed the work they do.
oaktreememorials.com - use code thegriefcoach for a 10% discount on products
52. How to Project Manage Your Grief With Kerry Hoffman, Head of Global Project Management & Ops at ClassPass
In this episode, host @BrookeLJames is joined by Kerry Hoffman (@soverykerry) where she shares the experience of losing her Father to covid in March 2020 and her experience in grieving during quarantine. Kerry shares wonderful advice on how to make space for grief in your life, what she sends people after a loss, and how we can all do better in talking about grief.
51. Coping with Cancer Emotions with Author Cynthia Hayes
Author Cynthia Hayes joins @BrookeLJames to share the story of her cancer diagnosis and all the accompanying emotions. We also discuss the difference between being a cancer patient versus being a caregiver and which was harder.
thebigordeal.com - and buy Cynthia's Book on Amazon or Bookshop
Some of the Organizations Cynthia mentions
50. What It's Like to Lose Both Parents with Author Rochelle Bugg
In this episode host @BrookeLJames is joined by Author @RochelleBugg whose latest book "Handle WIth Care" explores Rochelle's grief experience of losing her father at 14 to pancreatic cancer and her mother to brain cancer at 25. Rochelle and Brooke discuss Rochelle's experience, what it means to lose both parents, how to talk to others about the grief experience, and how to prepare for administrative pieces of a loved one's death that no one tells you about.
Rochelle's Book "Handle With Care" is out March 4
49. What it's Like to Grieve as a Medical Professional Dr. Darien Sutton (Emergency Medicine Physician and ABC News Medical Contributor)
In this episode, @doctor.darien joins host @brookeljames to discuss how losing a beloved family member his first year of medical school had a profound impact on how he interacts with patients and families, what it's like for the medical team when a patient does not have advanced directive paperwork, the lasting impact of covid on all of us (and specifically the medical community)
Find Darien on Instagram at @doctor.darien and on twitter at @DoctorDarienMD
48. Living After Surviving WIth Motivational Speaker Kelli Chu
In this episode, host @BrookeLJames is joined by Kelli Chu (@mzchu) who shares her experience of losing mobility after a car accident. Kelli and Brooke discuss what it was like for Kelli to experience an accident in a foreign country, resilience after loss, the perspective they've gained from grief (and if they would give it back or not), and how to talk to those who've experienced something hard.
47. Writing To Make Sense of Grief with Writer and Social Scientist Beth Duckles
CW: suicide
In this episode host @BrookeLJames is joined by Beth Duckles, @BDuckles, who shares how she used writing to make sense of the sudden loss of her mother to a brain aneurysm. Beth and Brooke also discuss how we talk to those who are grieving and how to move through our own grief.
Beth's Writing:
The Two Suicides That Changed My Life - https://narratively.com/the-two-suicides-that-changed-my-life/
46. How Grief Changes Us with Tara Sroka, Founder of Bringing Death Into Life
In this episode, host @BrookeLJames speaks with Tara Sroka, founder of @BringingDeathIntoLife on how grief evolves as time goes on, how to talk to those going through a loss, how grief helps us find our purpose, and more.
45. Using Presence and Creativity to Work Through Grief with Patricia de Picciotto
In this episode, host @BrookeLJames is joined by Patricia de Piccioto who started the Instagram community @NeshamaJourney in an effort to find people who she shared an experience with after the loss of her mother. Patricia and Brooke discuss how important it is to take the time to work through your feelings, how important movement and creativity are in moving through loss, and why it is so important to talk about the people we miss.
44. Setting boundaries and Grieving Difficult Relationships with Amy Santee
CW: Suicide, Abuse, Addicition
In this episode, Amy Santee joins host @BrookeLJames to talk about losing her mother to alcoholism. Amy shares what it's like to grieve a parent she did not have a strong relationship with, what it's like to watch someone you love struggle with addiction, how to set boundaries when going through a loss, and how losing a parent early brings on grief for all the things that could be.
43. How Loss Affects Marriage with The Dineens
www.thegriefcoach.co
42. The Beauty of What Remains with Author and Rabbi Steve Leder
In this episode host @brookeljames speaks with @steve_leder on life, love and loss. Steve's fourth book is out from Avery Books today, January 5th. Steve speaks about what being a rabbi taught him about loss, how the loss of his father informed his work as a rabbi, the concept of an ethical will, how we write our own eulogies, and more.
The Beauty of What Remains is available from Bookshop and wherever else you get your books.
41. Healing a Relationship After a Diagnosis with Jenn Welch, Comedian and Host of the LadyHD Podcast, Founder of Dead Dad Tinder
In this episode, host @BrookeLJames is joined by @JennWelchNow host of the @LadyHDPod and Founder of @DeadDadTinder where they talk about similarities between grief and ADHD, how to understand feelings of wanting to date after a loss, and how Jenn's time with her father after his cancer diagnosis healed their relationship.
40. How Loss Prepared us for dealing with a Pandemic with Noah James, Co-founder of The Covid Grief Network
In this episode, host @BrookeLJames speaks with Noah James (no relation) co-founder of The Covid Grief Network @covidgrief on how losing a parent prepared them for the discomfort in dealing with a pandemic. They discuss what motivated Noah to start the Covid Grief Network, how to take care of yourself leading up to the holidays, the notion of a grief expert, and the relief in finding a community who has experienced loss.
39. Lessons from cycling with Author of Cycle of Lives, David Richman
Author David Richman joins host @BrookeLJames to share his experience in losing his sister and how it motivated him to explore how trauma impacts cancer journeys. In addition to his work as an author and interviewer, David fundraiser for various cancer charities through athletcism. He ran for 24 hours straight to honor his sister and after conducting hundreds of hours of interviewers with cancer patients, he cycled across the country to meet them all in person. David and host Brooke share that action and movement help them both process -- but David has a bit more endurance than our host. Tune in to hear his perspective on loss as well as his writing journey.
38. How First-hand Grief Experience collides with Clinical Training with Behavioral Health Therapist and Licensed Social Worker Colleen Culley
www.theculleystrongfoundation.com
www.thegriefcoach.co
37. Making Space to Talk About Grief with Lennon Flowers, Co-Founder of The Dinner Party
In this episode, host @brookeljames is joined by @lennonflowers who shares how her grief experience led her to seek out community and founded @thedinnerparty
36. Learning From a Long History of Maternal Death with Coniah Adebayo, Brand Strategist and Founder of The Helpful Habit
In this episode, host @BrookeLJames speaks with Coniah Adebayo, founder of @thehelpfulhabit on what it's like to grow up in a family struck by breast cancer. Coniah shares how losing her mom at age 13 shaped her views on life, what it's like to deal with grief comparison, how premature death in the Black community affects families, and the importance of paperwork.
35. Experiencing Loss Abroad with Diplomat, Attorney, Emmy Award-Winning Journalist, and Writer Jennifer Klarman Santiago
In this episode host @BrookeLJames is joined by diplomat, attorney, Emmy award-winning journalist, and writer Jennifer Klarman Santiago (@pawsandprose). Jen lost her fiance while serving in the foreign service in Belize, she shares her story of experiencing loss in a place you don't have strong community ties, repatriating a body and planning a funeral without a strong grasp on the language, and how running and writing helped her process her grief.
34. How Losing Her Father Turned Her Into A Workplace Safety Advocate with Ashling Boyd, founder of CB Safety
In this episode, host @brookeljames speaks with Ashling Boyd, founder of @c.b.safety on how losing her father to a workplace fatality motivated her to become an advocate in the space. We also touch on how losing her father motivated her to get her paperwork in order (Brooke's favorite topic!), and how it shifted her relationship with her mom.
33. Learning from Grief with Author Dara Kurtz
In this episode, Author Dara Kurtz (@crazyperflife) joins host @BrookeLJames to speak about losing her mom weeks after giving birth to her daughter, how watching her mom battle cancer influenced how she processed her own cancer diagnosis, and working through and learning from your grief.
Book Summary:
A few weeks after Dara Kurtz had her first child, her mom passed away. So many times over the years, Dara has longed to talk to her mom, seek her guidance, and ask her what she thought about the life she has created for herself.
An unexpected discovery of a Ziplock bag of letters, written to Dara by her mom and grandmothers, changed everything. One day, longing for contact with the strong women who had loved and raised her, she re-read the letters. They brought back beautiful family memories and taught her many life lessons; they caused her to reflect on the priceless love between mothers and daughters and how wisdom and traditions can be passed on from one generation to the next. Dara’s story inspires us to strengthen the bonds between mothers and daughters, to remember family traditions, to let go of the pain of loss, and to make the most of each day of our lives.
Preorder Dara's book I Am My Mother's Daughter: Wisdom of Life, Loss and Love
32. Getting Real with Grief with Jayme Aills, host of Grief Unfiltered
In this week's episode, host @brookeljames gets REAL with Jayme Aills, host of @griefunfiltered. They talk about their experiences on dealing with grief differently than their siblings, how Jayme planned a wedding a few months after her mom's passing (she does not recommend this), why talking about grief is important, and how the experience of watching their parents die in hospice changed both of their perspective forever.
31. Using Comedy To Handle Hard Things with Host of Stage 4 Clinger, Comedian and Producer Kate Nicholls
In this episode, guest @katenichollzz (host of @stage4clingers)and host @brookeljames talks about how Kate uses comedy to deal with hard things, how to be more compassionate with yourself when dealing with life, and why Kate chose to start a podcast with her mom following her stage 4 cancer diagnosis.
30. What It's Like To Be A Homicide Survivor with Author and Podcaster Jan Canty
Do you ever wonder why after a homicide, we hear about the victim and the perpetrator but never the people who are left to pick up the pieces? In 1984, Jan Canty's life was turned upside down. Upon finding out her husband was murdered she also found out that he was living a double life. In this episode, host @brookeljames and guest Jan Canty discuss surviving homicide (media frenzy and all), how to deal with conflicted grief, and how to find closure.
Head to Jan Canty's website jancantyphd.com to learn about her book A Life Divided and her podcast The Domino Effect of Murder
29. How Stillbirth Changed My Perspective with Coach Katrina Ubell, MD
In the latest episode, host @brookeljames speaks with former pediatrician and weight-loss coach for physicians, @coachkatrinaubellmd. Katrina shares her experience with stillbirth, what she found supportive after her loss, and how loss gave her clarity and perspective on shifting gears in her career.
28. How Grief Manifests in the Black American Experience
In this episode, Nikiesha McLennon, founder of The Corporate Doula, and Malakai Bailey share their experience of being Black in America. This episode came about when Nikiesha and Brooke were discussing the protests and Nikiesha asked Brooke if she was going to cover the collective grief in Black Americans. Nikiesha and Malakai share their experience and perspective on how grief manifests itself in a name, how they can't bring their whole self to work, and what the protests have sparked for them. Additionally, Nikiesha and Malakai share things that white people think are helpful to say in light of our current racial justice awakening but actually are not.